Cardin Expresses Appreciation to Attorney General Brian Frosh for Standing Up for Marylanders, Rule of Law

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) today released the following expression of gratitude to Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh, who this week announced his retirement. "Brian Frosh has been a friend and a dedicated public servant for decades. I thank him for his selfless work on behalf of the people of Maryland. As Attorney General, Brian set the gold standard for being the "people's lawyer" in his tireless quest for justice, equality, and safety for all Marylanders. In particular, … Continue Reading

Maryland and Virginia Senators Call for WMATA’s Full Cooperation to Address Safety Issues

In joint letter, senators urge greater transparency and communications with riders WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (Both D-Md.) and Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (Both D-Va.) wrote to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) CEO Paul Wiedefeld Thursday urging cooperation, transparency, and action to address safety concerns and restore public confidence in the transit agency. The senators called for WMATA's full cooperation with the National Transportation S… Continue Reading

Cardin, Rubio Laud Committee Approval of Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Reconstruction Efforts, Promote Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Efforts in Haiti

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) praised passage today in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee of their legislation, the Haiti Development, Accountability, and Institutional Transparency Initiative Act (S. 1104). First introduced in April, the Cardin-Rubio bill prioritizes the protection of human rights and anti-corruption efforts in Haiti by fostering strong relationships with independent civil society groups. The legislation also requires the U.S. State … Continue Reading

Maryland Congressional Delegation Applauds SBA Approval of Maryland Disaster Relief for Tropical Depression Ida

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship, and Senator Chris Van Hollen, along with Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone today applauded the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for approving the State of Maryland's request for a physical disaster declaration due to damage from Tropical Depression Ida. This declarati… Continue Reading

Cardin Statement on the Passing of Colin Powell

ELLICOTT City, Md. - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) released the following statement on the passing of General Colin Powell, former U.S. Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "On behalf of all Marylanders, I want to express my condolences to the Powell family. America has lost a great patriot. Secretary Powell was an incredible soldier, diplomat and leader. He served during some of the most challenging times in our nation's history. "While we disagreed about the Iraq W… Continue Reading

Senator Ben Cardin and Congressman Kweisi Mfume Spotlight Importance of Better Protecting Witnesses in Criminal Cases

Members of Congress introduce legislation to reduce intimidation and violence against those who witness criminal activity and testify in court ELLICOTT CITY - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin and Congressman Kweisi Mfume were joined by Howard County State's Attorney Richard Gibson, Jr., to discuss the importance of better protecting witnesses in criminal cases from intimidation and violence. Senator Cardin and Congressman Mfume recently have introduced legislation, the Witness Security and Protectio… Continue Reading

Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces More Than $3.6 Million for Chesapeake Bay Watershed Restoration Projects

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $3,683,392 in federal funding to support habitat restoration, habitat management, planning and implementation of projects in Maryland's Chesapeake Bay watershed. Maryland received more than one-third of the $10 million in new investments announced throughout the six watershed stat… Continue Reading

Cardin Marks Hispanic Heritage Month 2021

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) issued the following statement in commemoration of Hispanic Heritage Month which ran from September 15 through October 15. His statement was included in the Congressional Record. "I rise today in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month to celebrate our Hispanic and Latino communities and their immeasurable contributions to our Nation. Hispanic and Latinos have been with our country since its very founding and have helped make America exceptional. Hisp… Continue Reading

Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces More Than $600,000 for Community Policing Development Programs

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $603,327 in federal funding to bolster de-escalation and crisis intervention training for police departments across the state. "Cultivating meaningful and trusting relationships between law enforcement personnel and the communities they protect is essential," the lawmakers said. … Continue Reading

Cardin, Van Hollen Push to Keep Major Investments in Affordable Housing in Build Back Better Package

WASHINGTON - As Maryland and many other states across the U.S. confront an unprecedented housing affordability crisis, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (Both D-Md.) are working closely with their colleagues to ensure that comprehensive housing investments stay in President Biden's Build Back Better plan. In a letter to President Joe Biden, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Cardin, Van Hollen and more than 30 senators called for making… Continue Reading

Cardin, Portman, Booker and Young Urge More Countries to Engage with Israel Following Historic Face-to-Face Meetings with UAE

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.), all members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on Wednesday's meeting between the foreign ministers of Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the U.S. Department of State. The senators are the lead sponsors of S. 1061, the Israel Relations Normalization Act of 2021, which has 69 sponsors/cosponsors. "Today, we witnessed an historic … Continue Reading

Cardin Praises Biden Appointment of Adam Ortiz to Lead EPA Chesapeake Region

BALTIMORE - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement on the appointment by President Joe Biden of Marylander Adam Ortiz to serve as the Regional Administrator for Region 3 of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Ortiz has led the department of environmental protection for both Montgomery and Prince George's, Maryland's two largest counties. Adam is a graduate of Goucher College in Baltimore. "I … Continue Reading

Cardin, Wicker Introduce Bill to Sanction Navalny 35

WASHINGTON-Helsinki Commission Chairman Sen. Ben Cardin (MD) and Ranking Member Sen. Roger Wicker yesterday introduced a measure that would require the administration to evaluate the Navalny 35 for Global Magnitsky sanctions. The Navalny 35 are a group of 35 Russian kleptocrats and human rights abusers who Alexey Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation has identified as those primarily responsible for looting the Russian state and repressing human rights in Russia. "Corruption is an urgent nationa… Continue Reading

Cardin, Casey, Van Hollen Lead Call for $750 Million in Climate-Smart Programs in Chesapeake Bay Watershed

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) Thursday were joined by their Chesapeake Bay-state colleagues in urging Senate and Agriculture Committee leadership to dedicate $750 million in natural resources conservation funding for the watershed in upcoming reconciliation legislation. Co-signers of the letter included U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Tim K… Continue Reading

Maryland Congressional Delegation Applauds the Addition of Several MD Sites to the National Underground Railroad Network

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all Md.) released the following statement applauding the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom's addition of Mount Clare Station, Henry Massey Escape Site, Elkridge Furnace Ruins, and Eliza Howard Parker and Family Escape Site at Belle Vue Farm, to the Network: "Maryland is… Continue Reading

Cardin, Van Hollen Introduce Legislation to Improve Safety of Military Tactical Vehicles

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen both D-Md.) today introduced the 1st Lt. Hugh Conor McDowell Safety in Armed Forces Equipment Act of 2021, legislation to establish a pilot program that authorizes the use of data recorders to improve the safety and effectiveness of military tactical vehicles. This legislation, named in honor of Marine 1LT Hugh Conor McDowell, a former Chestertown, Md. resident who was a victim of a training accident at Camp Pendleton, would help supervi… Continue Reading

Cardin, Van Hollen, Sarbanes Announce Nearly $500,000 for Towson University to Advance Bilingual Educator Development

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressman John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) today announced $476,777 in federal funding for Towson University to improve educator development and increase the academic outcomes for English learners within the Anne Arundel County Public School (AACPS) system. English learners are students who are developing English language proficiency. These students are often multilingual learners who come from non-English speaking homes who require modi… Continue Reading

Cardin Statement on Ted Venetoulis

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) released the following statement on the passing of former Baltimore County Executive Ted Venetoulis. "Myrna and I are mourning the loss of our friend Ted Venetoulis. An incredible person and active, life-long Democrat, Ted was always in motion. He had a quick wit, a constant smile, and loved to promote all things Baltimore … and Maryland. "From my days in the House of Delegates to the Congress and Senate, it was a privilege to work side-by-s… Continue Reading

Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces More Than $12 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding to Renovate Community Health Centers

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $12,211,150 in American Rescue Plan funding to support the construction, renovation, and expansion of local community health centers across the state. "Community health centers play a vital role in delivering quality and affordable care to underserved populations, acting as essen… Continue Reading

Praising New Student Debt Relief Action, Cardin Urges More Support for Future Public Service Careers

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) applauded the Biden administration for streamlining the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program for more than half a million public servants, including teachers, military service members, federal workers and others. According to the Department of Education, more than 99.6 percent of initial PSLF applicants were denied loan forgiveness despite having met the 10 years of service requirements. "The federal student loan forgiveness program has bee… Continue Reading