Press Releases & Statements
Cardin Statement on Juneteenth 2019
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) issued the following statement commemorating June 19, 2019 as Juneteenth. This year's Juneteenth marks the 154th anniversary of the date on which Army General Gordon Granger, in Galveston, Texas, freed the last remaining slaves- two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. "Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom but also a celebration of the spirit. On this important day, we take the time to recognize and honor the hardship and the dignity of the m… Continue Reading
June 19, 2019
Senators Cardin, Gardner with Reps. Thompson and Wittman Seek Authority for U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to Recover Funds for Damage to Refuges
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and Senator Cory Gardner, a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, have introduced bipartisan legislation to enhance the ability of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) to protect and restore resources found on National Wildlife Refuges, National Fish Hatcheries and other Service lands, should injury or harm occur. Congressman Mike Thompson (D-Calif.-05) and … Continue Reading
June 19, 2019
Committee Unanimously Passes Bill Authored by Cardin, Collins to Protect America’s Scenic Byways
WASHINGTON -- Today, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works unanimously passed the Reviving America's Scenic Byways Act, legislation authored by U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) to protect and promote America's scenic roadways. The bill now awaits full consideration by the full Senate. Senators Cardin and Collins' and legislation, which was introduced in February, would restart the dormant designation process for the National Scenic Byways Program, a v… Continue Reading
June 18, 2019
Senators Urge Federal Action to Better Protect Ride-Share Passengers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) are urging their colleagues to swiftly move forward bicameral, bipartisan legislation (S. 1871) designed to protect ride-share customers across the country. Their legislation, called "Sami's Law," comes in response to the March killing of 21-year-old Samantha "Sami" Josephson, who stepped into a car she thought was her Uber. Sami was a New … Continue Reading
June 17, 2019
Baltimore Congressional Delegation Asks USDA to Investigate Withdrawal of SNAP Eligibility for Lexington Market Vendors
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, and Congressmen Elijah E. Cummings, Dutch Ruppersberger and John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service Administrator Brandon Lipps asking USDA to investigate the withdrawal of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility for vendors in Baltimore's historic Lexington Market. Lexington Market has served as a public market since 1782 and is the oldest of it… Continue Reading
June 17, 2019
Cardin, Cornyn Introduce Bill to Expedite Medicare Part D Appeals
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and John Cornyn (R-Tex.) have introduced bipartisan legislation to simplify the Part D appeals process for Medicare beneficiaries. The bill, S. 1861 - the Streamlining Part D Appeals Process Act, will cut out unnecessary steps when Medicare coverage is denied at the pharmacy counter and the beneficiary wishes to appeal the denial. Currently, a pharmacy counter refusal does not qualify as a "coverage determination," which a beneficiary must obtain be… Continue Reading
June 14, 2019
Cardin, Smith Introduce Legislation to Improve Ride-Share Safety
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Congressman Chris Smith (R-N.J.-04) have introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation named to honor Samantha Josephson-a senior at the University of South Carolina who was kidnapped and brutally murdered by a man pretending to be her Uber driver. Named Sami's Law, the bill establishes needed protections for ride-share customers across the country, including mandatory enhanced vehicle identification procedures to create a safer environment for rid… Continue Reading
June 13, 2019
Cardin Statement on Ensuring Responsibility and Respect for Human Rights in Arms Sales
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) released the following statement on his votes on the motions to discharge Senate Joint Resolutions 20 and 26, which sought to block the sales of certain weapons to Bahrain and Qatar respectively. "As many of you know, I have long been a champion of a United States foreign policy driven by our values and respect for human rights. This applies to our foreign military support and arms sales. We must ensure that our military might and weapons only go t… Continue Reading
June 13, 2019
Cardin, Klobuchar Lead Fight to Stop Voter Intimidation and Deceptive Practices
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) are renewing the call for federal action against voter intimidation and deceptive practices designed to stop Americans from voting. They filed S. 1834, the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Act of 2019. Historically, certain citizens, especially racial and ethnic minorities, were prevented from voting because of significant barriers like literacy tests and poll taxes. While constitutional amendments and voting rig… Continue Reading
June 13, 2019
Cardin, Rubio, Risch, Menendez Reintroduce Hong Kong Human Rights And Democracy Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today reintroduced the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, bipartisan legislation that would reaffirm U.S. commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law at a time when Hong Kong's autonomy is under assault by interference from the Chinese government… Continue Reading
June 12, 2019
Cardin, Van Hollen Introduce Resolution Honoring the University of Maryland Women’s Lacrosse Team’s Unprecedented 14th National Championship
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) today announced the passage of a Senate Resolution they authored to celebrate the unprecedented accomplishments of the University of Maryland Women's Lacrosse Team, which recently secured its 14th NCAA national championship. Behind Coach Cathy Reese, the UMD Women's Lacrosse team compiled a record of 22-1 in 2019, and the team's senior class amassed a home record of 45-0 over the last four years. In addition to celebrating … Continue Reading
June 11, 2019
Cardin, Durbin, Leahy, Brown, Senators Introduce Resolution Expressing Support for Free, Fair, Transparent Elections in Guatemala
WASHINGTON - Ahead of Guatemala's elections on Sunday, June 16, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) today introduced a resolution expressing support for free, fair, and transparent elections in Guatemala. The resolution also expresses concern over efforts to undermine United Nations anti-corruption efforts in Guatemala and opposition to President Donald Trump … Continue Reading
June 11, 2019
Cardin, Van Hollen Raise Concerns about Immigration Backlogs
WASHINGTON - Today U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) wrote to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli to ask a series of detailed questions about the ongoing delays being faced by people in Maryland and across the country. "The processing delays, particularly as it pertains to family-based immigration petitions and employment authorization documents, are alarming and impose an undue burden on applicants, their families, and commu… Continue Reading
June 07, 2019
Cardin Statement on LGBT Pride Month 2019
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism, and Intolerance for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly, issued the following statement recognizing June 2019 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month. Marylanders have more places to celebrate Pride Month this year than ever before. Events include: Capital Pride Parade (DC) June 8 Montgomery County Pride Month Kickoff June 10 … Continue Reading
June 07, 2019
Cardin, Van Hollen Announce $3.9 Million for the St. Mary’s Regional Airport
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) have announced $3.9 million in federal funding for the St. Mary's County Regional Airport from the Department of Transportation (DOT). These funds will go towards extending one of the airport's runways and helping the airport meet other operational needs. "The St. Mary's County Regional Airport is an important gateway to commerce and tourism in Southern Maryland and around the Chesapeake Bay," said Senator Cardin, Ranking M… Continue Reading
June 07, 2019
Cardin, Van Hollen Announce $5 Million for the Greater Cumberland Airport
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) have announced $5 million in federal funding for the Greater Cumberland Airport from the Department of Transportation (DOT). This funding will go towards repairing and maintaining the structural integrity of the airports' runways and helping the airport meet other operational needs. "This federal investment in Allegany County will benefit the many businesses and residents who depend on our regional airports," said Senator C… Continue Reading
June 06, 2019
Cardin, Young Move Forward Legislation to Expedite Home-Based Therapy Services for Medicare
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) have introduced a budget-neutral measure that would provide Medicare beneficiaries more timely access to needed therapies. The Medicare Home Health Flexibility Act of 2019 (S. 1725) breaks down barriers for seniors by allowing occupational therapists to perform the initial home health assessment in cases in which occupational therapy is ordered by the physician, along with speech language pathology and/or physical therapy serv… Continue Reading
June 06, 2019
Cardin, Van Hollen, Trone Announce Over $637,000 National Science Foundation Grant to Frederick Community College STEM Scholars
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, and U.S. Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.), announced $637,097 in funding over five years from the National Science Foundation to the Frederick Community Scholars STEM program. The program will start in the fall of 2020 and will offer students who demonstrate academic talent and financial need, including students from underrepresented groups, the resources and support needed to pursue a degree in STEM disciplines and a succe… Continue Reading
June 05, 2019
Cardin, Van Hollen Announce $2.3 Million for National Fallen Firefighters Foundation in Emmitsburg
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) announced $2.3 million from the Department of Justice's Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Program for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) in Emmitsburg, MD. The NFFF will use this funding to support a variety of projects that impact firefighters and fire departments across the country, from counseling and training to database improvement and survivor services. Additionally, these funds support the… Continue Reading
June 05, 2019
Cardin Commemorates the 75th Anniversary of D-Day
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on the 75th anniversary of D-Day. "Later today, I will be leaving with many other Senators on an official trip to Normandy, France to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, also known as "Operation Overlord." I consider it a high honor to be part of a Congressional delegation commemorating one of the most important days in the history of human … Continue Reading
