Cardin, Mikulski, Kirk Introduce Resolution Commemorating The 70th Anniversary Of The Liberation Of Auschwitz

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin, Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) today announced introduction of their bipartisan resolution commemorating the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, which is on January 27. "The crimes perpetrated by the Nazis at Auschwitz and other camps across Europe were some of the worst human rights violations the world has ever seen. This resolution honors the memories of those who perished among the nearly unimaginable horrors of… Continue Reading

Cardin Marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement in the memory of all those who perished during the Holocaust: "On this day in 1945, the Nazi Concentration Camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated. The world could no longer deny the enormity of the horrors committed in such a small place. As survivors told their stories, journalists snapped photos, and human rights violators confessed to crimes across Europe, it … Continue Reading

Senate Democrats Write President Obama on Iran Negotiations

Washington, DC - Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD.), a senior member of the Foreign Relations Committee, and 9 other Senate Democrats sent the following letter to President Obama regarding Iran nuclear negotiations. The letter was signed by United States Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Gary Peters (D-MI), Bob Casey (D-PA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chris Coons (D-DE), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). The letter can be fou… Continue Reading

Cardin Statement on Amendments to Keystone XL Bill

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, called on Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to uphold his promise to return the Senate to 'regular order' and allow reasonable debate of Democratic amendments to a bill that would authorize the Keystone XL northern leg. "It is disappointing that just over three weeks onto the new Congress, the new leader has lapsed to setting arbitrary deadlines to cut off even the most token of debate o… Continue Reading

Cardin Statement on the Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) released the following statement on the 42nd anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision of Roe v. Wade. "Empowering women is one of the most important things we can do for the future of our country. Core to this is the constitutional right women have to make their own choices about their own health and well-being. I have always supported the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade, which codified this essential right to privacy. We must allow wom… Continue Reading

Cardin Seeks to Roll Back the Dangers of Citizens United

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) marked the fifth anniversary of the Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission by calling on his colleagues to take steps to rein in nearly unlimited campaign contributions from special interests and corporations. "Citizens United was one of the worst decisions handed down by the Supreme Court in recent memory and will only corrode the integrity of our democracy the longer it is on the books," said Senator Cardin. "Ne… Continue Reading

Cardin Urges Colleagues to Heed President Obama’s Call to Combat Climate Change, Expand Clean Energy

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, praised President Obama for sharing the facts about climate change with the country during his State of the Union address on Tuesday evening. "I agree, Mr. President, it does not take a scientist to know that something dangerous is happening to our climate when we've just experienced 14 or the 15 warmest years on record," said Senator Cardin. "President Obama is absolutely corr… Continue Reading

Cardin, Mikulski Announce Additional $6.2 Million In Federal Energy Assistance Funding For Low-Income Maryland Families

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced that Maryland will receive an additional $6.2 million in federal energy assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help families with modest incomes stay warm this winter. This brings Maryland's total to $68.3 million in federal funds and is made possible through the recently-passed Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015 law. "We cannot leave th… Continue Reading

Cardin Says Congress Should Work With the President to Ensure Hard-Working American Families Are a Priority During Our Economic Recovery

WASHINGTON - In response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) issued the following statement. Video is available here. Senator Cardin's guest for the President's speech was Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh (R). "President Obama is right to be concerned that our economic recovery is not reaching all working- and middle-income families. I agree with him that while America's economy has been showing signs of strength, too many familie… Continue Reading

Cardin Reflections on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2015

BALTIMORE, Md. - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), issued the following statement in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which is commemorated on Monday, January 19, 2015: "A true patriot, symbolic of the highest ideals of American and human virtue, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has rightfully been honored with a federal holiday for the last 25 years. Dr. King was famous for having a dream, but what made him remarkable was his drive towards making his dream into a reality, for which he ul… Continue Reading

Cardin, Cummings, Sarbanes Join Agricultural Leaders, Conservationists in Applauding First Grants to Chesapeake Bay Watershed from New Farm Bill Program

WOODSTOCK, Md. - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Representatives Elijah E. Cummings and John Sarbanes (All D-Md.), U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Jason Weller, Maryland Agriculture Secretary "Buddy" Hance and prominent conservation organizations today assembled at the Howard County Conservancy to celebrate the inaugural round of Chesapeake Bay conservation funding administered under a new Farm Bill program. Speaking at the Gudelsky Environmental E… Continue Reading

Team Maryland Urges Support for Red and Purple Line Projects

Team Maryland Urges Support for Red and Purple Line Projects "The entire Baltimore and Greater Washington area Congressional Delegations have fought hard to ensure that federal funds are available to support the Red and Purple Lines." Washington, D.C. (Jan. 15, 2015)-Today, Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski, and Representatives Elijah E. Cummings, Steny H. Hoyer, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Chris Van Hollen, John P. Sarbanes, Donna F. Edwards, and John K. Delaney (all D-MD) joine… Continue Reading

Cardin, Mikulski, Delaney Announce $62,000 for Telehealth Program in Garrett County

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski, together with U.S. Representative John Delaney (all D-Md.) today announced that the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded a $62,000 federal grant to the Garrett County Memorial Hospital (GCMH) to fund a telehealth program that will improve the community's access to specialty medical services. The new telehealth units will help connect seniors, kids and families in Western Maryland with quality specialized health care in t… Continue Reading

Cardin Hails the Start of New Farm Bill Funding to Help Maryland Farmers Improve the Health of the Chesapeake Bay

BALTIMORE, Md. -- U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, lauded the announcement today by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack of new conservation grants to support the health of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed region. In total, Secretary Vilsack announced funding for 115 high-impact projects nationwide that will receive more than $370 million in Federal funding as part of the new USDA Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). … Continue Reading

Cardin, Schatz Introduce Legislation to Give Federal Workers a Well-Deserved Raise

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) today introduced legislation to provide a 3.8 percent pay raise to federal workers in calendar year 2016. Federal employees have lost over a billion dollars in salary and benefits due to sequestration and a three-year pay freeze from January 2011 to December 2013. "We have continued to place an increasing burden on federal workers, who now represent the lowest percentage of the total American workforce in the thre… Continue Reading

Cardin Issues Statement on Washington Metro Passenger Fatality, Hospitalizations

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) today released the following statement on Monday's fatal Metro incident, the latest safety failure of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). "I was deeply saddened to hear the news of Monday's electrical systems malfunction on the Yellow Line that killed one passenger and hospitalized more than 80 others. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those affected by the tragedy. A daily commute or tourist visit to our Nation… Continue Reading

Cardin, Portman, Larson and Tiberi Unite to Remove Bad Actors from CMS Bidding Process

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio), both members of the Senate Finance Committee, and Reps John Larson (D-CT-01), and Pat Tiberi (R-OH-12), both members of the House Ways and Means Committee, have introduced joint legislation to protect seniors and those who rely on durable medical equipment, prosthetic and orthotic devices, and supplies from predatory business practices. The Medicare Competitive Bidding Improvement Act (MCBIA), S.148, would ensure … Continue Reading

Cardin Statement on Senator Barbara Boxer’s Retirement

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement after the announcement that Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Chairwoman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, would not seek reelection in 2016: "I am proud to call Barbara Boxer a good friend and colleague. She has dedicated her career to serving the people of California and she has never been afraid to stand up and fight for what is right. … Continue Reading

Cardin, Wyden Introduce Legislation to Help Protect Consumers from Fraudulent Tax Preparers

WASHINGTON - Senator Ben Cardin, (D-Md.), and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member, Ron (Wyden, D-Ore.), today unveiled legislation that provides the Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) explicit authority to regulate paid tax return preparers. With nearly half of all Americans turning to others to prepare their tax filings each year, this bill requires that preparers demonstrate competency in preparing tax returns, claims for refund and related documents. "Ou… Continue Reading

Cardin Meets with Attorney General Nominee Loretta Lynch

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) met Thursday with current United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Loretta E. Lynch, nominee for Attorney General. "As America's top lawyer, the Attorney General plays a pivotal role in finding the appropriate balance between protecting the safety and security of our nation and protecting the civil rights of our citizens. I was impressed with Ms. Lynch's background and legal expertise. I look forward to following her confirmatio… Continue Reading