Press Releases & Statements
Cardin Joins Over 200 Members of Congress in Calling for Executive Order Protecting LGBT Workers from Workplace Discrimination
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin today signed a letter along with more than 200 Senators and Representatives to President Barack Obama calling on him to issue an executive order banning contractors from receiving federal government contracts unless they have a policy prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Support for such an action has grown exponentially in Congress, with 51 Senators -- or more than half the Senate -- signing the letter. "Our nation's… Continue Reading
March 14, 2014
Cardin, Mikulski Announce Federal Funding To Hire Four Additional Firefighters In Prince George’s County
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced that the West Lanham Hills Volunteer Fire Department will receive $910,000 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) program to hire four career firefighters. "Our first responders provide the first line of defense for our citizens and these federal funds are an important investment in keeping Maryland families and bus… Continue Reading
March 13, 2014
Cardin Says Flood Insurance Reform Will Benefit Vulnerable Marylanders
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) praised bipartisan action by the Senate to provide relief from pending spikes premiums for federal flood insurance required by the 2012 Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act. H.R. 3370 passed the Senate 72-22 Thursday. On March 4, it was approved by the House 306-91. "Working together, the Senate took needed action to slow down and limit the unconscionable rate increases for federal flood insurance, which would have been unaffordable for many … Continue Reading
March 13, 2014
Cardin Calls Investing In Quality Child Care A Prudent Investment In America’s Future
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) issued the following statement after the Senate approved S. 1086, the reauthorization of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act (CCDBG), which is sponsored by fellow Maryland Senator Barbara A. Mikulski. Congress has not reauthorized the CCDBG in nearly two decades, dating back to comprehensive welfare reform under President Clinton in 1996. At that time, then Rep. Cardin served as the Ranking Member of the Human Resources Subcommittee of the … Continue Reading
March 13, 2014
Cardin Welcomes Strong U.S. Action To Support Ukraine And Hold Accountable Those Who Have Victimized Its People
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission (CSCE), lauded approval Wednesday of a package of loan guarantees for the new Ukraine government and economic sanctions on those responsible for the invasion of Crimea and massive corruption in Ukraine. Shortly after the SFRC vote, Senator Cardin joined other members of the Committee for a meeting with Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. … Continue Reading
March 12, 2014
Cardin Applauds Senate Confirmation of Marylander Sarah Bloom Raskin as Deputy Secretary of the Treasury
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Finance Committee applauded the confirmation of Sarah Bloom Raskin of Maryland to become the next Deputy Secretary of the Treasury. "I am proud to have a fellow Marylander among the financial leaders that are guiding our economy towards future growth and stability. Sarah Bloom Raskin's impressive résumé and reverence for public service make her particularly well-suited to be at the upper ranks of America's fis… Continue Reading
March 12, 2014
Taking A Principled Stand On Venezuela
Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, today I would like to express my strong support for S.Res. 265, a resolution I co-sponsored deploring the violent repression of peaceful demonstrators in Venezuela, calling for full accountability for human rights violations taking place in Venezuela, and supporting the right of the Venezuelan people to the free and peaceful exercise of representative democracy. Since February 4, 2014 the Venezuelan people have taken to the streets on a daily basis to express frus… Continue Reading
March 10, 2014
Cardin Mourns The Passing of Holocaust Survivor and Activist Leo Bretholz
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) released the following statement expressing his deepest respects for the late Leo Bretholz who passed Saturday at his home in Pikesville. Bretholz was a Holocaust survivor and resistance fighter who turned his story into the memoir Leap Into Darkness. In 1947 Bretholz emigrated to Baltimore, entered the publishing business and shared his story with audiences worldwide. At the time of his death Bretholz was advocating for reparations for Holocaust surv… Continue Reading
March 10, 2014
Cardin Joins Bipartisan Group of Senators Asking Pentagon to Help Identify, Bring Home Remains of Sailors Killed at Pearl Harbor for Burial
WASHINGTON- U.S Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) along with 14 Senate colleagues are seeking the assistance of the Department of Defense in an effort to have the bodies of 21 men who lost their lives during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 exhumed so that they can either be brought home for burial in their community, or be buried in a marked grave in Hawaii. Two of the U.S.S Oklahoma families seeking assistance from the Department of Defense are from Maryland. The families of John Lindsley and A… Continue Reading
March 07, 2014
Cardin, Mikulski Introduce Resolution Honoring International Women’s Day
WASHINGTON - In advance of International Women's Day on March 8, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (Both D-Md.), along with Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and a bipartisan coalition of Senators introduced a resolution Thursday commemorating the 103rd International Women's Day. Other cosponsors include: Senators Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein (Both D-Calif.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), … Continue Reading
March 05, 2014
Cardin, Crapo Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Protect Fish Habitats And Related Jobs
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) Chairman of the Senate Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, and Senator Michael Crapo (R-Idaho) have introduced a bill to leverage public-private partnerships and engage stakeholders like commercial fisherman, anglers, outfitters and other angling and sportsmen industries to make lasting improvements to the health and sustainability of our nation's fish habitats. Their legislation, The National Fish Habitat Conservation Act (NFHCA) authorizes $7.2 million… Continue Reading
March 05, 2014
World Wildlife Day
Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, in commemoration of World Wildlife Day on March 3, I rise to bring attention to the catastrophic effects of wildlife trafficking on global and economic security and the urgent need to crush this demand for these illegal products. Conserving natural resources is a priority for me, particularly as Chair of the Water and Wildlife Subcommittee; it's a priority for my state of Maryland; and it's a priority for this Administration. But the responsibility of protecting … Continue Reading
March 04, 2014
Cardin Looks Beyond President Obama’s Budget Blueprint For A Long-Term Framework
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, released the following statement in response to the release of President Barack Obama's budget plan for fiscal year 2015: "President Obama's budget outline is a helpful tool to fill in the details of the budget agreed to by the Congress last year. Overall, I share the President's commitment to investing in America and working to ensure our economy is working for all Americans. While I am still reviewin… Continue Reading
February 28, 2014
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Members Urge President Obama to Assist Peaceful, Democratic Transition in Ukraine
WASHINGTON - In a letter to President Barack Obama, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) along with Robert Menendez, D-N.J., Bob Corker, R-Tenn., John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Richard Durbin, D-Ill., Ron Johnson, R-Wis., Edward Markey, D-Mass., John McCain, R-Ariz., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Jim Risch, R-Idaho, Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., all members of the Foreign Relations Committee, expressed support for U.S. assistance in Ukraine and warned of Russian intervention that undermines Ukrai… Continue Reading
February 25, 2014
Cardin Leads Bipartisan Letter On Accountability For Human Rights Violations In South Sudan
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has penned a letter to President Obama calling for accountability for human rights violations in South Sudan and stressing the importance of American leadership in ending the crisis. He was joined on the bipartisan letter by Senators Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), and Al Franken (D-Minn.). Since violent c… Continue Reading
February 25, 2014
Cardin, Rubio, Menendez and Corker Urge Greater Freedom of the Press in China
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, also Subcommittee Ranking Member Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and Ranking Member Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) have introduced a Senate Resolution (S. Res. 361) that urges the People's Republic of China to take meaningful steps to improve freedom of expression in China as fitting of a responsible international stakeholder. O… Continue Reading
February 25, 2014
Recognizing the significance of Black History Month and honoring the contributions of the segregated 231st Transportation Truck Battalion which existed within the Maryland National Guard
Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating and honoring the contributions of the 231st Transportation Truck Battalion as part of Black History Month. The 231st was a segregated unit of African American servicemembers that existed within the Maryland National Guard and that served our country with distinction during the Korean War. African American citizens have made significant contributions in the United States Armed Forces and have played a cri… Continue Reading
February 19, 2014
Chairman Cardin, Co-Chairman Smith Call for Immediate Imposition of Targeted Sanctions on Ukraine
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Helsinki Commission Chairman Sen. Ben Cardin (MD), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Co-Chairman Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today issued the following statement: "We've all been shocked by the images and news from Kyiv. This violence is the result of a regime which has repeatedly displayed contempt for its people, who want nothing more than to be afforded the dignity which is their right as ci… Continue Reading
February 12, 2014
Cardin Says Congress Is Upholding Our Nation’s Commitment To Our Veterans
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) lauded Senate passage today of a measure that will restore cuts to the Cost of Living Adjustment for military retirees that were made in the recent omnibus appropriations. The restoration applies to current retirees and active duty military that began their service prior to January 1, 2014. "A true marker of our Nation's worth is our willingness to serve those who have served us. As we continue to wind down our military engagements, after a decade… Continue Reading
February 12, 2014
Cardin Celebrates 105 Years of Activism by the NAACP
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), today congratulated the Baltimore-headquartered National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) on the anniversary of their founding. "I am so proud to have an organization as venerable as the NAACP call Baltimore home. Today, in 1909 the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People began its crusade for civil rights. One hundred and five years later, the NAACP continues to build on a rich and noble tradition of p… Continue Reading
