Press Releases & Statements
Accountability For War Crimes In Syria
Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I rise to discuss the ongoing crisis in Syria. Last month marked the three year anniversary since the brutal conflict began. According to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2139, which was unanimously accepted in February of this year, the conflict has resulted in the death of over 140,000 people in Syria, including at least 10,000 children. UNICEF reports that Syria is among the most dangerous places on Earth to be a child, pointing to high child casua… Continue Reading
April 10, 2014
Senate Passes Cardin, Rubio, Menendez, Corker Resolution Urging Greater Freedom of Press in China
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Subcommittee Ranking Member Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and Ranking Member Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) lauded passage of their 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. … Continue Reading
April 10, 2014
Cardin, Wicker Name Ambassador David Killion To Lead U.S. Helsinki Commission Staff
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) have announced the joint appointment of David T. Killion as the Senate Staff Director for the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission). A diplomat familiar with navigating multilateral international organizations, Killion is the former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). He previously served as a Senior Professional Staff M… Continue Reading
April 10, 2014
Democracy Restoration Act
Mr. President, today I am pleased to introduce the Democracy Restoration Act, known as the DRA. I want to thank Judiciary Committee Chairman Leahy and Senators Durbin, Whitehouse, Booker, Harkin, and Sanders as original co-sponsors of this legislation. As the late Senator Kennedy often said, civil rights is the ``unfinished business'' of America. The Democracy Restoration Act would restore voting rights in federal elections to approximately 5.8 million citizens who have been relea… Continue Reading
April 10, 2014
Cardin Leads Reintroduction Of Bill To Create Nationwide Standard For Restoring Voting Rights For Americans Released From Prison
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) has introduced a bill, S. 2235, the Democracy Restoration Act that would reduce recidivism rates by restoring voting rights to individuals after they have served their time and have been released from incarceration. Studies indicate that former prisoners who have voting rights restored are less likely to reoffend, and that disenfranchisement hinders their rehabilitation and reintegration into their community. Original cosponsors of S. 2235 include … Continue Reading
April 09, 2014
Senators Introduce Bipartisan Maritime Security Resolution for the Asia-Pacific Region
Washington, D.C. - A bipartisan group of Senators introduced a resolution today reaffirming support of the U.S. government for freedom of navigation in the Asia-Pacific region and for the peaceful diplomatic resolution of outstanding territorial and maritime disputes. Senate Resolution 412 was introduced by Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Marco Rubio (R-FL), James Risch (R-ID), and John McCain (R-AZ) - all members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In recent … Continue Reading
April 08, 2014
Paycheck Fairness
Mr. CARDIN. I thank Senator Shaheen for her leadership on these issues and so many other issues in the Senate. I listened to the Senator's comments and I fully concur in the information the Senator has brought forward, that paycheck fairness is not just a matter of fairness for women, it is a matter of fairness for our country. Not only will women benefit, our economy will benefit and our country will benefit by making sure that equal pay for equal work is what happens in our country. I thank th… Continue Reading
April 07, 2014
Cardin Urges House to Help Our Economy and Americans in Need by Finally Passing an Extension of Emergency Unemployment Benefits
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, today urged the leadership of the House of Representatives to take up and pass the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act approved by the Senate Monday. The measure will temporarily restore benefits for long-term unemployed Americans that expired last December. "Extending Emergency Unemployment Insurance benefits is the right thing to do. We never should have let the program expire at the end … Continue Reading
April 07, 2014
Cardin, Mikulski Laud Announcement Of $7 Million In Competitive Funding To Prince George’s Students
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today lauded the announcement from President Obama that the Department of Labor (DOL) has awarded $7 million in funding to help prepare students in Prince George's County for success in post-secondary education and in a competitive workforce. Announced from Bladensburg High School, the grant was awarded through DOL's Youth CareerConnect Program. "Investing in our students and connecting them early with future careers … Continue Reading
April 07, 2014
Cardin Kicks Off How-To Workshop For Maryland Nonprofits
CATONSVILLE - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), welcomed Maryland's nonprofit community to a free workshop designed to help groups understand how to access federal and state grant resources. The event, cosponsored by the Governor's Grants Office and the Maryland Association of Nonprofits, was hosted by the Community College of Baltimore County Catonsville Campus. The workshop also featured representatives from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Department of Heal… Continue Reading
April 03, 2014
Cardin Votes To Extend Important Tax Provisions To Spur Investment, Job Creation And Help For American Workers And Small Businesses
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) praised the bipartisan work of the Senate Finance Committee Thursday as he joined with his colleagues to pass a package of tax extensions designed to provide certainty and better results for American taxpayers, families and businesses. The Expiring Provisions Improvement Reform and Efficiency (EXPIRE) Act encourages economic growth and development, innovation, and job creation. It includes a number of specific provisions authored by Senator Cardin to … Continue Reading
April 03, 2014
Cardin, Rubio Introduce Syrian War Crimes Accountability Act Of 2014
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, have introduced the Syrian War Crimes Accountability Act of 2014, legislation establishing a Syria-specific standard of reporting and accountability for crimes against humanity. The bill would require the U.S. State Department to report to relevant congressional committees on war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Syria. This would include an account of war … Continue Reading
April 03, 2014
Cardin, Crapo Bill To Protect Fish Habitats And Related Jobs Clears Committee Hurdle
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) Chairman of the Senate Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, and Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) lauded the voice vote approval today in the Environment and Public Works Committee of The National Fish Habitat Conservation Act (NFHCA) authorizes $7.2 million annually for fish habitat restoration and protection projects that are supported by regional Fish Habitat Partnerships. The bill leverages public-private partnerships and engage stakeholders like commercia… Continue Reading
April 02, 2014
Cardin Lauds the Confirmation of Marylander Dr. Deborah L. Birx to Lead U.S. Global HIV/AIDS Office
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, welcomed the confirmation of Dr. Deborah L. Birx of Potomac, Maryland, to be the Ambassador at Large and Coordinator of United States Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS Globally. Senator Cardin had the honor of introducing Dr. Birx at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in March. "Dr. Deborah Birx is a distinguished retroviral expert with extensive… Continue Reading
April 01, 2014
Cardin, Feinstein, Schatz Legislation Will Boost American Jobs By Promoting Energy Efficiency
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), have introduced legislation (S. 2189, the Energy Efficiency Tax Incentives Act) that will boost energy efficiency in government, in industry, and in commercial and residential buildings which account for more than 40 percent of energy consumption in the United States. A recent McKinsey study concluded that maximizing energy efficiency for homes and commercial buildings could help reduce… Continue Reading
April 01, 2014
Cardin Urges Greater Adaptation To Meet The Threats Of Climate Change
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of both the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the follow statement in response to the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): "Climate change is real. We are already seeing its impacts around the world and its effects are going to get worse. As the latest report from the IPCC recommends, countries the world over need to start taking greater me… Continue Reading
April 01, 2014
Cardin Lauds Fix To SGR But Urges Permanent Repeal
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement after Senate approval of a fix to the physician reimbursement structure under Medicare or Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR): "The current way that we reimburse physicians under Medicare is broken. We have had 16 temporary patches to the SGR system that have cost us $153 billion - more than the cost of a permanent fix. It has created uncertainty for the medical community and uncerta… Continue Reading
March 27, 2014
Paying Tribute To An American Hero, Master-At-Arms Second Class Mark Mayo
Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the tragic death of a fellow Marylander, Master-At-Arms Second Class Mark Mayo. His heroic sacrifice is the truest display of the U.S. Navy's Core Values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment. The United States Navy confirmed yesterday that Petty Officer Mayo put himself in harm's way to save his shipmate. On behalf of a grateful Nation and my fellow Senators, I offer my sincerest condolences to the family, friends, and shipmates of Petty Officer Mayo. … Continue Reading
March 27, 2014
EPA Budget Hearing
Madame Chairman and Ranking Member Vitter thank you for holding today's hearing on the President's proposed FY 15 budget for the Environmental Protection Agency. Administrator McCarthy it is always a pleasure to see you and thank you for being here today. EPA's proposed budget for FY15 outlines a fiscal plan that will enable the Agency to continue to its important work of keeping the health of citizen's and the communities we live in healthy and safe. It would be an understatement to say… Continue Reading
March 27, 2014
Cardin Praises Bipartisan Unity in Support of Ukraine, Sanctions Against Russia
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), praised the full Senate passage of a package of loan guarantees for the new Ukraine government and economic sanctions on those responsible for the invasion of Crimea. "With today's vote the Senate sent a clear message of solidarity with the people of Ukraine, and indignation for those responsible for the invasion of the Crimea. Russia mu… Continue Reading
