Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Fortieth Anniversary

Mr. President, this past Friday, July 25, marked the 40th anniversary of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). In 1974, Congress enacted legislation with the signature of President Nixon that established LSC with bipartisan support. LSC is a private, nonprofit corporation, funded by Congress, with the mission to ensure equal access to justice under law for all Americans by providing civil legal assistance to those who otherwise would be unable to afford it. LSC distributes almost all of its an… Continue Reading

On the nomination of Pamela Harris

Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, shortly we will have the opportunity to vote on a cloture motion on Pamela Harris for confirmation to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, which includes Maryland. I urge my colleagues not only to support the cloture motion but to support her confirmation as a judge in the Fourth Circuit. Senator Mikulski and I have a process--and I thank the senior Senator from Maryland for that process--we use in screening recommendations to the President for judgesh… Continue Reading

On the nomination of Pamela Harris

Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, shortly we will have the opportunity to vote on a cloture motion on Pamela Harris for confirmation to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, which includes Maryland. I urge my colleagues not only to support the cloture motion but to support her confirmation as a judge in the Fourth Circuit. Senator Mikulski and I have a process--and I thank the senior Senator from Maryland for that process--we use in screening recommendations to the President for judgesh… Continue Reading

Cardin Defends Israel’s Right to Defend Its Citizens at the Highest Levels

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission), continues to work across partisan lines to defend Israel's right of self-defense. In two letters, one to President Barack Obama with Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and another to United National Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon with Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Senator Cardin… Continue Reading

Cardin-McCain Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act Clears Committee Hurdle

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.), both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, hailed committee passage today of their Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which would bar human rights abusers from anywhere in the world entry into the United States and prohibit them from using our financial institutions. The bill, S. 1933, would expand the Russia-specific sanctions in the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act (Public Law 112… Continue Reading

Cardin, Graham, Schumer: Any Ceasefire In Gaza Must Remove Threat To Israel Posed By Hamas Rockets And Tunnels

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Charles E. Schumer (D-New York) today wrote to President Obama about the negotiation of a cease-fire agreement in Israel. "Any cease fire should create a situation in which Israeli citizens no longer face the threat of brazen terrorist attacks," said the senators. "Israeli citizens have faced over 1800 rocket launches from Hamas since June. While Iron Dome has saved countless lives, over five million Is… Continue Reading

Cardin, Mikulski Applaud Senate Passage of Resolution Honoring Life Of Marylander Mattie Stepanek

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today applauded Senate passage of a resolution they introduced honoring the life and legacy of Marylander Mattie Stepanek. Mattie passed away 10 years ago from a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy and would have been 24-years-old on Thursday, July 17, 2014. He was a New York Times bestselling author and recipient of the Children's Hope Medal of Honor. "Mattie was a young Marylander who was an inspiration to all of us.… Continue Reading

Cardin Praises Foreign Relations Committee Action on Disabilities Treaty

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) and Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, today praised the SFRC recommendation of ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). "We should be proud, as Americans, of our Nation's leadership in making it easier for people with disabilities to participate fully in society, to have equal access to educational, economic, and social opp… Continue Reading

Cardin, Paul Unite for Discussion of How Best to Restore Voting Rights for Millions of Americans

Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) today hosted a briefing on solutions to end the disenfranchisement of individuals with past criminal convictions. The Senators were joined by an expert panel of witnesses who spoke of the national and local importance of restoring voting rights to millions of Americans who are currently out of prison but not fully able to claim a stake in their community due to a weak patch work of state laws. "Senator Paul and I don't … Continue Reading

Senator Ben Cardin and Senator Rand Paul to Host Bipartisan Briefing on Voting Rights Restoration

On TUESDAY, July 22nd, 2014 at 2:00 p.m , U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) will host a discussion on solutions to end the disenfranchisement of individuals with past criminal convictions. Senator Cardin has introduced S. 2235, the Democracy Restoration Act, which would restore Federal voting rights to all individuals when released from incarceration. Senator Paul has introduced S. 2550, the Civil Rights Voting Restoration Act, which would restore Federal voting rights of … Continue Reading

Cardin, Helsinki Commission call for investigation, accountability for terrorist act in Ukraine separatist region

(Washington, DC)-In response to the downing of Malaysian Airlines MH17 in territory controlled by separatists in Ukraine, members of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) today called for unfettered access to the crash site for international investigators in order to establish responsibility for the killings and to hold those parties accountable. "The downing of Malaysian Air flight 17 is an unspeakable tragedy. It did not have to happen and those re… Continue Reading

Cardin “Made In Maryland” Jobs Tour Visits Vorbeck Materials

Jessup, MD - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Finance and Small Business committees, toured Vorbeck Materials as part of his Made in Maryland Jobs Tour. Located in Jessup, Vorbeck is an industry leader in graphene nanotechnology and cutting edge energy storage solutions. "Vorbeck Materials is at the forefront of turning science fiction into a reality while creating quality jobs for Marylanders. Through innovation and a strong commitment to their employees, Vorbeck is a p… Continue Reading

Cardin Opposes Seismic Testing Off Mid-Atlantic Coast

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife, released the following statement in response to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's Record of Decision allowing for the testing of seismic airgun testing in the mid-Atlantic and south-Atlantic coasts: "I have consistently opposed the use of seismic airgun testing to explore for oil and natural gas drilling. I have joined with other Atlantic Coast Senators … Continue Reading

Cardin Joins Frederick Organizations Working To Close Wealth Gap In Western Md

Frederick, MD - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Finance committee, visited the Frederick Prosperity Center to discuss state, local and federal initiatives to ensure that all Americans have a fair shot at achieving and maintaining economic success. The Prosperity Center is a collaborative of social service organizations, local financial institutions and others committed to providing residents of Frederick access to the tools they need to establish financial stability. "T… Continue Reading

Cardin, Mikulski Praise Judiciary Committee’s Approval of Pamela Harris for the Fourth Circuit Court Of Appeals

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today praised the Senate Judiciary Committee's vote to approve Pamela A. Harris of Potomac, Maryland to fill the vacancy on the Fourth Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals. The nomination of Ms. Harris now moves to the full Senate for a vote, which has not yet been scheduled. "I thank the Judiciary Committee for recognizing Pamela Harris as a strong candidate for the appellate court. Ms. Harris has an appreciation fo… Continue Reading

Cardin Urges Authority for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Recoup Damages from Accidental or Negligent Behavior

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, led a hearing today to spotlight 11 bills covering a wide range of subcommittee priorities. The bipartisan selection of legislation concern the Nations' water infrastructure, water use efficiency and pollution, improving Great Lakes water quality, containing the spread of invasive species, volunteer programs under the Fish and Wildlife Service, and improving the effectivene… Continue Reading

Cardin Assails Partisan Fight Over Women’s Health

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a cosponsor of the Protect Women's Health from Corporate Interference Act, expressed his frustration after the Senate was blocked through a procedural vote from considering this bill to restore women's rights. A response to the recent Hobby Lobby decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, the bill would restore the contraceptive coverage requirement guaranteed by the Affordable Care Act and protect coverage of other health services from companies that want … Continue Reading

Cardin Leads Effort In Senate To Protect Cemeteries From Desecration

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission), thanked his committee colleagues today for advancing in a bipartisan manner, a bill to explicitly define the desecration of cemeteries as a violation of the right to religious freedom. The bill, H.R. 4028, which is identical to Senator Cardin's legislation (S. 2466) introduced with Senator Jim Risc… Continue Reading

Cardin Responds To Vandalism In Carroll County

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) released the following statement in response to recent vandalism in Westminster, MD: "I was appalled to hear the news that such hateful graffiti was found on the walls of the former Army Reserve Center in Carroll County. America's immigration system is broken and needs urgent attention, but the way to achieve that is to urge the House of Representatives to pass the comprehensive immigration reform bill approved by the Senate last year. I was pleas… Continue Reading

To Protect Net Neutrality, Cardin and Senate Democrats Call to Reclassify Broadband as a Utility

Washington- As the comment period comes to a close for the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) proposed rulemaking on its Open Internet order, Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and twelve Senate Democrats are calling on the Commission to reclassify the transmission component of broadband Internet access as a telecommunications service under Title II of the Telecommunications Act. In a letter to be sent to the FCC today, the lawmakers point to the need for the FCC to … Continue Reading