Press Releases & Statements
CARDIN SAYS U.S. SHOULD BE PREPARED TO CUT OFF AID TO NEW MIDDLE EAST GOVERNMENTS THAT DO NOT RESPECT INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) and Chairman of the Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, spoke today at an SFRC hearing entitled the "Popular Uprisings in the Middle East: The Implications for U.S. Policy." Ambassador Bill Burns, Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Department of State, testified before the Committee. "As recent events in the Middle East demonstrate, the U.S. is of… Continue Reading
March 17, 2011
CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FEDERAL FUNDING TO RECRUIT VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS IN HARFORD COUNTY
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced the Abingdon Volunteer Fire Department won $186,000 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program to hire a full time recruiter to recruit & retain volunteer firefighters. As a member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Mikulski fights each year to increase federal … Continue Reading
March 16, 2011
CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FEDERAL FUNDING TO RECRUIT VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS IN BALTIMORE COUNTY
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski and (both D-Md.) today announced the Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department won $14,000 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program to recruit volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians. As a member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Mikulski fights each year to increase federal fundin… Continue Reading
March 16, 2011
SENATORS CARDIN, MIKULSKI URGE SECRETARY OF NAVY TO KEEP DECATUR H.S. NJROTC PROGRAM
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) have joined with Congressman Andy Harris (MD-1 st) in writing to the Secretary of Navy to urge him to reconsider dismantling the Naval Junior Officer Reserve Training Corps (NJROTC) program at Stephen Decatur High School in Berlin. The Naval Service Training Command has notified the Superintendent of the Worcester County Public Schools that Decatur High School's NJROTC would be disestablished effective June 30, 2011… Continue Reading
March 16, 2011
CARDIN PRAISES USDOT DECISION MAKING NORTHEAST CORRIDOR ELIGIBLE FOR HIGH-SPEED RAIL FUNDS
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) issued the following statement in response to the announcement that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has designated the Northeast Corridor, from Washington, DC, to Boston, MA, as the eleventh and final High-Speed Rail Corridor in the United States. This designation would make Maryland and other states along the Northeast Corridor eligible for the reprogramming of $2.4 billion in federal funding that the state of Florida recently rejec… Continue Reading
March 16, 2011
CARDIN SPEAKS OUT AGAINST CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ON RADICALIZATION OF AMERICAN MUSLIMS
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Co-Chair of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, spoke from the floor of the Senate Tuesday to condemn hearings held late last week in the House of Representatives called the " The Extent of Radicalization in the American Muslim Community and that Community's Response." Excerpts of Senator Cardin's remarks are below. His full statement can be found at www.cardin.senate.govand video of his remarks … Continue Reading
March 15, 2011
PREVENTING TERRORISM AND PROTECTING CIVIL LIBERTIES
MR. CARDIN. Mr. President, I rise today to share my thoughts on the hearings held late last week in the House of Representatives called the "The Extent of Radicalization in the American Muslim Community and that Community's Response." Congressional hearings are supposed to serve an important role of oversight, investigation or education, among other purposes, however, this particular hearing -- billed as the first of a series - served only to fan flames of fear and division. My firs… Continue Reading
March 14, 2011
CARDIN STATEMENT ON THE SENTENCING OF USAID CONTRACTOR ALAN GROSS
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement in response to the sentencing of American Alan Gross to 15 years in Cuban prison. "While not surprising, the Cuban Government's sentencing of American Alan Gross is disappointing. After more than a year in detention, Mr. Gross should be immediately and unconditionally released so he can return home. The health and humanitarian needs of Mr. Gross and his family … Continue Reading
March 11, 2011
CARDIN, MIKULSKI CHARGE PROPOSED CUTS TO HEAD START PROGRAM WILL HURT MARYLAND CHILDREN, FAMILIES
BALTIMORE -- U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today visited St. Jerome's Head Start program in Baltimore City to highlight what significant cuts to funding for the Head Start program would mean to Maryland children and families. Republicans have called for cutting $1 billion from the Head Start program nationwide, which would reduce funding for Maryland's Head Start program by $12.2 million. Such a budget cut would kick more than 2,300 Maryland children out of t… Continue Reading
March 10, 2011
DEMOCRATS STAND WITH VETERANS ADVOCATES TO OPPOSE REPUBLICANS EXTREME PLAN THAT WOULD DENY HOUSING TO 10,000 HOMELESS VETERANS
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD)and other Senators from across the country today stood with advocates for homeless veterans to oppose a provision in Republicans' reckless spending proposal that would cut 10,000 housing vouchers that would keep homeless veterans off the streets next year. The Republicans' proposed cut would eliminate funding for the successful HUD/VASH grant program that provides homeless veterans with a year-long rental voucher. These cuts would seriously threat… Continue Reading
March 10, 2011
CARDIN INTRODUCES BILL TO PROTECT THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE AND OTHER MIGRATORY BIRDS
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, today introduced a bill that would reauthorize the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act . This bill promotes long-term conservation, education, research, monitoring, and habitat protection for more than 350 species of neotropical migratory birds that breed in North America in the summer and spend their winters in tropical climates south of our bor… Continue Reading
March 09, 2011
CARDIN, COBURN INTRODUCE BILL TO ELIMINATE ETHANOL SUBSIDY
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD)and Tom Coburn (R-OK) today introduced a bill to save taxpayers $6 billion by repealing the costly and ineffective Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) or "blenders tax credit," which provides .45 cents per gallon to blenders of ethanol. Last week, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report describing the tax credit as "largely unneeded today to ensure demand for domestic ethanol production." "As our economy begins to g… Continue Reading
March 09, 2011
CARDIN, MIKULSKI APPLAUD FUNDING FOR CRISFIELD TO PURCHASE NEW POLICE CARS
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced a $32,956 U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant for the City of Crisfield to purchase two new police vehicles equipped with video surveillance. "Our law enforcement officials are dedicated to protecting our community, but they must have the necessary equipment to do their jobs effectively," said Senator Cardin. "This grant will enable police officers to protect homeowners and businesse… Continue Reading
March 08, 2011
CARDIN INTRODUCES BILL TO REDUCE EXCESSIVE INTEREST PAYMENTS ON FHA-BACKED HOME MORTGAGES
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) has introduced legislation that would prohibit banks and other lenders from charging interest payments through the end of the month on loans that have been paid off earlier. Currently, Federal Housing Administration (FHA) regulations allow lenders to collect interest from homeowners through the end of the month, even if the homeowner has paid off the loan earlier in the month. "This is an issue of fairness," said Senator Cardin, a member of the Sena… Continue Reading
March 07, 2011
CARDIN, BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS HONOR 100th ANNIVERSARY OF INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY
WASHINGTON, DC -In honor of the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day, U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME), and Susan M. Collins (R-ME) introduced a resolution recognizing the global day, which passed the Senate unanimously. International Women's Day, to be observed on March 8th, celebrates the economic, political, and social achievements of women past, present, and future and is a day to recognize the obstacles that women still fa… Continue Reading
March 04, 2011
CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FUNDING TO UPGRADE WILLIAMSPORTS WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND CREATE JOBS
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded Williamsport a $325,000 grant to rehabilitate the town's aging sewer system. The funding will be used to renovate and upgrade four 1950s-era pump stations that have safety concerns and problems with low-performance. The renovations will improve sewer service to 106 businesses and 561 households. It also is expected to create 25 new jobs ov… Continue Reading
March 04, 2011
CARDIN, MIKULSKI CALL FOR FCC TO CONSIDER IN-STATE TV BROADCASTS FOR GARRETT COUNTY
WASHINGTON - U.S. Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) have sent a letter to the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission urging the agency to come up with a "common sense" solution that will allow residents of Garrett County to receive "in-state" TV broadcasts. Currently, Garrett County is considered part of the Pittsburgh, PA media market and receives Pennsylvania news, sports and other programming. Below is test of the letter sent by Senators Cardin and Mikulski to J… Continue Reading
March 04, 2011
CARDIN, BOXER, EPW SENATORS STATEMENT ON INHOFE/UPTON BILL THAT WOULD PERMANENTLY BLOCK PROTECTIONS FROM CARBON POLLUTION
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), joined with Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, and other EPW Committee members today in releasing the following response to a bill introduced today by Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) in the Senate and Representative Fred Upton (R-MI) in the House that would hamstring the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to implement the Clean Air Act and permanently block the agency from curbing carbon pollu… Continue Reading
March 02, 2011
CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) announced today that two volunteer fire departments in Washington County will receive nearly $200,000 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) to purchase firefighting equipment. As a member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Mikulski fights each to increase federal funding for the fire grants program. "Now m… Continue Reading
March 02, 2011
CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT IN FREDERICK COUNTY
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced the Frederick Co. Division of Fire & Rescue Services has been awarded $152,080 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program to purchase firefighting equipment. As a member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Mikulski fights each year to increase federal funding for the fire grants program. … Continue Reading