Press Releases & Statements
SENATORS COLLINS, CARDIN URGE EPA TO RECONSIDER E15 WAIVER
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), along with a bipartisan group of six colleagues, today urged the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reconsider the agency's waiver decision to allow the use of a 15 percent ethanol fuel blend (E15) for cars and light trucks model year 2007 or newer. In a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, the Senators cited specific concerns regarding the risks of E15 misfueling, which could… Continue Reading
January 05, 2011
CARDIN CELEBRATES MIKULSKI MILESTONE AS LONGEST-SERVING FEMALE SENATOR
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today honored his fellow senator from Maryland, Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), for becoming the longest serving female senator in U.S. history. Senator Cardin offered the following remarks from the floor of the U.S. Senate following passage of a resolution honoring Senator Mikulski's service. "Marylanders take pride in their hall of famers, from Cal Ripken our Iron Man, to Brooks Robinson with the gol… Continue Reading
January 04, 2011
CARDIN PROMISES TO PROTECT MARYLAND SENIORS FROM EFFORTS TO TAKE AWAY NEW HEALTH CARE BENEFITS
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) hosted a conference call today with leading senior advocates from Maryland and national organizations to review the new health care benefits available to seniors as of January 1 thanks to the health care reform law passed by Congress last year. During the call, Senator Cardin promised to do all he could to stop efforts to repeal critical new benefits that could cost Maryland seniors hundreds of millions of dollars. New benefits f… Continue Reading
December 22, 2010
CARDIN HAILS PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION TO HELP PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME AMERICANS
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, praised Senate passage today of legislation (H.R. 6398) that will ensure the continuation of legal assistance to low-income Americans. The bill extends FDIC insurance protections to the Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA), which are used to hold client funds that cannot earn interest for an individual client. If no action had been taken, these protections would have expired December 31, 2010… Continue Reading
December 22, 2010
CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT IN CECIL COUNTY
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced the Water Witch Fire Company won $76,760 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. Senator Cardin is chairman of the Homeland S… Continue Reading
December 21, 2010
CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FUNDS IN THE FEDERAL CHECKBOOK TO CREATE JOBS, IMPROVE AVIATION SERVICE IN HAGERSTOWN
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded $272,975 in grant funding to establish the Aviation Maintenance Technology School at Hagerstown Regional Airport in Hagerstown, Maryland. The school, to be administered by the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (PIA), will train a pool of local, skilled workers capable of serving the aircraft maintenance needs at the reg… Continue Reading
December 21, 2010
CARDIN INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE HOW CLASSIFIED INFORMATION IS USED IN ESPIONAGE, TERRORISM AND NARCOTICS CASES
Washington - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Terrorism and Homeland Security Subcommittee, today introduced legislation to improve the Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA). CIPA was enacted in 1980 with bipartisan support to address the "disclose or dismiss" dilemma that primarily arose in espionage prosecutions when a defendant would threaten the government with the disclosure of classified information if the government did not drop … Continue Reading
December 21, 2010
CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FUNDS IN THE FEDERAL CHECKBOOK TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IN WESTERN MARYLAND
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded $12,310 in grant funding to the Western Maryland Area Health Education Center (AHEC) in Cumberland, Allegany County, to support the recruitment and retention of health care workers in rural Western Maryland. "Every Marylander and every American should have access to quality, affordable health care and this ARC grant helps make that… Continue Reading
December 20, 2010
CARDIN, KRATOVIL PRAISE SENATE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT OUR NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM
Washington, DC - Late Friday, the U.S. Senate passed H.R. 4973, The National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Improvement Act of 2010 . Written and introduced by Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-MD) and shepherded through the Senate by U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), H.R. 4973 strengthens existing volunteer coordination and engagement programs for the National Wildlife Refuge System. The legislation now goes to the President for his signature. … Continue Reading
December 20, 2010
CARDIN, MIKULSKI APPLAUD CONFIRMATION OF DISTRICT COURT JUDGES
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced the Senate's confirmation of Maryland Court of Special Appeals Judge Ellen Hollander and U.S. Magistrate Judge James Bredar to vacancies on the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division, located in Baltimore, Maryland. Judge Hollander will occupy the seat formerly held by Judge Andre Davis, who was conf… Continue Reading
December 18, 2010
CARDIN STATEMENT ON SENATE FAILURE TO PROCEED ON THE DREAM ACT
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) released the following statement today after the Senate was blocked from considering the DREAM Act: "I am disappointed that a small minority in the Senate continues to block the DREAM Act from consideration. This is important legislation that started out with bipartisan support but, despite substantive changes, has been twisted into something it is not. This is a compassionate bill that recognizes that we should not hold innocent c… Continue Reading
December 18, 2010
CARDIN PRAISES REPEAL OF 'DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL'
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) released the following statement after Senate passage of a stand-alone bill to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Senator Cardin is an original cosponsor of this bill to allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the U.S. Armed Forces. "The Senate has now acted to ensure that brave men and women of our military can continue to serve with honesty and integrity. I firmly believe that sexual orientation, race, religio… Continue Reading
December 17, 2010
CARDIN ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT TO CLEAN UP CONTAMINATION AT FORT DETRICK
WASHINGTON - After months of working with Base Command at Fort Detrick, the Department of Defense, and the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) announced today that a Federal Facilities Agreement (FFA) to remediate the Superfund sites that are located at Fort Detrick has been signed. " Addressing the legacy of chemical contaminants at Fort Detrick is overdue. I am very pleased that a formal agreement dictating the process, scope and responsibili… Continue Reading
December 16, 2010
CARDIN PLEASED WITH MILITARY ASSESSMENT IN AFGHANISTAN BUT CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF POLITICAL AND CIVILIAN PROGRESS
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement today after the Obama Administration released its strategy review of the war in Afghanistan. "I am pleased to hear that we remain on track for beginning the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan next summer. Secretary of Defense Gate's statement earlier today that the pr… Continue Reading
December 14, 2010
CARDIN HAILS COMMITTEE PASSAGE OF INTERNATIONAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) released the following statement after the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA). "I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA), a bill specifically designed to stop the brutal violence against girls and women that afflict… Continue Reading
December 10, 2010
ON THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF JUDGE G. THOMAS PORTEOUS, JR. U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE, EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
Mr. President, one of the most solemn obligations of Senators is try impeachments. The Constitution provides that the Senate shall have the "sole power to try all impeachments," and that "all civil officers of the United States shall be removed from office on impeachment" for various offenses. Senators also take a special oath when hearing an impeachment case before the Senate holds an impeachment trial. I recently heard evidence in the case of Judge Porteous, who would have lifetime tenure… Continue Reading
December 10, 2010
CARDIN COSPONSORS STAND-ALONE BILL TO REPEAL DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL POLICY
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) released the following statement after the Senate fell short of the required votes that would have allowed consideration of the Defense Authorization bill, including a repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Senator Cardin is a cosponsor of a Senate measure that would repeal the law and allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the U.S. Armed Forces. "The Pentagon and our mil… Continue Reading
December 09, 2010
CARDIN INTRODUCES BILL TO PROTECT AMERICANS FROM CYBERCRIMINALS AND CYBERTERRORISTS
MP3 AUDIO FILE ATTACHED College Park, MD - At the height of the cybershopping season and just as millions of Americans prepare to use their e-tickets to board airlines around the country for the holidays, U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Terrorism and Homeland Security Subcommittee, has introduced major legislation that would require the government to work with the private sector to propose mini… Continue Reading
December 06, 2010
CARDIN VOTES TO PROTECT MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES FROM TAX INCREASES DURING TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES
Washington, DC -- U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) , a member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement after the Senate was blocked from considering provisions that would extend tax cuts for middle class Americans. "During these difficult economic times, as our nation is still recovering from the worst recession in generations, it is extremely important that we extend tax relief to middle-income families. At this critical time, I will do all that I can … Continue Reading
December 03, 2010
CARDIN OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO VICTIMS OF ISRAEL'S LARGEST FOREST FIRE, LAUDS INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT TO BATTLE ONGOING BLAZE
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following statement in support of Israel. "My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Israel, particularly the families of those who have perished in one of the country's worst natural disasters and those who have been displaced from their homes by the ongoing fire. At this time of great national cri… Continue Reading
