Cardin, Mikulski Announce Federal Funding To Purchase Life-Saving Ems Equipment In Queen Anne’s County

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced the Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department has been awarded $44,672 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. The award will be used to purchase emergency medical services equipment. "Our first responders need the right resources at the ready to protect them as they protect the public during natural disasters or man-made crises.… Continue Reading

Cardin, Mikulski Announce Federal Funding To Purchase Life-Saving Firefighting Equipment In Wicomico County

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced the Salisbury Fire Department has been awarded $187,389 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. The West Side Volunteer Fire Department also received an AFG award for $60,805. Both awards will be used to purchase life-saving firefighting equipment. "Our first responders need the right resources at the ready to protect them a… Continue Reading

Cardin, Mikulski Announce Federal Funding To Purchase Fire Prevention Equipment In Prince George’s County

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced the Volunteer Fire Company #1 of Capitol Heights, MD has been awarded $139,419 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grants, a part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program (AFG). The award will be used to purchase smoke detectors for families in Capitol Heights. "Our first responders need the right resources at the ready to… Continue Reading

Service Academy Appointments

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), today announced that 15 Marylanders have accepted appointments to the U.S. Service Academies for the 2013-2014 academic year. The five U.S. service academies -- the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy -- recruit top-notch young American men and women who will appreciate an excellent education and a chance to serve their country. "Every year, it is m… Continue Reading

Cardin, Mikulski Praise Administration For Ending ATC Furloughs And Keeping 149 Contract Towers Open

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Ben Cardin (both D-MD) today praised the Obama Administration for keeping all of the 149 federal air traffic control contract towers (ATC) in the country open. This includes the five federal ATC contract towers in Maryland located in Easton, Frederick, Hagerstown, Martin and Salisbury-Ocean City. The announcement by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) comes after passage of legislation by Congress giving the U.S. Department of Trans… Continue Reading

Cardin Kicks Off “Made In Maryland” Tour; Holds Roundtable Discussion With Eastern Shore Economic Development Officials

WYE MILLS, MD -- U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, today visited the Paul Reed Smith (PRS) Guitar Factory in Stevensville to kick off his "Made in Maryland" tour highlighting the importance of manufacturing in Maryland in job creation and in future economic growth. The PRS Guitar Factory makes high-end guitars favored by some of the most prominent musicians in the world, including guitar great Carlos Santana. The company was foun… Continue Reading

Cardin Hails Passage Of Bill To End Air Traffic Controller Furloughs

Washington, DC -- U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, praised Senate action late Thursday to alleviate the furloughs of air traffic controllers due to sequestration. The House of Representatives approved the measure on Friday. "Getting our air traffic controllers back on the job is the right thing to do. The reverberations of flight delays throughout our economy have been harmful. We've found a fix for this one problem, but it's time for us to take broade… Continue Reading

Cardin, Mikulski Announce Federal Funding To Purchase Life-Saving Firefighting Equipment In Kent County

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced the Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Company has been awarded $222,300 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. The Betterton Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. also received an AFG award for $147,440. Both awards will be used to purchase life-saving firefighting equipment. As the Chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Mikulski fi… Continue Reading

Cardin , Mikulski Announce Federal Funding For Emergency Equipment And Training For Firefighters In Howard County

WASHINGTON - U.S. Ben Cardin and Senators Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced the Howard County Department of Fire Rescue Services has been awarded $544,060 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program for emergency firefighting equipment and a MayDay training program. As the Chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Mikulski fights each year to increase federal funding for the fire grants program. Se… Continue Reading

Cardin Statement On South East Asian New Year’s Festivals

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations released the following statement "As Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, I want to wish a Happy New Year to our Southeast Asian friends celebrating their New Year's festivals from April 13-16. These Buddhist New Year's festivals mark a time of renewal and cleansing, of respect to elders and a celebration of life. "To our Thai friends I wish Suk san wan son… Continue Reading

Cardin, Mikulski Introduce Bill To Study Possible Transfer Of President Street Station To National Park Service

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) have re-introduced legislation (S. 770) to help ensure the future of Baltimore's historic President Street Station by studying the possibility of transferring it to the National Park Service (NPS). Located on President Street in downtown Baltimore, the President Street Station was completed in 1850 and is considered an architectural and historic gem. The President Street Station played a crucial role in the Civil War, t… Continue Reading

Cardin Praises Civil Rights Work Of Marylander Tom Perez At His Nomination Hearing To Be Labor Secretary

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) introduced fellow Marylander Thomas "Tom" Perez today before the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee during his confirmation hearing to become the next Secretary of Labor. "Tom Perez has made his home state of Maryland proud as an aggressive champion for justice and the public good his entire career at the federal, state and local levels of government. In his current position as Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights … Continue Reading

Cardin Thanks Sergei Magnitsky’s Family For Their Sacrifice

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, met at the U.S. Capitol with the family of the late Sergei Magnitsky who died in a Russian prison. Natalya Magnitskaya (mother of Sergei Magnitsky), Natasha Magnitskaya (widow of Sergei Magnitsky) and Nikita Magnitsky (son of Sergei Magnitsky) are visiting the U.S. for the first time just one week after the Administration released the first list… Continue Reading

Cardin Says Senate Must Take Action In The Face Of Continuing Gun Violence

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) issued the following statement after the Senate failed to pass amendments to the Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013 (S. 649). "The safety of our children and communities should never be put at risk by partisan gridlock. It is outrageous that the Senate could not come together on common sense gun safety legislation despite public support for so many of these measures. I support universal background checks for all firearms bu… Continue Reading

Cardin Introduces Bipartisan Bill To Encourage Americans To Save More For Retirement Security

Washington, DC -- U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, has introduced a bill aimed at helping more Americans gain retirement savings and security through private employee ownership. The Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act (S. 742) eliminates barriers that a business and its owners currently face in establishing a new S corporation ESOP or expanding the employee-ownership stake in an S corporation. Studies have shown that employees of S … Continue Reading

S. 649, SAFE COMMUNITIES, SAFE SCHOOLS ACT OF 2013

Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, let me begin by offering my deepest condolences on behalf of all the people of Maryland for the 20 students and 6 adults who lost their lives at the hands of a single shooter at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, on December 14, 2012. Some of the victims put themselves in harm's way in order to save the lives of children, true heroes. We have an obligation to the Sandy Hook families to seize this moment, set our political fears aside, and act responsibl… Continue Reading

Cardin , Mikulski Call For Immediate Addition Of Temporary Claims Officers At Baltimore VA Office While Permanent Staff Undergoes Training

BALTIMORE, Md. - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin Barbara A. Mikulski and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today in a letter to U.S. Secretary for Veterans Affairs (VA) Eric K. Shinseki and Baltimore Regional Office Director Michael A. Scheibel called for the immediate dispatch of additional staff to the VA's Baltimore Regional Office while all permanent claims processors and supervisors are undergoing comprehensive training to improve service and reduce errors and wait times. The VA's Baltimore Re… Continue Reading

Cardin Calls Public Release Of Initial Magnitsky List A Historic Step

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Finance committees, Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and author of the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act, made the following statement regarding the first public release of individuals held accountable for gross human rights violations under the new law. "This first batch of names released by the administration pursuant to the Magnitsky Act is a serious and historic first step. W… Continue Reading

Cardin Praises EPA Nominee McCarthy For Her Strong Defense Of Public Health And The Environment

Washington, DC - At her confirmation hearing today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee and Chairman of its Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, praised Gina McCarthy, current Assistant Administrator at the Environmental Protection Agency and President Obama's nominee to be the next administrator, for her public service and dedication. "The Environmental Protection Agency has a responsibility to PROTECT the health and safety of the American peo… Continue Reading

Cardin Lauds Senate Vote To Move Forward Reasonable Gun Safety Legislation

Washington, DC - Following the bipartisan cloture vote on S. 649, the Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) released the following statement: "We must seize this moment, set our political fears aside, and act responsibly. America has mourned more than 3,300 victims of gun violence nationwide since the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newton, Connecticut. Each heartbreaking event is shocking in its own right but also tears us apart wondering what coul… Continue Reading