Cardin, Mikulski Announce Federal Funding To Replace Three Police Vehicles Damaged By Super-Storm Sandy

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced that the City of Crisfield has been awarded a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDARD) grant of $44,685 to replace three police vehicles damaged by Super Storm Sandy. "We need to make sure that we have well equipped first responders in place to protect our families and communities," Senator Cardin said. "They may not know what to expect when they answer a call, but they should e… Continue Reading

Entire Maryland Congressional Delegation Unites Behind Prince George’s County As The Best Location For A New FBI Headquarters

Washington, DC - Led by U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, the entire Maryland Congressional delegation, including U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski, Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Rep. John P. Sarbanes, Rep. Donna F. Edwards, Rep. Andy Harris and Rep. John Delaney, have sent letters to the heads of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and General Services Administration (GSA) that strongly support a site in Prince George's County, M… Continue Reading

Cardin, Mikulski Announce Rural Development Funding for Improvement and Expansion of Water Infrastructure in Allegany

Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced that the Allegany Board of Commissioners has received a $566,000 grant from the Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA-RD) to extend Allegany County water mains to connect to the Rawlings community water system and replace the existing aged distribution system. In addition to the grant, the project will be funded by a loan of $190,000 from USDA-RD to Allegany County. "Western Maryland com… Continue Reading

Cardin Calls President Obama’s Budget A Good Concept But With Some Troubling Details

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, released the following statement in response to the release of President Obama's budget plan for fiscal year 2014. "I wholeheartedly agree with President Obama that we can invest in our nation's growth and reduce our deficits. His ideas to focus on infrastructure, education and research and engines of this growth are important. I also agree that tax reform is vitally necessary to any balanced fiscal pl… Continue Reading

Cardin Lauds Confirmation Of Sally Jewell As Interior Secretary

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, praised the strong bipartisan vote confirming REI chief executive Sally Jewell to be the next U.S. Secretary of the Interior. She was confirmed 87-11 to succeed Ken Salazar. "As Chairman of the Water and Wildlife Subcommittee of the Environment and Public Works Committee, I look forward to working with incoming Interior Secretary Sally Jewell on public lands and wildlife initiative… Continue Reading

Cardin, Delaney Host Bio-Tech Jobs Roundtable Discussion On Jobs, Future Economic Growth

ROCKVILLE, MD -- U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today joined U.S. Congressman John Delaney (MD-6) in hosting a roundtable discussion with executives in Montgomery County's bio-tech industry about future growth of the bio-tech industry and prospects for funding during sequestration. Sequestration - automatic, across-the-board spending cuts of $85 billion - is in effect through the FY2013 budget that ends September 30. The bio-tech industry is concerned that sequestration will limit their f… Continue Reading

U.S. Dot Agrees To Cardin, Mikulski, Ruppersberger, Delaney Request To Postpone Closure Of Federal Contract Air Traffic Control Towers

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski along with Representatives C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger and John Delaney (all D-Md.) today praised the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Ray LaHood's decision to agree with their request to postpone plans to close federal contract air traffic control towers, including at five Maryland regional airports. The announcement follows their letter yesterday calling for a postponement as members of Congress continue to work on eff… Continue Reading

Cardin, Mikulski Announce Federal Funding To Provide Life-Saving Firefighting Equipment In Carroll County

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced that $985,680 in federal grant funding has been awarded among eight Volunteer Fire Departments in Carroll County through the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. The regional award will be used to purchase life-saving firefighting equipment. "When a natural disaster occurs or we are faced with a terrorist attack, it is our first responders who provide the… Continue Reading

Cardin, Mikulski, Ruppersberger, Delaney Call On U.S. Department Of Transportation To Postpone Plan To Close Federal Contract Air Traffic Control Towers

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski along with Representatives C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger and John Delaney (all D-Md.) today called upon U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Ray LaHood to postpone plans to close federal contract air traffic control towers, including at five Maryland regional airports, as members of Congress work on efforts to cancel sequestration. "While we continue to call on President Obama to work with Congress to immediately eliminate … Continue Reading

Cardin Announces $10 Million Grant To Compete Final Phase Of Anacostia Regional Trail Network

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation has given final approval of a $10 million grant to complete the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens section of the Anacostia Regional Trail Network. The project extends, for almost 4 miles, the bicycle and pedestrian trail south from the end of the Bladensburg Path (on the D.C. border and Prince George's County, MD, along the east bank of the Anacostia River) to the existing path terminus under the Benn… Continue Reading

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

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced the Fallston Volunteer Fire & Ambulance Company won $278,711 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program to purchase life-saving firefighting equipment. As the Chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Mikulski fights each year to increase federal funding for the fire grants program. Senator Cardin is a member of the Fi… Continue Reading

Cardin, Mikulski Announce Federal Funding To Purchase Fire Fighting Equipment In Anne Arundel County

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today announced the Lake Shore Volunteer Fire Department won $52,650 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program to purchase new interoperable communication equipment. As Chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Mikulski fights each year to increase federal funding for the fire grants program. Senator Cardin is a member of the Finance Comm… Continue Reading

Cardin, Mikulski Announce $1 Million Grant To Protect High Risk Victims Of Domestic Violence

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced $1,058,820 in U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) grant funding to the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence (MNADV), a state-wide collaboration of public and private agencies that works to reduce domestic violence and its harmful effects on Marylanders. "We have made real progress in increasing awareness of domestic violence, but now it is time to put more resources into developing programs that will… Continue Reading

Cardin Participates In Dedication Of New Community-Based Outpatient Clinic At Fort Meade

FORT MEADE, MD -- U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today joined Army and Department of Veterans Affairs officials in dedicating a new 13,300-square foot state-of the-art Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) that will improve health care access for veterans in Anne Arundel and Howard counties. The new clinic will provide more convenient community based health care services for more than 80,000 veterans living in the Fort Meade area. It features 21 examination rooms, an audiology booth, and sta… Continue Reading

Cardin And Mikulski Praise Harriet Tubman National Monument Designation

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today praised President Barack Obama for issuing a proclamation designating the establishment of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument in Dorchester County on Maryland's Eastern Shore. This new National Monument will memorialize the tremendous contributions Harriet Tubman made to American history. The establishment of the National Monument will preserve the unique landscape associated with her life on … Continue Reading

Opening Statement U.S. Senator Ben Cardin SFRC Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs Rebalance To Asia: What Does It Mean For Democracy, Good Governance And Human Rights?

I am pleased to welcome everyone to the first hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs for the 113th Congress. This will be the first in a series of hearings examining different elements of the Administration's "Rebalance to Asia" policy. This policy realigns U.S. diplomatic, economic, and military resources toward the Asia Pacific Region to help create a regional set of norms that lead to greater peace, stability and economic growth in Asia. The… Continue Reading

Cardin Statement On Senate Passage Of FY13 Continuing Resolution

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, released the following statement after the Senate approved a Continuing Resolution that funds the federal government through Sept. 30, 2013, the end of the current fiscal year: "The good news is that the federal government will not shut down because the Senate failed to act; that is the result of passage of the Continuing Resolution passed today that funds the federal government for the remainder of FY1… Continue Reading

Cardin Urges Marylanders to Take Advantage of Free Online Tax Services Provided by IRS & Free File Alliance

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), today encouraged Marylanders to take advantage of free tax preparation and e-filing services available through the IRS Free File program. Since its inception in 2003, Free File has offered 70 percent of taxpayers free access to leading commercial tax preparation software. This year, every taxpayer with a 2012 Adjusted Gross Income of $57,000 or less may visit www.IRS.gov/freefile to prepare, complete and e-file their federal tax returns at absolutely… Continue Reading

Bipartisan Group Of 77 Senators Calls For President To Continue To Support Israel

WASHINGTON, DC- As President Obama departs on his trip to Israel and the West Bank, a bipartisan group of 77 senators led by Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Susan Collins (R-ME) today sent a letter to the President urging him to reaffirm his commitment to working closely with the new government of Israel, and to oppose Palestinian efforts to either circumvent direct negotiations with Israel or delegitimize Israel. "Palestinian efforts to bypass direct negotiations with Israel by taking unilate… Continue Reading

Cardin, Senators Urge CMS to Protect Affordable Dental Coverage for Children

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) has called on the Obama Administration to ensure that the pediatric dental benefits guaranteed by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are affordable and accessible for American families. He was joined by eight other Senators, including Finance Health Subcommittee Chairman John D. Rockefeller (D-WV), Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) and Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Sherrod Brown (D-OH, Robert P. Casey, J… Continue Reading