Senators Cardin And Collins Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Repeal Medicare Therapy Caps

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Susan Collins (R-ME) have re-introduced legislation to protect Medicare beneficiaries from arbitrary limits on outpatient therapy services that are often needed to recover from debilitating illnesses, such as stroke, and that are important to the effective management of conditions such as multiple sclerosis and arthritis. The Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act, S.367, would permanently repeal the $1,900 therapy "caps" imposed on phy… Continue Reading

Cardin To Chair East Asia And Pacific Affairs Subcommittee, Lead U.S. Helsinki Commission

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a senior member of the Senator Foreign Relations Committee, has been named the Chairman of the East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee. He takes over this position from retired Senator Jim Webb. In addition, at the start of the 113th Congress, Senator Cardin was appointed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to resume leadership of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission). Rotating between the House and … Continue Reading

Cardin, Mikulski Announce Federal Funding For Tuition Assistance For Volunteer Firefighters In Prince George’s County

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced that the Morningside Volunteer Fire Department and the Chillum-Adelphi Volunteer Fire Department won $446,245 and $103,500, respectively, in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) program to provide tuition assistance for volunteer firefighters. As Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Mikulski figh… Continue Reading

Cardin Urges Lew To Help Small Businesses Gain Access To Capital, Once Confirmed As Treasury Secretary

Washington, DC - During today's confirmation hearing for Jack Lew to be the next Treasury Secretary, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, encouraged the nominee to help qualified small businesses gain access to capital they so urgently need to build and grow. "Jack Lew demonstrated to the Finance Committee today that he has a firm grasp of the fiscal challenges facing American families and our nation, and that he has the experience that he can draw upon … Continue Reading

Cardin Calls On House To Quickly Send VAWA To The President To Be Signed Into Law

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) praised Senate passage of a reauthorization the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), a long-standing law to stop violence against women and extend protections to other groups. Senator Cardin is a cosponsor of S. 47 and has cosponsored previous versions of the bill considered by the Senate. It was approved today by a vote of 78-22 and now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration. Click here to download video of Senator Cardin's floor statem… Continue Reading

Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization

Madam President, I take this time because I think it is important people recognize that what we do has such an important impact on local law enforcement and on local agencies. Last year I hosted a roundtable discussion in Prince George's County, MD, to discuss the importance of reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act, known as VAWA. This roundtable brought together victims, social service agencies, law enforcement, clergy, and others on the frontline of providing support and protection … Continue Reading

Cardin Addresses The Baltimore Council On Foreign Affairs About The Sergei Magnitsky Law And America’s Role In Promoting Human Rights In The World

BALTIMORE -- U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, yesterday evening addressed the Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs about the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act and the importance of promoting human rights around the world. The title of the Senator's speech was: Magnitsky: Reaffirming America's Leadership on Human Rights. The Magnitsky bill, which was introduced by Senator Cardin in 2011,… Continue Reading

Cardin, Mikulski Announce $8.6 Million In Federal Community Development Block Grant Funding For Lower Shore Recovery From Sandy

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski, Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee(both D-Md.) today announced that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will award $8.6 million in federal funding through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to Maryland communities struggling to recover from Super-Storm Sandy. These funds were included in the Super-Storm Sandy Supplemental Appropriations bill which passed the Senate last month to help… Continue Reading

Cardin, Mikulski Tell USDA: Rules On Labeling Meat Origin Must Put Americans First

Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (Both D-MD), have signed a letter with a bipartisan coalition of Senators in calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative to work with consumers, ranchers and meatpackers to make sure that American families know where their meat comes from. The World Trade Organization recently required the USDA to adjust its rules requiring American retailers to clearly label where meat was raised and processed… Continue Reading

Cardin Urges Long-Term, Bipartisan Action To Solve Our Fiscal Problems

Washington, DC -Following a Senate vote on H.R. 325, a temporary extension of the debt ceiling limit, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, called on his colleagues to come together to find a bipartisan, long-term solution to our nation's fiscal problems. "Like every American family that has used a credit card, when a bill is due, it needs to be paid in a timely manner. The United States of America also has to pay its bills. At no time in our history has our … Continue Reading

Black History Month February 2013

Black History Month is a time to honor the achievements and sacrifices of African Americans throughout our nation's history. It also is a time to celebrate America's rich diversity, which has become one of our country's greatest strengths. In 1926, noting the lack of attention to the accomplishments of African Americans, Dr. Carter G. Woodson helped establish Black History Month as a way to recognize and honor the painful history as well as the many achievements of African Americans. Today,… Continue Reading

Cardin, Boxer and 15 Senate Colleagues Call for EPA Nominee with a Strong Record on Protecting Public Health

Washington, D.C. - Senator Barbara Boxer, Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Senator Ben Cardin Chairman of the Water and Wildlife Subcommittee joined with 15 Senate colleagues on a letter to President Obama urging him to nominate a strong leader as the next Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The letter called for an EPA nominee with a "demonstrated record of working to safeguard our children and families" who will "enforce the Clean Air Act and… Continue Reading

Cardin Applauds Swift Confirmation Of John Kerry As Secretary Of State

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, lauded the swift confirmation of Senator John Kerry to be U.S. Secretary of State. "John Kerry will serve our nation well as America's top diplomat. I had the privilege of serving on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with Senator Kerry since arriving in the U.S. Senate six years ago and I know that he is committed to ensuring that robust diplomacy and development can function alongside d… Continue Reading

Mikulski, Cardin Announce Federal Funding To Purchase Lifesaving Equipment For Ocean City First Responders

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today announced the Ocean City Fire Department will receive $383,325 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program to purchase lifesaving rescue equipment. As Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Mikulski fights each year to increase federal funding for the fire grants program. Senator Cardin is a member of the Finance Committee. … Continue Reading

Cardin Meets With Treasury Nominee Jack Lew

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, met today with Jack Lew, President Obama's nominee for Treasury Secretary, in advance of his confirmation hearing. "Today's meeting with Jack Lew has reinforced my opinion that he is the right person to lead the U.S. Treasury Department at this critical time for America's economy. I have known Jack for many years and I know him to be is a man of integrity and intelligence who will use his strong lead… Continue Reading

Cardin, Mikulski Announce Senate Passage Of Super-Storm Sandy Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced Senate passage of the Super-Storm Sandy Supplemental Appropriations Bill, which includes provisions that would provide additional support to states like Maryland that continue struggle in recovering from the devastating storm. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 62 to 36 and comes a full month following the Senate's passage of similar legislation on December 28, 2012 which House Republicans failed to t… Continue Reading

Cardin Applauds Bipartisan Framework For Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a supporter of comprehensive immigration reform, released the following statement in response to the bipartisan immigration framework announced today. The measure would strengthen our border security, create a tough but fair legalization program, create a workable system to ensure that employers only hire legal workers in the future, and make sure we admit workers that can help America better compete in the 21st century global marketplace. "Ther… Continue Reading

Cardin, Mikulski Call On Department Of Veterans Affairs To Develop Action Plan To Process Delayed VA Claims In Baltimore Region

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today called upon Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric Shinseki to address continued delays in processing VA claims at the Baltimore Regional Office. In their letter, the Senators call on the VA to develop and execute an action plan to address the backlog and quality issues as well as assign a senior level official to provide progress reports on the implementation of their plan. Their letter follows a recent… Continue Reading

Cardin Statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day January 27, 2013

"International Holocaust Remembrance Day is about remembering and never forgetting. On January 27, 1945 Soviet troops liberated the extermination camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau. The atrocities at Auschwitz and across Europe that were committed by the Nazi regime cost the lives of 11 million people -- 6 million of them Jews -- none deserving such an end. "On this anniversary, and every day, the world community grieves for those who were lost and share in the anguish of the survivors whose lives wer… Continue Reading

Cardin Receives Award from the Development District Association of Appalachia

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today was honored for his strong commitment to the people of Appalachia when the Development District Association of Appalachia (DDAA) presented him with the 2012 Congressional Award during the Mountain Maryland PACE Legislative Breakfast in Annapolis. The Congressional Award is presented each year by the DDAA to a member of Congress for outstanding service to the people of Appalachia and support of the work of the local development districts and the … Continue Reading