Cardin, Mikulski Praise Senate Confirmation Of Judge Paul William Grimm For Maryland District Court Seat

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced the Senate's confirmation of Judge Paul William Grimm to fill a vacancy on the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division, located in Baltimore. Senators Cardin and Mikulski recommended Judge Grimm, who currently serves as Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge for the District of Maryland. The Senate approved Judge Grimm in a bipartisan vote of 92-1. Judge Grimm will occupy the sea… Continue Reading

Cardin, Mikulski, Hoyer, Edwards: Prince George’s County Is The Right Choice For FBI Headquarters

WASHINGTON, DC -U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD), Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5), and Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (MD-4) released the following statement today after the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) released a Request for Interest for the new location of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters: "Today, the GSA issued a Request for Interest for the new location of the FBI headquarters, which lays out certain requirements for the p… Continue Reading

Cardin Votes For Amendment To Defense Bill Requiring President To Maintain His Commitment To Bring Home U.S. Troops From Afghanistan

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) has joined a bipartisan group of 20 senators in passing an amendment (No. 3096) to the FY 2013 National Defense Authorization Act that requires President Obama to maintain his commitment to responsibly wind down American forces presence in Afghanistan. The amendment passed the Senate by a vote of 62- to-33. The amendment, introduced by U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), transitions the primary responsibility for security to the Government of Afghanist… Continue Reading

Cardin, Mikulski Lead Maryland Delegation In Requesting Individual Assistance For Lower Shore Counties Impacted By Super-Storm Sandy

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) were joined by members of Maryland's Congressional Delegation today in sending a letter to President Barack Obama supporting Governor O'Malley's updated request for Individual Assistance for Lower Shore counties which experienced the most severe damage as a result Super-Storm Sandy. The letter was signed by Senators Mikulski and Cardin, as well as U.S. Representatives Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.), Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), Ch… Continue Reading

World AIDS Day Statement

December 1, 2012, marks the 25th World AIDS Day. This is a day to remember the lives lost to HIV/AIDS, our progress, and our commitment to conquer a pandemic that has left tens of millions around the world living with HIV or AIDS. Over the past decade, new HIV infections have fallen by 20 percent thanks in large part to the lifesaving antiretroviral treatment we and our partners are making available in every corner of the world. The United States has long been a leader in the global fight agai… Continue Reading

Cardin Says Unilateral Action By Palestinians At United Nations Is Not Helpful To Peace Process

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called today's vote in the United Nations on the status of the Palestinian delegation a "distraction from efforts to reignite direct negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians." "While not unexpected, I am deeply disappointed by the vote in the United Nation's General Assembly to change the Palestinian Authority's status from 'observer entity' to 'non-member observer state.' This m… Continue Reading

“Sandy And Its Impacts: A Local Perspective”

Chairman Boxer, thank you so much not just for convening this hearing, but for your leadership in dealing with these issues. I thank you not only for responding to the needs of the communities and individuals who are impacted by these severe weather events, but your leadership in directing this committee to look at ways in which we can make these communities less vulnerable. Sandy was a devastating storm. Eighty lives were lost as a result of the storm -- seven in my state of Maryland. Eight … Continue Reading

Cardin, Moran On Cuban Detention Of Alan Gross

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) expressed their disappointment surrounding the continued imprisonment of United States citizen Alan Gross. The joint statement follows a letter sent to Cuban President Raúl Castro by Senators Cardin and Moran in September 2012. The letter was signed by 44 members of the U.S. Senate, including Senators Cardin and Moran, and requested Mr. Gross' release on humanitarian grounds. "As the unjust imprisonment of Am… Continue Reading

Cardin Lauds Senate Vote To Protect Persons With Disabilities And Highlight U.S. Global Leadership

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spoke from the Senate floor in support of ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Video of Senator Cardin's remarks can be found here. "The world watches what the U.S. does and ratifying the CRPD represents an unparalleled opportunity to protect the rights of all people with disabilities, and protecting our own citizens when they are on foreign soil. We sho… Continue Reading

Cardin Introduces Amendment To Prevent Arbitrary Cuts To D.O.D Civilian Workforce, Contractors Without Regard To Workload

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would remove language from the defense authorization bill requiring the Secretary of Defense (DoD) to arbitrarily cut the civilian and contract workforce by at least 5 percent for an elimination of 36,000 civilian jobs and tens of thousands of Defense contractor jobs from FY 2012 through FY2017. This is in addition to the workforce cuts that DoD has already planned. … Continue Reading

Announcing $1.3 Million in Affordable Housing Funds for MD

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced that the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (FHLBank Atlanta) will provide $1.3 million in funding to create greater affordable housing opportunities in Maryland. "This is good news for Maryland families who need help finding or maintaining affordable housing," said Senator Cardin. "This grant is an important investment in housing by FHLBank Atlanta that will help revitalize three communities in Maryland. This… Continue Reading

U.S. Global Food Security Programs Save Lives And Transform Economies

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, chaired a hearing Wednesday to examine the effectiveness of current U.S. global food security programs and future opportunities. He noted that "roughly 870 million people go to bed hungry each night, down from one billion a year ago, making the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of halving the prevalence of undernourishment in the developing w… Continue Reading

Individual Disaster Assistance Request: Today Mikulski, Cardin Urge President Obama To Approve Individual Disaster Assistance For Lower Shore Counties Following Super-Storm Sandy

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin Barbara A. Mikulski and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today urged President Barack Obama to approve individual disaster assistance for Lower Shore communities in Dorchester, Somerset and Worcester Counties struggling to recover from Super-Storm Sandy. President Obama has issued a major disaster declaration and approved Governor O'Malley's request for public assistance and hazard mitigation. FEMA is still reviewing Maryland's request for individual assist… Continue Reading

Cardin, Collins Send Letter To Abbas Opposing Attempts By Palestinians To Pursue Non-Member State Status At The United Nations

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Susan Collins (R-ME) today sent a letter to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas opposing any unilateral attempts by the Palestinian Government to pursue non-member state status at the United Nations General Assembly. President Abbas has announced that the Palestinian Authority will present its bid for non-member state status at the United Nations on November 29. The Senators assert that "Palestinian statehood can only be realized as a… Continue Reading

Cardin, Mikulski Lead MD Delegation In Praising President For Signing Disaster Declaration For State Following Super-Storm Sandy

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) were joined by members of Maryland's Congressional Delegation today in applauding President Barack Obama for issuing a Declaration of Disaster for Maryland in the wake of Super-Storm Sandy. Senators Mikulski and Cardin were joined by U.S. Representatives Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.), Roscoe E. Bartlett (R-Md.), Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.), John P. Sarbanes (D-Md.) and … Continue Reading

Cardin Applauds Obama Administration On New Regulations For Health Insurers

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today applauded the Obama Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for issuing requirements that insurance companies will have to follow under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The new rules issued today outline requirements for insurance companies in three areas: market reforms, wellness programs and essential health benefits. "I want to commend the Obama Administration for developing these very important guidelines… Continue Reading

Cardin Joins Other Senators In Calling For End To Obstacles Facing Troops Burdened With Student Loan Debt

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD has joined U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and a group of 22 other U.S. Senators in sending a letter to the Executive Director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance urging her to establish best practices to ensure that service men and women have access to the full range of student loan benefits that they are entitled to by law. In the letter, the Senators wrote, "We were alarmed to learn that some student loan servicers are providing incomplete or… Continue Reading

Cardin Encourages Shoppers To Buy Local On “Small Business Saturday”

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, again is urging consumers to shop at local, independently owned businesses on the nation's third annual "Small Business Saturday," which falls between Black Friday and Cyber Monday during the heaviest shopping weekend of the year. Senator Cardin recently cosponsored a resolution (S. Res. 589) that designated November 24, 2012 as Small Business Saturday. "Small, locally owne… Continue Reading

Cardin Attends National Veteran Employment Summit

BALTIMORE -- U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today joined more than 80 health care, government and military leaders at the Second National Veteran Employment Summit for the Hero Health Hire program eto promote hiring veterans, disabled veterans and military spouses as part of our nation's health care workforce. Since its founding in 2011, 41 health care organizations have joined Hero Health Hire program. These health care organizations collectively employ approximately one million employees, a… Continue Reading

Cardin Expresses Disappointment With EPA Decision Not To Grant Waiver Of The Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS)

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today expressed disappointment with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) decision not to grant a waiver of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) requirement. A shortage of corn resulting from this year's drought has disproportionately harmed U.S. poultry and livestock growers. Senator Cardin supported the request for the waiver and also has introduced the RFS Flexibility Act, S. 3428, which would link the RFS's corn ethanol production mandate… Continue Reading