Cardin Praises DOJ Plea Deal With BP To Help Fund Gulf Restoration Efforts

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, reacted to Attorney General Eric Holder's announcement of a criminal plea deal and settlement stemming from the 2010 BP Oil Spill with the following comments: "The explosion of BP's Deepwater Horizon was one of the worst environmental disasters in our nation's history. Over 87 days, five million barrels of oil gushed into the Gulf of Mexico. The tragic event c… Continue Reading

Cardin Calls On Gaza Militants To End Their Deadly Rocket Barrage Of Israeli Civilians

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senator Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement in response to the numerous, ongoing rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel: "I strongly support Israel's right to defend its citizens against threats to its security and existence. The recent military action in Gaza is a direct response to numerous and ongoing rocket attacks from militants in the Hamas-controlled Gaza, which have injured dozens of Israeli citiz… Continue Reading

Cardin Applauds Selection Of Frederick Police Chief Dine To Head U.S. Capitol Police Force

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today applauded the selection of Frederick Police Chief Kim Dine to head the U.S. Capitol Police Force. Chief Dine served as the chief of the Frederick Police Department for the past 10 years and also is the former Washington, D.C. assistant police chief. His selection was announced today by the Capitol Police Board. "I applaud the selection of Chief Dine to lead the U.S. Capitol Police Force. He is experienced, professional and sensitive to diverse… Continue Reading

Cardin Praises Final Passage Of Record Whistleblower Protections For TSA And Other Federal Workers

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) lauded final passage of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (S. 743) that extends to federal workers, including Transportation Safety Administration employees, landmark whistleblower protections for uncovering illegal activity, gross mismanagement or waste, abuse of authority or danger to the public. "Classified information should be protected, but if and when the public trust is abused and taxpayer funds are wasted, federal workers hav… Continue Reading

Cardin, Mikulski Lead Maryland Delegation In Requesting Major Disaster Declaration For State Of Maryland 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 sending a letter to President Barack Obama supporting Governor O'Malley's request for a declaration of a major disaster for the State of Maryland as a result of Super-Storm Sandy. If awarded, Maryland will become eligible for federal disaster recovery dollars through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), ensuring the state's already strained … Continue Reading

Cardin, Mikulski Announce $66.3 Million In Federal Energy Assistance Funding For Low-Income Maryland Families

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced that Maryland low-income families will receive $66.3 million in federal energy assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help Marylanders stay warm this winter. "This is good news for Maryland families who need to know that their homes will be safe and warm during the cold winter months," said Senator Cardin. "Our seniors, young children and disabled citizens are particu… Continue Reading

Cardin Pledges To Work To End Health Disparities In Baltimore Neighborhoods

BALTIMORE - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today joined U.S. Congressman Elijah Cummings and members of The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies at a press conference about the Center's report detailing health inequities among different Baltimore communities. The report documented a nearly 30-year difference in life expectancy between minority, low-income neighborhoods and wealthy, more affluent neighborhoods. The study was conducted by the Joint Center with a grant from the Natio… Continue Reading

Statement by U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin Commemorating Veterans Day November 11, 2012

To our veterans and their families, I thank you for your enduring example of commitment, fidelity and countless sacrifices made in the name of protecting our nation. Veterans Day reminds us that Americans and millions of people around the world owe their freedom today to the past actions of our veterans. On this 11th day of the 11th month, we are especially mindful of the fact that as we celebrate our veterans, we still have men and women in harms' way. We are proud of our sons, daughters, m… Continue Reading

Cardin urges bipartisanship and real action solving America’s challenges

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Finance and Budget Committees, released the following statement as he prepared to continue his work on behalf of the people of Maryland in the U.S. Senate. "I am honored to be back at work, fighting for all Marylanders and will continue to seek common ground to get things done for Maryland and for our nation. Now that the election is over, we must face reality and tackle the fiscal challenges facing our country together. We ne… Continue Reading

Cardin visits the American Red Cross headquarters to thank personnel, volunteers for their service

BALTIMORE -- U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today visited the American Red Cross Headquarters of the Maryland/Delaware Region for a tour and to thank American Red Cross personnel and volunteers for their service during Hurricane Sandy. "Our region and our nation owe so much to the American Red Cross because you provide often critical assistance to Americans in times of real catastrophe or crises," Senator Cardin told a group of Red Cross volunteers from around the country. "Red Cross volunte… Continue Reading

Cardin, Mikulski lead Maryland delegation in praising President for signing pre-disaster declaration for state impacted by Hurricane Sandy

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today applauded President Barack Obama for issuing a Pre-Disaster Declaration for Maryland being impacted by severe weather resulting from Hurricane Sandy. Members of Maryland's Congressional Delegation praising the President's Pre-Disaster Declaration include: 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 Ruppersber… Continue Reading

Cardin, Ruppersberger, Sarbanes Help Launch New Initiative to Train Low-skill Job Seekers

TOWSON, MD - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin and U.S. Congressmen C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger and John Sarbanes (all D-MD) today joined Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz to launch a new initiative to train low-skill job seekers, including individuals with limited English proficiency and individuals with low reading, writing and math skills. Baltimore County's $11.8 million federal grant is one of only four major grants from the Department of Labor's Workforce Innovation Fund. "Rebuilding our n… Continue Reading

Cardin, Mikulski Call On Treasury Department To Immediately Stop Plans To Move 450 Jobs Out Of Prince George’s County

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today called upon Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner to halt the Treasury Department's plan to move 450 jobs out of Prince George's County. The 450 positions are part of the Federal Management Services (FMS) facility in Hyattsville, Maryland. In their letter, the Senators stressed the importance of these jobs to Prince George's County and noted that the Treasury Department lacks the necessary authority and Congress… Continue Reading

Cardin Attends Job Fair to Help Marylanders with Disabilities Find Jobs

BALTIMORE - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today attended a job fair to help disabled residents of the Baltimore area find jobs. America Works of Maryland sponsored the job fair titled Back-to-Work Book Camp to provide hundreds of disabled Marylanders who are receiving Social Security Supplemental Income or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSI/SSDI) with employment counseling and other resources so they can enter the workforce. "Americans with disabilities deserve equal access and opportu… Continue Reading

Cardin, Shaheen Voice Opposition To Ill-Advised Iran Visit

WASHINGTON -- A visit to Iran by members of the European Parliament would send the wrong message to Iranian leaders at a critical juncture in diplomatic relations, wrote U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) in a letter sent today to European Parliament President Martin Schulz. The Senators urged President Schulz to reconsider a planned visit by European officials to Iran given Iran's continued human-rights offenses and failure to suspend its nuclear program. "While we ap… Continue Reading

Cardin, Mikulski Announce More Than $5 Million In Grants To Fight Violence Against Women In Maryland

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced that eight organizations in Maryland received a total of $5,049,214 in grants from the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for efforts around the state that will help protect women and families from domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and other dating violence. These funds are authorized by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), originally established in 1… Continue Reading

Cardin Attends Third Annual Cyber Security Awareness Day at Lockheed Martin

GAITHERSBURG, MD - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today joined 100 top performing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) high school students at Lockheed Martin's NexGen Cyber Innovation & Technology Center to promote cyber security careers and education, and to learn safe online practices through a series of interactive workshops. By introducing Maryland high school STEM students to cyber security at the Third Annual Cyber Security Awareness Day, Lockheed Martin hopes to… Continue Reading

Cardin Joins Federal, Maryland and District Leaders to Unveil the Design for Final Segment of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today joined U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, and other federal, state and local officials along the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail to unveil the design of the final trail link, which will connect the District of Columbia and Maryland. This four-mile trail project, known as the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens segment, is expected to begin construction next spring. "The Anacostia River Trail provides residen… Continue Reading

Cardin Attends Ribbon-Cutting For Big Slackwater Historic Towpath Restoration

WILLIAMSPORT, MD - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today joined National Park Service and Maryland officials for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony of the restored 2.7 miles section of the historic Big Slackwater Towpath. This section of the historic towpath was closed following extensive flood damage in 1996. "This is a great day for Washington County and for all of Western Maryland. The restoration of Big Slackwater will bring visitors who want to enjoy the natural beauty of the C&O… Continue Reading

Statement By U.S. Senator Ben Cardin On The Death Of Clarence Mitchell III

"I served for many years with Clarence Mitchell in the Maryland General Assembly and I saw first-hand his passion for civil rights and for making sure that his constituents got the services and resources that they needed. He helped to pave the road for many African-American leaders who followed him, and I join the community in mourning his passing."… Continue Reading