BIPARTISAN SENATE STATEMENT ON P-5+1 MEETING WITH IRAN IN BAGHDAD

WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Senator Ben Cardin joined a bipartisan group of Senators in issuing the following statement today about the meeting that will take place in Baghdad tomorrow of the permanent five members of the UN Security Council plus Germany -- the P-5+1 -- with Iran. Including Senator Cardin, Senators Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Charles Schumer (D-NY), John McCain (R-AZ), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT),James Risch (R-ID), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Marco R… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN BILL TO HELP FAMILIES AND STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THE TRUE COST OF COLLEGE

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (Both D-MD) today joined with colleagues to say that families and students should have a more accurate picture of exactly how much college will cost them before deciding which school to attend under bipartisan legislation introduced today. Led by Senator Al Franken (D-MN), Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Ron Wyden (D-OR) also sponsored the bill.… Continue Reading

SENATE PASSES CARDIN-PRYOR MEASURE TO INCREASE PRODUCT SAFETY RESEARCH

WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Mark Pryor (D-AR) today said they are pleased the Senate approved their legislation to address potential health and safety risks of products regulated by the FDA that contain nanomaterials. The provision is part of the FDA Safety and Innovation Act, which passed the Senate by a vote of 96-1. "Nanotechnology has become increasingly indispensable in our daily lives but as this burgeoning technology continues to power more of our consumer pro… Continue Reading

CARDIN SAYS IT IS TIME FOR THE U.S. TO BECOME A PARTY TO THE U.N. CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, emphasized today at a hearing, "The Law of the Sea Convention," the need to ratify the Treaty in order to enhance our national security, strengthen international alliance and create economic opportunities. "The United States is perhaps the most significant player in Maritime security and economic activities. Yet our interests are not being represented as other member countries debate changes to… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI, SENATE DEMOCRATS AND ADVOCACY GROUPS URGE SENATE PASSAGE OF PAYCHECK FAIRNESS ACT

WASHINGTON - At a press conference today in the U.S. Capitol, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), and Al Franken (D-Minn.) along with representatives of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the National Partnership for Women and Families (NPWF) and the National Women's Law Center (NWLC) urged the Senate to… Continue Reading

CARDIN INTRODUCES NEW BILL TO INCREASE FEDERAL SMALL BUSINESS CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES

Washington, DC - At the start of National Small Business Week, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, has introduced new bill that would help more small businesses compete for federal contracts by raising the government-wide small business prime goal from 23 percent to 25 percent. Government-wide subcontracting goals would be increased from 35.9 percent to 40 percent. "Across the United States, small businesses are responsible for … Continue Reading

INTRODUCTION OF SMALL BUSINESS GOALING ACT OF 2012 AND NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK

I take this time to bring to the attention of my colleagues that we are celebrating National Small Business Week, which is a very important occasion because, as the Senator from New Hampshire understands, the growth engine for America is our small businesses. When we are looking at job growth, which we all know we need in order to get our economy moving again, we know there will be more jobs created from small companies than from large companies. About two out of every three jobs created in Amer… Continue Reading

100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FREDERICK COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Mr. President, I wish to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, the first chartered chamber in the United States. When the United States Chamber of Commerce was formed at a conference held by President Taft in April 1912, four delegates from the Maryland's Frederick County Board of Trade were in attendance. Inspired by the conference, the Frederick County Board of Trade applied for membership to the newly formed chamber the very next day. The newly renam… Continue Reading

FOOD SECURITY AND THE G8

I rise today to express my enthusiastic support for our efforts to elevate international food security commitments through the G8, which is being held this weekend in Maryland. I understand that President Obama has invited the Presidents of Benin, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Tanzania to participate in the summit and strategize on ways in which we can all work together to accelerate progress on food security. With over 1 billion poor and hungry people around the world, there is no time to wait. Just … Continue Reading

CARDIN COMMENDS SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION FOR PROVIDING AMERICANS WITH COMPLETE YEARLY EARNINGS STATEMENTS ON WEB SITE

WASHINGTON - At today's Senate Finance Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) commended Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Michael Astrue for establishing secure web site access to annual earnings statements so that all Americans "can now have full access to information regarding their Social Security benefits." The Senator also commended the Commissioner on SSA's resumption of mailing annual statements to all individuals over age 60. Last year, the SSA suspended pr… Continue Reading

CARDIN, GILLIBRAND PUSH DEFENSE DEPARTMENT TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY AMONG SENIOR MILITARY RANKS

Washington, DC - As the Senate Armed Services Committee begins debate on the defense budget, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), have introduced legislation to promote diversity in the ranks of military leadership that better reflects the demographics of the U.S. military and the public it serves. Following up on concerns expressed by service members at a recent Forum on Military Diversity hosted by Senator Cardin, the bill introduced (S. 3181) would require the Secr… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI CALL FOR IMMEDIATE PASSAGE OF NATIONAL METRO SAFETY STANDARDS FOLLOWING POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING MALFUNCTION OF METRO DOOR

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today called for immediate passage of legislation establishing federal safety standards for transit systems nationwide following a life-threatening malfunction today where the doors on two metro rail cars opened while passengers traveled on the Red Line between the Van Ness and American University stations. Legislation establishing the first federal safety standards for transit systems nationwide passed the Senate in Marc… Continue Reading

ON THE NOMINATION OF JUDGE GEORGE LEVI RUSSELL, III TO BE US DISTRICT JUDGE, DISTRICT OF MARYLAND

I rise today to urge the Senate to confirm Judge George Levi Russell III of Maryland to be a US District Judge for the District of Maryland. Judge Russell was reported by voice vote of the Judiciary Committee on February 16. Judge Russell currently sits as a trial judge in the Baltimore City Circuit Court. The Constitution provides for lifetime appointments for federal judges, which is unique in our federal government. I take this obligation very seriously in terms of the advice and c… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI PRAISE SENATE CONFIRMATION OF JUDGE GEORGE RUSSELL FOR MARYLAND DISTRICT COURT

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today announced the Senate's confirmation of Judge George Levi Russell, III to fill a vacancy on the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. Senators Mikulski and Cardin recommended Judge Russell, who currently serves as a Circuit Court judge for the City of Baltimore, to President Obama for the federal bench. "I applaud today's confirmation of Judge Russell to serve on the U.S. District Court of Maryl… Continue Reading

CARDIN HOLDS HEALTH CARE CAREER EXPO IN HAGERSTOWN

HAGERSTOWN, MD -- U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today held a Health Care Career Expo at Hagerstown Community College to connect Marylanders with jobs in the health care field, which is an area of high-paying salaries and expected strong job growth nationwide. Maryland is one of the nation's leaders in health care, currently employing more than 290,000 Marylanders in the health care industry. The Governor's Workforce Investment Board estimates that by 2018 more than 55,000 new jobs in the healt… Continue Reading

SENATOR CARDIN ADDRESSES AFFORDABLE CARE FORUM ON BENEFITS OF HEALTH REFORM LAW

CUMBERLAND, MD -- U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today addressed a forum on the benefits of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) hosted by the Allegany County Human Resources Development Commission, the Western Maryland Central Labor Council and the Alliance for Retired Americans. Speakers at the forum also included Maryland Secretary of the Department of Aging Gloria Lawlah, and NAACP Chapter President Bernard Wynder. Senator Cardin highlighted that the ACA will provide health care coverage to more … Continue Reading

CARDIN JOINS VEOLIA TO LAUNCH BALTIMORE’S FIRST PROPANE AUTOGAS TAXI FLEET

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today attended a special ceremony today at the headquarters of Veolia Transportation to launch Baltimore's first propane autogas taxi fleet. Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Maryland State Comptroller Peter Franchot and other officials also attended the launch. Veolia Transportation -- the largest private provider of multiple modes of transportation in North America -- is converting 300 of its taxis nationwide from gasoline to propane autogas… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE GRANT FOR NEW AMBULANCE TO SERVE WORCESTER CO.

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced that the City of Pocomoke has received a $50,000 grant and $150,000 loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development (RD) program to purchase a new ambulance. "Now more than ever, we need to make sure that our first responders have the resources they need to keep our families and communities safe," said Senator Cardin. "These brave men and women are on the front lines every day re… Continue Reading

CARDIN PRAISES SENATE PASSAGE OF BILL TO EXPAND PROTECTIONS FOR WHISTLEBLOWERS

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today praised the Senate for passing the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act, S. 743, a landmark bill that would expand protections for federal employees who disclose wrongdoing and protect the public trust. "Federal workers are on the frontlines and they often are the first to spot when there is fraud or waste of taxpayer money. This bill will help ensure greater accountability and it will protect whistleblowers from retribution for doing the ri… Continue Reading

ON THE NOMINATION OF JUDGE PAUL WILLIAM GRIMM TO BE UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE, DISTRICT OF MARYLAND

I am pleased to join with Senator Mikulski in recommending that the Judiciary Committee favorably report Judge Paul William Grimm of Maryland to be a US District Judge for the District of Maryland. Let me also welcome Judge Grimm's family and friends to today's hearing, and thank them for the sacrifices they make. Judge Grimm was nominated to fill the upcoming vacancy that will be created when US District Judge Benson E. Legg takes senior status in less than a month. Judge Gri… Continue Reading