CARDIN INTRODUCES BILL TO CREATE NATIONWIDE STANDARD FOR REST0RING VOTING RIGHTS AFTER PRISON

Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) has introduced a bill, S. 2017, the Democracy Restoration Act that would restore voting rights to individuals after they have served their time and have been released from incarceration. This legislation is ultimately designed to reduce recidivism rates and help reintegrate ex-prisoners back into society. The bill is cosponsored by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). "If we truly want to break the cycle of recidivism, we… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI CONGRATULATE MARYLAND ON WINNING “RACE TO THE TOP” GRANT

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski today made the following statement on Maryland being awarded a multi-million dollar U.S. Department of Education Race to the Top Challenge Fund Grant: "A quality early education makes such an overwhelming difference in a child's future, as well as our ability to compete in our global economy. I am proud that Maryland continues to be recognized as a nationwide leader in education, well earned through an ongoing commitment to helping a… Continue Reading

CARDIN SAYS DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL THREATENS CIVIL LIBERTIES

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) made the following remarks following passage of the Conference Report on the National Defense Authorization Act: "Every day, we celebrate the courage, excellence and dedication to country of the brave men and women who stand on the frontlines overseas and here at home to help keep every American safe and secure. We have a solemn obligation to support the health and welfare of our troops and we will continue to provide them with the tools they need… Continue Reading

“HOTELS FOR HEROES” PROGRAM PASSES CONGRESS

(Washington, DC) - Congress has passed bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator Ben Cardin and Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (both D-MD) creating the "Hotels for Heroes" program that will allow Americans to donate hotel reward points to members of the Armed Forces. The bill, which will benefit troops receiving care through the military health system and their families, was included in the "National Defense Authorization Act" that passed Congress by a vote of 283 - 136 in the House on … Continue Reading

CARDIN SAYS AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION IS NOT NECESSARY TO BALANCE THE FEDERAL BUDGET

Washington, DC - Following the defeat in the Senate of two constitutional amendments requiring a balanced budget through extreme cuts to important programs, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) made the following statement. Senator Cardin is a member of the Senate Budget Committee. "Amending our constitution is not an acceptable way to address our nation's long-term fiscal problems. It could have dire consequences on our economy, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, education, clean air and clean wa… Continue Reading

CARDIN SAYS U.S. MUST ADDRESS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN RUSSIA

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Co-Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, today strengthened his call for consequences for those in Russia who have trampled on fundamental freedoms and human rights. At a hearing of the European Affairs Subcommittee, Senator Cardin laid out his case for the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act, which he and 25 other senators have sponsored. Not limited to just Russia, the Magn… Continue Reading

CARDIN, SCHUMER INTRODUCE BILL TO PROHIBIT VOTER INTIMIDATION AND VOTER SUPPRESSION

Washington, DC - Less than three weeks before the first voters cast ballots for the 2012 elections, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Charles Schumer (D-NY) have introduced their bill to create tough new criminal and civil penalties for those who create and distribute false and deceptive voting information and campaign literature. Respecting provisions of the First Amendment, the 1 is narrowly tailored to apply to only a small category of false communications that occur during the last 90 days… Continue Reading

CARDIN ANNOUNCES UNVEILING OF 2012 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER COMMEMORATIVE COIN DESIGNS

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today announced that the United States Mint has unveiled the designs of the of the Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coins. On August 16, 2010, President Barack Obama signed a law -- cosponsored by Senator Cardin and U.S. Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-2) -- directing the U.S. Mint to create coins commemorating the 200th anniversary of the writing of the Star-Spangled Banner. The gold and silver coin designs are emblematic of the War of 18… Continue Reading

CARDIN SAYS REPAIRING OUR NATION’S WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IS URGENT FOR CLEAN, SAFE WATER AND CREATING QUALITY JOBS

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) called improving our nation's water infrastructure "a national opportunity to protect human health and create jobs nationwide." Senator Cardin, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife, convened a hearing Tuesday to gain a national perspective on water and wastewater infrastructure challenges and opportunities, including approaches to financing infrastructure improvements and the potential for investments to lead to economic growth and jo… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI, PRAISE FIVE-MONTH DELAY OF POSTAL FACILITY CLOSURES

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today praised the announcement by the United States Postal Service to postpone the closure and consolidation of post offices and processing facilities across the country, protecting thousands of postal workers jobs. The delay impacts possible consolidation of the Easton and Cumberland Area Mail Processing Centers (AMP). "The U.S. Postal Service has made a very sensible decision because it gives Congress time to work on … Continue Reading

CARDIN JOINS ANOUNCEMENT OF $3 MILLION GRANT TOWARD PUBLIC LANDS ACROSS NATION

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today joined the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) to announce a $3 million grant by Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. to the Foundation to improve the capacity of community-based organizations supporting parks and other public lands. Senator Cardin and the NEEF were joined by U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley and other officials for the announcement. This public-privat… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI JOIN BIPARTISAN SENATE COALITION URGING SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO EXTEND MASS-TRANSIT COMMUTER BENEFITS

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski today joined a bipartisan coalition of twenty additional Senators in urging the Senate Finance Committee to include an extension of the widely used mass-transit commuter tax credit in any relevant legislation taken up by the Senate before it expires at the end of the year. The tax credit has an immediate impact on the region's federal workforce and middle-class commuters across the nation. At a savings of over $1,000 per year, it ease… Continue Reading

CARDIN VISITS CHARLES COUNTY JOBS PROJECT

WALDORF, MD - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today visited the Job Match Re-Employment Project to meet with unemployed residents of the Tri-County region and to discuss future employment and training needs. The Job Match Re-Employment Project is geared to helping individuals from Charles, Calvert or St. Mary's counties who were previously employed in jobs earning $38,000 or more a year. "I am impressed by the people who are here today because they have the talent and skills that many employer… Continue Reading

CARDIN, COLLEAGUES URGE SENATE TO REJECT SACRIFICING FEDERAL WORKERS TO PAY FOR TAX EXTENDERS

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) is urging Majority Leader Harry Reid to "reject any proposals that call for pay freezes or other forms of compensation reduction for federal workers, or significant reductions in the federal workforce" to offset the tax extenders that need to be passed by the end of this year. Along with Senators Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD), Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Jim Webb (D-VA), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Mark Warner (D-VA) and Carl Levin (D-MI), Sena… Continue Reading

CARDIN LAUDS EPW COMMITTEE VOTE TO CONSOLIDATE FBI HEADQUARTERS

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), praised EPW Committee action today that will move the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) closer to consolidating the more than 20 FBI offices that are dispersed around the Greater Washington region to one location. The project is expected to bring greater physical and information security to the FBI, as well as provide an estimated annual cost savings of nearly $44 million wh… Continue Reading

CARDIN PRAISES SENATE PANEL PASSAGE OF CHESAPEAKE BAY GATEWAYS & WATERTRAILS BILL

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today praised Senate committee passage of a five-year reauthorization of the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network. "The Chesapeake Bay Watertrails Network is instrumental to making the entire Chesapeake Bay experience accessible and enjoyable for Marylanders and all Americans," said Senator Cardin, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which voted the bill out of committee today. "The Bay is one of our nation's mo… Continue Reading

CARDIN CO-SPONSORS BILL TO HELP MARYLAND’S LOW-INCOME FAMILIES PAY THEIR HEATING BILLS

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today co-sponsored bipartisan legislation that would provide more help for low-income Maryland families in paying their heating bills this winter. The LIHEAP Protection Act would maintain last year's funding level of $4.7 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Nationwide, the program helps approximately 9 million households pay their energy bills and it provides assistance to 137,000 Maryland households. Co-sponsors of… Continue Reading

CARDIN CALLS EXTENSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS ‘THE RIGHT THING TO DO’ AND ESSENTIAL TO KEEP U.S. ECONOMY MOVING

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, spoke from the floor of the U.S. Senate today to urge his colleagues to come together and pass an extension of unemployment insurance benefits for Americans still caught in the effects of the economic downturn. "Before Congress adjourns for the year we must extend unemployment insurance benefits for those who have lost their jobs due to the economic downturn. Our economy is still in a very difficult stat… Continue Reading

CARDIN COMMEMORATES 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF PEARL HARBOR ATTACK

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today issued the following statement commemorating the 70th anniversary of the December 7, 1941 Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii: "Seventy years ago, Japanese naval forces launched a surprise attack on our nation at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The Japanese attack on the American naval fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor and other nearby U.S. military installations was a shock to our nation and quickly propelled us into Wor… Continue Reading

CARDIN JOINS WEINBERG FOUNDATION TO LAUNCH GROUNDBREAKING BALTIMORE CITY SCHOOL LIBRARY PROJECT

BALTIMORE - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today joined Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Dr. Andrés A. Alonso and leaders of the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation to celebrate the launch of the multi-million dollar, multi-year Baltimore Elementary/Middle School Library Project. This initiative, involving more than 15 community and government partners, will coordinate with Baltimore City Public Schools to design, build, equip, and staff new … Continue Reading