CARDIN CRITICIZES REPUBLICANS FOR BLOCKING ANOTHER JOBS BILL

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, responded with the following comments after Republicans unanimously blocked the Teachers, First Responders Back to Work Act. "I am disappointed that Senate Republicans again blocked us from taking action to help hire teachers and emergency first-responders and avert damaging layoffs. In this time of economic uncertainty and hardship for so many Americans, it is inexcusable that Congress is failing to res… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI APPLAUD INCREASE IN SOCIAL SECURITY COLA

Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (Both D-MD) called the announcement of a 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security benefits for 2012 good news for Maryland seniors. The first increase since 2009, average benefits are expected to rise by approximately $516 per year. An estimated 611,149 Marylanders over 65 years of age receive Social Security, according to the U.S. Social Security Office of Retirement and Disability Policy. "Social Security i… Continue Reading

CARDIN STATEMENT ON THE DEATH OF MOAMMAR QADDAFI

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of the Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, issued the following statement on the death of Libyan leader Moammar Qaddafi: "Moammar Qaddafi's death is positive news for the people of Libya, for America, and for the international community. For decades, Qaddafi persecuted all opponents to his regime and controlled the Libyan people with brutality and violence.… Continue Reading

CONSENT REQUEST REGARDING WILLIAM BOARMAN TO BE CONFIRMED AS PUBLIC PRINTER

I certainly understand that my friend from Missouri is doing this on behalf other Senators, and I just want to express my disappointment that these Senators are objecting to the confirmation of William J. Boarman, an individual who is eminently qualified to be our Nation's 26th Public Printer and head of the Government Printing Office. President Obama nominated Bill Boarman 18 months ago. The Senate Committee on Rules and Administration reported the nomination favorably in July of 2010. The nom… Continue Reading

CARDIN REMEMBERS ANTHRAX ATTACKS ON 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), spoke from the floor of the U.S. Senate to commemorate this week's 10-year anniversary of the anthrax attacks that took the lives of two U.S. Postal Workers. Anthrax letters were delivered first to media outlets, including ABC, CBS, NBC, the National Enquirer, and the New York Post in late September. In October, two other anthrax letters were mailed to U.S. Senators Tom Daschle and Patrick Leahy. The letter to Senator Leahy never made it to Capi… Continue Reading

FLOOR SPEECH ON TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENTS

I rise today to oppose the McCain Amendment and let me give you three reasons why. First, jobs. Second, the Transportation Enhancement Programs help our traveling public. It’s what they want and what they need. Third, there’s a safety issue. First on jobs, let me point out that the Transportation Enhancement Program represents 1.5% of the Annual Federal Service Transportation funds—a relatively small amount of the total pie. But it’s interesting that the programs yield more jobs per dolla… Continue Reading

CARDIN SAYS DIRECT LENDING TO SMALL BUSINESSES CAN HELP BOOST JOB CREATION

Washington, DC - At a hearing to examine the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), urged Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to reconsider expanding direct lending programs for small businesses since the programs that filter funding through banks do not seem to be working. "I am disappointed that the Small Business Lending Fund (SBLF) has only given out $4 billion of the $30 billion allocated to it by Congress. Public reports have been confirmed to me by many communi… Continue Reading

CARDIN SAYS ADVANCED PLANNING BUFFERED THE SEVERITY OF FLOOD DAMAGE FROM RECENT STORMS

Washington, DC - During a hearing to review the efficacy of the nation's flood system in 2011, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, hailed the Army Corps of Engineers for advanced planning that saved Ocean City, Maryland, and other local communities from more severe damage during the recent Atlantic coast storms. While not all communities escaped unscathed, the Army Corps Baltimore District was able to meet the challenge o… Continue Reading

SENATOR CARDIN ATTENDS CATOCTIN AQUEDUCT RESTORATION DEDICATION

JEFFERSON, MD - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today attended the dedication of the restored historic Catoctin Aqueduct, a landmark structure in Frederick County that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Catoctin Aqueduct was first erected in the early 1800s by the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Company to carry the canal over major tributaries of the Potomac River and was known as one of the most beautiful aqueducts on the C&O Canal. The restoration project was a partne… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE ALMOST $750,000 GRANT FOR MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY NATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES PROGRAM

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (Both D-Md.) announced that Morgan State University is one of two academic institutions selected by the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to receive federal dollars in order to promote the objectives of its National Security Studies Program. The grant for $745,146 is provided by the Intelligence Community (IC) Centers of Academic Excellence. "As a hub of America's intelligence and cybersecurity sectors, Maryland has the capaci… Continue Reading

CARDIN-AYOTTE BILL WOULD REQUIRE CONGRESS TO PASS BUDGET RESOLUTION BY APRIL 15 OR SUSPEND OTHER BUSINESS

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), both members of the Senate Budget Committee, have introduced a bipartisan bill (S. 1681) that would prohibit Congress from considering any legislation unless a budget resolution is passed by the April 15 deadline. April 15 is the date by which Congress is required by law to pass a budget resolution, but has failed to do so too many times in recent years. Senators Cardin and Ayotte agree on the need for a real enforceme… Continue Reading

CARDIN JOINS SENATE COLLEAGUES TO INTRODUCE BILL TO SUPPORT FIRST RESPONDERS

Washington, DC- U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), along with Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA) have introduced legislation to strengthen and improve a federal program that provides an important safety net for first responders who are killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty. The Public Safety Officers' Benefits Act was first enacted in 1976, and provides benefits for certain survivors of public safety officers who die or are disabled as … Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $4 MILLION IN FUNDING TO EXPAND, IMPROVE GARRISON FOREST VETERANS CEMETERY

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded the State of Maryland a $4,610,970 grant to expand and improve the Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery in Owings Mills, Maryland. "Our veterans deserve a final resting place fitting of the enormous sacrifices they have made on behalf of our country," said Senator Cardin. "Garrison Forest has provided a dignified, peaceful final resting place for thou… Continue Reading

CARDIN STATEMENT ON TRADE AGREEMENTS

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Finance and Foreign Relations Committees, issued the following statement on the Senate approval of bilateral trade agreements with Korea, Panama and Colombia: "I strongly believe that international trade is good for America, but it must be done properly. Such international agreements can boost our country's ties with like-minded nations that share our values, helping to strengthen alliances and advancing American interests… Continue Reading

CARDIN HAILS PASSAGE OF LANDMARK JOB-BUILDING ANTI-CURRENCY MANIPULATION LEGISLATION

Washington, DC -- U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, released the following statement following the passage of the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act (S. 1619), of which he is an original cosponsor. "As our economy recovers from the most devastating economic recession since the Great Depression and we work to create good-paying, high-quality jobs for Americans, we cannot ignore countries like China that engage in clearly unfair trading practices… Continue Reading

CARDIN LAUDS OBAMA ADMINISTRATION DECISION TO EXPEDITE PLANNING FOR BALTIMORE RED LINE

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Transportation Subcommittee, today praised Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley for advancing the locally preferred alternative for Baltimore's Red Line. The light rail project will run 14 miles from east to west, operating between Woodlawn and the Johns Hopkins Bayview medical complex. "Baltimore has been underserved by public transit. The Red Line is going to help transform our city and our… Continue Reading

CARDIN, REID, BOXER INTRODUCE BILL TO HELP LOCAL COMMUNITIES UPGRADE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, SPUR ECONOMIC GROWTH

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Senate Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, has introduced legislation that will allow local communities to improve their aging water infrastructure, helping to ensure clean, safe water for Americans, creating jobs and adapting to changing hydrological conditions. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, joined Senator Cardin in introducing the Water… Continue Reading

CARDIN INTRODUCES BILL TO END RACIAL PROFILING BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

Washington, DC -- U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Homeland Security Subcommittee, Thursday introduced the End Racial Profiling Act of 2011 (S. 1670), a bill to prohibit the use of racial profiling by law enforcement. U.S. Rep. John Conyers, Jr., Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee plans to introduce companion legislation in the House of Representatives. Senator Cardin's bill is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Dick Durbin (D-… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ISSUE STATEMENT ON NAS REPORT ON PROPOSED MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURES TEST AND EVALUATION FACILITY AT FT. DETRICK

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) today issued the following statement regarding the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report on the site specific risk assessment (SSRA) for the proposed new Army's Medical Countermeasures Test and Evaluation (MCTE) facility at Ft. Detrick. "The Army leadership at Ft. Detrick's proactive partnership with the NAS demonstrates the Army's understanding of local community concerns and their commitment to protecting their neighbor… Continue Reading

ON THE DEATH OF CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER FRED SHUTTLESWORTH

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) issued the following statement on the death of civil rights leader Fred Shuttlesworth. "America lost one of its most courageous and tenacious civil rights leaders in the passing of the Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth. As a pastor, civil rights organizer and one of the four founding ministers of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Rev. Shuttlesworth was a unifying force who brought together his own congregation and others from across the … Continue Reading