CONGRESS SHOULD PROHIBIT RACIAL PROFILING BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

Today I am introducing legislation in the Senate that would prohibit the use of racial profiling by federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies. The End Racial Profiling Act (ERPA) had been introduced in previous Congresses by former Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and I am proud to follow his example. I want to thank Senators Blumenthal, Durbin, Gillibrand, Kerry, Lautenberg, Levin, Menendez, Mikulski, and Stabenow for joining me as original co-sponsors of this legislation. Racial p… Continue Reading

CARDIN INTRODUCES BILL TO ENSURE SAFETY OF NANOTECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today introduced legislation with U.S. Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR) to address potential health and safety risks about products that contain nanotechnology materials. "Nanotechnology has become increasingly indispensible in our daily lives-everything from our cellphones and MP3 players, to packaging of our snack foods, to cancer treatments in development employ the use of nanotechnology," said Senator Cardin. "As this burgeoning technology continues to… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE GRANT FOR FIRE STATION IN CECIL COUNTY

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced that the Cecilton Volunteer Fire Company has received a $48,500 U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (RD) grant to provide the volunteer fire station in Cecilton with new equipment. "It's critical that we ensure that our first responders have the tools they need to keep our families and communities safe," Senator Cardin said. "This grant will give provide the brave men and women of the Cecilt… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI LEAD MD DELEGATION IN PRAISING PRESIDENT FOR SIGNING DISASTER DECLARATION FOR STATE FOLLOWING TROPICAL STORM LEE

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 Tropical Storm Lee. Senators Mikulski and Cardin were joined by U.S. Representatives Steny H. Hoyer, Roscoe E. Barlett, Elijah E. Cummings, Chris Van Hollen, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Donna F. Edwards and Andy Harris. The Disaster Dec… Continue Reading

CARDIN ANNOUNCES CHESAPEAKE BAY STEWARDSHIP GRANTS WINNERS

U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, today joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and local officials to announce the awarding of $10.9 million in grants for environmental projects in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed's six states and the District of Columbia. The projects will preserve 3,729 acres of land, restore 32 miles of riparian areas and stream banks and impleme… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FEDERAL GRANT TO HELP VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THEIR FAMILIES

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced $998,955 in U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) grant funding to the Montgomery County Family Justice Center, a community-wide collaboration of public and private agencies that works to assist domestic violence victims and their families. "Too many of our family members, children, and friends suffer in silence at the hands of domestic violence," said Senator Cardin. "Unfortunately, Maryland is not immune to … Continue Reading

CARDIN CALLS NUTRIENT POLLUTION A SERIOUS NATIONAL THREAT TO CLEAN WATER

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife, convened a hearing to discuss the causes and impacts of nutrient pollution in the United States and various approaches toward mitigating its effects. Nutrient pollution, caused by excess nitrogen and phosphorus, has negatively affected more than half of the water bodies in the United States, causing harmful algal blooms, hypoxia, declines in fish and wildlife a… Continue Reading

CARDIN PRESENTS WASHINGTON COUNTY COUPLE WITH ANGELS IN ADOPTION AWARD

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today presented Lisa and Charles Gerringer of Hagerstown, MD with this year's Congressional Angels in Adoption Award. The Senator nominated the Gerringers for the award because they "opened their hearts" to children who needed a home and adopted four children from the Maryland Foster Care Program. "The Gerringers have the compassion and generosity that allowed them to selflessly reach out to provide a permanent home to children who desperately need… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI, LEAD MARYLAND DELEGATION IN REQUESTING MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION FOR STATE OF MARYLAND FOLLOWING TROPICAL STORM LEE

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski Ben Cardin (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 Tropical Storm Lee. If awarded, Maryland will become eligible for federal disaster recovery dollars through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), ensuring the state's alread… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FUNDING TO ENCOURAGE SMALL BUSINESS LENDING IN MARYLAND

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced that three banks in Maryland have received a combined $40.4 million from the U.S. Department of Treasury as part of the Small Business Lending Fund (SBLF). The Tri-County Financial Corporation of Waldorf received $20 million, Howard Bancorp of Ellicott City received $12.6 million, and the Enterprise Community Loan Fund of Columbia received $8.8 million. The SBLF, which was established under the Small Bu… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE $150,000 IN FUNDING TO HELP RENOVATE ALLEGANY MUSEUM; CREATING JOBS, INCREASING TOURISM

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded a $150,000 grant to the Allegany Museum to carry out extensive renovations. The project is expected to attract an extra 1,000 tourists annually, create six new tourism jobs, and increase tourism revenue by $162,272. "I have been a strong supporter of the Allegany Museum because it is important to the economic revitalization of Cumberland and Allegany… Continue Reading

CARDIN PRAISES MARYLAND CITIES FOR WINNING EPA’S GREEN POWER COMMUNITY INITIATIVE

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today praised Montgomery County cities for winning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) "Green Power Community Challenge," a year-long competition challenging cities to voluntarily use more renewable energy sources for their electricity needs. Brookeville is the challenge winner for the highest green power percentage of total electricity use and Rockville placed 10th for towns using the most amount of green power. "I'm proud of Brookevil… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE EXPORT ASSISTANCE FUNDING FOR SMALL BUSINESSES IN WESTERN MD

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded a $100,000 grant to the Maryland Department of Business and Economic for the Western Maryland Export Initiative. The project is expected to assist 20 businesses with export assistance and that will lead to a $5 million in increased export sales by those firms. "This export assistance will make foreign markets more accessible for small businesses in We… Continue Reading

U.S. SENATE RECOGNIZES NATIONAL INFANT MORTALITY AWARENESS MONTH

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) joined Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) in praising the Senate for unanimously adopting a bipartisan resolution recognizing September 2011 as National Infant Mortality Awareness Month. The resolution highlights the need to increase awareness about infant mortality and access to prenatal care in the United States. "Despite being one of the wealthiest nations on earth, America has the 29th highest infant mortality rate among … Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FEDERAL GRANT TO HELP DISPLACED WORKERS GET BACK TO WORK

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced today that Anne Arundel Community College was awarded $19,730,281 in grant funds from the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Department of Education's joint Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) program. Anne Arundel Community College will help train displaced workers for new careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and will partner with employers t… Continue Reading

SENATOR CARDIN NOMINATES WASHINGTON COUNTY COUPLE FOR CONGRESSIONAL ANGELS IN ADOPTION AWARD

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) has nominated Lisa and Charles Gerringer of Hagerstown, MD, as one of this year's Congressional Angels in Adoption for adopting four children from the Maryland Foster Care Program. "The Gerringers saw a need and selflessly reached out to provide a permanent home to children who desperately needed a family's love and support," said Senator Cardin. "They opened up their home and their hearts first by becoming foster parents and then by adopt… Continue Reading

CELEBRATING CHESAPEAKE BAY, U.S. SENATE PASSES RESOLUTION DESIGNATING NATIONAL ESTUARIES DAY

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate has unanimously approved a resolution declaring this Saturday, September 24, to be National Estuaries Day. U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) cosponsored the resolution authored by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Scott Brown (R-MA). In addition, the following Senators also cosponsored the resolution: Senators Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Kerry (D-MA), Mary Landr… Continue Reading

CARDIN, SESSIONS "NATIONAL PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH" RESOLUTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES SENATE

WASHINGTON-The Senate unanimously voted today to declare September "National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month" in a bipartisan resolution sponsored by U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Jeff Sessions (R-AL). This resolution, which has been introduced by Senator Sessions every year since 2002, is aimed at enhancing awareness of prostate cancer and encouraging the public to take an active role in the fight to increase early detection, improve treatment, and discover a cure for the disease. The A… Continue Reading

CARDIN, AKAKA, SARBANES INTRODUCE BILL TO BRING FEDERAL HIRING PROCESS INTO THE 21ST CENTURY

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) today joined Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) and Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Maryland) in introducing the Federal Hiring Process Improvement Act of 2011. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) was also an original co-sponsor. This legislation would streamline the Federal hiring process to conform to private sector best practices. In the coming decade, close to 50 percent of the federal workforce will be eligible to retire, making the development of t… Continue Reading

CARDIN SAYS CALL TO REBUILD AMERICA’S INFRASTRUCTURE WILL HELP GET AMERICANS BACK TO WORK

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, issued the following statement on President Obama's call for rebuilding America's infrastructure: "It makes no sense that America's infrastructure is crumbling while we have record unemployment in the construction industry. We have to make a change and we have to do it soon. And we have to stop talking and start doing because gridlock does not… Continue Reading