CARDIN CALLS FOR SENATE RECOGNITION OF SACRIFICES MADE BY FEDERAL WORKERS

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of both the Senate Budget and Finance Committees, today called on his colleagues to recognize the ongoing financial sacrifices federal workers have made during our economic crisis. On Tuesday, Senator Cardin submitted an amendment (S. Amdt 544) to S. 1323 that expresses the sense of the Senate to protect the federal workforce in pay, retirement and composition; advocates maintaining pay and benefits at rates that incentivize talented Ame… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE NEARLY $6.5 MILLION FOR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AT MARYLAND HOSPITALS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced that Maryland will receive $6,466,757 from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP). These federal dollars will be used to improve disaster preparedness of hospitals and health care systems across the state. "Marylanders will gain peace of mind with this new federal funding that will help ensure that our hospitals and health care systems have the tools … Continue Reading

CARDIN STATEMENT ON NEWLY NAMED DIRECTOR OF THE EPA CHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, issued the following statement on the selection of Nick DiPasquale as Director of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Chesapeake Bay Program Office: "Nick DiPasquale is a terrific choice as Director of the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Office. Nick has a record of leadership and a passion for the work. He is well respected by the entire range of stakeholders, fro… Continue Reading

SENATE AND HOUSE DEMOCRATS PUSH TO INCLUDE LABOR ACTION PLAN IN COLOMBIA FTA IMPLEMENTING BILL

Washington, DC - Senate and House Democrats today offered nearly identical measures in an effort to include the Action Plan Related to Labor Rights in the Colombia FTA implementing bill. The Action Plan is an agreement between Colombia and the United States on how Colombia is addressing issues of worker rights, violence and impunity. The amendments were offered in the Senate Finance Committee by Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland and in the House Ways and Means Committee by Ranking Member Sander Lev… Continue Reading

CARDIN STATEMENT REMEMBERING BALTIMORE COLTS TIGHT END JOHN MACKEY

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) released the following statement on the passing of former Baltimore Colt Tight End John Mackey: "Baltimore lost one of its most beloved adopted sons last night, former Baltimore Colt tight end John Mackey. John revolutionized the position and was the second tight end to be enshrined in the National Football League's (NFL) Hall of Fame. "I send my deepest condolences to John's wife, Sylvia, to whom he was married for 47 years, and his entire fam… Continue Reading

REMEMBERING THE GREAT JOHN MACKEY

Baltimore lost one of its most beloved adopted sons last night, former Baltimore Colt tight end John Mackey. John revolutionized the position and was the second tight end to be enshrined in the National Football League's (NFL) Hall of Fame. He became the first president of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) after the NFL merged with the old American Football League. He was a tenacious and effective advocate for the players, bargaining for higher salaries and better benefits. He organized a … Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FEDERAL GRANTS FOR MARYLAND’S RURAL BUSINESSES

WASHINGTON D.C - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced that the Rural Business Enterprise has awarded two grants totaling $252,350 to projects in Somerset and Talbot counties in Maryland. Maryland Hawk Corporation Inc. received a grant that will help fund the purchase of equipment that will be leased to local farmers in Somerset County. The Mid- Shore Regional Council received a grant to diversify regional value added products and assist small food busine… Continue Reading

ON THE BUDGET

Senator Benjamin L. Cardin Floor Speech on the Budget July 6, 2011 There's been an all-out assault on the dignity of working families in this country at all levels. I am going to talk a little bit about the budget deliberations because I believe here also we find an assault upon middle-income families. As President Kennedy said, to govern is to choose. We've never had a clearer choice of two different visions of America. And I want to talk a little bit about that. Because I know we're … Continue Reading

FLOOR STATEMENT ON THE BUDGET

I take this time to talk about the budget issues and the debt ceiling vote that is approaching. It is a serious issue that we need to deal with. First, I think it is important to know how we got here. I say that because we don't want to repeat the mistakes we made in the past. It was just 10 years ago when we had not only a balanced budget, we had a budget that looked like we were going to pay off all of our privately held debt. I was part of the Congress that moved us toward that bala… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI LAUD FUNDING FOR THREE NATIONAL PARKS IN MARYLAND

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced that the National Park Foundation (NPF) has awarded three grants totaling $39,700 to national parks in Maryland. An $18,250 grant will develop trails at Antietam National Battlefield, while $11,000 and $10,450 grants to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park and the Catoctin Mountain Park, respectively, will allow teachers at area schools to develop service-learning projects and other lesso… Continue Reading

STATEMENT ON RESOLUTION REAFFIRMING U.S. COMMITMENT TO DIRECT ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATIONS

Reaffirming Support for Direct Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations Last night S. 185, a resolution that was cosponsored by about 90% of the Senate, passed the Senate by unanimous consent. And I'm very grateful to my colleagues for their help in developing this resolution. This resolution expresses the strong support of the United States for our closest ally in the Middle East, Israel. I was joined in this effort by my good friend, Senator Susan Collins from Maine. The two of us worked together… Continue Reading

CARDIN URGES DOJ TO REVIEW VOTER ID LAWS

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today requested that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) carefully review highly restrictive photo identification voter requirements that are under consideration or recently signed into law in several states that could potentially disenfranchise thousands of eligible voters. In a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, Cardin-along with Majority Leader Harry Reid (NV) and U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (IL), Chuck Schumer (NY), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY)… Continue Reading

CARDIN, COLLINS LEAD SENATE DECLARATION AGAINST ANY PUSH FOR PALESTINAN STATEHOOD EXCEPT THROUGH DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS WITH ISRAEL

Washington, DC - Late Tuesday evening, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Susan Collins (R-ME) led the Senate in unanimous passage of a resolution reaffirming the commitment of the United States to a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. The resolution authored by Senators Cardin and Collins, which was cosponsored by 88 of their colleagues, also reiterated U.S. opposition to the inclusion of Hamas in any Palestinian unity government unle… Continue Reading

NOMINATION OF JAMES MICHAEL COLE TO BE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL

Madam President, I am very pleased that soon we will be voting on Jim Cole to be the Deputy Attorney General of the United States. This is a person who puts principle over politics, a person who is very important in our war against terror and who will use all lawful tools to keep our Nation safe. So I am proud to take a few moments to urge my colleagues to vote for his confirmation. I think that is in our national security interests, and I know he will be and already is an incredible asset to th… Continue Reading

CARDIN STATEMENT ON COMMITTEE PASSAGE OF LIBYA WAR POWERS RESOLUTION

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and an original cosponsor of the War Powers Resolution approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today, voiced his conditions for continued U.S. engagement in Libya today at a committee business meeting. "I support continuing a limited military role for the U.S. in Libya to protect innocent civilians. I believe the War Powers Act does apply to our Libya-related military activity a… Continue Reading

CARDIN CALLS FOR CLOSING THE TAX GAP TO ELIMINATE UNFAIR ADVANTAGES AND REDUCE ERRORS

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, renewed his call for comprehensive tax reform in the wake of the Committee's hearing "Complexity and the Tax Gap: Making Tax Compliance Easier and Collecting What's Due." Senator Cardin stressed the need to make the tax code simpler, to eliminate unfair loopholes for special interests, and to encourage economic growth-all of which would increase compliance with tax rules. "Congress must act to restore co… Continue Reading

ONE YEAR AFTER THE WORST OIL SPILL IN U.S. HISTORY, CARDIN SAYS BEST PRACTICES MUST GUIDE RESTORATION OF GULF REGION

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife, today restated that BP and others would be held responsible for the immediate and long-term damage caused by the Deepwater Horizon spill last year. Senator Cardin today chaired a hearing to review the status of the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA), including an examination of research findings to date and the succ… Continue Reading

CARDIN LAUDS SENATE CONFIRMATION OF JIM COLE AS DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), released the following statement praising James Cole's Senate confirmation as Deputy Attorney General of the United States. He was confirmed by a vote of 55-42 "I am proud that the Senate finally acted today to confirm Jim Cole as Deputy Attorney General. Our nation's fight against al-Qaeda and the Taliban will be strengthened with Mr. Cole's expertise and experience working to help bring terrorists to justice. The President relies on the Deputy A… Continue Reading

CARDIN CALLS FOR GAO STUDY OF HYDRAULIC FRACKING

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Water and Wildlife Subcommittee has requested the General Accountability Office (GAO) initiate a study on several issues related to hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" for natural gas and its potential impacts on drinking water and the waters of the United States. "American families have a right to clean and safe drinking water, and we must understand the potential damage to the health of those l… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI APPLAUD GRANT TO BRING NEW BUSINESSES, JOBS TO WESTERN MARYLAND

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced a $100,000 Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant to the nonprofit Progress Fund's Maryland Trail Town Program. The grant will help fund the start up or expansion of at least 10 new trail-serving businesses in Cumberland and Frostburg, which are expected to increase the number of visitors to the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) trail and business revenues by 10 percent. "The Great Allegheny Passage i… Continue Reading