CARDIN URGES U.S. TO USE UNITED NATION'S VETO POWER TO BLOCK POTENTIAL ANTI-ISRAEL RESOLUTION

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has urged Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to use the United States' veto power in the United Nations Security Council to block the latest anti-Israel resolution that currently is being drafted by the Palestinian Authority. The language being considered would attempt to avoid direct negotiations with Israel and dictate terms of a would-be Palestinian state. Such hostile actions would … Continue Reading

CARDIN BRINGS FEDS AND MARYLANDERS TOGETHER AS PARTNERS TO CLEAN UP STORMWATER POLLUTION

College Park, MD - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, today hosted a roundtable discussion of local, state and federal officials who are now partners in mitigating the damage caused by stormwater pollution in Maryland, the National Capital Region, and nationwide. This new alliance was made official with enactment of legislation authored by Senator Cardin (S. 3481) that requires the federal government to comply w… Continue Reading

CARDIN APPLAUDS EPA VETO OF SPRUCE NO. 1 MOUNTAINTOP REMOVAL COAL MINING PERMIT

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Water and Wildlife Subcommittee released the following statement after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced it has vetoed a permit for mountain top removal mining at the Spruce No. 1 surface mine in Logan County, West Virginia.   "In vetoing the Spruce Mine Permit, EPA did the right thing today for the health of the people and the natural resources of Central Appal… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FUNDING TO HELP MD FAMILIES PAY ENERGY BILLS

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced Maryland will receive nearly $77 million to help low-income families and individuals pay their home energy bills in FY 2011. The $76,942,926 Low Income House Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) block grant will help low-income Maryland families, seniors on fixed incomes and people with disabilities pay for heating and cooling costs. This crucial program will help hundreds of families in Maryland… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL EQUIPMENT IN BALTIMORE COUNTY

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced the Rosedale Volunteer Fire Company won $50,232 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program to purchase emergency medical equipment. Senator Cardin is chairman of the Homeland Security and Terrorism Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee.   As a member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, S… Continue Reading

CARDIN CALLS BP OIL SPILL COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS CRITICAL TO REBALANCING U.S. APPROACH TO OFFSHORE DRILLING

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) released the following statement in response to the recommendations released by the BP Oil Spill Commission: "The President's Oil Spill Commission recommends critical steps to rebalance our nation's approach to offshore drilling so that science, safety and environmental risk must be considered along with possible oil production and profit," said Senator Cardin, Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Water and W… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company won $9,215 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program to purchase emergency medical equipment. As a member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Mikulski fights each year to increase federal funding for the fire grants program. Senator Cardin is chairman of the Homela… Continue Reading

CARDIN CALLS EPA GUIDANCE ON CHROMIUM IN DRINKING WATER AN IMPORTANT STEP

Washington, DC- U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) released the following statement today in response to guidance issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to all water systems in the country regarding the development and implementation of monitoring and sampling programs specifically for chromium-6.   "Today's guidance is an important step toward understanding the problem of Chromium-6 in our drinking water," said Sen… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI THANK FBI FOR RAPID RESPONSE; REQUEST ANY APPROPRIATE ADDITIONAL FEDERAL RESOURCES

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today sent a letter to Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Robert S. Mueller III thanking the FBI for its rapid response to incidents involving incendiary devices at state government buildings in Maryland. Senators Mikulski and Cardin also urged Director Mueller to commit any appropriate additional resources to investigate the crimes. Senator Cardin is chai… Continue Reading

SENATORS COLLINS, CARDIN URGE EPA TO RECONSIDER E15 WAIVER

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), along with a bipartisan group of six colleagues, today urged the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reconsider the agency's waiver decision to allow the use of a 15 percent ethanol fuel blend (E15) for cars and light trucks model year 2007 or newer.  In a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, the Senators cited specific concerns regarding the risks of E15 misfueling, which could… Continue Reading

CARDIN CELEBRATES MIKULSKI MILESTONE AS LONGEST-SERVING FEMALE SENATOR

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today honored his fellow senator from Maryland, Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), for becoming the longest serving female senator in U.S. history. Senator Cardin offered the following remarks from the floor of the U.S. Senate following passage of a resolution honoring Senator Mikulski's service.     "Marylanders take pride in their hall of famers, from Cal Ripken our Iron Man, to Brooks Robinson with the gol… Continue Reading

CARDIN PROMISES TO PROTECT MARYLAND SENIORS FROM EFFORTS TO TAKE AWAY NEW HEALTH CARE BENEFITS

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) hosted a conference call today with leading senior advocates from Maryland and national organizations to review the new health care benefits available to seniors as of January 1 thanks to the health care reform law passed by Congress last year. During the call, Senator Cardin promised to do all he could to stop efforts to repeal critical new benefits that could cost Maryland seniors hundreds of millions of dollars. New benefits f… Continue Reading

CARDIN HAILS PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION TO HELP PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME AMERICANS

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, praised Senate passage today of legislation (H.R. 6398) that will ensure the continuation of legal assistance to low-income Americans. The bill extends FDIC insurance protections to the Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA), which are used to hold client funds that cannot earn interest for an individual client. If no action had been taken, these protections would have expired December 31, 2010… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT IN CECIL COUNTY

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced the Water Witch Fire Company won $76,760 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program to purchase firefighting equipment. As a member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Mikulski fights each year to increase federal funding for the fire grants program. Senator Cardin is chairman of the Homeland S… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FUNDS IN THE FEDERAL CHECKBOOK TO CREATE JOBS, IMPROVE AVIATION SERVICE IN HAGERSTOWN

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded $272,975 in grant funding to establish the Aviation Maintenance Technology School at Hagerstown Regional Airport in Hagerstown, Maryland. The school, to be administered by the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (PIA), will train a pool of local, skilled workers capable of serving the aircraft maintenance needs at the reg… Continue Reading

CARDIN INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE HOW CLASSIFIED INFORMATION IS USED IN ESPIONAGE, TERRORISM AND NARCOTICS CASES

Washington - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Terrorism and Homeland Security Subcommittee, today introduced legislation to improve the Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA).   CIPA was enacted in 1980 with bipartisan support to address the "disclose or dismiss" dilemma that primarily arose in espionage prosecutions when a defendant would threaten the government with the disclosure of classified information if the government did not drop … Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FUNDS IN THE FEDERAL CHECKBOOK TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IN WESTERN MARYLAND

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded $12,310 in grant funding to the Western Maryland Area Health Education Center (AHEC) in Cumberland, Allegany County, to support the recruitment and retention of health care workers in rural Western Maryland. "Every Marylander and every American should have access to quality, affordable health care and this ARC grant helps make that… Continue Reading

CARDIN, KRATOVIL PRAISE SENATE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT OUR NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM

Washington, DC - Late Friday, the U.S. Senate passed H.R. 4973, The National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Improvement Act of 2010 .   Written and introduced by Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-MD) and shepherded through the Senate by U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), H.R. 4973 strengthens existing volunteer coordination and engagement programs for the National Wildlife Refuge System.   The legislation now goes to the President for his signature. … Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI APPLAUD CONFIRMATION OF DISTRICT COURT JUDGES

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced the Senate's confirmation of Maryland Court of Special Appeals Judge Ellen Hollander and U.S. Magistrate Judge James Bredar to vacancies on the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division, located in Baltimore, Maryland.    Judge Hollander will occupy the seat formerly held by Judge Andre Davis, who was conf… Continue Reading

CARDIN STATEMENT ON SENATE FAILURE TO PROCEED ON THE DREAM ACT

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) released the following statement today after the Senate was blocked from considering the DREAM Act: "I am disappointed that a small minority in the Senate continues to block the DREAM Act from consideration. This is important legislation that started out with bipartisan support but, despite substantive changes, has been twisted into something it is not. This is a compassionate bill that recognizes that we should not hold innocent c… Continue Reading