SENATOR CARDIN CO-SPONSORS BILL TO REPEAL EXPANDED 1099 REPORTING REQUIREMENT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, has co-sponsored the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act , S 3946, legislation that would repeal the expanded Form 1099 reporting requirement for small businesses.  The provision is set to take effect in 2012. The bill, which has bipartisan support, was introduced by Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee… Continue Reading

CARDIN RESPONSE TO WASH COG'S REPORT ON METRO

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) released the following statement in response to the joint report on Metro released today by the Washington Council of Governments and the Greater Washington Board of Trade:   "The Greater Washington Board of Trade and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments' WMATA Governance Review Task Force' make several commonsense recommendati… Continue Reading

WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2010

Thank you for holding this hearing today.    The Water Resource Development Act is one of the most important public works laws that we consider.   I am happy to have the opportunity today to address some of the critical economic issues associated with our water resources infrastructure.     Today's witnesses will discuss some of the specific funding mechanisms used to support our water resources infrastructure.   We'll hear about… Continue Reading

CARDIN SAYS SENATE MUST MOVE FORWARD ON PAY EQUITY FOR WOMEN

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) released the following statement after the Senate was blocked from considering the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would ensure that women are paid fairly in the workplace.   "It is incomprehensible why the Senate is unable to move forward on consideration of the Paycheck Fairness Act. Today, women make up half of the total workforce and nearly 4 in 10 mothers are the primary breadw… Continue Reading

PAYCHECK FAIRNESS ACT

Mr. President, I rise today in support of the Paycheck Fairness Act. Progress for women in this country has not come easily or come quickly. There was a time when women were not allowed to vote or own property. In fact, our country once considered women to be the property of their fathers or husbands. Over the years, women have fought gender barriers and broken down stereotypes, making great strides toward equity. Unfortunately, inequities still exist. While women have successf… Continue Reading

CARDIN SAYS WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IS CRITICAL FOR JOB CREATION IN MARYLAND AND NATIONWIDE

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and Chairman of its Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, today called the Water Resource Development Act "one of the most important public works laws that Congress will consider." Speaking at a committee hearing to review the Water Resources Development Act of 2010, Senator Cardin said that "a robust water resources infrastructure for America is vital to creating an… Continue Reading

U.S. SENATORS: IT'S TIME TO VOTE ON NEW START

Washington, DC - A group of United States Senators, all members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called on the U.S. Senate to consider and ratify the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty ("New START") in the current Congressional session.  The Senators cited critical national security concerns in delaying consideration of the treaty and warned of the consequences to America's nuclear security efforts around the globe.   "It has… Continue Reading

SENATOR CARDIN JOINS IN ANNOUNCING NEW CHESAPEAKE CONSERVATION CORP PROGRAM

MILLERSVILLE, MD -- U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today joined officials from the Chesapeake Bay Trust to unveil the Chesapeake Conservation Corps, a new program administered by the Trust that provides service-learning opportunities and green job training for young people through environmental and energy conservation projects. The initiative pairs young adults with watershed organizations, local governments and other community-based organizations throughout Maryland. … Continue Reading

SENATOR CARDIN ATTENDS GROUNDBREAKING FOR FT. MEADE'S NEW SOLIDER AND FAMILY ASSISSTANCE CENTER

FORT MEADE, MD - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today attended the groundbreaking for a new Soldier and Family Assistance Center (SFAC) at Fort George G. Meade. The groundbreaking was for two modular buildings that will house the installations Soldier and Family Assistance Center and Warrior Transition Unit administrative offices. "Our soldiers are the best in the world and we have made a promise that we will be there for them to provide the support and services they need as… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE $900,000 GRANT TO UPGRADE U.S. 113 TO FOUR-LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) announced the Federal Highway Administration has awarded about $900,000 to Maryland to design and buy the right-of-way needed to widen U.S. 113 and build an interchange at the highway's intersection with MD 12. The senators secured this money in the fiscal 2010 transportation spending bill. The existing highway will be upgraded to a four-lane divided highway, with shoulders to ac… Continue Reading

CARDIN CALLS UPROAR OVER CONSTRUCTION AN EXCUSE TO DELAY NEGOTIATIONS, URGES ABBAS TO RETURN TO DIRECT TALKS WITH ISRAEL

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement regarding criticism of recently proposed Israeli housing units in East Jerusalem .   "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is right to call the current uproar over planning for new construction in East Jerusalem 'overblown.' Jerusalem is the undivided capital of the State of Israel. This episode seems to be… Continue Reading

SENATOR CARDIN, CONGRESSWOMAN EDWARDS ATTEND DEDICATION OF EDMONSTON'S RENOVATED 'GREEN' STREET

EDMONSTON, MD -- U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) and U.S. Congresswoman Donna Edwards (MD-4) joined Edmonston Mayor Adam Ortiz at the dedication of Edmonston's Decatur Street renovations that have transformed the Prince George's County community into one of the most environmentally friendly in our nation. The $1.3 million project, funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), has provided more than 50 jobs. It enabled Edmonston to … Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI APPLAUD DECISION TO GRANT DISASTER DESIGNATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today praised the U.S. Department of Agriculture for granting Maryland's request for a natural disaster designation for 22 counties because of drought and excessive heat. "Mother Nature was not kind to Maryland farmers this summer, with drought and excessive heat taking a heavy toll on their livelihood," said Senator Cardin. "I am pleased to see USDA coming through with financial resources to he… Continue Reading

CARDIN LAUDS MOMENTUM FOR BRINGING CLEAN ENERGY JOBS TO MARYLAND WITH OFFSHORE WIND PROJECTS

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today praised the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) for making Maryland the second state ready to move beyond the planning stage for developing viable offshore wind power generation.   The official notice, a Request for Interest in the proposed offshore wind leasing area that is as close as 10 nautical miles off of Ocean City and 20 miles from Assateague , will be published in… Continue Reading

SENATOR CARDIN JOINS USDA IN ANNOUNCING 13 GRANTS TO FUND ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROJECTS TO HELP MARYLAND FARMERS AND RURAL BUSINESSES

U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today joined U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development State Director Jack Tarburton and U.S. Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (MD-6) to announce that USDA Rural Development is providing grants for 13 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in Maryland under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The announcement was made at Sunnyside Farms, Inc., a major chicken-egg production facility in Carroll County. Sunnyside will receive a $220,50… Continue Reading

SENATOR CARDIN JOINS EPA OFFICIALS IN ANNOUNCING $3.4 MILLION FOR PROJECTS THAT WILL HELP REDUCE CHESAPEAKE BAY POLLUTION

BALTIMORE - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today joined officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Chesapeake Bay Program to announce $3.4 million for 34 environmental projects in the six Chesapeake Bay watershed states and the District of Columbia to help reduce pollution to local streams, creeks and rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. The grants are funded by the EPA's Chesapeake Bay Program and a variety of other federal and private partners. They are administered by … Continue Reading

CARDIN ASKS ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER TO INVESTIGATE DECEPTIVE ROBO CALLS MADE TO MARYLAND DEMS ON ELECTION DAY

Washington, DC - The day after Election Day 2010, U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, urged Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate anonymous, automated phone calls made to predominantly African-American and other voters in Baltimore and elsewhere around the state intentionally designed to suppress voter turnout.   "Targeting voters with deceptive messages in a deliberate attempt to suppress voter partici… Continue Reading

SENATORS QUERY SECRETARY CLINTON ON PENDING DECISION ON TRANSCANADA TAR SANDS PIPELINE

Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and colleagues are raising questions about the pending approval of the TransCanada Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. In a letter sent Thursday to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the lawmakers sought answers to a series of concerns they have about the pipeline. Signing the letter, in addition to Cardin, Leahy and Merkley, are Senators Roland Burris (D-IL), Chris Dodd (D-CT), Kirsten Gillib… Continue Reading

CARDIN, SARBANES CELEBRATE NATIONAL WEATHERIZATION DAY

GLEN BURNIE, MD - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, U.S. Congressman John Sarbanes (both D-MD) today joined Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Raymond Skinner to celebrated National Weatherization Day by visiting the Glen Burnie home of Evette West-Brooks, which was recently retrofitted to be more energy efficient.   Funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) … Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE $41 MILLION GRANT TO HELP FAMILIES PAY ENERGY BILLS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (Both D-Md.) today announced Maryland will receive more than $41 million to prevent Marylanders from having to choose between paying their heating and cooling bills and paying for food and medicine. The $41,073,570 Low Income House Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) block grant will help low-income families, seniors with fixed incomes and people with disabilities pay for heating costs through the coldest months of win… Continue Reading