CARDIN CALLS GAO'S LATEST REJECTION OF DC STORMWATER FEES UNACCEPTABLE

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, released the following statement in response to the September 29 letter from the General Accountability Office (GAO) that it will not pay the portion of the DC Government's stormwater fee used to reduce the pollutants covered by the city's EPA issued stormwater permit.     "Today's … Continue Reading

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

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) has nominated Scott and Amy Ness of Hebron, MD as one of this year's Congressional Angels in Adoption for adopting 10 children over a four-year period, many whom had serious health and other issues.      "The Nesses saw a need and selflessly reached out to provide a home to children who were not easy to place," said Senator Cardin.    "They have op… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE NEW AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER FOR FREDERICK MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today officially announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted its final approval for an Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower at Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK). The ATC tower will cost $4.8 million and will be funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).   The Frederick Municipal Airport is a reliever airport… Continue Reading

CARDIN, RUPPERSBERGER & SARBANES HONOR THE WAR OF 1812 WITH STAR-SPANGLED BANNER COMMEMORATIVE COIN

BALTIMORE - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, and U.S. Congressmen C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger John Sarbanes and former Senator Paul Sarbanes (all D-MD) today gathered at Fort McHenry to honor the War of 1812, and the critical role Maryland played in the growth of our young nation with a Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coin.   H.R. 2097, the legislation creating the coin, passed the House and Senate and was recently signed into law by President Obama. … Continue Reading

SENATE UNANIMOUSLY PASSES RESOLUTION TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE WEEK

WASHINGTON, DC - The Senate on Friday unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution introduced by U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Ted Kaufman (D-DE) and Mike Crapo (R-ID), designating the week beginning October 10, 2010 as "National Wildlife Refuge Week."   President Theodore Roosevelt established the first National Wildlife Refuge in 1903. Since then, the Refuge System has grown to encompass 150 million acres, 552 refuges and 38 wetland management districts. The first Na… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE $1.8 MLLION GRANT TO HELP MARYLAND FIGHT 'IMPAIRED' DRIVING

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced that the State Highway Administration has been awarded a $1,879,392 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to help fight "impaired" driving.  The SHA will distribute the funds statewide, which will be used for education and enforcement.       Impaired driving from alcohol and/or drug use has taken a deadly toll on Maryland's roads. While overall drivi… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FEDERAL FUNDS TO REWARD WASHINGTON COUNTY SCHOOLS, TEACHERS FOR IMPROVING STUDENT PERFORMANCE

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has awarded a five-year, $7,351,028 grant to the Board of Education of Washington County to reward teachers and schools for improving the classroom performance of students.   "I congratulate the Washington County Public School system and its teachers for doing an outstanding job in educating our children. I a… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FEDERAL FUNDING TO HELP CUMBERLAND BUSINESSES, HOMEOWNERS

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded the City of Cumberland $125,000 in federal grant funding that will allow the city to take the next necessary step towards ensuring that residents and businesses located near the Potomac River and Wills Creek are spared the expense of purchasing federal flood insurance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).   … Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FEDERAL FUNDS TO CONTINUE CONSTRUCTION OF ACCESS ROAD IN GARRETT COUNTY

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded an additional $384,000 to Garrett County, to complete the construction of the Cherry Glade Access Road. The new road will provide improved access to a new commercial site, easing congestion and creating new jobs.   "Transportation infrastructure is critical to future economic growth of… Continue Reading

IN OPPOSITION TO S. J. RES. 30, PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF THE NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD RULE

I want to thank Senator Harkin for his leadership on this issue in opposing the Senate Joint Resolution 30. I join him in urging my colleagues to oppose the resolution. The National Mediation Board, or NMB, is an important entity and they have the responsibility to oversee labor management relations in the rail and aviation industries.   On May 11, 2010, the NMB issued a final rule that allows a majority … Continue Reading

CARDIN SAYS GOVERNMENT MUST BALANCE PRIVACY RIGHTS WITH OTHER INTERESTS, ESPECIALLY AS TECHNOLOGY EVOLVES

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D?MD), chairman of the Judiciary Terrorism and Homeland Security Subcommittee, questioned government and private sector witnesses today about how to balance individual privacy rights with other interests such as the interests of the private sector for certainty, efficiency and customer trust.  Cardin's questions came at a Senate Judiciary hearing entitled "The Electronic Communications Privacy Act: Promoting Security and Protectin… Continue Reading

CARDIN APPLAUDS U.S. FOCUS ON INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT BUT URGES GREATER ACTION

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and its International Development and Foreign Assistance Subcommittee released the following statement regarding the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Summit concluding today.   "America's commitment to international development is not only a moral imperative, but a tool for national security and global stability… Continue Reading

CARDIN STATEMENT ON DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) released the following statement after the Senate failed to gain enough votes to proceed to consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act, which allowed for an end to the prohibition of gay and lesbian service members serving openly in the U.S. military.   "It is disheartening that Republicans have blocked consideration of a bill that would have removed a key barrier to finally permi… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE GRANT FOR STUDY OF ECONOMIC IMPACT OF DEEP CREEK LAKE

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) announced the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded a $20,000 grant to Garrett County to conduct a study of tourism at Deep Creek Lake, allowing local residents, businesses and government to better plan for future development in the area. "Deep Creek Lake is one of Maryland's greatest treasures and it has become a great tourist destination, providing jobs and economic growth for the r… Continue Reading

CARDIN CO-SPONSORS MEASURE TO STRENGTHEN ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today announced his support for legislation strengthening enforcement of existing U.S. and multilateral economic sanctions against Iran passed earlier this summer.  The Gulf Security and Iran Sanctions Enforcement Act was introduced today by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).   "The recently enacted sanction… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI, VAN HOLLEN ANNOUNCE FUNDS FOR NEW LANGLEY PARK TRANSIT CENTER

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski and U.S. Congressman Chris Van Hollen (all D-MD) today announced a U.S. Department of Transportation grant of $818,300 for the design and planning of a new transit center in Langley Park.  The new center would serve both Prince George's and Montgomery counties.     Senators Cardin, Mikulski and Congressman Van Hollen strongly supported the funding for the new transit center becaus… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI, O'MALLEY ANNOUNCE MAJOR STEP FORWARD IN EXPANDING BROADBAND ACCESS TO MARYLANDERS

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Benjamin L. Cardin (both D-Md.) and Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley today were joined by other members of   the Maryland Congressional Delegation in announcing the state has been awarded more than $115 million in competitive federal grant funds to extend broadband to rural and underserved communities across the state. Expanding broadband is crucial for increasing Internet access and capacity across the state, helpi… Continue Reading

CARDIN APPLAUDS OFFICIAL CREATION OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), home state senator for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), applauded the official elevation of the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD) this week to its new position as the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. Senator Cardin authored the provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that authorized this change.   … Continue Reading

CARDIN APPLAUDS SENATE PASSAGE OF BILL TO AID SMALL BUSINESS JOB CREATION

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today praised Senate passage of legislation that "will help small business owners obtain affordable credit and expand their entrepreneurial opportunities so they can succeed in a difficult economy."     The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 includes a Cardin amendment to require federal contracting officials to complete small business training before receiving certificat… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE NEW FUNDING TO BRING OCEAN CITY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT UP TO SAFETY STANDARDS

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) today announced a $161,465 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to the Town of Ocean City for the design and engineering to reconstruct and rehabilitate the Ocean City Municipal Airport's north/south runway.   The runway was originally constructed in 1978 and is now considered to be in a "state of failure" by airport officials.     "Safety is my n… Continue Reading