SENATOR CARDIN PRAISES SELECTION OF MARYLAND SCHOOLS FOR $250 MILLION RACE TO THE TOP FUNDING

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education announced that Maryland has been selected to receive $250 million in Race to the Top funding:   "The selection of Maryland to receive Race to the Top federal education funding is a vote of confidence in our State's education system, a system that focuses on high standards, turning around… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE GRANTS TO CREATE JOBS, PROMOTE INNOVATION IN WEATHERIZATION PROGRAMS

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded a $1.3 million grant to support innovation and job creation through the delivery of weatherization programs in Baltimore City. The grant, awarded to the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning, will help low-income Maryland residents achieve energy efficiency in their homes as a part of integrated model that also focuses on air quality and le… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE GRANT TO INCREASE CAPACITY OF SEWER SYSTEM IN ALLEGANY COUNTY

WASHINGTON. - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded a $350,000 grant to the Allegany County Board of County Commissioners to purchase and install a high-capacity water storage tank to serve Cresaptown, Maryland. The replacement tank will result in improved services to more than 700 households and reduce the level of silt and iron in the town's water supply. … Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE GRANTS TO CREATE JOBS, PROMOTE ENERGY EFFICIENCY THROUGH WEATHERIZATION PROGRAMS

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD ) today announced the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded two grants totaling $2.5 million to support innovative weatherization programs in Maryland. The grants, awarded to organizations in Garrett and Washington counties, will help low-income Maryland residents achieve energy efficiency in their homes while creating weatherization jobs in local communities.   … Continue Reading

CARDIN STATEMENT ON THE ANNOUNCED RESUMPTION OF DIRECT TALKS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on the announcement by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that Israel and the Palestinian Authority would resume direct peace talks.   "After a 20 month halt, I am pleased to hear that Israelis and Palestinians will once again sit down together … Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE GRANT TO PROMOTE JOBS, INVESTMENT ON MARYLAND'S LOWER EASTERN SHORE

WASHINGTON. - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced the Tri County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland was awarded a $70,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) that will help bring private investment and jobs to Maryland's Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties. This is the first installment of a 3-year grant that will total $210,000.     "T… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE RELEASE OF FEDERAL FUNDS TO BUILD OYSTER POPULATION IN THE BAY

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released almost $2 million to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to help restore the Chesapeake Bay's oyster population. The funding, secured by Senator Mikulski in the FY2010 Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS) funding bill, will allow for targeted oyster restoration efforts in t… Continue Reading

SENATOR CARDIN CALLS ON DoD TO MOVE SWIFTLY TO ADDRESS FT. DETRICK CONTAMINATION ISSUES

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Defense urging swift action to investigate and remediate contamination on the Fort Detrick Army base located in Frederick, MD.  In the letter, the Senator called on the Army to expedite the signing of a Federal Facilities Agreement (FFA) with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by December 1, 2010.  Signing the legally enforceable FFA is an important step forward with the investigation a… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FUNDS FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENTS IN MARYLAND'S BRAC 'HOT SPOTS'

WASHINGTON  - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) released funds to the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDT) to make intersection improvements at BRAC transportation "hot spots" near three Maryland military installations. The funding, secured by Senator Mikulski in the FY2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) funding bill, will greatly improve safety and access t… Continue Reading

SENATOR CARDIN SUPPORTS BORDER SECURITY LEGISLATION

Returning to Capitol Hill to preside over a special session of the Senate, U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today supported legislation that will  provide $600 million for 1,500 new border patrol agents and send additional monitoring and communications equipment to the Mexican border to help stem the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs.    Senator Cardin, chairman of the Terrorism and Homeland Security Subcommi… Continue Reading

SENATOR CARDIN VISITS CHOPTANK COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER THAT HAS RECEIVED $1 MILLION RECOVERY GRANT TO EXPAND DENTAL CARE

CAMBRIDGE , MD - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a leading supporter of efforts to expand federally qualified health centers (FQHC), today visited the Cambridge Dental Center and the Fassett-Magee Health Center to congratulate the Choptank Community Health System (CCHS) on receiving $1 million in funding through the Federal Investment… Continue Reading

CARDIN TELLS SENIOR ADVOCATE COMMUNITY THAT THE NEW HEALTH CARE LAW WILL MEAN BETTER CARE AND SAVE MONEY

SALISBURY, MD -- U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today told members of the senior and health care advocate community that much misinformation has been circulated about the newly enacted Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and that he was there "to set the record straight" about additional benefits for seniors in the new law that will save them money and help improve access to health care.   … Continue Reading

SENATOR CARDIN HELPS BREAK GROUND FOR BIG SLACKWATER HISTORIC TOWPATH RESTORATION

WILLIAMSPORT, MD - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today joined Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Beverley K. Swaim-Staley, C&O Canal Superintendent Kevin Brandt and other state officials in breaking ground for the restoration of 2.7 miles of the historic Big Slackwater Towpath.   In 1996, this section of the historic towpath was closed following extensive flood damage.   The reconstruction will reestablish the towpath along a 4,000-foot st… Continue Reading

SENATOR CARDIN VISITS GARRETT COUNTY TO ANNOUNCE FUNDING FOR GARRET COLLEGE AND TO VISIT GEARS CAMP

ACCIDENT, MD --   U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today visited Garrett County to announce a $400,000 Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant to design and construct a flexible trades laboratory at the Garrett College Career Technology Training Center (CTTC).   The Senator also toured the new center, which is expected to provide training in environmental/energy systems and telecommunications to 500 students over a three-year period.   … Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI CONGRATULATE MARYLAND UNIVERSITIES ON WINNING GRANTS TO TRAIN MARYLANDERS FOR JOBS IN HEALTH CARE FIELD

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD)today announced four universities have received grants to train Marylanders for jobs in high-demand, high-growth health fields of nursing and geriatric health, helping to alleviate the shortage of health care workers in Maryland.   "Maryland is home to the finest medical institutions in our nation and these grants will make it possible to expand the educational and train… Continue Reading

ANNIVERSARY OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT

Mr. President today marks the forty-fifth anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, a landmark piece of legislation which helped guarantee the right to vote to all Americans.    As we approach the upcoming midterm elections, it is important to remember the journey of voting rights in America.   Without this right, words and phrases like "democracy", "land of the free", and "equality" lack true meaning.    The right to vote traveled a long ugly road - a road we must al… Continue Reading

CARDIN LAUDS SENATE ACTION TO SAVE TEACHERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS FROM BUDGET CUTS

  Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) praised Senate passage today of emergency funding that would prevent mass layoffs of tens of thousands of teachers and first responders across the nation.     "Local communities throughout Maryland and across the nation are finally feeling relief today with the long-awaited Senate passage of $26 billion in aid to our states, $10 billion of which will help prevent 140,000 t… Continue Reading

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE PASSES CARDIN, MIKULSKI BILL CREATING COMMISSION TO COMMEMORATE WAR OF 1812

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today passed legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) to create a special Commission to plan, coordinate and facilitate the bicentennial celebration of the War of 1812, often referred to as the Second American Revolution.   The bill, S. 518, calls for creating a Star-Spangled Banner and War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission to plan for the ap… Continue Reading

CARDIN VOTES TO CONFIRM ELENA KAGAN TO BE ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, cast his vote today to confirm Solicitor General Elena Kagan as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Justice Kagan is just the fourth woman ever to be confirmed to the Supreme Court.   "Solicitor General Elena Kagan has the experience, the intelligence, the integrity, and the temperament to serve as an Associate Justice of the Sup… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI PRAISE RECOVERY ACT FUNDING FOR LONACONING WATER PROJECT

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today praised the announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that the Town of Lonaconing, in Allegany County, has been awarded a $6.6 million loan and $2.3 million grant in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to upgrade water supply distribution facilities.   " The safety and reliability of our communities' water supply is criti… Continue Reading