CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE $4.9 MILLION FOR 3 MARYLAND TRANSIT PROJECTS

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced that Maryland will receive a total of $4.9 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation for three public transportation projects. The funding is part of the Obama administration's $300 million livability initiative to better coordinate transportation, housing and commercial development to better serve people.     "Improving public transportation is a win-win for all of us,"… Continue Reading

CARDIN STATEMENT ON PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU'S VISIT TO THE WHITE HOUSE

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, released the following statement in response to Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu's working visit to the White House with President Barack Obama.   "The visit of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to Washington sends a definitive signal that the 'unbreakable bond' between the U.S. and Is… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE NEW FEDERAL FUNDS FOR NATURE TRAILS IN GARRETT COUNTY

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 a $30,000 grant to expand the trail system in Garrett County. The grant will help the county plan for the expansion of the nature trail system and attract tourists, create jobs and build outdoor recreation businesses in the County. "Garrett County is one of Maryland's top tourist destinations and strengthe… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI AND KRATOVIL ANNOUNCE FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR MARYLAND'S RURAL BUSINESSES

WASHINGTON , D.C. - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and B arbara A. Mikulski and Congressman Frank M. Kratovil ( all D-MD) today announced economic development organizations located on Maryland 's Eastern Shore will benefit from $120,000 in USDA Rural Development grants. The grants, awarded to organizations in Talbot, Caroline and Wicomico counties, will allow them to assist their downtown businesses and create local jobs. Three Eastern Shore organizations received grant… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI PRAISE $6 MILLION IN FUNDING TO MODERNIZE PATUXENT RESEARCH REFUGE

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today applauded the award of $6 million in recovery funds by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for construction projects that will significantly modernize facilities at the Patuxent Research Refuge in Laurel .     "Patuxent is both a National Wildlife Refuge and home of our … Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI INTRODUCE RESOLUTION TO HONOR FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN ARMY CHAPLAIN

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD)andtoday introduced a resolution to honor the life and service of Chaplain Henry Vinton Plummer. Chaplain Plummer was a former slave from Maryland who became the first African-American Chaplain in the U.S. Regular Army. The resolution was passed by unanimous consent.   "I am extremely pleased that the Senate has corrected a terrible injustice by unanimously p… Continue Reading

CARDIN URGES PROTECTIONS FOR AMERICA'S GREAT WATER BODIES, INCLUDING CHESAPEAKE BAY

Washington , DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), chairman of the Senate Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, today urged his colleagues on the Environment and Public Works Committee to swiftly pass a series of major bills designed to protect our nation's treasured waters from the Long Island Sound to San Francisco Bay and Puget Sound to the Gulf of Mexico. Chief among these bills is the Cardin-authored Chesapeake Clean Water and Ecosystem Restoration Act that will help protect and … Continue Reading

SENATE COMMITTEE PASSES CARDIN BILL TO PROTECT AND RESTORE THE CHESAPEAKE BAY

Washington , DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Senate Water and Wildlife Subcommittee , lauded today's passage by voice-vote of the Chesapeake Clean Water and Ecosystem Restoration Act (S. 1816) in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.   Authored by Senator Cardin, this bill will help protect an… Continue Reading

CARDIN APPLAUDS COMMITTEE PASSAGE OF BILL TO MAKE BP FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR OIL SPILL DAMAGES

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, chairman of the Water and Wildlife Subcommittee of the Environment and Public Works Committee, today praised committee passage of the S. 3305, the Big Oil Bailout Prevention Liability Act.   The bill eliminates the $75 million cap on liability for oil spills that was passed in the wake of the Exxon Valdez spill in 1990.     "We mu… Continue Reading

HONORING UNITED STATES SENATOR ROBERT C. BYRD

Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I rise with a heavy heart to pay tribute to our friend and colleague who died early this morning, Senator Robert C. Byrd, the longest-serving Member in the illustrious history of the United States Congress, the longest-serving Senator, and the only Senator in U.S. history elected to nine full terms. Considering that Senator Byrd won his first election, to the West Virginia House of Delegates, in 1946, it may be that he was the longest-serving elected official in … Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE NEW JOB TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES IN MARYLAND FOR JOBS OF THE FUTURE

  WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD)today announced federal funds for Maryland community colleges to develop training programs focusing on in-demand jobs in the high growth fields of cyber security and clean energy technology. The U.S Department of Labor today awarded two-year, competitive Community-Based Job Training grants to Hagerstown Community College and the Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation totaling nearly $7 milli… Continue Reading

CONFIRMATION HEARING FOR ELENA KAGAN TO BE ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

Thank you, Chairman Leahy. Solicitor General Kagan, welcome back to the Judiciary Committee. Last year, I had the privilege of chairing your confirmation hearing for the position of Solicitor General. While we had a spirited debate at that time, I think we can agree that there was not quite as much media attention to that hearing as there is today. Why is that? As I prepared for this week's hearings, I have been thinking about the role of the Supreme Court and the Constitution in our lives.… Continue Reading

STATEMENT BY SENATOR BENJAMIN L. CARDIN ON DEATH OF SENATOR ROBERT BYRD

"The passing of Senator Robert C. Byrd is a sad day for America and for the U.S. Senate. During his 57 years of congressional service, Robert Byrd was the watchdog of the Senate, fiercely fighting to protect the constitutional powers of the legislative branch, particularly in an era of growing executive power. During his long congressional career, his values and views evolved so that he became a strong supporter of civil rights and also a great defender of the environment and protector of the na… Continue Reading

CARDIN HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPACT OF THE SUPREME COURT ON EVERY DAY AMERICANS

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, used his opening statement at the confirmation hearing for Solicitor General Elena Kagan to be the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States to outline the " very tangible impact on all our lives.   "The Supreme Court and the Constitution are at the foundation of our rule of law that is supposed to protect Americans… Continue Reading

CARDIN VOTES TO EXPAND SANCTIONS ON IRAN

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, today released the following statement in response to Senate passage of H.R. 2194 , the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act by a vote of 99-0.  Senator Cardin was an original cosponsor of the Senate version of this legislation (S. 908).   "… Continue Reading

CARDIN STATEMENT ON THE CHANGE IN U.S. LEADERSHIP IN AFGHANISTAN

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following remarks in response to President Obama's announcement that he had accepted General Stanley McChrystal's resignation as commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan and that he will nominate General David Petraeus to take command.   "I support the President's decision to relieve General M… Continue Reading

CARDIN, BIPARTISAN GROUP OF 87 SENATORS SEND LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO SELF-DEFENSE

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined a group of 85 Senators to send a letter to President Obama this week reaffirming their strong support for Israel's right to self-defense.  The Senators outlined the importance of Israel as an ally to the United States in the Middle East, the significance of Israel for America's national security and the need for the United States to stand with Israel at a time when it "faces mu… Continue Reading

NOMINATION OF JOHN S. PISTOLE AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION ANDCOLLECITVE BARGAINING FOR TSA EMPLOYEES

Mr. CARDIN: Mr. President, I rise today to speak in support of the nomination of John S. Pistole to be Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and to talk about collective bargaining for TSA employees.    The TSA has been without a Senate confirmed leader for a year and a half, and during the last five months, we have experienced two major transportation security incidents: the unsuccessful December 25 th bombing of Northwest flig… Continue Reading

HAMAS - AN OBSTACLE TO PEACE

In 2007, Hamas, a State Department-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, forcibly seized control of Gaza.   Hamas continues to refuse to recognize Israel's right to exist and has perpetrated terrorist attacks, launching countless rockets from Gaza into Israel.   Hamas calls for the elimination of Israel and Jews from Islamic holy lands.   No Hamas leader has publicly expressed a willingness to disarm or to stop attacks on Israel and Israeli… Continue Reading

THE REAL IMPACT OF SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

This year, the Senate Judiciary Committee will begin confirmation hearings for Elena Kagan to be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. These confirmation hearings will give an opportunity to the public to see firsthand how important Supreme Court decisions are in their lives. There will be many examples that we could give from schools to consumer issues to personal lives, privacy, religious protections, health and the environment, workplace.   In recent years, … Continue Reading