MUKULSKI AND CARDIN COMMEMORATE 1-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF FATAL METRO CRASH, REAFFIRM COMMITMENT TO METRO REFORM

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today were joined by Deputy Transportation Secretary John D. Porcari at a press conference to remember the victims of the deadly crash on Metro's Red Line and call for quick action on legislation to establish national safety standards for transit systems like the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro).   "There is no higher priority than the sa… Continue Reading

NOMINATION HEARING OF JAMES M. COLE FOR DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL

Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Sessions, and Members of the Judiciary Committee, I would also like to make a brief statement in support of Mr. Cole, who is a veteran of the Department of Justice, having spent the first 13 years of a stellar legal career at the Department handling high-profile corruption investigations, managing attorneys in the Criminal Division, and serving as Chief of Staff to the Special Counsel to the Attorney General.  I first met Mr. Cole in connectio… Continue Reading

CARDIN TELLS CARROLL COUNTY SENIORS THE NEW HEALTH REFORM LAW WILL SAVE THEM MONEY

WESTMINSTER , MD -- U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today told residents of the Carroll Lutheran Village that the new health reform law will help reduce their prescription drug costs and reduce other out-of-pocket expenses they may incur.  He announced that starting this month, seniors who reach the Medicare Part D "donut hole" will receive a $250 check from the federal government … Continue Reading

STATEMENT BY U.S. SENATOR BENJAMIN L. CARDIN ON THE APPOINTMENT OF DR. DONALD F. BOESCH TO NATIONAL COMMISSION INVESTIGATING BP OIL SPILL

I want to commend President Obama for appointing Dr. Donald F. Boesch to the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Off Shore Drilling. I know Don Boesch personally and he is one of our nation's most prominent biological oceanographers. Don Boesch combines unrivaled scientific expertise, an extraordinary range of relevant experience, and a passion for our ocean resources. President Obama has chosen well.   As Professor of Marine Science and Pre… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI, CUMMINGS DISCUSS FEDERAL RESPONSE TO BP OIL SPILL FOLLOWING RECENT VISITS TO THE GULF COAST

Baltimore, MD - Following up on their recent visits to the Gulf of Mexico to view the damage being done by the BP oil spill, U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski and U.S. Congressman Elijah Cummings (all D-MD) gathered at the National Aquarium, Baltimore today to voice their concerns about the current responsiveness of BP and the need for the federal government to do even more to take charge of the situation.   "Oil… Continue Reading

CARDIN BILL WOULD REQUIRE FEDS TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE TO CLEAN UP LOCAL POLLUTION

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, has introduced S. 3481, a bill that would require the federal government to comply with local stormwater fees that are used to treat and manage polluted stormwater runoff.  Senator Cardin introduced his bill, which amends the Clean Water Act, in response to recent written decisions that rebuffed or left ambiguous the need for Federal agencies to pay such fees. … Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI URGE SWIFT FEDERAL COORDINATION WITH MARYLAND, ATLANTIC COAST STATES ON OIL SPILL READINESS

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today, in an effort to protect Maryland's economy and heritage, insisted on coordination between the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Commerce with Maryland and other Atlantic Coast states in the event that the BP oil spill reaches the eastern seaboard. In a letter signed with 20 of their Senate colleagues, they asked for: … Continue Reading

CARDIN, SENATE VOTE TO PROTECT AMERICAN CONSUMERS AGAINST BIG OIL

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, today praised his Senate colleagues for defeating an attempt to weaken the national fuel efficiency standards that help keep our air safe to breathe and would have contributed to increasing America's dependence on oil.     "Today, the Senate rejected a thinly veiled effort to roll back the Clean Air Act that would have incre… Continue Reading

MARYLAND'S U.S. SENATORS APPLAUD JUDICIARY COMMITTEE APPROVAL OF BREDAR AND HOLLANDER NOMINATIONS, URGE SWIFT VOTE BY FULL SENATE

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today praised Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) for swiftly moving the nominations of Marylanders Ellen Hollander and James Bredar to fill vacancies on the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.   The Senate Judiciary Committee today unanimously approved both nominations by voice vote. The full Senate will now consider the nominations. … Continue Reading

CARDIN CALLS NEW SANCTIONS ON IRAN ESSENTIAL FOR GLOBAL SECURITY

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 today the United Nations Security Council's passage of Resolution 1929 sanctioning Iran.     "I am heartened that the United Nations Security Council focused on its monumental task at hand - dealing with Iran's dangerous nuclear re… Continue Reading

CARDIN, SHAHEEN URGE REPUBLICANS TO JOIN DEMOCRATIC EFFORTS TO HOLD POLLUTERS ACCOUNTABLE AND STOP PROTECTING BIG OIL COMPANIES

Washington, DC- U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) held a press conference this afternoon to call on Republicans to stop blocking Democratic efforts to make polluters pay for their actions, and help prevent the next oil spill by holding oil companies like BP accountable for their negligence. Republicans are trying to roll back critical environmental protections and sensible oversight that could help prevent the next oil spill, and give handouts to Big Oil instead. … Continue Reading

CARDIN SAYS HIGHER LIABILITY IS NEEDED TO KEEP OIL COMPANIES HONEST

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today called for greater legal accountability by the oil companies in light of the ongoing BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. His comments came in response to a Judiciary Committee hearing entitled, " The Risky Business of Big Oil: Have Recent Court Decisions and Liability Caps Encouraged Irresponsible Corporate Behavior?"     "How we hold energy companies accountable - specificall… Continue Reading

CARDIN, LANDRIEU INTRODUCE BILL TO BOOST SMALL BUSINESS FEDERAL CONTRACTS

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (SBC), and Mary L. Landrieu (D-LA), SBC Chair, yesterday introduced S. 3458, the Section 8(a) Improvements Act of 2010. The legislation seeks to improve access to federal contracts for socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses by making key improvements to the SBA's Section 8(a) contracting programs. This legislation repre… Continue Reading

SENATOR CARDIN CELEBRATES 'NATIONAL TRAILS DAY' BY DEDICATING GWYNNS FALLS TRAIL BIKE RACKS & UNVEILING NEW TRAIL AUDIO TOUR

BALTIMORE -- U.S. Senator Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) today joined the Gwynns Falls Trail Council and representatives from Baltimore City Parks & Recreation to dedicate two bike racks and unveil a new Trail Audio Tour.    In 2003, a picnic pavilion in Leakin Park was dedicated to Senator Cardin in honor of his 60 th birthday and his work to create "greenways" for hiking and biking. The donations by family and friends were used to purchase the bike rack… Continue Reading

SENATOR CARDIN ATTENDS FREDERICK CO. 'GO GREEN' ENERGY CONFERENCE

FREDERICK , MD - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today toured the "Go Green" Energy Conference in Frederick County where he announced that America has an "opportunity to become a leader in the clean energy economy, setting the pace for the rest of the world in investing in efficient, clean energy sources."   The Go Green Ener… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI APPLAUD $1 MILLION TO BALTIMORE CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today applauded the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) award of $1 million in American Recovery & Reinvestment Act funds to the Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) to expand its weatherization job training center.   The funding will allow BCCC to provide training to 200 low-income, unemployed, or underemployed individuals to work in the growing field of energy e… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI PRAISE AWARD OF $2.9 MILLION IN RECOVERY FUNDS FOR MARYLAND'S COMMUNITY HEALTH INTEGRATED PARTNERSHIP

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today praised the Department of Health and Human Services grant of $2.9 million to Maryland 's Community Health Integrated Partnership (CHIP) to adopt electronic health records and other health information technology.    The funding is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's investment in expanding health… Continue Reading

STATEMENT BY U.S. SENATOR BENJAMIN L. CARDIN ON ISRAELI FLOTILLA RAID

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement regarding the Israeli engagement of a flotilla of ships attempting to reach Gaza .   " We must withhold judgment while an investigation is ongoing and until the facts become clear, but it's important that we keep in mind that Israel has a right to ensure the security of its borders and protect its citizens from… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI, KRATOVIL CALL REPORT ON CLOSURE OF EASTON MAIL FACILITY 'UNACCEPTABLE'

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski and Congressman Frank M. Kratovil (all D-MD) today again expressed their concerns about the potential closure of the Easton Mail Processing and Distribution Facility in a letter to Postmaster General John E. Potter. They once again demanded additional opportunities for public comment on the closure and an explanation of how service to Eastern Shore residents will be affe… Continue Reading

SENATORS CARDIN, MIKULSKI JOIN SUPREME COURT BRIEF TO PROTECT FUNERALS OF FALLEN SOLDIERS

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today signed on to an amicus curiae brief to the Supreme Court filed by Majority Leader Harry Reid in support of Marine Lance Corporal Matthew A. Snyder's family.   Matthew, who lived in Finksburg, MD, was killed in Iraq in 2006, and his funeral was disrupted by members of a Kansas church who believe the death of American soldiers is God's punishment for tolerance of homosexuality. … Continue Reading