CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE OVER $630,000 FOR NATIONAL VOLUNTEER FIRE COUNCIL TO PREVENT FIREFIGHTER FATALITIES

WASHINGTON - Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski ( both D-Md.) today announced the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has received a $630,000 Fire Prevention and Safety Grant (FPS) to support the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program, the leading national heart attack prevention initiative aimed at first responders in the United States. Heart attacks remain the leading cause of death for firefighters today.    The FPS grant is funded through the U.S. Department of Ho… Continue Reading

CARDIN SAYS SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR ENDING MOUNTAINTOP REMOVAL MINING CONTINUES TO GROW

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, applauded the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today for its continued recognition that the best available science should be at the core of regulatory measures designed to prevent irreversible damage to our waters.    "A growing body of scientific evidence demonstrates with alarming clarity that waste fr… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI VOICE OPPOSITION TO EXPANDED DRILLING OFF THE EAST COAST

Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (Both D-MD), expressed their concerns about the President's announcement today that the federal government would allow drilling off the shores of the East Coast, including off the coast of Maryland and its neighbors.     "Our nation desperately needs a comprehensive energy policy that will lessen our dependence on foreign oil.  I … Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE RECOVERY ACT FUNDS TO HELP MARYLAND SENIORS WITH CHRONIC DISEASES LIVE LONGER, HEALTHIER LIVES

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced Maryland will receive $600,000 in Recovery Act funds to help seniors with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and arthritis, live longer and healthier lives.   "Investing in America's future knows no age limit, which is why programs that help older adults take better care of their own chronic conditions are an important part of the Recovery Act," … Continue Reading

TEAM MARYLAND PRESENTS MARYLAND FOOD BANK WITH $492,000 CHECK TO EXPAND SERVICES

BALTIMORE - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin and U.S. Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, Elijah Cummings and John Sarbanes (all D-MD) today presented the Maryland Food Bank with a check for $492,000 to help the non-profit organization feed the growing number of Marylanders who are hungry.  The funding for the Maryland Food Bank was included in the omnibus appropriations bill that was enacted into law in December 2009.   The Maryland Food Bank provides meals to appr… Continue Reading

SENATOR DISCUSSES BENEFITS OF NEW HEALTH CARE REFORM LAW WITH SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS

BALTIMORE -- U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today discussed the new health care reform law with the Maryland-Washington Minority Contractors Association, explaining how it will lower health care costs and make health insurance much more available for America's small business owners.   "Beginning this year, small businesses will get a tax credit to help them pay for health insurance for their employees," said Senator Ca… Continue Reading

CARDIN APPLAUDS EPA ANNOUNCEMENT THAT IT INTENDS TO BLOCK SPRUCE NO. 1 MOUNTAINTOP COAL MINING PERMIT

Washington, DC - U .S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Water and Wildlife Subcommittee released the following statement after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced its proposal under the Clean Water Act to significantly restrict or prohibit mountain top mining at the Spruce No. 1 surface mine in Logan County, WV. According to the EPA, "Spruce No.1 mine is one of the largest mountaintop removal operations ever proposed… Continue Reading

CARDIN, BROWNBACK AND BOXER INTRODUCE BILL TO PREVENT CHILD TRAFFICKING

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced the Child Protection Compact Act Thursday, a bipartisan bill that would give the State Department additional tools to combat child trafficking, exploitation and enslavement.     "Children are most vulnerable to fall prey to human traffickers, which is exactly why this bill is so critical," said Senator Cardin, chairman of the Comm… Continue Reading

SENATORS CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE $1.5 MILLION FOR EASTON/NEWNAM FIELD

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) has awarded the Easton/Newnam Field Airport two grants totally more than $1.5 million to rehabilitate the aircraft parking apron and to remove obstructions from runway areas. The grants will help the facility meet Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety and design standards.   "The Easton/Newnam Fiel… Continue Reading

CARDIN HAILS IMPROVEMENTS TO HEALTH CARE REFORM LAW PASSED BY THE SENATE TODAY

Washington, DC - After days of voting and more than a year of public debate, U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today praised the Senate majority for passing important improvements to health insurance reform that will bring immediate benefits to all Americans. He released the following statement after the Senate passed the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act by a majority vote of 56-43.   "One o… Continue Reading

CARDIN CALLS FOR SCIENTIFIC STUDY TO DETERMINE EXTENT OF LINK BETWEEN ANTIDEPRESSANT USE BY COMBAT TROOPS AND MILITARY SUICIDE RATE

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), testified today before the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee, chaired by Senator Jim Webb (D-VA), to voice his concerns about the use of antidepressants among our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and ongoing questions about whether there is a connection between the reported use of such prescription medications and the record-high suicide rate among active-duty soldiers.     … Continue Reading

MILITARY HEALTH SYSTEM'S PROGRAMS, POLICIES, AND INITIATIVES

  Chairman Webb, Ranking Member Graham and distinguished Members of the Subcommittee: thank you for your invitation to appear before you this morning. I am pleased to have this opportunity to discuss with you the issue of the deteriorating mental health of so many of our combat troops. On behalf of the American families whose loved ones have gone into harms way I come before you today to discuss the strains that have been placed upon our all volunteer force.   In 2009, an unprecedented 160 a… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI AMENDMENT PASSES SENATE 93-0EXTENDING EAS WAIVER FOR HAGERSTOWN AIRPORT

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today applauded the inclusion of their amendment to extend the Essential Air Service (EAS) program at Hagerstown Airport through Sept. 30, 2013 in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act.   The Senate-passed version of the FAA reauthorization returns to the House of Representatives to work out differences between two versions of the bill.   The EAS waiver had be… Continue Reading

CARDIN STATEMENT ON HEALTH CARE REFORM

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act by a vote of 219-212. The bill passed by the Senate in December by a vote of 60-39.  Sunday evening, the House of Representatives also passed the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010 with a majority vote of 220-211.   "A majority in C… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI APPLAUD $240,000 IN ARRA GRANT TO MARYLAND FOR JOB TRAINING IN TRANSPORTATION-RELATED CAREERS

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today applauded the award of a $240,000 grant to Maryland by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) as part of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act to fund apprenticeship and training programs for transportation-related careers. The grant is part of the Federal Highway Administration's On the Job Training/Supportive Services (OJT/SS) program to help recruit and retain mi… Continue Reading

SENATOR CARDIN, CONGRESSMAN SARBANES AND MAYOR RAWLINGS-BLAKE URGE FULL PARTICIPATION IN THE 2010 CENSUS

BALTIMORE -- U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), U.S. Congressman John Sarbanes (MD-3)  and Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake were joined by members of the Baltimore religious community in urging area residents to participate in the 2010 Census. The 2010 Census forms have been mailed to area residents who need to fill them out and mail them back on Census Day - April 1, 2010.   The 2010 Census will have a profound impact on Mary… Continue Reading

CARDIN PRAISES EPA ACTION TO PROTECT DRINKING WATER FROM HARMFUL CONTAMINANTS

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), chairman of the EPW Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, released the following statement in response to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson's announcement that the EPA is developing a broad new set of strategies to strengthen public health protection from contaminants in drinking water and revising the existing drinking water standards for four contaminants that can cause cancer (tetrachloroethyl… Continue Reading

CARDIN CALLS FAA REAUTHORIZATION AN ENGINE FOR JOB CREATION IN MARYLAND

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) released the following statement after the Senate passed the FAA Reauthorization Act by a vote of 93-0. The bill will now be reconciled with the version passed the House of Representatives last year.   "Our aviation system does much more than provide flights for millions of Americans.   Aviation provides jobs and fuels our economy. … Continue Reading

CARDIN WELCOMES ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU TO WASHINGTON

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 advance of next week's visit to Washington, DC, of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.   "I am pleased that Prime Minister Netanyahu will return to visit the U.S.   I welcome him as leader of America's closest and most re… Continue Reading

CARDIN JOINS PRESIDENT OBAMA AT WHITE HOUSE FOR SIGNING OF THE BIPARTISAN JOBS BILL

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today joined President Obama at the White House as he signed the bipartisan Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act (HIRE Act) into law.   "I was proud to join President Obama today in the White House Rose Garden as he signed into law one of many jobs initiatives designed to encourage new, private-sector hiring and help small businesses in Maryland and across the nation.   The bill signed today, th… Continue Reading