CARDIN, SENATORS URGE EXTENSION OF COBRA AND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

WASHINGTON, DC - A group of 31 senators, including U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), today sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus urging an extension of unemployment benefits and eligibility for the COBRA Premium Assistance Program through December 31, 2010.  The letter urged swift action on providing relief for unemployed Americans.    "As our nation continues to battle double digit unemployment rates, we must act right … Continue Reading

LUGAR, CARDIN SAY THE U.S. SHOULD FOLLOW NORWAY'S TRANSPARENCY EXAMPLE

Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Lugar (R-IN) and Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) commended the government of Norway for being the first OECD country to publicly disclose its oil and gas revenues as a member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.  Lugar and Cardin called for the U.S., which is currently a supporting country, to become an implementing member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) as a step toward renewed U.S. leadership on transpare… Continue Reading

IN RESPONSE TO THE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION IN CITIZENS UNITED V. FEC

A very activist Supreme Court has tipped the scales of justice further against American voters today, adding to the great imbalance that currently exists in U.S. campaigns. By effectively legislating in areas that Congress has set reasonable guidelines, the Supreme Court is swinging the door wide open for special interests and corporate America to have an even greater influence over our political system.   Congress must now work together in a bipartisan fashion to restore the original inten… Continue Reading

STATEMENT BY U.S. SENATOR BENJAMIN L. CARDIN ON DEATH OF PATRICIA HUGHES

"Pat Hughes was a dedicated teacher, wife and mother who cared deeply about the people of Maryland.  Pat and Harry were devoted to each other and to their two daughters.  My thoughts and prayers are with the Hughes family in this very difficult time." … Continue Reading

TEAM MARYLAND URGES SUPPORT FOR MARYLAND DISASTER DECLARATION FOR SEVERE WINTER SNOWSTORM

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Benjamin L. Cardin (both D-Md.) today joined their Team Maryland colleagues Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.), Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.), Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), John Sarbanes (D-Md.), Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (D-Md.) and Congressman Frank Kratovil (D-Md.) in urging President Obama to support the disaster declaration made by Maryland Governor… Continue Reading

CARDIN SAYS YEMEN INSTABILITY OPENS DOOR TO AL-QAEDA

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) and Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security, met with Yemeni Foreign Minister Abubaker Abdullah Al-Qirbi and released the following statement:   "My colleagues and I had a constructive dialogue with the Yemeni Foreign Minister, highlighting how Yemen and the US can work to… Continue Reading

CARDIN SEEKS ANSWERS ON WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANALYZING TERRORISM INFORMATION AND TAKING FOLLOW-UP ACTION

    Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D?MD), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Terrorism and Homeland Security Subcommittee, sought answers today on who is responsible for analyzing terrorism information and taking the necessary follow-up actions to protect the American people. Senator Cardin's questions came during a Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Securing America's Safety: Improving the Effectiveness of Anti-terrorism Tools and Interagency Communication," with represe… Continue Reading

CARDIN APPLAUDS THE ADMINISTRATION'S MOVE TO BAN IMPORTS OF DANGEROUS PYTHONS AND OTHER GIANT SNAKES

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, today praised Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar for moving closer to prohibiting the importation and interstate transportation of the Burmese python and eight other large constrictor snakes that threaten sensitive ecosystems by listing the species as "injurious wildlife" under the Lacey Act.   … Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE ARRA FUNDING TO GET PEOPLE READY FOR GREEN CONSTRUCTION JOBS IN MARYLAND

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced a grant putting American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds in the federal checkbook to get people across Maryland ready for green industries jobs.   The Department of Labor has awarded a $5.8 million ARRA grant to a consortium of organizations and businesses for the "Smart, Green and Growing" project, which will provide training and job pla… Continue Reading

CARDIN, DURBIN LEAD SENATE IN URGING UGANDA'S PRESIDENT TO BLOCK ANTI-HOMOSEXUAL LAW

      WA SHINGTON- U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) and Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and 10 other Senators today urged Ugandan President Yoweri Musseveni to block enactment of a law that would criminalize homosexuality and codify prejudice against gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered and HIV-positive Ugandans. The bill, which if passed would impose sentences as severe as life in prison or death, runs counter to global decl… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE ARRA FUNDING FOR GREEN CONSTRUCTION JOBS TRAINING IN BALTIMORE

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski and (both D-Md.) today announced the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) puts funds in the federal checkbook for job training in renewable and energy efficient building construction in Maryland through the Department of Labor (DOL).   A $4.7 million ARRA grant has been awarded to a consortium of organizations and businesses to implement comprehensive green constru… Continue Reading

STATEMENT BY U.S. SENATOR BENJAMIN L. CARDIN ON HAITIAN EARTHQUAKE

My thoughts and prayers are with the Haitian people and the tremendous loss of life that appears to have occurred in the wake of the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti.   According to news reports, little was spared in the capital of Port-au-Prince, including the loss of life of members of the U.N. Mission and other members of the international and humanitarian communities that were located in Haiti.   I join the President and my colleagues in Congress in closely monitor… Continue Reading

CARDIN, CUMMINGS ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $1 MILLION IN RECOVERY FUNDS FOR GREEN JOBS THAT WILL HELP CLEAN UP THE BAY

BALTIMORE -- U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) and U.S. Congressman Elijah Cummings (MD-7)  today joined with the Parks & People Foundation to announce $1,077,000 in recovery funding to create 20 new "green" jobs that will focus on reducing urban pollution and runoff into the Chesapeake Bay.     The Parks & People Foundation has been awarded funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to create four green crews … Continue Reading

CARDIN, LUGAR SUPPORT IRAQ'S COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY IN OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) and Richard G. Lugar (R-IN), both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed today their strong support for Iraq's commitment to greater transparency in its oil and gas industry.    Iraq formally announced Monday its intention to become a candidate country in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) following years of growing i… Continue Reading

SENATOR CARDIN PRESENTS CHECK FOR $650,000 FOR NEW ELECTRONIC PATIENT RECORD SYSTEM AT NINE MD COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS

    WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today visited the Walker Mill Health Center in Capitol Heights to present a ceremonial check for $650,000 to the Community Health Integrated Partnership, Inc. (CHIP) to implement an Electronic Patient Record System (EPRS) at nine Federally Qualified Community Health Centers (FQHC) in Maryland. The funding was included in the recently enacted omnibus appropriations bill.     "Our health care delivery system of … Continue Reading

DELEGATION HAILS MARYLAND AS LEADER IN GLOBAL WAR ON CYBER CRIME

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski, and Congressmen Chris Van Hollen and Dutch Ruppersberger (all D-Md.) today lauded renewed efforts to make Maryland the nation's epicenter for cybersecurity. The Delegation joined Governor Martin O'Malley, along with federal and military officials and business leaders at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, for the unveiling of CyberMaryland, a… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE ARRA FUNDING FOR GREEN JOBS TRAINING IN MARYLAND

    WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act includes funding for job training in renewable and energy efficient industries in Maryland through the Department of Labor (DOL).   This $4.6 million ARRA grant has been awarded H-CAP, Inc to provide enhanced skills training to job seekers and entry-level environmental service workers for new and emerging green jobs in … Continue Reading

SENATOR ANNOUNCES $2.7 MILLION IN RECOVERY FUNDS FOR RESTORATON OF CATOCTIN AQUEDUCT

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) announced today that the Catoctin Aqueduct restoration project will receive $2.7 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to begin the restoration of the historic structure. Located in Lander, Frederick County, the Catoctin Aqueduct was first erected in the early 1800s by the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Company to carry the canal over major tributaries of the Potomac River. The National Park… Continue Reading

FLOOR STATEMENT ON THE PATIENTS PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

It won't be long now until we achieve universal health coverage, affordable care for all Americans. I want to thank Senator Baucus for making this moment possible. I know how hard he's worked for so many weeks - so many months- so that we could bring very different views together. We have all been focused on the goal of achieving affordable health care for every American. Senator Baucus never lost sight of that goal. As a result, we are now just hours away from the last procedural hurdle before… Continue Reading

CARDIN SAYS WE WILL PROVIDE UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE AND AFFORDABLE CARE FOR ALL AMERICANS

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), spoke from the floor of the U.S. Senate today as the Senate moved closer to passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Senator Cardin discussed the benefits in the bill to Marylanders and all Americans. He also outlined key amendment he authored, including strengthening the Patients' Bill of Rights provisions and codifying an Office of Minority Health in key federal health agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and… Continue Reading