CARDIN VOICES SUPPORT FOR CHAIRMAN'S MARK OF THE CLEAN ENERGY JOBS AND AMERICAN POWER ACT, PRAISES COLLABORATION AMONG SENATORS

New and revised language in the Chairman's Mark released today:   Specifies distribution of emissions allowances; Ensures that the majority of investments in the bill are for consumer protection; Includes new provisions to address clean coal technology; Increases investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy;          Reduces greenhouse gas emissions and… Continue Reading

CARDIN PRAISES OFFICIAL ENACTMENT OF ADVANCED FUNDING FOR VETERAN HEALTH CARE

  Washington, DC - Shortly after the President signed into law the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act today, U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), called the legislation "one of the most important tools available to support the health and welfare of our veterans."   "The concept is simple: advance the budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs one year so essential medical services for our veterans are not put in jeopardy on an ann… Continue Reading

CARDIN STATEMENT ON FUTURE OF NATO IN THE BALKANS

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) today said the prospect of expanding NATO to include Bosnia-Herzegovina should motivate the country to make constitutional and political reforms needed to fit into the alliance.  "As a member and now chairman of the Helsinki Commission, I have watched the Balkans… Continue Reading

CARDIN PRAISES PASSAGE OF THE MATTHEW SHEPARD HATE CRIMES PREVENTION ACT

      Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today lauded the 68-29 vote to adopt the Conference Report to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. Senator Cardin is an original co-sponsor of the hate crimes provision. The Conference Report already has been adopted by the House of Representatives and will now be sent to President Obam… Continue Reading

CARDIN APPLAUDS PRESIDENT OBAMA'S SMALL BUSINESS INITIATIVES, CO-SPONSORS BILL TO INCREASE SBA LOAN LIMITS AND REPEAL SBIR/STTR EXCLUSION FROM NIH RECOVERY ACT FUNDS

  Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, joined President Obama at Metropolitan Archives in Landover, MD, today as he announced new small business lending initiatives designed to put capital in the hands of small business owners. Senator Cardin applauded the new measures and announced his original co-sponsorship of a bill to be introduced by Committee Chair Mary Landrieu (D-LA) that will codif… Continue Reading

CARDIN, DEMOCRATIC SENATORS URGE SWIFT PASSAGE OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS EXTENSION

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), along with 13 fellow Democratic Senators today called on Senate Republicans to stop playing politics and immediately help pass legislation that will provide relief to jobless workers by extending unemployment insurance for the nearly 2 million Americans who will exhaust their benefits by the end of the year.  The pending bill would extend unemployment insurance by up to 14 additional weeks for jobless workers in all states and up to 20 wee… Continue Reading

CARDIN WELCOMES RENEWED COMMITMENT TO PEACE IN SUDAN

    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 President Obama's announcement of a comprehensive strategy to confront the "serious and urgent situation in Sudan":   "I'm encouraged by the Administration's continued resolve to end the conflict and human rights abuses in Sudan. We have a moral ob… Continue Reading

CARDIN JOINS HOYER, VAN HOLLEN, & EDWARDS: RECOVERY ACT WORKING TO CREATE JOBS, INVEST IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

LARGO, MD - Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today joined Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) and Chris Van Hollen (MD-8 ) and Congresswoman Donna Edwards (MD-4) at a press conference in Prince George's County to talk about how the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is working to create jobs and invest in critical priorities. Preliminary reporting information shows that to day Prince George's Co. jurisdictions, businesses and federal facilities have… Continue Reading

CARDIN, O'MALLEY, CUMMINGS, VAN HOLLEN AND REGIONAL PARTNERS DETAIL NEW LEGISLATION TO RESTORE THE CHESAPEAKE WATERSHED

Annapolis, MD - Standing steps from the shore of the Chesapeake Bay at Sandy Point State Park, U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), joined with Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, Congressman Elijah Cummings (MD-7), Congressman Chris Van Hollen (MD-8), and Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources L. Preston Bryant who represented Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine, Chair of the Bay Program's Executive Council, to outline the details of federal legislation to greatly expa… Continue Reading

CARDIN SAYS CONGRESS IS READY TO MOVE FORWARD IN HEALTH CARE REFORM THAT WILL ENSURE ALL AMERICANS GET QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE

    COLUMBIA, MD - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today met with doctors, nurses, hospital administrators and Howard County community health care leaders at Howard County General's Wellness Center to update them on health care reform efforts in Congress.   Senator Cardin told the group that House and Senate leaders are now working on melding five separate bills into one that will pass both chambers. He went on to say: "Just as we passed Medicare in 1965, which… Continue Reading

SENATOR CARDIN PRAISES SENATE PASSAGE OF APPROPRIATIONS BILL TO FUND KEY BAY, PORT OF BALTIMORE AND OTHER MD WATER PROJECTS

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today praised Senate passage of the Energy and Water appropriations conference report that will "fund significant improvements to the Chesapeake Bay and other important water projects that will improve the environment while also providing essential support to the Port of Baltimore, which is one of our State's most important economic engines."   The Senate passed legislation that will provide approximately $3.9 million for Ches… Continue Reading

CARDIN SPONSORS BILL TO ELIMINATE SENTENCING DISPARITY BETWEEN CRACK AND POWDER COCAINE

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Crime and Drugs Subcommittee Chairman Arlen Specter (D-PA), and six other Senators, introducing legislation to eliminate the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. The bill, the Fair Sentencing Act , would refocus scarce federal resources toward lar… Continue Reading

STATEMENT BY U.S. SENATOR BENJAMIN L. CARDIN ON DEATH OF PHILIP L. BROWN SR.

Philip Brown was a visionary and a role model for all who care about civil rights, justice, and equality.   As a teacher in the Anne Arundel County school system, his commitment to end segregation in our public schools set the groundwork for Brown vs. Board of Education and helped change the course of history.   His quiet grace and determination were an inspiration for those who followed in his footsteps.… Continue Reading

CARDIN AMONG FIRST TO MEET WITH NEW GREEK PRIME MINISTER

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) expressed hope that the new Greek government would tackle critical regional issues and continue to be a strong leader as Chair-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.   Senator Cardin visited Athens this weekend for the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Fall Meeting. On the sidelines of the meeting, he met Sunday … Continue Reading

DODD, DURBIN, CARDIN INTRODUCE RESOLUTION TO STRENGTHEN USAID

WASHINGTON, DC - Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chris Dodd (D-CT), Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced a resolution today to empower and strengthen the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).   "Reducing global poverty strengthens our national security while fulfilling a moral obligation to assist those in need. To accomplish this goal, we must restore our commitment to development as a pillar of our foreign policy, alongsid… Continue Reading

CARDIN STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT OBAMA BEING AWARDED THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

      Athens, Greece - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) and a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement upon hearing that President Barack Obama had been awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.   "I congratulate President Obama on receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Such a high honor represents international… Continue Reading

CARDIN, COLLINS INTRODUCE BILL TO QUANTIFY HATE CRIMES AGAINST HOMELESS

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) and Susan Collins (R-ME) today introduced legislation to track the number of hate crimes committed against homeless persons to help determine just how pervasive such crimes may be . Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Charles Schumer (D-NY) joined as original co-sponsors of the bill, the Hate Crimes Against Homeless Sta… Continue Reading

CARDIN CALLS FOR GENDER EQUITY IN HEALTH CARE REFORM, APPLAUDS WOMEN SENATORS FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE

Washington, DC - U.S . Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), today voiced his support for reform legislation aimed at ending the bias against women in our health care system. He commended his women colleagues in the Senate for leading the fight for health care equality.   "Denying women maternity care or charging women more money for the exact same policy is simply unacceptable," said Senator Cardin. "I want to be assured that my wife, daughter and granddaughters can get the ty… Continue Reading

ON DEATH OF RABBI MARK LOEB

Myrna and I join the Jewish community and all of Baltimore in mourning the passing of Rabbi Mark Loeb, spiritual leader of Beth El Congregation for 32 years.   He was an astute observer of the world and he was an inspiration to all those who cared about social justice and interfaith dialogue. His sermons were often brilliant and spirited, and he had an ability to stir members of his congregation and of the Jewish community to be better people and to make the world a better place.   I j… Continue Reading

JUDICIARY COMMITTEE APPROVES USA PATRIOT ACT LEGISLATION

WASHINGTON, DC - At a meeting Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation to reauthorize expiring provisions in the USA PATRIOT Act and improve oversight of several tools used to gather intelligence.  The Committee's bipartisan 11-8 vote advances the legislation to the full Senate for consideration.   The USA PATRIOT Act Sunset Extension Act was introduced by Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) with Senators Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) and Ted Kaufman (D-DE) on … Continue Reading