CARDIN JOINS BROWN AND 28 SENATORS SIGNING LETTER TO MAJORITY LEADER REID URGING INCLUSION OF PUBLIC OPTION IN FINAL HEALTH REFORM BILL

Washington, DC - Thirty U.S. Senators, including Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), signed a letter today urging the inclusion of a public option in any health reform legislation that will be considered on the Senate floor. An additional 14 Senators at least have expressed support for the public option through a resolution, letter, or by voting for a strong public option during committee markups.   "Greater choice and competition within the health care market will help ensure… Continue Reading

CARDIN PRAISES SENATE PASSAGE OF AGRICULTURAL APPRORPRIATIONS BILL WITH FUNDING FOR BARC

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today commended the Senate for passing the Agricultural Appropriations Conference Report with more than $6.4 million dollars for the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC), located in Beltsville, MD. The Conference Report has passed the House and will now go to the President for his signature.   "The Beltsville Agricultural Research Center is critical to ensuring the safety of our food supply," said Senat… Continue Reading

CARDIN PRAISES SENATE PASSAGE OF FUNDING FOR THE APPALACHIAN ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDIES PROGRAM AT FROSTBURG STATE

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today commended the Senate for passing the Agricultural Appropriations Conference Report, which included his request of $550,000 for the Appalachian Center for Ethnobotanical Studies (ACES) at Frostburg University. The Conference Report has passed the House and will now go to the President for his signature.    "Frostburg State University's Ethnobotanical Center will help bring economic development to Allegany County and… Continue Reading

CARDIN ANNOUNCES SENATE APPROVAL OF FUNDING TO SAVE LIVES ON THE BATTLEFIELD AND TO RESTORE MOVEMENT FOR THOSE WITH SPINAL CORD INJURIES

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) announced today that the Senate-passed appropriations bill for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) includes two of his top requests that would help save lives of soldiers suffering from severe blood loss and that would fund a new, innovative therapy to help patients who are paralyzed due to spinal cord injuries.   By a vote of 93-7, the Senate passed the DoD appropriations bill with Senator Cardin's request of $3 mi… Continue Reading

CARDIN BACKS LANDMARK LEGISLATION TO PROTECT OLDER AMERICANS FROM DISCRIMINATION

      WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined his colleagues, Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), in introducing landmark legislation that restores vital civil rights protections for older workers in the face of the Supreme Court's decision in Gross v. FBL Financial .  Congressman George Miller (D-CA), also introduced the measure in the House.   In Gross , the Supreme Court rewrote civ… Continue Reading

CARDIN LAUDS CONFIRMATION OF MARYLANDER TOM PEREZ TO LEAD DOJ CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION

Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (Both D-MD), praised the Senate for its strong, bipartisan vote to confirm Thomas E. Perez to be Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ).  Perez was first nominated by President Obama to fill this critical position in March of this year. The Senate Judiciary Committee held its hearing in April. The full Judiciary Committee reported his nomination favorably to the Senate … Continue Reading

STATEMENT BY U.S. SENATOR BENJAMIN L. CARDIN ON NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MONTH

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, a time in which we stand up against this type of violence and make clear it will not be tolerated. Domestic violence knows no racial, ethnic or income barriers; it can affect affluent communities as well as low-income households.   The one factor that most cases of domestic violence have in common is that they are hidden from view, behind closed doors, as millions of American families struggle against the cycle of physical and mental ab… Continue Reading

EXECUTIVE NOMINATION OF THOMAS E. PEREZ, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION

Mr. President, I rise today to talk about the nomination of Thomas Edward Perez, the nominee for the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice.   Let me begin with a quote, from Elie Wiesel.   He once said "indifference, after all, is more dangerous than anger and hatred."   We as a nation must not tolerate discrimination, fraud, or corruption in our society. The Civil Rights D… Continue Reading

SENATOR CARDIN CUTS RIBBON FOR NEW MD ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS HEADQUARTERS

ANNAPOLIS -- U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Maryland Association of REALTORS headquarters. The Senator is a strong supporter of the housing industry and recently introduced legislation to extend the $8,000 first-time homebuyers tax credit for another six months, until June 1, 2010.   "The collapse of the housing market was one of the major contributing factors that led to this economic downturn and recession, a… Continue Reading

SENATOR CARDIN PARTICIPATES IN GROUNDBREAKING FOR NEW COMMUNITY BASED OUTPATIENT CLINIC AT FT. DETRICK

FREDERICK - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today joined Army and Department of Veterans Affairs officials in breaking ground for a new 14,500-square foot community based outpatient clinic (CBOC) that will improve health care access for veterans in the Western Maryland region.   The new clinic is scheduled to be activated in July 2010.  It will provide more convenient community based health care services, including primary care, mental health services, phys… Continue Reading

SENATOR CARDIN RECEIVES LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FROM U. OF MD SCHOOL OF LAW

BALTIMORE - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Maryland School of Law's Law & Health Care Program for his efforts to provide Marylanders and all Americans with access to quality and affordable health care.   "We are the richest nation in the world and all our citizens deserve access to quality, affordable health care," said Senator Cardin.   "Improving access to health care is one of my … Continue Reading

CARDIN CALLS FOR IRANIAN ACTION, NOT PROMISES

"I sincerely hope President Obama is correct in his assessment of today's talks with Iran as a 'constructive beginning.'  But I remain concerned that the international community may be providing an opportunity for an historically belligerent regime to stall for time without taking any action.  President Obama is right to insist that Iran take concrete steps.  Promises alone are insufficient for a regime that has repeatedly avoided meaningful negotiation while developing a covert nuclear program.… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE $1.4 MILLION BONUS GRANT FOR MARYLAND BECAUSE OF IMPROVEMENTS TO ITS SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded Maryland a one-time bonus grant of $1,420,511 for "most improved access" in providing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.   SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp Program, serves more than 35 million Americans and 359,000 Marylanders each month.   "During these difficult economic times, it's c… Continue Reading

CARDIN CALLS FOR INCREASED TRANSPARENCY IN OIL, GAS AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES

Washington, DC - From the floor of the U.S. Senate Tuesday, Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) called for greater transparency in the oil, gas and mineral industries in an effort to fight corruption and promote stability in nations rich in such resources.  Senator Cardin and Senator Dick Lugar (R-IN) (D-RI), have introduced S. 1700, the Energy Security Through Transparency Act of 2009 , which would provide for public disclosure of payments to oil,… Continue Reading

CARDIN JOINS IN INTRODUCTION OF THE CLEAN ENERGY JOBS AND AMERICAN POWER ACT

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), called today for swift Senate action on the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act. Senator Cardin today joined EPW Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and SFRC Chairman John Kerry (D-MA), as well as leaders from the business, faith, national security, energy and environmental community, and local and state offic… Continue Reading

INCREASING TRANSPARENCY IN THE EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES

I take this time to bring to the attention of my colleagues legislation that's been introduced by senator Lugar and myself, the Energy Security Through Transparency Act of 2009. Joining us as co-sponsors are Senator Schumer, Senator Wicker, and Senator Feingold. Let me tell you about the problem this legislation is attempting to fix:  there are mineral-wealthy countries -- countries that have oil and gas -- and sometimes it's a curse for these countries because they ofte… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE MARYLAND WILL GET CLOSE TO $1.2 MILLION TO HELP ENROLL CHILDREN IN CHIP PROGRAM AND MEDICAID

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) announced today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded grants of $200,000 to the Garrett County Health Department and $988,177 to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to help find and enroll children who are uninsured but who are eligible for either Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).   Millions of American chi… Continue Reading

SENATOR CARDIN NOMINATES PRINCE GEORGE'S CO. COUPLE FOR CONGRESSIONAL ANGEL IN ADOPTION AWARD

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) has nominated Samuel and Mildred Stewart of Prince George's County as one of this year's Congressional Angels in Adoption for being foster parents to more than 40 children and adopting three in addition to their grandson.     "The Stewarts have selflessly dedicated their retirement to providing homes to neglected children," said Senator Cardin.   … Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $730,000 FOR NEW ACCESS ROAD IN CUMBERLAND

  WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) announced today the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded a $737,620 grant to the city of Cumberland to build a new access road to Allegany College of Maryland. The new access road will ease congestion, spur future commercial and residential development, and create new jobs.   "Allegany College is a top educational facility in Cumberland and this grant… Continue Reading

CARDIN ENDORSES REID BILL TO CONSERVE WATER THROUGH STATE AND REBATES AND GRANTS

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, today announced his co-sponsorship of " The Water Efficiency, Conservation and Adaptation Act (WECAA)."  Authored by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), the legislation is designed to promote residential water efficiency through state rebate and incentive programs, and help water systems adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate … Continue Reading