CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE $23 MILLION FOR CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED INITIATIVE

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) announced today that $23 million will be released as part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative, a program included in the 2008 Farm Bill that provides the region's farmers with assistance to implement agricultural conservation practices. "This long-delayed funding represents a major investment in Maryland agriculture and in our Bay.  Both our farms and Chesapeake Bay will benefit fr… Continue Reading

CARDIN: CONGRESS MUST GIVE PRESIDENT OBAMA THE TOOLS HE NEEDS TO FIX OUR ECONOMY

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement after the Senate voted 42-52 to reject S.J.Res. 5, the Disapproval Resolution relating to the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act. This will allow President-elect Obama to access the second $350 billion of Trouble Asset Relief Program (TARP). "Like most Americans, I have been deeply disappointed by the way the Bush Administration has handled distribution of the fir… Continue Reading

TEAM MARYLAND URGES FEMA TO REIMBURSE STATE FOR INAUGURATION COSTS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Chair of the Maryland delegation Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) today joined her Team Maryland colleagues Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.), 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 Bush to consider the disaster declaration request made by Maryla… Continue Reading

MARYLAND DELEGATION DENOUNCES CONDITIONAL LNG APPROVAL FIVE DAYS BEFORE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TAKES OFFICE

WASHINGTON - Members of the Maryland Delegation denounce the "conditional" approval of the proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant at Sparrows Point by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) just five days before the Obama Administration takes office.   AES, the company behind the proposal, must satisfy 169 safety, security, and environmental conditions to move forward with the proposal.   Members of the Maryland Delegation including Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberge… Continue Reading

SENATE, HOUSE RENEW EFFORT TO HELP VOLUNTEERS DURING TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES

Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), John Ensign (R-NV) and Congressman John Lewis (GA-5), today renewed their call for Congress to pass the Giving Incentives to Volunteers Everywhere Act (GIVE Act) that would provide relief to volunteers who use their personal vehicle for charitable activities. Despite a recent reprieve in oil prices, the cost for a gallon of regular gasoline still… Continue Reading

ON THE NOMINATION OF ERIC HOLDER TO BE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES

I'm honored to serve on the Judiciary Committee and in this body.   However, the last couple of years have been difficult as we witnessed how poorly the Department of Justice has been managed. You've seen abuses of civil liberties in the name of trying to protect the rights of our citizens -- we abused the rights of our citizens. We found the Department of Justice tried to justify the use of torture in this country. We've seen hiring and firing practices in the Department of… Continue Reading

CARDIN SUPPORTS SWIFT CONFIRMATION OF CLINTON TO BE TOP U.S. DIPLOMAT

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and incoming Chairman of the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission), issued the following statement today regarding the nomination hearing of Senator Hillary Clinton to be the next Secretary of State. "As a member of the Senate Foreign Relation Committee, I am proud to be participating in the confirmation hearings for my colleague, Senator Hilla… Continue Reading

SENATORS CARDIN AND MIKULSKI INTRODUCE BILL IN 111TH CONGRESS TO HONOR HARRIET TUBMAN'S LIFE ON EASTERN SHORE AND IN NEW YORK

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today joined Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton (both D-NY) in introducing legislation in the 111 th Congress to honor the life of Harriet Ross Tubman, the most famous "conductor" of the anti-slavery resistance network known as the Underground Railroad.   The Senators originally introduced the bill in the 110 th Congress in July 2008.   The Harri… Continue Reading

MARYLAND DELEGATION CALLS ON FERC TO DELAY LNG DECISION UNTIL OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TAKES OFFICE

WASHINGTON - Members of the Maryland Delegation are calling on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to delay a decision on the proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility at Sparrows Point until the Obama Administration takes office next week.  In a letter sent to FERC today, U.S. Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) joined U.S. Congressmen C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), Elijah Cummings (D-MD), and John Sarbanes (D-MD) in expressing their concerns abo… Continue Reading

SENATORS CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE $326K FOR KENT CO. WATER TREATMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) announced today that Kent County Board of County Commissioners has been awarded a $326,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development grant to upgrade the water treatment plant for the Village of Worton.     "These Rural Development funds are invaluable in helping the community protect the environment and improve the quality of life for residents," sai… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI AND KRATOVIL TO FEDS: H2B EMPLOYERS NEED YOUR HELP

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Noting that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has already received enough applications to exceed the cap for H2B visas for the second half of fiscal year 2009, Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.) and Congressman Frank M. Kratovil, Jr. (D-Md.) urged the Department of Labor and the Department of Homeland Security to use all means necessary to protect small businesses throughout the country so they can keep t… Continue Reading

SENATOR CARDIN ADDRESSES STATEWIDE HOUSING COALITION ON NEED TO HELP PROVIDE HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME MARYLANDERS

BALTIMORE -- U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), today addressed the Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition's (MAHC) annual meeting, telling the group that "we must do more to create affordable housing in this nation."   The Senator also received the MAHC's Leadership Award for his long-time commitment to provide quality, affordable housing for low-income Americans.   Senator Cardin stressed that the economic downturn has seriously harmed the most vulnerable Ame… Continue Reading

CARDIN OPTIMISTIC FOR THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AFTER MEETINGS WITH EPA AND CEQ NOMINEES

Washington , DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement following meetings with Lisa Jackson, nominee for EPA Administrator, and Nancy Sutley, nominee to head the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).   "Yesterday I met with two of President-elect Barack Obama's senior nominees w… Continue Reading

CARDIN STATEMENT ON ISRAEL AND GAZA

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Co-C hairman of the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission),gave the following remarks on the floor of the U.S. Senate today regarding the current conflict between Israel and Hamas.   "A nation's first responsib… Continue Reading

CARDIN, WHITEHOUSE JOIN CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS IN SUPPORT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL NOMINEE

Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, were joined on Capitol Hill today for a press conference with the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR), the NAACP, the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), and the National Women's Law Center (NWLC) to urge the swift confirmation of Eric Holder for U.S. Attorney General.   "Eric Holder is an experienced and dedicated public ser… Continue Reading

CARDIN SAYS ARMY MUST FULFILL ITS OBLIGATION TO CLEAN UP FORT MEADE

Washington, DC -- U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement today:   "I was pleased to see the Army's December 9, 2008 statement indicating its intent to comply with EPA's enforcement order at Fort Meade.  That was an important step in the right direction.  But with so much time passed since the enforcement order was first issued over 15 months ago, words alone are not enough… Continue Reading

CARDIN SUPPORTS BUSH DECISION TO OFFER AUTOMAKERS EMERGENCY LOANS

Washington , DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement in response to President Bush's extension of $17.4 billion in emergency loans to General Motors and Chrysler LLC:   "This morning President Bush finally acted to prevent the collapse of a critical U.S. industry.   Our fragile economy - and the world financial markets - cannot afford yet… Continue Reading

CARDIN JOINS COLLINS AND LANDRIEU IN URGING PRESIDENT-ELECT TO MAKE ROBUST INVESTMENTS IN SHIPBUILDING

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) joined with a bipartisan group of Senators including Susan M. Collins (R-ME) and Mary L. Landrieu (D-LA) in sending a letter to President-elect Obama requesting a robust shipbuilding budget and policies to support our Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard and to enable commercial ship construction in the United States.   The letter, which was co-signed by 17 other senators, points out that, "The shipbuilding in… Continue Reading

CARDIN: OPM REVERSAL OF BLUE CROSS COPAYS A VICTORY FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) claimed a victory for federal employees and retirees after the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) reversed its decision to impose a $7,500 copayment for surgeries performed by out-of-network doctors under the Blue Cross-Blue Shield (BCBS) Standard Option Health Plan.   For 2008, federal employees on the BCBS Standard Option who have surgery performed by an out-of-network doctor are reimbursed at 75 percent … Continue Reading

CARDIN SAYS OBAMA PICKS SCIENCE OVER POLITICS FOR ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SLOTS

Washington , DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement in response to President-elect Barack Obama's announcement of his senior energy and environmental advisors:   "President-elect Barack Obama continues to fill his Cabinet with advisors who will bring to the federal government the highest levels of competence and integrity.  His choices today of Dr. Steven C… Continue Reading