TEAM MARYLAND CALLS ON FERC TO DENY LNG APPLICATION, CITES COAST GUARD REPORT AS FURTHER REASON

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) today led her Team Maryland colleagues Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D), and Congressmen Elijah E. Cummings (D), C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D), and John Sarbanes (D) in urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to reject the AES Sparrows Point LNG, LLC application to create a proposed Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) site at Sparrows Point in Baltimore. In a letter to FERC Chairman Joseph Kelliher, Team Maryland pointed to yes… Continue Reading

STATEMENT ON CLEAN AIR AND NUCLEAR ENERGY

Mister Chairman: Thank you for holding this hearing and for allowing me to join your subcommittee for the day.  I am grateful for your courtesy. Because we have so many important witnesses to hear from today, I will keep my opening statement brief. For the first time in 30 years, the nuclear industry is moving forward with plans to construct and activate a new generation of nuclear power plants.  Already, TVA has begun to expand its nuclear capacity with the recent restart o… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced the Annapolis Fire Department has been awarded $108,000 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP). Senator Mikulski is on the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the AFGP and fights each year to increase its federal funding. Senator Cardin is on the Budget Committee. "I know how imp… Continue Reading

STATEMENT ON THE FEINGOLD RESOLUTION TO END THE WAR IN IRAQ

I welcome this opportunity to talk about the current status of the United States involvement in Iraq. I'm glad we're having this discussion. I start by not only thanking our troops for their incredible service to our country and the incredible work that they're doing, I think that this Congress by words and deeds has shown its support for our troops. The budget that we passed last year provides the resources to take care of our veterans and the funds to take car… Continue Reading

SENATOR CARDIN VOICES HIS SUPPORT FOR A NEW U.S. MISSION IN IRAQ

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, took to the floor of the U.S. Senate today to express his support for a Reid-Feingold measure, S. 2633, that would redefine our country's mission in Iraq and begin to redeploy our troops. "The American public has been calling for a new direction and new priorities in Iraq and Congress has a responsibility to act," said Senator Cardin. "The Feingold resolution provides an honorable and orderly p… Continue Reading

STATEMENT ON THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF DEAMONTE DRIVER'S DEATH

Mr. President,  today I come to the floor to mark the one-year anniversary of Deamonte Driver's death.   Deamonte was a 12 year old from Prince George's County, Maryland. He died at Children's Hospital here in Washington as the result of a brain infection brought on by an untreated tooth abscess. The Driver family, like many other families across the country, lacked dental insurance. At one point his family had Medicaid coverage, but they lost it because they had move… Continue Reading

HELSINKI CO-CHAIRMAN CARDIN DEBATES KOSOVO AT OSCE PA WINTER MEETING IN VIENNA

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Co-Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission), made the following statement at the 7th Annual Winter Meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly, during a debate on Kosovo's decision to declare independent statehood.  The debate took place a day after the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia, was attacked by Serb protesters of U.S. recognitio… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR WICOMICO COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced the Parsonsburg Volunteer Fire Department has been awarded $92,649 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP).  Senator Mikulski is on the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the AFGP and fights each year to increase its federal funding.  Senator Cardin is on the Budget Committee. "I know how impor… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR MONTGOMERY & PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced three Washington, D.C., area fire organizations have been awarded a total of more than $1.7 million in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP).  Senator Mikulski is on the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the AFGP and fights each year to increase its federal funding.  Senator Cardin is on the Bud… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR WASHINGTON COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced the Sharpsburg Area Emergency Medical Service has been awarded $69,260 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP).  Senator Mikulski is on the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the AFGP and fights each year to increase its federal funding.  Senator Cardin is on the Budget Committee. "I … Continue Reading

SENATOR CARDIN DISCUSSES MORTGAGE CRISIS WITH MORE THAN TWO DOZEN MARYLAND HOUSING COUNSELORS

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), today held a conference call with more than two dozen Maryland housing counselors to hear about the extent of the housing crisis and its impact on Maryland families.   Senator Cardin also announced that he has co-sponsored The Foreclosure Prevention Act , S. 2636, which is intended to help families avoid foreclosure.   "American families are hurting as this housing crisis has triggered our current ec… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI MEET WITH VOLVO POWERTRAIN, ANNOUNCE FUNDS TO COMPLETE HYBRID ENGINE PROJECT

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today met with representatives from Volvo-Mack Powertrain who thanked them for the federal investment in the Hybrid Electric Engine project at the Volvo Powertrain facility in Hagerstown.  Senator Mikulski announced she secured $2 million in the fiscal year 2008 Department of Defense spending bill to complete the project.  To download a photo from today's meeting, go to: http://www.mikulski.senate.gov/volvo… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI PRAISE CONGRESSIONAL PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION TO CONTINUE PASSENGER SERVICE AT HAGERSTOWN AIRPORT

WASHINGTON - The Senate has passed legislation sponsored by U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) that will reinstate the Essential Air Service (EAS) program at Hagerstown Airport.   The bill extends the EAS program at Hagerstown for one year.   Congress is expected to pass a full five-year reauthorization of the EAS program as part of the larger Federal Aviation Administration bill that will be taken up later in 2008.   The Senate action will allo… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ST. MARY'S COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department has been awarded $124,180 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP).  Senator Mikulski is on the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the AFGP and fights each year to increase its federal funding.  Senator Cardin is on the Budget Committee. "I … Continue Reading

FLOOR STATEMENT ON S. 2248, FISA AMENDMENTS ACT

            Mr. President, I rise today in opposition to final passage of this legislation, S. 2248, the FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) Amendments Act.   I am disappointed that the Senate has failed to adequately improve the Protect America Act (PAA) which Congress enacted in August 2007, and which I voted against.   The President should have the necessary authority to track terrorists, intercept their communications, and d… Continue Reading

SENATOR CARDIN VOTES AGAINST FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE BILL

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, a member of the Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after Senate Passage of S. 2248, the FISA Bill:   "I am disappointed that the Senate has failed to improve the FISA Bill. The President should have the necessary authority to track terrorists, intercept their communications, and disrupt their plots. And Congress should make needed changes to FISA to account for changes in te… Continue Reading

CARDIN SAYS KENYA PEACE EFFORT IS AT A CRITICAL STAGE; URGES IMMEDIATE U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, today sounded a warning that the mediation effort by former United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, to foster a peace agreement between Kenya's opposing political parties, needs increased international support.  Speaking after the Senate Africa Subcommittee's hearing on the post-election violence that has shook the east African nation, Cardin stated: "Kofi Annan's mission is a serious an… Continue Reading

SENATOR CARDIN PRAISES SENATE PASSAGE OF ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Budget Committee, lauded Senate passage today of a short-term economic stimulus package that will help jumpstart our economy by targeting relief to the middle class and many of the most vulnerable Americans.   "I am pleased that the Congress has moved closer to delivering on our promise of a targeted, timely and temporary boost to our economy. Today, I voted in favor of a short-term stimulus pack… Continue Reading

CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR FROSTBURG FIREFIGHTERS

  WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced the Frostburg Fire Company has been awarded $170,477 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP). Senator Mikulski is on the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the AFGP and fights each year to increase its federal funding. Senator Cardin is on the Budget Committee. "I know how… Continue Reading

ENCOURAGED BY PROGRESS, SENATOR CARDIN SAYS GREATER ACTION NEEDED TO COUNTER ANTI-SEMITISM IN EUROPE

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Co-Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission), along with Chairman Alcee Hastings (D-FL), chaired a hearing today on efforts to combat anti-Semitism in Europe. This was the second in a series of hearings with leading experts and government officials dedicated to this topic. "Despite our best efforts, the record level of violence and negative sentiments against the Jewish commu… Continue Reading