Press Releases & Statements
Cardin, Corker, Colleagues Write To Trump About U.S. Navigation Operations In South China Sea
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), the Ranking Member and Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote to President Trump Wednesday urging his Administration to take necessary steps to routinely exercise freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea. The South China Sea is one of the world's most strategically important waterways. Almost 30 percent of the world's maritime trade transits the Sea annually, including approximately $1.2 t… Continue Reading
May 09, 2017
Cardin Statement on the Firing of FBI Director Comey
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, issued the following statement in response to the firing of James Comey, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). "There is little President Trump does anymore that surprises me, but that he would fire the lead investigator into collusion between Russia and Trump campaign officials is beyond the pale - even for him. This is the biggest evidence to date of why we need an indep… Continue Reading
May 09, 2017
Cardin Statement on the Confirmation of Scott Gottlieb to Lead the FDA
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Finance Health Care Subcommittee, issued the following statement on the confirmation of Scott Gottlieb to be the next Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA is headquartered in Montgomery County, Maryland. "Scott Gottlieb's deep ties to the drug industry are among the primary reasons that I could not support his nomination. While he has a strong working knowledge of the FDA and its processes, I c… Continue Reading
May 09, 2017
Cardin Remarks at Sullivan Nomination Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the following remarks Tuesday at a hearing on the nomination of John J. Sullivan to serve as Deputy Secretary of State: "Mr. Chairman, first of all let me thank Mr. Sullivan for his willingness to serve our country again. He seems to always want to come back to public service, and we very much appreciate that very talented person who has a distinguished record. And we thank your fam… Continue Reading
May 09, 2017
Cardin Statement on South Korean Presidential Election
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Tuesday after exit polls and media outlets projected that Moon Jae-in was elected president of South Korea. Ahead of official certification, Mr. Moon has also claimed victory and his opponents have conceded defeat: "I would like to congratulate Moon Jae-in on his election as president of the Republic of Korea. By successfully holding this unprecedented electi… Continue Reading
May 09, 2017
Cardin Statement On Feared Drowning Of Hundreds Of Refugees In Mediterranean Sea
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Tuesday after reports emerged of capsized boats in the Mediterranean Sea with approximately 250 refugees feared drowned: "I am deeply troubled by this tragedy. For years, we have seen men and women, young and old, take to the sea in overcrowded and unseaworthy boats in pursuit of a better life, often with small children by their side. This is a journey only… Continue Reading
May 08, 2017
Cardin, Van Hollen Announce More Than $280,000 for Salisbury University Mathematics Education Program
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) have announced $287,871 in federal funding for Salisbury University's PATHWAYS program. The funding comes from the National Science Foundation and will support a Salisbury PATHWAYS project aimed at understanding how students effectively learn mathematics in the K-12 setting, as well as inspiring undergraduate students to pursue a career in mathematics education. "Math is an integral skill in today's economy. This investment… Continue Reading
May 08, 2017
Cardin, Maryland Leaders Urge FAA to Measure Noise Impacts from Altered DCA Air Traffic Patterns
Washington - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, Congressmen John Delaney and Jamie Raskin, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett, and Montgomery County Council President Roger Berliner have written to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requesting that the agency measure noise levels from incoming and departing flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The officials request a timeline by June 5, 2017 of its review of the impact of changes made to air tra… Continue Reading
May 07, 2017
Cardin Statement on French Presidential Election Results
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Sunday after French authorities declared Emmanuel Macron the winner of the country's presidential run-off election: "I congratulate Emmanuel Macron for his victory in today's French presidential election and applaud the French people's rejection of isolationism and embrace of a Europe whole, free, and at peace. France has made a clear choice in support of the … Continue Reading
May 05, 2017
Cardin, Thune Reintroduce Bill to Improve and Modernize S Corporations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and John Thune (R-S.D.), members of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, today reintroduced the S Corporation Modernization Act of 2017, legislation that would make several pro-growth reforms to help S corporations operate more easily, which would improve their ability to raise capital. S corporations were created in 1958, must be domestically owned, and are limited to 100 shareholders. This type of business has grown in popularity, particularly… Continue Reading
May 04, 2017
Cardin Calls House Republican Health Care Bill “Damaging to Our Country, Public Health and Our Economy”
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Finance Health Care Subcommittee, issued the following statement on the just-passed House of Representatives American Health Care Act. "The House bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act promises to hurt tens of millions of Americans. In the rush to pass a bill - any bill - the Republicans have taken bad legislation and made it even worse. Consumers will pay more, women will pay more, families fighting mental illness… Continue Reading
May 04, 2017
Cardin Statement on Final Passage of FY17 Appropriations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) praised final passage of the bipartisan fiscal appropriations bill for fiscal year 2017. "It took longer than it should have, but Congress found a bipartisan way to work around the White House and finally pass the fiscal year 2017 appropriations. We should have finalized this most basic constitutional function months ago, setting clear priorities for our federal agencies. The American people and our hardworking federal government employees deserve no… Continue Reading
May 04, 2017
Cardin, McCain Introduce ASEAN Resolution
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and John McCain (R-Ariz.), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced a Senate resolution Thursday reaffirming the United States' strategic partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the multilateral organization that promotes stronger economic and cooperative ties among 10 nations and that for 50 years has contributed to greater stability, prosperity… Continue Reading
May 04, 2017
Cardin Statement on Religious Executive Order
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism, and Intolerance for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly, issued the following statement on the executive order signed today by President Trump that weakens the constitutional boundaries between religion and political and economic activity. "Candidate Trump excoriated President Obama for his u… Continue Reading
May 04, 2017
Cardin, Rubio Introduce Philippines Security, Human Rights Assistance Legislation
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) introduced legislation Thursday to restrict the exportation of certain defense articles by the United States to the Philippine National Police, support human rights and civil society organizations in the Republic of the Philippines, and report on sources of narcotics entering that country. The Philippines Human Rights Accountability and Counternarcotics Act of 2017 notes that since the election of President Rodrigo Duterte … Continue Reading
May 04, 2017
Senate Foreign Relations Democrats Introduce Climate Resolution
WASHINGTON - The Democrats on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led by Ranking Member Ben Cardin of Maryland, introduced a resolution Thursday stating that the United States should work in cooperation with the international community and continue to exercise global leadership to address the causes and effects of climate change. The resolution comes as reports indicate President Trump is nearing a decision on whether the United States will remain in, or retreat from, the Paris Climate… Continue Reading
May 04, 2017
Team Maryland Works to Expand Affordable College Education Opportunities for Maryland Families
WASHINGTON - Members of Maryland's congressional delegation gathered Wednesday to hear from leaders in Maryland's higher education community on how to best serve Maryland colleges and the students they educate. Members held an in-depth discussion with University System of Maryland Chancellor Dr. Robert Caret, McDaniel College President and Chair of the Maryland Independent Colleges and University Association (MICUA) Board of Trustees Dr. Roger Casey, Morgan State University President Dr. David W… Continue Reading
May 03, 2017
Cardin Meets with Philippines Foreign Secretary
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Wednesday after he met with the acting foreign secretary of the Philippines, Enrique Gonzales Manalo: "I appreciated the opportunity to meet with Foreign Secretary Manalo, particularly at a time when relations between our two countries are strained because of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's inhumane campaign of the extrajudicial killing of his own citi… Continue Reading
May 03, 2017
Cardin Statement on World Press Freedom Day
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Wednesday to commemorate World Press Freedom Day: "On World Press Freedom Day, we pause to celebrate and take stock of the role that free media plays in a democratic society, to condemn the public demonization of the media both at home and abroad, and to honor those heroic journalists abroad who have lost their lives while reporting. "A free, independent pre… Continue Reading
May 03, 2017
Senators Cardin, Collins Urge State Dept. to Continue U.S. Participation, Engagement in Paris Climate Agreement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) sent a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Wednesday encouraging the Secretary to keep the U.S. party to the Paris Agreement, the largest multilateral cooperative agreement ever reached to address the challenge of global climate change. The Senators' letter argues that continued U.S. engagement in the Paris Agreement is critical to advancing important U.S. economic, diplomatic, and national security interests. The… Continue Reading
