Press Releases & Statements
Cardin Statement on Tillerson Vote
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Monday ahead of the Committee's vote to recommend to the Senate the nomination of Mr. Rex Tillerson to serve as Secretary of State: "I thank Mr. Tillerson for his willingness to serve our nation and for his participation in a lengthy, wide-ranging hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "However, after long and careful consideration, I believe… Continue Reading
January 23, 2017
Cardin to Oppose Pompeo Nomination for CIA Director
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, issued the following statement in advance of the vote on the nomination of Rep. Mike Pompeo to be the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). "Our next CIA Director must confront the daunting challenge of collecting information overseas on a wide variety of adversaries seeking to bring harm to the United States and our interests. The CIA plays a critical role in providing the b… Continue Reading
January 23, 2017
Cardin Statement on Haley Vote
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Tuesday regarding his vote on the nomination of Gov. Nikki Haley to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations: "What Governor Haley lacks in foreign policy and international affairs experience, she makes up for in capability, intelligence, and a track record of building coalitions in South Carolina. Her nomination was surprising to many of my colleagues … Continue Reading
January 23, 2017
Cardin Statement on the Trump Federal Hiring Freeze
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) called the announced freeze on federal hiring "a partisan waste of resources and in impediment to efficient government." Senator Cardin: "After barely 24 hours in office, Mr. Trump has chosen to politicize hiring of our federal civil servants by freezing the ability to bring on the best and brightest to work on behalf of the American people. As a business person, the president should understand that such a freeze is inefficient, costly and counterpro… Continue Reading
January 23, 2017
Cardin Statement On Trump’s Reinstatement Of Global Gag Rule
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Monday in response to President Trump's decision to reinstate the Global Gag Rule, also known as the Mexico City policy. The Global Gag Rule disqualifies foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from eligibility for U.S. family planning assistance if they use non-U.S. funds to provide abortion services, counseling or referrals, or to engage in advocacy with… Continue Reading
January 21, 2017
Cardin Measure Would Immediately Revive Consideration of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) announced this week the formal reintroduction of a resolution, S.J. Res. 5, to immediately revive the consideration of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which needs to be ratified by only three additional states to ensure our Constitution finally guarantees full and equal protections to women. Senator Cardin's ERA resolution has the active support of the ERA Coalition, an umbrella organization comprised of dozens of civil and human rights organization… Continue Reading
January 20, 2017
Cardin Statement on Trump Cabinet Confirmations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after confirmation of the first two of President Trump's cabinet secretaries: Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly. "Out of respect for the Office of the President, I believe it is appropriate for some cabinet nominees to be confirmed and ready to work on Day One. All presidents need trusted, experienced and ethical C… Continue Reading
January 20, 2017
Cardin Statement On Extradition Of ‘El Chapo’ To United States
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Friday after Mexico and the United States worked to extradite Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman to New York to stand trial: "The extradition of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzmán is the result of President Obama's continuous effort to build a deeper partnership with Mexico, one that advances both of our national interests. El Chapo and the Sinaloa Cartel have waged a ca… Continue Reading
January 19, 2017
Senators Cardin, Warren Raise Concerns about President-Elect Trump's White House Appointee's Meeting with CEO of Sanctioned Russian Entity
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) today sent a letter to Treasury Secretary-Designate Steve Mnuchin raising concerns about reports that the recently appointed White House Director of Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs and Senior Advisor to the President under incoming President Trump, Anthony Scaramucci, engaged in direct talks with the head of a Russian entity subject to sanctions by the Treasury Department since 2015. "Reports indicate that on … Continue Reading
January 18, 2017
Cardin Measure Would Immediately Revive Consideration of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) today announced the formal reintroduction of a resolution, S.J. Res. 5, to immediately revive the consideration of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which needs to be ratified by only three additional states to ensure our Constitution finally guarantees full and equal protections to women. Senator Cardin's ERA resolution has the active support of the ERA Coalition, an umbrella organization comprised of dozens of civil and human rights organizations. T… Continue Reading
January 18, 2017
Cardin Opening Remarks at Haley Hearing, As Prepared For Delivery
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, gave the following remarks as prepared for delivery Wednesday at the confirmation hearing of Gov. Nikki Haley to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations: "Thank you, Chairman Corker, for calling today's hearing. Good morning, Governor Haley. Your nomination to serve as our Ambassador to the United Nations comes at a time when the world is in the midst of profound transformation, with … Continue Reading
January 17, 2017
Cardin Statement on Nigerian Military Bombing of Refugee Camp
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Tuesday after the Nigerian government announced that its military accidentally bombed a camp for internally displaced persons, killing approximately 100 people and injuring others: "I'm profoundly disturbed by this reportedly mistaken bombing of innocent civilians in Nigeria. I offer my deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones, and Nigeria as a… Continue Reading
January 17, 2017
Cardin Statement on Latest U.S. Contribution to Green Climate Fund
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement Tuesday after the State Department announced the United States would be contributing $500 million to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), an international grant and financing program designed to assist least developing countries in combatting and adapting to climate change: "President Obama and … Continue Reading
January 17, 2017
Maryland Elected and Community Leaders Spotlight Immediate Dangers of Repealing Affordable Care Act
CLINTON, Md. - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen today joined Rev. Delman Coates, Ph.D., pastor of Mt. Ennon Baptist Church, Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Anthony Brown and John Sarbanes, county executives Rushern L. Baker III and Isiah "Ike" Leggett, community members, leading health service providers and non-profit organizations like the Maryland Citizens Health Initiative, Black Mental Health Alliance, Maryland Hospital Association, Greater Baden Medical Services and Progressive Maryla… Continue Reading
January 13, 2017
Cardin, Rubio Urge Paris Conference Attendees Not to Interfere in Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) released the following statement today regarding this weekend's Paris Peace Conference and S. Res. 6, their resolution objecting to the passage of United Nations (U.N.) Security Council Resolution 2334, as well as all efforts that undermine direct, bilateral negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians for a secure and peaceful settlement: "I am pleased the Senate Foreign Relations Committee adopted my and Senator Rubio's r… Continue Reading
January 13, 2017
Cardin Reflects on the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) issued the following statement in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which will be commemorated on Monday, January 16, 2017: "On Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we pause to reflect on the legacy of a man who shaped one of our nation's most important and enduring movements. "Civil rights, he taught us, is not a fixed destination, but an evolving journey whose path we must walk together should we not get lost. To that end, Dr. King brought Ame… Continue Reading
January 12, 2017
Cardin Statement on Additional North Korean Sanctions
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Thursday after the Treasury Department announced additional sanctions on individuals in the North Korean regime who commit human rights abuses and engage in censorship activities. The sanctions were called for in H.R. 757, legislation Senator Cardin shepherded through the Senate: "I welcome the Treasury Department's announcement on additional North Korean huma… Continue Reading
January 12, 2017
Baltimore Delegation Statement on Consent Decree Between BPD and the Department of Justice
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen with Congressmen Elijah E. Cummings, John Sarbanes and Dutch Ruppersberger (all D-Md.) issued the following statement after Baltimore City Mayor Catherine Pugh and U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced the finalization of a consent decree between the U.S. Department of Justice and Baltimore City Police Department: "Last summer's DOJ report-which detailed systemic, repeated violations of the constitutional rights of Baltim… Continue Reading
January 12, 2017
Cardin Statement on Republican Vote to Repeal the Affordable Care Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, called the multi-hour Senate budget vote-a-rama "a staged opportunity for the Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and all of its patient protections without a plan to replace it." Senator Cardin: "This wasn't a real budget, but a scam to trigger budget reconciliation so Republicans can repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, leaving tens of millions of Americans without afford… Continue Reading
January 11, 2017
Cardin Statement on Latest Sergei Magnitsky Act Additions
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement Wednesday after the Obama Administration submitted to Congress its fourth annual report of U.S. Government actions to implement the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act, adding additional individuals for sanctions: "As the author of the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability law, I am pleased that the Obama Administration has publically imposed s… Continue Reading
