Press Releases & Statements
Senators Call on Egyptian Government to Swiftly Release Unjustly Imprisoned Egyptian-American Aya Hijazi
WASHINGTON - As Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry visited Washington this week, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Mark Warner (D-VA) released the following statement today urging the release of Aya Hijazi, an Egyptian-American unjustly detained in Egypt since 2014: "We remain deeply concerned about the ongoing detention of Aya Hijazi, a dual U.S. and Egyptian citizen and resident of Vi… Continue Reading
February 28, 2017
Cardin Statement on the Clean Water Rule
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), issued the following statement in response to the president's executive order instructing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to roll back the Clean Water Rule. "Ensuring that America's water is safe should not be a partisan issue dictated by special interests. Unfortunately, President Trump and Republicans have made it so. Until recently, we have put public health ahe… Continue Reading
February 28, 2017
Sens. Cardin, Collins Introduce Legislation to Make Home Health Care More Accessible to Medicare Patients
WASHINGTON - As leading proponents of home health care and ensuring that Medicare patients have access to this crucial health care option, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Susan Collins (R-ME) have introduced the Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act. The bill will improve the access Medicare beneficiaries have to home health care by allowing physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and certified nurse midwives to order home health services, all of which are … Continue Reading
February 28, 2017
Senate Passes Venezuela Resolution As Crisis Deepens
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday expressing its profound concern about the ongoing political, economic, social, and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, urging the immediate release of political prisoners, and calling for respect of constitutional and democratic processes. The resolution also affirms its support for the efforts of Organization of American States Secretary General Luis Almagro and encourages OAS member states to take additional steps to address t… Continue Reading
February 27, 2017
Cardin Statement on the Two-Year Anniversary of the Killing of Boris Nemtsov
WASHINGTON -U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the author of the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability law, issued the following statement upon the two-year anniversary of the assassination of former Russian Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov in Moscow. "Two years ago, Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was killed in cold blood, just steps from the Kremlin. He was the definition of courage in defending the most fundamental … Continue Reading
February 24, 2017
Cardin, Feinstein, Reed to Tillerson: Chinese Trademark for Trump Organization Raises Serious Questions
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) wrote to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson today regarding the decision by the People's Republic of China to grant a construction trademark to the Trump Organization after years of delay. The ranking members of the Senate Committees on Foreign Relations, the Judiciary, and Armed Services, respectively, said in part, "At a time when the United States has pressing economic, diplomatic and security co… Continue Reading
February 23, 2017
Cardin and Collins, Kelly and Blumenauer Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Stimulate Infrastructure Development through the Preservation of Historic Properties
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Susan Collins (R-ME) and Congressmen Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) have introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation (S. 425/H.R. 1158) that would encourage infrastructure development and job growth across the country by making common-sense changes and enhancements to the federal Historic Tax Credit (HTC). Projects that receive credits under the Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act help revitalize communities, encourage private inves… Continue Reading
February 23, 2017
National Capital Region Members Send Letter to the Government Accountability Office Requesting Report on WMATA
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representative Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) along with U.S. Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), John Sarbanes (MD-03), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), John Delaney (MD-06), Don Beyer (VA-08), Anthony Brown (MD-04), and Jamie Raskin (MD-08) sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office requesting a report on the effectiveness of governance and dedicated funding structu… Continue Reading
February 23, 2017
Cardin, Colleagues Write to Secretaries Tillerson, Kelly As Officials Arrive in Mexico City
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, led five of his colleagues in a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly last night as the two Administration officials landed in Mexico City. Also signing the letter were U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). The text of the letter… Continue Reading
February 23, 2017
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Leaders Seek Accountability For War Crimes In Syria
WASHINGTON - Following a recent report accusing the Bashar al-Assad regime of atrocities in Syrian prisons, U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led a bipartisan letter from committee members to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson seeking an update on U.S. plans to demand accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the Syrian civil war. "In light of Amnesty International'… Continue Reading
February 22, 2017
Cardin Statement on the Trump Administration’s Reversal of Transgender Protections for Students
BALTIMORE - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) released the following statement after the Trump Administration's Departments of Justice and Education reversed Title IX guidance supporting transgender students. "As adults, we have a basic responsibility to ensure that no child should ever be fearful of going to school or discriminated against when in the classroom. Today's withdrawal of civil rights protections afforded to transgender students under Title IX by the Departments of Education and Jus… Continue Reading
February 21, 2017
Cardin Says New DHS Guidelines on Immigration Will Harm National Security and Public Safety
BALTIMORE - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, issued the following statement on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) guidance on immigration released Monday. Senator Cardin toured the U.S.-Mexico border this weekend, assessing security and counter-narcotics operations as well as the processing of undocumented migrants crossing into the United States. "Like the President's executive orders on immigration, these DHS guidelines will … Continue Reading
February 21, 2017
Disturbed by Recent Incidents, Cardin Calls on Leaders at All Levels to Denounce Anti-Semitic Incidents and Other Hate-Based Threats
BALTIMORE - 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, released the following statement on the growing number of threats called in against Jewish Community Centers across at least 26 states and one Canadian province. "I have been deeply disturbed by the growing number of anti-Semitic threats… Continue Reading
February 20, 2017
Senators View Security, Immigration Processing Operations at U.S.-Mexico Border
EL PASO - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) toured the U.S.-Mexico border yesterday, assessing security and counter-narcotics operations as well as the processing of undocumented migrants crossing into the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security led the Senators in a number of briefings and site visits, which included the international border between Mexico, Texas, and New Mexico - known as Mo… Continue Reading
February 19, 2017
In Visit To Mexico City, Senators Reaffirm Strong U.S.-Mexico Relationship
MEXICO CITY - Three members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee concluded an official visit to the Mexican capital Sunday to reaffirm the strong security, economic, and cultural ties that bind the United States and Mexico. U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the Committee's Ranking Member, led his colleagues U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.) in meetings with members of the Mexican cabinet, Senate, and civil society. "We know that damage has been done to the bil… Continue Reading
February 17, 2017
Cardin To Tillerson: Address Deteriorating Humanitarian Situation In Northeast Nigeria, Lake Chad Basin
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Friday regarding his concerns over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Northeast Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin, and his recommendations for additional United States efforts to stem the crisis. "Countries in the Lake Chad Basin are experiencing what United Nations officials and aid workers have called a forgotten crisis as a result of the ter… Continue Reading
February 16, 2017
Cardin Leads Colleagues in Dissent Cable Letter to Secretary Tillerson
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led the full Democratic membership of the Committee and his fellow Marylander, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, in a letter Thursday to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, urging him to take full and appropriate advantage of the State Department's 'Dissent Channel.' U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-N.J.); Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.); Chris Coons (D-Del.); Tom Udall (D-N.M.); Chris Murphy (D-Conn.); Tim Kaine… Continue Reading
February 16, 2017
Cardin, Democratic Senators Demand Scott Pruitt Recuse Himself from All Issues Related to Lawsuits He Brought Against the EPA to Overturn or Weaken Clean Air and Water Pollution Rules
WASHINGTON - Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, joined 29 other senators in calling on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator nominee Scott Pruitt to recuse himself from participating in any matter related to litigation that he pursued against the EPA as Oklahoma Attorney General. In the letter, the senators specifically call on Mr. Pruitt to recuse himself from decisions on how the EPA will defend itself against the lawsuits he broug… Continue Reading
February 16, 2017
Cardin Introduces Bill to Ban Religious, Racial and Discriminatory Profiling by Law Enforcement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), along with more than two dozen original cosponsors, has introduced an updated version of his legislation to ban discriminatory profiling by all levels of law enforcement nationwide. S. 411, the End Racial and Religious Profiling Act of 2017 (ERRPA), is designed to enforce the constitutional right to equal protection of laws through changing policies and procedures for law enforcement and promoting best practices in community-based law enforcement. "… Continue Reading
February 16, 2017
National Capital Region Members Introduce Joint Resolution to Establish the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representative Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) along with U.S. Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), John Sarbanes (MD-03), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), John Delaney (MD-06), Don Beyer (VA-08), Anthony Brown (MD-04), and Jamie Raskin (MD-08) introduced a joint resolution to establish the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission. Once Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columb… Continue Reading
