Press Releases & Statements
Global Gateways Trade Capacity Act Passes Senate Foreign Relations Committee
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today applauded committee passage of the Global Gateways Trade Capacity Act (S.2201), their bipartisan legislation to improve the effectiveness of U.S. assistance for expanded trade in developing countries. "We need to reform U.S. foreign assistance to promote economic growth that can improve living standards and make societies more self-sufficient … Continue Reading
June 22, 2016
Mass Shooting In Orlando
Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I take this time to continue the discussion as to the tragedy that occurred on June 12 in Orlando, FL. The shooting occurred at a popular LGBT club, Pulse. The club owner, Barbara Poma, lost her brother to the AIDS epidemic. The club was named to remember a pulse that faded from this world far too early. Pulse was not just a place to socialize, it was a refuge and a place of acceptance and solidarity where members of the Orlando LGBT community could be themselves witho… Continue Reading
June 21, 2016
Cardin Statement on Senate Gun Safety Votes
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) issued the following statement on the series of Senate votes Monday on gun control, all of which failed to reach the 60-vote threshold for action by the United States Senate. "The movie 'Groundhog Day' eventually ends when its main character finally takes a different path after taking a look at his life and the way he has mistreated others around him. Following the mass shooting in Orlando at the Pulse nightclub, Congress is locked in its own vers… Continue Reading
June 20, 2016
Cardin, Colleagues Commemorate World Refugee Day, Introduce Resolution to Reaffirm U.S. Commitment to Refugees
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, introduced a resolution Monday recognizing June 20th as World Refugee Day and reaffirming the commitment of the United States Senate to protect and assist millions of refugees and other forcibly uprooted persons worldwide. "The international community must get serious about protecting the most vulnerable refugees - women and children. Women are facing ferocious threats in conflicts acr… Continue Reading
June 20, 2016
Cardin, Colleagues Encourage European Council to Extend Russian Sanctions
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, led five of his bipartisan colleagues Monday in a letter to European Council President Donald Tusk, urging the Council to roll over sanctions on Russia. The co-signers are U.S. Senators Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.). The text of the letter follows: Dear President Tusk: We write to urge the Europea… Continue Reading
June 17, 2016
Cardin Statement on Nicaragua’s Expulsion of U.S. Officials
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, released the following statement Friday regarding the expulsion of three of U.S. officials from Nicaragua: "As the U.S. is building partnerships across Central America that promote greater security and economic growth, the Nicaraguan government's decision to expel U.S. officials from the country runs counter to the region's shared agenda," said Cardin. "The U.S. and Nicaragua need to m… Continue Reading
June 17, 2016
Cardin Statement on the Upcoming Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Christian Churches
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement in advance of the Holy and Great Council to be held in Greece. "This weekend, I join Orthodox Christians in recognizing the beginning of the historic Holy and Great Council on the island of Crete, Greece. This marks the first time since the year 787 that the leaders of the Orthodox churches will gather together to discuss fundamental issues related to faith a… Continue Reading
June 17, 2016
Cardin Notes Progress in Chesapeake Bay Watershed, Urges Further Action
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and author of the True LEADership Act (S.2821), a comprehensive plan that recommits the federal government to a critical role in water infrastructure investment, lauded the announcement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of significant progress made on the nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment targets for the Bay watershed, especially the significant contributions of wast… Continue Reading
June 17, 2016
Cardin Statement On Israel Security Funding
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, released the following statement Friday on Congressional funding for Israel's security: "One of the most successful aspects of the decades-long partnership between the United States and Israel has been our joint development of missile defense systems. Cooperative programs such as Iron Dome have saved the lives of countless civilians from Hamas rockets fired indiscriminately into Israel. N… Continue Reading
June 16, 2016
Cardin Joins Filibuster to Force Action on Assault Weapons Ban and Effort to Keep Terrorists from Legally Buying Weapons
WATCH- Cardin Joins Filibuster to Force Action on Assault Weapons Ban and Effort to Keep Terrorists from Legally Buying Weapons WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, participated Wednesday afternoon with colleagues including Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) to force the Republican leadership to finally allow votes on provisions that would make it harder for terrorists to legally purchase weapons and keep military-style weapons out of the h… Continue Reading
June 16, 2016
Senator Cardin Statement On Murder Of British MP Jo Cox
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, released the following statement Thursday after British Member of Parliament Jo Cox was shot and killed while campaigning in her district: "I am deeply saddened for the family of Jo Cox and for the people of the United Kingdom today. "At the core of our representative democracies is the ability for elected officials and their constituents to come together and discuss the issues of the d… Continue Reading
June 15, 2016
Cardin Notes Successes of Wastewater Treatment Programs in Chesapeake Bay Watershed, Urges Further Action
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and author of the True LEADership Act (S.2821), a comprehensive plan that recommits the federal government to a critical role in water infrastructure investment, thanked Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator Shawn Garvin for highlighting the important role wastewater treatment plants have in our communities. Cardin called on Garvin to support greater federal f… Continue Reading
June 14, 2016
Cardin Highlights Maryland’s Strong Ties to Flag Day
BALTIMORE - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) released the following statement in celebration of Flag Day on Tuesday, June 14: "In Maryland, Flag Day is a time to remember the important contributions made by our state to our nation's development in the early days of the Union. In the midst of the War of 1812, Baltimore resident Mary Pickersgill was asked by General Samuel Smith to make a flag "so large that the British will have no difficulty seeing it from a distance." That flag, 30 feet tall an… Continue Reading
June 14, 2016
Cardin Statement on Senate Passage of Defense Authorization
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that was approved by the Senate 85-13 today "has flaws but is important for our national security and the men and women of our armed forces," and he released the following statement: "I supported the National Defense Authorization Act as a clear message to our military men and women and their families that Congress has their back on the ba… Continue Reading
June 14, 2016
Cardin: U.S. Court of Appeals Correctly Upholds the FCC’s Open Internet Rules
WASHINGTON - U. S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) praised the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit for ruling to sustain the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) 2015 rulemaking to classify broadband internet as a "telecommunications service" under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934. The decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals ensures the principles of network neutrality will preserve and protect the open internet as a place for innovation and free expression. "T… Continue Reading
June 14, 2016
Cardin, Corker: Senate Foreign Relations Committee Meets with Dalai Lama
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statements Tuesday after the committee met with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Dr. Lobsang Sangay, the prime minister of the Tibetan government in exile: "We were honored to welcome the Dalai Lama and Dr. Lobsang Sangay today for a discussion about issues important to the U.S. and the people of Tibet," said Senator Corker. "At… Continue Reading
June 13, 2016
Cardin Statement on the Orlando Shooting
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement in response to the mass shooting in Orlando, Fla. "The mass shooting at an LGBT nightclub in Orlando by an attacker who had sworn allegiance to ISIL is a horrific tragedy and a senseless loss of human lives. My deepest sympathies are with those killed and injured in this terror attack, along with their families and loved ones. My thanks go out to the first … Continue Reading
June 10, 2016
Cardin Responds to Community Concerns with Management Plan for Newly Established Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) today released the text of a letter directed to National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis calling for additional information on how the agency plans to manage the implementation of the newly established Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park (NHP) on Maryland's Eastern Shore. "The implementation of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park needs to proceed with the same meticulous planning an… Continue Reading
June 09, 2016
Cardin, Mikulski Praise Rules Committee’s Approval Of Nominee Dr. Carla Hayden For Librarian Of Congress
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today praised the Senate Committee on Rules & Administration's unanimous vote to approve Dr. Carla Hayden to fill the vacancy of Librarian of Congress. If confirmed, Dr. Hayden will be the 14th Librarian of Congress, and the first woman and first African-American to hold the position. "For more than two decades, Dr. Carla Hayden has overseen one of the crown jewels of Baltimore, the Enoch Pratt Free Library. Dr. H… Continue Reading
June 08, 2016
Cardin, Murray, Senate Democrats Urge Defense, State Departments to Protect Servicemembers, Civil Servants and their Families in Zika-Affected Areas
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee, and 20 Senate Democrats sent a letter to the Department of State and Department of Defense encouraging the agencies to collaborate on policies that prioritize the health and welfare of servicemembers, civil servants and their families serving in the United States a… Continue Reading
