Press Releases & Statements
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
January 11, 2017
Cardin, Warren, Wyden, Durbin, Carper, Casey, Merkley, Baldwin Respond to Trump Announcement Not to Resolve Conflicts of Interest
WASHINGTON - In a joint statement, United States Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) responded to President-elect Donald Trump's announcement today that he will not follow precedent by divesting his assets by placing them in a blind trust. "President-elect Trump's plan to address his financial conflicts of interest boils down to this: he will co… Continue Reading
January 11, 2017
Cardin Statement Following Tillerson Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Wednesday evening following the confirmation hearing of Rex Tillerson to serve as Secretary of State: "There's no doubt that Mr. Tillerson has stamina, is well prepared, and has knowledge of the world. But I am troubled by his confusing statements about how Exxon handled U.S. sanctions and by his refusal to directly acknowledge or even accept well-documented a… Continue Reading
January 11, 2017
10 Bipartisan Senators Introduce Comprehensive Russia Sanctions Legislation
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, led a group of bipartisan Senators Wednesday to introduce comprehensive sanctions legislation on Russia for their cyber intrusions, aggression, and destabilizing activities here in the United States and around the world. A factsheet on the legislation follows the quotes from the original cosponsoring Senators: Rob… Continue Reading
January 09, 2017
Democrats Introduce Bill to Require President and Vice President to Fully Divest Personal Financial Conflicts of Interest
WASHINGTON - Today, Democratic members of Congress introduced the Presidential Conflicts of Interest Act of 2017 in the United States Senate and House that would require the President and Vice President to disclose and divest any potential financial conflicts of interest. It also would require presidential appointees to recuse themselves from any specific matters involving the President's financial conflicts of interest that come before their agencies. Original co-sponsors of this legislation i… Continue Reading
January 09, 2017
Cardin, Van Hollen Announce Maryland Online Groceries to Begin New SNAP Pilot Program
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) have announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has chosen Maryland as 1 of 7 states to take part in a pilot program that will allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants to purchase their groceries online. Three Maryland retailers - Amazon, Safeway and ShopRite - will participate in the program, putting them - and Maryland - at the head of a new and more efficient SNAP program. The two-… Continue Reading
January 09, 2017
Cardin Reaction To Secretary Kerry Apology For Lavender Scare
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Monday after Secretary of State John Kerry issued an apology for the Lavender Scare. Senator Cardin first wrote to the Secretary about this issue in November: "The apology made by Secretary Kerry today represents a welcome first step to acknowledge this dark stain on our nation's history, and I thank him for his principled leadership. I intend to move forward … Continue Reading
