Press Releases & Statements
Cardin, Senators Question DHS About Revoking Global Entry Status Based on Religion
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.), are questioning the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) about revelations that it is revoking the membership of dozens of people enrolled in its Global Entry Program on the basis of religion.… Continue Reading
April 21, 2017
Cardin, Van Hollen Announce $77,803 Grant for Havre de Grace Ambulance Corps
WASHINGTON - Today U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), under the Department of Homeland Security, has awarded a $77,803 grant to Havre de Grace Ambulance Corps for operations and safety. "Making sure our first responders are well-prepared to keep our communities safe is one of government's highest priorities," said Senator Cardin. "I'm glad to see this investment in Havre de Grace's Ambulance Corp come to frui… Continue Reading
April 20, 2017
Cardin, Van Hollen Announce $500,000 Grant for Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute
WASHINGTON - Today U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), under the Department of Homeland Security, has awarded a $500,000 grant to the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI). "This grant represents an investment both in Maryland first responders and in Marylanders' safety, which is exactly the type of investment the federal government should be making," said Senator Cardin. "I'm very pleased the Maryland Fir… Continue Reading
April 19, 2017
Cardin Urges Baltimore Leaders, Citizens to Redouble Efforts on Civil Rights, Criminal Justice Reforms
BALTIMORE - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) today called on local leaders and residents to remain resolved and focused on advancing necessary civil rights and criminal justice reforms city-wide, while applauding the significant progress that has been made so far to rebuild lives, businesses and communities damaged by the unrest that followed the death of Freddie Gray. "Two years after the death of Freddie Gray, we have not yet managed to fully restore trust between police and our communities. A… Continue Reading
April 19, 2017
Cardin, Senators Welcome Release of Unjustly Imprisoned Egyptian-American Aya Hijazi
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, with Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism, Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mark Warner (D-VA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and David Perdue (R-GA), released the following joint statement on the release of Aya Hijazi, a dual Egyptian-American citizen, who had… Continue Reading
April 19, 2017
Maryland Delegation Supports Community Group’s Resolution of NextGen Flight Issues at BWI, Urges FAA to Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen joined Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Elijah Cummings, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, John Delaney, Anthony Brown, and Jamie Raskin in support of the DC Metroplex BWI Community Roundtable's proposed resolution of the NextGen flight path issue at BWI Airport and urged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to act. "This Resolution satisfies the FAA's request that a Community Roundtable reach a consensus position before the FAA wil… Continue Reading
April 17, 2017
Senators Cardin, Carper Highlight Devastating Effects of Trump Budget Cuts to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Stevensville, Md. - Today, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Tom Carper (D-Del.) the two most senior Democratic members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, stood on the banks of the Chesapeake Bay to highlight the devastating effects that President Trump's shortsighted and dangerous budget cuts would have on the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Joined by prominent conservation leaders and elected officials, Senators Carper and Cardin called on congressional appropriators to reje… Continue Reading
April 17, 2017
Cardin Statement on Reported Anti-LGBT Campaign in Chechnya
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Monday on reports of forced disappearances, torture, and killing of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) individuals, primarily gay men, in Chechnya: "I am gravely concerned about the growing threat facing LGBT individuals in the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation, given reports that hundreds of LGBT persons, particularly gay men, have been de… Continue Reading
April 13, 2017
Cardin, Van Hollen Statement on the Washington DC VA Medical Center
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) issued the following statement about the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General report on the Washington DC VA Medical Center, which found that patients were put at unnecessary risk. The Center is frequently used by many local veterans in Maryland. "We are deeply concerned about the issues raised by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, regarding the Washington DC VA Medi… Continue Reading
April 10, 2017
Cardin Statement on Egyptian Security Situation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Monday after a series of terrorist attacks in Egypt targeted at Coptic Christians prompted the government to declare a three-month state of emergency. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks: "I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the innocent people killed while celebrating Palm Sunday in Alexandria and Tanta, Egypt, yesterday. I wish the inj… Continue Reading
April 10, 2017
Cardin, Van Hollen Announce $750,000 ARC Grant for Garrett County
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) announced a $750,000 Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant for Garrett County to construct Phase II of Keyser's Ridge Business Park Access Road. The project is expected to create about 25 full time jobs. "With so much of our nation's infrastructure being in dire need of repair, I welcome this investment in Garrett County's roads - an investment that comes with the added benefit of creating well-paying, local jobs,"… Continue Reading
April 07, 2017
Cardin Roundtable Explores Local Effects of Trump Domestic Immigration Policies
HYATTSVILLE, Md. - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) this week was joined by members of the Latino community and immigration policy stakeholders like CASA de Maryland who are worried about the Trump administration's policies toward nonviolent, undocumented immigrants. The senator heard directly from community members who live with the constant fear that they or their relatives may be deported at any time. "This fear is real and whole swaths of our residents are living with this anxiety daily,"… Continue Reading
April 07, 2017
Syrian War Crimes Accountability Bill Introduced by Cardin, Bipartisan Colleagues
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.) introduced the Syrian War Crimes Accountability Act Friday to instruct the Secretary of State to report on war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Syria, as well as to authorize assistance for investigations and other credible transitional justice efforts, including a potential hybrid tribunal, to hold Assad and his reg… Continue Reading
April 07, 2017
Baltimore Delegation Lauds Final Approval of Consent Decree
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen with Congressmen Elijah E. Cummings, Dutch Ruppersberger and John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) praised the action of Judge James Bredar for formalizing the consent decree that was agreed to by U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the City of Baltimore to address systemic civil rights violations. The agreement followed an exhaustive federal pattern-and-practice investigation. Earlier this week, the Trump Administration DOJ had attempted to delay … Continue Reading
April 07, 2017
Cardin Votes Against Gorsuch Nomination
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and member of the Environment & Public Works, Small Business and Finance committees, voted Friday against the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court of the United States. Video of Senator Cardin's floor statement on the Gorsuch nomination can be downloaded here. "Advice and Consent of a Supreme Court nominee - someone who could serve for a generati… Continue Reading
April 07, 2017
Cardin Statement on U.S. Bombing of Syrian Airfield
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, released the following statement Thursday after the Trump Administration informed him that the bombing of a Syrian airfield was underway: "Tonight I was informed by the White House that the targeted bombing of a Syrian airfield was underway. "These military strikes against Assad's arsenal send a clear signal that the United States will stand up for internationally accepted norms and rules… Continue Reading
April 07, 2017
Cardin, Van Hollen Announce $120,000 ARC Grant for Boonsboro Sewer Replacement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) announced a $120,000 Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant for the Town of Boonsboro to upgrade a critical sewer line, which currently lacks the capacity needed to adequately serve the community and is prone to backups. The federal funding will be matched by $120,000 in local funds for a project total of $240,000. "This investment in Boonsboro's sewage system exemplifies precisely why we cannot take President Trump's … Continue Reading
April 06, 2017
Cardin Statement on U.S. Bombing of Syrian Airfield
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, released the following statement Thursday after the Trump Administration informed him that the bombing of a Syrian airfield was underway: "Tonight I was informed by the White House that the targeted bombing of a Syrian airfield was underway. "These military strikes against Assad's arsenal send a clear signal that the United States will stand up for internationally accepted norms and rules… Continue Reading
April 06, 2017
Cardin, Van Hollen Call for Continued Funding of Essential Air Service to Support Hagerstown Regional Airport
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) are urging the Appropriations Committee to ignore President Trump's budget and provide robust funding for the Essential Air Service Program (EAS). The EAS Program, funded through the U.S Department of Transportation (USDOT), provides critical air service that connects rural and remote areas to major hubs, helping to grow area businesses and support economic growth. In 2016, it provided $1.7 million to Hagerstown Regional Air… Continue Reading
April 06, 2017
Cardin, Perdue Introduce Global Anti-Corruption Legislation with Strong Bipartisan Support
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and David Perdue (R-Ga.) introduced comprehensive legislation Thursday to make fighting international corruption an American national security priority, encourage greater transparency in U.S. foreign and security assistance, and publicize anti-corruption efforts and results worldwide. Joining Senators Cardin and Perdue as original cosponsors of the Combating Global Corruption Act of 2017 are U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Marco Rubio (R-… Continue Reading
