Press Releases & Statements
Sean Bartlett Joins SFRC Democratic Staff As Communications Director
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, announced that Sean Bartlett has joined the Democratic staff for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as Communications Director. In this role, he will serve as senior press advisor to the senator on all aspects of foreign affairs. "Sean has a strong background in communications and we are fortunate to have him join our staff. The United States must continue to take a leading role on many … Continue Reading
April 18, 2016
Cardin Offers Condolences to Ecuadoran People Following Earthquake
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after a major earthquake struck Ecuador on Saturday: "It is with a heavy heart that I join the international community in expressing my condolences to the families of the more than 350 victims who lost their lives as a result of the earthquake that struck Ecuador," said Cardin. "I commend the resiliency of the Ecuadorian people, as well as the remarkable ef… Continue Reading
April 14, 2016
Cardin Highlights State Department Country Reports on Human Rights Practices as an Important Tool for Holding Human Rights Violators Accountable
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement regarding the State Department's release of the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: "The annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, released on April 13 by the State Department, are critical for assessing progress on human rights globally, and for holding governments accountable for their human rights abuses," said Senator Cardin. "I am de… Continue Reading
April 13, 2016
Cardin, Mikulski, Warner, Kaine Convene Metro Oversight Meeting To Address Ongoing Safety Concerns
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.), Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-Va.) today convened an oversight meeting on safety of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) system with Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld. Senator Mikulski last month called for the meeting in light of Metro's shut down of its entire rail transit system over safety concerns following a fire at tracks outside the McPherson Square station. "Metro riders have… Continue Reading
April 13, 2016
Cardin Deepens Appreciation for Oyster Culture with Maryland Shellfish Growers
CALVERT COUNTY, Md. - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, recently met with oyster farmers and toured Morgan State University's innovative Patuxent Environmental & Aquatic Research Laboratory (PEARL), where a reinvigorated oyster hatchery could help fuel the expansion of Maryland's promising oyster aquaculture industry. "Maryland's oyster aquaculture industry holds great promise for providing delicious oysters, good job… Continue Reading
April 13, 2016
Cardin “Why Nine?” Roundtable at University of Baltimore School of Law Spotlights Importance of Fully Functioning U.S. Supreme Court
BALTIMORE - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) recently hosted a panel that brought together University of Baltimore School of Law students and faculty with public interest law organizations in a discussion on the importance of a fully functional Supreme Court and the responsibilities of the Senate and president in regards to the court's operations. "The consideration of Supreme Court nominee Chief Judge Merrick Garland is not a matter for the next president and the next Congress - it is a matter … Continue Reading
April 13, 2016
Cardin Convenes Stakeholders from All Parts of Maryland for Strategy Session on Epidemic of Heroin and Opioid Addiction
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Finance Health Care Subcommittee, and Congressman John Sarbanes (Md.-03) recently gathered Maryland community leaders, medical professionals, social workers, law enforcement and members of the non-profit community for a strategy session on combating the national epidemic of heroin and opioid addiction. About 100 participants gathered at the Anne Arundel County Medical center to exchange ideas on how to reverse the uptick in… Continue Reading
April 07, 2016
Cardin Highlights National Organizations Calling for Increased Funding to Support America’s Water Infrastructure
WASHINGTON - U. S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, today noted that more than three dozen national organizations from across the political spectrum were calling for increased investment in America's water infrastructure. "People rarely think about how important water infrastructure is to our public health, our economy or simply to quench our thirst. But incidents like the recent crisis in Flint underscore the dangers that can … Continue Reading
April 06, 2016
Cardin, Mikulski Urge Passage Of Paycheck Fairness Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Dean of the Senate women and a senior member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today at the U.S. Capitol renewed their call urging Congress to take up and pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, legislation introduced by Senator Mikulski, which will help close the wage gap between women and men working equivalent jobs, costing women and thei… Continue Reading
April 06, 2016
Cardin Reviewing Final Fiduciary Rule for Workability, Enhanced Saving Opportunities
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee and a longtime, vocal advocate for increasing retirement security for all Americans, issued the following remarks in response to the U.S. Department of Labor final fiduciary rule. "A best interest standard is key to ensuring Americans receive financial advice they can trust and to combatting truly abusive behaviors in our financial system. As I have said throughout this rulemaking process, it is critical … Continue Reading
April 05, 2016
Cardin, Baltimore Mayor Rawlings-Blake Spotlight Importance of Safe, Lead-free Drinking Water
BALTIMORE - U. S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Rudolph Chow today toured the Ashburton Water Filtration Plant and discussed the many ways that elected officials at all levels are working to ensure that all Marylanders have access to safe, lead-free drinking water. "Americans have a right to expect that water coming from their taps is safe to drink. We can no longer delay needed upgrades t… Continue Reading
April 04, 2016
A Special Opening Day: Cardin Holds Ceremonial Opening of New Collaboration by Maryland Brewers, Oyster Farmers
BALTIMORE - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, today visited the Mt. Vernon Marketplace for a ceremonial opening of "The Local Oyster Stout," a fresh collaboration by the Waverly Brewing Company, True Chesapeake Oyster Company and The Local Oyster. "Small breweries and oysters have been staples of our regional economy for generations, and emerging craft brewers like Waverly Brewing and oyster farmers like True Chesapeake under… Continue Reading
April 01, 2016
Honoring Officer Jacai Colson
Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the tragic death of a Marylander. Officer Jacai Colson of the Prince George's Police Department was killed in the line of duty, on Sunday, March 13, 2016. Officer Colson was an upstanding law enforcement officer whose death shocked and saddened so many in Maryland and the national law enforcement community. America is the great nation it is in no small part because of our respect for the rule of law. Officer Colson and his fellow Prince Ge… Continue Reading
April 01, 2016
Cardin, Bipartisan Group Of Current & Former Senators & House Members Join To File Amicus Brief In Support Of President Obama’s Clean Power Plan
WASHINGTON - Today, Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a bipartisan group of 43 current and former Senators and 164 current and former House members - including a former Republican Senator and former Republican House Member - from 38 states as well as the District of Columbia and the Northern Mariana Islands have joined in filing an amicus brief in support of the Obama administration's historic 'Clean Power Plan' (CPP). The CPP will reduce carbon pollution and address climate change, save consumers $155… Continue Reading
March 31, 2016
Cardin Calls U.S.-China Climate Change Announcement an Important Signal to the World
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 in response to the U.S.-China joint statement on climate change and the Paris agreement. "Climate change represents an enormous challenge for all inhabitants of our planet. It is the preeminent national security issue for the 21st Century. We are the first generation in recorded human history to… Continue Reading
March 31, 2016
Cardin Calls U.S.-China Climate Change Announcement An Important Signal To The World
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 in response to the U.S.-China joint statement on climate change and the Paris agreement. "Climate change represents an enormous challenge for all inhabitants of our planet. It is the preeminent national security issue for the 21st Century. We are the first generation in recorded human history to e… Continue Reading
March 30, 2016
Cardin, Mikulski, Delaney Announce $2.8 Million In Federal Grants And Loans To Improve Water Infrastructure In Allegany County
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski, together with U.S. Representative John Delaney (all D-Md.), today announced that the Town of Westernport has been awarded $2.2 million in federal grants and $600,000 in federal loans to install a new water system and water tank. The new tank will improve service for more than 1,144 households and 45 businesses in Allegany County. "Our water infrastructure supports our daily lives in a way that few other things do," said Senator C… Continue Reading
March 30, 2016
Maryland and Virginia Senators Renew Push for Full Funding of WMATA
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (both D- Va.) are calling on congressional appropriators to fully fund the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) at authorized levels. The senators pointed to this federal funding as a key way to rebuild Metro operations to be efficient, reliable and safe at all times - particularly in the light of the system's recent safety challenges that demonstrated how much work still remains to achieve… Continue Reading
March 28, 2016
Cardin Meets with Chief Judge Merrick Garland, Marylander and Nominee for Supreme Court Justice
"There are nine months left in this year and to suggest that we don't have the time and the president doesn't have the authority to appoint a nominee is an affront to the Constitution." WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) met Monday with U.S. Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland, Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, a resident of Bethesda, Md. The two met for approximately 35 minutes, during which time they discussed the nomination process, key cases inclu… Continue Reading
March 28, 2016
Cardin Condemns Terror Attack in Lahore
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement condemning the Easter Sunday terror attack on in Lahore, Pakistan. "I join the international community in condemning today's terrorist attack in Lahore on this holy day for Christians. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Pakistan. The United States and our allies will remain committed to countering these heinous attacks and to bringing those resp… Continue Reading
