Press Releases & Statements
Cardin Statement On Danish Parliament Approving Seizure Of Refugee Assets By Police
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement regarding a recently enacted Danish law that authorizes police to search asylum seekers entering the country and confiscate any non-essential items that do not have any sentimental value to the owner valued at more than 10, 000 kroner, which is equivalent to just under $1,500. "In the seven years leading up to World War II, Denmark took in nearly 7,500… Continue Reading
January 22, 2016
Cardin, Mikulski, Hoyer, Edwards, Baker Applaud Administration Plan To Fully Fund Construction Of New Consolidated FBI Headquarters In President’s Fy17 Budget Request
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski, Representatives Steny H. Hoyer and Donna F. Edwards together with Prince George's County Executive Rusher L. Baker, III (all D-Md.) today applauded the Administration's next steps for a new, fully consolidated headquarters for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). "This newly proposed appropriation toward a new, fully consolidated FBI headquarters is a significant development that underscores the administration's commitment … Continue Reading
January 21, 2016
Democratic Senators and Leading Researchers Push for Funding Gun Violence Research at CDC
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today led a group of Democratic Senators and renowned national researchers in calling for immediate funding of a gun violence research agenda at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A 1996 Republican appropriations rider prohibits federal funds from being used to advocate or promote gun control, which some have misconstrued as a ban on funding scientific research into the causes of gun violence. The au… Continue Reading
January 21, 2016
Cardin: Embracing Politics of Fear is No Way to Increase National Security
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on Wednesday's procedural vote against "the SAFE Act" (H.R. 4038), which disguises a de facto ban on U.S. acceptance of refugees in a new screening process that is unrealistic and unworkable. "The safety of our country, our national security, is my top priority as a U.S. Senator. Congress has a knack for introducing legislation that falls well short of aspira… Continue Reading
January 20, 2016
American Safe Act, H.R. 4038
Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I take this time as a Senator from Maryland, as well as the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to talk about the bill we voted on earlier today--on the motion to proceed to the so-called SAFE Act dealing with Syrian refugees. I like to call it the fear act because I think it really is an act that is misguided. I will start by saying that the world looks to the United States, and when there are tough problems, they look to our leadership. Th… Continue Reading
January 20, 2016
Cardin Applauds Obama Veto of Short-Sighted Attempt to Undercut Clean Water Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, today issued the following statement welcoming President Barack Obama's veto of an attempt by congressional Republicans to overturn the Environmental Protection Agency Clean Water Rule, which clarifies Clean Water Act protections for small bodies of water and was shaped by historic levels of public input. "President Obama's veto of the effort to undercut the Clean Water Act is both… Continue Reading
January 20, 2016
Cardin Statement on Terrorist Attack in Pakistan
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on the terrorist attack in Pakistan: "I want to express my condolences to the families of those lost in today's terrorist attack in Pakistan. The targeting of an educational institution brings back terrible memories of the tragic December 2014 school attack in Peshawar. The people of Pakistan remain a top target of terrorist groups and we remain committed to s… Continue Reading
January 18, 2016
Cardin Statement on JCPOA Implementation Day
BALTIMORE - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and author of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, issued the following statement on Implementation Day of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. "With Implementation Day of the Iran nuclear agreement now here, it is critical that all parties uphold their commitments agreed to in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. While Congress was not a party to the nuclear negotiations, we do have … Continue Reading
January 16, 2016
Cardin Statement on Taiwan’s Historic Election
BALTIMORE -U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued this statement following Taiwan's historic election. "Taiwan has once again demonstrated an unwavering commitment to democracy and freedom of expression following their now concluded historic campaign and election. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the people of Taiwan for once again exercising their democratic rights and serving as a shining example for the international commun… Continue Reading
January 16, 2016
Cardin Statement on Release of Americans from Iran
BALTIMORE - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement regarding the release of four detained Americans in Iran and a fifth American, a student, who was released as well. "The release of five innocent Americans from Iran is a day for all Americans to celebrate their long and overdue return home. Painstaking effort and the unwavering determination put forward by Secretary of State Kerry, former Under Secretary of State We… Continue Reading
January 15, 2016
Cardin Reflects on the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
BALTIMORE - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), issued the following statement in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which is commemorated on Monday, January 18, 2016: "As we celebrate what would have been the 87th birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we reflect on his enduring legacy and the enormous impact his life has had on making America great. Dr. King was taken from this world far too soon, but he instilled in his followers an understanding that they would keep up the momentum… Continue Reading
January 14, 2016
Cardin, Cummings, Local Leaders Join Baltimore City Principals to Celebrate New Federal Grant for Schools Affected by Unrest Following Death of Freddie Gray
BALTIMORE - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin and Congressman Elijah Cummings (Both D-Md.) today joined local elected and education leaders, officials from the U.S. Department of Education and the principals of five schools affected by the unrest following the death of Freddie Gray to celebrate the recent award of more than $290,000 in new federal funding to help the schools' ongoing recovery effort. "Following the death of Freddie Gray, we sat with and listened to the Baltimore communities that were … Continue Reading
January 14, 2016
Cardin Statement on Terrorist Attack in Indonesia
BALTIMORE - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on East Asia, issued the following statement on the terrorist attack that occurred in Indonesia today. "I want to express my deepest condolences to all those wounded and to the families who lost loved ones in today's terrorist attack in Jakarta. As President Joko Widodo stated, "We must not be afraid, we must not be defeated by an act of terror like th… Continue Reading
January 14, 2016
Cardin, Mikulski, Van Hollen Welcome Designation of Carroll County as High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
BALTIMORE - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin, Barbara A. Mikulski and Congressman Chris Van Hollen (all D-Md.) today announced that Carroll County, Md. is one of the 14 additional counties in 10 states designated as High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTAs). The designations will enable Carroll County to receive federal resources to further the coordination and development of drug control efforts among federal, state and local health and law enforcement officials. It also will allow local agencies … Continue Reading
January 12, 2016
Cardin: Making Higher Education More Affordable and Accessible Should Be a Top Priority
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) issued the following statement on President Barack Obama's remarks concerning higher education in his State of the Union. Senator Cardin was accompanied to the State of the Union Address by Robert Caret, Chancellor of the University System of Maryland and former Towson University President. Chancellor Caret represented the more than 165,000 undergraduate and graduate students across 12 campuses in Maryland. "President Obama's focus in his final St… Continue Reading
January 12, 2016
SOTU: Cardin Says Congress Should Unite to Work with President Obama throughout the Year Ahead
"The country does not stop because of a presidential election and neither should we. We are open for business." WASHINGTON - In response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) issued the following statement. Senator Cardin's guest for the speech was Robert Caret, Chancellor of the University System of Maryland (USM). "President Obama set out an aggressive agenda tonight, showing the country and the world that he will not allow himself to b… Continue Reading
January 12, 2016
Cardin Welcomes Nomination of Dr. Ethel Brooks to U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, commended the nomination of Dr. Ethel Brooks to serve as a member of the United Stated Holocaust Memorial Council. Senator Cardin, who also serves as Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism, and Intolerance for Organization Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly, had recommended the appointment of Dr. Brooks to the White House. "Seven decades after the Naz… Continue Reading
January 12, 2016
Cardin, Mikulski Urge U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to Proceed with Chesapeake Bay Restoration Project in Tred Avon River
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (Both D-Md.) are urging federal officials to maintain the momentum of their work to restore depleted oyster populations in the Chesapeake Bay following a state request to do otherwise, pointing to oysters as crucial components in the Bay's recovery and ongoing restoration projects in the Tred Avon River as essential to upholding the state's commitment to the watershed's health. The senators today released the text of a letter se… Continue Reading
January 12, 2016
Cardin Introduces Maryland Nominee to the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) today introduced Carolyn Lerner, a Marylander, who has been nominated for a second term as the Special Counsel of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC). The OSC is an independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency tasked with safeguarding the merit system by protecting federal employees and applicants from prohibited personnel practices, especially reprisal for whistleblowing. "In her first term, Ms. Lerner has brought needed stabil… Continue Reading
January 12, 2016
Cardin To Host University System of Maryland Chancellor, Robert Caret at State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) announced that Robert Caret, Chancellor of the University System of Maryland, would be his guest at President Barack Obama's final State of the Union Address on January 12, 2016. Chancellor Caret will be representing the more than 165,000 undergraduate and graduate students across 12 campuses in Maryland -- from Frostburg to the Eastern Shore, Baltimore, overseas and College Park. "Education is the great equalizer and one of the single best invest… Continue Reading
