WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, announced that he will assume the Ranking Member position for the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women’s Issues. Senator Cardin also will continue as the lead Senate Democrat on the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE).

“I am honored to take on a new leadership role as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women’s Issues.

“Here in our own hemisphere, the United States has been fortunate to enjoy strong partnerships on a wide range of critical national security and economic issues. However, President Trump’s derogatory comments about Mexico, El Salvador and Haiti, as well as his reckless talk about military options to address the crisis in Venezuela, undercut U.S. standing in the region.

“In my new role, I will work to continue raising awareness about the Trump Administration’s misguided decisions to end Temporary Protective Status (TPS) for countries in the hemisphere – a move that puts hundreds of thousands of people and their families at risk. Additionally, at a time when Americans are suffering from a nationwide opioid epidemic, I look forward to forging bipartisan consensus on how we can better work with our partners in the hemisphere to combat the illicit drug trade and transnational criminal organizations.

“I look forward to leveraging my new leadership role on the subcommittee to advance my longtime priorities of democracy promotion, anti-corruption, human rights, and the rights and empowerment of women and girls in the region and globally.”

###