CONFIRMATION HEARING FOR ELENA KAGAN TO BE ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
Thank you, Chairman Leahy. Solicitor General Kagan, welcome back to the Judiciary Committee. Last year, I had the privilege of chairing your confirmation hearing for the position of Solicitor General. While we had a spirited debate at that time, I think we can agree that there was not quite as much media attention to that hearing as there is today. Why is that? As I prepared for this week's hearings, I have been thinking about the role of the Supreme Court and the Constitution in our lives.… Continue Reading
STATEMENT BY SENATOR BENJAMIN L. CARDIN ON DEATH OF SENATOR ROBERT BYRD
"The passing of Senator Robert C. Byrd is a sad day for America and for the U.S. Senate. During his 57 years of congressional service, Robert Byrd was the watchdog of the Senate, fiercely fighting to protect the constitutional powers of the legislative branch, particularly in an era of growing executive power. During his long congressional career, his values and views evolved so that he became a strong supporter of civil rights and also a great defender of the environment and protector of the na… Continue Reading
CARDIN HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPACT OF THE SUPREME COURT ON EVERY DAY AMERICANS
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, used his opening statement at the confirmation hearing for Solicitor General Elena Kagan to be the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States to outline the " very tangible impact on all our lives. "The Supreme Court and the Constitution are at the foundation of our rule of law that is supposed to protect Americans… Continue Reading
CARDIN VOTES TO EXPAND SANCTIONS ON IRAN
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, today released the following statement in response to Senate passage of H.R. 2194 , the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act by a vote of 99-0. Senator Cardin was an original cosponsor of the Senate version of this legislation (S. 908). "… Continue Reading
CARDIN STATEMENT ON THE CHANGE IN U.S. LEADERSHIP IN AFGHANISTAN
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following remarks in response to President Obama's announcement that he had accepted General Stanley McChrystal's resignation as commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan and that he will nominate General David Petraeus to take command. "I support the President's decision to relieve General M… Continue Reading
CARDIN, BIPARTISAN GROUP OF 87 SENATORS SEND LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO SELF-DEFENSE
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined a group of 85 Senators to send a letter to President Obama this week reaffirming their strong support for Israel's right to self-defense. The Senators outlined the importance of Israel as an ally to the United States in the Middle East, the significance of Israel for America's national security and the need for the United States to stand with Israel at a time when it "faces mu… Continue Reading
NOMINATION OF JOHN S. PISTOLE AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION ANDCOLLECITVE BARGAINING FOR TSA EMPLOYEES
Mr. CARDIN: Mr. President, I rise today to speak in support of the nomination of John S. Pistole to be Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and to talk about collective bargaining for TSA employees. The TSA has been without a Senate confirmed leader for a year and a half, and during the last five months, we have experienced two major transportation security incidents: the unsuccessful December 25 th bombing of Northwest flig… Continue Reading
HAMAS - AN OBSTACLE TO PEACE
In 2007, Hamas, a State Department-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, forcibly seized control of Gaza. Hamas continues to refuse to recognize Israel's right to exist and has perpetrated terrorist attacks, launching countless rockets from Gaza into Israel. Hamas calls for the elimination of Israel and Jews from Islamic holy lands. No Hamas leader has publicly expressed a willingness to disarm or to stop attacks on Israel and Israeli… Continue Reading
THE REAL IMPACT OF SUPREME COURT DECISIONS
This year, the Senate Judiciary Committee will begin confirmation hearings for Elena Kagan to be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. These confirmation hearings will give an opportunity to the public to see firsthand how important Supreme Court decisions are in their lives. There will be many examples that we could give from schools to consumer issues to personal lives, privacy, religious protections, health and the environment, workplace. In recent years, … Continue Reading
MUKULSKI AND CARDIN COMMEMORATE 1-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF FATAL METRO CRASH, REAFFIRM COMMITMENT TO METRO REFORM
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today were joined by Deputy Transportation Secretary John D. Porcari at a press conference to remember the victims of the deadly crash on Metro's Red Line and call for quick action on legislation to establish national safety standards for transit systems like the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro). "There is no higher priority than the sa… Continue Reading
NOMINATION HEARING OF JAMES M. COLE FOR DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Sessions, and Members of the Judiciary Committee, I would also like to make a brief statement in support of Mr. Cole, who is a veteran of the Department of Justice, having spent the first 13 years of a stellar legal career at the Department handling high-profile corruption investigations, managing attorneys in the Criminal Division, and serving as Chief of Staff to the Special Counsel to the Attorney General. I first met Mr. Cole in connectio… Continue Reading
CARDIN TELLS CARROLL COUNTY SENIORS THE NEW HEALTH REFORM LAW WILL SAVE THEM MONEY
WESTMINSTER , MD -- U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today told residents of the Carroll Lutheran Village that the new health reform law will help reduce their prescription drug costs and reduce other out-of-pocket expenses they may incur. He announced that starting this month, seniors who reach the Medicare Part D "donut hole" will receive a $250 check from the federal government … Continue Reading
STATEMENT BY U.S. SENATOR BENJAMIN L. CARDIN ON THE APPOINTMENT OF DR. DONALD F. BOESCH TO NATIONAL COMMISSION INVESTIGATING BP OIL SPILL
I want to commend President Obama for appointing Dr. Donald F. Boesch to the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Off Shore Drilling. I know Don Boesch personally and he is one of our nation's most prominent biological oceanographers. Don Boesch combines unrivaled scientific expertise, an extraordinary range of relevant experience, and a passion for our ocean resources. President Obama has chosen well. As Professor of Marine Science and Pre… Continue Reading
CARDIN, MIKULSKI, CUMMINGS DISCUSS FEDERAL RESPONSE TO BP OIL SPILL FOLLOWING RECENT VISITS TO THE GULF COAST
Baltimore, MD - Following up on their recent visits to the Gulf of Mexico to view the damage being done by the BP oil spill, U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski and U.S. Congressman Elijah Cummings (all D-MD) gathered at the National Aquarium, Baltimore today to voice their concerns about the current responsiveness of BP and the need for the federal government to do even more to take charge of the situation. "Oil… Continue Reading
CARDIN BILL WOULD REQUIRE FEDS TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE TO CLEAN UP LOCAL POLLUTION
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, has introduced S. 3481, a bill that would require the federal government to comply with local stormwater fees that are used to treat and manage polluted stormwater runoff. Senator Cardin introduced his bill, which amends the Clean Water Act, in response to recent written decisions that rebuffed or left ambiguous the need for Federal agencies to pay such fees. … Continue Reading
CARDIN, MIKULSKI URGE SWIFT FEDERAL COORDINATION WITH MARYLAND, ATLANTIC COAST STATES ON OIL SPILL READINESS
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today, in an effort to protect Maryland's economy and heritage, insisted on coordination between the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Commerce with Maryland and other Atlantic Coast states in the event that the BP oil spill reaches the eastern seaboard. In a letter signed with 20 of their Senate colleagues, they asked for: … Continue Reading
CARDIN, SENATE VOTE TO PROTECT AMERICAN CONSUMERS AGAINST BIG OIL
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, today praised his Senate colleagues for defeating an attempt to weaken the national fuel efficiency standards that help keep our air safe to breathe and would have contributed to increasing America's dependence on oil. "Today, the Senate rejected a thinly veiled effort to roll back the Clean Air Act that would have incre… Continue Reading
MARYLAND'S U.S. SENATORS APPLAUD JUDICIARY COMMITTEE APPROVAL OF BREDAR AND HOLLANDER NOMINATIONS, URGE SWIFT VOTE BY FULL SENATE
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today praised Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) for swiftly moving the nominations of Marylanders Ellen Hollander and James Bredar to fill vacancies on the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. The Senate Judiciary Committee today unanimously approved both nominations by voice vote. The full Senate will now consider the nominations. … Continue Reading
CARDIN CALLS NEW SANCTIONS ON IRAN ESSENTIAL FOR GLOBAL SECURITY
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) , a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, released the following statement in response to today the United Nations Security Council's passage of Resolution 1929 sanctioning Iran. "I am heartened that the United Nations Security Council focused on its monumental task at hand - dealing with Iran's dangerous nuclear re… Continue Reading
CARDIN, SHAHEEN URGE REPUBLICANS TO JOIN DEMOCRATIC EFFORTS TO HOLD POLLUTERS ACCOUNTABLE AND STOP PROTECTING BIG OIL COMPANIES
Washington, DC- U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) held a press conference this afternoon to call on Republicans to stop blocking Democratic efforts to make polluters pay for their actions, and help prevent the next oil spill by holding oil companies like BP accountable for their negligence. Republicans are trying to roll back critical environmental protections and sensible oversight that could help prevent the next oil spill, and give handouts to Big Oil instead. … Continue Reading