Chairman's Press
Cardin Reacts to House Sanctions Bill on Russia, Iran, North Korea
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Saturday after the House of Representatives posted its version of sanctions legislation related to Russia, Iran and North Korea: "My preference over the last month had been for the House to take up and adopt the legislation that passed the Senate 98-2, however I welcome the House bill which was the product of intense negotiations. I believe the proposed change… Continue Reading
July 20, 2017
Cardin Statement on Exxon Penalty for Sanctions Violation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Thursday after the Treasury Department announced a $2 million penalty against ExxonMobil for violations of Ukraine-related sanctions due to its business pursuits with Russia: "In 2014, U.S. sanctions were imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and illegal occupation of Crimea. Congress played an important role in passing two sanctions bills in 2014 tha… Continue Reading
July 19, 2017
Cardin Calls for Release of Amnesty International Staff, Human Rights Activists Recently Detained in Turkey
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Wednesday after the Turkey Director of Amnesty International and other human rights activists were arrested in Turkey: "I am deeply alarmed by the detention of Amnesty International's Turkey Director, Idil Eser, along with five other human rights activists earlier this week. Commitment to fundamental freedoms and an active civil society are critical to the fu… Continue Reading
July 17, 2017
Cardin Remarks at Hearing on State Department Reorganization, Reauthorization
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following opening remarks Monday at a Committee hearing on State Department reauthorization legislation, and reorganization planning by the Trump Administration: "This is an extremely important hearing, the review of the State Department reauthorization bill for FY 2018 as well as the State Department's reorganization plans. "Chairman Corker has laid out what both of us feel very pa… Continue Reading
July 13, 2017
Cardin Mourns Death of Liu Xiaobo, Chinese Human Rights Activist and Nobel Laureate
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Thursday after the death of Liu Xiaobo, who was serving an 11-year sentence in Chinese prison after calling for peaceful political change in that country. International health experts and politicians, including Senator Cardin, had called for his release from prison for liver cancer treatment. In 2010, Liu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize: "Today, the world ha… Continue Reading
July 13, 2017
Cardin, Schumer, Van Hollen, Gillibrand Urge State Dept. Not to Return MD, NY Compounds to Russians
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) wrote to Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Tom Shannon Thursday ahead of his meetings with Russian officials next week, urging him not to return the Russian compounds in Maryland and New York that were seized last year because of the Kremlin's spying operations and treatment of American diplomatic personnel. "S. 722, which passed the Senate on June 14 by a vote … Continue Reading
July 13, 2017
U.S. Senators Who Attended COP21 Write to Trump During French Visit, Urging Reconsideration, Reversal of Paris Agreement Withdrawal
WASHINGTON - The ten Senators who represented the United States at the 21st Conference of Parties in 2015, where the world agreed to the Paris Climate Agreement, have written to President Trump today during his trip to France, urging him to reconsider and reverse his decision to withdraw the United States from the historic accord. "As you prepare to celebrate Bastille Day and the United States World War I Centennial with President Emmanuel Macron, we write to remind you of how significant the P… Continue Reading
July 13, 2017
Cardin Remarks on TIP Report, State Dept. Reorganization
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the following remarks at a hearing Thursday on the State Department's annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, and also took the opportunity to raise concerns and later question the witness, Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan, about the Administration's proposed reorganization of the State Department: "Let me thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for this hearing. At this heari… Continue Reading
July 12, 2017
Klobuchar, Cardin, Durbin, Reed, Senators Introduce Legislation to Prevent Creation of Cybersecurity Unit with Russia
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), and senators have introduced legislation to prevent the creation of a cybersecurity unit with Russia. The legislation follows the suggestion from the President that the United States should partner with President Vladimir Putin of Russia on a joint cybersecurity unit. The No Funds for Cyber Coordination with Russia Act of 2017 says that the President should publicly accepts U.S. intell… Continue Reading
July 12, 2017
Senators Ask Tillerson, Sessions for Information, Accountability Regarding U.S. Role in Honduran Civilian Deaths during Counterdrug Missions
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released a letter they sent Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Attorney General Jeff Sessions, expressing concern and seeking information about actions taken in 2012 by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the State Department Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) in Honduras. As the letter notes, on three separate dates, May 11, Ju… Continue Reading
July 11, 2017
Cardin, McCain Speak Out on Sergei Magnitsky Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.), authors of the Sergei Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act of 2012 and the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act of 2016 laws, released the following statement and background information Tuesday: "Recent news reports have shone a light on the Sergei Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. Sergei Magnitsky was a Russian attorney working on behalf of his clients nearly a decade ago when he uncovered deep-s… Continue Reading
July 11, 2017
Cardin, Rubio Introduce Tunisia Resolution Ahead of Prime Minister’s First U.S. Visit
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a senior Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced a Senate resolution Tuesday welcoming Prime Minister Youssef Chahed of Tunisia on his first official visit to the United States, congratulating the Tunisian people on their embrace of democracy after decades of dictatorship, and encouraging future reforms. Joining Senators Cardin and Rubio on the … Continue Reading
July 11, 2017
Cardin Remarks on Trump Jr.’s Email Release, Russia Sanctions in the House
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following remarks Tuesday after Donald Trump Jr. released an email confirming that Russian government operatives wanted to meet with him about campaign-related information. Senator Cardin also commented on the Russia sanctions bill that is stalled in the House: "Today's email release shows that Donald Trump Jr. clearly understood the intent of the meeting with Natalia Veselnitskaya. … Continue Reading
July 10, 2017
Cardin Statement on Prison Sentencing of Bahraini Human Rights Activist Nabeel Rajab
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Monday after Nabeel Rajab, a human rights activist in Bahrain, was sentenced to two years in prison: "The sentencing of Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab to two years in prison is deeply troubling. His health has seriously deteriorated while in Bahraini government custody, and I am concerned that he is not receiving appropriate medical attention and… Continue Reading
July 09, 2017
Cardin Says Trump Statements On Russia, Proposed Collaboration Put Country In Jeopardy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Sunday in response to President Trump's series of statements about Russia: "Russia did not just meddle in our election - it engaged in a sophisticated attack equivalent to a political Pearl Harbor. They hacked our democratic institutions, spread lies through the media, and financed efforts to support the Trump campaign. "Now President Trump wants to work wit… Continue Reading
July 05, 2017
Cardin Condemns Attack on Honduran Environmental Activists, including Berta Caceres’ Daughter
U.S. Senator has repeatedly called for justice in murder of Caceres, end to impunity in Honduras WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Wednesday after Bertha Zuñiga, daughter of slain environmental and human rights activist Berta Cáceres, was brutally attacked along with other activists in Honduras: "I am appalled at the ongoing targeted attacks against members of the Civic Council … Continue Reading
July 05, 2017
Cardin Writes to Trump as Jewish Affairs Positions at White House, State Dept. Remain Vacant
"Given continuing incidents of anti-Semitism, including over a hundred threats to Jewish institutions in this country since the beginning of the year, and significant incidents abroad, I urge you to comply with the FY17 Omnibus and Public Law 108-332 and select a qualified individual to serve as the SEAS, and also appoint a qualified White House Liaison." WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote to President Trump Wednesda… Continue Reading
June 29, 2017
Senator Cardin Addresses Venezuelan Crisis
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, took to the Senate floor Thursday to speak out on the humanitarian, economic and political crisis affecting the Venezuelan people under President Nicolas Maduro. Senator Cardin delivered the following remarks as prepared for delivery: "I come to the floor to speak about the rise of a failed state in Venezuela and the man-made tragedy that President Maduro has imposed on his citizens. "For th… Continue Reading
June 28, 2017
Cardin Raises Concerns, Notes Progress in Annual Human Trafficking Report
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Tuesday after the State Department published its annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report: "The annual Trafficking in Persons Report is an essential accountability tool which assesses governments' progress on anti-trafficking efforts globally and is critical to ensuring continued progress against the scourge of human trafficking. Human trafficking is one of … Continue Reading
June 28, 2017
Cardin Raises Concerns, Notes Progress in Annual Human Trafficking Report
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Tuesday after the State Department published its annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report: "The annual Trafficking in Persons Report is an essential accountability tool which assesses governments' progress on anti-trafficking efforts globally and is critical to ensuring continued progress against the scourge of human trafficking. Human trafficking is one of … Continue Reading
