Chairman's Press
Cardin Leads 32 Colleagues in Resolution Urging Trump to Comply with Constitution by Severing Relationship with Private Business
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a Member of the Senate Finance Committee, led 32 of his colleagues Thursday to introduce a resolution calling upon President Trump to follow the precedent established by prior Presidents and convert his assets to simple, conflict-free holdings, adopt blind trusts managed by an independent trustee with no relationship to the President or his businesses, or take other equivalent measures in o… Continue Reading
March 02, 2017
Bipartisan U.S. Senators to Mulvaney: Protect Foreign Affairs Spending in Budget
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led three of his bipartisan Committee colleagues Thursday in a letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney expressing profound concern about the Administration's reported plan to pursue deep cuts to America's international affairs spending, which includes funding for the Department of State and U.S. foreign assistance. "Our foreign affairs and foreign assistance budgets … Continue Reading
March 02, 2017
Cardin, Van Hollen, Delaney Welcome Fanta Jawara Home to Maryland
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) and Representative John K. Delaney (D-Md.-06) released the following joint statement Thursday after their constituent, Fanta Jawara, arrived in the United States following imprisonment in The Gambia during political unrest in that country last year. As her Federal elected officials, the Senators and Congressman had consistently advocated for her release from prison: "Fanta's return home to Maryland today closes a difficult,… Continue Reading
March 01, 2017
Cardin Statement on Russia, China Veto of UN Resolution on Syria Chemical Weapons
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Wednesday after Russia and China vetoed a UN Security Council resolution yesterday that would have imposed sanctions on key individuals in the Assad regime for their role in the use of chemical weapons against the Syrian people: "The vetoes by Russia and China in the UN Security Council today send a clear signal to other dictators and governments that they can… Continue Reading
February 28, 2017
Senate Passes Venezuela Resolution as Crisis Deepens
Foreign Relations Committee to hold Venezuela hearing Thursday WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday expressing its profound concern about the ongoing political, economic, social, and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, urging the immediate release of political prisoners, and calling for respect of constitutional and democratic processes. The resolution also affirms its support for the efforts of Organization of American States Secretary General Luis Almagro and en… Continue Reading
February 28, 2017
Senators Call on Egyptian Government to Swiftly Release Unjustly Imprisoned Egyptian-American Aya Hijazi
WASHINGTON, D.C. - As Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry visited Washington this week, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Mark Warner (D-VA) released the following statement today urging the release of Aya Hijazi, an Egyptian-American unjustly detained in Egypt since 2014: "We remain deeply concerned about the ongoing detention of Aya Hijazi, a dual U.S. and Egyptian citizen and resident… Continue Reading
February 27, 2017
Cardin, Bipartisan Colleagues Write to Trump as South Sudan Crisis Worsens
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led a group of bipartisan, bicameral colleagues Monday in a letter to President Trump about the worsening crisis in South Sudan. The lawmakers are requesting that Mr. Trump appoint a high-level Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, "with the international stature to bring urgently needed diplomatic leadership to international efforts to achieve a sustainable peace in and between the two cou… Continue Reading
February 27, 2017
Cardin Statement on the Two-Year Anniversary of the Killing of Boris Nemtsov
WASHINGTON -U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the author of the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability law, issued the following statement upon the two-year anniversary of the assassination of former Russian Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov in Moscow. "Two years ago, Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was killed in cold blood, just steps from the Kremlin. He was the definition of courage in defending the most fundamental… Continue Reading
February 24, 2017
Cardin, Feinstein, Reed to Tillerson: Chinese Trademark for Trump Organization Raises Serious Questions
Senators warn against potential Constitutional violation WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) wrote to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson today regarding the decision by the People's Republic of China to grant a construction trademark to the Trump Organization after years of delay. The ranking members of the Senate Committees on Foreign Relations, the Judiciary, and Armed Services, respectively, said in part, "At a time when the Unite… Continue Reading
February 23, 2017
Cardin, Colleagues Write to Secretaries Tillerson, Kelly As Officials Arrive in Mexico City
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, led five of his colleagues in a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly last night as the two Administration officials landed in Mexico City. Also signing the letter were U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). The text of the letter… Continue Reading
February 23, 2017
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Leaders Seek Accountability for War Crimes in Syria
WASHINGTON - Following a recent report accusing the Bashar al-Assad regime of atrocities in Syrian prisons, U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led a bipartisan letter from committee members to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson seeking an update on U.S. plans to demand accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the Syrian civil war. "In light of Amnesty International'… Continue Reading
February 21, 2017
Disturbed by Recent Incidents, Cardin Calls on Leaders at All Levels to Denounce Anti-Semitic Incidents and Other Hate-Based Threats
BALTIMORE - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism, and Intolerance for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly, released the following statement on the growing number of threats called in against Jewish Community Centers across at least 26 states and one Canadian province. "I have been deeply disturbed by the growing number of anti-Semitic threats… Continue Reading
February 20, 2017
Senators View Security, Immigration Processing Operations at U.S.-Mexico Border
EL PASO - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) toured the U.S.-Mexico border yesterday, assessing security and counter-narcotics operations as well as the processing of undocumented migrants crossing into the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security led the Senators in a number of briefings and site visits, which included the international border between Mexico, Texas, and New Mexico - known as Mo… Continue Reading
February 19, 2017
In Visit to Mexico City, Senators Reaffirm Strong U.S.-Mexico Relationship
MEXICO CITY - Three members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee concluded an official visit to the Mexican capital Sunday to reaffirm the strong security, economic, and cultural ties that bind the United States and Mexico. U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the Committee's Ranking Member, led his colleagues U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.) in meetings with members of the Mexican cabinet, Senate, and civil society. "We know that damage has been done to the bil… Continue Reading
February 17, 2017
Cardin to Tillerson: Address Deteriorating Humanitarian Situation in Northeast Nigeria, Lake Chad Basin
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Friday regarding his concerns over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Northeast Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin, and his recommendations for additional United States efforts to stem the crisis. "Countries in the Lake Chad Basin are experiencing what United Nations officials and aid workers have called a forgotten crisis as a result of the ter… Continue Reading
February 16, 2017
Cardin, Rubio, Cotton Reintroduce Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), Tom Cotton (R-AR), a CECC commissioner, and Ben Cardin (D-MD), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today reintroduced the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, bipartisan legislation that would renew the United States' historical commitment to freedom and democracy in Hong Kong at a time when its autonomy is increasingly under assault. The legislation al… Continue Reading
February 16, 2017
Cardin Leads Colleagues in Dissent Cable Letter to Secretary Tillerson
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led the full Democratic membership of the Committee and his fellow Marylander, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, in a letter Thursday to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, urging him to take full and appropriate advantage of the State Department's 'Dissent Channel.' U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-N.J.); Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.); Chris Coons (D-Del.); Tom Udall (D-N.M.); Chris Murphy (D-Conn.); Tim Kaine… Continue Reading
February 16, 2017
Cardin Opening Remarks at Friedman Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the following opening remarks Thursday at the confirmation hearing of Mr. David Friedman to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Israel: "The U.S.-Israel relationship is a strategic anchor for the United States in the Middle East. Indeed, it is one of our most important relationships with any country. It is a deep and genuine friendship that extends across our governments and is enriche… Continue Reading
February 16, 2017
Congressional Leaders Seek Release of American Pastor Unjustly Detained in Turkey
WASHINGTON - Leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs Committees sent a letter signed by 78 members of Congress to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an seeking the unconditional release of American pastor Andrew Brunson, who has been unjustly detained in Turkey since October and denied regular and appropriate access to legal counsel and American consular services. The letter was led by Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the chairman and ranking membe… Continue Reading
February 14, 2017
Cardin: Congress Must Stand Up for America’s Values, the Right Type of Relationship with Russia
Video of CAP Action Fund Speech and Q&A WASHINGTON - At the Center for American Progress Action Fund today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered a major address on U.S.-Russian relations and key issues between the two nations. The Senator's full speech and answers to questions from the audience can be found at this link. In concluding his speech, Senator Cardin said the following: "We are very much for the Russian people. Bu… Continue Reading
