Chairman's Press
Cardin Statement on Chinese Seizure of U.S. Navy Submersible from International Waters
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, released the following statement Friday: "China's seizure of an U.S. Navy unmanned scientific research submersible in international waters off the South China Sea is a remarkably brazen violation of international law. No matter its motivation, China needs to explain its actions and immediately return the undersea drone, untampered with, to th… Continue Reading
December 15, 2016
Cardin Statement on Trump’s Delay in Announcing Future with Trump Organization
WASHINGTON - On November 29th, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Foreign Relations Committee, led nearly two dozen of his colleagues in introducing a resolution asking the President-elect of the United States to comply with the Constitution before taking an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. Not twelve hours later, Donald Trump responded that on December 15th, he would make an announcement about his future with the Trump Organization. Today, Senator Cardi… Continue Reading
December 14, 2016
Cardin Statement on Crisis in Aleppo, Syria
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Wednesday: "Not 24 hours after reports of civilians in Aleppo being slaughtered by the Assad regime and their Russian and Iranian backers, and a necessary but weak ceasefire was supposed to allow for evacuations, the aerial bombardment, shelling and killing have started again. The utter disregard for innocent human life in Syria is a stain on all of us. I join the in… Continue Reading
December 13, 2016
Cardin Statement on Rex Tillerson’s Nomination as Secretary of State
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Tuesday after President-elect Donald Trump announced he will nominate Rex W. Tillerson, the president and CEO of Exxon Mobil, to be the 69th Secretary of State of the United States of America: "The President-elect deserves to nominate individuals he believes will best carry out his agenda and serve our country. But as a separate and co-equal branch of governme… Continue Reading
December 13, 2016
Cardin Statement on Passage of Congressional State Department Authorization
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Foreign Relations Committee, applauded Congressional passage over the weekend of the first legislation to fund the State Department in 14 years. The 2017 U.S. Department of State authorization bill provides for critical reforms to diplomatic programs and core operations of the State Department. The bill also includes embassy security provisions to improve protection of U.S. diplomatic facilities and Foreign Service personnel, … Continue Reading
December 12, 2016
Senators Cardin, Feinstein, Leahy Call for Independent Nonpartisan Commission to Investigate Russian Interference in Election
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) called Monday for the creation of an independent, nonpartisan commission to comprehensively investigate alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election. The commission would fully investigate alleged Russian cyberattacks on U.S. political entities and election infrastructure, seek to identify those responsible, and recommend a response as well as actions the U.S. can take to defend itself in … Continue Reading
December 10, 2016
Cardin Statement on Failure of Senate to Approve Montenegro Admission to NATO
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, issued the following statement Saturday after the Senate failed to approve the accession of Montenegro to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): "I am disappointed that the Senate did not advice and consent on the admission of Montenegro into NATO before we adjourned for the year. Vladimir Putin did everything he could to disrupt the recent Montenegrin Parliamentary elections in a… Continue Reading
December 09, 2016
Cardin Statement on Deteriorating Situation in Aleppo, Syria
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, released the following statement Friday as the situation in Aleppo, Syria continues to deteriorate: "The late Elie Weisel said 'I don't want my past to become anyone else's future.' "For more than 70 years now, civilized people have carried forward the charge to 'Never Forget'. That charge has been decimated on the streets of eastern Aleppo. The shame of the international community is … Continue Reading
December 08, 2016
Cardin, McCain Hail Watershed Moment in Global Human Rights Accountability, Fight Against Corruption
WASHINGTON - Senate and House passage of the FY 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is a watershed moment in global human rights accountability and the fight against corruption. The Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, part of the NDAA, now heads to President Obama for signature into law. Championed by U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Foreign Relations Committee, and John McCain (R-Ariz.), Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, the bill gives th… Continue Reading
December 05, 2016
Cardin Meets with Egyptian Foreign Minister
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, released the following statement Monday after meeting with Sameh Shoukry, the Egyptian Foreign Minister, in the Capitol: "It was a pleasure to meet with Foreign Minister Shoukry and welcome him to the Senate today. Our two countries share a long-standing, strategic relationship that includes security, diplomatic, economic, educational, and tourism dimensions. "I conveyed to the Foreign Mi… Continue Reading
December 05, 2016
U.S. Senator Cardin Statement Ahead of Ghanaian Elections
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, released the following statement Monday ahead of Ghana's national election on December 7th: "Ghana has made enormous strides on its path to democracy since the country's return to civilian rule. It has served as a model in West Africa, on the continent and around the world for nearly 25 years. "The United States values our partnership with the government and our friendship with the Ghan… Continue Reading
December 02, 2016
U.S. Senator Cardin Statement on Arrest of Dr. Merera Gudina in Ethiopia
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, released the following statement Friday after Dr. Merera Gudina, leader of the Oromo People's Congress and one of Ethiopia's opposition leaders, was arrested earlier this week after returning home following his testimony to the European Union parliament on the current political crisis in the country: "Dr. Gudina's arrest appears to be based solely based on the fact that he is a member of t… Continue Reading
December 01, 2016
Cardin Statement on Extension of Iran Sanctions Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, released the following statement Thursday after the Senate renewed the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 by a vote of 99 to 0. The measure is set to expire on December 31st. With House passage already secured, the measure now heads to President Obama for signature: "The House and the Senate's broad, bipartisan vote to extend the Iran Sanctions Act demonstrates that the United States Congress is … Continue Reading
December 01, 2016
Cardin Statement on World AIDS Day 2016
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, released the following statement Thursday in recognition of World AIDS Day: "Thirty years ago the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine issued a report calling for a 'massive media, educational and public health campaign to curb the spread of the HIV infection.' The global community heeded that call, and today, on World AIDS Day, we celebrate progress that we have made in tr… Continue Reading
December 01, 2016
Cardin Statement on Peace Accord Ratification by Colombian Congress
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, released the following statement Thursday after the Colombian Congress ratified a peace accord between the government and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) rebel group: "With the ratification of their peace accord, the Colombian people now have a real chance to move beyond the conflict that has torn at the fabric of their country for decades," said Cardin. "The nation … Continue Reading
November 30, 2016
Cardin Statement on U.N. Resolution on North Korea
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, released the following statement Wednesday after the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution on North Korea: "Today's action by the United Nations Security Council represents an important step forward in the on-going efforts by the international community to end North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and to place additional pressure on t… Continue Reading
November 30, 2016
Cardin Responds to President-Elect’s Impending Announcement on Severing Ties with Trump Organization
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and a Member of the Senate Finance Committee, along with 23 of his Senate colleagues, introduced a resolution Tuesday stating the sense of Congress that President-elect Trump should follow the precedent established by prior presidents and convert his assets to simple, conflict-free holdings, adopt blind trusts managed by an independent trustees, or take other equivalent measures in order to … Continue Reading
November 29, 2016
Cardin Introduces Resolution Urging Trump to Comply with Constitution by Truly Severing Relationship with Private Business
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and a Member of the Senate Finance Committee, introduced a resolution Tuesday stating the sense of Congress that President-elect Trump should follow the precedent established by prior presidents and convert his assets to simple, conflict-free holdings, adopt blind trusts managed by an independent trustees, or take other equivalent measures in order to ensure compliance with the United States… Continue Reading
November 26, 2016
Cardin Statement on the Death of Fidel Castro
BALTIMORE - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Saturday after Cuba announced that Fidel Castro had passed away: "The news of Fidel Castro's death brings with it an opportunity to close the deep divisions that have been suffered by Cuban society and by Cuban Americans in the U.S. For Castro's purported goals of social and economic development to be attained, it is now time for a half-century of authoritari… Continue Reading
November 22, 2016
Cardin to Introduce Senate Resolution Asking Trump to Ensure Foreign Dealings do not Violate U.S. Constitution
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and a senior Member of the Senate Finance Committee, announced today he will introduce a resolution next week stating the sense of Congress that President-elect Trump should convert his assets to simple, conflict-free holdings, adopt blind trusts, or take other equivalent measures, in order to ensure consistency with the Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The resolution will note … Continue Reading
