Chairman's Press
Bennet, Blumenthal, Cardin and Colleagues Urge President to Prioritize Strengthened MOU with Israel
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, are leading a group of 16 senators in urging President Obama to prioritize a new, strengthened Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on security assistance with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Washington this week. A new MOU would help ensure Israel has the tools and resources necessary to prepare for, respo… Continue Reading
November 09, 2015
Cardin Statement on Elections in Burma
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on elections in Burma. "I congratulate the people of Burma for coming together on November 8 to participate peacefully in the country's second nationwide parliamentary election since 2008. The election is an important milestone on the path towards democracy and political reform in Burma, but there is still a long way to go. There are significant systematic and … Continue Reading
November 06, 2015
Cardin Statement on Keystone Pipeline
BALTIMORE - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement on the Obama Administration's rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline application. "The Obama Administration has rightly rejected the Keystone XL pipeline after having completed a responsible and thorough review of the project. In my judgment, the risks to U.S. public safety, public hea… Continue Reading
October 30, 2015
Cardin Statement on Pending Deployment of U.S. Special Forces in Syria
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on the announcement that U.S. Special Forces will soon be deployed to Syria. "After a series of hearings and meetings this week, including with Secretary Kerry and General Allen, I continue to support targeted airstrikes and training, in conjunction with our coalition partners, along with the arming of vetted opposition forces, as methods to alter the regiona… Continue Reading
October 30, 2015
Cardin Expresses Concern to Secretary John Kerry about Erosion of Democracy, Human Rights in Central Asia
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed concern about the erosion of the democratic process and respect for human rights across Central Asia in a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry. In his letter, Senator Cardin wrote: "During your important visit to the region, I urge you to raise the issue of political prisoners and to emphasize our strong commitment to universally recognized democratic principles during your upcom… Continue Reading
October 29, 2015
Cardin Calls on Senate to Ratify United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Reacts to Ruling by International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement in support of today's unanimous finding by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in a case brought by the Philippines against China regarding its claims in the South China Sea. Senator Cardin also repeated his call for the U.S. Senate to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). "I welcome today's unanimous finding by the I… Continue Reading
October 29, 2015
Cardin Calls for Confirmation of State Department, USAID Nominees
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor regarding the unacceptable delay to confirm President Obama's nominees to serve as U.S. Ambassadors and at other key State Department and USAID posts, including 20 USAID Foreign Service Officers. The remarks, as prepared for delivery, appear below and can be viewed here. "I have to express my disappointment at the slow pace of consideration … Continue Reading
October 22, 2015
Cardin Renews Call to Fully Fund Embassy Security Priorities at High Risk, High Threat Posts
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, renewed his repeated requests for Congress to fully fund embassy security priorities at high risk, high threat posts to prevent future attacks against U.S. facilities overseas. "After three years of posturing, grandstanding, and conspiracy theories, we are no closer to fully funding our embassy security priorities to prevent a future Benghazi-style attack from ever happening again," said Senat… Continue Reading
October 21, 2015
Eleven Democratic Senators Express Profound Concern over Iranian Ballistic Missile Test in Letter to Secretary Kerry
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mark Warner (D-VA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) expressed profound concern in a letter to Secretary Kerry about the October 11th Iranian ballistic missile test. In the letter, the Senators write: "We … Continue Reading
October 21, 2015
Cardin Statement on Resolution Vote against Israel at UNESCO
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement regarding the resolution vote against Israel at UNESCO. "This vote will escalate tensions and exacerbate an already dangerous situation," said Senator Cardin. "Earlier this month, Prime Minister Netanyahu called for preserving the status quo on the Temple Mount, a statement that was welcomed by President Abbas. While some inflammatory aspects of the resolution w… Continue Reading
October 20, 2015
Cardin, Rubio Introduce Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) today introduced the "Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act of 2015," legislation to establish guidelines for measurable goals, performance metrics, and monitoring and evaluation plans for foreign aid programs and to increase transparency by codifying and increasing the amount of information posted online. Companion legislation is also being introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressmen Ted Poe (… Continue Reading
October 09, 2015
Cardin Statement Recognizing International Day of the Girl
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement recognizing the International Day of the Girl on October 11, 2015. "The International Day of the Girl is a day where we recognize the fundamental rights of girls, recommit to investing in the future of girls, and to ending the continuing violence that girls face around the world. "The threats and violence directed against girls are staggering. In Central Ameri… Continue Reading
October 09, 2015
Cardin Announces Much-Needed Federal Funds to Aid Survivors of Torture in Maryland
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today announced that The Tahirih Justice Center in Baltimore has been awarded a $247,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement to fund the Empowering Survivors of Torture (EST) program. The EST program is a collaborative effort that seeks to provide holistic, trauma-informed, and culturally and linguistically appropriate services to survivors … Continue Reading
October 08, 2015
Electrify Africa Bill Passes Senate Foreign Relations Committee
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Chris Coons (D-Del.), all members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today praised committee passage of the Electrify Africa Act of 2015 (S.2152), which was also cosponsored by Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). With nearly 600 million Africans without electricity, this legislation will leverage private sector resources thr… Continue Reading
October 06, 2015
Cardin Speech on the Importance of Accountability in Sri Lanka
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, submitted the following remarks for the congressional record regarding the importance of accountability in Sri Lanka. "I rise to address the situation in Sri Lanka, a country that has endured a brutal civil war and is working to address the difficult issues of accountability and reconciliation. "Following the historic elections in January and August, Sri Lanka has a remarkable opportunity t… Continue Reading
October 05, 2015
Cardin Statement on Casualties in Kunduz
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement regarding the tragic bombing this Saturday in Kunduz, Afghanistan. "I extend my deepest condolences to the individuals and families of those killed or injured in Saturday's tragic bombing of the Doctors without Borders hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan. Doctors without Borders is an unparalleled organization, working in the most dangerous and difficult war zone… Continue Reading
October 01, 2015
Cardin Speech on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, submitted the following remarks for the congressional record regarding the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. "I rise to address an important event that occurred this week at the United Nations, which is marking the 70th Session of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). "Over the weekend, over 150 world leaders gathered at UNGA to adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Th… Continue Reading
October 01, 2015
Senators Introduce Iran Policy Oversight Act of 2015
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chris Coons (D-DE), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Mark Warner (D-VA), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Brian Schatz (D-HI), introduced the Iran Policy Oversight Act of 2015, legislation that builds upon the bipartisan commitment to oversight outlined in the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 that passed the U.S. Senate 98 to… Continue Reading
September 25, 2015
Cardin Statement on Meeting with President Xi Jinping
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement following his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and senate leaders. "The visit by President Xi serves as an important opportunity to continue and build a positive and cooperative relationship between our two nations. While we must expand upon areas of mutual interest, China must demonstrate through concrete actions its commitments to pursuing ongoing r… Continue Reading
September 24, 2015
Cardin Statement on Address of the Visit of Pope Francis to the United States
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement regarding the visit of Pope Francis to the United States and his address to Congress. "Pope Francis' visit to the United States has stirred millions of Catholics and non-Catholics through his presence and messages of humility, generosity, and service. These are universal values with extra meaning when delivered by Pope Francis who embodies genuine warmth, stea… Continue Reading
