Ranking Member's Press
Cardin Statement on Trump’s Withdrawal of U.S. from Paris Climate Agreement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Thursday after President Trump announced he would withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement: "President Trump's decision today to remove the United States from the Paris Agreement is a shocking reversal of American global leadership and transparently political, the clearest sign yet he will do whatever he can to dismantle President Obama's le… Continue Reading
May 31, 2017
Cardin Statement on Ongoing Paris Agreement Speculation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Wednesday after multiple media outlets reported that President Trump has decided to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement. President Trump later tweeted that he would decide "over the next few days": "Trump aides leak a supposed fact, and then the President picks up his phone and tweets something contrary. It is nearly impossible to know … Continue Reading
May 31, 2017
Cardin Statement on Kabul Bombing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Wednesday following a truck bomb attack in Kabul, Afghanistan: "I express my deepest condolences to the people of Afghanistan, especially those who were wounded or lost loved ones, in this morning's heinous truck bomb attack in the diplomatic quarter of Kabul. Inflicting violence on innocent Afghans who were going about their daily business in the capital is … Continue Reading
May 26, 2017
Cardin, Rubio Syrian War Crimes Accountability Act Passes Committee
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) released the following statements after their Syrian War Crimes Accountability Act was passed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "For over six years, Bashar al-Assad has committed horrific war crimes against the Syrian people, including women and children," said Rubio, chairman of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, And Global Women's Issues. "Co… Continue Reading
May 25, 2017
Cardin Statement on 4th Circuit Decision to Continue Suspension of Immigration Orders
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, released the following statement Thursday regarding the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that the suspension of President Trump's immigration orders will stay in place. Senator Cardin signed onto an amicus brief with other Members of Congress in the case of IRAP v. Trump, which was an appeal from the decision of U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang in the District of Maryland (Greenbelt).… Continue Reading
May 25, 2017
Senators Applaud Committee Passage of Comprehensive Bill to Hold Iran Accountable
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) today applauded Senate Foreign Relations Committee passage of their legislation to hold Iran accountable. The bipartisan legislation, now with 48 cosponsors, would expand sanctions for Iranian ballistic missile development, support for terrorism, transfers of conventional weapons to or from Iran, and human rights violations. "We can no long… Continue Reading
May 25, 2017
Cardin Statement on Russia Sanctions Legislation Path Forward
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Thursday following a Committee business meeting where Russia sanctions legislation was discussed: "I welcome Chairman Corker's commitment that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will mark up a sanctions bill on Russia after the Senate returns from the Memorial Day recess in June, pending a discussion with Secretary Tillerson on his efforts to make progress… Continue Reading
May 24, 2017
Cardin Urges Trump to Remain in Paris Climate Agreement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, delivered the following remarks at a press conference today with Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and several of his colleagues, urging President Trump to keep the United States in the Paris Climate Agreement and to exercise U.S. leadership in the fight against global climate change. Senator Cardin also joined 39 of his colleagues in writing a letter to the President today on the Pa… Continue Reading
May 24, 2017
Cardin Statement on Trump Call Transcript with Philippines Leader
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Wednesday after the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs released the transcript of the phone call between Presidents Trump and Duterte last month in which Mr. Trump is quoted as telling Mr. Duterte he is doing "an unbelievable job on the drug problem": "Independent press, civil society groups, foreign governments and international organizations have all … Continue Reading
May 23, 2017
Cardin Statement on Manchester Terrorist Attack
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Tuesday following last night's bombing in Manchester, England, that killed nearly two dozen people and injured scores more. Children and teenagers were among the victims: "I strongly condemn yesterday's heartbreaking attack in Manchester. I want to express my sincere condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones, especially the innocent and defensel… Continue Reading
May 23, 2017
Cardin Statement on Administration’s Foreign Affairs Budget Priorities
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Tuesday in reaction to the State Department, international organization and foreign assistance funding outlined in the Trump Administration's Fiscal Year 2018 Budget: "If a budget is a reflection of values, then what the Trump Administration values is an American retreat from the world that will make the United States less safe and secure. The numbers speak fo… Continue Reading
May 19, 2017
Cardin Requests Extension of Protected Status for Haitians in U.S.
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly Friday requesting an extension of the existing Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 58,000 Haitian nationals currently living in the United States, which expires in July. The Senator also asked the Secretaries to bolster the bilateral relationship between the United States and Haiti. Senator Card… Continue Reading
May 18, 2017
Cardin Commends Canada for Pursuing Magnitsky Human Rights Legislation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Thursday after Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland announced her government's support for legislation to hold human rights abusers accountable worldwide. Cardin and U.S. Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) are the co-authors of the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which became U.S. law in December 2016, the inspiration behind Canada other nat… Continue Reading
May 18, 2017
Cardin Writes to Trump Ahead of First Trip Abroad as President
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote to President Trump Thursday ahead of his first trip abroad to Saudi Arabia, Israel, Italy, and Belgium. In his letter, Senator Cardin urges President Trump, "to demonstrate through your actions, and your words, that you are committed to United States leadership in the global community, to human rights, and to strong, sustained partnerships with our global allies." Cardin also asked Pr… Continue Reading
May 17, 2017
Cardin, Young Lead Bipartisan Bill to Bolster U.S. Leadership in Genocide, Atrocity Prevention
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) led a large group of their colleagues Wednesday in introducing bipartisan legislation to bolster U.S. government efforts to prevent genocide and other human rights atrocities around the world. The Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act of 2017 would establish a Mass Atrocities Task Force within the State Department to adequately monitor, analyze and address atrocities worldwide by coordinating multiple agencies ac… Continue Reading
May 17, 2017
Cardin, Rubio Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Calling on Ethiopia to Respect Human Rights, Open Democratic Space
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) introduced a Senate resolution Wednesday condemning excessive use of force by Ethiopian security forces that led to hundreds of deaths last year, and calling on the Ethiopian government to release all political opposition, dissidents, activists, and journalists and to respect the rights enshrined in its constitution. The Resolution notes that hundreds of people have been killed and thousands were arrested during the course… Continue Reading
May 17, 2017
Cardin Statement on the Appointment of Robert Mueller to be Special Counsel for Russia Investigation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on the announcement of a Special Counsel to take control of the U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the "Russian government efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election and related matters." Senator Cardin: "Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has shown his fidelity to the rule of law with the much needed announcement of a Special Counsel to … Continue Reading
May 16, 2017
Cardin Calls Oval Office Release of Classified Information to Russians “Outrageous”
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Tuesday after President Trump tweeted that he shared intelligence information with the Russian foreign minister and ambassador in the Oval Office, seemingly confirming The Washington Post's reporting that Trump told the Russians about sensitive intelligence the United States received from an ally: "Releasing highly classified information to one of our greatest… Continue Reading
May 16, 2017
Cardin Statement on Reports the President Asked the FBI Director to Drop the Investigation into Former National Security Advisory Michael Flynn
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Tuesday in response to a report in the New York Times that President Trump asked Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey to drop the Flynn investigation the day after Flynn was fired from his position as National Security Advisor. "Alarming doesn't begin to describe the reporting in the New York Times tonight. If true, it is the most explosive evi… Continue Reading
May 15, 2017
Cardin Statement on Trump Administration’s Global Gag Rule Implementation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Monday in response to the Trump Administration's planned issuance of full guidance implementing the expanded Global Gag Rule, also known as the Mexico City Policy: "President Trump has now doubled down on his disastrous decision to reinstate the Global Gag Rule by formally expanding it to impact $8.8 billion in U.S. foreign assistance across the State Departm… Continue Reading
