Ranking Member's Press
Cardin Statement in Support of War Crimes Investigation in Syria
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the author of the Syrian War Crimes Accountability Act, released the following statement Friday after Secretary of State John Kerry called for a war crimes investigation and accountability in Syria: "The slaughter of innocent Syrian civilians and deliberate targeting of hospitals, schools, rescue personnel, and humanitarian workers is increasing. The reign of terror inflicted on the S… Continue Reading
October 06, 2016
Cardin Statement on Nomination of Antonio Guterres as next UN Secretary-General
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, released the following statement Thursday after the United Nations Security Council voted to recommend to the General Assembly that Antonio Guterres, the former Portuguese prime minister and U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, be elected as the ninth U.N. Secretary-General. The General Assembly is widely expected to confirm the Security Council's nomination of Mr. Guterres: "Mr. Guterres… Continue Reading
October 05, 2016
Cardin Statement on Deterioration of U.S.-Russian Relations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, released the following statement Wednesday: "Russia clearly has no interest in counterterrorism cooperation, humanitarian relief, or political progress in Syria, evidenced by their direct and indirect actions that have killed civilians and humanitarian aid workers, destroyed hospitals, schools, and other infrastructure, and enabled the Assad regime to pursue a course of action that will o… Continue Reading
October 05, 2016
Cardin Lauds Critical Actions for Paris Agreement to Enter into Force
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement Wednesday after the European Union unanimously passed a resolution committing its member states to the Paris Agreement. The first entry into force threshold of at least 55 parties officially joining the agreement was met in September. The second entry into force threshold of parties tot… Continue Reading
September 30, 2016
Cardin Statement on Duterte Holocaust Comments
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and its Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, released the following statement Friday after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was recorded comparing Hitler's Holocaust to his desire to kill drug users and drug dealers in his country: "It is reprehensible and frankly disgusting that a democratically-elected leader is talking about the mass murder of his own people, with Hitler's Hol… Continue Reading
September 29, 2016
Cardin Calls for Justice on 2nd Anniversary of Mexican Students’ Disappearance
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, entered the following statement into the Congressional Record this week to mark the second anniversary of the disappearance of 43 students in Guerrero, Mexico: "Mr. President, I rise today to observe the second anniversary of the forced disappearance of 43 students in the Mexican state of Guerrero, a tragedy that continues to haunt the students' families and friends. I also rise to speak… Continue Reading
September 29, 2016
Cardin Opening Remarks at Syria Conflict Hearing
WASHINGTON - The following remarks, as prepared for delivery, were delivered by U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, at a hearing Thursday entitled, "Regional Impact of the Syria Conflict: Syria, Turkey and Iraq": "Thank you, Chairman Corker, for convening this important hearing today on the impact of the Syria conflict on the region. "Secretary Blinken, welcome back to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. It's not every day that… Continue Reading
September 28, 2016
Cardin Statement on JASTA Veto Vote
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, released the following statement Wednesday on his expected vote on President Obama's veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, or JASTA: "After careful consideration of President Obama's veto, I believe that the risks of shielding the perpetrators of terrorism from justice are greater than the risks this legislation may pose to America's presence around the world. I will ther… Continue Reading
September 28, 2016
Cardin Names Jessica Lewis as New SFRC Staff Director
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) announced today that Jessica Lewis will serve as the new staff director for the Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Jessica is currently the Senior National Security Advisor to Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), handling a broad portfolio of national security issues and serving as the Senator's liaison to relevant government agencies and the Senate Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Intelligence Committees. Prior to her… Continue Reading
September 28, 2016
Cardin Statement on Passing of Shimon Peres
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, released the following statement Wednesday after Israel announced the passing of former president and prime minister Shimon Peres: "I extend my deepest condolences to the people of Israel and to the family of Shimon Peres. "As a member of the military, lawmaker, government minister, and national leader, Mr. Peres played a formative role in the creation and flourishing of Israel from its… Continue Reading
September 26, 2016
Cardin Travels to Colombia for Signing of Historic Peace Accord
CARTAGENA - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Foreign Relations, traveled to Colombia with Secretary of State John Kerry and other American dignitaries to witness the signing of the peace accord between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) Monday. Senator Cardin released the following statement: "To witness firsthand the formal conclusion of the world's longest civil war is a powerful and moving experience. "Today's… Continue Reading
September 23, 2016
Cardin Statement on UN Vote to Reaffirm Ban on Nuclear Weapons Testing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, released the following statement Friday after the UN Security Council voted 14-0-1 in support of Resolution 2310, which reaffirms the global moratorium on nuclear weapons testing. The P5 Members of the Security Council also reiterated their support for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty: "Today's vote strongly reaffirms the international community's commitment to halt all nuclear-w… Continue Reading
September 22, 2016
Cardin, Durbin, Menendez, Nelson Statement on Venezuelan Recall Referendum Delay
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) released the following statement Thursday in response to the announcement by Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) to delay until 2017 the scheduling of a recall referendum on President Nicolas Maduro's mandate: "Through excessive delays and unconstitutional restrictions, the National Electoral Council is subverting what little remains of democracy in Venezuela. The CN… Continue Reading
September 22, 2016
Cardin Condemns Hungarian Government’s Award to anti-Semitic Journalist Zsolt Bayer
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, released the following statement Thursday after the Hungarian government recently awarded anti-Semitic journalist Zsolt Bayer with its Order of Merit: "I condemn the awarding of the Hungarian Order of Merit to anti-Semitic and xenophobic journalist Zsolt Bayer. As Hungary approaches the 60th anniversary of its 1956 Revolution, which was grounded in the principles of democracy, human right… Continue Reading
September 20, 2016
Cardin Statement on Humanitarian Convoy Attack in Syria
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the author of the Syrian War Crimes Accountability Act, released the following statement Tuesday following the bombing of a United Nations/Syrian Arab Red Crescent humanitarian convoy near Aleppo that killed an aide worker and more than twenty civilians, as well as destroyed at least 18 trucks with supplies: "I strongly condemn the bombing of a humanitarian convoy near Aleppo yesterday,… Continue Reading
September 19, 2016
South Sudan on Track to Becoming a Failed State
South Sudan stands on the brink of collapse. The economy is in shambles, with an inflation rate of over 600 percent. Parts of the country are already facing famine conditions, and more than 40 percent of the population needs emergency food aid. More than one million people have fled as refugees, and almost two million are displaced internally. And the credibility of South Sudan's leaders has been severely compromised by failure to implement the peace accord signed last August, continued abuse of… Continue Reading
September 19, 2016
Cardin Statement on President Obama’s Leader’s Summit on Refugees
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, released the following statement Monday ahead of President Barack Obama's hosting of a Leaders' Summit on the Global Refugee Crisis on the margins of UN General Assembly. The Summit seeks to galvanize significant new commitments to increase funding to humanitarian appeals and international organizations, admit more refugees through resettlement or other legal pathways, and increase refugees… Continue Reading
September 15, 2016
Senators Introduce Resolution to Condemn North Korea Nuclear Test
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) introduced a Senate resolution today condemning North Korea's fifth nuclear test on September 9th and calling on that country to uphold its international obligations and abandon its nuclear weapons program. The resolution also asks China to exercise greater economic and diplomatic leverage over North Korea and reinforces American commitments to our all… Continue Reading
September 13, 2016
Cardin Statement on Historic Security MOU Between United States, Israel
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, released the following statement Wednesday after the conclusion of a ten-year memorandum of understanding between the United States and Israel on security aid: "A strong, safe Israel is in the national security interest of the United States. This historic memorandum of understanding is the single largest pledge of bilateral military assistance in U.S. history. It ensures Israel's short-… Continue Reading
September 13, 2016
Cardin, McCain Introduce Legislation to Support Burma During Historic Political, Economic Transition, Remain Focused on Human Rights Issues
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Foreign Relations, and John McCain (R-Ariz.), Chairman of the Committee on Armed Services, introduced legislation today to lend additional U.S. support to Burma's ongoing political transition and economic growth since that country's historic November 2015 elections, while also recognizing that human rights issues, national reconciliation and constitutional reform remain works in progress that must be addressed. A… Continue Reading
