Ranking Member's Press
Cardin Statement on Day One Impact of Trump’s Refugee Restriction
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Saturday after two Iraqis with valid visas were denied entry into the United States yesterday after having served our military in Iraq. As of this release, at least one of the detainees had been released on a Special Immigrant Visa after being held for almost 24 hours: "The detention of these individuals makes immediately clear the dangerous and destabilizing … Continue Reading
January 27, 2017
Cardin Statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day
WASHINGTON- 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 observing International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which is commemorated annually on January 27. "Seventy-two years ago today, the Nazi Concentration Camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated. As survivors… Continue Reading
January 27, 2017
Cardin Statement on Trump Banning Certain Refugees
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Friday after President Donald Trump issued an executive order on foreign nationals seeking to enter the United States: "President Trump's cruel executive order on refugees undermines our core values and traditions, threatens our national security, and demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of our strict vetting process, the most thorough in the world. … Continue Reading
January 26, 2017
Cardin Statement on Mexican President’s Cancelled U.S. Trip
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Thursday after Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto cancelled his trip to the United States amid President Trump's provocations regarding border security: "Less than one week after taking office, President Trump is already causing serious damage to one of our most important relationships in the world. U.S. national security depends directly on cooperati… Continue Reading
January 24, 2017
Cardin Statement on LGBT Rights, Issues at Start of Trump Administration
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Tuesday: "At the confirmation hearings of Rex Tillerson and Nikki Haley, it caught my attention when neither of them would say the phrase 'LGBT'. I've now heard from constituents and activists that the State Department and White House websites have been scrubbed of LGBT content at the outset of the Trump Administration, including the recent apology former Secr… Continue Reading
January 24, 2017
Cardin Statement on Haley Vote
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Tuesday regarding his vote on the nomination of Gov. Nikki Haley to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations: "What Governor Haley lacks in foreign policy and international affairs experience, she makes up for in capability, intelligence, and a track record of building coalitions in South Carolina. Her nomination was surprising to many of my colleagues … Continue Reading
January 23, 2017
Cardin Statement on Trump’s Reinstatement of Global Gag Rule
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Monday in response to President Trump's decision to reinstate the Global Gag Rule, also known as the Mexico City policy. The Global Gag Rule disqualifies foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from eligibility for U.S. family planning assistance if they use non-U.S. funds to provide abortion services, counseling or referrals, or to engage in advocacy with… Continue Reading
January 23, 2017
Cardin Statement on Tillerson Vote
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Monday ahead of the Committee's vote to recommend to the Senate the nomination of Mr. Rex Tillerson to serve as Secretary of State: "I thank Mr. Tillerson for his willingness to serve our nation and for his participation in a lengthy, wide-ranging hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "However, after long and careful consideration, I believe … Continue Reading
January 20, 2017
Cardin Statement on Extradition of ‘El Chapo’ to United States
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Friday after Mexico and the United States worked to extradite Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman to New York to stand trial: "The extradition of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzmán is the result of President Obama's continuous effort to build a deeper partnership with Mexico, one that advances both of our national interests. El Chapo and the Sinaloa Cartel have waged a ca… Continue Reading
January 20, 2017
Cardin Statement on Trump Cabinet Confirmations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after confirmation of the first two of President Trump's cabinet secretaries: Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly. "Out of respect for the Office of the President, I believe it is appropriate for some cabinet nominees to be confirmed and ready to work on Day One. All presidents need trusted, experienced and ethical C… Continue Reading
January 18, 2017
Cardin Opening Remarks at Haley Hearing, As Prepared For Delivery
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, gave the following remarks as prepared for delivery Wednesday at the confirmation hearing of Gov. Nikki Haley to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations: "Thank you, Chairman Corker, for calling today's hearing. Good morning, Governor Haley. Your nomination to serve as our Ambassador to the United Nations comes at a time when the world is in the midst of profound transformation, with … Continue Reading
January 17, 2017
Cardin Statement on Latest U.S. Contribution to Green Climate Fund
WASHINGTON - 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 Tuesday after the State Department announced the United States would be contributing $500 million to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), an international grant and financing program designed to assist least developing countries in combatting and adapting to climate change: "President Obama and … Continue Reading
January 17, 2017
Cardin Statement on Nigerian Military Bombing of Refugee Camp
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Tuesday after the Nigerian government announced that its military accidentally bombed a camp for internally displaced persons, killing approximately 100 people and injuring others: "I'm profoundly disturbed by this reportedly mistaken bombing of innocent civilians in Nigeria. I offer my deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones, and Nigeria as a… Continue Reading
January 12, 2017
Cardin Statement on Additional North Korean Sanctions
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Thursday after the Treasury Department announced additional sanctions on individuals in the North Korean regime who commit human rights abuses and engage in censorship activities. The sanctions were called for in H.R. 757, legislation Senator Cardin shepherded through the Senate: "I welcome the Treasury Department's announcement on additional North Korean huma… Continue Reading
January 11, 2017
Cardin Statement on Latest Sergei Magnitsky Act Additions
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement Wednesday after the Obama Administration submitted to Congress its fourth annual report of U.S. Government actions to implement the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act, adding additional individuals for sanctions: "As the author of the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability law, I am pleased that the Obama Administration has publically imposed s… Continue Reading
January 11, 2017
Cardin Statement Following Tillerson Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Wednesday evening following the confirmation hearing of Rex Tillerson to serve as Secretary of State: "There's no doubt that Mr. Tillerson has stamina, is well prepared, and has knowledge of the world. But I am troubled by his confusing statements about how Exxon handled U.S. sanctions and by his refusal to directly acknowledge or even accept well-documented a… Continue Reading
January 11, 2017
Cardin, Warren, Wyden, Durbin, Carper, Casey, Merkley, Baldwin Respond to Trump Announcement Not to Resolve Conflicts of Interest
WASHINGTON - In a joint statement, United States Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) responded to President-elect Donald Trump's announcement today that he will not follow precedent by divesting his assets by placing them in a blind trust. "President-elect Trump's plan to address his financial conflicts of interest boils down to this: he will c… Continue Reading
January 10, 2017
10 Bipartisan Senators Introduce Comprehensive Russia Sanctions Legislation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and John McCain (R-Ariz.), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, led a group of bipartisan Senators Wednesday to introduce comprehensive sanctions legislation on Russia for their cyber intrusions, aggression, and destabilizing activities here in the United States and around the world. A factsheet on the legislation follows the quotes from the original cosponsoring Senators: Rob… Continue Reading
January 09, 2017
Cardin Reaction to Secretary Kerry Apology for Lavender Scare
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Monday after Secretary of State John Kerry issued an apology for the Lavender Scare. Senator Cardin first wrote to the Secretary about this issue in November: "The apology made by Secretary Kerry today represents a welcome first step to acknowledge this dark stain on our nation's history, and I thank him for his principled leadership. I intend to move forward … Continue Reading
January 06, 2017
Cardin Statement on Intelligence Community Report on Russian Hacking, Interference in U.S. Political System
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Friday after the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released, "Background to 'Assessing Russian Activities and Intensions in Recent U.S. Election'": "Russian interference in the U.S. political system was a premeditated and massive effort to erode the American public's confidence in our democratic process that goes beyond the troubling hacks of th… Continue Reading
