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WASHINGTON – In an unprecedented display of unity, 157 leading legislators from the United States, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru sent a joint letter to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro calling  for “free, transparent, and democratic” legislative elections on December 6th.   The letter was spearheaded...

Washington, D.C. – The “Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act of 2015,” legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in a unanimous vote.  The bill establishes guidelines for measurable goals, performance metrics, and...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the below statement following his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and bipartisan Senate leaders.  "Today, I welcomed Prime Minister Netanyahu to the United States.  Especially now during this tumultuous...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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)...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...