Cardin statement

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) released the following statement after the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA).

“I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA), a bill specifically designed to stop the brutal violence against girls and women that afflicts communities and countries across the globe. Violence against women and girls, whether in the form of domestic violence, rape, acid burnings, or so-called honor killings, is a major human rights violation and a major impediment to economic growth and development around the world. Nations who have the worst track record in preventing violence against women are also the most unstable and ending violence against women is also a major issue in peace and security. Free from violence, women and girls would be safe to access the poverty reduction, education and health programs that contribute to the economic prosperity of their communities. This bill clearly proclaims U.S. support for such programs and is an important step forward for the safety of women everywhere.

“This bill allows us to prioritize how we use existing foreign aid funds to prevent violence against women and girls. The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that one of the most effective forces for defeating extremism is female safety and education. Violence against women undermines the effectiveness of existing U.S. investments in global development and stability, whether fighting HIV/AIDS, increasing basic education, or creating stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The legislation invests in the most efficient, effective women’s organizations that are helping to stop violence on the ground in the communities where it is worst.”

Cardin statement

Washington, DC — U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement after the Senate was blocked from considering provisions that would extend tax cuts for middle class Americans.

“During these difficult economic times, as our nation is still recovering from the worst recession in generations, it is extremely important that we extend tax relief to middle-income families. At this critical time, I will do all that I can to ensure that the heart of America – our Middle Class – does not see a tax increase.”

Cardin statement

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today called Senate passage of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act “an important step that needs to be taken to protect American families from serious illness or death caused by contaminated foods.”  The House passed a similar bill in 2009.

“We have all heard the news reports of  E.Coli and salmonella in foods such as spinach, eggs, and peanut butter,” said Senator Cardin. “Unfortunately, food contamination has become common place. This bill will significantly upgrade our food safety laws by giving the government the tools it needs to verify food safety and to recall contaminated foods that threaten the health of American families.”

The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, S. 510, is a bipartisan bill that provides the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with important tools to ensure that food producers implement appropriate preventive controls. It gives the FDA the authority to recall contaminated foods, to quickly determine the origin of those foods, and prevent them from being sold in our grocery stores.  It also will require food importers to perform food safety verifications.

Senator Cardin also voted for a provision included in the bill that provides an exemption that would help small Maryland farmers who grow and sell their foods locally.

The FDA is charged with protecting the public by assuring the safety, effectiveness and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, medicines, dietary supplements and hundreds of other products.  The agency began its regulatory functions in 1906 and our nation’s food safety system has not been updated in nearly a century.

Food poisoning kills as many as 5,000 Americans every year.  Food-borne illnesses sicken 76 million Americans annually and result in over 325,000 hospitalizations.  Today, 170 countries export foods to the United States, yet we have seen a decrease in the number of 115 FDA inspectors in foreign countries since 2001.

Cardin Statement

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement regarding an earmark-related measure defeated in the Senate today that if passed would have greatly impacted key programs based in Maryland.

“I opposed the Coburn amendment because the broad way it was worded would have caused great confusion in funding necessary federal programs and it would have blocked the ability of Congress to set priorities for the nation. Such restrictions could damage vital programs that support our nation’s infrastructure and economy.

“The confusing Coburn language would have limited funding for federal facilities like the USDA Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) or the White Oak campus of the newly consolidated Food and Drug Administration – both vital to our entire country’s food and health safety. These are federal facilities supporting national programs, but in Senator Coburn’s view, funding to support them would constitute an earmark. Similarly, the EPA’s Chesapeake Bay program – which benefits multiple Mid-Atlantic states and is considered an ecosystem of global importance – would have been jeopardized, as would the Army Corps of Engineer’s restoration of Poplar Island, which is essential to the operation of the Port of Baltimore. The restoration of the Mid-Bay Islands (Barren and James) would have been stopped before they got started, even though the project is backed by an economic analysis that has been peer reviewed and approved. The Port generates 50,700 jobs in Maryland with $3.7 billion in wages and salaries. Additionally, there are approximately 68,300 related and indirect jobs associated with Port activities. Senator Coburn’s language would have blocked Maryland’s Senators from supporting one of the most important economic engines in our state.

“If Senator Coburn’s language had been approved, the Purple Line in the Washington suburbs and the Red Line in Baltimore would have been blocked from future funding because these projects are not already authorized. Each has an economic analysis demonstrating that they would be among the most cost-effective such transit projects in the country, serving tens of thousands of passengers and supporting two regional economies.

“Let’s act smartly without hampering critical functions of our government, so we can get down to the real work of balancing our budget, cutting our deficit, and helping put Americans back to work.”

Press Release of Senator Cardin

SENATOR CARDIN SPONSORS SMALL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY FAIR

Goal is to provide small businesses with job & business opportunities

Contact: Susan Sullam: 410-962-4436
Monday, May 3, 2010

Click here for associated multimedia.

LARGO, MD — U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today sponsored a Small Business Opportunity Fair for Maryland businesses. Hundreds of Maryland small business owners attended the Fair, which included workshops on contracting with the federal government, BRAC opportunities, green business opportunities and access to capital. Senator Cardin is a member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee and has made helping small businesses a top priority.

“Maryland small businesses need access to capital and opportunities to contract with the federal government,” said Senator Cardin. “My goal is to provide information and contacts in one location so that small business owners can learn about job opportunities and also take advantage of our proximity to the federal government for future business opportunities.”

Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown, chairman of the Governor’s Subcabinet on BRAC, was the featured speaker for the BRAC Opportunities panel.

“BRAC is here and it is creating new jobs for our neighbors and new opportunities for our small and minority-owned businesses,” said Lt. Gov. Brown. “Maryland led the nation in job creation in March and we are well positioned to continue our leadership because of BRAC, because of the Cyber Command coming to Ft. Meade and because we have built the nation’s best educated workforce and have helped develop the strongest community of small and minority-owned businesses in America. Governor O’Malley and I understand that small business is big business in Maryland and that is why we are fully committed to working with our partners in the private sector to expand opportunities for all Marylanders, including opportunities for small business owners to compete for contracts that will put Marylanders to work.”

In January, Senator Cardin introduced The Boosting Entrepreneurship and New Jobs Act, S. 2967, to spur job creation and strengthen the economy by providing essential tax credits and loans to small businesses. A key provision of Senator Cardin’s bill would allow the Small Business Administration (SBA) to make direct loans to small businesses as a way of increasing the availability to credit during the recession.