Benjamin L. Cardin

November 4th -- "Today I praised the Senate for its timely action to keep the $8,000 credit from expiring at the end of this month. In September, I led a group of Senators, including Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Harry Reid (D-NV), John Ensign (R-NV), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), introducing a bill to extend the first-time homebuyers' tax credit.

Today, the Senate passed the H.R. 3548, the Workers, Home Owners and Business Assistance Act, which included a provision I co-sponsored extending the first-time homebuyers tax credit and providing a new $6,500 tax credit for so-called step-up homebuyers who have been in their current home for the last five years. Both credits are designed to continue to provide a temporary boost to the housing market at a critical time in its recovery.    » read more »

November 5th -- Today the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted 11-1 to send S. 1733, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act to the full Senate for consideration.    » read more »

Credits will inject capital and credit into underserved Maryland communities

30-Oct-2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Benjamin L. Cardin (both D-Md.), today announced six Maryland organizations have been awarded New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC)’s totaling $185 million as part of a $5 billion total investment in NMTCs across the nation. The NMTCs will help inject capital and credit into underserved populations and communities across America. Funding for NMTCs was included in the Economic Recovery Act.    » read more »

Appropriations Bill Also Includes an Additional $50 million for the Bay

29-Oct-2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Benjamin L. Cardin (both D-MD) today praised final Congressional passage of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Conference Report, which will provide $72 million in new funding to improve Maryland’s drinking water systems and to help communities finance local sewer improvements.

The bill also includes $50 million, the largest funding level ever, for programs to control urban, suburban and agricultural runoff in the Chesapeake watershed. The Conference Report – which also includes a Continuing Resolution to fund much of the federal government through December 18 – now goes to the President who is expected to sign it.    » read more »

Investment will create jobs, save energy and reduce Marylanders’ electric bills

27-Oct-2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – As temperatures start to drop and Marylanders brace for heating costs this winter, U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Benjamin L. Cardin (both D-Md.), today announced the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company has been awarded $200 million to develop a stronger, more reliable Smart Grid.

The development of a better grid will create new jobs, save energy and reduce Marylanders’ monthly electric bills.    » read more »

Congressional Agenda Would Complement President’s Plan to Save the Bay

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 8, 2009) -- A report released today by the Natural Resources Defense Council compiles the numerous threats facing the Chesapeake Bay and examines federal solutions to save this national treasure. This analysis comes on the heels of reports commissioned by President Obama to clean up the Chesapeake Bay and a draft bill circulated by Senator Benjamin Cardin (D-MD.).

“It’s no secret the Chesapeake Bay has been struggling for decades to recover from a variety of threats to its health,” said Nancy Stoner, Co-Director of NRDC’s Water Program and co-author of the report. “What is less well known is that there are solutions -- many of which are finally underway.”    » read more »

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) announced today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded grants of $200,000 to the Garrett County Health Department and $988,177 to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to help find and enroll children who are uninsured but who are eligible for either Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).    » read more »

September 30, 2009 -- Washington, DC – From the floor of the U.S. Senate Tuesday, Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) called for greater transparency in the oil, gas and mineral industries in an effort to fight corruption and promote stability in nations rich in such resources. Senator Cardin and Senator Dick Lugar (R-IN) (D-RI), have introduced S. 1700, the Energy Security Through Transparency Act of 2009, which would provide for public disclosure of payments to oil, gas and mineral extraction companies through mandatory filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, along with co-sponsors Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Russ Feingold (D-WI), and Sheldon Whitehouse    » read more »

America's national security, economic security and environmental security depend on our achieving energy independence

September 30, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), called today for swift Senate action on the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act. Senator Cardin today joined EPW Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and SFRC Chairman John Kerry (D-MA), as well as leaders from the business, faith, national security, energy and environmental community, and local and state officials, in announcing key provisions of the legislation.    » read more »

September 15, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Clean Air Subcommittee, today praised President Obama, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator for the actions announced today to reduce America’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.    » read more »

Bill would require study before introduction of new gasoline/ethanol blend

September 14, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) and Susan Collins (R-ME) today introduced legislation designed to ensure that new gasoline fuel mixtures introduced into the marketplace are compatible with gasoline-fueled engines already in widespread use.    » read more »

Cardin Calls On Ag Holder To Aggressively Combat Predatory Lending Practices; Senator also announces July hearing on GTMO detainees

June 17, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, participated today in the first oversight hearing with Attorney General Eric Holder. During the hearing, Senator Cardin called upon the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate allegations of predatory lending across the country.    » read more »

Maryland And Virginia Senators Introduce Bill To Support Chesapeake Bay Clean-Up; Strengthens NOAA's data collection, resource management & public outreach

June 10, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD), along with Senators Mark R. Warner and Jim Webb (both D-VA) today introduced the Chesapeake Bay Science, Education and Ecosystem Enhancement Act of 2009, which would strengthen and enhance the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) role in the multi-state Chesapeake Bay clean-up effort.    » read more »

June 9, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) and Chairman of its Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, participated in a hearing today with Lisa Jackson, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Scientific Integrity and Transparency Reforms at the EPA.    » read more »

Promise of a longer runway already attracting businesses to nearby tech park

June 5, 2009 -- Indian Head, MD – U.S. Senator Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) led the groundbreaking ceremony for a $30 million expansion of the Maryland Airport. Joining Senator Cardin today were Charles County Commissioners Wayne Cooper (President), Edith Patterson (Vice President), Samuel Graves, Reuben Collins, Gary Hodge, County Administrator Paul Comfort, and Maryland Airport operators Jack Crawford and Gil Bauserman.    » read more »