{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-statement-on-nelson-mandela", "Cardin Statement On Nelson Mandela", "2013-12-06", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Benjamin Cardin", "C000141", "www.cardin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 06, 2013\n\t\t\t Cardin Statement On Nelson Mandela \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\nWashington, DC \u2013 U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a senior member of Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a member of its Subcommittee on African Affairs, and Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, released the following statement on the passing of former South African President Nelson Mandela:\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u201cHumanity has lost one of its greatest leaders with the passing of Nelson Mandela.\u00a0 My prayers go out to his family and all the people of South Africa. He was a personal hero of mine, and of those who work to uphold human rights around the world.\u00a0 Ten thousand days in prison were not enough to break Mandela\u2019s spirit and his devotion to the freedom of all people.\u00a0 He led his nation not only in overcoming the divisions of racism, but in reconciling and healing.\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u201cMandela\u2019s influence does not end with his passing.\u00a0 His story and moral courage has changed countless lives forever. As he once said, \u2018the true test of our devotion to freedom is just beginning.\u2019\u00a0 State and federal lawmakers across the U.S. looked to Mandela as an inspiration when crafting laws that mandated divestment from South Africa\u2019s cruel Apartheid regime.\u00a0 I had the privilege of serving as Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates when we passed such legislation.\u00a0 Years later, our Nation is still striving to follow in Mandela\u2019s footsteps and fully realize his dream of peace and equality for all of mankind.\u00a0 \u201d\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-statement-on-nelson-mandela"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.7368401642888784, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}