url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-statement-on-comfort-women-agreement-announced-by-republic-of-korea-and-japan,Cardin Statement on Comfort Women Agreement Announced by Republic of Korea and Japan,2015-12-29,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 29, 2015 Cardin Statement on Comfort Women Agreement Announced by Republic of Korea and Japan BALTIMOREU.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign RelationsCommittee, issued the following statement regarding today's announcement by the foreign ministers of South Korea and Japan in reaching a breakthrough agreement to resolve their long standing dispute regarding comfort women during World War Two. I welcome this agreement and the leadership exhibited by both Prime Minister Abe and President Park to settle this longstanding issue in a way that recognizes the suffering of the comfort women and that is appropriate for both sides. This is a painful and difficult issue in Korea that will forever stir heart-wrenching emotions. It is vital that both nations never forget the past, and while the scars of a painful period in human history will remain, it is my sincere hope that Korea and Japan will build toward a prosperous future together in order to deepen and strengthen their relations in a rapidly changing Asia-Pacific region. Both nations have demonstrated tremendous bravery and fortitude in forging this agreement. This development has the potential to pave the way for a new path forward between two close U.S. allies and I stand ready to work alongside our partners in Seoul and Tokyo to advance this relationship. Up to 200,000 women were estimated to have been forced to serve as comfort women for Japanese soldiers during World War Two, many of them Korean. In Maryland which is home to a dynamic and vibrant Korean-American community, this issue remains a deeply personal one and though I know this announcement can never fully heal the pain caused during that period, the actions taken today by the Korean and Japanese governments demonstrates true courage and I hope will allow for future generations in the region to flourish and thrive. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/congress-passes-school-bill-that-includes-environmental-education,Congress Passes School Bill that Includes Environmental Education,2015-12-28,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"On more than one occasion, Ive been walking in the Annapolis 4th of July Parade, and people have yelled out to me, No Child Left Inside, said Rep. John Sarbanes of Maryland, who became one of the causes earliest champions in Congress. So it definitely hit a nerve out there. In December, the work paid off. Congress replaced No Child Left Behind with the new Every Student Succeeds Act. Although other agencies, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have long had environmental education programs, the new law is the first time a bill covering primary and secondary education even mentioned environmental education. It seemed to me to be a grand omission, Sarbanes said. Those other agencys involvement is fine and good and important, but educators look to the Department of Education. They are in large part driven by the grant opportunities that are available from the Department of Education.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cummings.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cummings-urges-maryland-governor-larry-hogan-leave-no-stone-unturned,Cummings Urges Maryland Governor Larry Hogan To Leave No Stone Unturned In Review of Barriers to Reentry,2015-12-21,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Elijah Cummings,C000984,cummings.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. (December 21, 2015) Today, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) sent a letter to Maryland Governor Larry Hogan to urge the Governor to leave no stone unturned in his Administrations review of the barriers formerly-incarcerated Maryland residents face when trying to reenter society. All too often, a criminal record is like a life sentence, Cummings wrote. For formerly-incarcerated individuals trying to rebuild their lives, a criminal record can be a barrier to accessing employment, housing, professional licensure, transportation, and the ballot box. In December 2014, the Vera Institute of Justice released a report, stating that: Research shows that recidivism is reduced and communities are made safer not by rendering the millions of people with criminal records second class citizens, but by supporting their transition and reintegration into the community. In Maryland, there are over 1,000 provisions that create legal barriers for those with criminal records, according to the American Bar Associations National Inventory of Collateral Consequences of Conviction. These consequences prevent many Maryland residents from voting, gaining employment, starting a business or obtaining student loans. Cummings urged the working group to thoroughly analyze all of Marylands regulations and laws that create these barriers, writing, I encourage the group to leave no stone unturned in determining where and how these policies can be safely modified so that those with criminal records can fully contribute to their communities. Maryland can no longer afford to tolerate unnecessary obstacles for so many of its citizens seeking to move beyond their pasts. Cummings is a leader in Congresss bipartisan push to reform our nations criminal justice system and remove barriers to reentry. He is the lead House sponsor of the bipartisan, bicameral Fair Chance Act, which would bring fair chance hiring policies to the federal government by preventing agencies and prime federal contractors from asking about applicants criminal histories until the end of the hiring process. He is also an original cosponsor of the Second Chance Reauthorization Act, which provides grants to organizations doing reentry work in their communities; the Democracy Restoration Act, which would prohibit states from taking away federal voting rights due to criminal histories; and the REDEEM Act, which would provide a process for the sealing or expungement of some criminal records and loosen restrictions on benefits for ex-drug offenders. Click here to view the letter, the full text follows: December 21, 2015 The Honorable Larry Hogan Governor of Maryland 100 State Circle Annapolis, MD 21401 Dear Governor Hogan: I am writing to express my strong support for state-level efforts to reduce any negative and unnecessary collateral consequences associated with criminal records in Maryland. I was disappointed earlier this year when I learned that you vetoed legislation (HB 980) passed by the General Assembly of Maryland that would have allowed formerly-incarcerated Maryland citizens to vote as soon as they return to our communities. In order for those who have done their time to truly become contributing members of our society, we must secure their right to be active participants in our democracy. However, I have been encouraged to learn that you have convened a multi-agency working group to examine and recommend changes to regulations and laws that result in unnecessary collateral consequences for individuals with criminal records. I commend you for this effort, and look forward to monitoring its progress. All too often, a criminal record is like a life sentence. For formerly-incarcerated individuals trying to rebuild their lives, a criminal record can be a barrier to accessing employment, housing, professional licensure, transportation, and the ballot box. These collateral consequences can make it harder for those with criminal records to become contributing members of their communities, ultimately increasing their risk of recidivism. As the Vera Institute of Justice concluded in a report from December 2014: Research shows that recidivism is reduced and communities are made safer not by rendering the millions of people with criminal records second class citizens, but by supporting their transition and reintegration into the community. In November, President Barack Obama made a similar announcement about examining rules at the federal level that could be changed to help level the playing field for the formerly incarcerated seeking employment: The problem were trying to solve here is giving people a foundation through which they can then become productive citizens . . . The goal is to prevent crime. The goal is to make sure that folks are fairly punished when they break the law. But the ultimate goal is to make sure that folks are law-abiding, self-sufficient, good citizens. And everything we do should be designed towards that goal. And if were doing a good job there, then crime will go down and it will stay down. In addition to urging President Obama to carry out this work, I have introduced the Fair Chance Act (H.R. 3470), which would bring fair chance hiring policies to the federal level by preventing the federal government and prime federal contractors from asking about applicants criminal histories until the end of the hiring process. I have also supported bills that work to break down barriers facing those with criminal records, including the Second Chance Reauthorization Act (H.R. 3406), which provides grants to organizations doing reentry work in their communities; the Democracy Restoration Act (H.R. 1459), which would prohibit states from taking away federal voting rights due to criminal histories; and the REDEEM Act (H.R. 1672), which would provide a process for the sealing or expungement of some criminal records and loosen restrictions on benefits for ex-drug offenders. According to the American Bar Associations National Inventory of the Collateral Consequences of Conviction, Maryland has at least 1,000 provisions that create legal sanctions and restrictions imposed upon people because of their criminal record. I encourage the group to leave no stone unturned in determining where and how these policies can be safely modified so that those with criminal records can fully contribute to their communities. Maryland can no longer afford to tolerate unnecessary obstacles for so many of its citizens seeking to move beyond their pasts. I am proud that Maryland has been a leader as one of the 19 states across the country that have taken steps to remove barriers to employment for qualified workers with criminal records. I look forward to learning about the working groups efforts and its recommendations for the State of Maryland, and I plan to monitor its progress closely. Thank you again for your attention to this very important initiative. Sincerely, Elijah E. Cummings Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hoyer.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2550,Hoyer Statement on Retirement of AFGE Legislative and Political Director Beth Moten,2015-12-21,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Steny Hoyer,H000874,hoyer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) released the following statement today after Beth Moten, legislative and political director for the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), announced her retirement: Throughout my years in Congress, I have worked with few people as capable, personable, or hardworking as Beth Moten. Federal civilian employees have had a champion in Beth, and as AFGEs legislative and political director she has been a critical resource for me and for every Member of Congress who cares deeply about ensuring that we can recruit and retain the best possible civilian federal workforce in service to our country. My ability to represent the interests and needs of the 62,000 federal civilian employees in Marylands Fifth Congressional District has depended in no small measure on Beths ever-direct and ever-honest advice and counsel. More than an advocate, Beth has been a friend. As she prepares to retire after thirty-one years of exemplary service to AFGE and to our nation, I wish Beth along with her husband Alan and her two children many years of happiness in the future.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://delaney.house.gov/news/press-releases/delaney-leads-letter-to-president-of-the-french-senate-on-upcoming-visit-to-iran,Delaney Leads Letter to President of the French Senate on Upcoming Visit to Iran,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Delaney,D000620,delaney.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON -Congressman John K. Delaney led a letter to the President of the French Senate, Gerard Larcher, on his upcoming visit to Iran. The letter asks Monsieur Larcher to reiterate to the Iranian leadership that the international community is united in requiring Tehran to uphold its responsibilities under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), including removing over two-thirds of Irans centrifuges and reducing its enriched uranium stock by 98%, before it will receive sanction relief. The text of the letter is below: Dear Monsieur Le President & Members of the French Delegation: We write to you today with regard to your upcoming trip to Tehran to meet with Iranian officials, including Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani and President Hassan Rouhani. We very much appreciate the role of the Government of France in helping to bring Iran to the negotiating table and to reach a historic agreement to stop Irans nuclear weapons program. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was the result of years of negotiations, and we are acutely aware of the critical work performed by Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius toward its completion. Even though the agreement has several flaws, the international community must now be vigilant and steadfast in holding Iran accountable to fulfilling its commitments. In that spirit, we urge you during your visit to make clear to Irans leaders that before sanctions can be lifted and businesses can re-enter the Iranian market, they must first uphold their responsibilities under the JCPOA. This includes, among other steps, removing over two-thirds of Irans centrifuges and reducing its enriched uranium stock by 98%. As you know, until the IAEA certifies Iranian compliance, Tehran cannot receive sanctions relief. We the international community, led by the United States, France, and other major powers committed to global security must first ensure that Iran fully complies with its obligations. We appreciate your attention to this matter and wish you success in delivering this important message to Irans leaders of our nations shared resolve in preventing them from acquiring a nuclear arms capability. Sincerely, Rep. John K. Delaney Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy Rep. Beto ORourke ##",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://delaney.house.gov/news/press-releases/delaney-statement-on-the-passage-of-the-omnibus-appropriations-act,Delaney Statement on the Passage of the Omnibus Appropriations Act,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Delaney,D000620,delaney.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON - On Friday the House of Representatives passed an omnibus appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2016. Congressman John Delaney (MD-06) voted for this bill, which provides funding for the federal government as set by the Bipartisan Budget Agreement of 2015 which was passed earlier this year. This funding level is above the sequester-level caps, allowing many important programs to be funded at increased levels, like a $570 million increase for the Head Start program, increased funding for Contract Towers, and the reauthorization of the September 11th Victims Compensation Fund. It also extends the Renewable Energy Tax Credits. Congressman Delaney released the following statement: I voted for the Fiscal Year 2016 Omnibus appropriations bill, which included increased funding for programs critical to Marylanders, said Congressman Delaney. I was especially pleased to see funding for the Preschool Development Grants will be continued. Maryland received one of these grants, and it would have been terrible for young Marylanders if preschool expansion had not continued. Early education is one of my top priorities, which is why I introduced legislation this year to offer free pre-k to 4-year-olds across the country. In addition, our military personnel received a well-deserved 1.3% pay raise and funding for veterans services was increased by more than $6.4 billion over last year. The Fisher House, a program to help disabled veterans and their families that I have championed over the years, will receive a 25% increase in its funding. We must continue to do more and do better for our servicemembers and veterans. This spending bill also includes $150 million for WMATA. Thousands of Marylanders rely on WMATA for transportation and WMATA needs to continue to improve its safety and service. I was also pleased to see funding for the National Institutes of Health increased by $2 billion and funding for the National Institute of Standards and Technology increased by over $100 million. These agencies are doing critical work in research and development and we must continue to invest in them if we want to continue seeing new developments in health and technology. ##",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ruppersberger.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ruppersberger-supports-omnibus-funding-bill-applauds-information-sharing,"Ruppersberger Supports Omnibus Funding Bill, Applauds Information-Sharing Provision",2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger,R000576,ruppersberger.house.gov,,,legacy,"(Washington, D.C.) Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger today voted in favor of the bipartisan $1 trillion Consolidated Appropriations Act for 2016, which included a cybersecurity information-sharing provision that he has championed for more than a decade. As an author of information-sharing legislation since 2011, Congressman Ruppersberger said the vote moves us one step closer to stopping increasingly-aggressive cyber attacks before they happen. I am relieved that Congress has finally taken a proactive step against the hackers, terrorists, organized criminals and even state actors who are getting better every day at stealing our information, Congressman Ruppersberger said. Our nations cyber warriors will now be able to tell Target, Home Depot, Sony and other companies when a cyber attack may be coming down the pike. We will also be in a much better position to protect critical infrastructure including our electric grids, phone lines and banking system. Congressman Ruppersberger and former House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers wrote the first cybersecurity bill that saw success in Congress. Their bill, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, or CISPA, twice passed the House with large bipartisan majorities but stalled in the Senate last year. Like the omnibus provision that passed Thursday, CISPA created a voluntary system of sharing information on potential cyber threats between the public and private sectors. Congressman Ruppersberger was also responsible for securing $10 million for a new Department of Defense clinical research program designed to advance the treatment of trauma injuries both on and off the battlefield. The omnibus, which funds the government for 2016 and avoids a government shutdown, implements the Bipartisan Budget Agreement adopted by Congress in October. It makes strong investments in Congressman Ruppersbergers top priority areas including education, infrastructure, medical research and law enforcement.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hoyer.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2549,Hoyer Announces Fifth District Investments in FY 2016 Omnibus Appropriations Bill,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Steny Hoyer,H000874,hoyer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) today announced that the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 (H.R.2029) passed by the House of Representatives included a number of investments that benefit the Fifth District and Maryland.The bill will also fund the Federal government through September 2016. While this is not a perfect bill and there are a number of provisions in it I do not support, Im pleased that Democrats and Republicans compromised and came together on an agreement that will keep the federal government operating, said Congressman Hoyer. This bill includes some important investments in Marylands future, ranging from education to modernizing our transportation infrastructure needs. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make stronger investments that benefit the Fifth District, our state and country, and to give budgetary certainty for the federalgovernment. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the General Services Administration (GSA) Includes $390 million to begin the initial design, engineering and construction of the new consolidated headquarters for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Prince Georges County has two sites that are on the shortlist of eligible sites for the new home of the FBI headquarters. FEDERAL EMPLOYEES Includes a provision to provide federal employees who were impacted by the Office of Personnel Management data breaches with 10 years of protection and up to $5 million in identity theft insurance. Also includes a 1.0 percent pay raise for federal employees in 2016 and a 0.3 percent locality pay adjustment. Congressman Hoyer represents 62,000 federal employees in the Fifth District. TRANSPORTATION Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA):Restores the federal commitment of $150 million for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) to help improve safety and the quality of service for the many Fifth District commuters who ride Metro each day. Purple Line Transit Project: Includes $100 million for the Purple Line transit project that will connect Prince Georges and Montgomery Counties. EDUCATION Department of Educations Preschool Development Grant program:Contains $250 million for the grant program, which supports states in building, developing, and expanding voluntary, high-quality preschool programs in high-need communities to ensure greater success of children across the country. Maryland is one of only 18 states to receive this grant.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/-cardin-statement-on-wmata-and-public-transit-in-the-omnibus-and-tax-extenders-bills,Cardin Statement on WMATA and Public Transit in the Omnibus and Tax Extenders Bills,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 18, 2015 Cardin Statement on WMATA and Public Transit in the Omnibus and Tax Extenders Bills WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of theSenate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following statementon annual fundingfor the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority(Metro) in the Omnibus spending bill and benefits to encourage the use of mass transit in the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015 (tax extenders). ""Metro is America's transportation system and we need to make sure it is safe, reliable and efficient. The federal government has long had a special responsibility to support Metro with adequate funding. Every year, millions of workers, students, tourists and business people ride Metro trains and buses. This includes Marylanders, Virginians, Washingtonians and masses from across the country who descend on the Nation's Capital for a variety of reasons. It also includes the federal workforce, which relies on Metro during their daily routines and emergencies. In the years since I helped craft legislation that provided a dedicated stream of funding for WMATA, Congress has fulfilled its commitment each year. I am proud to say that this year, once again, $150 million has been secured for WMATA to further its upgrades and bring safety to the forefront of its priorities. Metro has serious work ahead to restore trust and its dedication to safety and reliability, but we can be assured that lack of funding will not stand in their way of becoming the very best public transit system in the country. ""In addition to its financial support for Metro, the Omnibus and the PATH Act put Congress on the record solidly in support of the use of public transit to ease traffic congestion and reduce dangerous air pollution from cars. The legislative package to be voted on shortly makes permanent the mass transit tax benefit, which provides enhanced pre-tax savings for workers who use public transit. Important for federal workers and middle-class commuters nationwide, this tax benefit has been brought back into parity with the commuter tax benefit for drivers. We're putting money back in the pockets of hard-working families and improving air quality during the most congested times of the day. This is a hard-fought win for workers, our communities and public health."" ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-highlights-numerous-successes-on-civil-rights-law-enforcement-and-homeland-security-priorities-in-the-omnibus-spending-bill,"Cardin Highlights Numerous Successes on Civil Rights, Law Enforcement and Homeland Security Priorities in the Omnibus Spending Bill",2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 18, 2015 Cardin Highlights Numerous Successes on Civil Rights, Law Enforcement and Homeland Security Priorities in the Omnibus Spending Bill WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) today highlighted success on priority issues related to civil rights, the criminal justice system and homeland security in the Omnibus legislation to fund the federal government for Fiscal Year 2016. While expressing strong reservations about certain aspects of the emerging legislation, Senator Cardin called the government funding bill overwhelmingly positive for the nation, especially on civil rights, law enforcement and homeland security. The Omnibus bill's Senate report language includes language consistent with Senator Cardin's BALTIMORE Act; the End Racial Profiling Act; and the Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act. It directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to swiftly devise and submit plans to improve training levels in use of force, identifying racial and ethnic bias, and conflict resolution for state and local law enforcement officers. It urges DOJ to partner with national law enforcement organizations to promote consistent standards for high-quality training and assessment, and directs the agency to better collect state and local law enforcement data on use of force. The bill also provides $22 million in competitive grants for body-worn cameras for police officers. A cross-cutting majority of Americans want to see racial and discriminatory profiling outlawed, and the Omnibus legislation moves us away from the practice, said Senator Cardin. The reason for ending discriminatory profiling should be clear: Profiling is against the values that we as Americans stand for and fight to defend. It's counterproductive. We've also seen that it can be deadly. And body-worn cameras for police officers will help restore trust with the community. The Omnibus bill provides $3.4 billion for Federal Bureau of Investigation counterterrorism and counterintelligence operations; more than $50 million for U.S. Attorney's Office to prosecute terrorism cases; $114 million to the FBI for background checks for gun purchasers; and $840 million for gun law enforcement by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Senator Cardin also emphasized the importance of the $390 million included in the Omnibus for a fully consolidated FBI headquarters. The $390 million Senator Mikulski was able to have included in the Omnibus appropriations bill is a vital down payment on a fully consolidated facility that will save the American taxpayers money, said Senator Cardin. It will allow the FBI to work more safely and efficiently to protect the American people. The government funding legislation provides $73 million to states to improve criminal and mental health records so interstate background checks are more effective. The legislation additionally provides $7 million to anti-heroin task forces, along with funding for grants to state and local governments for residential drug treatment prescription drug monitoring ($13 million) and drug courts ($42 million). The measure funds the important activities of the Washington-Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, and supports the critical efforts of several Maryland counties to disrupt drug trafficking and money laundering operations in the region. Importantly, the Omnibus provides $480 million for grants provided by the Office on Violence Against Women for support training for police officers and prosecutors, state domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions, rape prevention programs, lethality assessment and homicide reduction initiatives, domestic violence hotlines, and women's shelters and transitional housing support services. The legislation also provides $45 million for a competitive community grant program to reduce the backlog of rape kits. This bill helps us keep our promise to the victims of domestic violence that we will better protect them, said Senator Cardin. Victims of domestic violence need immediate support using all tools available to remove them from a dangerous situation, put them on a healing path and assist them in rebuilding their lives free from fear and violence. I'm proud we have strong federal-state partnerships like those funded in the Omnibus legislation to support effective, community-based programs in Maryland. To address the growing threat from radicalized individuals and terrorist attacks, the bill includes $50 million in new funding for the Secretary of Homeland Security to distribute as needed to state and local governments, universities, and non-profit organizations as needed. It provides over $3 million for the new Office of Community Partnerships, to focus on countering violent extremism. The bill also provides more than $11 billion for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which is charged with securing our borders and regulating and facilitating international trade and immigration. It allocates $21 million for the FEMA Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, Md., to help train state and local first responders to recover from natural disasters and terrorist attacks. It provides $40 million to maintain all the current DHS Centers of Excellence within University Programs, including those at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland. It also allocates $347 million for the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, which includes the National Capital Region. As we confront the threat of ISIL abroad and homegrown extremism, this bill will help keep Marylanders safe, including protecting critical facilities such as the Port of Baltimore and BWI Airport. I am proud of the work done every day to keep our communities safe by our state and local law enforcement officers, as well as our first responders and university researchers, said Senator Cardin. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-highlights-successes-on-energy-and-environment-in-omnibus-legislation,Cardin Highlights Successes on Energy and Environment in Omnibus Legislation,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 18, 2015 Cardin Highlights Successes on Energy and Environment in Omnibus Legislation WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) today highlighted success in the areas of energy and the environment in the Omnibus legislation to fund the federal government for Fiscal Year 2016. While expressing strong reservations about certain aspects of the emerging legislation, Senator Cardin called the government funding bill an overall positive for the nation. This bill will provide stability in operations at federal agencies and improve investments in our federal workers, important to Maryland families and the effectiveness of agencies in accomplishing their missions, said Senator Cardin. These commonsense needs were neglected in the recent era of short-term budgeting, yet we must remain mindful of them if we are to inspire advances in energy security and safeguarding our natural environment. The Omnibus includes almost $28 billion for the Department of Energy, a $1.8 billion increase that restores $40 million for climate change research that House Republicans had attempted to cut. It expands funding for the Office of Science, the largest federal sponsor of basic research, by $279 million to $5.35 billion. And it provides $4.2 billion for the applied energy program a $432 million increase supporting research, development demonstration and deployment of a wide range of clean energy technologies. Thanks to hard-fought negotiations, the Omnibus preserves the ability of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to clean up our water and air. It expands funding for the Department of the Interior by $1.74 billion, increases funding for our national parks by 9 percent and provides $481 million for the National Wildlife Refuge system, said Senator Cardin. If you're like me and like to hike on the C&O Canal towpath or explore the coastal marshes of Blackwater, this is big news. It's also huge that the Omnibus reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund for three years and funds it at $450 million an increase of $144 million above the Fiscal Year 2015 enacted level. And it provides full funding of $26.5 million, an amount in line with my request, to continue the restoration of Poplar Island, a monument to the potential of restoration that now is again able to provide important habitat for seabirds, rockfish and the diamondback terrapin. Senator Cardin applauded funding levels in the Omnibus of $73 million for the Chesapeake Bay Program, $2.2 million for the Captain John Smith National Historic trail, and $2 million for Chesapeake Gateways and Watertrails Network. The senator particularly noted that the Omnibus includes $3.9 million for the conservation of neotropical migratory birds like the Baltimore Oriole. Through the Omnibus, Congress also is bringing a greater degree of predictability to the solar and wind renewable energy markets through the reauthorization of tax incentives for these industries, important if we are to maintain recent international progress on climate change. As a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I'm also pleased that we have been able to keep this Omnibus Appropriations bill free of dangerous policy riders that would gut our nation's foundational environmental laws. I led a group of 27 senators urging top appropriators and the president to bring us a bill free of these damaging riders. While the Omnibus has many positive components, I found it irresponsible that the bill includes a major policy decision on whether the United States should allow oil exports for the first time in decades. Given that this is such a monumental decision, it astonishes me that the Senate would move forward after so few hearings on the subject this session, said Senator Cardin. Both the House and Senate should have taken more time, separate from the appropriations process, to review and debate this issue, which will have wide-ranging implications for our energy policy, our economy and our environment across the country. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-investing-in-infrastructure-means-investing-in-jobs,Cardin: Investing in Infrastructure Means Investing in Jobs,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 18, 2015 Cardin: Investing in Infrastructure Means Investing in Jobs WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, today lauded passage of the Omnibus Appropriations Act by the Senate, which keeps the federal government operating through Fiscal Year 2016, providing predictability and stability for our states, businesses and all Americans. While expressing strong reservations about certain aspects of the emerging legislation such as the lack of offsets, Senator Cardin called the government funding bill overall positive for the nation and our economy. Senator Cardin: This appropriations bill will create jobs. For our economy and for the American people, investing in our country's physical infrastructure is one of the most important things that we can do beyond ensuring the safety and security of our nation. For Maryland, steady or even increased funding for our highways, railways and pedestrian walkways furthers development and will help tame the congestion within and around the National Capital Region. We're literally laying the foundation for the livability and economic development with investments in Amtrak, Metro and the prolific TIGER grants for multimodal projects. We've solidified funding for the wide-ranging transit programs in the recently passed transportation bill (FAST Act) and jumpstarted the pipeline for new health-related discoveries and development with an increase of $2 billion for the National Institutes of Health research programs. The funding legislation just passed by the Senate includes: $1.4 billion for Amtrak - $19 million more than FY15 $150 million for WMATA Funding for the FTA's New Starts program at $2.18 billion - $57 million more than FY15 $500 million in funding for the TIGER program $50 million for rail safety and infrastructure grants - $40 million more than FY15 Funding levels for transit/highway grants consistent with the increases included in the FAST Act $16.3 billion for the FAA - $563 million more than FY15 $32.1 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) - $2 billion over the FY 2015. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-legislation-the-global-magnitsky-human-rights-accountability-act-approved-by-senate,"Cardin Legislation, the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, Approved by Senate",2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 18, 2015 Cardin Legislation, the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, Approved by Senate Cardin Legislation, the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, Approved by Senate Senator Cardin: Passage of the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act in the Senate is a big victory for champions of human rights and freedoms. We are one step closer to ensuring that human rights violators cannot escape the consequences of their abusive and corrupt behavior. WASHINGTON The Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, legislation authored by U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, passed the Senate and now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration. The bill would ensure human rights abusers and corrupt officials are denied entry into the United States and barred from using our financial institutions. The legislation would expand the Russia-specific sanctions in the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act to apply globally, and would make significant acts of corruption a sanctionable offense. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed this bill in July 2015. Passage of the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act in the Senate is a big victory for champions of human rights and freedoms, said Senator Cardin. We are one step closer to ensuring that human rights violators cannot escape the consequences of their abusive and corrupt behavior. This bill allows the United States to shine a spotlight on human rights deniers and corrupt individuals who threaten the rule of law and attack fundamental human freedoms. The United States must maintain its global leadership in the fight against corruption and human rights abuses. The bill expands upon the Magnitsky Act, which became law in 2012 and placed sanctions on Russian officials responsible for the death of Sergei Magnitsky, an outspoken critic of the corruption exemplified by President Vladimir Putin and his government. The case ofSergei Magnitskyhas come to symbolize the rampant and often violent corruption plaguing the Russian state. Sergei, a 37-year-old tax lawyer, husband and father working for an American firm in Moscow, blew the whistle on the largest known tax fraud in Russian history. For that he was arrested in 2008 by those he accused, and he was imprisoned under torturous conditions for nearly a year. He was denied medical care and beaten by prison guards; he died alone in November 2009 in an isolation cell as doctors waited outside his door. These facts are accepted at the highest levels of Russia's government, yet those implicated in his death remain unpunished, in positions of authority. In a mockery of the rule of law, Magnitsky was tried and convicted posthumously. Magnitsky joins a heartbreaking list of heroes across the globe who lost their lives because they stood up for principle. A summary of the bill follows below. The full text can be found here. The Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act Authorizes the President to publish and update a list of each foreign national the President determines is responsible for significant corruption, extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights committed against individuals seeking to promote human rights or to expose illegal activity carried out by government officials. Sanctions on these individuals include: Prohibiting or revoking U.S. entry visas or other entry documentation; and Freezing and prohibiting U.S. property transactions of an individual if such property and property interests are in the United States, come within the United States, or are in or come within the control of a U.S. person or entity. Authorizes the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury to report annually to Congress regarding actions taken pursuant to the bill. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-omnibus-spending-bill-benefits-federal-workers,Cardin: Omnibus Spending Bill Benefits Federal Workers,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 18, 2015 Cardin: Omnibus Spending Bill Benefits Federal Workers WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement highlighting funding priorities for the federal workforce contained the Fiscal Year 2016 Omnibus spending bill. Excerpts from his remarks appear below. Audio and video are available for download. Many important agencies that are located in our state that now will have the resources they need to carry out their missions. The Census Bureau will receive a $228 million increase in their budget to start planning for the next census. The National Institutes of Health will get a $2 billion increase. That's the largest increase they've received since 2003. The work they do is lifesaving. The National Institute for Minority Health & Health Disparities received $278 million; this is an increase of $8.7 million over the FY 2015 enacted level of $271 million. This appropriations bill will save lives in the United States and around the world while creating jobs in Maryland. We know that the basic research done at NIH is so critically important to our economic growth. I'm pleased that in Baltimore, the Social Security Administration will get $150 billion for badly needed renovations to their facilities. The renovations are important for them to be able to carry out their critical mission. Mr. President, I've taken the floor many times to highlight how our federal workforce has made incredible sacrifices during these tough budget years. Although they didn't cause the deficit, they have been called upon over and over again to contribute by being denied pay raises, by being asked to pay more for their pension, by being asked to take on more responsibilities with less personnel. This budget is a reprieve from the past budgets. There's no punitive action against our federal workforce, and I'm pleased for that. The Omnibus provides a modest pay adjustment of 1.3%. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-omnibus-spending-package-prioritizes-veterans-issues,Cardin: Omnibus Spending Package Prioritizes Veterans Issues,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 18, 2015 Cardin: Omnibus Spending Package Prioritizes Veteran's Issues WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) today underscored the inclusion of key funding priorities related to veteran's issues in the Fiscal Year 2016 Omnibus spending bill. We have a solemn duty to provide for veterans who have served and sacrificed in defense of our freedom. I am committed to making sure that our veterans receive the services and benefits they have earned and the support they were promised and deserve. The Omnibus codifies our commitment to our veterans, said Senator Cardin. No veteran should ever experience homelessness, so I was especially pleased to see that $1.4 billion will fund grants to help homeless veterans find permanent housing. The federal funding we approved in the omnibus will support Maryland organizations like Way Station, The Baltimore Station, and the Maryland Center for Veterans Education and Training (MCVet). These organizations are on the front lines of the fight against veteran homelessness. The spending package also contains a hard-fought $7.5 billion in funding to provide mental health services to veterans. Our veterans deserve every possible tool we can provide to help ease their transition back to civilian life. For years, I have called on the VA to become more user friendly and responsive. This year, we approved $2.7 billion for improved claims processing and $290 million for a paperless claims processing system that should make progress in clearing the inexcusable backlog. Maryland veterans will also be helped by the allocation of $83.7 million for a replacement community living center in Perry Point, Md. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will receive $91.3 billion in mandatory funding and $71.4 billion in discretionary funding in the Omnibus. The Veterans Health Administration will receive $61.8 billion to ensure that the men and women who served this nation can access the quality care they deserve. Wounded warriors will benefit from the $12 million in funding for the FY16 Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program while the Defense Medical Research and Development Program will receive over $2 billion in total for lifesaving medical research and development. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-statement-on-146-million-in-appalachian-regional-commission-funding-in-omnibus-spending-bill,Cardin Statement on $146 Million in Appalachian Regional Commission Funding in Omnibus Spending Bill,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 18, 2015 Cardin Statement on $146 Million in Appalachian Regional Commission Funding in Omnibus Spending Bill WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of theSenate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following statement on the appropriation of $146 million to the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) in the Omnibus spending bill. This funding is at a level $56 million more than was appropriated in FY2015. The ARC is a relatively small but heavily impactful federal-state partnership that makes a real difference in the lives of Marylanders. These federal investments in people through training and infrastructure help Marylanders living in the western part of our state take an active and experienced-based approach to accessing and improving their skills, education, health services, economic development strategies and technology by connecting federal resources with local knowhow. It is that ability to leverage the unique strengths of the private sector, state, federal and local governments that makes ARC such an asset. I am pleased that Congress is providing ARC with the robust and reliable funding they need to better serve the people of Maryland. I am often impressed with the innovative, job creating programs administered by ARC and look forward to updates on how this funding is improving the quality of life in the region. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/senate-unanimously-passes-electrify-africa-bill,Senate Unanimously Passes Electrify Africa Bill,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 18, 2015 Senate Unanimously Passes Electrify Africa Bill Corker-Cardin-Rubio-Coons legislation will support 50 million people receiving access to electricity for the first time in sub-Saharan Africa, stimulate economic growth, improve access to education WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.), all members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today praised Senate passage of the Electrify Africa Act of 2015 (S.2152), legislation that will leverage private sector resources through loan guarantees to help 50 million Africans access electricity for the first-time and add 20,000 megawatts of electricity to the grid by 2020. Providing access to electricity will stimulate economic growth while also improving access to education and public health. The bill also was cosponsored by Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). With limited foreign aid resources, we need to focus on innovative ways to tackle big challenges that can be self-sustaining and have a transformative impact on millions of lives, said Senator Corker. Leveraging private investment to bring reliable, affordable electricity to millions of people in Africa for the first time will be a real game changer in development throughout the region. By establishing an-all-of-the-above approach for expanding power generation in Africa through private capital, we can help reduce poverty and fuel economic growth. Access to electricity remains one of the fundamental development challenges in Africa, with direct impacts on public health, education, and economic growth, saidSenator Cardin. That's why this bipartisan legislation passed today draws upon American leadership and ingenuity to provide first-time access to clean, affordable, sustainable energy, and consultation with local African communities. By working with African governments to attract private sector investment and partnering with American firms that are on the cutting edge of the power solutions Africa seeks, we can make great strides in addressing African energy poverty and promote inclusive economic growth for communities in Africa and at home. U.S. foreign assistance works best when it is targeted toward the most pressing needs and can be leveraged to help recipientsfurtherdevelop their economies, said Senator Rubio. The Electrify Africa Act will enhance our current assistance programs in Africa and help expand access to electricity, which is essential to support poverty reduction and promote economic development. I am pleased that the Senate has come together in a strong, bipartisan way to help the people of sub-Saharan Africa gain greater access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable power to reduce poverty and drive economic growth,said Senator Coons. I have seen some of these Power Africa projects firsthand, from solar farms in Rwanda to off-the-grid power solutions in Ethiopia. These projects are unlocking opportunities in medicine and education and removing a binding constraint to economic development and growth in Africa. I'd like to thank my fellow members of the committee, especially Chairman Corker and Ranking Member Cardin, for their work on this bill. The legislation requires the president to create a comprehensive strategy for United States' engagement with sub-Saharan Africa in developing a broad mix of power solutions to increase electricity access and reliability. It encourages the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), USAID, the U.S. Department of Treasury, U.S. Trade and Development Agency, World Bank, and African Development Bank to prioritize loans, grants, and technical support that promote private investment in projects designed to increase electricity access and reliability. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://delaney.house.gov/news/press-releases/delaney-statement-on-the-path-act,Delaney Statement on the PATH Act,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Delaney,D000620,delaney.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON -Today the House of Representatives passed the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015. Congressman John Delaney (MD-06) voted for this bill, which permanently extends enhancements to the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit, and the American Opportunity Tax Credit for education expenses. It also permanently extends certain business tax provisions like the Research and Development Tax Credit and the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. The bill also temporarily extends several tax provisions. Congressman Delaney released the following statement: Today I voted in favor of a permanent extension of the Child Tax Credit and the expanded Earned Income Tax Credit, which are critical to low- and moderate-income families. And permanently extending the tax credits for Research and Development and Section 179 expensing will help our businesses invest in growing our economy. The Research and Development tax credit will help Maryland businesses invest in technology and continue innovating, which will create new, high-paying jobs for Marylanders. While I dont agree with everything included in the PATH Act, I believed that it was important to make some of these provisions permanent which allow businesses and families to do the long-term planning they need to succeed. But our job on tax reform is far from done. We need comprehensive tax reform. While we dont expect to accomplish that next year, there is an opportunity to do international tax reform which will produce much-needed revenue for infrastructure investments and eliminate the incentive for U.S. companies to invert and move overseas. If we dont act soon on this, it will be too late. ##",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://delaney.house.gov/news/press-releases/delaney-statement-on-the-release-of-the-maryland-commission-on-climate-change,Delaney Statement on the Release of the Maryland Commission on Climate Change Report,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Delaney,D000620,delaney.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON - On Wednesday the Maryland Commission on Climate Change called for the state to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 40% from 2006 by 2030. The Maryland Commission on Climate Change (MCCC) was first established in 2007. It is a bipartisan group of business, environmental, labor, and government officials. A 2015 law requires the MCCC to report annually to the Governor and the General Assembly on the status of Marylands efforts to reduce climate change and on any recommendations. Congressman Delaney issued the following statement: The new report from the bipartisan Maryland Commission on Climate Change reaffirms the need for action and the dire consequences if we fail to properly address climate change, said Congressman Delaney. Ive worked on the federal level to tackle this problem by authoring a comprehensive plan to accurately price greenhouse gas emissions. I urge Governor Hogan to take this new report seriously and position Maryland to be a leader in green energy innovation and the job-creation that comes with this kind of investment. The Tax Pollution, Not Profits Act Establishes a federal tax on carbon pollution Places a tax on Green House Gas (GHG) emissions at $30 per metric ton of carbon dioxide or carbon dioxide equivalent in 2015, increasing each subsequent year at 4% above inflation. New carbon tax uses market forces and private sector innovation to reduce greenhouse gas pollution. Businesses benefit from predictable, market-driven approach. Lowers the corporate tax rate and returns revenues to the economy The legislation reduces the corporate tax rate from 35% to 28%, helping companies mitigate higher energy costs and, importantly, makes U.S. companies more competitive. Increasing U.S. economic competitiveness in a global economy will lead to gains in job creation, economic growth and increased domestic investment. Helps Impacted Coal Industry Workers Creates a new multi-billion dollar aid program administered by the Department of Labor (DOL) to assist workers in the coal industry that may be displaced as a result of the legislation. The assistance can include: worker retraining programs, financial assistance with relocation expenses, health care, early retirement and other benefits. There is precedent for the DOL to administer this kind of program. Since 1973 the Department of Labor has administered benefits to coal miners and their survivors impacted by black lung disease. Protects middle class and working families with an Energy Refund To ensure that low and middle-income households are not negatively impacted by the costs of transitioning to new energy sources, a portion of the revenues collected from the pollution tax will be redirected to low-income and middle-class working families via an Energy Refund. Households at or below 150% of the federal poverty line will receive direct monthly payments to fully offset increased energy costs. Households between 150-200% of the federal poverty line will receive a reduced monthly payment on a sliding scale. Households over 200% poverty level will be eligible for a refundable tax credit, with benefits also on a sliding scale. ##",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ruppersberger.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ruppersberger-supports-650-billion-in-tax-relief,Ruppersberger Supports $650 Billion in Tax Relief,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger,R000576,ruppersberger.house.gov,,,legacy,"Gaithersburg, MD The Alliance for Biosecurity presented Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) with the Congressional Biosecurity Champion Award this morning. The award recognizes the leadership and actions taken by Members of Congress to improve U.S. national security, preparedness, and response for biosecurity threats.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ruppersberger.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ruppersberger-supports-650-billion-in-tax-relief-0,Ruppersberger Supports $650 Billion in Tax Relief,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger,R000576,ruppersberger.house.gov,,,legacy,"(Washington, D.C.) Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger today voted in favor of a tax extenders bill that includes $650 billion in tax relief for businesses and individuals, including $560 billion in permanent tax relief. The bill passed in a 318-109 vote, with 77 Democrats supporting the measure. While not perfect, this bill is a balanced package that provides much-needed relief to both businesses and families, Congressman Ruppersberger said. By making many tax breaks permanent, we are creating more jobs and more certainty when our economy can use it most. Id prefer to see the bill fully offset and to address tax reform comprehensively, but now is not the time to let key tax breaks that are helping families make ends meet such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, the child tax credit and the American Opportunity Tax Credit expire. These three credits alone are helping 24 million working families. As the author of legislation to increase the $1,000 child care tax credit and make it permanent since 2007, Congressman Ruppersberger was particularly pleased to see similar provisions in the legislation that passed Thursday. Child care is the second biggest expense working American families pay after mortgage or rent. Other highlights of the package include: The Research and Development Tax Credit will be made permanent. The Earned Income Tax Credit for low and moderate income workers will be enhanced and made permanent. The American Opportunity Tax Credit of $1,800 for various tuition and related expenses for the first two years of post-secondary education will be enhanced and made permanent. The deduction for certain expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers will be extended. Tax-free distributions from individual retirement plans for charitable purposes will be extended. The 20- percent employer wage credit for employees called to active military duty will be made permanent. The above-the-line deduction for qualified tuition and related expenses for higher education will be extended through 2016. The credit for purchases of new qualified fuel cell motor vehicles will be extended through 2016. The maximum monthly exclusion amount for transit passes and van pool benefits will be permanently extended so that they match the exclusion for qualified parking benefits.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-finds-good-and-bad-in-the-omnibus-spending-bill,Cardin Finds Good and Bad in the Omnibus Spending Bill,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 17, 2015 Cardin Finds Good and Bad in the Omnibus Spending Bill WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) called the just-released Omnibus legislation to fund the federal government for Fiscal Year 2016 an overall positive for our nation, our environment and public health. Senator Cardin released the following statement, citing key successes of the bill, as well as areas of strong concern, while he continues to review the details of this comprehensive package. The federal government should not shut down again because of partisan wrangling. The American public and the federal workers who carry out policy and programs on their behalf, as well as American businesses who continue to push our economy into more positive territory, soon should have the predictability and peace of mind that comes from knowing federal programs and initiatives will be funded for the full fiscal year and without relying on short-term fixes to keep the government functioning. With this bill, we keep our promises to our veterans and their families, make key investments in our nation's public schools and higher education, protect victims of domestic violence and bolster programs for small businesses. And with a $2 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health, every Institute and Center would see an increase in the resources dedicated to support investments to advance science and speed the development of new therapies, diagnostics and preventive measures to improve the health of all Americans. Our dedicated federal workers, who have been needlessly under attack for so many years, should see a slight pay increase. This bill invests in our infrastructure through steady or increased funding for rail, roads and air travel, as well as Baltimore's harbor and other water resources nationwide. We provide full $150 million annual funding for Metro, make permanent a provision to encourage the use of public transit by employees and move one step closer to a fully consolidated headquarters for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). As a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I am especially pleased that we have been able to keep this Omnibus Appropriations bill free of dangerous policy riders that would gut our nation's foundational environmental laws. I led a group of 27 senators urging top appropriators and the president to bring us a bill free of these damaging riders. Thanks to hard-fought negotiations, the Omnibus protects the ability of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to clean up our water and air. Flat funding for the EPA will create great challenges for the agency, but I was pleased to see the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) reauthorized for three years and funded at $450 million an increase of $144 million above the 2015 enacted level. Congress also has brought a greater degree of predictability to the solar and wind renewable energy markets through the reauthorization of tax incentives for these nascent industries, although the illogical inequities continue between permanent tax breaks for Big Oil and dwindling tax incentives for renewable energy sources. While the Omnibus has many positive components, I found it irresponsible that the bill includes a major policy decision on whether the United States should allow oil exports for the first time in decades. Given that this is such a monumental decision, it astonishes me that the Senate would move forward after so few hearings on the subject this session. Both the House and Senate should have taken more time, separate from the appropriations process, to review and debate this issue, which will have wide-ranging implications for our energy policy, our economy and our environment across the country. As Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I was greatly dismayed that the bill, in making needed changes to our Visa Waiver Program, blatantly discriminates against individuals who hold dual citizenship. We must carefully screen all those who want to enter our country for any purpose, but such vetting should be done in such a way that doesn't put Americans with dual citizenship in jeopardy. I am pleased to see that with this bill we finally should approve a package of IMF reforms. This development was a long time coming, but a necessity in demonstrating ongoing U.S. engagement and leadership on the international stage. The IMF is doing meaningful work throughout the world, especially in Ukraine, and the United States must continue to play a central role in this critical international institution. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-statement-on-one-year-anniversary-of-president-obamas-engagement-policy-with-cuba,Cardin Statement On One-Year Anniversary Of President Obamas Engagement Policy With Cuba,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 17, 2015 Cardin Statement On One-Year Anniversary Of President Obama's Engagement Policy With Cuba WASHINGTONU.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement marking the one-year anniversary of President Obama's engagement policy with Cuba. One year ago today, President Obama set forth a new course for U.S. policy towards Cuba grounded firmly in the belief that engagement represents the greatest opportunity to advance our national interests and support the Cuban people. With Alan Gross now home and the American flag once again flying over a U.S. Embassy in Havana, the United States and Cuba have opened channels of communication on law enforcement and counter narcotics cooperation, human rights, Internet connectivity, and longstanding property claims. As American business leaders, scientists, academics, and artists are increasingly engaging in purposeful travel to Cuba, they are forging important new relationships with the Cuban people and supporting the country's rising entrepreneurial class. The U.S. Congress should take steps to make the Obama Administration's advances permanent and lift all restrictions on American citizens traveling to Cuba. The dynamism of American society will make a positive contribution to empowering the Cuban people as they strive to build a brighter future for their country. The steps taken to date have resulted in small, but important changes on the island. However, I remain concerned that the Cuban government continues to jail political activists for exercising their rights to free expression and free assembly; restrict widespread Internet access and the emergence of a free press; and limit reforms that would demonstrate a respect for international labor rights. As the second year of renewed engagement is now underway, the Cuban government must make meaningful progress on these most essential matters.I remain committed to advancing human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba, and am hopeful the Cuban people will have the opportunity to build a society where democratic values and political pluralism are not only tolerated but encouraged. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/twenty-one-democratic-senators-express-profound-concern-over-second-iranian-ballistic-missile-test-in-letter-to-president-obama,Twenty-One Democratic Senators Express Profound Concern over Second Iranian Ballistic Missile Test in Letter to President Obama,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 17, 2015 Twenty-One Democratic Senators Express Profound Concern over Second Iranian Ballistic Missile Test in Letter to President Obama WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Coons (D-DE), Gary Peters (D-MI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Ed Markey (D-MA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Bob Casey (D-PA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) expressed profound concern in a letter to President Obama regarding a second ballistic missile test conducted by Iran on November 21st. In the letter, the Senators write: We are deeply concerned by Iran's continued violations of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1929 by testing a second ballistic missile on November 21, 2015If there are no consequences for this violation, Iran's leaders will certainly also question the willingness of the international community to respond to violations of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and UN Security Council Resolution 2231. The letter sent to President Obama today by the 21 U.S. Senators appears below. Dear Mr. President: We are deeply concerned by Iran's continued violations of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1929 by testing a second ballistic missile on November 21, 2015. Once again, the international community has an opportunity to demonstrate its resolve in the face of Iranian violations of its international obligations. On December 15, a panel of expert monitors working on behalf of the United Nations Security Council reported that, ""On the basis of its analysis and findings the Panel concludes that the Emad launch on October 10th is a violation by Iran of paragraph 9 of Security Council Resolution 1929."" Unfortunately, some members of the UN Security Council failed to condemn this violation and failed to take steps collectively to enforce Resolution 1929. If there are no consequences for this violation, Iran's leaders will certainly also question the willingness of the international community to respond to violations of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and UN Security Council Resolution 2231. The November test is Iran's second recent violation of UNSCR 1929, which clearly states Iran shall not undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using ballistic missile technology. Clearly, the Security Council should take appropriate enforcement action against Iran in the face of this violation. On this matter, we recognize and appreciate United Nations Ambassador Samantha Power's ongoing efforts to build support to enforce consequences for the October 10 ballistic missile test by referring the issue to the Iran Sanctions Committee and advocating for a forceful response by the UN Security Council. However, in the time it took the Panel of Experts to make a determination on the first violation, Iran tested another ballistic missile. In the absence of a UN Security Council commitment to enforcing UNSCR 1929, we request that you take action unilaterally, or in coordination with our European allies. Such action is essential to make clear to Iran's leaders that there will be consequences for future violations of UN Security Council Resolutions and that the United States reserves the right under the JCPOA to take unilateral action in response to this and other significant actions by Iran in the areas of ballistic missile development, terrorism and human rights. Sincerely, Senator Benjamin L. Cardin Senator Charles E. Schumer Senator Richard Blumenthal Senator Christopher Coons Senator Gary Peters Senator Michael F. Bennet Senator Ron Wyden Senator Jeanne Shaheen Senator Debbie Stabenow Senator Heidi Heitkamp Senator Tim Kaine Senator Bill Nelson Senator Edward J. Markey Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. Senator Mark R. Warner Senator Cory A. Booker Senator Maria Cantwell Senator Martin Heinrich Senator Barbara A. Mikulski Senator Jeff Merkley ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ruppersberger.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ruppersberger-let-s-pass-assault-weapons-ban,Ruppersberger: Lets Pass Assault Weapons Ban,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger,R000576,ruppersberger.house.gov,,,legacy,"(Washington, D.C.) Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger today announced his support of legislation banning the sale, transfer, production and importation of assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines. The Assault Weapons Ban of 2015 was introduced today following horrific mass shootings and terrorist attacks in San Bernardino, Colorado Springs, Sandy Hook, Newtown, Aurora and elsewhere across the country, all of which involved military-style firearms. When assault weapons or high-capacity magazines have been used in a shooting, the number of casualties has increased 63 percent. I strongly believe in the Second Amendment, but we also have a Constitutional responsibility to protect American citizens from harm, Congressman Ruppersberger said. Assault weapons and high-capacity magazines are the weapon of choice for mass shooters because their sole purpose is to inflict as much damage as possible as quickly as possible. A ban may not stop these attacks, but it will help drastically reduce the bloodshed. This will be even more important as we continue to fight domestic terrorism and radicalization such as the ISIS-related attack we saw in San Bernardino. Specifically, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2015 will prohibit the sale, transfer, production, and importation of: Semi-automatic rifles and handguns with a military-style feature that can accept a detachable magazine; Semi-automatic rifles and handguns with a fixed magazine that can hold more than 10 rounds; Semi-automatic shotguns with a military-style feature; Any ammunition feeding device that can hold more than 10 rounds; And 157 specifically-named and listed firearms. The bill also sets new standards to prevent default proceeds the standard that allows firearms dealers to complete a sale if a buyers background check is not completed within three days.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cummings.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cummings-statement-mistrial-state-maryland-v-william-porter,Cummings Statement on Mistrial In State of Maryland v. William Porter,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Elijah Cummings,C000984,cummings.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. (December 16, 2015) Today, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) issued the following statement on the mistrial declared today by Judge Barry G. Williams in State of Maryland v. William Porter: It is my understanding that the jury in Officer Porters trial was deadlocked unable to reach a unanimous verdict of either guilt or innocence on all four charges. This is why Judge Barry G. Williams declared a mistrial. I have also been informed that the Baltimore City States Attorneys Office intends to retry Officer Porter. There will also be the trials of the other officers who have been charged. I know that many of my neighbors have been following this trial closely, and many may be disappointed by todays outcome. Each of us will continue to struggle with the very raw, very real emotions the death of Mr. Freddie Gray invokes. I commend Baltimore City States Attorney Marilyn Mosby in her efforts to pursue justice; the jurors for faithfully carrying out their civic duty; and all who have worked to ensure full and fair trials for each defendant involved. With the eyes of the world on Baltimore City, we must ensure that any protests that take place are peaceful, and we must ensure that the process of healing our community continues. We must continue to channel our emotions into strong, positive change, so that, as a city, we truly see our young men of color before it is too late. This is the road to more equal justice in our community.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hoyer.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2547,Hoyer Receives Congressional Fire Services Institute Legislator of the Year Award,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Steny Hoyer,H000874,hoyer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DCToday, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) received the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) Legislator of the Year Award at the Phoenix Park Hotel in Washington, DC. Each year, CFSI chooses legislators who have made a significant contribution to the fire service to receive their Legislator of the Year Award. Congressman Hoyer currently serves as a co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus. I was humbled to receive this award today from the Congressional Fire Services Institute, said Congressman Steny Hoyer. As much as I am honored to be receiving it, what I am most honored to do is stand up for the courageous men and women of the fire services each and every day in Congress. They are the ones who deserve all the recognition. Ive been proud to serve as co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, working to ensure that the unique challenges of firefighters, EMS technicians, and their families are heard in the halls of Congress. I look forward to ensuring that our men and women of the fire services have the resources they need when responding to calls and I will keep fighting to secure funding for grant programs like Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) each year. I will also continue advocating for firefighters killed in the line of duty and for their families to receive the benefits they deserve. For 24 years, Congressman Hoyer has stood by the side of firefighters offering his support in so many different ways, said Dr. William F. Jenaway, President of the Congressional Fire Services Institute. We are honored to work with him and truly grateful for his continued support. CFSI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan policy institute designed to educate members of Congress about the needs and challenges of our nation's fire and emergency services so that the federal government provides the types of training and funding needed by our first responders.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hoyer.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2548,Hoyer Remarks at Press Conference Announcing Inclusion of $390 Million in FY16 Spending Bill for Fully Consolidated FBI Headquarters,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Steny Hoyer,H000874,hoyer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) today joined U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Ben Cardin, Congresswoman Donna Edwards, and Prince Georges County Executive Rushern Baker (all D-Md.) to announce the inclusion of $390 million in the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) division of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 as a major down-payment to begin the initial design, engineering, and construction of a new fully-funded consolidated headquarters for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The House is expected to vote on the bill on Friday. Below is a transcript of his remarks: I want to congratulate Senator Mikulski. We have been so advantaged to have someone in leadership on the United States Senate Appropriations Committee as chairman and as ranking member like Barbara Mikulski, who is so focused and has worked so hard in making sure that we accomplished the objective that the FBI wants to accomplish and that the Administration wants to accomplish and certainly we want to accomplish. Senator Cardin and Senator Mikulsi both worked closely with Governor Hogan as well. I think that bears further application because we had a press conference together and a meeting with Governor Hogan. He is 100 percent committed to this project. Governor OMalley, of course, dedicated resources to this project so this is a culmination of the initial effort to ensure that this project goes on the drawing board for full consolidation. We all emphasize full consolidation because partial consolidation will not achieve the ends of greater synergy for the FBI offices that will make them much more effective. Furthermore, I want to say to Rushern Baker: One of the reasons I think Prince Georges County is in the leadership of this is because of the integrity and the attention that Rushern Baker has brought to Prince Georges County. It is a county on the move. It is a county that is respected throughout the country for the programs and the policies that it offers and that is Rushern Bakers legacy. And hes not over yet, but in my opinion, Rushern, we would not be where we are without your leadership, so thank you very much for that. Let me say something about Prince Georges County. Ive been here a long time and Senator Mikulski and I have always been focused on Prince Georges County and the Washington metropolitan area. Prince Georges County has only four percent of the leased office space in the Washington suburbs. The smallest percentage of any county in the Washington metropolitan area. It has been overlooked too often. Now, I think it goes without saying that we have the most competitive sites for the location of the FBI consolidation and we are going to continue to press. This is a down payment. $390 million is a lot of money and frankly without Senator Mikulski, we wouldnt have gotten it. But, it is a down payment making sure we proceed and proceed quickly to accomplish the completion of this project and I know working together that we will get that done. Senator Mikulski, thank you; Senator Cardin, Congresswoman Edwards for your words about Rushern. We know that and we are very proud of the fact with integrity, intellect, and drive, that you {Rushern Baker} have brought to Prince Georges County has made a difference, is making a difference, and is going to make a difference in this project as well, so thank you very much. And now I will yield to my colleague. She and I represent Prince Georges County together and we are very proud of Prince Georges County, Donna Edwards. Presently, two proposed sites in Prince Georges County, Maryland Greenbelt and Landover are on the OMB/GSA short-list of eligible sites to serve as the future home of the FBI. The new FBI headquarters will be home to 11,000 jobs, and is estimated to be a $2 billion economic development project. According to a Maryland state report, approximately 40 percent of the FBIs employees at the current headquarters already live in Maryland.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/mitch-mcconnell-loses-campaign-finance-budget-fight,Mitch McConnell Loses Campaign Finance Budget Fight,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"Sarbanes, who led this year's effort to beat back the McConnell rider, says that Democrats who oppose efforts to roll back campaign finance limits learned from the 2014 episode. He made sure Democrats were prepared to voice their opposition to these amendments and that leadership would actively work to exclude them from a bill. ""The difference between this year and last year is we got organized and got organized early,"" Sarbanes said.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/sarbanes-refloats-primary-care-physician-reentry-act,Sarbanes Refloats Primary Care Physician Reentry Act,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"""We have begun, wisely, to turn our healthcare system in the direction of prevention and primary care and delivery of care at the community level and that all make sense. But if you don't have enough caregivers, physicians in place to deliver those services then you aren't going to make progress on that overall vision,"" Sarbanes said in a recent phone interview.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sarbanes-statement-on-retirement-rule-rider-left-out-of-omnibus-bill,Sarbanes Statement on Retirement Rider Left Out of Omnibus Bill,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) issued the following statement today after Democratic and Republican lawmakers announced that an agreement on this years spending bill would not include a controversial policy rider to upend the Department of Labors fiduciary rule: This is a tremendous win for hardworking Americans who are saving for retirement. Wall Street donors and lobbyists have thrown millions of dollars at Congress to block the fiduciary rule in an attempt to continue to allow unscrupulous financial advisors to ignore the best interest of their clients. Were going to continue fighting on behalf retirement savers to ensure that Americans are protected from unscrupulous financial practices. The Department of Labors soon-to-be finalized fiduciary proposal seeks to update the rules and requirements governing retirement advisors, making sure they operate in the best interest of their clients. Representative Sarbanes was joined in fighting to protect the DOLs rule by the Save Our Retirement coalition, which includes AARP, AFL-CIO, AFSCME, Americans for Financial Reform, Better Markets, Consumer Federation of America and the Pension Rights Center. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-statement-on-mistrial-in-freddie-gray-case,Cardin Statement on Mistrial in Freddie Gray Case,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 16, 2015 Cardin Statement on Mistrial in Freddie Gray Case WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) issued the following statement on the declared mistrial in the criminal case of Officer William Porter. The death of Freddie Gray was a tragedy that fueled a national conversation about the need for equal justice and expanded opportunities in the African-American community. We cannot bring Freddie Gray back to his family, but we as a community can work together to repair and rebuild the trust between our police and the neighborhoods they are sworn to protect and serve. As the trials related to Freddie Gray's death continue, let us join together to honor his memory by raising our voices in the name of peace and unity. We must push forward in the fight to make historic changes in our criminal justice system and simultaneously work to bring more economic development and economic opportunities to all corners of our city. I urge residents to exercise their First Amendment rights peacefully. As this process unfolds, let us reject violence, vandalism or other actions that might hurt our communities and local businesses.I am committed to working closely with all of our federal partners to bring Baltimore the diverse resources it needs to fully mend the divisions in the city and ensure equal justice under the law and real opportunity for all its residents. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://delaney.house.gov/news/press-releases/delaney-hosts-entrepreneurship-workshop-in-rockville,Delaney Hosts Entrepreneurship Workshop in Rockville,2015-12-15,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Delaney,D000620,delaney.house.gov,,,legacy,"ROCKVILLE - Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-6) hosted an Entrepreneurship Workshop Monday at the Universities of Shady Grove. Over 250 attended the workshop, which provided constituents with a one-stop-shop to meet with entrepreneurs and federal, state and local business organizations and advocates. The event featured Cabinet member Maria Contreras-Sweet, the top official and Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Rep. Delaney founded and led two successful businesses and is the only former CEO of a publicly-traded company in the House of Representatives. Delaney received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award and his business, CapitalSource, provided over 5,000 small and mid-sized businesses with access to capital, helping them grow. Small businesses are jobs engines, innovation injectors and are essential to a strong economy and thats why its so important that we encourage entrepreneurship, said Congressman Delaney. Before coming to Congress, I was proud to work with entrepreneurs around the country and to provide capital to help thousands of businesses grow and create jobs. In Maryland and across the country, the talent is there, the expertise is there and the dedication is there, but we have to do more to help entrepreneurs succeed. To encourage small business growth, we need the right federal policies, we need the right state and local policies and we need to listen to business leaders and this workshop is designed to bring those voices together. My message to aspiring business owners is that you are not alone. Id like to thank Administrator Contreras-Sweet for coming to Rockville to meet with my constituents and thank all the individuals and organizations that participated. The overwhelming turnout for todays event shows that there is tremendous interest in entrepreneurship in Maryland and we should remain focused on creating the next generation of business leaders. Entrepreneurship is an essential ingredient for economic growth, a pathway out of poverty and a powerful tool for people to harness their talents, said SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet. Part of the SBAs mission is to create the right ecosystem for small businesses to succeed and thrive. I appreciate Rep. Delaneys invitation to meet with Maryland small business owners in Rockville to hear their stories firsthand and examine how we can make SBA even more responsive to Americas entrepreneurs. The workshop was the eleventh hosted by Delaney this year. Attendees and panel participants included: SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet Ann Marie Mehlum, Associate Administrator of Capital Access, SBA Antonio Doss, District Director, SBA Washington Metropolitan Area District Office Jimmy Rhee, Special Secretary, Governors Office of Minority Affairs George H. Harrop, Managing Director of Small Business Lending, PacWest Christy Wyskiel, Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures Pinky Rodgers, Founder Pinky & Pepes Grape Escape The United States Patent Office The Governors Office of Minority Affairs Maryland Womens Business Center Maryland Small Business Development Center The Maryland Minority Business Enterprise The Maryland Procurement Technical Assistance Program The Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce The Montgomery County Local Small Business Reserve Program City of Gaithersburg Office of Economic Development Maria Contreras-Sweet became the 24th Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and a member of President Obamas cabinet on April 7, 2014. SBA is charged with supporting Americas small businesses, which create nearly two out of three net, new private-sector jobs in our economy and employ half of our nations private-sector workforce. Contreras-Sweet entered the private sector as the only female executive for Westinghouses 7-Up/RC Bottling Company and founded a successful community bank in California, focused on financing small- and mid-size businesses, especially the regions underserved entrepreneurs. ##",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-statement-on-adoption-of-the-iaea-board-of-governors-resolution-on-irans-nuclear-program,Cardin Statement On Adoption Of The IAEA Board Of Governors Resolution On Irans Nuclear Program,2015-12-15,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 15, 2015 Cardin Statement On Adoption Of The IAEA Board Of Governors Resolution On Iran's Nuclear Program WASHINGTONU.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement following the adoption of the IAEA Board of Governors Resolution on Iran's nuclear program. The Resolution adopted today by the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors to close its investigation into the possible military dimensions (PMDs) of Iran's nuclear program leaves us with more questions than it does answers. What we do know is that Iran, through covert activities, attempted to advance a nuclear weapons program. During the investigation, however, Iran was not honest about its nuclear weapons program nor was the IAEA given unfettered access to all the people, places, and documents necessary for a comprehensive investigation into Iran's past activities. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cummings.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cummings-urges-maryland-general-assembly-leaders-support-universal-voter,Cummings Urges Maryland General Assembly Leaders to Support Universal Voter Registration Legislation,2015-12-14,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Elijah Cummings,C000984,cummings.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. (December 14, 2015) Today, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) urged President of the Maryland Senate Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. and Maryland House Speaker Michael E. Busch to support universal voter registration legislation that has been pre-filed for the 2016 legislation session. In a letter to the Democratic leaders, Cummings wrote, I write today to express my strong support for the creation of a Universal Voter Registration program that would automatically add to state voting rolls all Maryland residents who are eligible to vote. Last week, State Senator Roger P. Manno (D-Montgomery) pre-filed legislation to implement Universal Voter Registration in Maryland. If passed, Maryland would be only the third state to adopt the policy. Cummings continued, I also believe that Maryland should seize every opportunity to be a national leader in eliminating all impediments that stand between eligible citizens and the voting booth. The Congressman noted that any Universal Voter Registration program must use data from several state sources, not just the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) in order to identify citizens eligible to vote. More than 9 percent of U.S. householdsand 30 percent of Baltimore householdsdo not own a vehicle. Many Maryland residents who do not own cars have never obtained a drivers license and limiting a Universal Voter Registration program to the use of data collected by the MVA would exclude these individuals from the voter rolls, Cummings wrote. Click here to view the letter, the full text follows: December 14, 2015 The Honorable Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. President of the Maryland Senate State House, H-107 Annapolis, MD 21401 The Honorable Michael E. Busch Maryland House Speaker State House, H-101 Annapolis, MD 21401 Dear President Miller and Speaker Busch: I write today to express my strong support for the creation of a Universal Voter Registration program that would automatically add to state voting rolls all Maryland residents who are eligible to vote. In a speech he gave earlier this year in Selma, Alabama, to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday, then-Attorney General Eric Holder warned that: It has been clear in recent years that fair and free access to the franchise is still, in some areas, under siege. Shortly after the historic election of President Obama in 2008, numerous states and jurisdictions attempted to impose rules and laws that had the effect of restricting Americans opportunities to voteparticularly, and disproportionately, communities of color. Numerous studies have documented the measures states have adopted to restrict citizens particularly low-income and minority citizens access to the voting booth. For example, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, as of this month, 36 states had adopted measures requiring residents to show a proof of identification at the polls, and these laws were in force in 32 states. Last year, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report concluding that voter identification laws have led to a statistically significant decrease in voter turnout. At the federal level, I support a range of legislation that would strengthen voting rights throughout the nation. For example, I am a cosponsor of the Voter Empowerment Act (H.R. 12), which would amend the Help America Vote Act and the National Voter Registration Act to improve all facets of the voting process. I also believe that Maryland should seize every opportunity to be a national leader in eliminating all impediments that stand between eligible citizens and the voting booth. For that reason, I believe the General Assembly should adopt legislation during the upcoming session that will create a Universal Voter Registration program. Such a program should utilize data from a variety of state sources, not just the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA), to identify citizens who are eligible to vote. A recent study released by the University of Michigans Transportation Research Institute found that in 2012, more than 9% of U.S. households did not have a private vehicle, and in Baltimore, more than 30% of households lacked a vehicle. Many Maryland residents who do not own cars have never obtained a drivers license and limiting a Universal Voter Registration program to the use of data collected by the MVA would exclude these individuals from the voter rolls. Thank you for your steadfast efforts to ensure that every eligible Maryland resident is able to cast a ballot. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to support the creation of a Universal Voter Registration program in our state. Sincerely, Elijah E. Cummings Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hoyer.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2546,Hoyer Congratulates White Marsh Elementary School on Maryland Blue Ribbon Recognition,2015-12-14,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Steny Hoyer,H000874,hoyer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) congratulated White Marsh Elementary School in St. Marys County on its selection as a 2016 Maryland Blue Ribbon School by the Maryland State Department of Education. The school, located in Mechanicsville, was one of six Maryland public schools to receive the honor. I congratulate the administrators, teachers, staff, and students at White Marsh Elementary for their hard work, exceptional accomplishments, and dedication to education that has earned them this special honor as a Maryland Blue Ribbon School, said Congressman Steny Hoyer. Im proud that White Marsh Elementary has particularly excelled in Maryland and nationwide requirements in the areas of math and reading. I am encouraged that the work being done at this school will serve as a model for schools around the state in order to ensure that we are closing achievement gaps and opening pathways for success to all students. White Marsh Elementary will be invited by the U.S. Department of Education to apply to be a National Blue Ribbon School. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program was founded in 1982 to recognize our nations top schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sarbanes-statement-on-paris-climate-agreement,Sarbanes Statement on Paris Climate Agreement,2015-12-14,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) issued the following statement today after representatives from 195 countries reached an agreement in Paris to reduce carbon emissions and to keep global temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius: ""The historic agreement achieved in Paris this weekend is a defining moment in our effort to tackle global climate change. It will help minimize some of climate changes worst effects including severe drought, extreme weather, sea-level rise and nuisance flooding which many communities in Maryland and around the country already experience on a regular basis. The ambitious Paris agreement requires every nation developed and developing to commit itself to meaningful emissions reduction goals. It also creates a robust and transparent reporting system to ensure that all countries live up to their commitments. Importantly, the agreement presents an opportunity for the United States to pave the way in clean energy innovation. I am confident that with American ingenuity and with a deep sense of commitment from the public and private sectors, we can realize our carbon reduction goals and help other nations reach their targets as well. I want to congratulate President Obama, Secretary Kerry, chief negotiator Todd Stern, White House Climate Advisor Brian Deese and the entire U.S. negotiating team for their tireless efforts in reaching this tremendous agreement."" ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/senate-passes-cardin-measure-to-clarify-pension-rules-for-clergy-and-other-religious-institutions,Senate Passes Cardin Measure to Clarify Pension Rules for Clergy and Other Religious Institutions,2015-12-14,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 14, 2015 Senate Passes Cardin Measure to Clarify Pension Rules for Clergy and Other Religious Institutions WASHINGTON The Church Plan Clarification Act of 2015 (S. 2308), authored by U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), was approved by the Senate late last week. The bill, which clarifies the application of certain tax and retirement laws and regulations to the unique structures of church pension plans, heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Companion legislation (H.R. 4085) has previously been introduced. Retirement security should not be based on faith when you dedicate your working life to serving a church, synagogue or other religious entity. Many so-called church plans' date back to the 18thcentury. While their unique structures have been recognized by the law, our modern, complicated tax system hasn't always been accommodating,said Senator Cardin., said Senator Cardin. More than 1 million clergy, faith institution workers, and their dependents are closer now to having the well-deserved peace of mind that comes with the financial security during retirement that we wish for every American. In recognition of their unique status, most church retirement plans are exempt from the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and are instead subject to special laws and regulations that reflect the distinctive issues that these plans and churches confront. Church retirement plans are subject to stringent state and federal laws and Church Alliance regulations, including state fiduciary standards, state contract law, and Internal Revenue Code requirements. Due to their distinctive structure, certain legislative and regulatory changes have unintentionally resulted in uncertainty and/or compliance issues for these plans. The Church Plan Clarification Act of 2015 corrects five legal/regulatory issues confronting church retirement plans: Controlled Group Rules Grandfathered Defined Benefit (DB) Plans Automatic Enrollment Transfers Between 403(b) and 401(a) Plans 81-100 Trusts ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/fighting-back-against-big-money-politics,Fighting Back Against Big-Money Politics,2015-12-12,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"At the federal level, were also advancing real solutions that put everyday people back in charge of our democracy. Thats the idea behind H.R. 20, the Government By the People Act, a reform that would create a new way for candidates to fund their campaigns. Under this proposal, Americans would receive a My Voice tax credit for small-donor political contributions, enabling them to support a candidate running for Congress. Then, if that candidate agrees to voluntary contribution limits, H.R. 20 would boost each small donation using a Freedom From Influence matching fund. The combination of the tax credit, which allows more Americans to participate in the political process, and the matching fund, which amplifies the power of each voters donation, would empower the voices of everyday citizens against the special interests that dominate the political process.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/physician-retraining-bill-reintroduced,Physician Retraining Bill Reintroduced,2015-12-12,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) reintroduced a bill Thursday that would help train doctors who have stopped practicing return to the profession at a veterans' center, school or community center. The Primary Care Physician Reentry Act was introduced last year but stalled mostly because of partisan politics. The team is working now to get co-sponsors, including Republicans. There isn't much opposition to the act, a Sarbanes staffer said.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-praises-climate-change-agreement,Cardin Praises Climate Change Agreement,2015-12-12,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 12, 2015 Cardin Praises Climate Change Agreement BALTIMORE U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, the Ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, praised the agreement announced today at the COP 21 negotiations in Paris. U.S. leadership played a critical role in bringing the international community together to this moment and for this purpose, said Senator Cardin. We will ensure that progress prevails, that momentum continues and that commitments are respected. The Congress will not be a spoiler of this landmark agreement because the United States is acting in a manner fully consistent with existing U.S. law. No country is immune from the impacts of climate change and the scientific consensus is that failure to act at this moment in history will result in catastrophic impacts to the environment, global food security, and public safety. This is a once-in-a-lifetime agreement that 187 nations have developed together to forge cooperative solutions to the global climate crisis. The safety and security of future generations are at risk if this generation does not act responsibly. President Obama, Secretary Kerry, and the U.S. negotiating team ably led by Special Envoy Todd Stern deserve high praise for this effort and their success will benefit the entire world. Earlier this month, Sen. Cardin led a 10 member delegation of U.S. Senators who traveled to COP 21 for the Paris talks. The group attended the Climate Summit for Local Leaders at Paris City Hall and held meetings at Le Bourget, site of the climate negotiations. Bilateral meetings occurred with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, former Vice President Al Gore, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, the U.S. delegation participating in the climate talks, as well as contingents from other countries. Senators who participated in the trip to COP 21 included: Senator Ben Cardin (D-Maryland), Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island), Senator Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire), Senator Tom Udall (D-New Mexico), Senator Chris Coons (D-Delaware), Senator Al Franken (D-Minnesota), Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Senator Cory Booker (D-New Jersey). Watch a video of the delegation at COP 21 here. (Minute 3) Watch the senators' press conference at Le Bourget, site of COP 21, here. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-delivers-floor-speech-in-support-of-cop-21,Cardin Delivers Floor Speech in Support of COP 21,2015-12-11,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 11, 2015 Cardin Delivers Floor Speech in Support of COP 21 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, yesterday took to the floor of the United States Senate to support efforts underway at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) to avert the most disastrous impacts of climate change. Last weekend, Senator Cardin led of delegation of nine other U.S. Senators attending the COP 21 climate negotiations in Paris, France. An excerpt of his prepared remarks appear below: I was very proud of our delegation consisting of Senators Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Franken (D-Minn.), Markey (D-Mass), Merkley (D-Ore.), Udall (N.M.), Shaheen (D-N.H.), Booker (N.J.) Schatz (H.I.) and Coons (D-Del.). We were impressed that over 150 world leaders were in Paris showing their support for a successful outcome and recognizing the urgency of dealing with this issue. Whether we're talking about our own individual states, and I could talk about the people on Smith Island as they see their island disappearing or the health of the Chesapeake Bay, or my colleagues in the western part of this country could talk about the wildfires, the impact of climate change is happening now. Video of his remarks can be streamed here. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-mikulski-announce-federal-funding-to-enhance-appalachian-regional-commissions-effectiveness-in-western-maryland,"Cardin, Mikulski Announce Federal Funding to Enhance Appalachian Regional Commission’s Effectiveness in Western Maryland",2015-12-11,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 11, 2015 Cardin, Mikulski Announce Federal Funding to Enhance Appalachian Regional Commissions Effectiveness in Western Maryland WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced that the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) has received a $50,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). The funds will be used to support staffing for projects undertaken by the Maryland Department of Planning ARC Program Manager in Washington, Garrett and Allegany Counties. By connecting the resources of the federal government with impactful programs and development strategies on the ground, the Appalachian Regional Commission has made a real difference in Western Maryland, said Senator Cardin, a member of the Senate Finance and Environment and Public Works Committees.From 21st century job training, to infrastructure projects, broadband expansion and beyond, federal investment in the ARC means more jobs and meaningful growth in the region. This specific investment in Washington, Garrett, and Allegany Counties will allow the ARC to partner more efficiently with regional shareholders. Im on the side of rural communities, especially those that have lost manufacturing jobs in Western Maryland,Senator Mikulskisaid. Im proud to fight for federal investment in Maryland communities that attract new business, increased economic development and create jobs. ARC makes investments in jobs today and tomorrow to keep Maryland and America moving. ARC funds will partially cover of salaries for the program manager, other staff and operating costs. Operating costs include travel expenses to attend ARC meetings and visit current and potential projects in the region, supplies, and other office expenses. The program manager will oversee the preparation of the Annual Strategy Statement and the State Development Plan. The manager will also develop ten to fifteen area development projects and two to three access road projects for submission to ARC. Additionally, the manager will conduct up to fifteen project site visits, attend quarterly Local Development District meetings and attend Commission meetings. The state of Maryland will contribute an additional $50,000 to bring the total funding for this project to $100,000. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/bill-takes-aim-at-primary-care-physician-shortages,Bill Takes Aim at Primary Care Physician Shortages,2015-12-11,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"Rep. John Sarbanes reintroduced a measure aimed at combating the shortage of primary care physicians by supporting programs that retrain doctors who have left the profession. Participating doctors would be retrained and credentialed to work at VA medical centers, community health centers and school-based health centers.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/sarbanes-reintroduces-bill-to-bring-more-doctors-to-veterans-health-clinics,"Sarbanes Reintroduces Bill to Bring More Doctors to Veterans Health Clinics, Community Health Centers and Schools",2015-12-11,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.)recently introduced the Primary Care Physician Reentry Act, which would tackle Americas shortage of primary care physicians by supporting programs that retrain doctors to work in health centers that serve veterans, local communities and schools.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-on-eastern-shore-to-co-host-grants-workshop-for-non-profit-organizations,Cardin on Eastern Shore to Co-Host Grants Workshop for Non-profit Organizations,2015-12-11,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 11, 2015 Cardin on Eastern Shore to Co-Host Grants Workshop for Non-profit Organizations WYE MILLS, Md. U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chesapeake Charities and the Maryland Governor's Grants Office today co-hosted a workshop at Chesapeake College that brought together a wide array of federal and state agencies with non-profit organizations to exchange ideas on crafting successful grant applications. Now more than ever, our state and nation rely on the good work and generosity of our non-profit organizations. Our workshop gave mission-driven organizations the chance to hear directly from grantmakers about what sets apart winning proposals, said Senator Cardin. We hope to help ensure the prosperity of these worthy organizations, and to help position them to continue playing critical roles in the Maryland communities they serve. This was a rare opportunity for Chesapeake Bay area nonprofits to learn directly from government agencies what grants are out there and the best ways to apply for them, said Linda Kohler, Executive Director of Chesapeake Charities. We are very grateful to Senator Cardin and his staff for recognizing the need for help and offering this special workshop. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-statement-on-sec-proposed-rule-for-oil-and-mining-industries,Cardin Statement on SEC Proposed Rule for Oil and Mining Industries,2015-12-11,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 11, 2015 Cardin Statement on SEC Proposed Rule for Oil and Mining Industries WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announcement of a proposed rule that would require resource extraction issuers to disclose payments made to the U.S. federal government or foreign governments for the purpose of commercially developing oil, natural gas or minerals.Senator Cardin, along with former SFRC Ranking Member Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), authored the Cardin-Lugar provision in Section 1504of Dodd-Frank to bring transparency and accountability to the extractive industries. Congressional intent was to lessen the risk for U.S investors and provide additional information so that citizens in resource-rich countries can hold their leaders accountable. America led the international community in promoting transparency in the extractive industry by adopting Cardin-Lugar but delays by the SEC and a spurious court challenge by the oil and gas industry have allowed other countries to surpass us. I am pleased to see the SEC moving forward this process of defining how publicly traded oil and mining companies should disclose their payments to governments. This provision is a critical part of the increased transparency and corporate responsibility that we are striving to achieve, said Senator Cardin. Secrecy breeds corruption and corruption can breed instability and violence in resource rich countries. Revenue transparency increases energy security and creates U.S. jobs by reducing the operating risks U.S. companies face in inherently unstable markets. I will be reviewing the proposed rule to ensure that it does meet the letter and spirit of Congressional intent. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cummings.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cummings-condemns-us-supreme-court-justice-antonin-scalia-s-comments,Cummings Condemns U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalias Comments in Fisher v. University of Texas,2015-12-10,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Elijah Cummings,C000984,cummings.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. (December 10, 2015) Today, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) issued the following statement condemning U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalias comments in Fisher v. University of Texas: Justice Antonin Scalias remarks regarding African American students ability to perform at elite universities are a disgraceful contemporary example of views that were typical of segregationists in pre-Civil Rights era America. Justice Scalias comments suggest that because some Black students struggle academically at the University of Texas, then all Black students should be tracked to attend schools that are less academically rigorous. His argument ignores the fact that many students of color do perform well at, and graduate from, the University of Texas every year. His argument begs the question about the many White students who struggle academically at the University of Texas. If you carry Scalias argument to its logical conclusion, then White students should also be stereotyped as a racial group and tracked en mass to a slower track. Scalias reasoning is not only illogical, it is dangerous, shortsighted and detrimental for our increasingly diverse nation. As recent events and an abundance of data show, the United States has not yet overcome the legacy of slavery and segregation that led to the creation of affirmative action in the 1960s. Affirmative action is a policy that remains as relevant today as it was then. African Americans and other people of color are taxpayers and deserve to have robust representation at state universities that they help to fund. It is insufficient and disingenuous for courts to single out race as a disqualifying variable when so many other variables and preferences are deemed acceptable in the university admissions process.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sarbanes-reintroduces-bill-to-bring-more-doctors-to-veterans-health,"Sarbanes Reintroduces Bill to Bring More Doctors to Veterans Health Clinics, Community Health Centers and Schools",2015-12-10,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today introduced the Primary Care Physician Reentry Act, which would tackle Americas shortage of primary care physicians by supporting programs that retrain doctors to work in health centers that serve veterans, local communities and schools. The bill would help medical schools, hospitals and nonprofit organizations provide training and education programs to physicians who have left medical practice for a variety of reasons, including to raise their families, to retire or for a career in administration or academia. Participating doctors would be retrained and credentialed to serve as primary care physicians at VA medical centers, community health centers and school-based health centers. Many communities across the nation are in need of qualified primary care physicians, said Congressman Sarbanes. This bill will help fill the doctor shortage in these communities by enabling qualified and well-trained physicians to reenter the medical workforce. The Primary Care Physician Reentry Act is supported by the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, American Osteopathic Association, the Federation of State Medical Boards and the School-Based Health Alliance. To learn more about physician reentry, visit: http://physician-reentry.org/. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://delaney.house.gov/news/press-releases/delaney-honors-damascus-swarmin-hornets-in-congressional-record,Delaney Honors Damascus Swarmin Hornets in Congressional Record,2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Delaney,D000620,delaney.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-6) has submitted a statement honoring the Damascus High School Swarmin Hornets into the official Congressional Record. Damascus won the Maryland Class 3A State Football Championship last week in Baltimore. The Congressional Record is an official record of House and Senate proceedings and has been published since 1873. The Congressional Record is archived online and is distributed in print to each Congressional office. The statement honoring Damascus reads: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Damascus High School Swarmin Hornets for capturing the 2015 Maryland Class 3A State Football Championship last week in Baltimore. The victory by Damascus capped a perfect 14-0 season and is the schools eighth state championship. Id like to congratulate the Swarmin Hornets, Coach Eric Wallich and his staff, and everyone associated with the team who made this championship season possible. The Swarmin Hornets defeated Dundalk 55-14, a dominating victory that included a record-setting performance by running back Jake Funk, who broke the state mark for touchdowns in a championship game. The team also set the state record for the most points scored in a season. As the Washington Post headline made clear, the Swarmin Hornets left no doubt that they were the best team in the state. Importantly, the team reached these heights after facing adversity and heartbreak. Last season, the team was defeated in the championship game, but rebounded with an even stronger performance in 2015. That experience working together for months to persevere and accomplish a goal even after a painful setback will inform and inspire the young people who compose this team for years to come. The Damascus community is extremely proud of their team and their achievement, excellence and perseverance should be permanently reflected in the official record of the House of Representatives. ##",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://delaney.house.gov/news/press-releases/delaney-honors-fort-hill-sentinels-in-congressional-record,Delaney Honors Fort Hill Sentinels in Congressional Record,2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Delaney,D000620,delaney.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-6) has submitted a statement honoring the Fort Hill High School Sentinels into the official Congressional Record. Fort Hill won the Class 1A Maryland State Championship last week. The Congressional Record is an official record of House and Senate proceedings and has been published since 1873. The Congressional Record is archived online and is distributed in print to each Congressional office. The statement honoring Fort Hill reads: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievement of the Fort Hill Sentinels, an extraordinary group of young men from Western Maryland who have inspired their community and gained recognition across the state. This month, Fort Hill High School of Cumberland won their third consecutive state football title, winning the Class 1A Maryland State Championship. On December 5, the Sentinels defeated Havre de Grace 44-14 behind a powerful rushing attack and a strong defense. The Sentinels averaged over 10 yards per play, led by fullback Raen Smith who ran for 234 yards. Fort Hill is 40-1 over the last three seasons. The results produced by the Sentinels win after win after win for three seasons are a testament to their dedication, teamwork and intelligence, all qualities that we should celebrate. After winning the state title Coach Todd Appel told the Cumberland Times-News the team would be back in the weight room the next week, a testament to the hard work and commitment of the team. The achievement of the Fort Hill Sentinels should be recognized and recorded within the Congressional Record for posterity. Congratulations to the Fort Hill Sentinels, Coach Appel and his staff and everyone who played a part in this championship season. ##",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-heller-offer-no-cost-bipartisan-plan-to-expedite-home-based-therapy-services-for-medicare-patients,"Cardin, Heller Offer No-Cost Bipartisan Plan to Expedite Home-Based Therapy Services for Medicare Patients",2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 09, 2015 Cardin, Heller Offer No-Cost Bipartisan Plan to Expedite Home-Based Therapy Services for Medicare Patients WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.) have joined together on a no-cost, bipartisan bill to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries receive timely access to essential home health therapy services. The Medicare Home Health Flexibility Act of 2015 (S. 2364) would allow occupational therapists to perform the initial home health assessment in cases in which occupational therapy is ordered by the physician, along with speech language pathology and/or physical therapy services, and skilled nursing care is not required. Delays in therapy can mean delays in recovery for seniors in need, said Senator Cardin, a member of the Senate Finance Health Care Subcommittee. By permitting occupational therapists to perform initial home health assessments in limited circumstances, the Medicare Home Health Flexibility Act can help prevent delays in Medicare beneficiaries receiving essential home health therapy services. This is especially important in areas where access to physical therapists and speech language pathologists may be limited. In states like Nevada with many rural communities, Medicare beneficiaries depend on in-home occupational therapy. Unfortunately, there are barriers prohibiting them from receiving needed-treatment. The Medicare Home Health Flexibility Act is a simple fix that eliminates barriers, increases access, and reduces costs for those dependent on in-home health services, said Senator Heller. I am proud to work with Senator Cardin, and I look forward to working with him to move this important legislation through the Senate. The full text of the Medicare Home Health Flexibility Act of 2015 (S. 2364) can be found here. Occupational therapy is frequently ordered as part of a physicians plan of care for patients requiring home health services, and, under certain circumstances, an occupational therapist is allowed to perform the comprehensive assessment to determine a Medicare beneficiarys continuing need for home health therapy services. However, under current Medicare law, occupational therapists are not permitted to conduct the initial assessment for home health cases, even when occupational therapy is included in the physicians order and when the case is exclusively related to rehabilitation therapy. Under S. 2364, nurses would still be required to conduct the initial assessment for all home health cases in which skilled nursing care is ordered by the physician. The Medicare Home Health Flexibility Act would not alter the existing criteria for establishing eligibility for the Medicare home health benefit. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-statement-on-the-release-of-azerbaijani-rights-activist-leyla-yunus-from-prison,Cardin Statement on the Release of Azerbaijani Rights Activist Leyla Yunus from Prison,2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 09, 2015 Cardin Statement on the Release of Azerbaijani Rights Activist Leyla Yunus from Prison WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on the release of Azerbaijani rights activist Leyla Yunus from prison: Although I welcome todays release of Leyla Yunus from her unjust imprisonment in Azerbaijan, the fabricated charges against her remain in place. All charges against Arif and Leyla Yunus should be unconditionally dismissed. I strongly urge that she be provided the best medical care as her health has deteriorated significantly over the course of her detention. The imprisonment of the Yunuss on trumped up charges represent a troubling crackdown on civil society in Azerbaijan that has included the harassment and imprisonment of journalists, human rights defenders, and the attorneys that represent them. I welcome the release of Leyla Yunus today, but many other human rights defenders and civil society activists remain detained. I again urge Azerbaijan to provide an environment in which all Azerbaijanis are able to express freely their views and beliefs without recrimination or punishment. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cummings.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cummings-cardin-introduce-legislation-protect-state-and-local-witnesses,"Cummings, Cardin Introduce Legislation to Protect State and Local Witnesses from Violence and Intimidation",2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Elijah Cummings,C000984,cummings.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. (December 9, 2015) Today, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings and Senator Ben Cardin (both D-MD) introduced the Witness Security and Protection Grant Program Act of 2015, legislation that directs the U.S. Attorney General to award competitive grants to state and local governments to establish and maintain short-term witness protection programs in cases involving homicides, violent felonies, serious drug offenses, gang related crimes or organized crime. With the spikes in homicides weve been seeing this year in major cities like Baltimore, securing the safe cooperation of witnesses is more crucial now than ever, Congressman Cummings said. Without witnesses who feel safe working with police officers, the wheels of justice will come to a screeching halt. This legislation will help state and local governments provide the specific kinds of services needed to protect witnesses and ensure they feel safe enough to testify in court. Our criminal justice system is not working effectively when prosecutors are forced to choose between funding costly investigations and protecting witnesses, said Senator Cardin. This legislation will help ensure that prosecutors in Baltimore and elsewhere around the country at the state and local levels are equipped with the necessary resources to fight this epidemic that is poisoning our communities. Witnesses want to do the right thing and testify, but they need to know that they and their families are safe from harm. In January, The Washington Post reported that since 2004, at least 37 people in Washington, D.C. and Maryland have been killed for cooperating with law enforcement or out of fear that they might [cooperate]. In August, according to the New York Times, over 30 cities were reporting increases in violence from the year prior, and many large U.S. cities were seeing spikes in murders this year, including Baltimore, Maryland; New Orleans, Louisiana; Washington, D.C.; St. Louis, Missouri; and others. According to the Baltimore Sun, there was a total of 211 homicides in Baltimore in 2014, while the city has already suffered more than 300 homicides in 2015. Earlier this year, Rashaw Scott, a Baltimore man whose 16-month-old son was fatally shot, refused to cooperate with the investigation and had to be compelled to testify at the trial, illustrating the problems Baltimore law enforcement and prosecutors face in finding willing witnesses. The Witness Security and Protection Grant Program Act of 2015 would provide $150 million in competitive grants -- $30 million a year for five years -- to state, local and tribal governments to establish witness assistance programs. The bill also requires the Attorney General to collect data and best practices from the grantees and report this information back to Congress, States and other relevant entities. The Attorney General is also directed to ensure that, as practicable, grants are given to an equitable geographical distribution of programs throughout the country. Cummings and Cardin introduced similar legislation in the 113th Congress. Cummings has also led House efforts on the bill for more than a decade.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congress-tells-schools-to-take-it-outside,Congress Tells Schools to Take It Outside,2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Congress passed a new K-12 education law that empowers schools, promises more flexibility for states, and reduces the reliance on high-stakes testing in public schools while maintaining strong oversight of student achievement. Included in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), a bipartisan bill that replaces the widely-criticized No Child Left Behind Act, is a key provision co-authored by U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD) that will strengthen environmental education programs in schools across the country. The Reed-Sarbanes bill known as the No Child Left Inside (NCLI) Act authorizes funding to help states create environmental education plans and support outdoor learning programs and integrates environmental literacy activities into other key programs. The Every Student Succeeds Act will allow school districts to integrate environmental education into their programs for well-rounded education as well as their afterschool programs. The measure will support environmental education and hands-on, field-based learning experiences in participating schools nationwide. Reed and Sarbanes have been working together since 2007 to pass NCLI to help states and schools build environmental literacy programs, strengthen teacher training, and provide competitive grants to allow schools and non-profits to pay for quality outdoor education programs. Research by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) shows that children who are allowed to get outdoors during the school day are more attentive in class and better off socially and physically. Environmental education can have a positive impact on kids health, academic achievement, and understanding of the natural world.This bill represents a major step forward, giving schools new opportunities to engage students through environmental education, said Senator Reed.Teaching children about the environment and giving them a hands-on opportunity to experience nature should be an important part of the curriculum in our schools.This new law will free up critical resources for environmental education to inspire the next generation of scientists and conservationists. Its a smart investment in our children and their future. ESSA is a tremendous victory for advocates of environmental education whove fought long and hard to expand outdoor, hands-on learning programs, said Congressman Sarbanes. Numerous studies show the positive effect of experiential outdoor learning on student development and academic achievement. And if we can better connect youth with the outdoors, then we can help inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. I commend my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for passing a comprehensive education reform package that has immense benefits for students, teachers and schools across the country. NCLI would provide federal grant funding for teachers who design and implement environmental education programs in, and importantly, outside of the classroom. By encouraging new environmental curricula, the bill would also cultivate partnerships and strengthen relationships between school districts, colleges, environmental nonprofits, parks and other community-based organizations. NCLI was backed by a strong, grassroots coalition of hundreds of community groups nationwide. ESSA has already been approved in the U.S. House of Representatives and now that it has passed the full U.S. Senate it will be sent to the Presidents desk, where he is expected to sign it into law. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sarbanes-introduces-bill-to-modernize-america-s-electric-grid,Sarbanes Introduces Bill to Modernize Americas Electric Grid,2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today introduced the 21st Century Power Grid Act (H.R. 4206), a bill that would make Americas electric grid more efficient and secure. The legislation would empower the Department of Energy to support projects that improve grid performance and security through grant making and cooperative agreements. This includes the research, development and deployment of digital technologies, advanced communications and control systems, distributed energy resources, more resilient grid infrastructure, strengthened cybersecurity defenses and cost-saving mechanisms for consumers. Todays electric grid is outmoded and obsolete, making consumers vulnerable to higher utility prices and leaving us defenseless against the threat of cyberattack, said Congressman Sarbanes. Thats why improving grid reliability, flexibility, efficiency and security must be a top priority for this nation. Modernizing our electric grid is a win-win-win for consumers, for utilities and for the country as a whole. Its past time for us to upgrade our electric grid to meet current energy demands and security threats to our infrastructure, said Rep. Jerry McNerney. Modernization starts with funding innovative research and development of new technologies that boost reliability and efficiency, and promote better protection against cyber threats. As a former engineer and co-founder of the Grid Innovation Caucus, I believe this bipartisan legislation will benefit consumers and utilities, and will serve as a critical investment to secure our energy infrastructure for the future. Click here for more information about the 21st Century Power Grid Act. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/04/04/2018/cardin-statement-on-efforts-by-montenegro-to-join-nato,Cardin Statement On Efforts By Montenegro To Join Nato,2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 09, 2015 Cardin Statement On Efforts By Montenegro To Join Nato WASHINGTONU.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on the recent announcement by NATO extending an invitation for Montenegro to join the Alliance. I welcome the recent announcement that NATO will extend an invitation to the country of Montenegro. I strongly support this invitation and look forward to welcoming Montenegro into the Alliance at the Warsaw summit in July 2016. Last month's horrific attacks in Paris were a stark reminder of the new and evolving security threats that NATO members face. As we respond to these attacks, renewed Russian aggression in the East, and the influx of refugees, we must commit to reinforcing and expanding our core values by enhancing membership in our shared transatlantic institutions, anchored under NATO's security umbrella. Since its founding close to 70 years ago, the promise of NATO membership has motivated societies to improve not only their military capabilities, but their governance capacity as well. As NATO faces simultaneous crises along its eastern and southern flanks, we must ensure that the Alliance is equipped militarily toaddressthese threats, while also using the promise of NATO membership to encourage better governance in aspirant countries. I congratulate Montenegro on the significant steps it has taken in preparation for this moment and urge its continued progress on efforts to combat corruption and strengthen the rule of law. Progress in these areas is critical for Montenegro's membership bid, and we will closely monitor their efforts. Welcoming Montenegro into NATO is recognition of its important reform work to date.In a region that has been held back by conflict and corruption, we must show that NATO's door is open to those who are willing to undertake the necessary reforms to join the Euroatlantic community. I commend all NATO for supporting Montenegro's bid and look forward to welcoming it into this critical Alliance. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/2015/12/09/cardin-lauds-senate-passage-of-elementary-and-secondary-education-reauthorization-bill,Cardin Lauds Senate Passage of Elementary and Secondary Education Reauthorization Bill,2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 09, 2015 Cardin Lauds Senate Passage of Elementary and Secondary Education Reauthorization Bill WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) issued the following statement after the Senate voted with an overwhelming bipartisan majority to approve S. 1177, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The bill reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which was first enacted by Congress 50 years ago, and replaces the 13-year-old No Child Left Behind Act. The vote was 85-12. Education is the great equalizer and it is incredibly important that all Maryland public schools are able to provide the same high-quality education to their students, regardless of a child's zip code. Enacted more than a decade ago, the No Child Left Behind Act had the best of intentions and a comforting name, but was beset with red tape and an over-reliance on assessments. The legislation we have just passed was the product of thoughtful work by Democrats and Republicans to put children before partisanship. The ESSA will allow states to develop accountability systems that more accurately represent student progress in the classroom, while still ensuring that students are held to the high-yet-achievable standard of being college- and career-ready upon completion of high school. I'm proud that the ESSA takes additional positive steps to ensure schools support the whole child, both physically and mentally. The approved bill includes an amendment I offered with Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) to allow schools in low-income areas to use federal resources under Title I to provide school-based mental health programs. School-based mental health programs have been proven to increase educational outcomes, decrease absences and improve student achievement. In an effort to ensure that all students future active participants in our civic society have a basic understanding of how our government functions, I was pleased to work with Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) to modify the American History and Civics Title of ESSA. Our provision will allow evidence-based civic and government education programs that emphasize the history and principles of the U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, to receive federal funding for expansion and dissemination for voluntary use. For too long under NCLB, a singular focus on certain assessments pushed out other important subjects like these that are essential components of a well-rounded education. Legislating is about compromise and, in many respects, this bill is a vast improvement over the No Child Left Behind Act. I'm proud to have worked with Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) to prevent a dangerous proposal offered by Senator Richard Burr (R-N.C.) from being included in the final conference report that would have reduced Maryland's share of Title I-A funding for the education of low-income children by $40 million per year. The Burr proposal would have punished states like Maryland that have made the decision to properly invest in funding education for our children. Congress must not repeat the same mistakes learned under the No Child Left Behind Act by underfunding our nation's public schools. I stand ready to work with members from both parties to ensure that all Americans can access a high-quality education. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-cummings-introduce-legislation-to-protect-state-and-local-witnesses-from-violence-and-intimidation,"Cardin, Cummings Introduce Legislation to Protect State and Local Witnesses from Violence and Intimidation",2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 09, 2015 Cardin, Cummings Introduce Legislation to Protect State and Local Witnesses from Violence and Intimidation Washington Today, Senator Ben Cardin and Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (both D-MD) introduced the Witness Security and Protection Grant Program Act of 2015, legislation that directs the U.S. Attorney General to award competitive grants to state and local governments to establish and maintain short-term witness protection programs in cases involving homicides, violent felonies, serious drug offenses, gang related crimes or organized crime. Our criminal justice system is not working effectively when prosecutors are forced to choose between funding costly investigations and protecting witnesses, said Senator Cardin. This legislation will help ensure that prosecutors in Baltimore and elsewhere around the country at the state and local levels are equipped with the necessary resources to fight this epidemic that is poisoning our communities. Witnesses want to do the right thing and testify, but they need to know that they and their families are safe from harm. With the spikes in homicides we've been seeing this year in major cities like Baltimore, securing the safe cooperation of witnesses is more crucial now than ever, Congressman Cummings said. Without witnesses who feel safe working with police officers, the wheels of justice will come to a screeching halt. This legislation will help state and local governments provide the specific kinds of services needed to protect witnesses and ensure they feel safe enough to testify in court. In January, The Washington Post reported that since 2004, at least 37 people in Washington, D.C. and Maryland have been killed for cooperating with law enforcement or out of fear that they might [cooperate]. In August, according to the New York Times, over 30 cities were reporting increases in violence from the year prior, and many large U.S. cities were seeing spikes in murders this year, including Baltimore, Maryland; New Orleans, Louisiana; Washington, D.C.; St. Louis, Missouri; and others. According to the Baltimore Sun, there was a total of 211 homicides in Baltimore in 2014, while the city has already suffered more than 300 homicides in 2015. Earlier this year, Rashaw Scott, a Baltimore man whose 16-month-old son was fatally shot, refused to cooperate with the investigation and had to be compelled to testify at the trial, illustrating the problems Baltimore law enforcement and prosecutors face in finding willing witnesses. The Witness Security and Protection Grant Program Act of 2015 would provide $150 million in competitive grants -- $30 million a year for five years -- to state, local and tribal governments to establish witness assistance programs. The bill also requires the Attorney General to collect data and best practices from the grantees and report this information back to Congress, States and other relevant entities. The Attorney General is also directed to ensure that, as practicable, grants are given to an equitable geographical distribution of programs throughout the country. Cardin and Cummings introduced similar legislation in the 113th Congress. Cummings has also led House efforts on the bill for more than a decade. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hoyer.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2545,Hoyer and the National Capital Region House Delegation Meet with New Metro General Manager,2015-12-08,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Steny Hoyer,H000874,hoyer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) hosted a meeting on Capitol Hill with the National Capital Region House Delegation and the new General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Paul Wiedefeld. Members in attendance included Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD), Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-MD), Congressman John Delaney (D-MD) and Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA). I was pleased to welcome Mr. Wiedefeld to Capitol Hill today to discuss his top priorities and plans to address some of Metros immediate challenges, said Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD).I hope that he will take our Delegation concerns and those of our constituents into consideration as he works to improve the safety and quality of Metro services. I look forward to working with him and continuing to advocate for federal resources to ensure that Metro is a reliable source of transportation to commuters who ride Metro each day and to visitors who travel to our region. I believe Mr. Wiedefeld is serious about ensuring safety and restoring rider confidence in Metro, two of the chief concerns among our congressional delegation, said Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC). We have now achieved federal safety oversight over WMATA, which we hope will help the agency turn a new page and meet the standards that our constituents are rightfully demanding. Congressman Van Hollen (D-MD) said, I thank General Manager Paul Wiedefeld for meeting today to discuss strategies for addressing the pervasive safety and service deficiencies at WMATA. My constituents expect Metro to be reliable and safe, and significant work must be done to meet that standard. I look forward to working with Mr. Wiedefeld to address rider frustrations and fix the system, and to working with my colleagues in the Congressional delegation to hold WMATA accountable. I was encouraged to hear Mr. Wiedefelds ideas for improving the safety and quality of WMATA, said Congressman Sarbanes (D-MD). With more than 30 years of experience in transportation management serving as the head of the Maryland Transit Administration and as the former CEO of BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport I hope that Mr. Wiedefeld will place a high priority on the needs of Marylanders. Todays meeting with the National Capital Region House Delegation was a welcome opportunity to hear from Mr. Wiedefeld directly about his focus to improve safety, reliability, and change the overall culture at WMATA, said Congresswoman Edwards (D-MD). It is a team effort, and is why I worked with Reps. Norton (DC) and Comstock (VA-10) to provide new and direct federal oversight, investigation, and enforcement authority of Metro. It is also why Rep. Comstock and I transferred Metro board appointments from the General Services Administration to the U.S. Department of Transportation. It is clear that Mr. Wiedefeld shares our commitment and understands what is at stake, in terms of ensuring safety for commuters and visitors, and the critical role Metro plays in economic development throughout the region. I am certain that Mr. Wiedefeld will prove to be a valuable partner as we all continue working together to improve Metros operations. Marylanders depend on Metro every day to get to work, get to school and get home and they are deeply concerned about Metros safety and reliability, said Congressman Delaney (D-MD). I look forward to hearing more about Mr. Wiedefelds plans to upgrade Metro, because improvements are truly needed. The Capital Region doesnt work without Metro operating at a high standard and I am committed to fighting for Metro in the federal budget, but we also need assurances that Metro can make improvements. Id like to thank Mr. Wiedefeld for taking the time to meet with the regional delegation and thank Whip Hoyer for arranging the meeting. Mr. Wiedefeld faces a Herculean task, and I stand firmly behind him, said Congressman Beyer (D-VA). I am confident that he and his team will restore this system to great safety and reliability, and the regions congressional delegation will do all we can to help him.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/dmv-house-delegation-meets-with-new-metro-general-manager,DMV House Delegation Meets with New Metro General Manager,2015-12-08,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Today,the National Capital Region House Delegation met withthe new General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Paul Wiedefeld. Members in attendance included Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.), Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-Md.), Congressman John Delaney (D-Md.) and Congressman Don Beyer (D-Va.). I was pleased to welcome Mr. Wiedefeld to Capitol Hill today to discuss his top priorities and plans to address some of Metros immediate challenges, said Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.).I hope that he will take our Delegation concerns and those of our constituents into consideration as he works to improve the safety and quality of Metro services. I look forward to working with him and continuing to advocate for federal resources to ensure that Metro is a reliable source of transportation to commuters who ride Metro each day and to visitors who travel to our region. I believe Mr. Wiedefeld is serious about ensuring safety and restoring rider confidence in Metro, two of the chief concerns among our congressional delegation, said Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.). We have now achieved federal safety oversight over WMATA, which we hope will help the agency turn a new page and meet the standards that our constituents are rightfully demanding. Congressman Van Hollen (D-Md.) said, I thank General Manager Paul Wiedefeld for meeting today to discuss strategies for addressing the pervasive safety and service deficiencies at WMATA. My constituents expect Metro to be reliable and safe, and significant work must be done to meet that standard. I look forward to working with Mr. Wiedefeld to address rider frustrations and fix the system, and to working with my colleagues in the Congressional delegation to hold WMATA accountable. I was encouraged to hear Mr. Wiedefelds ideas for improving the safety and quality of WMATA, said Congressman Sarbanes (D-Md.). With more than 30 years of experience in transportation management serving as the head of the Maryland Transit Administration and as the former CEO of BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport I hope that Mr. Wiedefeld will place a high priority on the needs of Marylanders. Todays meeting with the National Capital Region House Delegation was a welcome opportunity to hear from Mr. Wiedefeld directly about his focus to improve safety, reliability, and change the overall culture at WMATA, said Congresswoman Edwards (D-Md.).It is a team effort, and is why I worked with Reps. Norton (DC) and Comstock (VA-10) to provide new and direct federal oversight, investigation, and enforcement authority of Metro.It is also why Rep. Comstock and I transferred Metro board appointments from the General Services Administration to the U.S. Department of Transportation.It is clear that Mr. Wiedefeld shares our commitment and understands what is at stake, in terms of ensuring safety for commuters and visitors, and the critical role Metro plays in economic development throughout the region.I am certain that Mr. Wiedefeld will prove to be a valuable partner as we all continue working together to improve Metros operations. Marylanders depend on Metro every day to get to work, get to school and get home and they are deeply concerned about Metros safety and reliability, said Congressman Delaney (D-Md.). I look forward to hearing more about Mr. Wiedefelds plans to upgrade Metro, because improvements are truly needed. The Capital Region doesnt work without Metro operating at a high standard and I am committed to fighting for Metro in the federal budget, but we also need assurances that Metro can make improvements. Id like to thank Mr. Wiedefeld for taking the time to meet with the regional delegation and thank Whip Hoyer for arranging the meeting. Mr. Wiedefeld faces a Herculean task, and I stand firmly behind him, said Congressman Beyer (D-Va.). I am confident that he and his team will restore this system to great safety and reliability, and the regions congressional delegation will do all we can to help him. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://delaney.house.gov/news/blogs/on-the-house-floor-this-week-12715,On the House Floor This Week - 12/7/15,2015-12-07,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Delaney,D000620,delaney.house.gov,,,legacy,"This week, the House of Representatives is in session. The legislative calendar, including which bills are brought to the floor for a vote, is set by the Speaker of the House. If you have questions of concerns about any of these bills, please contact my office by email or call 202-225-2721. MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2015 On Monday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for Morning Hour debate and at 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Suspensions (2 bills) S. 614 Federal Improper Payments Coordination Act of 2015 (Sen. Carper Oversight and Government Reform) H.R. 1321 Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 (Rep. Pallone Energy and Commerce) TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2015 On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for Morning Hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. Suspensions (13 bills) H.R. 2795 FRIENDS Act, as amended (Rep. Jackson-Lee Homeland Security) H.R. 3842 Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers Reform and Improvement Act of 2015, as amended (Rep. Carter (GA) Homeland Security) H.R. 3859 HSA Technical Corrections Act, as amended (Rep. Perry Homeland Security) H.R. 3869 State and Local Cyber Protection Act of 2015, as amended (Rep. Hurd Homeland Security) H.R. 3875 Department of Homeland Security CBRNE Defense Act of 2015, as amended (Rep. McCaul Homeland Security) H.R. 3578 DHS Science and Technology Reform and Improvement Act of 2015, as amended (Rep. Ratcliffe Homeland Security) H.R. 158 Visa Waiver Program Improvement Act of 2015, as amended (Rep. Miller Judiciary) S. 808 Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act of 2015 (Sen. Thune Transportation and Infrastructure) H.R. 3750 First Responders Passport Act of 2015 (Rep. Issa Foreign Affairs) H.R. 3766 Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act, as amended (Rep. Poe Foreign Affairs) H.R. 2241 Global Health Innovation Act of 2015, as amended (Rep. Sires Foreign Affairs) Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2297 Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015(Rep. Royce Foreign Affairs) H.R. 3831 Securing Fairness in Regulatory Timing Act of 2015 (Rep. Brady (TX) Ways and Means) WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015 AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for Morning Hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. The schedule for the end of the week is very fluid. Further information regarding the schedule will be announced as soon as it becomes available. H.R. 2130 Red River Private Property Protection Act (Rep. Thornberry Natural Resources) (Subject to a Rule) Possible Consideration of the Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 644 Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 Possible Consideration of Legislation to Extend Certain Provisions of the Tax Code Possible Consideration of a Consolidated Appropriations Act Possible Consideration of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3762 Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hoyer.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2544,Hoyer Statement on Renaming University of Maryland Football Stadium,2015-12-07,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Steny Hoyer,H000874,hoyer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) released the following statement today following University of Maryland President Wallace Lohs recommendation to change the name of the universitys football stadium from Byrd Stadium to Maryland Stadium: I join in supporting calls from President Wallace Loh and student leaders to rename the University of Marylands football stadium. Given Harry Curley Byrds support for segregationist policies during his time as President of the University of Maryland, I believe the stadiums name is not in line with the universitys mission and its commitment to diversity and inclusiveness. Our campus and its facilities should be a welcoming place for all. As a proud Terp alumni, I value that our university has been an example of progress, and we should continue that tradition as the flagship university of the University System of Maryland. I urge the University System of Maryland Board of Regents, who has the final authority to rename school buildings, to act promptly and to vote to rename the stadium.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/backlash-grows-over-mcconnells-campaign-spending-measure,Backlash Grows Over McConnell's Campaign Spending Measure,2015-12-05,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"In a letter sent to leaders in both House and Senate late Thursday, 115 House Democrats said that such a change to the current rules governing political party spending would greatly increase the power of a select group of wealthy donors who are capable of contributing large sums to the political parties. Urging the leaders to reject McConnells idea, the letter -- circulated by Reps. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) and John Sarbanes (D-Md.) -- said that including the measure in the year-end bill would only further surrender the party apparatus to the influence of millionaires and billionaires.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://delaney.house.gov/news/blogs/delaney-to-hold-entrepreneurship-workshop-december-14-in-rockville,Delaney to Hold Entrepreneurship Workshop December 14 in Rockville,2015-12-04,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Delaney,D000620,delaney.house.gov,,,legacy,"On Monday December 14 Congressman John K. Delaney will host an Entrepreneurship Workshop with local entrepreneurs and national, state and local business advocates. The workshop will take place at The Universities at Shady Grove at 4:30-7:00 PM. The event is free to attend and open to the public. To register for the Entrepreneurship Workshop, click here. WHO: Rep. John K. Delaney, Entrepreneurs and Business Advocates WHAT: Entrepreneurship Workshop WHERE: The Universities of Shady Grove, Conference Center, 9639 Gudelsky Dr, Rockville MD 20850 WHEN: Monday December 14, 4:30-7:00 PM The event will be an opportunity to hear from federal, state and local leaders in business including: The top official at the Small Business Administration, Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet George H. Harrop, Managing Director of Small Business Lending of CapitalSource Christy Wyskiel from Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures Evelyn Rodgers, a local entrepreneur who founded Pinky & Pepe's Grape Escape in Gaithersburg The Maryland Women's Business Center The Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce and The Maryland Small Business Development Center Constituents seeking more information on the event can call Rep. Delaneys office at 301-926-0300.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-votes-for-surface-transportation-bill-citing-benefits-of-infrastructure-investments-but-highlights-major-flaws-in-funding-mechanisms,"Cardin Votes for Surface Transportation Bill Citing Benefits of Infrastructure Investments, but Highlights Major Flaws in Funding Mechanisms",2015-12-04,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 04, 2015 Cardin Votes for Surface Transportation Bill Citing Benefits of Infrastructure Investments, but Highlights Major Flaws in Funding Mechanisms We have missed an opportunity here to stick to the user pays principle with regard to the federal gasoline excise tax. WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee that has oversight responsibility for major portions of surface transportation programs funded by the federal government, praised the conferees for reaching an agreement on a five-year transportation bill but issued a stern warning about the flaws in the final accord. Senator Cardin's full statement on adoption of the Conference Report to H.R. 22, Fixing Americas Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), can be found here. I congratulate the House and Senate conferees for reaching an agreement; I know it has been an arduous process. The reauthorization contains many good provisions and provides five years of desperately needed funding for our Nations crumbling transportation infrastructure. I will vote for the Conference Report. But I will do so with serious reservations about how this bill is funded. Our surface transportation infrastructure is a crucial component of our national security and economic competitiveness. Reauthorizing our surface transportation programs used to be a relatively routine matter; now, it is becoming harder and harder to do and we are relying more and more on gimmicky funding mechanisms. These are worrisome precedents. Senator Cardin praised the bill for retaining Americas commitment to transportation alternatives: This bill includes more than $4 billion for bike and pedestrian infrastructure, making our roads safer for everyone who uses them. My bill creating a dedicated program for non-motorized safety is also included in the reauthorization, which will support things like bike safety training programs for both bicyclists and drivers, again making our streets safer for all who use them. He also highlighted the successful retention of dedicated funding for bus programs (Section 5340) in high-density areas: This program is for high-density areas like Baltimore and Washington, DC, which cannot simply widen a road to accommodate extra travelers. The FAST Act provides more than $2.7 billion to high density areas. Over the life of this bill, Maryland should receive more than $4.4 billion in combined funding for roads, bridges, transit, pedestrian and bike paths, and other programs from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA). That is an extraordinary amount of funding for a State that sorely needs it. Voicing concerns about the impact on environmental policy, Senator Cardin added: I am concerned that the FAST Act undermines National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). More than 95 percent of all FHWA-approved projects involve no significant impacts and, therefore, have limited NEPA requirements. If we really want to speed project development, we should recognize the known causes of delay--the lack of requisite funding to quickly process the few reviews necessary-- and not use this bill as a Trojan horse to dismantle our Nations foundational environmental laws. Senator Cardin again highlights major flaws in how the bill is funded: While I have mixed feelings about the policies in this bill, I am not conflicted with regard to how it is funded instead of opting for a reliable and permanent future revenue stream to pay for this critical government function, the FAST Act falls back on provisions completely unrelated to highways and mass transit. It relies on one-time pay-fors that are simply digging a deeper hole for the next reauthorization. That is a troublesome precedent. I think we have missed an opportunity here to stick to the user pays principle with regard to the federal gasoline excise tax, which hasnt been raised since 1993. According to the Congressional Budget Office, a 10-cent per gallon increase in the tax would fully fund the bill for five year. Lower gasoline prices let motorists keep more money in their pockets in the short-term. But we have to think about the long term, too, and if we needlessly delay making that inevitable shift, the long-term costs to human health and the environment will dwarf any perceived short-term gains. Senator Cardin emphasized the major flaw in the inclusion of a provision as a pay-for that has historically cost the federal government more money than it has taken in: There is one so-called offset in the bill that I adamantly oppose: the use of private collection agencies (PCAs) to collect tax debt. I oppose this provision not only because it simply will not raise revenue, but also because it is terrible tax policy that puts a target on the back of low-income and middle-class families. The Treasury Department, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the National Taxpayer Advocate all join me in opposing this provision. Twice before, from 1996 to 1997 and from 2006 to 2009, Congress required Treasury to turn over some tax collection efforts to PCAs, with miserable results. The first attempt resulted in the loss of $17 million and contractors participating were found to have violated the Fair Debt Collections Practice Act. The next time, data from the IRS showed that the program actually resulted in a net loss of almost $4.5 million to the Federal Government after subtracting $86.2 million in administration costs and more than $16 million in commissions to the PCAs. Because we refuse to turn to obvious and commonsense financing solutions for our transportation infrastructure problems, we have decided instead to use an offset that has historically LOST money, all on the backs of low-income taxpayers. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/ten-us-senators-arrive-in-paris-to-attend-cop-21-climate-talks,Ten U.S. Senators Arrive in Paris to Attend COP 21 Climate Talks,2015-12-04,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 04, 2015 Ten U.S. Senators Arrive in Paris to Attend COP 21 Climate Talks Delegation of Democratic U.S. Senators to Express their Strong Support for Climate Talk Negotiations PARIS Ten U.S. Senators arrived in Paris on Friday to attend the COP 21 climate talks that are now underway. The Senate delegation, led by U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Maryland), will attend the Paris talks and participate in a series of events and bilateral meetings with world leaders in support of achieving solutions to the challenges of climate change. On climate change, we are approaching a now or never moment. U.S. leadership has played a critical role in bringing us to this time in history and we will not walk away from this global opportunity. No country is immune from the impacts of climate change if we fail to act. No future generation will be protected if this generation does not act responsibly, said Senator Cardin, the Ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. The Paris agreement will help create jobs in America and around the world. It will continue to diversify and strengthen economies, as well as protect public health and the environment. Participating U.S. Senators include: Senator Ben Cardin (D-Maryland), Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island), Senator Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire), Senator Tom Udall (D-New Mexico), Senator Chris Coons (D-Delaware), Senator Al Franken (D-Minnesota), Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Senator Cory Booker (D-New Jersey). The delegation will attend the Climate Summit for Local Leaders at Paris City Hall and hold meetings at Le Bourget, site of the climate negotiations. Bilateral meetings are scheduled with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, former Vice President Al Gore, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, the U.S. delegation participating in the climate talks, as well as contingents from other countries. On Saturday at 12:30, the delegation will hold a press conference at Le Bourget in Press Conference Room 1, Hall 2 that will be open to accredited reporters covering COP 21. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hoyer.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2543,Hoyer Speaks at Collective Empowerment Group's 20th Anniversary Platinum Celebration,2015-12-04,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Steny Hoyer,H000874,hoyer.house.gov,,,legacy,"UPPER MARLBORO, MD Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) delivered brief remarks last night at the Collective Empowerment Groups 20th Anniversary Platinum Celebration in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. The event honored several individuals including Senator Barbara Mikulski. I join in congratulating last nights honorees for exemplifying the values the Collective Empowerment Group has successfully promoted over the past two decades, said Congressman Steny Hoyer. For 20 years, the Collective Empowerment Group has been working hard to bring opportunities to those who need them, whether through financial literacy and homeownership workshops, support for public health programs, education programs, gun buy-backs, and advocacy for a higher minimum wage. As I continue to work with my colleagues in the Maryland delegation on these issues at the federal level, we will continue to rely on the Collective Empowerment Group as our local partners in carrying forward this critical work. I applaud their members for everything they do to improve lives and bring hope to those seeking a better tomorrow, and I look forward to continuing to perform this work together in the months and years ahead. The Collective Empowerment Group brings together Prince Georges County and Washington, D.C. area pastors and church members to focus on financial literacy, education, healthcare, homeownership preservation, public safety and public policy.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/democrats-oppose-new-effort-to-loosen-campaign-finance-rules,Democrats Oppose New Effort to Loosen Campaign Finance Rules,2015-12-04,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"Reps. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) and Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) are circulating a letter among Democrats calling on congressional leaders to oppose the inclusion of a provision that would allow political parties to spend unlimited money on coordinated expenditures with candidates. The letter, which will be sent to McConnell, along with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.), House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.),has 113 signatures so far.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://delaney.house.gov/news/press-releases/delaney-conference-highway-bill-woefully-deficient-missed-opportunity-for,"Delaney: Conference Highway Bill Woefully Deficient, Missed Opportunity for Economic Growth",2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Delaney,D000620,delaney.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON The House considered today a new conference Highway Bill, the FAST Act, legislation that broadly maintains current federal investment in infrastructure for the next five years. The legislation, which passed the House, patches the funding gap in the Highway Trust Fund with a variety of one-time offsets, including contracting out IRS services, selling off a portion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, using revenues from the Federal Reserve and increasing customs fees. Over the last three years Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-6) has led the effort to rebuild Americas infrastructure and create millions of new jobs by using revenues from international tax reform. Dozens of members from both parties have endorsed this approach. Delaneys Infrastructure 2.0 Act (H.R. 625) adds $120 billion to the Highway Trust Fund as opposed to the $70 billion added by the FAST Act and creates a new $50 billion dollar infrastructure fund to finance state and local projects nationwide. A five-year highway bill is better than more short-term patches and budgetary chaos, but we should not fool ourselves into thinking that Congress has achieved a great victory with this legislation. While it is good that we will have infrastructure funding certainty for the next five years, the funding levels are woefully deficient. Instead of using revenue from international tax reform, which would be massively pro-growth, eliminate the incentive for U.S. companies to invert or continue to keep their profits overseas, and provide funding for higher levels of infrastructure investment, were using a hodgepodge of budget gimmicks, said Congressman Delaney. This bill abandons the huge opportunity we have before us to create jobs and build a world-class level of infrastructure that our domestic businesses need and that will attract new investment into our economy. We cant wait another five years to solve this problem and I will continue to work with my colleagues to build support for a pro-growth solution that creates jobs. The time to invest in our infrastructure and fix our broken international tax code is now. If we wait, our global competitors are the ones that will benefit from our inaction. The Infrastructure 2.0 Act Investing in 21st Century Infrastructure with Deemed Repatriation at 8.75% Tax Rate Under the Infrastructure 2.0 Act, existing overseas profits accumulated by U.S. multi-national corporations would be subject to a mandatory, one-time 8.75% tax, replacing deferral option and current rate of 35%. $120 billion to the Highway Trust Fund, enough to meet funding gap at increased levels for six years. $50 billion to capitalize the American Infrastructure Fund (AIF) a new financing mechanism for transportation, water, energy, communications and education projects. Leveraged to $750 billion, AIF financing (loans, bond guarantees and equity) is available to state and local governments. American Infrastructure Fund was first proposed in Rep. Delaneys bipartisan Partnership to Build America Act. $25 million pilot program to create regional infrastructure accelerators, similar to the West Coast Infrastructure Exchange This frees the estimated $2 trillion in overseas earnings to return to the United States, spurring private sector re-investment and growth. Creating Long-term Highway Trust Fund Solvency and Policy Certainty The Infrastructure 2.0 Act provides six years of HTF solvency, providing immediate certainty to the private sector and policymakers. The legislation also establishes a bipartisan and bicameral commission that is tasked with developing a solution for permanent solvency of the Highway Trust Fund. Building a Path for Broader Tax Reform The Infrastructure 2.0 Act creates an eighteen month deadline for international tax reform. To encourage action, the legislation includes a forcing function: if reform is not enacted, a fallback international tax package to make U.S. business climate more competitive would be implemented. This pro-growth fallback reform package would end deferral, reduce anti-competitive over taxation, decrease taxes for companies paying fair rates abroad but increase taxes for companies in tax havens. This would eliminate the lock-out effect and allow for the free flow of profits back to the United States. Under this option, for Active Market Foreign Income, a company would pay a 12.25% tax to the U.S. on overseas profits if they are currently paying no tax and a 2% tax to the U.S. if they are already paying the OECD average of 25% abroad, with a sliding scale in-between. ##",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://delaney.house.gov/news/press-releases/delaney-leads-letter-calling-for-increased-funding-for-refugee-screening-and,Delaney Leads Letter Calling for Increased Funding for Refugee Screening and Resettlement,2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Delaney,D000620,delaney.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-6) led a letter to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees calling for more resources to be dedicated to refugee processing in the Fiscal Year 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill. I believe we have the capabilities to speed up the process to accept refugees from places like Syria so that it doesnt take 18-24 months. These are people in need and as a country we have the ability to accept more innocent people fleeing ISIS. However to accomplish this, we need to provide the agencies vetting refugees with enough resources to expedite the process while maintaining effective screening procedures. That is why I am requesting supplemental funding to ensure the appropriate agencies have the necessary resources to both improve and expedite the refugee screening process to address this humanitarian crisis, said Congressman Delaney. The letter was authored by Delaney and signed by 30 additional members of Congress and was sent to Sen. Thad Cochran, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations; Sen. Barbara Mikulski, Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations; Rep. Hal Rodgers, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations and Rep. Nita M. Lowey, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Appropriations. The text of the letter is below: Dear Chairman Cochran, Vice Chairwoman Mikulski, Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Lowey, We have all seen and heard about the horrors Syrians have faced due to civil war and terrorism. Millions have fled their homeland in the hopes of seeking safety. While the United States has a thorough system in place for screening at-risk refugees, it is lengthy and not as efficient as it could be for low-risk refugees. Most Syrians first register with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which can take anywhere from a few weeks to more than a year before a very select few are referred to the United States for our own stringent checks, which on average, take between 18-24 months. We should improve security standards to ensure that terrorists dont enter the United States; however, we also can expedite the process for low risk populations at the same time. There are three main agencies that are tasked with refugee processing and resettlement which include the Department of States Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), and the Department of Homeland Securitys U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). PRM runs the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, which includes the Resettlement Support Centers, and the Reception and Placement Program. ORR provides social services that help refugees become self-sufficient after arrival while also offering guidance and medical assistance. USCIS makes the final determination about whether or not each refugee is admissible to the U.S. As you finalize the Fiscal Year 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill, we encourage you to significantly increase funding for these critical programs to allow for more resources to be dedicated to more efficiently process refugee applications. By allocating additional resources effectively, we can both improve and speed up the refugee screening process which is so important to our national security. As you know, we can be both humanitarian and cautious and do not need to sacrifice one for the sake of the other. We appreciate your attention to this lifesaving matter. Sincerely, Rep. John K. Delaney Rep. Pete Aguilar Rep. Ami Bera Rep. Julia Brownley Rep. Cheri Bustos Rep. John Carney Rep. Yvette D. Clarke Rep. Gerald E. Connolly Rep. Jim Cooper Rep. Jim Costa Rep. Joe Courtney Rep. Debbie Dingell Rep. Gene Green Rep. Janice Hahn Rep. Ron Kind Rep. Ann McLane Kuster Rep. Ted W. Lieu Rep. James P. McGovern Rep. Patrick Murphy Rep. Richard Nolan Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton Rep. Scott Peters Rep. Chellie Pingree Rep. Jared Polis Rep. Mike Quigley Rep. Charles B. Rangel Rep. Kathleen Rice Rep. Raul Ruiz Rep. Kyrsten Sinema Rep. Albio Sires Rep. Adam Smith ##",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/senate-democrats-warn-against-anti-environmental-riders-in-omnibus-secure-votes-to-sustain-presidential-veto,"Senate Democrats Warn Against Anti-Environmental Riders in Omnibus, Secure Votes to Sustain Presidential Veto",2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 03, 2015 Senate Democrats Warn Against Anti-Environmental Riders in Omnibus, Secure Votes to Sustain Presidential Veto Anti-environmental riders should have no place in the FY16 spending package WASHINGTON Nearly two-thirds of the Senate Democratic Caucus, led by Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, are urging Senate appropriators to keep out and remove anti-environmental policy riders in forthcoming legislation to fund the federal government for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2016. The senators also are calling on President Obama to veto any omnibus spending package that includes policy riders that threaten environmental and public health by weakening or eliminating laws protecting air, land, water and wildlife. With the added support of Democrats in leadership positions, the senators are in a position to sustain a presidential veto, if needed. At stake is access to clean water and clean air across our country, said Senator Cardin. After enduring previous government shutdowns and the crippling effects of sequestration, the American public is justifiably tired of divisive ideology and loyalty to special interests that threatens public health and the environment. We thought the two-year budget deal passed last month signaled a potential end to such gridlock. Anti-environmental riders that cater to special interests or reflect individual members distaste for certain agencies should have no place in the FY16 spending package. Mother Nature and the public health face enough external threats; Congress should not be one of them. In the letter to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Vice Chairwoman Mikulski (D-Md.), the senators wrote, Unfortunately, many of the appropriations bills approved this year have included deeply divisive policy riders that have no place in must pass legislation or in complicating the bipartisan cooperation necessary to pass such legislation. In a complementary letter to President Barack Obama, the senators urged him to publicly oppose any riders that would gut Americas foundational environmental laws. The letter to Chairman Cochran and Vice Chairwoman Mikulski can be downloaded here. The letter to President Obama can be downloaded here. Led by Senator Cardin, both letters also were signed by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Michael F. Bennet (D-Colo.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Christopher A. Coons (D-Del.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Cory A. Booker (D-N.J.) and Gary C. Peters (D-Mich.). Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cummings.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cummings-warren-issue-staff-report-finding-expiration-critical-tax,"Cummings, Warren Issue Staff Report Finding Expiration of Critical Tax Credits Could Push Hundreds of Thousands of Maryland Residents into Poverty",2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Elijah Cummings,C000984,cummings.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. (Dec. 3, 2015) Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Senator Elizabeth Warren issued a staff report on the benefits of the child tax credit (CTC) and the earned income tax credit (EITC) for Maryland families. The staff report warns that unless Congress acts, the expiration of these tax credits will push millions of American families nationwide, and thousands in Maryland, into poverty. Every child deserves an opportunity to grow and flourish, but childhood poverty robs millions of American children of that opportunity, Cummings said. If Congress is going to give Wall Street billions of dollars in tax breaks, we have the moral obligation to also make permanent the expanded child tax credit and earned income tax credit, which lift millions of American families out of poverty every year. In Maryland alone, the expiration of these tax credits could push 114,000 children into poverty. It is shameful that in 2015, in the richest country on Earth, millions of kids are growing up in abject poverty. ... but we know how to give these children a better start in life, said Warren. We hand out tax breaks to big corporations nearly every year, because Washington works great for these big corporations. But millions of working Americans will be plunged into poverty if we dont extend their tax breaks too. Congress should make tax breaks for working families permanent and it should expand them before committing to any package of corporate tax giveaways. Key findings of the report include: Tens of thousands of Maryland families and children are at risk of losing tax credits: Statewide, 158,000 families and 315,000 children are at risk of losing tax credits if key provisions in the EITC or CTC expire. The expiration of these tax credits could push 243,000 people including 114,000 children into poverty in Maryland alone. Cuts will cost middle- and low-income families with children the equivalent of months worth of groceries, utility bills, or car repairs: If the tax credit provisions expire, the average Maryland family that currently receives the benefit will lose about $1,200 a year. Thats enough for a single mother with two children to buy about nine weeks worth of groceries, cover the cost of needed car repairs, or pay about four months worth of utility bills. Cuts will hurt the Maryland economy: Statewide, the expiration of these tax credits would mean a loss of $189 million that would have been spent in local businesses, helping to create jobs and drive economic growth throughout the region. Lost tax credits by region would include: $162.3 million in the Washington, D.C. metro area $87.5 million in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area $16.4 million in the Salisbury metro area $9.9 million in the Hagerstown-Martinsburg metro area $2.7 million in the California-Lexington Park metro area $3.5 million in the Cumberland metro area $5.5 million in the non-metro areas of the state Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit would help 146,000 Maryland families and individuals, and boost the local economy by another $88.1 million: In addition to preventing the expiration of important tax credits, Congress has the opportunity to go further and expand the EITC for low-income workers. Cummings and Warren issued the report today at a Middle Class Prosperity Project forum titled, The Effects of Poverty On Childrens Opportunities. At the forum, Cummings and Warren were joined by several of Americas leading experts on poverty to discuss what it means for children to be poor in America today; the structural, social and economic factors that keep children and families in poverty; the unique and powerful role played by safety net programs in reducing poverty; and the importance of strengthening those programs as our economy recovers from the worst recession in decades. Cummings and Warren were joined at the forum by Sister Simone Campbell, the Executive Director of NETWORK; Kathryn Edin, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor in Sociology and Public Health at Johns Hopkins University and co-author of $2 a Day: The Art of Living on Virtually Nothing in America; and Robert Greenstein, President of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. We need to transform our economy to prioritize the common good and support our people, Sister Simone Campbell said. The Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit need to be made permanent and expanded. We need living wages so that our people have enough to get by...We need Congress to strengthen programs that are designed to help hardworking families and individuals. In any given month roughly 1.5 million families with 3 million children were living on cash incomes so lowand in a poverty so deepthat we didnt even think it existed in Americaup 130 percent from just 15 years earlier. ....the ranks of the $2 a day poor show no signs of depleting, despite the strengthening economy, Kathryn Edin said. How should we respond to the plight of the $2 a day poor? ... First, give all the opportunity to work. Second, all parents deserve the opportunity to raise their children in a place of their own. Third, sometimes work wont work, and we need a safety net that can truly catch poor families when they fall. Click here to read the full report for the state of Maryland. Click here to read the reports for all 50 states.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-sarbanes-deutch-and-more-than-110-members-call-on-congressional,"Reps. Sarbanes, Deutch and More Than 110 Members Call on Congressional Leadership to Walk Away from Controversial Campaign Finance Rider",2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressmen John Sarbanes (D-Md.) and Ted Deutch (D-Fl.) today led more than 110 Members of Congress in penning a letter to House and Senate leadership in an effort to fight back against an attempt to include a controversial campaign finance rider into this years omnibus spending bill. As negotiations over the omnibus agreement continue, we urge you to resist any attempt to include a controversial campaign finance provision relaxing political party coordination limits, the Members wrote. This change would be a travesty coming on the heels of last years erosion of the limits on big donor contributions to the parties. Americans have a right to expect that political parties and candidates will answer to them, but this change in the law would only further surrender the party apparatus to the influence of millionaires and billionaires. Moreover, the 114th Congress has not held one hearing, commissioned a single study, nor investigated in any serious way the impacts of changing the current coordination rules governing political party spending. We owe it to the American people to ensure that any proposal to change our campaign finance laws be subject to deliberative study and public debate. Click here for a full copy of the letter. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/the-fast-act-conference-report,The Fast Act Conference Report,2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 03, 2015 The Fast Act Conference Report Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) and the Conference Report we will be considering shortly to accompany the surface transportation reauthorization bill, which is called the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act). First, I am pleased to see that this bill provides five years of funding for our Nation's transportation infrastructure. That is the kind of long-range certainty our state and local officials and the private sector need to plan transportation infrastructure projects in a thoughtful and responsible way. While there are many excellent provisions in the bill, I do have significant concerns about the way our Nation's surface transportation infrastructure is being funded. First, I will speak about the policy within the bill. I am pleased that the Conference Committee has retained this Nation's commitment to transportation alternatives. This bill includes more than $4 billion for bike and pedestrian infrastructure, making our roads safer for everyone who uses them. My bill creating a dedicated program for non-motorized safety is also included in the reauthorization, which will support things like bike safety training programs for both bicyclists and drivers, again making our streets safer for all who use them. Furthermore, the Section 5340 bus program has been kept intact. This program is for high-density areas like Baltimore and Washington, DC, which cannot simply widen a road to accommodate extra travelers. The FAST Act provides more than $2.7 billion to high density areas. This is significant for Maryland in particular. Over the life of this bill, Maryland should receive more than $4.4 billion in Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding combined. That is an extraordinary amount of funding for a State that sorely needs it. I am concerned, however, that the FAST Act undermines the public input, environmental analysis, and judicial review guaranteed under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). If Congress wants federal agencies to approve more permits faster, then we should appropriate the requisite funds for sufficient staff and other necessary resources. We should not undermine the integrity of important project reviews. Moreover, the argument that the permitting process takes too long is a red herring. More than 95 percent of all FHWA-approved projects involve no significant impacts and, therefore, have limited NEPA requirements. If we really want to speed project development, we should recognize the known causes of delay and not use this bill as a Trojan horse to dismantle our Nation's foundational environmental laws. So while I support many of the policies in the bill, I am still very concerned about the impact it will have on our environment. While I have mixed feelings about the policies in this bill, I am not conflicted with regard to how it is funded. I am extremely disappointed in the hodgepodge of questionable pay-fors that we are using in this bill. We certainly needed to address the problem of funding our Nation's highway and transit systems beyond the myriad short-term extensions that Congress has approved in the past. But instead of opting for a reliable and permanent future revenue stream to pay for this critical government function, the FAST Act falls back on provisions completely unrelated to highways and mass transit. It relies on one-time pay-fors that are simply digging a deeper hole for the next reauthorization. That is a troublesome precedent. I think we have missed an opportunity here to stick to the user pays principle with regard to the federal gasoline excise tax, which hasn't been raised since 1993. According to the Congressional Budget Office, a 10-cent per gallon increase in the tax would fully fund the bill for five years. Gasoline prices are plunging around the country, with the national average falling in 24 out of the past 30 days, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA) earlier this week. The price of a gallon of regular gasoline now stands at $2.04 nationally, down 14 cents compared to one month ago and 74 cents lower than this time last year. AAA officials and others anticipate that the national average price will dip below the $2.00 threshold within a matter of days. So, as I said, I think we may be missing an opportunity here to put surface transportation infrastructure funding back on a solid foundation, appropriately based on the user pays principle. It's also important from a policy perspective that we price carbon more appropriately to reflect its total costs, promote fuel efficiency, and accelerate the absolutely essential shift from fossil fuels to cleaner, more sustainable sources of energy. Lower gasoline prices let motorists keep more money in their pockets in the short-term. But we have to think about the long term, too, and if we needlessly delay making that inevitable shift, the long-term costs to human health and the environment will dwarf any perceived short-term gains. There is one so-called offset in the bill that I adamantly oppose: the use of private collection agencies (PCAs) to collect tax debt. I oppose this provision not only because it simply will not raise revenue, but also because it is terrible tax policy that puts a target on the back of low-income and middle-class families. The Treasury Department, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the National Taxpayer Advocate all join me in opposing this provision. The Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) scores this provision at over $2.0 billion over 10 years. But since JCT only takes into account incoming and outgoing tax revenue, its score doesn't take into account the IRS's implementation and oversight costs and the opportunity costs of farming collections out to private collectors. Twice before, from 1996 to 1997 and from 2006 to 2009, Congress required Treasury to turn over some tax collection efforts to PCAs, with miserable results. The first attempt resulted in the loss of $17 million and contractors participating were found to have violated the Fair Debt Collections Practice Act. Under legislation enacted in 2004, the IRS again attempted to use PCAs to collect federal taxes in 2006. In September of that year, the IRS began turning over delinquent taxpayer accounts to three PCAs who were permitted to keep between 21-24 percent of the money they collected. While the program was supposed to bring in up to $2.2 billion in unpaid taxes, data from the IRS showed that the program actually resulted in a net loss of almost $4.5 million to the Federal Government after subtracting $86.2 million in administration costs and more than $16 million in commissions to the PCAs. In analyzing the PCA offset last year, the IRS prepared a preliminary estimate of the percentage of individual taxpayers who have inactive tax receivables that would be subject to private debt collection and who are low-income. After reviewing collection data for Fiscal Year (FY) 2013, the IRS found that 79 percent of the cases that fell into the inactive tax receivables category involved taxpayers with incomes below 250 percent of the federal poverty level. So nearly four-fifths of delinquent taxpayers were almost surely in the can't pay category and would be unlikely to make payments when contacted by a PCA instead of the IRS. Not only are low-income taxpayers more vulnerable to begin with; PCAs actually provide fewer options for them to meet their tax obligations. IRS employees, unlike the PCAs, have a variety of tools at their disposal they can use to help delinquent taxpayers meet their tax obligations, especially those facing financial difficulties. These tools include the ability to postpone, extend, or suspend collection activities for limited periods of time; making available flexible payment schedules that provide for skipped or reduced monthly payments under certain circumstances; the possibility of waiving late penalties or postponing asset seizures; and Offers In Compromise (OIC), which are agreements between struggling taxpayers and the IRS that settle tax debts for less than the full amount owed. In contrast, the PCAs' sole interest is to collect from a taxpayer the balance due amount they have been provided. They have no interest in whether the taxpayer owes other taxes or may not have filed required returns. They cannot provide any advice or use any of the tools IRS employees have, such as extensions or offers in compromise. In October, I joined 15 other Senators including several of my Finance Committee colleagues and Ranking Member Wyden in signing a letter the senior Senator from Ohio (Senator Brown) sent to leadership on the dangers and shortcomings of this provision. Unfortunately, our message was not heard. And so, because we refuse to turn to obvious and commonsense financing solutions for our transportation infrastructure problems, we have decided instead to use an offset that has historically LOST money, all on the backs of low-income taxpayers. Mr. President, the FAST Act Conference Report is a bipartisan, bicameral achievement. I congratulate the House and Senate conferees for reaching an agreement; I know it has been an arduous process. The reauthorization contains many good provisions and provides five years of desperately needed funding for our Nation's crumbling transportation infrastructure. I will vote for the Conference Report. But I will do so with serious reservations about how this bill is funded. Our surface transportation infrastructure is a crucial component of our national security and economic competitiveness. Reauthorizing our surface transportation programs used to be a relatively routine matter; now, it is becoming harder and harder to do and we are relying more and more on gimmicky funding mechanisms. These are worrisome precedents.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-corker-outline-iran-nuclear-deal-oversight-plan,"Cardin, Corker Outline Iran Nuclear Deal Oversight Plan",2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 03, 2015 Cardin, Corker Outline Iran Nuclear Deal Oversight Plan Send Letter to President Obama Detailing Congressional Oversight Required by Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in a letter to President Barack Obama presented their plans for ongoing oversight of the Iran nuclear deal, or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that was reached in July with members of the P5+1 and Iran. Full text of the letter is included below and is available online here. Dear President Obama: Thank you for providing senior Administration officials for public hearings, classified briefings, and numerous consultations during the period of Congressional Review of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Your engagement with Congress was important in informing our deliberations and assessment of the JCPOA. As the JCPOA with Iran moves toward Implementation Day, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will initiate a rigorous program to ensure effective Congressional monitoring and oversight of this agreement as well as its regional and nonproliferation implications. We hope that your Administration will remain committed to engaging Congress going forward. In anticipation of this program, we request that you make available Administration witnesses to testify in public hearings and provide classified briefings. The Committee anticipates holding the following hearings at to-be-determined dates: December 2015: Hearing on the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Report on Possible Military Dimensions of Iran's Nuclear Program. This report will be due to the IAEA Board of Governors by December 15, 2015. This is a significant milestone toward the JCPOA's implementation and thus merits a public discussion and debate. We request that the Lead Coordinator for Iran Nuclear Implementation, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Administrator, and the Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation testify during this hearing. January 2016: Hearing on the first semi-annual report due to Congress pursuant to the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015. The hearing will provide an assessment of Iran's compliance with the JCPOA, as well as updates on Iran's support for terrorist activities and advances in its ballistic missile program. Though Implementation Day may not occur by the deadline for the first semi-annual report, other national security threats related to Iran's behavior and actions outside of the JCPOA merit public discussion and debate. We request that the Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, the Lead Coordinator for Iran Nuclear Implementation, and the Under Secretary of Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence testify during this hearing. TBD: Hearing on JCPOA Implementation Day. If Implementation Day for the JCPOA is achieved, the Committee will hold a public hearing to discuss U.S. expectations for monitoring and verifying Iranian compliance with the JCPOA, tracking sanctions relief provided to Iran, articulating a multi-tiered strategy for responding to incidents of Iranian non-compliance with the JCPOA, and institutionalizing a U.S. strategy for countering Iran's destabilizing actions. We request the Secretary of State, Secretary of Energy, and the Secretary of the Treasury testify during this hearing. Following implementation of the JCPOA, the Committee will hold regular classified briefings. These briefings will cover the full scope of issues relevant to Iranian compliance with the JCPOA, as well as Iran's support for terrorism and destabilizing regional activities. As part of its oversight function before each briefing the Committee should receive all information relevant to Iran's compliance with the nuclear agreement. For these briefings we request that you make an interagency briefing team available with representation from the State Department, Treasury Department, Energy Department, Defense Department, and Intelligence Community: On a quarterly basis, an interagency team should be prepared to brief members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. On a monthly basis, an interagency team should be prepared to brief Committee staff at the appropriate clearance level. We appreciate your assistance, through access to administration officials and information, to ensure effective Congressional oversight and monitoring of the JCPOA. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://delaney.house.gov/news/press-releases/delaney-applauds-passage-of-every-student-succeeds-act,Delaney Applauds Passage of Every Student Succeeds Act,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Delaney,D000620,delaney.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Wednesday the House passed the Every Student Succeeds Act (S. 1177), a bipartisan and bicameral conference agreement. The legislation replaces No Child Left Behind and is designed to ensure all students have access to high quality education, improve accountability, help states target low-performing schools and at-risk students and provide resources for states to increase teacher quality and professional development. Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-6) voted for the legislation, which was supported by leading education, teacher and business groups. The legislation also authorizes the Preschool Development Grants program, a competitive grant program to support state-based early childhood education. In September, Delaney introduced The Early Learning Act (summary below), legislation that provides states with funding to establish or expand pre-k programs. Delaneys legislation will give parents nationwide the ability to enroll their children in free pre-k. I am pleased to see Congress work together on major legislation that updates our education policy around a clear goal: making sure that every kid in America, wherever they live, has access to a world-class education, said Congressman Delaney. After fourteen years, it was time to replace the outdated No Child Left Behind law with new legislation that reflects current needs and draws on the insights gained over the last decade and a half. I believe the Every Student Succeeds Act strikes the right balance between maintaining high levels of accountability, while moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach. Importantly, this legislation focuses on reducing the achievement gap by helping states improve low-performing schools and targeting funds to at-risk populations. I am encouraged that the legislation also expands our investment in early education, an area in which we must do more, which is why I will continue to build support for my Early Learning Act, which creates nationwide free pre-k for all. The Early Learning Act (H.R. 3542) Universal, High Quality Pre-K The Early Learning Act provides funding for states to establish universal pre-k for four-year-old students or expand existing programs. Funding can only be directed towards state-certified programs that are accredited and not-for-profit. To participate, states must establish universal access to free pre-k programs. Funding is tied to the number of students enrolled, incentivizing high enrollment levels. National Funding for State-Based Programs The Early Learning Act establishes the Early Education Trust Fund, a federal fund administered by the Department of Education. The fund will provide block grants to participating states at a level of up to $8,000 per student per year. States will have flexibility to implement program details at their discretion. On Budget The Early Education Trust Fund is paid for by a surtax of 1.5% on income, dividends and capital gains above $500,000, impacting less than 1% of households in the United States. The Early Education Trust Fund acts as a lockbox, ensuring that this revenue can only be used for pre-k. The Early Learning Act does not increase the deficit and is budget neutral. The Early Learning Act funds new state-based programs and is not an unfunded mandate. ##",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/new-k-12-education-bill-passes-house-will-strengthen-environmental,"New K-12 Education Bill Passes House, Will Strengthen Environmental Education",2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 8, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), a bipartisan bill that replaces the widely-criticized No Child Left Behind Act and includes numerous policies to improve K-12 education across the country including one provision introduced by Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) that would bolster environmental education programs for young students. ESSA is a tremendous victory for advocates of environmental education whove fought long and hard to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards with outdoor, hands-on learning programs, said Congressman Sarbanes. I commend my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for passing a comprehensive education reform package that has immense benefits for students, teachers and schools across the country. The environmental education provision contained in ESSA comes from the No Child Left Inside Act (NCLI), a bipartisan bill authored by Congressman Sarbanes that is designed to enhance American students environmental literacy. First introduced in 2007, NCLI was reintroduced this year in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Sarbanes and Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) with the support of 41 original co-sponsors. It was also reintroduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.). NCLI would provide federal grant funding for teachers who design and implement environmental education programs in, and importantly, outside of the classroom. By encouraging new environmental curricula, the bill would also cultivate partnerships and strengthen relationships between school districts, colleges, environmental nonprofits, parks and other community-based organizations. ESSA is expected to pass the Senate next week and advance to the Presidents desk, where he is expected to sign it into law. In addition to improving environmental education, the bill contains a number of reforms that will help provide American students with a high-quality, twenty-first century education, including: Helping states improve low-performing schools and enhance teacher quality; Setting higher standards and improving learning outcomes for all students; Dedicating more funding to bolster STEM education, student health and literacy initiatives and afterschool programs; Identifying and acting on ways to close the achievement gap; Strengthening access to, and the quality of, early childhood education programs; Maintaining important information about student performance; and Providing greater funding flexibility to better support students and school. For more information about the bill, visit: http://edworkforce.house.gov/uploadedfiles/esea_conference_report_summary.pdf. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-explores-innovative-approaches-to-family-health-care-at-greater-baltimore-medical-center,Cardin Explores Innovative Approaches to Family Health Care at Greater Baltimore Medical Center,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 02, 2015 Cardin Explores Innovative Approaches to Family Health Care at Greater Baltimore Medical Center WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) this week joined the leadership and employees of the Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC) HealthCare system to tour the recently updated Family Care Associates facility and to meet with GBMC staff and board members to discuss the continued evolution of the American healthcare system. We know that the Affordable Care Act is working, but need to ensure that it continually evolves to best meet the needs of Maryland communities. To do this, we must learn from the experiences of those on the front lines of healthcare delivery, like the professionals at GBMC who are committed to providing top-notch care, said Senator Cardin. GBMC's new approach to family medicine includes several enhancements to the patient experience, along with some truly thoughtful measures to promote staff satisfaction and collaboration. As our national healthcare system evolves, GBMC has been able to maintain its status as a provider of the highest quality medical care to our community. We have transformed our philosophy and organizational structure and developed a model system for delivering patient-centered care, said Dr. John B. Chessare, President and CEO of the GBMC HealthCare system. The GBMC Family Care Associates office has no waiting room. Patients go straight to an exam room after stopping at a greeter station. As such, the office is the GBMC system's first physical embodiment of truly patient-centered care design. It offers patients the privacy of being in a single wellness room for their physician appointments, lab work and other clinical processes. Designed using the concept of lean production, a concept popularized by Toyota and Boeing, the facility promotes efficiency for patients and providers alike. Based on my ongoing conversations with medical practitioners and the patients they serve, I have and will continue to shape legislative proposals designed to ensure that all Marylanders are able to receive first-class medical, dental and mental health care, said Senator Cardin. A bill introduced bySenators Cardin and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.)to extend the duration of a demonstration program that allows individuals with chronic mental illnesses to seek the help they need without becoming stuck in the revolving door of emergency room visits, relapses, jail, homelessness and death is now on track to be signed into law. The just-passed Improving Access to Emergency Psychiatric Care Act of 2015, S. 599,will allow Medicaid to provide matching funds to states to reimburse the treatment of severely mentally ill individuals between the ages of 21 and 64 at psychiatric hospitals with more than 16 beds. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-statement-on-the-mass-shooting-in-san-bernardino,Cardin Statement on the Mass Shooting In San Bernardino,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 02, 2015 Cardin Statement on the Mass Shooting In San Bernardino WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) released the following statement: I send my most heartfelt thoughts and prayers to families who have been impacted by this latest scourge of gun violence. I thank the first responders who are tending the wounded and placing their lives on the line to bring the perpetrators to justice. Once again, America is reeling after reports of another mass shooting. Once again, we will learn the names and stories of victims who were killed or injured for no other reason than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Once again, I ask why? Not only why did this happen, but why do the most common sense solutions seem out of reach despite the growing bloodshed? We must be outraged by these shootings. We cannot allow such violence to become merged into the background of daily life as we know it. There has been a mass shooting in this country at a rate of nearly one a day for almost a year. Now is precisely the time to get serious about taking steps to reduce the frequency of these horrible attacks. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-urges-hungarian-government-dont-build-tribute-to-architect-of-hungarys-anti-jewish-laws,Cardin Urges Hungarian Government: Dont Build Tribute to Architect of Hungarys Anti-Jewish Laws,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 02, 2015 Cardin Urges Hungarian Government: Don't Build Tribute to Architect of Hungary's Anti-Jewish Laws 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, issued the following statement regarding plans by the Hungarian government to fund a statue honoring Balint Homan, one of the architects of Hungary's anti-Jewish laws and member of the Arrow Cross regime. I am deeply distressed that the Hungarian Government, even during their year-long chairmanship of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, continues to shamelessly whitewash history. Plans to honor a man known as the architect of Hungary's anti-Jewish laws come on the heels of the erection of the much criticized occupation memorial' in Budapest last year and while controversies about the government's alternative Holocaust museum remain unresolved. Plans to build a tribute to Balint Homan cannot be reconciled with Prime Minister Viktor Orban's stated policy of zero tolerance' for anti-Semitism. I urge Hungary to end the rehabilitation of anti-Semitic figures and to disavow efforts to honor members of the murderous wartime regime. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-and-becerra-introduce-plan-to-protect-taxpayers-rights,Cardin and Becerra Introduce Plan to Protect Taxpayers Rights,2015-12-01,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 01, 2015 Cardin and Becerra Introduce Plan to Protect Taxpayers' Rights WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, and U.S. Representative Xavier Becerra (D-CA), theHouse Democratic Caucus Chairman anda member of the House Ways & Means Committee, today introduced in both the Senate and the House of Representatives the Taxpayer Rights Act of 2015 (S. 2333/H.R. 4128). The Act aims to improve Internal Revenue Service (IRS) services and procedures and to protect the rights of all U.S. taxpayers. The Taxpayer Rights Act codifies 10 primary taxpayer rights; strengthens programs and other rules related to the preparation of tax returns; improves IRS lien and levy procedures, including procedures related to retirement accounts; and enhances the ability of the Office of the National Taxpayer Advocate to further aid and protect taxpayers. The provisions of the Taxpayer Rights Act are drawn from recommendations included in the National Taxpayer Advocate's Annual Reports to Congress. The Act also builds on the Portman-Cardin Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998, which, among other things, created the National Taxpayer Advocate and improved the IRS's lien and collection practices to better protect taxpayers. Americans of all income levels deserve to know their basic rights as taxpayers and that the federal government, including the IRS, is protecting those rights, said Senator Cardin. Our current tax system is complicated and the Taxpayer Rights Act will ensure that U.S. households with modest means have access to quality return preparation, along with the same knowledge and protection of their rights as other U.S. households. We have an obligation to strengthen the financial security and privacy of taxpayers. ""Any discussion of tax reform needs to include ideas to boost access to IRS service and information, especially for modest income Americans, to help taxpayers complete one of their most important financial transactions of the year, said Chairman Becerra. Our bill will increase access to quality tax preparation, help ensure taxpayers know their rights, and improve taxpayer services at the IRS."" Nina Olson, the National Taxpayer Advocate praised the bill, saying: ""The Taxpayer Rights Act of 2015 incorporates many proposals I have made and would substantially benefit our nation's taxpayers. It would establish in law a fundamental Taxpayer Bill of Rights; enable the IRS to create minimum standards for unenrolled tax return preparers; expand tax return and representation programs for low income taxpayers; protect taxpayers from unwarranted lien-filings and levies, including levies on retirement account assets; and strengthen the independence of the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate."" A section-by-section summary of the bill is available here. Bill text is available here. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://delaney.house.gov/news/blogs/on-the-house-floor-this-week-113015,On the House Floor This Week - 11/30/15,2015-11-30,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,MD,John Delaney,D000620,delaney.house.gov,,,legacy,"This week the House of Representatives is in session. The legislative calendar, including which bills are brought to the floor for a vote, is set by the Speaker of the House. If you have questions of concerns about any of these bills, please contact my office by email or call 202-225-2721. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2015 On Monday, the House will meet at 2:00 p.m. for legislative business, with votes postponed until 6:30 p.m. Suspensions (9 bills) S. 611 Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act (Sen. Wicker Energy and Commerce) H.R. 3490 Strengthening State and Local Cyber Crime Fighting Act (Rep. Ratcliffe Judiciary) H.R. 3279 Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act, as amended (Rep. Collins Judiciary) H.R. 1755 Amending title 36, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the congressional charter of the Disabled American Veterans, as amended (Rep. Miller (FL) Judiciary) H.R. 2288 Removing the use restrictions on certain land transferred to Rockingham County, Virginia, and for other purposes (Rep. Goodlatte Natural Resources) H.R. 1541 Amending title 54, United States Code, to make Hispanic-serving institutions eligible for technical and financial assistance for the establishment of preservation training and degree programs (Rep. Grijalva Natural Resources) H.R. 2212 Taking certain Federal lands located in Lassen County, California, into trust for the benefit of the Susanville Indian Rancheria (Rep. LaMalfa Natural Resources) H.R. 2270 Billy Frank Jr. Tell Your Story Act (Rep. Heck (WA) Natural Resources) S. 1170 Breast Cancer Research Stamp Reauthorization Act of 2015 (Sen. Feinstein Oversight and Government Reform) TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015 AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK On Tuesday and Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for Morning Hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business, with last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m. On Friday, no votes are expected in the House. H.R. 8 North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act of 2015 (Rep. Upton Energy and Commerce) (Subject to a Rule) S.J.Res. 23 - Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of a rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units (Sen. McConnell Energy and Commerce) (Subject to a Rule) S.J.Res. 24 - Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of a rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units (Sen. Capito Energy and Commerce) (Subject to a Rule) Possible Consideration of the Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 22 Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 Possible Consideration of the Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 5 Student Success Act",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-welcomes-launch-of-mission-innovation,Cardin Welcomes Launch of Mission Innovation,2015-11-30,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"November 30, 2015 Cardin Welcomes Launch of Mission Innovation WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and a senior member of Environment and Public Works Committee welcomed the launch of Mission Innovation in Paris by President Obama, President Hollande, and other world leaders. Mission Innovation is a game changer with the potential to create brand new energy technologies that can revolutionize the world, said Senator Cardin. The possible breakthroughs in five years thanks to this groundbreaking U.S.-led effort should create new, clean, reliable and affordable energy projects spurring economic development and improving global energy security. Mission Innovation is an international effort supported by governments of 20 countries, while the Breakthrough Energy Coalition is comprised of renowned international private investors led by American Bill Gates, who will offer critical early stage capital to worthwhile energy initiatives. This public-private effort is unparalleled in scope, ingenuity, and progressive thinking and underscores the U.S.'s firm international commitments to improve access to affordable clean energy technology solutions. For the Department of Energy led so skillfully by Secretary Moniz, at our National Laboratories, cutting-edge research universities and scientific incubators nationwide, the future is now and it must be seized. Mission Innovation is an initiative spearheaded by 20 countries representing 80 percent of global clean-energy research and development budgets. These nations, including the United States, have committed to double their investments in clean, affordable, and reliable new technologies. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/a-campaign-finance-reform-proposal-for-the-people,A Campaign-Finance Reform Proposal for the People,2015-11-24,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"Sarbanes says his bill would give people the feeling their voice matters and help to restore faith in government. People can see themselves in it, he told the editorial board. Thats an important goal for any political reform. Congressional Republicans should allow a full discussion of this proposal.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sarbanes-statement-on-senator-mikulski-receiving-the-presidential-medal,Sarbanes Statement on Senator Mikulski Receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom,2015-11-24,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) issued the following statement today after Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Americas highest civilian award: ""As the longest-serving female member of the U.S. Senate, Senator Mikulski has not only been a staunch advocate for Marylanders but also a champion for working families across the country. I count myself among the many people who have been, and who continue to be, inspired by her commitment to public service. Senator Mikulskis legacy will extend long beyond the time she leaves office. Her unwavering fight for equality, her tireless work expanding access to health care and higher education and her dedication to the people of Maryland will endure for generations to come."" ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-toomey-legislation-supporting-emergency-psychiatric-care-headed-to-president-for-signature,Cardin-Toomey Legislation Supporting Emergency Psychiatric Care Headed to President for Signature,2015-11-23,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"November 23, 2015 Cardin-Toomey Legislation Supporting Emergency Psychiatric Care Headed to President for Signature WASHINGTON A bill introduced by U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) to extend the duration of a demonstration program that allows individuals with chronic mental illnesses to seek the help they need without becoming stuck in the revolving door of emergency room visits, relapses, jail, homelessness, and death, is now on track to be signed into law. The just-passed S. 599, Improving Access to Emergency Psychiatric Care Act of 2015, will allow Medicaid to provide matching funds to states to reimburse the treatment of severely mentally ill individuals between the ages of 21 and 64 at psychiatric hospitals with more than 16 beds. U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) was an original cosponsor of the legislation. Representatives John Sarbanes (D-Md.-03) and Susan Brooks (R-Ind.-05) were lead sponsors in the House. Too often Americans with emergency mental health needs are unable to receive the care they need due to bureaucratic red tape, said Senator Cardin, a member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care.This bipartisan legislation helps ensure individuals in crisis are treated like patients, and not warehoused or -- as is too often the case -- ignored. By working with the states, the federal government can be a partner in saving lives as well as vital resources. A psychiatric bed shortage is causing many severely mentally ill individuals to go without medical treatment, and instead, winding up in prison or on the streets. Our bipartisan, budget-neutral legislation continues an important demonstration project that helps the mentally ill access quality, life-saving care from freestanding psychiatric hospitals, said Senator Toomey. In 2010, Congress authorized this demonstration project to alleviate the shortage of psychiatric beds in 11 states and the District of Colombia by allowing federal Medicaid matching payments to freestanding psychiatric hospitals for emergency psychiatric cases. Despite very promising preliminary results, the demonstration is set to end on December 15, 2015. The Improving Access to Emergency Psychiatric Care Act of 2015 will build on the early success of this demonstration by extending the program through September 30, 2016, when the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) will be required to submit a report to Congress with her recommendations based on the final evaluation. After the report is submitted to Congress, the Act would also allow the Secretary of HHS to extend the program for additional three years and/or expand it to include other states. At the completion of those three additional years, the project would come to a close unless Congress acts to extend it. The demonstration would be required to remain budget neutral. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-statement-on-the-death-of-american-aid-worker-and-maryland-resident-anita-datar-in-mali,Cardin Statement on the Death of American Aid Worker and Maryland Resident Anita Datar in Mali,2015-11-21,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"November 21, 2015 Cardin Statement on the Death of American Aid Worker and Maryland Resident Anita Datar in Mali BALTIMORE U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement regarding the death of American aid worker and Maryland resident Anita Datar who was killed during the terrorist attack in Mali on November 20th. ""A week of horrifying violence overseas is now painfully felt here at home in Maryland. Anita Datar strove to make the world a better, more compassionate place. Her work was important as she summoned the best of American values and ideals. Her contributions in Mali and to the international community will live on and I hope her family can seek some solace during this painful time knowing that she lived a life of meaning."" ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://delaney.house.gov/news/press-releases/mikulski-cardin-delaney-announce-50000-in-rural-development-funding-for-garrett,"MIKULSKI, CARDIN, DELANEY ANNOUNCE $50,000 IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING FOR GARRETT COUNTY",2015-11-20,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,MD,John Delaney,D000620,delaney.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Ben Cardin, together with U.S. Representative John Delaney (all D-Md.) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDARD) has awarded the Town of Deer Park in Garrett County $50,000 in federal grant funding for the purchase of a new utility service vehicle. Rural communities need a government on their side when it comes to upgrading and maintaining critical infrastructure, said Senator Mikulski, Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee which funds USDARD. These federal funds will help keep families and businesses on the go by helping the Town of Deer Park clear roads and bridges of snow and debris when severe weather strikes. Rural Marylanders deserve to have roads that are clear in the winter and clear all year round, and this federal grant will help ensure that those who live in Garrett County have both,Senator Cardin said. USDA investments like these in our local communities promote productivity and public safety. Ensuring well-maintained streets and emergency routes is critical to keeping Marylanders safe during severe weather and Im pleased to see the federal government investing in Garrett County, said Congressman John K. Delaney (Md.-06). This grant, through the USDA Rural Development Grants, will help provide funds to maintainthe infrastructure in Western Maryland and prepare for the winter weather ahead. The Town of Deer Park will use this federal funding to purchase a new utility vehicle with a plow and a dump bed, so they can better maintain streets and keep emergency routes open during the inclement weather. The Rural Development grant program was created to improve the economy and quality of life in rural America. The program helps support essential services and infrastructure improvements, and promotes economic development by supporting loans to businesses through banks and community-managed lending pools. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-mikulski-delaney-announce-50-000-in-rural-development-funding-for-garrett-county,"Cardin, Mikulski, Delaney Announce $50,000 In Rural Development Funding For Garrett County",2015-11-20,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"November 20, 2015 Cardin, Mikulski, Delaney Announce $50,000 In Rural Development Funding For Garrett County WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski, together with U.S. Representative John Delaney (all D-Md.) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDARD) has awarded the Town of Deer Park in Garrett County $50,000 in federal grant funding for the purchase of a new utility service vehicle. Rural Marylanders deserve to have roads that are clear in the winter and clear all year round, and this federal grant will help ensure that those who live in Garrett County have both,Senator Cardin said. USDA investments like these in our local communities promote productivity and public safety. Rural communities need a government on their side when it comes to upgrading and maintaining critical infrastructure, said Senator Mikulski, Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee which funds USDARD. These federal funds will help keep families and businesses on the go by helping the Town of Deer Park clear roads and bridges of snow and debris when severe weather strikes. Ensuring well-maintained streets and emergency routes is critical to keeping Marylanders safe during severe weather and I'm pleased to see the federal government investing in Garrett County, said Congressman John K. Delaney (Md.-06). This grant, through the USDA Rural Development Grants, will help provide funds to maintainthe infrastructure in Western Maryland and prepare for the winter weather ahead. The Town of Deer Park will use this federal funding to purchase a new utility vehicle with a plow and a dump bed, so they can better maintain streets and keep emergency routes open during the inclement weather. The Rural Development grant program was created to improve the economy and quality of life in rural America. The program helps support essential services and infrastructure improvements, and promotes economic development by supporting loans to businesses through banks and community-managed lending pools. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://delaney.house.gov/news/press-releases/delaney-statement-on-the-american-safe-act,Delaney Statement on the American SAFE Act,2015-11-19,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,MD,John Delaney,D000620,delaney.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON- Congressman John K. Delaney voted for the American SAFE Act (H.R. 4038), which would require the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and relevant national security agencies to ensure that each refugee receives a thorough background investigation before U.S. refugee admission. This legislation does not prevent the U.S. from safely accepting refugees that have been carefully screened. Delaney releases the following statement: Regarding Syrian refugees, we should not have an arbitrary cap of 10,000, we should expedite the screening of women and children, and the screening process should be of the highest standard. My vote today reflects that belief. ##",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ruppersberger.house.gov/newsroom/floor-statements/ruppersberger-issues-statement-on-legislation-addressing-syrian-and-iraqi,Ruppersberger Issues Statement on Legislation Addressing Syrian and Iraqi Refugees,2015-11-19,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,MD,C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger,R000576,ruppersberger.house.gov,,,legacy,"As a lawmaker who has dedicated the last 12 years to working on issues of national security, I have spent thousands of hours in classified briefings on threats both domestic and abroad. I have traveled to dozens of terrorism hotspots around the globe, meeting with foreign dignitaries and our intelligence workers on the front lines. No one more strongly believes that our first and most important responsibility is the protection of all Americans. We must always scrutinize any foreigner who wants to enter our country for any reason. Today, the highest level of security screening of any category traveler or immigrant belongs to refugees. Those screenings involve health checks, biometric tests to confirm identity and multiple layers of background checks along with in-person interviews by specially trained Department of Homeland Security officers. The process involves not only DHS but the National Counterterrorism Center, the FBIs Terrorist Screening Center, the State Department and the Department of Defense, each of which must certify the refugees status at every stage. If a refugees background or identity cannot be confirmed at any point, their application ends. Syrian refugees receive an additional layer of screening, culminating in a process that usually takes 18 to 24 months before they set foot on U.S. soil, if they are even approved. As a security expert, I know that most terrorists already live in the U.S. or they come via illegal means. But it would be far easier for terrorists to enter the country legally on a tourist visa or through the visa waiver program if they are citizens of eligible nations, including France and Belgium, which is where the Paris attackers were citizens. It is important to note that the legislation under consideration today in the U.S. House of Representatives applies only to Syrian and Iraqi refugees but not refugees from other countries with known terror networks including Yemen, Nigeria and Afghanistan. I am not convinced this bill would protect our country from foreign enemies any more than existing processes and procedures. Since 2001, only about 2,200 Syrian refugees have been admitted to the United States. Half are children and another quarter is over the age of 60. These refugees are victims of the same terrorists we are trying to defeat. Banning them would not only do nothing to strengthen our national security, it would fuel the anti-American sentiment that strengthens ISIS. The best way to address the refugee crisis is by removing the threat. For these reasons, I oppose the American SAFE Act of 2015 and support the Secure Refugee Process Act of 2015.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hoyer.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2541,Hoyer Delivers Remarks at Inauguration Ceremony for USM Chancellor,2015-11-19,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,MD,Steny Hoyer,H000874,hoyer.house.gov,,,legacy,"BALTIMORE, MD Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) today delivered remarks at the inauguration ceremony for University System of Maryland (USM) Chancellor Robert L. Caret. Dr. Caret joined the University System of Maryland as its fourth chancellor on July 1, 2015. I was proud to celebrate the inauguration of Dr. Robert Caret today as the University System of Marylands fourth chancellor, said Congressman Steny Hoyer. For Dr. Caret, this is in many ways, a homecoming. He served the cause of higher education in Maryland so ably for more than a quarter-century as a distinguished member of the faculty, administrator, and president of Towson University. I very much look forward to working with him and his team to ensure that the University System has all the Federal resources it needs to continue graduating the next generation of leaders for our state and country. There are so many exciting things ahead for the University System, with new opportunities in science and technology research as well as efforts to make our campuses safer, more diverse, and charged with the energy of discovery and innovation, continued Congressman Hoyer. Brit Kirwan did an outstanding job of making this University System one of the best in the world and a point of immense pride for all Marylanders. Now we place the work into Dr. Carets hands, with great hope for the future and anticipation for even greater things to come. Congratulations again to Dr. Caret, and to all the students, faculty, and staff of the University System on this beginning to what I am certain will be the next chapter of extraordinary growth and opportunity for higher education in Maryland. Before joining the USM as chancellor, Dr. Caret was president of the University of Massachusetts System (UMass). Dr. Caret was president of Towson University from 2003 to 2011, where he also served as a faculty member, dean, executive vice president, and provost during his 29-year tenure.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/enewsletters/helping-seniors-access-the-benefits-they-deserve,Helping Seniors Access the Benefits They Deserve,2015-11-19,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"This past weekend, I held a Seniors Benefits Workshop at the Pikesville Public Library (pictured below). With help from the Social Security Administration, we were able to provide seniors with valuable information about Social Security and Medicare benefits. We also offered one-on-one sessions with my staff to assist seniors with individual benefits claims and questions. If you or a family member needs help with accessing seniors benefits and could not make the event, please contact my office at (410) 832-8890. Sincerely, Congressman John P. Sarbanes Maryland's Third Congressional District",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/democrats-highlight-global-efforts-to-combat-climate-change-ahead-of,Democrats Highlight Global Efforts to Combat Climate Change Ahead of Paris Negotiations,2015-11-19,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. The effects of climate change are being felt worldwide, impacting every corner of the planet and every sector of the global economy. With the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP21) just two weeks away, more than 150 countries, representing roughly 90% of global emissions, have already submitted plans for reducing carbon pollution to the United Nations, and over 80 companies from across the American economy have pledged their support for action on climate change. Despite this overwhelming support from the international and business communities, Congressional Republicans continue to bury their heads in the sand by refusing to hold even one hearing on climate change or commonsense policy proposals ahead of this historic summit. With House Republicans refusing to acknowledge the threats that climate change poses globally, Energy and Commerce Democrats, along with members of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), convened a forum to hear directly from the international community. The forum, entitled Global Solutions to Climate Change, was led by Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy and SEEC Co-Chair. Also in attendance were Rep. Anna Eshoo (CA-18); Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-01); Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09); Rep. Doris Matsui (CA-06), SEEC Co-Chair; Rep. John Sarbanes (MD-03); Rep. Jerry McNerney (CA-09); Rep. Joe Kennedy III (MA-04); Rep. Matt Cartwright (PA-17), SEEC Vice-Chair; and Rep. Jared Huffman (CA-02). Climate change is one of the toughest challenges the world has faced, and no nation is immune from its impacts, said Congressman Tonko. To that end, every nation must be a part of the solution. The United States can and should be a strong leader in this effort, and we must build upon the progress already made as we stand on the eve of a historic global conference on climate change in a few weeks. That's what we heard today. I thank our panelists, Energy and Commerce Democrats, and SEEC Members who took time to bring the attention to this important issue. We will continue to call on our colleagues in the House to act on climate. Addressing climate change is the issue of our time, said Rep. DeGette. We need to take immediate, international action to invest in renewable energy production and reverse the damage caused so far. I am committed to working on this with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle because it is not only good for our economy, it is vital to the future of our planet. Our rapidly changing climate is having profound impacts on our planet, with devastating consequences for our local communities, said Congresswoman Doris Matsui. In the Sacramento region alone, we are constantly under the threat of flooding which is only exacerbated by extreme weather events. Taking action now will help our economy and our environment, which the clean energy sector is demonstrating in my district. As we approach the climate summit in Paris, our country needs to unite around global efforts to combat climate change. Todays hearing underscored that not only a majority of Americans, but also a majority of nations from around the world, want meaningful action on climate change, said Congressman Sarbanes. Its time for Congress to stop bending to the will of special-interest polluters, and instead, to advance solutions that reduce our carbon emissions and invest in renewable energy. The climate talks in Paris are the latest opportunity for the global community to commit to real actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change. As a renewable energy expert, I know that these climate solutions are possible, and Ive seen firsthand how American leadership has moved them forward, said Congressman McNerney. By harnessing innovative technologies we can expand the production of clean energies like wind and solar, that will help make our families, communities, and environment safer. Working together with our international partners, officials at all levels of government, and the business community we can take steps to curb the damage caused by climate change. I look forward to seeing the progress that will be made at these historic negotiations. When it comes to our environmental future this country is at a crucial crossroads and the consequences of inaction are steeper than they have ever been, said Congressman Kennedy. As the President and international community gather to address climate change next month, todays forum was a tremendous opportunity to learn more about efforts around the globe to protect our environment. Today's forum was a great opportunity to hear perspectives on climate change from the international community before the Paris climate negotiations begin in December. Americans are working towards a clean energy future. We, as a nation, have recognized our moral responsibility to future generations, and we plan to lead the way in addressing this challenge, said SEEC Vice-Chair Matt Cartwright (PA-17). What we heard loud and clear today is that most countries dont have the luxury of politicizing and trivializing the threat of climate change. Sadly, the Republican leadership in the House has decided that Congress should be the world's last bastion of climate change denial but for today's witnesses and the countries they represent, the science is too obvious and the stakes are too high to delay action, which is why I am so glad that the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition held this Democratic forum to hear these important international perspectives, said SEEC Member Jared Huffman (CA-02). It also featured testimony from leading experts and representatives from foreign governments, including Ambassador Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana, Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to the United States of America, Ambassador Ronald Jumeau, Roving Ambassador for Climate Change and Small Island Developing State Issues of the Republic of Seychelles, Ms. Kitty van der Heijden, Ambassador for Sustainable Development of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr. Bruno Fulda, Counselor for Ecology, Sustainable Development, Energy and Transportation at the Embassy of France, and Dr. Mark Z. Jacobson, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University. The panelists discussed the unique challenges faced by their countries, adaptation and mitigation efforts already underway, and their expectations for COP21. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/bicameral-coalition-aims-to-clarify-pension-rules-for-clergy-and-other-religious-institution-workers,Bicameral Coalition Aims To Clarify Pension Rules For Clergy And Other Religious Institution Workers,2015-11-19,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"November 19, 2015 Bicameral Coalition Aims To Clarify Pension Rules For Clergy And Other Religious Institution Workers WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Rob Portman (R-OH), both members of the Senate Finance Committee, along with Representatives Pat Tiberi (Ohio-12) and Richard E. Neal (Mass.-01), both members of the House Ways and Means Committee, have introduced the Church Plan Clarification Act of 2015 (S. 2308/H.R. 4085) to support the retirement security of our nation's clergy, church lay workers, and their families. The Church Plan Clarification Act clarifies the application of certain tax and retirement laws and regulations to the unique structures of church pension plans. The Senate legislation is cosponsored by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ranking Senate Member of the Joint Economic Committee. Retirement security should not be based on faith when you dedicate your working life to serving a church, synagogue or other religious entity, said Senator Cardin. Many church plans date back to the 18th century, and our complicated tax system hasn't always kept up with the times. More than 1 million clergy, faith institution workers, and their dependents deserve the peace of mind that comes with the financial security during retirement that we wish for every American. Those who dedicate their life to serving a church, synagogue or other religious organization should be able to have peace of mind when they retire, Senator Portman stated. Our bill will make important reforms to ensure financial security for those who have devoted their lives to faith. Unintended consequences created by our overly complex tax code could impact the retirement security of more than one million clergy and lay workers at faith institutions across the country, said Congressman Tiberi. This bill would correct these inequalities to ensure that those who spend their lives working in the name of their faiths have the same retirement security as their private-sector counterparts. This common sense initiative will make retirement security easier for members of the clergy and our religious institutions, said Congressman Neal. I am pleased to introduce bipartisan, bicameral legislation that will simply the tax code to fix long-standing problems to give our faith leaders the ability to save for retirement. People who dedicate themselves to a life of religious service should have the same opportunities for financial security in retirement as other working Americans, said Senator Klobuchar. This bipartisan bill will help provide those who have devoted their lives to their faith with peace of mind in their retirement years. In recognition of their unique status, most church retirement plans are exempt from the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and are instead subject to special laws and regulations that reflect the distinctive issues that these plans and churches confront. Church retirement plans are subject to stringent state and federal laws and Church Alliance regulations, including state fiduciary standards, state contract law, and Internal Revenue Code requirements. Church retirement plans ensure the stability of participants' investments by applying many of the same strong safeguards applied to corporate and public pension funds. Moreover, churches and synagogues have a strong lifelong relationship with employees and are motivated to provide for and serve the clergy and church lay workers who have dedicated their lives to working for religious institutions. Due to their distinctive structure, certain legislative and regulatory changes have unintentionally resulted in uncertainty and/or compliance issues for these plans. The Church Plan Clarification Act of 2015 corrects five legal/regulatory issues confronting church retirement plans: Controlled Group Rules. The Church Plan Clarification Act establishes rules for aggregation of church-related entities for benefits rules and testing purposes that reflect the unique structural characteristics of religious organizations. Currently, the controlled group rules for tax-exempt employers may require certain church-affiliated employers to be included in one controlled group (i.e., treated as a single employer), even though they have little relation to one another. A modification is necessary to the controlled group rules to ensure that multiple church-affiliated entities which may be related theologically, but have little or no relation to one another in terms of day-to-day operation are not inappropriately treated as a single employer under the tax code. Grandfathered Defined Benefit (DB) Plans. Internal Revenue Code (IRC) section 403(b) church DB plans established before 1982 are called grandfathered DB plans and were intended to be treated and continue to operate as DB plans. The Church Plan Clarification Act would clarify that that such plans must comply with the benefit accrual limitations applicable to defined benefit plans under IRC section 415(b) and not the accrual limitations applicable to defined contribution plans under IRC section 415(c). This clarification would prevent unintended consequences that can arise from application of both limitations as provided by current law, principally harm to clergy who are lower-paid and closest to retirement. Automatic Enrollment. The Church Plan Clarification Act equalizes the availability of automatic enrollment for church and conventional private-sector retirement plans by preempting state laws that may be inconsistent with including auto-enrollment features in church retirement plans. Transfers Between 403(b) and 401(a) Plans. It is not uncommon for churches or church-related employers to establish an IRC section 401(a) qualified plan on their own, only to subsequently decide that they would prefer to participate in their denomination's IRC section 403(b) plan. Current regulations, however, do not allow transfers and mergers between a 403(b) church retirement plan and a 401(a) qualified church retirement plan. This limitation on transfers and mergers increases complexity and administrative costs for church employers and creates more confusion for covered employees when they are covered by more than one plan maintained by the pension board (e.g., multiple account balances, statements, etc.). The Church Plan Clarification Act would allow for such mergers and transfers, decreasing the complexity and administrative costs resulting from current law. 81-100 Trusts. The Church Plan Clarification Act allows special tax-exempt investment vehicles (often referred to as group trusts, collective trusts, or 81-100 trusts) to accept pooled church plan assets. Many church pension boards hold, on a pooled basis for investment purposes, plan assets and non-plan church-related assets devoted exclusively to church purposes, allow churches the benefit of the board's greater resources, investment skills, and economies of scale. These pension boards are currently prohibited from investing pooled assets in 81-100 trusts, which forecloses an attractive investment opportunity that achieves diversification at low cost. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ruppersberger.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ruppersberger-launches-second-annual-high-school-app-challenge-for-local,Ruppersberger Launches Second Annual High School App Challenge for Local Techies,2015-11-18,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,MD,C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger,R000576,ruppersberger.house.gov,,,legacy,"(Timonium, MD) Are you a tech-savvy high school student who dreams of being the next Mark Zuckerberg? Have an idea for the next Candy Crush or Instagram? Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger is inviting area high school students to compete in his second annual Congressional App Challenge. The academic competition, which is open to all high school students who reside in Marylands Second Congressional District, requires students to create an original software application for mobile, tablet or other computer device on a platform of their choice. The challenge is part of a national effort established by the U.S. House of Representatives to promote science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) innovation. Winners will be selected by a panel of local judges and their apps will be featured on display in the U.S. Capitol building with other winning entries from around the country. Experts believe the U.S. may be short as many as 3 million high-skilled workers by 2018 so a smart student knows that many of the jobs of the future are in the STEM fields, Congressman Ruppersberger said. If we want to maintain our countrys competitive edge, we have to invest in our youth today and help them hone these necessary skills. This contest is a great way to do that. The deadline for submissions is January 23. More details on submitting a contest entry, the rules of the competition, and helpful programming resources for both students and teachers can be found on Congressman Ruppersbergers website, www.dutch.house.gov.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-welcomes-the-launch-of-techhire-in-baltimore,Cardin Welcomes the Launch of TechHire in Baltimore,2015-11-18,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"November 18, 2015 Cardin Welcomes the Launch of TechHire in Baltimore I applaud the Obama Administration for recognizing the value and return on investment that comes with investing in the people of Baltimore. WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, today welcomed the announcement the new $100 million TechHire program to expand workforce development opportunities and provide Baltimore residents who are unemployed, underemployed or formerly incarcerated with the training and opportunities needed to expand job pathways in the new tech economy that has developed in Baltimore. U.S. Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith, Cabinet Secretary and Chair of the My Brothers Keeper Task Force Broderick Johnson and Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez made the announcement from a new Under Armour community facility in Baltimore. The TechHire initiative will target training to those who have historically been left out of Baltimores economy and/or are underrepresented in tech fields. TechHire is poised to change lives by leveraging public-private partnerships and having some of the most impactful non-profits involved in this process, said Senator Cardin. In the days after the unrest in April, I had lengthy conversations with White House and administration officials about the need to invest in Baltimore City. In many of those conversations, I stressed that job creation should be a top priority. Far too many people who want to work face barriers to accessing the needed training to land a solid job. The TechHire initiative will help Baltimoreans find well-paying, 21st century jobs by offering quality job training to populations that have had trouble accessing that training. I applaud the Department of Labor and President Obamas My Brothers Keeper Task Force for recognizing the value and return on investment that comes with investing in the people of Baltimore. Second chances are important. The Obama administration should be given credit for targeting components of the TechHire initiative toward training or re-training returning citizens. I am optimistic that the structure and composition of this program will strengthen the entire city by providing second chances to those willing to work hard and contribute positively to their communities, Senator Cardin added. TechHire will provide alternative pathways to web development, advertising technology, digital fabrication, and cybersecurity jobs for residents including the unemployed, underemployed, and formerly incarcerated. The initiative will be led by OneBaltimore, which will launch a TechHire Council with primary partners including the Baltimore City Mayor's Office of Employment Development, Greater Baltimore Urban League, Code in the Schools, Betamore, the Center for Urban Families, and Goodwill. Employer partners include Verizon, Browns Communications, Delmock Technology, G&G Solutions, Locas Technology, Digit All Systems, Intellibit, SeeFuture, Microsoft, and BITH energy group. The initiative will also be integrated into the work of My Brothers Keeper Baltimore in support of its Local Action Plan goal to strengthen and expand career-exploration and training programs for opportunity youth. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-senate-democrats-call-for-immediate-federal-study-on-effectiveness-of-public-health-programs-that-promote-gun-safety,"Cardin, Senate Democrats Call for Immediate Federal Study on Effectiveness of Public Health Programs that Promote Gun Safety",2015-11-18,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"November 18, 2015 Cardin, Senate Democrats Call for Immediate Federal Study on Effectiveness of Public Health Programs that Promote Gun Safety Accountability Office (GAO) study into the effectiveness of public health and safety programs designed to improve gun safety, including the storage and security of the 300 million guns in American households nationwide. Citing the facts that 43 toddlers so far this year have shot themselves or others and that the lifetime medical costs of treating gunshot U.S. gunshot injuries is $2.3 billion, almost half borne by taxpayers, the Senators urge U.S. Comptroller General Gene L. Dodaro to initiate a report analyzing the full range of programs at the federal, state and local levels designed to raise the awareness of the risk factors associated with having guns in the home. The Democratic Senators also ask the GAO to develop best practices on how families and communities can discuss safe and secure storage of guns in the household, and to detail which federal agencies can influence public health or safety, children's health, criminal justice or violence prevention programs. We have a gun violence epidemic in America and we must employ a multi-faceted approach to address it immediately. This should include better background checks and the closure of chronic loopholes in gun purchase laws, but we also need to work to cure this epidemic as we have with others, by building public awareness of the risks and better ways of dealing with potential danger, said Senator Cardin. Not another toddler should have to be injured or killed before we act. The time is now to find every way possible to keep kids, and our country, safe. Too many families have suffered tragic losses and hardships as a result of gun deaths and injuries, the Senators wrote in their request to GAO. This public health burden demands an assessment of potential actions by the federal government, including the possibility of robust partnerships with established nonprofits and provider organizations in the development of a public campaign aimed at informing physicians, clinicians, parents, and families about the public health need to address this urgent issue. In addition to Senator Cardin, the report was requested by Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mas.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Thomas Carper (D-Del.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Christopher Murphy (D-Conn.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). Full text of the letter: Dear Mr. Dodaro: Every day on average, 55 people kill themselves with a firearm, and 46 people are shot or killed in an accident with a gun. The Washington Post reported last month that so far in 2015 there have been 43 instances where a toddler three or under has shot themselves or others, leading to 15 fatalities and 28 injuries. With more than 300 million guns in American homes, we write to request that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct a study to assess the efficacy of public health and safety programs designed to impact gun safety, including the storage and security of guns in households throughout our country. Death and injury by firearm is one of the most significant public health threats to young people in communities across our nation. While long perceived as an urban issue, in fact, youth (up to age 19) in the most rural U.S. counties are almost as likely to die from a gunshot, self-inflicted or otherwise, as those living in the most urban counties. Furthermore, a 1999 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association estimated that the lifetime medical cost of treating gunshot injuries in the United States was $2.3 billion, with almost half the costs borne by taxpayers. Given these stark statistics, prevention of gun deaths and injuries should be an essential component of the federal government's commitment to public health and safety along with other efforts such as background checks on gun purchases and closing other gun loopholes. Federal campaigns, such as those related to drinking and driving and smoking, have demonstrated that public health and safety campaigns can improve understanding and reduce dangerous behavior, with significant public health benefits. Too many families have suffered tragic losses and hardships as a result of gun deaths and injuries. This public health burden demands an assessment of potential actions by the federal government, including the possibility of robust partnerships with established nonprofits and provider organizations in the development of a public campaign aimed at informing physicians, clinicians, parents, and families about the public health need to address this urgent issue. To that end, we request that GAO conduct a report that: Analyzes the impacts of existing publicly- and privately-operated public health and safety programs at the federal, state, and local level that further raise awareness among the public of the risk factors associated with having guns in the home and provide best practices on how families and communities can engage in a conversation about the safe and secure storage of guns in the household. Identifies existing public health and safety programs (publicly- and privately-operated efforts at the federal, state, and local level) that seek to address unsafe gun access and to ensure safe practices with regards to firearms. Inventories federal agencies whose missions relate to public health or violence prevention and the ways in which programs described under question number one relate to such missions. Such programs can include public health or safety, children's health, criminal justice, or violence prevention programs. We appreciate your attention to this request and your cooperation on this issue as we seek more information on these issues. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://delaney.house.gov/news/press-releases/delaney-statement-on-senator-barbara-mikulski-s-selection-as-recipient-of-the,Delaney Statement on Senator Barbara Mikulskis Selection as Recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom,2015-11-17,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,MD,John Delaney,D000620,delaney.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-6) releases the following statement congratulating Senator Barbara Mikulski as a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. I congratulate Senator Mikulski on being named as a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, our nations highest civilian honor. Senator Mikulski has been a leader in the Senate and the Maryland delegation, and she will be missed after her retirement next year. As the longest-serving female Member of Congress she has broken the glass ceiling for women time and time again. She was the first woman to chair the Senate Appropriations Committee, she championed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and pushed for better research on womens health. Her work on college affordability has been instrumental in helping young Americans pursue higher education. It has been an honor to work with Senator Mikulski on behalf of our constituents in Maryland. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is presented to individuals who have made particularly worthy contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. The awards will be presented at the White House on November 24th. ##",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z