Letters from Ben
Capital Wheel, National Harbor, Maryland
These are regular letters to constituents about what's happening in Maryland, nationally and around the world. Beginning as a way to share information during the COVID-19 pandemic, they have become a must-read for Marylanders to connect happenings in our nation's capital to daily life.
Full Steam Ahead
Dear Fellow Marylanders, It’s hard to believe it’s been one month since we awoke to the horrific news that the Francis Scott Key Bridge had collapsed into the Patapsco River. As the cargo ship Dali lost power and all control, it slammed into one of the bridge’s supports. The result was catastrophic. Thanks to quick action by the Bay pilots who were on the Dali, helping to guide it out of the Port, and law enforcement on both sides of the bridge, traffic was stopped in time to keep regular travelers from falling into the river with the bridge. Sadly, a construction crew of eight remained on the bridge filling potholes at the time of the collision. Along with their families and friends, we...
Full Steam Ahead
Dear Fellow Marylanders, It’s hard to believe it’s been one month since we awoke to the horrific news that the Francis Scott Key Bridge had collapsed into the Patapsco River. As the cargo ship Dali lost power and all control, it slammed into one of the bridge’s...
Plastic vs. World
Dear Fellow Marylanders, The miracle of plastic is that “it takes between 500 and 1000 years to break down,” and can protect food and other items from bacteria. It has been life changing and lifesaving. Plastic is used nearly everywhere due to its relatively cheap...
Letters to Vladimir
Dear Fellow Marylanders, This week marks two years since the arrest and jailing of Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian opposition leader, historian, and journalist. He was arrested just days after testifying in Washington before the U.S. Helsinki Commission, which I...
A Total Eclipse
Dear Fellow Marylanders, We’re just days away from the next total solar eclipse. On Monday, April 8, using appropriate safety glasses, we’ll watch together as the moon crosses the sun’s path and block its light. Those in what is called the path of totality will...
Baltimore Strong
Dear Fellow Marylanders, It’s hard to imagine Baltimore’s skyline without the Francis Scott Key Bridge, a visual symbol of connectivity and commerce, framing the backdrop of the city. Completed in 1977, five years after its construction began, the Key Bridge was an...
Confirming History
Dear Fellow Marylanders, As a senator and Member of Congress, the most consequential decisions I have ever made were related to whether to approve sending brave American men and women to war. Inherently, lives are at risk, so it’s not a decision anyone takes lightly....
Blue Catfish on the Menu
Dear Fellow Marylanders, Do you have a favorite recipe for blue catfish? You should find one. By most accounts, blue catfish are both tasty and nutritious. And there are far too many of them in the Chesapeake Bay, so eat up and help the Bay. Blue catfish are not...
Celebrating Women Worldwide
How a nation treats its women is a barometer for success. This is a fact that I have shared with you frequently. It is especially relevant today, as women’s rights are under attack in the United States of America and around the world. Yesterday, the world celebrated...
Washington’s Warnings
Dear Fellow Marylanders, This week, as the Senate returned from its state work period for the Presidents Day holiday, I had the honor of reading President George Washington’s Farewell Address to the Nation. This annual reading from the Senate floor is a tradition...
Presidential Propriety
Dear Fellow Marylanders, This weekend, as we celebrate Presidents Day, I wonder what some of our most notable American Presidents would think about the recent comments from one particular former Commander-in-Chief, who said he would encourage Russia to “do whatever...
Black History from Bellevue to Baltimore and Beyond
Last week marked the beginning of Black History Month, a celebration of the important roles Black Americans have played in our country. Paying homage to the richness of Black heritage— including learning about the success and challenges Black Americans have...
How Is Everybody Doing
Like millions of Americans, my children, and now grandchildren, grew up watching Sesame Street. I appreciated that it could teach children rudimentary reading, writing and math lessons while tackling life’s complicated issues through lovable muppets. This week when,...
Facts Under Fire
Dear Fellow Marylanders, Today, International Holocaust Remembrance Day is one of the most solemn days of the year, not only for the Jewish people, but for all those who value freedom and life. It was on this day in 1945 that Soviet troops liberated the Nazi-run...
Saving Roe
Dear Fellow Marylanders, Fifty-one years ago this Monday, the Supreme Court of the United States made it the law of the land that Americans have the right to control their own bodies, including whether and when they might be pregnant. The Roe v. Wade decision, which...
Give Us the Ballot
This Monday, January 15, we celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as a national federal holiday. More than a day off from work or school, to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King, this day is recognized as a day of service. Many Americans use this day...
Democracy Under Pressure
Dear Fellow Marylanders, I was asked by a local student recently, after hearing a news story on the latest January 6th convictions, “why are they still talking about January 6?” As we mark three years since the insurrection that saw intruders storm the U.S. Capitol...
Cheers to the New Year
Dear Fellow Marylanders, This past year was filled with successes and challenges for Maryland and our nation. The boom for small businesses continued and we have thus far avoided an economic recession. Maryland, in fact, set a record for lowest unemployment for any...
We Cannot Abandon Ukraine
Dear Fellow Marylanders, When I assumed the leadership of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in late September, I said that “Democracy and freedom are being tested around the world. America’s national security, which depends on effective diplomacy and...
7,002 Miles to a Cleaner World
Dear Fellow Marylanders, It’s 7,002 miles from Baltimore to Dubai. Roundtrip flying time is about 27 hours. This week, I returned from three days on the ground in Dubai for the 28th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change –...
World AIDS Day
Dear Fellow Marylanders, This week was World AIDS Day. For 35 years, people around the country and around the world have come together to re-dedicate themselves to the global struggle to end AIDS. We honor those we have lost while supporting those living with and at...
Local Anchors
Family is such an anchor in my life, which is why Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It’s always a joy getting together with the extended Cardin family to enjoy turkey and football. Whether you had a traditional holiday – whatever tradition means to you and...
Welcome to Maryland
Dear Fellow Marylanders, The headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is coming to Maryland. Really. And it’s a big deal. In welcoming the FBI—the lead federal agency that investigates crime and protects Americans’ civil rights by enforcing our laws,...
Frontlines of Democracy
Dear Fellow Marylanders, On this Veterans Day, I want to express my profound admiration for the unwavering service and sacrifices of our veterans. Their commitment to our nation, its people and the values we hold dear transcends generations. Our veterans understand...
Coach Tuberville Needs a Time Out
Dear Fellow Marylanders, For years, I have given my staff strict instructions that we may voice vehement disagreement with the policy positions or policy-related actions of other senators or lawmakers, even the president, but we will not attack an individual’s...
Without Fear or Favor
Dear Fellow Marylanders, I am a lawyer by training and profession. I have studied the Constitution, our nation’s fundamental laws, as well as statutes that would follow and help clarify or define our system of government. I’ve written more than a few laws in Annapolis...
United Against Hate
Dear Fellow Marylanders, For many Americans and immigrants alike, the United States offers a promise of freedom, equality and prosperity regardless of race, background, religion or gender. While our founding fathers did not have the most complete definition of...
Modern Day Pogrom
Dear Fellow Marylanders, My grandparents came to the United States in 1902 from Lithuania. It was a violent time in that part of the world. Starting in 1881, there were a series of attacks against Jews across Russia and Eastern Europe. These were not minor skirmishes...
A Week for the History Books
Dear Fellow Marylanders, It’s been a heck of a couple of weeks at the U.S. Capitol. The news has been monumental and nonstop. Let me tell you a little about what’s been happening. For a start, on September 27, my colleagues in the Senate officially named me as the...