Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On The Departure From The Senate Of Maryland Senator Ben Cardin
Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor paying tribute to longtime Senate colleague and friend, Ben Cardin of Maryland, as he bids farewell to the Senate. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:
Today, one of the most beloved members of our caucus and this chamber, and a very near and dear friend of mine, will deliver his farewell address on the floor: the Senior Senator from Maryland, Senator Ben Cardin.
Everyone knows Ben. He is humble and modest and I expect his speech will reflect that.
But make no mistake about it: Ben’s legacy is giant, and he has left an indelible mark on this institution, on his home state of Maryland, and on America.
Now, it’s no surprise that Ben and I became so close – and our wives, Iris and Myrna, have become very close friends – because we are cut from the same cloth.
We both began our careers in the State Assembly before coming to Congress. Ben, I believe, was elected when he was 23 years old, as was I, to the Assembly. And we both have strong Jewish values. We’re both known for showing up to any event, big or small. We both married up!
And another thing: we took great inspiration from our fathers.
When Ben was just 23 years old and a newly-elected member of the Maryland House of Delegates, his father told him something that Ben still draws upon to this day: “He had something people worked a lifetime for…the opportunity to make a difference.”
Ben has made an immense difference in Maryland. Whether you’re enjoying the beautiful views of the Chesapeake Bay, which Ben has fought so ardently to restore, protect, and conserve; or riding across the many roads, bridges, trails, and rails across Maryland that Ben helped secure billions in federal funding for, or talking to the millions of Marylanders who today have access to better health and dental care and the promise of a secure retirement—Ben has been the difference-maker.
As Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, he’s made a huge difference in human rights and foreign policy. When I asked Ben last year to serve as chair, I knew he would be up to the task and he sure was, despite the many challenges facing America at home and abroad.
Ben is one of the reasons that America has the power today to hold accountable the gross violators of human rights, even when their home countries fail to act. He worked closely with Senator John McCain on the Magnitsky Act. So many ramifications of what was done to Magnitsky inspired Ben, and he moved forward on legislation in that regard.
As Chair of Small Business, he made a difference for Main Street businesses, especially in the pandemic. I worked closely with Ben to make sure the small businesses got the money that they needed. Because of his leadership, the small business economy was saved. And we worked together to get nonprofits help – when I said our churches and synagogues and mosques and theaters and museums needed help as well, Ben joined me.
And he made a difference on many other issues – leading legislation to affirm the ratification of the ERA, the Equal Rights Amendment, serving as Co-Chair of the Helsinki Commission, and more.
The reason Ben was able to accomplish so much was because he took the road less traveled here in Congress: he put substance over flash. He dug deeply into issues, got to their roots, and then worked across the aisle.
He was all about the details. What was the problem? Who is it affecting? Who can I find common ground with? These are questions he asked.
That’s been him from his first day in office, and it will be until his last. Smart, decent, humble, loyal, hardworking. A great man, a great Senator, a great friend.
And we will all miss him deeply. but Myrna and Ben would come up to New York and Iris and I would go see Shakespeare with them in the park. We did it I think for the last ten years or so. Ben and Myrna, that tradition will continue, as will our friendship. But we will miss you.
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