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Senator Ben Cardin, Maryland

An outspoken champion for human rights, Sen. Ben Cardin chairs the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, as well as the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Management, International Operations, and Bilateral International Development. 

Chairman Cardin joined the Helsinki Commission in 1993 and previously served asSenator Ben Cardin chairman of the Commission in the 111th and 113th Congresses. In 2015, he was named as the Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism, and Intolerance for the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, a position he continues to hold today.

Throughout his career in public service, Chairman Cardin has advocated for accountability and transparency measures to promote good governance and to combat corruption. He is the lead author of the Sergei Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which imposes sanctions on Russian individuals and entities responsible for the death of Russian lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, as well as individuals who commit gross violations of human rights against rights defenders in Russia. He also authored the Global Magnitsky Human Rights and Accountability Act, which gives the United States the power to deny travel and banking privileges to individuals who commit gross violations of human rights against rights defenders and dissidents, and leaders who commit acts of significant corruption.

Most recently, Chairman Cardin and Helsinki Commission Ranking Member Sen. Roger Wicker (MS) introduced  the Countering Russian and Other Overseas Kleptocracy (CROOK) Act, which would establish an anti-corruption action fund to provide extra funding during historic windows of opportunity for reform in foreign countries and streamline work strengthening the rule of law abroad.

Chairman Cardin’s other legislative accomplishments include the Cardin-Lugar transparency provision of Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protect Act, which requires publicly traded companies to report payments to foreign governments for drilling and mining rights, and the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act, a law which he authored with Sen. Marco Rubio to ensure transparency in U.S. foreign assistance so that civil society in the United States and in aid partner countries can hold their governments accountable.

Chairman Cardin has been a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee since 2007 and served as Ranking Member from 2015-2018. In addition to his foreign relations leadership roles, he chairs the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee and the Senate Environment & Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure. He is also a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee.

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In the News

Bipartisan House members push Biden to allow Poland ...

Oct 30, 2024

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US Weighs NATO Ally’s Offer To Shoot Down Russ...

Nov 01, 2024

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Bipartisan report urges rethink of America’s Russia ...

Sep 28, 2024

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Wilson Talks Russia Strategy

Oct 02, 2024

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Press Releases

Chairman Wilson Issues Statement on Government Raids...

Oct 25, 2024

WASHINGTON—Today, US Helsinki Commission Chairman Joe Wilson (SC-02), issued the following statement regarding the government raids on the homes of the two Tbilisi, Georgia-based researchers with the US-based Atlantic Council: “It […]

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Press Releases

HEARING—The Cost of a Bad Deal in Ukraine

Jun 26, 2025

Russell Senate Office Building 222 Stream live here  Ukraine is fighting not only for its own survival, but for freedom and security around the world. Western leaders seeking to end Vladimir […]

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Hearings

The Cost of a Bad Deal in Ukraine

Jun 26, 2025

Ukraine is fighting not only for its own survival, but for freedom and security around the world. Western leaders seeking to end Vladimir Putin’s genocidal war should note that any […]

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Press Releases

BRIEFING—A Historic Opportunity: Advancing the Armen...

Jun 25, 2025

Rayburn House Office Building 2212 Stream live here   After decades of war, Armenia and Azerbaijan are on the verge of a peace deal that promises to bring stability and prosperity […]

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Briefings

A Historic Opportunity: Advancing the Armenia-Azerba...

Jun 25, 2025

After decades of war, Armenia and Azerbaijan are on the verge of a peace deal that promises to bring stability and prosperity while lessening Russia and Iran’s grip on the […]

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Press Releases

Ranking Member Rep. Cohen Welcomes Release of 14 Bel...

Jun 24, 2025

WASHINGTON—U.S. Helsinki Commission Ranking Member Representative Steve Cohen (TN-09), OSCE PA Special Representative on Political Prisoners, today issued a statement following the release of fourteen political prisoners in Belarus. “I […]

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Press Releases

Chairman Wicker, Senators Shaheen, Durbin Honor Bela...

May 28, 2025

WASHINGTON—U.S. Helsinki Commission Chairman Senator Roger Wicker (MS), Commissioner Senator Jeanne Shaheen (NH), and Senator Dick Durbin (IL) today issued a statement on the fifth anniversary of the arrest of […]

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Ranking Member Rep. Cohen Marks Belarus Political Pr...

May 21, 2025

WASHINGTON—U.S. Helsinki Commission Ranking Member Representative Steve Cohen (TN-09), OSCE PA Special Representative on Political Prisoners, today issued a statement marking the Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners in Belarus. […]

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Helsinki Commission House Leadership Issue Statement...

May 16, 2025

WASHINGTON—U.S. Helsinki Commission Co-Chairman Representative Joe Wilson (SC-02) and Ranking Member Representative Steve Cohen (TN-09) today issued a statement ahead of Romania’s presidential elections this weekend: “Romania is a core […]

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Bipartisan Helsinki Commission Leadership Express Al...

May 06, 2025

WASHINGTON—U.S. Helsinki Commission Chairman Senator Roger Wicker (MS), Co-Chairman Representative Joe Wilson (SC-02), Ranking Member Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), and Ranking Member Representative Steve Cohen (TN-09) today expressed their alarm […]

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Bipartisan Helsinki Commission Leadership Express Ou...

May 02, 2025

WASHINGTON—U.S. Helsinki Commission Chairman Senator Roger Wicker (MS), Co-Chairman Representative Joe Wilson (SC-02), Ranking Member Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), and Ranking Member Representative Steve Cohen (TN-09) today expressed their outrage […]

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Bipartisan Helsinki Commission Members Express Suppo...

Apr 25, 2025

WASHINGTON— U.S. Helsinki Commission Chairman Senator Roger Wicker (MS), Co-Chairman Representative Joe Wilson (SC-02), Ranking Member Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), Ranking Member Representative Steve Cohen (TN-09), Representative Richard Hudson (NC-09), […]

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Articles

Myths & Facts about Russia’s War on Ukraine

Apr 08, 2025

MYTH: NATO expansion provoked Russia’s war against Ukraine. FACT: Russia’s war on Ukraine is a continuation of Russia’s centuries-long policy of treating Ukraine as a vassal state to be subjugated. […]

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