Senator Ben Cardin
@SenatorCardin
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Former US Senator for Maryland. #TeamMarylandAlways
Joined January 2010
Based on what I heard — and didn't hear — from Judge #Kavanaugh at his hearings, and having reviewed his writings and record as a judge, I believe any reasonable person would have cause to be concerned, even fearful, of his confirmation to the Supreme Court. I will vote no.
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The identification of @POTUS as an unindicted co-conspirator in a criminal scheme is more than sufficient cause for Congress to immediately pass legislation protecting the Mueller investigation. I'm calling on my colleagues, on both sides, to join me in passing it. Now.
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The Iranian People exemplify bravery as they protest the Government of Iran, which unsurprisingly ranks as one of the worst human rights violators in the world. A 15-minute defense for an illegitimate death-sentence is outlandish and cruel.
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Today I'm releasing a #RussiaReport documenting Vladimir Putin's 20-year attack on democratic institutions in his own country and Europe. To protect against what the Kremlin did to the U.S. in 2016, we need to first understand Putin's pattern.
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Today I went to the Senate floor and requested unanimous consent to #EndTheShutdown. @SenateMajLdr objected. "The president won't sign off.". The last time I checked the Constitution, we were a co-equal branch of government with the power to override vetoes. Let's act like it.
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I'm proud to stand in solidarity with the people of #HongKong as they stand up for their basic human rights. We're working on both sides of the aisle to pass the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act and reaffirm our commitment to their pursuit of freedom and autonomy.
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The violence in #HongKong must end and officials should work in earnest to respond to the protesters’ demands. America stands firmly on the side of democracy. @SenatemajLdr must let us vote on the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act immediately.
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Agreed. This isn’t business as usual. This is a crisis, a fundamental failure to govern, and Americans are suffering for it. The Senate should not take up any bills unrelated to reopening the government until @SenateMajLdr lets us vote on exactly that. #Shutdown.
Senate Democrats should block consideration of any bills unrelated to opening the government until Sen. Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans allow a vote on the bipartisan bills the House passed to open the government. Mitch, don’t delay. Let’s vote!.
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We cannot wait 13 days. President Trump must resign or be removed from office quickly - either through the 25th Amendment or by impeachment - before he does even more damage to our nation.
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Never before in American history has so clear a national security threat been so clearly ignored by a U.S. president. Without a strong U.S. response, elections here and abroad will remain vulnerable to the Kremlin's aggressive and sophisticated influence operations. #RussiaReport
Never before has a president ignored such a clear national security threat by @SenatorCardin.
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To the people of #HongKong, who have been demanding their basic rights and freedoms for 24 consecutive weeks, the US stands with you. I’m proud that the Senate just passed the bipartisan Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act.
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.@realDonaldTrump believes an ex-KGB agent over 17 U.S. intel agencies. That’s outrageous. @POTUS ‘s denial of facts is troubling, & I continue to question his willingness to fully implement the Russia sanctions law overwhelmingly passed by Congress.
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In less than a week, I've received 2,034 phone calls opposing the Senate #Trumpcare bill. @SenateGOP: care to share your call numbers?.
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Unfortunately, the one person in the U.S. government stopping a truly comprehensive U.S. government response is @POTUS. Never before in our history has so clear a threat to U.S. national security been so clearly ignored by the sitting president. #RussiaReport.
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Devastating. @POTUS: We will not forget about these children. We will not let this go. The deadline for reunification was July 26. Do better.
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I’m pleased that the House passed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act yesterday. The Senate must take up our bill now. As basic human rights in #HongKong continue to be trampled on by the Chinese, we must speak up with one, united voice in defense of democracy.
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When President Obama nominated Justices Kagan and Sotomayor, Congress got to see all their documents. That has always been the standard – until now. Every senator has a Constitutional obligation to provide advice and consent on #SCOTUS nominees. @SenateGOP: let us do our jobs.
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As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, human rights continue to be threatened in Hong Kong. I urge the @POTUS to use the tools provided by the US Congress and fully implement the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act.
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Thank you for showing us moral leadership
To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada.
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This confirmation process is a turning point in American history. I urge all my colleagues to think carefully, before they cast their vote, about the future of our nation. I have. And that is why I must vote no. #WhatsAtStake.
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China* just granted 38 trademarks @POTUS had sought for years without success. *China, by the way, is a "foreign state." #EmolumentsClause
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The people of #HongKong deserve the right to choose their own leaders. Joshua Wong has led the charge for democracy & autonomy, and Hongkongers have marched and protested with him. Banning him from running for office is an affront to the “one country, two systems” principle.
Hong Kong authorities barred Joshua Wong, a prominent democracy activist, from running in district council elections next month. Wong said the decision showed that China’s central government was manipulating the election.
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When asked if the President of the United States must abide by a subpoena, #Kavanaugh replied, "you're asking me to give an answer to a hypothetical," which he "cannot do.". Judge Kavanaugh: you spent 3 years working for Ken Starr. This isn't hypothetical. Stop equivocating.
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Record turnout and support for pro-democracy candidates in #HongKong elections after months of protests. This sends a strong message to Chinese authorities that the true power of democracy lies within the people – they must now heed their demands for their rights and autonomy.
With 3 million voters casting ballots, pro-democracy candidates in Hong Kong captured 389 of 452 elected seats, far more than they have ever won. With one race undecided, the government’s allies held just 57 seats, a remarkable collapse from 300.
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Violent suppression of protests in #HongKong this weekend highlights discontent over Beijing’s efforts to subvert democracy & the ‘one country, two systems’ principle. The US must stand firmly w/the people - @POTUS must implement the #HongKongHumanRightsandDemocracyAct.
Protesters in Hong Kong ignored social distancing restrictions as they took to the streets to oppose China's plan to impose security laws seen as a threat to the territory's freedoms. Demonstrators clashed with police, who fired tear gas and water cannons.
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America’s strength has been and always will be in our values. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to democracy and to the people of #HongKong.
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No American, regardless of political party, should be okay with the president’s statements. Unacceptable. Dangerous. Period.
No Republican should be okay with the President's statements just now. Unacceptable. Period.
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The Senate should not take up any bills unrelated to reopening the government until @SenateMajLdr lets us vote on exactly that. This is not business as usual. This is a crisis and a failure to govern. Dozens of govt agencies are shut down. We must reconcile that first. #Shutdown.
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I am deeply alarmed that the Trump Administration prefers to appease Erdogan over upholding the rights of Americans to protest peacefully without fear of violence from foreign security forces. Yet again, this Administration is trampling on the rule of law.
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Russia did not just meddle in our election - it engaged in a sophisticated attack equivalent to a political Pearl Harbor . .
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To the Republicans saying they don't want the #SkinnyRepeal to actually become law: there's a simple way to ensure it doesn't. Vote no.
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Day 25 of the #TrumpShutdown. I just went to the Senate floor – again – to request consent to reopen the government. @SenateMajLdr objected – again. He says @POTUS won't sign off. So what? These bills earned near-unanimous support last Congress. We can override a veto.
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I'm with you, #MarchForTruth. I've introduced a bill to establish an independent commission on Trump/Russia & I intend to fight for it. #S27
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Russia's attack on the U.S., while still being fully investigated, was not limited to email hacks or one election. The scale and scope of this threat is real, it is growing, and if left unchecked, it will happen again in 2018 and 2020. #RussiaReport
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Further, this whole process has been outrageous. My request to meet with Judge #Kavanaugh before the hearings began was denied by the White House. I joined @JudiciaryDems in requesting a modest postponement so I had adequate time to review his full record – that was also denied.
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I took these photos today at detention facilities in Texas. These aren't criminals, they aren't just headlines. Trump's zero tolerance policies are targeting real families and real children fleeing violence and searching for safety. We must do better than this.
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I call upon @POTUS to rescind his ExecOrder before it does any more damage to our national security or endangers the lives of Americans.
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In his first week, @POTUS has silenced @EPA and National Parks from talking about #ClimateFacts. Key word: FACTS. #DefendScience.
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I urge President @NayibBukele of #ElSalvador to end the promotion of political vitriol & dubious claims of fraud ahead of Sunday's election. We know all too well what can happen when presidents incite violence & sow distrust in institutions.
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My decision is based on:. 1) his judicial track record.2) his equivocation on whether presidents should be investigated while in office, even though he investigated President Bill Clinton for Independent Counsel Ken Starr, and.3) what little we have seen of his White House record.
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This is the 1st U.S. government #RussiaReport to detail exactly how Putin operates, from a toolbox that includes military invasions, cyberattacks, disinformation, supporting fringe political groups, and weaponizing energy, crime & corruption. Summary here:
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Proud to be co-sponsoring this bill. Democrat or Republican, no President is above the law -- and we must avoid a #ConstitutionalCrisis.
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On Monday I will introduce a resolution asking President-elect Trump to comply w/ Constitution regarding his assets.
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The 42,000-page document dump the night before the hearings began was an especially egregious display of contempt for the constitutional process. Even now, much of #Kavanaugh's record has not been provided to the Senate.
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The President of the United States should not be encouraging white supremacy groups. Really. It shouldn’t happen. Ever.
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I am proud of all I have done for Maryland. I have given my heart and soul to our great state, and I thank Marylanders for trusting me as your representative for all these years. Thank you, Maryland.
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In the coming days, it's critical that we remember the six families who are the center of the FSK Bridge tragedy. Many of these men were fathers whose families need our support.
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It's not appropriate for Ivanka Trump to serve as a public advocate for the #WeFi initiative. My letter to @stevenmnuchin1 explains why:
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To whom does "give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" apply if not to refugees? #NoBanNoWall.
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Six months ago, Congress passed #RussianSanctions with overwhelming bipartisan support – passing the Senate 98-2. @POTUS has yet to enforce a single one. That is unacceptable. I've written to Secretary of State Tillerson to ask why. #DefendOurDemocracy.
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We must act. Automatic weapons aren't needed to hunt deer or ducks; they're meant to kill people – and they do far too often in this country
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I'm proud that the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act passed @SenateForeign yesterday. For months, protestors have faced brutal pushback for defending Hong Kong’s autonomy. This bill sends a strong message that the U.S. stands in solidarity with them
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Last night @SenWarren added to a long, proud history of women refusing to be silenced. Susan B. Anthony was warned. #ShePersisted too.
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This threat existed long before Pres. Trump took office, and will exist after him unless he finally says ‘enough is enough’, acknowledges the threat, and leads our country and our allies in defending all that we care about. #RussiaReport.
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As it stands now, the filibuster is being exploited by individual senators to kill bills by placing a “hold” on them. The system needs to change.
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This is not an esoteric argument about rules. This is about a historically bipartisan, Constitutional requirement. #BlindTrust
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Russia must release @navalny immediately. The U.S. stands with him, as should all who fight against kleptocracy and value human rights.
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I would think all members of Congress value clean water. I was wrong. Overturning the #StreamProtectionRule is a disaster in the making.
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At her hearing, #DeVos would not commit to safeguards for children w/ disabilities or to improving college affordability. I must vote no.
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These are legal immigrants. They came here seeking refuge from tragedy. Now, about 1/3 of them are U.S. homeowners. They are the parents of more than 190,000 U.S. born children. Forcing them to leave will tear apart & devastate American families. This is not who we are. #SaveTPS
200,000 Salvadorans will be forced to leave the U.S. or face deportation as Trump administration ends immigration protection
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Climate change is real. Trying to bury this report on the Friday after Thanksgiving does not make it less urgent. #science
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Election delays in #HongKong come straight out of the authoritarian playbook. We must stand for free, fair, timely elections that don’t follow the whims of political leaders, both at home and around the world.
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The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the US, supports over 3,600 plant and animal species and is a source of seafood, jobs and drinking water for 18 million people living in the watershed. The SCOTUS recent wrongly decided ruling in Sackett v. EPA . .
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Absurd barely describes this process. This is simply not right.
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I join Secretary Blinken in condemning the recent action by the Government of Ethiopia to expel seven United Nations officials, including those essential to providing aid to over 5 million Ethiopians who are desperately in need of food and other basic resources.
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Staggering. 94% of Jews – and 74% of adults overall – say that antisemitism is a problem in the United States.
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Imagine being against legislation that carries the name – and the dreams – of John Lewis. Inaction is not an option. We must pass voting rights legislation now.
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We have a moral obligation to aid the innocent #LGBT people of Chechnya being detained, tortured. I've requested humanitarian/refugee status
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The ongoing conflict in #Ethiopia is heartbreaking and increasingly troubling. I will continue to work in Congress to do everything to bring the parties to the civil conflict together in a genuine National Dialogue.
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I am deeply concerned over the escalation of hostilities in northern Ethiopia and saddened that children are among the casualties in recent airstrikes in the Tigray region. This escalation risks exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis.
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It has been two years, and I am still mourning the loss of my good friend, Elijah Cummings. I’ll never forget the immediate friendship we had when I first met Elijah. The world was a better place because of Elijah's advocacy, work and spirit. Rest in Power.
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Zero. This seems to be how much respect @POTUS has for federal workers. It's outrageous and hypocritical that after spending billions of dollars on the #GOPTaxScam, suddenly the White House says there's no money for a minimal cost-of-living adjustment for our public servants.
BREAKING: Trump cancels pay raises for most federal employees set to take effect in January, citing budget.
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Barbaric. Unnecessary. UnAmerican. There's no other way to describe @POTUS' policy of separating young children from their mothers and fathers – many of whom seek asylum. It doesn't make us safer. It only makes us smaller. I'm proud to co-sponsor S. 3036. #FamiliesBelongTogether
UPDATE: 40 senators now support our bill to bar children from being taken from their parents at the border. We’re continuing to ask Republican senators to join our bill. If you’re represented by a Republican senator, please ask them to cosponsor S.3036. #FamiliesBelongTogether.
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Multiple women have come forward. Sworn declarations have been made. It's past time to initiate an FBI investigation into the allegations against Judge #Kavanaugh. If @SenateGOP is so certain no wrongdoing occurred, they should welcome one as well. What are they so afraid of?.
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.@POTUS must send Congress a request for this supplemental aid ASAP. #PuertoRico is facing life-threatening challenges; they cannot wait.
We must approve a supplemental aid package for Hurricane Harvey, Irma & Maria relief - and it must include #PuertoRico and US Virgin Islands.
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To be clear: CBO says @SenateGOP's #SkinnyBill will cause premiums to rise 20%. every year. Not once - every single year. Through 2026.
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Today, SFRC approved S.3199, a much needed bill on #Ethiopia. This bill is the first step in holding all parties responsible for the conflict in Ethiopia accountable for the gross human rights violations they have committed & the catastrophic humanitarian crisis they’ve enabled.
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If you're turned away from your polling place for any reason, don't walk away without voting. Request to cast a provisional ballot. If you experience any problems voting this election cycle, call 1-866-OUR-VOTE for help. Don't let anyone deny your right to vote. #ProtectTheVote.
How to secure your vote:.✔️ Make sure you're registered at your current address. ✔️ Contact election officials if there's any issue with your registration. ✔️ Don't leave your polling location without voting. If turned away, ask to cast a provisional ballot. #ProtectTheVote
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The President of the United States must abide by the Constitution. It is not voluntary #emolumentsclause
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On this #HolocaustRemembranceDay we are reminded why providing sanctuary to refugees is crucial & what the consequences can be of inaction
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Judge #Kavanaugh's answers at this week's hearings did nothing to alleviate concern that he would turn back the clock on civil liberties, reproductive choice, equality, the Affordable Care Act, workers' rights, and clean air & clean water regulations. That should trouble us all.
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Being deeply troubled by her open lack of support for our nation's public schools, I am opposing Betsy #DeVos for Secretary of Education.
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Mr. President. You are the one who put an expiration date on Dreamers' backs, then refused to compromise to fix #DACA. Dems offered you a ridiculous amount of money for your ridiculous border wall in exchange for a pathway to citizenship for #Dreamers. So stop these theatrics.
Pres. Trump to DACA recipients: "The Republicans are with you. the Democrats fought us. They just fought every single inch of the way. They did not want DACA in this bill."
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I cannot support cloture for #JudgeGorsuch. Republicans are responsible for making this process untenable - and for the consequences.
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Thank you to @SenBlumenthal, @ChrisVanHollen and @SenDuckworth for co-sponsoring my bill prohibiting federal funds from being used on a military parade. They know, as I do, that there are much better ways to honor our brave troops besides wasting millions on a parade.
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.@BillBrowder has been a global advocate for anti-corruption in #Russia. @DHSgov should immediately review the decision to revoke his visa.
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Since passing the PACT Act a little over a year ago, we've now screened 5 million veterans for toxic exposures. This incredible milestone allows for early detection and fulfills our promise to care for those who have served our nation.
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We CANNOT allow @SenateGOP to repeal the ACA w/out a complete, affordable replacement plan. We cannot allow them to #RepealAndRun. #SaveACA.
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GOP: "This process has been a sham. Where's concern for the truth?". @JudiciaryDems: "Okay. Then let's have witnesses testify under oath, hear from the retired federal agent who administered Dr. Ford's polygraph, have an FBI investigation.". GOP: "I. never mind, let's vote.".
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With @SenatorWicker, I introduced a bill to have USG evaluate the “Navalny 35” for Global Magnitsky sanctions. I agree w/ letter previously sent to @POTUS by Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation urging U.S. to impose sanctions on 35 human rights abusers.
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Hoping to avoid a Constitutional crisis, I've introduced #EmolumentsClause resolution. No President is above the law
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.@SenateGOP: Enough righteous indignation over "the process." If you really want a proper process aimed at learning the truth, support an FBI investigation. #Kavanaugh #DelayTheVote.
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I'm a #NoOnDevos for Maryland's 1,446 schools. For our 60,000 educators. And most of all, for our 880,000 students who deserve an advocate.
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This is madness. Keeping the government shut down does not demonstrate strength. It demonstrates incompetence and an inability to govern. As usual, @realDonaldTrump is confusing the two at Americans' expense. #TrumpShutdown.
President Trump confirms that he told top Democrats today that he's ready to let the partial government shutdown go on for months or years. Follow live updates:
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I have constituents who were detained at airports. Who are frightened. Targeting immigrants for their faith is unAmerican. #NoBanNoWall.
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