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.
From Riots to Rainbows
Dear Fellow Marylanders, This weekend, we wrap up Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Month. Marylanders have packed a lot into these 30 days – from the June 1 Westminster Pride Festival to the June 30 Pride in the Plaza in Silver Spring. In between, there were more than a dozen Pride parades from Annapolis to Salisbury to Cumberland and everywhere in between. Baltimore has one of the longest-running Pride celebrations in the state. These commemorations and opportunities for representation are important, as long as we celebrate with a clear understanding that LGBTQ+ rights and freedoms must be protected 365/24/7. ‘Love is love’ every day of the year and not only...
From Riots to Rainbows
Dear Fellow Marylanders, This weekend, we wrap up Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Month. Marylanders have packed a lot into these 30 days – from the June 1 Westminster Pride Festival to the June 30 Pride in the Plaza in Silver Spring. In...
A Solemn Anniversary
Dear Fellow Marylanders, “There is nothing more terrifying than hearing multiple people get shot while you’re under your desk and then hear the gunman reload.” Outside the United States, the terror of this scenario primarily exists for those in the throngs of war....
Old Glory
Dear Fellow Marylanders, The history books say that in the midst of the War of 1812, Baltimore resident Mary Pickersgill was asked by General Samuel Smith to make a flag “so large that the British will have no difficulty seeing it from a distance.” That flag – 30-feet...
D-Day 80 Years Later
Dear Fellow Marylanders, Thursday marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the major Allied landing on the beaches of Normandy, France, that turned the tide of war against Nazi Germany. The Allied forces, consisting of soldiers and sailors from 12 countries,...
Unprecedented
History. Unprecedented. Remarkable. Unthinkable. Whatever you want to call it, Thursday, May 30, 2024 marked a sad day in nearly 250 years of American history as a former president was convicted on felony criminal charges. No one is above the law. Not Donald Trump....
Women’s Health
May is Women’s Health Month. June is Men’s Health Month. I would argue that every month should be a time to focus on physical and mental health and encourage everyone to pay attention to the signs their body is sending them. Take advantage of early screenings and...
Graduation Season
Dear Fellow Marylanders, Maryland weather can be epic. As you know, often we can experience at least three of the four major seasons, maybe Winter, Spring and Summer, all in one day. I will tell you, though, one of my favorite seasons is graduation season and we are...
The Past is Prologue
Dear Fellow Marylanders, The 1960s and 70s were defined by incredible turmoil, yet monumental progress for civil rights and equity. Student-led protests and other demonstrations and civil unrest led to landmark legislation expanding civil rights and transformational...
Public Service
Dear Fellow Marylanders, When the cargo ship Dali lost control and slammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, law enforcement, emergency medical personnel, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and others were on the scene immediately, working...
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 –...