WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on the passing of his former colleague, Senator Richard Lugar (R-Ind.).

“Richard Lugar was a public servant, a statesman and a friend. He reached across the aisle to get things done on behalf of the American people and to embolden America’s leadership around the world. For more than three decades in the Senate, he worked to make peace more of a reality. I was proud to have him as my partner in passing the landmark Cardin-Lugar Energy Security Through Transparency provision that put us on a path toward greater transparency in America’s oil, gas and mining industry. Dick Lugar understood that ‘Transparency empowers citizens, investors, regulators, and other watchdogs and is a necessary ingredient of good governance for countries and companies alike.’ He wanted to empower citizens to hold their governments accountable. Even following his retirement from the Senate, Dick continued to work actively with me to advance regulations at the Securities and Exchange Commission necessary for this critical law finally to be enacted.

“I send my condolences to his family and all those who have been touched by his lifetime of achievements. He will be missed greatly.”

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