Sen. Ben Cardin, the ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, praised the passage of bipartisan legislation he negotiated with Sen. Bob Corker, D-Tenn., the committee’s chair, that would enable Congress to review the nuclear deal being negotiated with Iran.
“I want to thank Senator Corker for his patience and willingness to work with me in good faith,” Cardin said in a statement Tuesday. “America is always stronger when we speak with one voice on foreign policy. In finding common ground, we keep the spotlight on our shared effort to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear weapons capability.”
“This legislation and the overall negotiations with Iran have brought forward varied opinions and deep emotions on all sides,” he added. “I urge my colleagues, advocates and all interested parties – Democrats and Republicans – to stay united and keep the focus where it belongs: on halting Iran’s nuclear program, which is best accomplished through strong diplomatic actions.”
Cardin, Maryland’s junior U.S. Senator, rose to be the ranking member of the committee earlier this month when Sen. Robert Menendez stepped down after the Justice Department indicted him on corruption charges.