Ben Cardin, U.S. Senator for Maryland | The State of “Build Back Better” Legislation

Today we are excited to have Senator Ben Cardin in our show. A third-generation Marylander, Ben Cardin has been a national leader on health care, retirement security, the environment, and fiscal issues while representing the people of Maryland in the U.S. Senate and before that in the House of Representatives. He has worked across party lines to further U.S. national security and to ensure that good governance, transparency, and respect for human rights are integrated into American foreign policy efforts. He was first elected to the Senate in 2006 and currently serves as Chair of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee, which is at the forefront of rebuilding the economy. He is a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations, Finance, and Environment & Public Works committees.

In this episode, Senator Cardin stops by to share with us the state of President Biden’s “Build Back Better” legislation and the importance of MBDA being codified as a permanent agency. You’ll also learn about his role in ensuring access to PPP & EIDL loans for non-profits and minority-owned businesses. As we celebrate Black History Month, he shares how the late Congressman Parren J. Mitchell drafted legislation for MBEs to participate in federal contracting opportunities, laid the foundation for NMSDC, and advanced opportunities for MBEs to do business across the country within the private sector.

Tune in!

Here’s What You’ll Get In This Episode

[00:05] Episode intro and a quick bio of today’s guest

[05:24] The biggest challenges as far as minority-owned businesses are concerned 

[06:47] Parren’s legislation for MBEs to participate in federal contracting opportunities

[12:05] His achievement in ensuring MBDA has been codified as a permanent agency

[14:31] Ensuring access to loans for non-profits and minority-owned businesses.

[16:24] Challenges in implementing President Biden’s “Build Back Better” legislation

[21:46] How can other corporations support minority businesses

[24:45] Hate crimes and how they can be stopped

[26:56] Ending the show and call to action

Notable Quotes

• Integrity is key to maintaining business relationships
• You can control your response, but you can’t control how people act
• Rome was not built in a day, and it didn’t fall in a day, so take your business one step at a time
• When giving your price or rate, never sell yourself short; give them everything about how you built the rate and what comes with it.
• Quitters never win, and winners never quit.
• Always be willing to learn because there is no one rule book on how to be an entrepreneur or professional.

Connect with Senator Cardin

Website: https://www.cardin.senate.gov/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SenatorCardin

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/senatorcardin/

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/senatorbencardin/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SenatorCardin