{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where state = \"MD\" sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-alsobrooks-hosts-real-men-real-talk-discussion-at-bowie-state-university/", "SENATOR ALSOBROOKS HOSTS REAL MEN, REAL TALK DISCUSSION AT BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY", "2026-09-27", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "September 27, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), along with MedStar Health and United Way of the National Capital Area, hosted \u201cReal Men, Real Talk\u201d at Bowie State University \u2014 a discussion and community fair dedicated to men, their health, and a stronger community.\n\nSenator Alsobrooks was joined by Bowie State University president Dr. Aminta H. Breaux; Chile Ahaghotu, MD, Vice President of Medical Affairs at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center; Gigi El-Bayoumi, MD, Founder, Rodham Institute at Georgetown School of Medicine; Brocklin Qualls, Director, Black Fatherhood Blueprint, Greater Washington Urban League; Jamal Branch, Psychotherapist, Founder, Synergy Therapeutic Services, LLC; and Stephen Conti, Founder, Tocar Spa Massage Therapy.\n\n\u201cOur men and boys hear the world demand so much of them. Today they got to hear these important words: you are loved. We care what you\u2019re going through. We\u2019re concerned about your lives, and you don\u2019t have to handle everything on your own. That is what today was all about \u2013 joining together to discuss the physical, mental, and emotional health of our men and boys, and letting them know about the resources and support systems available to them,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cUnited Way NCA is honored to stand alongside Senator Alsobrooks as a community partner for the \u2018Real Men, Real Talk\u2019 discussion and community fair,\u201d said Dr. Nicole Cooper, Chief External Affairs and Transformation Officer, United Way of the National Capital Area. \u201cThe event aligns with our healthy community impact area, giving men real tools to live strong, healthy lives, from health screenings to mental health resources to a space where they feel seen and heard. It\u2019s built on strong partnerships, and that\u2019s how we create healthier, stronger communities throughout the National Capital Area, together.\u201d\n\n\u201cStudent success depends on well-being,\u201d said Dr. Aminta H. Breaux, president of Bowie State University. \u201cToday\u2019s conversation created an important space for men and boys to prioritize their physical, mental and emotional health, connect with resources and know they are supported. We are proud to partner with Sen. Alsobrooks and community leaders to strengthen the health and well-being of the communities we serve.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-28T11:29:07Z", "2026-09-28T11:30:58Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-meets-to-discuss-critical-priorities-for-the-port-of-baltimore", "Maryland Congressional Delegation Meets to Discuss Critical Priorities for the Port of Baltimore", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Yesterday, members of Maryland\u2019s Congressional Delegation held a meeting at the United States Capitol to discuss their work on a range of issues relating to the Port of Baltimore, including its infrastructure needs, long-term stability, and growth. During the meeting, the lawmakers heard from Port leadership and stakeholders about upcoming modernization projects, investments, general workforce updates, and more. The Port of Baltimore generates $70 billion annually in economic impacts to Maryland, and 273,000 total jobs in Maryland are connected to the Port. Video of the members\u2019 press availability following the meeting is available here.\n\n\u201cMaryland is a leading hub for trade and commerce \u2013 and the Port of Baltimore is a key part of our success, generating thousands of jobs and bolstering our economy. Yesterday\u2019s meeting was a great opportunity for Team Maryland to come together with Port leadership and key stakeholders to discuss our past efforts and plan for how we will build on those efforts for the future of the Port. Working alongside state and local partners, we will keep fighting to deliver resources and support so communities across Maryland reap the benefits of a strong and vibrant Port,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cThe Port is more than just the pride of Baltimore. It\u2019s a state treasure, and it\u2019s an economic engine for the nation and the rest of the world. Our support for Baltimore and the Port remains strong, because a strong Port makes us better, makes our economy stronger, and makes us more sustainable. We have to continue looking at every opportunity to invest in this economic engine that consumers, businesses, workers, and economies worldwide depend on. And I look forward to working with Team Maryland on Capitol Hill to continue fighting for the resources that keep us on the cutting edge,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cThe Port of Baltimore has always been a mighty force in job creation and economic growth in our state. I was glad to meet with the Maryland Congressional Delegation, Maryland Port Administration leadership, and local Port leaders to discuss the significant economic development accomplishments and opportunities for our nation's exports out of Baltimore. Investing in our infrastructure and transportation systems at the Port will improve shipping capacity, competitiveness, and business opportunities for the communities across Maryland that depend on the port. The delegation will continue working with our federal, state, and local partners to secure the investments needed to strengthen the Port of Baltimore, grow our economy, and create jobs here in Maryland and across the country,\u201d said Congressman Hoyer.\n\n\u201cThe Port of Baltimore is a booming economic gateway for the Free State and the nation,\u201d said Congressman Raskin. \u201cWhile President Trump\u2019s chaotic and costly trade war and tariffs have reduced imports, Team Maryland will continue fighting for the federal funding needed to keep the port an accessible, attractive destination for the largest cargo ships and create more high-paying union jobs.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Port of Baltimore has been able to survive ups and downs of the economy for over 100 years. Now, the President\u2019s economic strategy that prioritizes tariffs over jobs is adding additional hardship. The President\u2019s ongoing, illegal war in Iran is driving up the cost to ship everything, which directly impacts our port and our economy. But Team Maryland will be able to overcome that. We're in Washington and working together to deliver, not just for the Port, not just for the 2,400 Longshoremen who work in the Port, but for our economy and state as a whole,\u201d said Congresswoman Elfreth. \u201cTo write the future of the Port of Baltimore, we will be taking inspiration from what once was \u2013 back to the Baltimore clippers and the hundreds of Liberty ships built during World War II. It is time for Maryland to lead in shipbuilding and maritime manufacturing once again.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyer-statement-approved-2027-maryland-marketplace-rates", "Hoyer Statement on the Approved 2027 Maryland Marketplace Rates", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny H. Hoyer", "H000874", "hoyer.house.gov", "hoyer", "https://hoyer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement regarding the nearly 15% increase for unsubsidized individual Maryland marketplace health insurance plans in 2027:\n\n\u201cDonald Trump and Republicans ran in 2024 on addressing inflation and bringing costs down. They misled American families. Costs are only going up - and faster - because of their policies. We\u2019re now seeing that reflected in health-insurance premiums for coverage through the state health-care exchanges. In Maryland, even though our state officials are doing everything possible to keep costs down, premiums for unsubsidised plans are rising an average of 14.6% for 2027. This is a direct result of Republicans\u2019 decision to remove eligibility, permit ACA subsidies to lapse, and allow critical tax credits to expire.\n\n\u201cDemocrats are fighting to lower costs for health care, groceries, consumer goods, gas, and diesel. It\u2019s clear that the Republicans who are in control of Congress have failed to do so, and it is time to change course.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-27T10:23:37Z", "2026-09-27T10:25:08Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-delegation-announces-86-million-increase-safety-and-security-places", "Maryland Delegation Announces $8.6 Million to Increase Safety and Security in Places of Worship", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny H. Hoyer", "H000874", "hoyer.house.gov", "hoyer", "https://hoyer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 This week, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (both D-MD), and U.S. Representatives Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Andy Harris (MD-01), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), and Johnny Olszewski (MD-02) announced $8,627,091 in federal funding to strengthen security at 49 religious institutions and community centers across Maryland.\n\n\u201cThe Nonprofit Security Grant Program has become an essential tool for protecting our houses of worship, schools, community centers, and early-childhood programs. With the alarming rise in antisemitism and other forms of hate, it is critical that everyone feels safe when gathering with their communities and congregations. I\u2019m proud that Team Maryland was able to secure this funding, and I will continue working with our delegation to push for further federal support for nonprofit security,\u201d said Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05).\n\n\u201cEvery Marylander deserves to be able to exercise their right to religious freedom and worship without fear for their safety. Our faith institutions also help build community in many ways, from providing spiritual services to offering youth programs to supporting local families. As that work continues, we have also seen an appalling increase in threats against faith-based organizations across the state, and we know that more federal funding and reforms are necessary to meet the growing security measures needed to keep community members safe. We will continue working to increase funds for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program and to see that these investments go where they are needed most, in light of recent changes to this program,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen (D-MD).\n\n\u201cAll Marylanders deserve to feel safe in their homes, schools, communities \u2013 and especially in places of worship. It was critical that Team Maryland fight to secure over $8 million in federal funding to strengthen security at religious centers in our state. And I won\u2019t stop fighting until all Marylanders feel and are safe,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks (D-MD).\n\n\u201cNo matter what your faith or religion is every American should feel safe and secure in their ability to worship peacefully,\u201d said Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07). \u201cWith this injection of over $8 million in Federal funding, dozens of faith-based institutions across Maryland will be able to improve their security systems and protocols, ensuring that houses of worship remain sanctuaries for practitioners of all beliefs.\u201d\n\n\u201cMarylanders should be able to practice their faith without worrying about their safety. This funding will improve security at religious institutions across the First District, from Harford County to the Eastern Shore. Thank you to President Trump and the Department of Homeland Security for helping Maryland\u2019s religious organizations improve security and protect our communities,\u201d said Congressman Harris (MD-01).\n\n\u201cAmidst an alarming increase in antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of toxic hate, Team Maryland is surging more than $8.6 million in federal Nonprofit Security Grants to protect our people,\u201d said Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08). \u201cNo American should become a target of senseless violence and intimidation, especially in their house of worship.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery Marylander should be able to worship and gather without fear,\u201d said Congressman Ivey (MD-04). \u201cTeam Maryland fought together to secure this federal funding so that faith communities across our state have the resources they need to strengthen security and protect the people they serve. I\u2019m proud of our delegation\u2019s work to deliver these investments and help keep Marylanders safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cMarylanders of all faiths deserve to both be safe and feel safe in their houses of worship. Since coming to Congress, I have continued to prioritize increased security funding for nonprofit and religious institutions \u2013 both in Washington in the budget and through our Interfaith Advisory Council \u2013 which is why it is so great to join Team Maryland in announcing this $8 million in federal funding for 49 houses of worship, religious institutions, and community centers across our state. Especially as religious institutions spend more and more on security and the number of hate crimes continues to rise, Congress has an important responsibility to ensure the safety of all of our neighbors,\u201d said Congresswoman Elfreth (MD-03).\n\n\u201cWhether you are walking into a church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or community center, you should never have to fear for your safety. Freedom of religion means the freedom to worship without fear. This $8.6 million investment will help 49 institutions across Maryland strengthen security and protect the communities they serve. I\u2019ll keep working with Team Maryland to ensure our faith communities have the resources they need to keep people safe,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney (MD-06).\n\n\u201cOur faith communities are critical community anchors and bring so many Marylanders together,\u201d said Congressman Johnny Olszewski (MD-02). \u201cThis funding gives 49 religious institutions and community centers across our state the resources they need to worship, learn, and gather without fear. Team Maryland will keep fighting to make sure our houses of worship have what they need to stay safe.\u201d\n\nA full list of the recipients, selected by the Department of Homeland Security, is below:\n\nSouthern Maryland\n\nCamp St. Charles Inc.\n\nCrossroads Christian Center, Inc.\n\nMontgomery & Prince George\u2019s Counties\n\nChabad Lubavitch of Bowie Maryland Inc\n\nChabad Lubavitch of Upper Montgomery County Inc.\n\nCharles E. Smith Jewish Day School (Lower School)\n\nCongregation B'nai Tzedek\n\nCovenant Life Church (7501)\n\nCovenant Life School (7503)\n\nCovenant Life School/Church (7505)\n\nGreater Praise and Deliverance Tabernacle\n\nGreek Orthodox Church of Saint George, Inc.\n\nIsrael on Campus Coalition, Inc.\n\nImadi\n\nKehilat Pardes\n\nKingdom Full Tabernacle International Ministries\n\nLife Changing Christian Center\n\nMcLean Bible Church (Montgomery)\n\nNorth Brentwood AME Zion Church\n\nThe Guru Gobind Singh Foundation Trust Inc\n\nThe Sierra Leone Muslim Jamaat, Inc. (3305)\n\nTikvat Israel Congregation\n\nWestern Maryland\n\nB'er Chayim Congregation\n\nBeth Sholom Congregation of Frederick, MD\n\nBroadfording Bible Brethren Church\n\nBroadfording Bible Brethren Church DBA Global Vision Christian School Broadfording (Main Campus)\n\nBroadfording Bible Brethren Church DBA Global Vision Christian School Broadfording (West Campus)\n\nCamp Airy\n\nCamp Louise\n\nSaints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church\n\nBaltimore Area\n\nArundel Christian Church\n\nBeth Tfiloh Congregation dba Beth Tfiloh Camps\n\nCecil Memorial United Methodist Church\n\nChabad of Greengate Maryland Inc.\n\nChabad of Harford County, Inc.\n\nCongregation Kneseth Israel\n\nHebrew School of the Performing Arts, Inc.\n\nImmaculate Heart of Mary School\n\nImmaculate Heart of Mary Church\n\nJewels Therapy Clinic\n\nJohn Carroll School Inc.\n\nRedemption City Church Baltimore\n\nSafe Green Transit Corporation\n\nSts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church\n\nSt. Philip Neri Roman Catholic Church\n\nTalmudical Academy of Baltimore Inc.\n\nThe Cathedral of Mary Our Queen\n\nThe Greek Orthodox Cemetery\n\nWest Baltimore United Methodist Church\n\nEastern Shore\n\nLighthouse Christian Academy\n\nThe awards are provided through the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s (DHS) Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which helps high-risk nonprofits, including faith-based institutions, obtain the resources required to support and integrate preparedness activities with broader state and local efforts. The lawmakers fought to fund the Nonprofit Security Grant Program at $300 million through the Fiscal Year 2026 annual appropriations package, an increase from $274.5 million in Fiscal Year 2025.", 1, "2026-09-27T10:23:37Z", "2026-09-27T10:25:08Z"], ["https://elfreth.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-meets-discuss-critical-priorities-port", "Maryland Congressional Delegation Meets to Discuss Critical Priorities for the Port of Baltimore", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Sarah Elfreth", "E000301", "elfreth.house.gov", "elfreth", "https://elfreth.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Yesterday, Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03) and members of Maryland\u2019s Congressional Delegation held a meeting at the United States Capitol to discuss their work on a range of issues relating to the Port of Baltimore, including its infrastructure needs, long-term stability, and growth. During the meeting, the lawmakers heard from Port leadership and stakeholders about upcoming modernization projects, investments, general workforce updates, and more. The Port of Baltimore generates $70 billion annually in economic impacts to Maryland, and 273,000 total jobs in Maryland are connected to the Port. Video of the members\u2019 press availability following the meeting is available here.\n\n\u201cThe Port of Baltimore has been able to survive ups and downs of the economy for over 100 years. Now, the President\u2019s economic strategy that prioritizes tariffs over jobs is adding additional hardship. The President\u2019s ongoing, illegal war in Iran is driving up the cost to ship everything, which directly impacts our port and our economy. But Team Maryland will be able to overcome that. We're in Washington and working together to deliver, not just for the Port, not just for the 2,400 Longshoremen who work in the Port, but for our economy and state as a whole,\u201d said Congresswoman Elfreth. \u201cTo write the future of the Port of Baltimore, we will be taking inspiration from what once was \u2013 back to the Baltimore clippers and the hundreds of Liberty ships built during World War II. It is time for Maryland to lead in shipbuilding and maritime manufacturing once again.\u201d\n\n\u201cMaryland is a leading hub for trade and commerce \u2013 and the Port of Baltimore is a key part of our success, generating thousands of jobs and bolstering our economy. Yesterday\u2019s meeting was a great opportunity for Team Maryland to come together with Port leadership and key stakeholders to discuss our past efforts and plan for how we will build on those efforts for the future of the Port. Working alongside state and local partners, we will keep fighting to deliver resources and support so communities across Maryland reap the benefits of a strong and vibrant Port,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cThe Port is more than just the pride of Baltimore. It\u2019s a state treasure, and it\u2019s an economic engine for the nation and the rest of the world. Our support for Baltimore and the Port remains strong, because a strong Port makes us better, makes our economy stronger, and makes us more sustainable. We have to continue looking at every opportunity to invest in this economic engine that consumers, businesses, workers, and economies worldwide depend on. And I look forward to working with Team Maryland on Capitol Hill to continue fighting for the resources that keep us on the cutting edge,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cThe Port of Baltimore has always been a mighty force in job creation and economic growth in our state. I was glad to meet with the Maryland Congressional Delegation, Maryland Port Administration leadership, and local Port leaders to discuss the significant economic development accomplishments and opportunities for our nation's exports out of Baltimore. Investing in our infrastructure and transportation systems at the Port will improve shipping capacity, competitiveness, and business opportunities for the communities across Maryland that depend on the port. The delegation will continue working with our federal, state, and local partners to secure the investments needed to strengthen the Port of Baltimore, grow our economy, and create jobs here in Maryland and across the country,\u201d said Congressman Hoyer.\n\n\u201cThe Port of Baltimore is a booming economic gateway for the Free State and the nation,\u201d said Congressman Raskin. \u201cWhile President Trump\u2019s chaotic and costly trade war and tariffs have reduced imports, Team Maryland will continue fighting for the federal funding needed to keep the port an accessible, attractive destination for the largest cargo ships and create more high-paying union jobs.\u201d\n\n\u201cInvesting in the Port of Baltimore isn\u2019t just about concrete, cranes, and cargo \u2014 it\u2019s about investing in people,\u201d said Congressman Olszewski. \u201cTwo and a half years after the Key Bridge collapse, we have a responsibility to rebuild stronger and keep investing in the infrastructure that makes the Port a national economic asset. When we prioritize the Port, we are prioritizing jobs, families, and the future of Maryland.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://olszewski.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-meets-discuss-critical-priorities-port", "Maryland Congressional Delegation Meets to Discuss Critical Priorities for the Port of Baltimore", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Johnny Olszewski, Jr.", "O000176", "olszewski.house.gov", "olszewski", "https://olszewski.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Yesterday, members of Maryland\u2019s Congressional Delegation held a meeting at the United States Capitol to discuss their work on a range of issues relating to the Port of Baltimore, including its infrastructure needs, long-term stability, and growth. During the meeting, the lawmakers heard from Port leadership and stakeholders about upcoming modernization projects, investments, general workforce updates, and more. The Port of Baltimore generates $70 billion annually in economic impacts to Maryland, and 273,000 total jobs in Maryland are connected to the Port.\n\n\u201cMaryland is a leading hub for trade and commerce \u2013 and the Port of Baltimore is a key part of our success, generating thousands of jobs and bolstering our economy. Yesterday\u2019s meeting was a great opportunity for Team Maryland to come together with Port leadership and key stakeholders to discuss our past efforts and plan for how we will build on those efforts for the future of the Port. Working alongside state and local partners, we will keep fighting to deliver resources and support so communities across Maryland reap the benefits of a strong and vibrant Port,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cInvesting in the Port of Baltimore isn\u2019t just about concrete, cranes, and cargo \u2014 it\u2019s about investing in people,\u201d said Congressman Olszewski. \u201cTwo and a half years after the Key Bridge collapse, we have a responsibility to rebuild stronger and keep investing in the infrastructure that makes the Port a national economic asset. When we prioritize the Port, we are prioritizing jobs, families, and the future of Maryland.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Port is more than just the pride of Baltimore. It\u2019s a state treasure, and it\u2019s an economic engine for the nation and the rest of the world. Our support for Baltimore and the Port remains strong, because a strong Port makes us better, makes our economy stronger, and makes us more sustainable. We have to continue looking at every opportunity to invest in this economic engine that consumers, businesses, workers, and economies worldwide depend on. And I look forward to working with Team Maryland on Capitol Hill to continue fighting for the resources that keep us on the cutting edge,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cThe Port of Baltimore has always been a mighty force in job creation and economic growth in our state. I was glad to meet with the Maryland Congressional Delegation, Maryland Port Administration leadership, and local Port leaders to discuss the significant economic development accomplishments and opportunities for our nation's exports out of Baltimore. Investing in our infrastructure and transportation systems at the Port will improve shipping capacity, competitiveness, and business opportunities for the communities across Maryland that depend on the port. The delegation will continue working with our federal, state, and local partners to secure the investments needed to strengthen the Port of Baltimore, grow our economy, and create jobs here in Maryland and across the country,\u201d said Congressman Hoyer.\n\n\u201cThe Port of Baltimore is a booming economic gateway for the Free State and the nation,\u201d said Congressman Raskin. \u201cWhile President Trump\u2019s chaotic and costly trade war and tariffs have reduced imports, Team Maryland will continue fighting for the federal funding needed to keep the port an accessible, attractive destination for the largest cargo ships and create more high-paying union jobs.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Port of Baltimore has been able to survive ups and downs of the economy for over 100 years. Now, the President\u2019s economic strategy that prioritizes tariffs over jobs is adding additional hardship. The President\u2019s ongoing, illegal war in Iran is driving up the cost to ship everything, which directly impacts our port and our economy. But Team Maryland will be able to overcome that. We're in Washington and working together to deliver, not just for the Port, not just for the 2,400 Longshoremen who work in the Port, but for our economy and state as a whole,\u201d said Congresswoman Elfreth. \u201cTo write the future of the Port of Baltimore, we will be taking inspiration from what once was \u2013 back to the Baltimore clippers and the hundreds of Liberty ships built during World War II. It is time for Maryland to lead in shipbuilding and maritime manufacturing once again.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://elfreth.house.gov/media/press-releases/elfreth-joins-maryland-delegation-announcing-86-million-increase-safety-and", "Elfreth Joins Maryland Delegation in Announcing $8.6 Million to Increase Safety and Security in Places of Worship", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Sarah Elfreth", "E000301", "elfreth.house.gov", "elfreth", "https://elfreth.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, and Representatives Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski announced $8,627,091 in federal funding to strengthen security at 49 religious institutions and community centers across Maryland.\n\n\u201cMarylanders of all faiths deserve to both be safe and feel safe in their houses of worship. Since coming to Congress, I have continued to prioritize increased security funding for nonprofit and religious institutions \u2013 both in Washington in the budget and through our Interfaith Advisory Council \u2013 which is why it is so great to join Team Maryland in announcing this $8 million in federal funding for 49 houses of worship, religious institutions, and community centers across our state. Especially as religious institutions spend more and more on security and the number of hate crimes continues to rise, Congress has an important responsibility to ensure the safety of all of our neighbors,\u201d said Congresswoman Elfreth.\n\n\u201cEvery Marylander deserves to be able to exercise their right to religious freedom and worship without fear for their safety. Our faith institutions also help build community in many ways, from providing spiritual services to offering youth programs to supporting local families. As that work continues, we have also seen an appalling increase in threats against faith-based organizations across the state, and we know that more federal funding and reforms are necessary to meet the growing security measures needed to keep community members safe. We will continue working to increase funds for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program and to see that these investments go where they are needed most, in light of recent changes to this program,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cAll Marylanders deserve to feel safe in their homes, schools, communities \u2013 and especially in places of worship. It was critical that Team Maryland fight to secure over $8 million in federal funding to strengthen security at religious centers in our state. And I won\u2019t stop fighting until all Marylanders feel and are safe,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cThe Nonprofit Security Grant Program has become an essential tool for protecting our houses of worship, schools, community centers, and early-childhood programs. With the alarming rise in antisemitism and other forms of hate, it is critical that everyone feels safe when gathering with their communities and congregations. I\u2019m proud that Team Maryland was able to secure this funding, and I will continue working with our delegation to push for further federal support for nonprofit security,\u201d said Congressman Steny H. Hoyer.\n\n\u201cNo matter what your faith or religion is, every American should feel safe and secure in their ability to worship peacefully,\u201d said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. \u201cWith this injection of over $8 million in Federal funding, dozens of faith-based institutions across Maryland will be able to improve their security systems and protocols, ensuring that houses of worship remain sanctuaries for practitioners of all beliefs.\u201d\n\n\u201cMarylanders should be able to practice their faith without worrying about their safety. This funding will improve security at religious institutions across the First District, from Harford County to the Eastern Shore. Thank you to President Trump and the Department of Homeland Security for helping Maryland\u2019s religious organizations improve security and protect our communities,\u201d said Congressman Harris.\n\n\u201cAmidst an alarming increase in antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of toxic hate, Team Maryland is surging more than $8.6 million in federal Nonprofit Security Grants to protect our people,\u201d said Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08). \u201cNo American should become a target of senseless violence and intimidation, especially in their house of worship.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery Marylander should be able to worship and gather without fear,\u201d said Congressman Ivey. \u201cTeam Maryland fought together to secure this federal funding so that faith communities across our state have the resources they need to strengthen security and protect the people they serve. I\u2019m proud of our delegation\u2019s work to deliver these investments and help keep Marylanders safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhether you are walking into a church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or community center, you should never have to fear for your safety. Freedom of religion means the freedom to worship without fear. This $8.6 million investment will help 49 institutions across Maryland strengthen security and protect the communities they serve. I\u2019ll keep working with Team Maryland to ensure our faith communities have the resources they need to keep people safe,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney.\n\n\u201cOur faith communities are critical community anchors and bring so many Marylanders together,\u201d said Congressman Johnny Olszewski (MD-02). \u201cThis funding gives 49 religious institutions and community centers across our state the resources they need to worship, learn, and gather without fear. Team Maryland will keep fighting to make sure our houses of worship have what they need to stay safe.\u201d\n\nA full list of the recipients, selected by the Department of Homeland Security, is below:\n\nWestern Maryland\n\nB'er Chayim Congregation\n\nBeth Sholom Congregation of Frederick, MD\n\nBroadfording Bible Brethren Church\n\nBroadfording Bible Brethren Church DBA Global Vision Christian School Broadfording (Main Campus)\n\nBroadfording Bible Brethren Church DBA Global Vision Christian School Broadfording (West Campus)\n\nCamp Airy\n\nCamp Louise\n\nSaints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church\n\nBaltimore Area\n\nArundel Christian Church\n\nBeth Tfiloh Congregation dba Beth Tfiloh Camps\n\nCecil Memorial United Methodist Church\n\nChabad of Greengate Maryland Inc.\n\nChabad of Harford County, Inc.\n\nCongregation Kneseth Israel\n\nHebrew School of the Performing Arts, Inc.\n\nImmaculate Heart of Mary School\n\nImmaculate Heart of Mary Church\n\nJewels Therapy Clinic\n\nJohn Carroll School Inc.\n\nRedemption City Church Baltimore\n\nSafe Green Transit Corporation\n\nSts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church\n\nSt. Philip Neri Roman Catholic Church\n\nTalmudical Academy of Baltimore Inc.\n\nThe Cathedral of Mary Our Queen\n\nThe Greek Orthodox Cemetery\n\nWest Baltimore United Methodist Church\n\nMontgomery & Prince George\u2019s Counties\n\nChabad Lubavitch of Bowie Maryland Inc\n\nChabad Lubavitch of Upper Montgomery County Inc.\n\nCharles E. Smith Jewish Day School (Lower School)\n\nCongregation B'nai Tzedek\n\nCovenant Life Church (7501)\n\nCovenant Life School (7503)\n\nCovenant Life School/Church (7505)\n\nGreater Praise and Deliverance Tabernacle\n\nGreek Orthodox Church of Saint George, Inc.\n\nIsrael on Campus Coalition, Inc.\n\nImadi\n\nKehilat Pardes\n\nKingdom Full Tabernacle International Ministries\n\nLife Changing Christian Center\n\nMcLean Bible Church (Montgomery)\n\nNorth Brentwood AME Zion Church\n\nThe Guru Gobind Singh Foundation Trust Inc\n\nThe Sierra Leone Muslim Jamaat, Inc. (3305)\n\nTikvat Israel Congregation\n\nSouthern Maryland\n\nCamp St. Charles Inc.\n\nCrossroads Christian Center, Inc.\n\nEastern Shore\n\nLighthouse Christian Academy\n\nThe awards are provided through the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s (DHS) Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which helps high-risk nonprofits, including faith-based institutions, obtain the resources required to support and integrate preparedness activities with broader state and local efforts. The lawmakers fought to fund the Nonprofit Security Grant Program at $300 million through the Fiscal Year 2026 annual appropriations package, an increase from $274.5 million in Fiscal Year 2025.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/disability-rights-advocacy-groups-support-hoyers-bipartisan-american", "Disability Rights Advocacy Groups Support Hoyer's Bipartisan American Procurement Improvement Act", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny H. Hoyer", "H000874", "hoyer.house.gov", "hoyer", "https://hoyer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 A coalition of 51 organizations, unions, disability stakeholders, and advocacy groups have endorsed H.R. 10443, the American Procurement Improvement Act (APIA), bipartisan legislation which was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) and Pete Sessions (TX-17). Following the bill's introduction, many leaders have expressed their support for the bill:\n\n\u201cSourceAmerica supports the American Procurement Improvement Act of 2026 as it advances priorities long sought by groups seeking to drive continued improvements within the AbilityOne Program,\u201d said Richard Belden, SourceAmerica President and CEO. \u201cAbilityOne is a proven model that strengthens the American workforce, supports the domestic supply chain and helps federal agencies deliver on their missions. We sincerely thank Reps. Hoyer and Sessions and the other cosponsors for choosing to make the protection and growth of AbilityOne Program employment for people who are blind or have significant disabilities, including veterans, a priority.\u201d\n\n\u201cPeople with disabilities deserve access to good jobs that provide fair wages, meaningful benefits, opportunities to develop new skills, and a pathway to advance in their careers. AAPD appreciates Representatives Steny Hoyer and Pete Sessions for their leadership in introducing this bipartisan legislation and for recognizing that modernizing AbilityOne must go hand in hand with expanding economic opportunity for people with disabilities. We look forward to working with policymakers and stakeholders to ensure the program continues to create high-quality employment opportunities where people with disabilities can build careers, achieve economic independence, and thrive,\u201d said Maria Town, President and CEO of American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD).\n\n\"Businesses lose access to talented individuals who could strengthen their workforce and improve performance when they dismiss the millions of Americans with disabilities who are ready to contribute, lead, and succeed. This legislation will modernize the AbilityOne program to ensure that people with disabilities have the same thing everyone else needs to thrive in employment: A chance,\u201d said Former Congressman Tony Coelho (CA-15) and lead sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).\n\n\u201cThe AbilityOne program has shown what is possible when we connect federal procurement with the talents and potential of people with significant disabilities. The American Procurement Improvement Act gives that successful model the tools it needs to evolve with today\u2019s workforce, creating more opportunities for people to enter the workforce, advance their careers, and take on new responsibilities. This legislation will help ensure that AbilityOne continues to open doors to meaningful employment and economic independence for generations to come,\u201d said Larysa Kautz, President and CEO of the Melwood Family of Companies.\n\n\u201cSince our founding in 1940, the National Federation of the Blind has worked to improve employment opportunities for blind Americans. We greatly appreciate the work of Representatives Steny Hoyer and Pete Sessions to advance the American Procurement Improvement Act of 2026, H.R. 10443, which will advance this goal. This bill will dramatically modernize the AbilityOne program by promoting upward mobility, professional development, and career counseling for blind and disabled employees on AbilityOne contracts,\" said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind.\n\n\"I urge Congress vote to enact the implementation of the American Procurement Improvement Act of 2026. I am a Disability Rights Leader and Business Leader; I also live with epilepsy. I have expertise on the employment of people with disabilities, and the APIA would substantially improve the lives of the unemployed Americans with disabilities and provide them with dignity and quality of life. I believe the APIA would enable them to gain the greatest treasure-employment. Remember, the unemployment of Americans with disabilities touches us all and the APIA gives me hope that change will come,\u201d said Joyce Bender, CEO and Founder of Bender Consulting Services, Inc.\n\n\u200b\"The AbilityOne program is essential to supporting our nation\u2019s warfighters. The American Procurement Improvement Act enhances Program contributions to total force readiness and accelerates our mission to provide empowering, fulfilling employment for individuals with disabilities across the nation,\" said Retired U.S. Army Major General Tony Cucolo, President and CEO of Professional Contract Services, Inc (PCSI).\n\n\u201cFor decades the AbilityOne Program has demonstrated how the government can leverage its purchasing power to create jobs for Americans with disabilities,\u201d said Bartholomew Devon, Executive Director of the Alliance for Expanding America\u2019s Workforce. \u201cThis legislation will help create new opportunities for career growth, enhance professional development, and promote economic independence for employees with disabilities. The members of the Alliance are grateful to Representatives Hoyer and Sessions for their bipartisan leadership and for recognizing the extraordinary contributions disabled Americans make to our nation\u2019s economy and our communities.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-delegation-members-press-usda-usfs-make-good-commitment-keep", "Maryland Delegation\u00a0Members\u00a0Press USDA, USFS to Make Good on Commitment to\u00a0Keep\u00a0Baltimore Urban Forestry Office\u00a0in Baltimore", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny H. Hoyer", "H000874", "hoyer.house.gov", "hoyer", "https://hoyer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (both D-MD), and Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) were joined by U.S. Representatives Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), and Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), in calling for United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden and United States Forest Service (USFS) Chief Tom Schultz to reverse course on the decision to close the USFS Baltimore Field Office and relocate staff outside of Baltimore. The USFS Baltimore Urban Field Station leads forestry-related projects that benefit the local Baltimore community and conducts important forestry and urban ecology research that informs land use decision-making throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed and beyond. The lawmakers pose several questions to USDA and USFS around the decision, which comes after Senator Van Hollen questioned Chief Tom Schultz in the Senate Appropriations Committee and received commitment to maintain presence in Baltimore.\n\nThe lawmakers begin, \u201cOn April 30, 2026, during the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the United States Forest Service (USFS) FY27 budget, Chief Schultz assured Senator Van Hollen that USFS would not force Baltimore Urban Field Office employees to relocate outside of the Baltimore area during the USDA reorganization. Despite this commitment, when USFS announced earlier this month that the Baltimore Urban Field Office will close, we learned that USFS intends to relocate Baltimore employees to Beltsville, Maryland \u2013 a location that is decidedly outside of the broader Baltimore area. USFS must make good on its word and keep Baltimore Urban Field Office employees in Baltimore so they can effectively continue their place-based and partnership-dependent work in the Baltimore area.\u201d\n\nOn the critical benefits for keeping the Baltimore Urban Field Office in the Baltimore area, the lawmakers write, \u201cWhen Secretary Rollins announced the USDA reorganization, one of the stated pillars of the plan was to \u2018bring USDA closer to its customers.\u2019 Closing the Baltimore Field Office and relocating employees away from Baltimore violates this core principle, since the primary \u2018customers\u2019 of the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Office are in Baltimore; they are the community groups, local government, and academics with whom the Field Office has developed partnerships and collaborations during its nearly 40-year tenure on the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. These relationships have enabled important research projects that benefit the Chesapeake Bay watershed and regional forests, as well as urban forestry projects in the Baltimore community. For example, the Office supports community-led restoration and urban revitalization efforts in Baltimore by leading the Baltimore Urban Waters Partnership. It delivers professional skill building and workforce training to urban youth in Baltimore by supporting youth forestry projects at the Stillmeadow Church and Peace Park. And it started an urban wood reuse project that successfully spun off into a city-run urban sawmill and wood recycling center.\u201d\n\nAmong other questions, the lawmakers go on to ask the following:\n\nDid USDA or USFS conduct an analysis of the costs and benefits associated with closing the Baltimore Urban Field Office as compared to keeping them in the current location?\n\nHas USDA or USFS assessed the impact that closure of the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Office and relocation of employees outside of the Baltimore area will have on the important work that the Baltimore Urban Field Office has been conducting?\n\n\u201cThe Baltimore location is critical to the ability of the Baltimore Urban Field Office to successfully accomplish its place-based and partnership-driven work. This work not only benefits the Baltimore community but serves as a model for urban forestry work in cities across the country and the world. The Baltimore Urban Field Office is an asset to the nation and its closure serves no one. Keep your word and keep the work of the Baltimore Urban Forestry Office in Baltimore.\u201d the lawmakers conclude.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Deputy Secretary Vaden and Chief Schultz,\n\nOn April 30, 2026, during the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the United States Forest Service (USFS) FY27 budget, Chief Schultz assured Senator Van Hollen that USFS would not force Baltimore Urban Field Office employees to relocate outside of the Baltimore area during the USDA reorganization. Despite this commitment, when USFS announced earlier this month that the Baltimore Urban Field Office will close, we learned that USFS intends to relocate Baltimore employees to Beltsville, Maryland \u2013 a location that is decidedly outside of the broader Baltimore area. USFS must make good on its word and keep Baltimore Urban Field Office employees in Baltimore so they can effectively continue their place-based and partnership-dependent work in the Baltimore area.\n\nWhen Secretary Rollins announced the USDA reorganization, one of the stated pillars of the plan was to \u201cbring USDA closer to its customers.\u201d Closing the Baltimore Field Office and relocating employees away from Baltimore violates this core principle, since the primary \u201ccustomers\u201d of the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Office are in Baltimore; they are the community groups, local government, and academics with whom the Field Office has developed partnerships and collaborations during its nearly 40-year tenure on the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. These relationships have enabled important research projects that benefit the Chesapeake Bay watershed and regional forests, as well as urban forestry projects in the Baltimore community. For example, the Office supports community-led restoration and urban revitalization efforts in Baltimore by leading the Baltimore Urban Waters Partnership. It delivers professional skill building and workforce training to urban youth in Baltimore by supporting youth forestry projects at the Stillmeadow Church and Peace Park. And it started an urban wood reuse project that successfully spun off into a city-run urban sawmill and wood recycling center.\n\nUSDA has continually failed to respond to basic questions about the Department\u2019s decision-making during the reorganization process. This includes a failure to answer the questions included in the letter sent to you opposing the closure of the Baltimore Urban Field Office from April 24, 2026, such as whether a cost-benefit analysis has been conducted to understand the true costs to the American taxpayer of closing this facility. This lack of transparency is particularly disturbing when USDA maintains that the reorganization is meant to save money.\n\nTo add to this concern, there are clearly other suitable federal facilities for these employees in the Baltimore area. For example, there is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) facility that is located across the street from the Baltimore Urban Field Office that has the capacity to accommodate USFS employees - a facility that Chief Schultz mentioned during the April 30th hearing. The availability of other Baltimore locations to house the Baltimore Urban Field Office make it extremely difficult to understand why the Field Office\u2019s employees would need to be relocated outside of Baltimore, where it will be harder for them to effectively do their jobs and maintain critical partnerships in the community that this Field Office exists to serve.\n\nIn addition, while Beltsville may fall within the range of the Forest Service\u2019s expansive definition the Baltimore \u201ccommuting area,\u201d despite being well outside of the Baltimore area, relocating Field Office employees to Beltsville realistically means commutes of 2 hours or more for Baltimore-based employees who rely on public transit. This will keep employees away from their families for longer and create an additional cost burden for them \u2013 stressors that stand to decrease overall employee productivity and harm employee retention.\n\nWe urge you to keep your word and reverse course on the decision to relocate USFS Baltimore Field Office employees outside of Baltimore. In addition, please provide answers to the following questions by October 1, 2026:\n\nDid USDA or USFS conduct an analysis of the costs and benefits associated with closing the Baltimore Urban Field Office as compared to keeping them in the current location?\n\na. If so, please provide that analysis, including details on the alternative locations that were considered for Baltimore Field Office employees.\n\nHas USDA or USFS assessed the impact that closure of the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Office and relocation of employees outside of the Baltimore area will have on the important work that the Baltimore Urban Field Office has been conducting?\n\nb.If so, please explain in detail how the assessment was conducted and what the findings were.\n\nDid USDA or USFS assess the feasibility of co-locating the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Office with the nearby USGS facility that Chief Schultz referenced in the April 30th hearing?\n\nWill employees still be able and expected to work on the ground in Baltimore?\n\nIf so, how will employee productivity be impacted by the relocation and what will the cost to USDA be, including lost work hours and travel expenses, from frequent employee travel from Beltsville to Baltimore?\n\nThe Baltimore location is critical to the ability of the Baltimore Urban Field Office to successfully accomplish its place-based and partnership-driven work. This work not only benefits the Baltimore community but serves as a model for urban forestry work in cities across the country and the world. The Baltimore Urban Field Office is an asset to the nation and its closure serves no one. Keep your word and keep the work of the Baltimore Urban Forestry Office in Baltimore.", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/top-appropriators-demand-white-house-immediately-take-taxpayer-funded-ad", "Top Appropriators Demand White House Immediately Take Taxpayer-Funded Ad Celebrating Trump Off the Air", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny H. Hoyer", "H000874", "hoyer.house.gov", "hoyer", "https://hoyer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (FSGG), Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, wrote a letter to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles demanding the Trump administration immediately take off the air a taxpayer-funded political ad celebrating President Trump \u2014 and report to the Committees exactly how many taxpayer dollars were spent creating and airing the illegal political propaganda.\n\n\u201cThis is the sort of government propaganda one might expect in North Korea, not the United States of America, and it is an egregious and utterly illegal misuse of Americans\u2019 hard-earned tax dollars,\u201d write the lawmakers, who note the ad constitutes a blatant violation of Section 718 of Division E of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, which forbids any federal funding from supporting propaganda, as well as other federal laws.\n\n\u201cWe write to demand that you immediately take this ad off the air and appropriately reprimand and discipline the Federal employees who knowingly violated Federal law in working on and paying for this advertisement. In addition, we demand a full account and breakdown of all Federal funds used to create and air this ad,\u201d they continue. \u201cThe law is not complicated. You cannot use taxpayer dollars for political advertisements.\u201d\n\nThe full letter is available HERE and below:\n\nThe Honorable Susan Wiles\n\nChief of Staff\n\nThe White House\n\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW\n\nWashington, DC 20500\n\nCc: The Honorable Russell T. Vought, Director, Office of Management and Budget\n\nMs. Wiles:\n\nLast night, Fox News aired a government-sponsored political ad that was \u201cPaid for by the U.S. Government\u201d\u2014otherwise known as the American taxpayers. The ad celebrates President Trump with a montage of photos of him and the American flag as singers repeat the words \u201clove me\u201d from JMSN\u2019s song \u201cLove Me.\u201d[1] If President Trump wants people to love him, he can pay for it himself.\n\nThis is the sort of government propaganda one might expect in North Korea, not the United States of America, and it is an egregious and illegal misuse of Americans\u2019 hard-earned tax dollars. This ad is a violation of section 718 of division E of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, a longstanding general provision prohibiting any taxpayer funds from being used to produce government propaganda. Section 718 states that, \u201cNo part of any appropriation contained in the act or any other Act shall be used directly or indirectly, including through a private contractor, for publicity or propaganda purposes within the United States not heretofore authorized by Congress.\u201d It is also apparently a violation of Federal ethics laws, including the Hatch Act.\n\nWe write to demand that you immediately take this ad off the air and appropriately reprimand and discipline the Federal employees who knowingly violated Federal law in working on and paying for this advertisement. In addition, we demand a full account and breakdown of all Federal funds used to create and air this ad.\n\nAs you are aware, this is not the first time this administration has violated anti-propaganda law[2]. It is unconscionable that repeated violations of appropriations law continue to occur during this Administration, and those violations underscore the failure of the Office of Management and Budget to safeguard taxpayer funding and to consistently and faithfully ensure compliance with the law. No taxpayer funding should be used to air this outrageous propaganda.\n\nThe law is not complicated. You cannot use taxpayer dollars for political advertisements.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases/team-maryland-welcomes-new-microsoft-discovery-center-ribbon-cutting-ceremony", "Team Maryland Welcomes New Microsoft Discovery Center at Ribbon Cutting Ceremony in University of Maryland\u2019s Discovery District", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Glenn Ivey", "I000058", "ivey.house.gov", "ivey", "https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Congressman Glenn Ivey (MD-04) joined Governor Wes Moore today for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Microsoft\u2019s Discovery Center at the Capital of Quantum at the University of Maryland. The new quantum research center, in the heart of the University of Maryland\u2019s Discovery District, will serve as a development hub for next-generation quantum technologies, marking a critical milestone in Maryland\u2019s momentum to become a global leader for quantum information science and technology innovation.\n\n\u201cQuantum has the potential to transform every part of our economy and society and the opening of this new discovery center is another step in Maryland leading the nation in this emerging sector,\u201d said Gov. Moore. \u201cOur partnership with Microsoft and our continued investment in the Quantum ecosystem, creates jobs, stimulates our economy, and drives innovation. Together, we will solve some of the world\u2019s most pressing challenges right here in Maryland.\u201d\n\nLaunched by Governor Moore at IonQ's College Park headquarters in January 2025, the Capital of Quantum Initiative is a public-private partnership with the state, the University of Maryland, College Park and private partners to catalyze more than $1 billion in investments in Maryland\u2019s quantum industry. Since the Capital of Quantum Initiative was announced, the State of Maryland and the University of Maryland have reached over $500 million in pledged investments to strengthen the state\u2019s quantum ecosystem through academics, workforce development, and technical support.\n\n\u201cMaryland is positioning itself at the forefront of the quantum revolution, and the launch of the Discovery Center marks another major step forward,\u201d said Congressman Glenn Ivey. \u201cHere in Prince George\u2019s County, we have the talent, research institutions, and entrepreneurial ecosystem to turn groundbreaking discoveries into new companies, good-paying jobs, and economic opportunity. I\u2019m proud to join Governor Moore, the University of Maryland, Microsoft, and our partners in building the Capital of Quantum right here in Maryland and ensuring our region helps lead the next generation of American innovation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis moment fulfills the commitment that UMD made a year ago when we joined the State of Maryland in announcing Microsoft as a member of our growing quantum community,\" said University of Maryland President Darryll J. Pines. \"We are excited for the progress of this partnership and welcome the quantum companies investing in Maryland, as we continue to grow the Capital of Quantum.\u201d\n\n\"One year ago, Governor Moore, the State of Maryland, the University of Maryland, and Microsoft came together around a shared ambition to advance Maryland's Capital of Quantum initiative,\" said Executive Vice President of Microsoft Discovery & Quantum Jason Zander. \"Today, we are delivering on that commitment and creating an ecosystem to translate quantum innovation into lasting scientific and economic impact.\"\n\nSince launching the Capital of Quantum Initiative, Maryland has welcomed nearly a dozen quantum startups to the Discovery District\u2019s diverse network of quantum innovators, and IonQ has announced three significant mergers with quantum and aerospace firms.\n\nToday\u2019s ribbon-cutting ceremony coincided with QuEra, a Boston-based company that develops quantum computers using neutral atoms based on research conducted at both Harvard University and MIT, announcing that it would establish office space in the Discovery District. Last week, British-based Riverlane, a global leader in quantum error correction, announced that Maryland would become the site of its new U.S. headquarters. These expansions follow the University of Maryland welcoming additional commercial tenants to the Capital of Quantum like IQM and Quantum Motion, in addition to Microsoft\u2019s cutting-edge quantum research lab.\n\nAdditional deals reached within the past year include an agreement between the State of Maryland and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) providing up to $100 million in matching grants for state and private quantum investments, a major expansion of IonQ\u2019s global headquarters, and the development of a new, 110,000 square-foot headquarters for Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS) at the University of Maryland\u2014$65 million capital project that will advance national defense technology and solidify the state\u2019s status as a global leader in quantum.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-mfume-vindman-urge-netanyahu-to-contain-violence-and-protect-palestinians-in-the-west-bank", "Reps. Mfume, Vindman Urge Netanyahu to Contain Violence and Protect Palestinians in the West Bank", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Kweisi Mfume", "M000687", "mfume.house.gov", "mfume", "https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-MD), Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, and Congressman Eugene Vindman (D-VA) led a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging him to take immediate steps to contain settler violence and protect Palestinian communities in the West Bank.\n\n\"We write with urgent concern regarding the growing outbreak of extremist settler violence in the West Bank, including violence that has killed and threatened American citizens,\" wrote the lawmakers. \"We do so out of concern for Israel's long-term security as well as for the safety of Palestinians. Continued settlement expansion and violence in the West Bank will harm that security and the prospects for lasting peace, prosperity, and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike.\"\n\n\"Amidst this violence, we are especially concerned for the safety of American citizens in the West Bank,\" the lawmakers continued. \"Nine American citizens have been killed in the West Bank since January 2022. To date, no one has been held accountable for any of these nine deaths. Many of us have heard directly from constituents, including American citizens who have themselves been threatened or harassed by settlers without cause.\"\n\n\"Restoring the rule of law in the West Bank serves the security of Israelis and Palestinians alike,\" the lawmakers concluded. \"The safety of our constituents matters to us as the safety of your citizens matters to you. We also hope to see conditions improve so that Israelis and Palestinians may one day live alongside one another without fear of terrorism or lawless violence.\"\n\nIn the letter, the representatives request that the Israeli government take the following actions to uphold the rule of law and end the violence in the West Bank:\n\nInstruct the Israeli Police and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to defend Palestinian communities in the West Bank when they come under attack, and to apply that standard consistently, whoever the attackers are;\n\nEstablish a transparent and credible mechanism to investigate and prosecute violence against Palestinians, including Palestinian Americans, and complete the pending investigations into the deaths of the nine American citizens killed in the West Bank since January 2022.\n\nHalt further settlement approvals and continue to take steps to remove illegal outposts in the West Bank.\n\nThe letter was also signed by Reps. Ansari, Balint, Barrag\u00e1n, Beyer, Bonamici, Boyle, Carbajal, Carson, Carter, Casten, Chu, Clarke, Cleaver, Cohen, Courtney, Crockett, Davis, Dean, DeLauro, Deluzio, DeSaulnier, Doggett, Elfreth, Escobar, Foster, Garamendi, Green, Grijalva, Hoyer, Hoyle, Huffman, Jackson, Jacobs, Johnson (GA), Kamlager-Dove, Kaptur, Kennedy, Khanna, Lofgren, Lynch, Mannion, McBride, Moore, Morrison, Nadler, Norton, Olszewski, Pallone, Panetta, Pelosi, Peters, Pettersen, Pingree, Pocan, Quigley, Randall, Raskin, Ross, Salinas, Scanlon, Schakowsky, Stansbury, Stanton, Subramanyam, Thompson (MS), Tokuda, Tran, Vindman, Walkinshaw, Waters, and Watson Coleman.\n\nSupporting organizations include: J Street, New Jewish Narrative, and Jewish Democratic Council of America.\n\nText of the letter can be viewed here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-liccardo-call-on-director-pulte-to-prioritize-missing-middle-housing-funding/", "ALSOBROOKS, LICCARDO CALL ON DIRECTOR PULTE TO PRIORITIZE \u201cMISSING MIDDLE\u201d HOUSING FUNDING", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "September 24, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 As reported today in POLITICO\u2019s Morning Money, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and Congressman Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.-16) are urging Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte to encourage more lending toward \u201cmissing middle\u201d multifamily affordable housing through reforms to the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) system.\n\n\u201cThere is a clear need for more housing developments in this range (5-to-49 units) in urban and rural communities across the country. But too often, developers of condominiums and rental properties in the 5-to-49-unit range face a financing gap: the developments are too large for conventional lending for single-family residential development, but too small to attract institutional capital,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\nThe lawmakers encouraged Director Pulte to consider the following steps:\n\nEncourage FHLBanks to prioritize targeted advances and lending products aimed at 5-49-unit construction and rehabilitation to support affordable rental and homeownership opportunities;\n\nEncourage FHLBanks to build underwriting capacity and pilot programs for missing-middle lending; and\n\nIncorporate missing-middle lending data into future reports to the National Economic Council, Office of Management and Budget, and Congress.\n\nSee below or here for the full letter:\n\nDear Director Pulte:\n\nAs federal agencies begin to implement the 21st Century Road to Housing Act (Public Law No: 119-101) and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) responds to Executive Order 14393 (\u201cPromoting Access to Mortgage Credit\u201d), we urge FHFA to use its existing authority as regulator of the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) System to direct more capital toward \u201cmissing middle\u201d housing: 5-to-49-unit multifamily housing developments for ownership and rental.\n\nThere is a clear need for more housing developments in this range in urban and rural communities across the country. But too often, developers of condominiums and rental properties in the 5-to-49-unit range face a financing gap: the developments are too large for conventional lending for single-family residential development, (which is defined as 1-4 units) but too small to attract institutional capital. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto and outside experts Aaron Klein and Chris Hughes have outlined a good case for action. According to 2026 data and a Congressional Budget Office study, the FHLB system holds $1.43 trillion in assets and receives an estimated $7 billion per year implicit federal guarantee on its debt. FHLBs are statutorily required to allocate ten percent of net income towards affordable housing and in recent years have voluntarily allocated more, positioning them uniquely to close this financing gap. Multifamily construction starts have fallen more than thirty percent since 2022 as financing costs have risen. According to the Klein/Hughes study, directing a larger share of FHLB advances towards below-market loans for missing-middle buildings could support tens of thousands of additional housing units using the System\u2019s existing balance sheet without any additional federal spending through appropriations.\n\nThis is an area where FHFA can make real progress using tools at its disposal at no cost to taxpayers that is also squarely within the intent of Executive Order 14393, which directs the FHFA to consider \u201ccreating targeted FHLB liquidity programs for entry-level housing, owner-occupied purchase loans, and small residential builders\u201d and facilitating \u201cgreater financial leverage for small-scale\u2026housing projects.\u201d EO 14393 is clearly intended to improve capital flows towards important housing construction, of which 5-49 unit developments should be prioritized.\n\nAs you implement EO 14393 using your existing authority, we encourage FHFA to consider steps such as:\n\nEncourage FHLBanks to prioritize targeted advances and lending products aimed at 5-49-unit construction and rehabilitation to support affordable rental and homeownership opportunities;\n\nEncourage FHLBanks to build underwriting capacity and pilot programs for missing-middle lending; and\n\nIncorporate missing-middle lending data into future reports to the National Economic Council, Office of Management and Budget, and Congress.\n\nWe welcome the opportunity to discuss this further with you. Thank you for your consideration.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-no-on-fda-commissioner/", "ALSOBROOKS \u2018NO\u2019 ON FDA COMMISSIONER", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "September 24, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) questioned Dr. Heidi Overton, President Trump\u2019s nominee to be Commissioner of Food and Drugs for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).\n\nSenator Alsobrooks questioned Dr. Heidi Overton about whether she believes that birth control contaminates our drinking water, and her awareness regarding how much money the tobacco industry has contributed to President Trump, in relation to the Administration\u2019s rollback of e-cigarette regulations. Dr. Overton did not answer the questions.\n\nDr. Overton will be regulating both pharmaceutical products and tobacco products if she is confirmed to lead the FDA.\n\nOn birth control:\n\nSenator Alsobrooks: Do you have any reason to believe that birth control contaminates our drinking water in our country?\n\nDr. Overton: My job will be to work within the FDA statutory requirements for individual product review for safety and efficacy determination. What the EPA, to your question, the EPA is outside of the jurisdiction of the FDA. I think it\u2019s important for all agencies to answer questions that American people might have.\n\nSenator Alsobrooks: Do you have any reason to believe that taking birth control, that women are contaminating our drinking water in our country by taking birth control?\n\nDr. Overton: Thank you for the question. If confirmed as FDA commissioner, I will work within what the FDA is required to do for individual product review for the safety and efficacy of those applications, post-market review and of those individual products.\n\nOn Big Tobacco spending:\n\nSenator Alsobrooks: I want to know whether or not you know how much money Big Tobacco has contributed to the President\u2019s super PAC, inauguration, or to his ballroom?\n\nDr. Overton: Those are not things that I\u2019m familiar with.\n\nSenator Alsobrooks: I know you\u2019ve been a senior advisor to him, but the answer is $20 million.\n\nAnd do you know how much the President owns in tobacco stocks? I think these are questions the American people deserve to know. The answer is $1.64 million the President holds in Philip Morris and holds Altria investments.\n\nWould you say that the President then has a vested personal financial interest in the success of the tobacco industry? Is that a fair statement?\n\nDr. Overton: I reject the framing of that. The President\u2019s interest is in the best outcomes for the American people. He is here to serve in that capacity.\n\nSenator Alsobrooks: But you acknowledge that he is an investor in Big Tobacco. He has earned $1.64 million.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-wyden-continue-to-build-the-case-against-rfk-jr-8/", "Alsobrooks, Wyden Continue to Build the Case Against RFK Jr.", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "After releasing a report chronicling every day of RFK Jr.\u2019s costly, chaotic, and corrupt reign as Secretary, Senators Alsobrooks and Wyden continue to build their case for why RFK Jr. must resign or be fired.\n\nSeptember 24, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 RFK Jr. continues to harm the American people. On September 4, 2025, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden and Senator Angela Alsobrooksreleased a report chronicling the actions that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has taken to undermine the health and safety of the American people since becoming Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). On February 18, 2026, they released an updated report covering his first full year as Secretary. Senators Wyden and Alsobrooks continue to track the pervasive and ongoing human harmcaused by his leadership.\n\nBelow are Kennedy\u2019s latest harmful actions (May 15 \u2013 September 20):\n\nMay 2026\n\nThe White House issued an executive order straight from Kennedy\u2019s wish list: directing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to \u201ctake any appropriate steps to update the United States childhood and adolescent vaccine schedule\u201d in line with the recommendations made by Kennedy\u2019s team at HHS. Under Kennedy\u2019s leadership, HHS has recommended reducing the number of childhood vaccinations from 17 to 11, exposing U.S. children to the serious and unnecessary risks of contracting a deadly disease.\n\nIn his endless quest to find support for the conspiracy theory that vaccines cause autism, Kennedy announced his intent to tap into Americans\u2019 private medical records and create what amounts to a national autism registry. He announced a \u201creal-world platform\u201d that will mine patient records from Medicare and Medicaid, which collectively cover 40% of Americans, to \u201cuncover the root causes of autism and other chronic diseases.\u201d Kennedy and his team did not specify what kinds of research would be conducted or what kinds of privacy protections would apply to the data.\n\nAfter castigating the panel charged with determining screening coverage for breast and cervical cancer to Congress and undermining its work,Kennedy fired the leaders of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), following thesame pattern he used to politicize the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.\n\nThe Office of Management and Budget (OMB)published a proposed rule referred to as the \u201cUniform Guidance\u201d that would \u201cexpand political control of scientific grants, downgrade the role of peer review and effectively limit researchers\u2019 ability to disseminate their findings.\u201d Ultimately, the rule would allow political appointees to cancel grants if recipients do not conform to the President\u2019s\u2013or Kennedy\u2019s\u2013political views.\n\nJune 2026\n\nUnder Kennedy\u2019s leadership, Americans continue to lose health insurance coverage. 3 million Americans have dropped or lost their ACA marketplace coverage in 2026, many of whom are working and middle-class Americans who can no longer afford the premiums that skyrocketed after Kennedy and Republicans failed to extend middle-class tax credits beyond January 1, 2026. In testimony before Congress, completely indifferent to the struggle of these families, Kennedy said: \u201cThe only people who lost coverage were people who were never entitled to coverage.\u201d This statement is false.\n\nThe American Medical Association elected a fiercely vocal critic of Kennedy as its next president. Dr. Sandra Fryhofer has said that continuing to deal pragmatically with Kennedy would be an abdication of physicians\u2019 moral duty, and she cited \u201cmeasles running rampant, public health destroyed, a trillion dollars ripped from Medicaid, inadequate physician payment, stupid immigration rules\u201d as reasons the AMA must resist Kennedy and the Trump Administration more forcefully. She has called Kennedy \u201cthe anti-vax HHS secretary\u201d and expressed frustration and regret that the AMA did not do more to block his confirmation.\n\nContinuing his efforts to mine patient data, Kennedy is seekingaccess to Americans\u2019 highly sensitive medical records\u2013things like clinical notes, lab results, and diagnoses\u2013from state-run health information exchange systems, as part of his effort to \u201cinvestigate\u201d and connect vaccines to autism. This raises major privacy and legal concerns. Over and over again, Kennedy has proven that he is willing to do anything \u2013 including things beyond his legal authority \u2013 to support his conspiracy theories.\n\nUnder Kennedy\u2019s leadership, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an interim final rule (IFR) that dictates how states must implement the Medicaid work reporting requirements that congressional Republicans enacted last year. The rule creates a bureaucratic maze that will make it harder for Americans to access care when they need it most. As an example of the rule\u2019s most draconian provisions, Medicaid enrollees who suffer from chronic illnesses, like cancer or HIV, are still required to work during periods when the government has determined that their illness is not serious enough to prevent them from working; the penalty for failure to comply is losing their Medicaid coverage\u2013while navigating a serious chronic illness. Every Senate Democrat denounced the rule and called for its withdrawal.\n\n23 states and the District of Columbia sued Kennedy and HHS, asking a federal court to enjoin and vacate the Medicaid work reporting requirements IFR. The states argued in their complaint that the rule exceeds the agency\u2019s statutory authority, will strip benefits from eligible enrollees due to paperwork errors, will place enormous administrative burdens on state governments, and will force hospitals to provide much more uncompensated emergency care as medically frail Americans lose their Medicaid coverage.\n\nKennedy\u2019s incompetence is apparent even to other members of the President\u2019s cabinet, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio is attempting to clean up Kennedy\u2019s mess. Testifying before Congress, Rubio said that the State Department is \u201cgoing to re-engage\u201d on global vaccines after Kennedy withdrew the U.S. from the global vaccine alliance and withheld $600 million previously appropriated by Congress. This program provides immunizations to people living in low-income countries around the world, and it manages the global stockpile of Ebola vaccines.\n\nAmericans are already facing dire consequences from the \u201chorrendous\u201d rollout of CMS\u2019 WISeR model. Under Kennedy\u2019s leadership, the WISeR pilot program is using artificial intelligence to delay and deny certain procedures covered by traditional Medicare. Seniors now face needless prior authorization for care that their providers ordered. CMS Administrator Oz illustrated how clueless and callous Kennedy\u2019s team can be: Oz defended WISeR by criticizing frontline health care providers and saying that the purpose of WISeR is to make sure patients are not getting \u201cthe care some unscrupulous doctor wants to use on you.\u201d\n\nKennedy engaged in unlawful election interference in at least two Congressional races. Reports emerged that he has personally called two Libertarian candidates for Congress in Iowa and urged them to drop out of their respective races so that it is easier for Republicans to win those seats and to maintain their majority in the House of Representatives. Kennedy reportedly said to one such candidate, \u201cIf this seat flips, it\u2019ll make my life hell.\u201d\n\nSenator Sanders publicly released a tranche of emails that reveal new details about how Kennedy has tried to seize control of apolitical public health systems at the CDC to undermine vaccine access. One email chain shows a CDC staffer writing, \u201cAndrew Nixon/HHS\u2026asked that we pull out of circulation all campaign ad buys related to flu or anything encouraging shots or vaccinations.\u201d The same chain shows Andrew Nixon confirming, \u201cThis was a direct ask from Secretary Kennedy.\u201d\n\nJuly 2026\n\nUnder Kennedy\u2019s leadership, measles cases have reached an all-time high since the virus was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000. As of July, there have been more measles cases reported in the first six months of 2026 than in any other full year since 2000. At the same time, Kennedy has interrupted funding for vaccine hesitancy research, has downplayed the risks of measles in his public comments, and continues to hunt for evidence that vaccines are unsafe.\n\nUnder Kennedy\u2019s leadership, a cyclospora outbreak continues to tear through 15 states and counting. There have been more cases of cyclospora reported in the United States this year than ever before, and as the case count climbs, CDC\u2019s FoodNet has recently stopped its mandatory reporting for cyclospora and other pathogens due to funding cuts. The foodborne parasite causes severe diarrhea and nausea, leaving infants, seniors, and immunocompromised persons especially vulnerable. Kennedy said that the outbreak is \u201cunder control\u201d and that funding cuts to the FoodNet program were cuts to \u201credundant surveillance.\u201d Mere weeks later, the first two deaths from cyclospora were reported in Michigan.\n\nUnder Kennedy\u2019s leadership, the Trump Administration is working to defund and dismantle the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, abruptly canceling 53 of the program\u2019s 67 grants nationwide. The Administration\u2019s guidelines for the next round of grants require prospective grantees to teach that abstinence is the only way to prevent teen pregnancy, and that \u201cmarriage and procreation\u201d are important. Several grantees who were abruptly stripped of their funding sued Kennedy, arguing that \u201cCongress plainly did not intend H.H.S. to focus on teaching young women strategies to become pregnant in a pregnancy prevention program.\u201d\n\nFor the fourth time, Kennedy has prevented the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) from meeting as planned; the panel has not convened in person since March 2025. USPSTF has historically met three times a year to review evidence and make recommendations that determine what insurance companies are required to cover when it comes to mammograms, colonoscopies, depression screenings, and other primary and preventive care. Kennedy has fired two of the task force\u2019s leaders, refused to replace members whose terms expired, and hamstrung the task force\u2019s ability to operate as usual.\n\nA federal district court enjoined much of CMS\u2019s 2027 Notice of Benefit Payment Parameters final rule. The rule, which was slated to become effective July 20 and was finalized under Kennedy\u2019s leadership, would have raised out-of-pocket maximums for certain bronze and catastrophic plans, pushed more Americans into these catastrophic plans, and loosened federal network adequacy requirements. Before the court\u2019s injunction, the rule had been widely criticized, and the American Hospital Association noted in its comment letter that the rule would allow deductibles over $15,000 on some catastrophic plans\u2013a \u201cdeductible amount [that] itself could easily be considered catastrophic for many individuals in these income ranges.\u201d\n\nUnder Kennedy\u2019s leadership, CMS continues to endanger patients and their families by sharing Medicaid enrollment data with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in defiance of a federal judge\u2019s order to pause all data sharing. In December 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Vince Chhabria ruled that CMS was permitted to share a narrow universe of Medicaid data\u2013only some information about persons without lawful immigration status residing in plaintiff states. In January, however, CMS twice shared data with ICE that went beyond what the December 2025 order had allowed, including records identifying U.S. citizens and refugees; in response to this revelation, Judge Chhabria ordered CMS to pause all data sharing with ICE in late May. During this pause, CMS again shared the same dataset that was improperly shared in January\u2013files that include the names and addresses of U.S. citizens and persons residing in the United States with lawful immigration status.\n\nKennedy continues using his government position to undermine vaccines and enrich himself personally. On the same day that Dr. Anthony Fauci testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Kennedy was busy posting on social media that his book about Dr. Fauci became a \u201cbestseller\u2026despite being the most censored book of the decade.\u201d The hearing reportedly resulted in a spike in book sales, and Kennedy\u2019s royalties go directly to the organization he previously founded to undermine vaccine access.\n\nUnder Kennedy\u2019s leadership, the CDC updated a footnote on its \u201cAutism and Vaccines\u201d webpage to say: \u201cScientists have not identified the root causes of autism. HHS continues to support rigorous scientific research and will update this page as reliable new evidence becomes available.\u201d The webpage still declares front and center, however, that \u201cthe claim \u2018vaccines do not cause autism\u2019 is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism.\u201d This statement is false. Vaccines do not cause autism; this is a fact well supported by decades of scientific literature.\n\nIn a disastrous interview on CNN, Kennedy said that he bears no responsibility for the current measles outbreak and said, \u201cThe reason we\u2019re having a measles outbreak is because of the Covid lockdowns.\u201d This is patently untrue.\n\nKennedy continues to interfere with federal vaccine panel priorities. The National Vaccine Advisory Committee quietly unveiled new guidance which adds dietary supplements for infectious disease prevention to the panel\u2019s scope and directs the committee to consider \u201chealthy lifestyle\u201d strategies, off-label uses of existing drugs, and supplements for people who decline vaccination. Kennedy is using federal vaccine infrastructure to elevate alternative-health talking points over proven immunization strategies. The panel Congress created to strengthen immunization is now being used to develop talking points for avoiding it.\n\nAugust 2026\n\nUnder Kennedy\u2019s leadership, the HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) has awarded $150 million for the legal representation of unaccompanied children in immigration proceedings to a small law firm in Houston. Burke Law Group has only 26 attorneys, none of whom had publicly claimed immigration and asylum law experience prior to the announcement of the award. Until July 31, ORR had a contract for this vital legal work with the Acacia Center for Justice, a group that marshaled best-in-class immigration lawyers, with decades of experience representing unaccompanied children, from over 100 nonprofit organizations across the country. This abrupt and unexplainable shift will leave more than 20,000 children to appear in immigration court with inadequate legal representation\u2013or with none at all.\n\nTrump \u2013 with Kennedy at his side \u2013 signed yet another executive order in August, attempting again to overhaul federal vaccine recommendations, lowering the number of recommended immunizations from 18 to 11, pressuring states to change their vaccine policies, and directing federal health agencies to develop a plan for administering combined shots \u2013 like the MMR vaccine \u2013 as separate, single disease injections, despite health experts agreeing there is\u201cno scientific basis for changing course.\u201d Trump continues to spread lies about the MMR vaccine, including by saying that it could be \u201cquite lethal,\u201d an outlandish claim that is uniformly rejected by clinicians, experts, and fact-checkers.\n\nKennedycancelled over $250 million in grants administered by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), impacting over 200 different research projects across nearly 30 states. These grants aim to improve patient safety, outcomes, and health care delivery, with some specifically focused on training rural health care workers, improving delivery systems for dialysis patients, and improving autism services. A project in Maryland aimed at improving patient safety via telehealth was cancelled as part of the reckless cuts. The official cancellation capped a long delay in funding for these projects, with researchers left waiting in the dark to learn more about their status. Despite Congress appropriating $345 million to AHRQ, less than $15 million has actually gone out the door to grantees.\n\nThe American Medical Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists rebuked Kennedy\u2019s latest sham vaccine guidance bydelivering their own independent vaccine evidence review and guidance on the flu, COVID, and RSV vaccines. The nation\u2019s leading medical societies were forced to create their own vaccine guidance because of the lack of credible information coming out of Kennedy\u2019s HHS.\n\nKennedy visited the CDC\u2019s headquarters on the anniversary of the tragic shooting at the campus last year \u2013 which was fueled, in part, by Kennedy\u2019s own vaccine misinformation. Instead of recognizing the consequences of his harmful rhetoric, Kennedyquestioned scientists, telling civil servants at the agency that \u201cyou can\u2019t just trust a scientist, because scientists have biases, too,\u201d and accusing CDC scientists of \u201call hoarding their own data.\u201dKennedy has long been fighting for his anti-vaccine cronies to have direct access to the sensitive data from the agency\u2019s vaccine-safety surveillance system.\n\nKennedy\u2019s efforts to undermine trust in vaccines and public health systems continue to have deadly consequences. Pennsylvania announced two measles-associated deaths in Lancaster County, the state\u2019s first such deaths since 1991. Following the deaths,Governor Shapiro said that Kennedy\u2019s \u201cactions and his rhetoric coming from this administration are having a negative impact on communities across America, particularly right here in Pennsylvania. That there\u2019s real-life consequences to spreading misinformation.\u201d Kennedy then publicly cast doubt on whether measles was responsible and suggested that the deaths may have been \u2018fabricated.\u2019 He also postedan incoherent screed on social media about how the MMR vaccine is composed of aborted fetal tissue, citing depositions from vaccine opponent and close professional ally, Aaron Siri.\n\nNew documents and reporting prove thatKennedy lied to Congress in his confirmation hearings. Kennedy repeatedly told lawmakers, including Ranking Member Wyden, last year that his 2019 visit to Samoa before its deadly measles outbreak \u201chad nothing to do with vaccines.\u201d Yet, letters show that Kennedy wrote to Samoan leaders on Children\u2019s Health Defense letterhead, asking to study Samoa\u2019s use of the MMR vaccine. Kennedy wrote to the Prime Minister on January 20, 2019: \u201cI would propose my team conduct [a] detailed health informatics assessment in Samoa of what happened with your MMR vaccines.\u201d Senator Wyden has called for the Department of Justice to launch a criminal investigation into Kennedy\u2019s lies: \u201cRFK\u2019s platform is built on lies and grifts that leave a trail of dead children in their wake. There are consequences for lying to Congress.\u201d\n\nSeptember 2026\n\nDespite the rampant measles outbreaks on Kennedy\u2019s watch, including two additional measles-associated deaths in Pennsylvania, the CDCalleged it \u201cdid not have any records to indicate \u2018measles is the underlying cause\u2019 of any deaths in the country this year.\u201d Kennedy refuses to take any responsibility for his role in this crisis, and he works to deny and downplay it. He asked CDC Director Dr. Erica Schwartz to remove two Pennsylvania deaths from the CDC\u2019s online measles tally, and she implemented his request.\n\nKennedy\u2019s war against reproductive rights has spilled over to other federal agencies: the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will now test drinking water for the presence of abortion medications like mifepristone and misoprostol, as well as for contraceptives. Senator Wyden has previously condemned this tactic as \u201ca shadow war on reproductive rights\u201d and \u201can egregious abuse of power.\u201d\n\nOver a year after Kennedy worked with Congressional Republicans to kill enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and kick people off their coverage, Americans who buy their own coverage are nowincreasingly being steered toward short term limited-duration health plans instead of comprehensive marketplace coverage.\n\nKennedy gave the keynote address to the anti-vaccine organization he used to run, Children\u2019s Health Defense. He spent more than 20 minutes casting doubt on the safety of vaccines and attempting to falsely connect adverse events and chronic disease with pediatric immunizations. At the same conference, the current President of the MAHA Institute called the success of the polio vaccine \u201ca massive medical fraud.\u201d The polio vaccine saves lives.\n\nAs Kennedy continues to sow chaos and paralysis across federal health agencies, states have not been able to obtain COVID-19 shots from the CDC for distribution to millions of children who rely on the Vaccines for Children program. Asked about the delay, HHS said it is \u201cfinalizing decisions,\u201d all while COVID levels climb and medically fragile children wait.\n\nIn the latest example of Kennedy\u2019s corruption, the Secretary and top aide Stefanie Spearused military aircraft for his travels to campaign for Republican candidates \u2013 a clear breach of protocol for non-defense Cabinet officials. The Air Force jet that Kennedy used costs about $9,000 per hour \u2013 a clear waste of taxpayer dollars for political purposes.\n\nKennedy continues to personally and financially benefit from his position: hereportedly received $250,000 in gifts towards lavish vacations from a major donor, including free flights to Fiji and Greece.\n\nKennedy took what reporting described as a\u201cbackdoor approach to stop vaccines\u201d by purging experts from important federal advisory committees and replacing them with unqualified anti-vaccine ideologues and allies.\n\nAfter previously attempting to shutter the Office of Minority Health, Kennedy and his team abruptly cancelled half of the office\u2019s existing grants. The affected grantees had been providing cancer screenings and postpartum home visits as well as working to reduce first responder suicide and to lower the obesity rates among Native American youth. It was subsequently reported that HHS told Congressional appropriators it would move $12 million from the Office of Minority Health directly to the Secretary\u2019s office to cover rising costs for RFK\u2019s personal security detail.\n\nKennedy\u2019s handpicked nominees to help lead his Department \u2013 including Chris Klomp to be the Deputy Secretary, Nicole Saphier to be Surgeon General, and Timothy Westlake to run the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration \u2013 faced hearings at both the Senate Finance and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committees. At both hearings, the MAHA aspirants demonstrated that they would immediately fall in line as Kennedy\u2019s lieutenants. Chris Klomp, who negotiated the White House\u2019s secretive drug pricing deals with pharmaceutical companies, continued making excuses for his failure to share the agreements with Congress.\n\nAfter delaying its meetings for over a year and a half, bashing its members as \u201clackadaisical and negligent,\u201d and firing its leaders in May, Kennedyannounced eight new appointments to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). USPSTF is the committee that determines what preventive screenings or medical services must be covered free of charge by private insurance. Many of the new appointees share Kennedy\u2019s vaccine skepticism.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-86-million-to-increase-safety-and-security-in-places-of-worship", "Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces $8.6 Million to Increase Safety and Security in Places of Worship", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski announced $8,627,091 in federal funding to strengthen security at 49 religious institutions and community centers across Maryland.\n\n\u201cEvery Marylander deserves to be able to exercise their right to religious freedom and worship without fear for their safety. Our faith institutions also help build community in many ways, from providing spiritual services to offering youth programs to supporting local families. As that work continues, we have also seen an appalling increase in threats against faith-based organizations across the state, and we know that more federal funding and reforms are necessary to meet the growing security measures needed to keep community members safe. We will continue working to increase funds for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program and to see that these investments go where they are needed most, in light of recent changes to this program,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cAll Marylanders deserve to feel safe in their homes, schools, communities \u2013 and especially in places of worship. It was critical that Team Maryland fight to secure over $8 million in federal funding to strengthen security at religious centers in our state. And I won\u2019t stop fighting until all Marylanders feel and are safe,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cThe Nonprofit Security Grant Program has become an essential tool for protecting our houses of worship, schools, community centers, and early-childhood programs. With the alarming rise in antisemitism and other forms of hate, it is critical that everyone feels safe when gathering with their communities and congregations. I\u2019m proud that Team Maryland was able to secure this funding, and I will continue working with our delegation to push for further federal support for nonprofit security,\u201d said Congressman Steny H. Hoyer.\n\n\u201cNo matter what your faith or religion is every American should feel safe and secure in their ability to worship peacefully,\u201d said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. \u201cWith this injection of over $8 million in Federal funding, dozens of faith-based institutions across Maryland will be able to improve their security systems and protocols, ensuring that houses of worship remain sanctuaries for practitioners of all beliefs.\u201d\n\n\u201cMarylanders should be able to practice their faith without worrying about their safety. This funding will improve security at religious institutions across the First District, from Harford County to the Eastern Shore. Thank you to President Trump and the Department of Homeland Security for helping Maryland\u2019s religious organizations improve security and protect our communities,\u201d said Congressman Harris.\n\n\u201cAmidst an alarming increase in antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of toxic hate, Team Maryland is surging more than $8.6 million in federal Nonprofit Security Grants to protect our people,\u201d said Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08). \u201cNo American should become a target of senseless violence and intimidation, especially in their house of worship.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery Marylander should be able to worship and gather without fear,\u201d said Congressman Ivey. \u201cTeam Maryland fought together to secure this federal funding so that faith communities across our state have the resources they need to strengthen security and protect the people they serve. I\u2019m proud of our delegation\u2019s work to deliver these investments and help keep Marylanders safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cMarylanders of all faiths deserve to both be safe and feel safe in their houses of worship. Since coming to Congress, I have continued to prioritize increased security funding for nonprofit and religious institutions \u2013 both in Washington in the budget and through our Interfaith Advisory Council \u2013 which is why it is so great to join Team Maryland in announcing this $8 million in federal funding for 49 houses of worship, religious institutions, and community centers across our state. Especially as religious institutions spend more and more on security and the number of hate crimes continues to rise, Congress has an important responsibility to ensure the safety of all of our neighbors,\u201d said Congresswoman Elfreth.\n\n\u201cWhether you are walking into a church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or community center, you should never have to fear for your safety. Freedom of religion means the freedom to worship without fear. This $8.6 million investment will help 49 institutions across Maryland strengthen security and protect the communities they serve. I\u2019ll keep working with Team Maryland to ensure our faith communities have the resources they need to keep people safe,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney.\n\n\u201cOur faith communities are critical community anchors and bring so many Marylanders together,\u201d said Congressman Johnny Olszewski (MD-02). \u201cThis funding gives 49 religious institutions and community centers across our state the resources they need to worship, learn, and gather without fear. Team Maryland will keep fighting to make sure our houses of worship have what they need to stay safe.\u201d\n\nA full list of the recipients, selected by the Department of Homeland Security, is below:\n\nWestern Maryland\n\nB'er Chayim Congregation\n\nBeth Sholom Congregation of Frederick, MD\n\nBroadfording Bible Brethren Church\n\nBroadfording Bible Brethren Church DBA Global Vision Christian School Broadfording (Main Campus)\n\nBroadfording Bible Brethren Church DBA Global Vision Christian School Broadfording (West Campus)\n\nCamp Airy\n\nCamp Louise\n\nSaints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church\n\nBaltimore Area\n\nArundel Christian Church\n\nBeth Tfiloh Congregation dba Beth Tfiloh Camps\n\nCecil Memorial United Methodist Church\n\nChabad of Greengate Maryland Inc.\n\nChabad of Harford County, Inc.\n\nCongregation Kneseth Israel\n\nHebrew School of the Performing Arts, Inc.\n\nImmaculate Heart of Mary School\n\nImmaculate Heart of Mary Church\n\nJewels Therapy Clinic\n\nJohn Carroll School Inc.\n\nRedemption City Church Baltimore\n\nSafe Green Transit Corporation\n\nSts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church\n\nSt. Philip Neri Roman Catholic Church\n\nTalmudical Academy of Baltimore Inc.\n\nThe Cathedral of Mary Our Queen\n\nThe Greek Orthodox Cemetery\n\nWest Baltimore United Methodist Church\n\nMontgomery & Prince George\u2019s Counties\n\nChabad Lubavitch of Bowie Maryland Inc\n\nChabad Lubavitch of Upper Montgomery County Inc.\n\nCharles E. Smith Jewish Day School (Lower School)\n\nCongregation B'nai Tzedek\n\nCovenant Life Church (7501)\n\nCovenant Life School (7503)\n\nCovenant Life School/Church (7505)\n\nGreater Praise and Deliverance Tabernacle\n\nGreek Orthodox Church of Saint George, Inc.\n\nIsrael on Campus Coalition, Inc.\n\nImadi\n\nKehilat Pardes\n\nKingdom Full Tabernacle International Ministries\n\nLife Changing Christian Center\n\nMcLean Bible Church (Montgomery)\n\nNorth Brentwood AME Zion Church\n\nThe Guru Gobind Singh Foundation Trust Inc\n\nThe Sierra Leone Muslim Jamaat, Inc. (3305)\n\nTikvat Israel Congregation\n\nSouthern Maryland\n\nCamp St. Charles Inc.\n\nCrossroads Christian Center, Inc.\n\nEastern Shore\n\nLighthouse Christian Academy\n\nThe awards are provided through the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s (DHS) Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which helps high-risk nonprofits, including faith-based institutions, obtain the resources required to support and integrate preparedness activities with broader state and local efforts. The lawmakers fought to fund the Nonprofit Security Grant Program at $300 million through the Fiscal Year 2026 annual appropriations package, an increase from $274.5 million in Fiscal Year 2025.", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-harris-announces-21-million-university-maryland-eastern-shore", "Congressman Harris Announces $2.1 Million for University of Maryland Eastern Shore", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", "harris", "https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01), announced the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) will receive $2,131,929 in federal funding through the Supplemental HBCU Mandatory Grants program.\n\nStatement from Congressman Harris:\n\n\u201cUMES has a long history of educating students on the Eastern Shore and preparing graduates for careers in Maryland and across the country. This $2.1 million in funding will strengthen academic programs and provide additional resources for students.\u201d\n\nThe funding is provided through the U.S. Department of Education\u2019s Supplemental HBCU Mandatory Grants program, which provides federal funding to Historically Black Colleges and Universities.", 1, "2026-09-24T10:30:22Z", "2026-09-24T10:31:42Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyer-people-who-work-government-should-be-able-afford-work-government", "Hoyer: People Who Work for the Government Should Be Able to Afford to Work for the Government", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny H. Hoyer", "H000874", "hoyer.house.gov", "hoyer", "https://hoyer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) delivered remarks at a press conference with members of the Federal Workforce Caucus and federal employee union leaders to highlight the impact of President Donald Trump's proposed 2027 pay freeze on the federal workforce. Below is a transcript of his remarks:\n\n\"Congressman Walkinshaw, thank you very, very much. Congressman Walkinshaw is a new Member of the Congress of the United States. He's not a new member of representing, literally, hundreds of thousands, over the years, federal employees. He is not somebody who is not experienced at running a government who can make sure that you can recruit and retain the best, so that we can give people the best service possible. He is not new to the challenge that he met when he came to Congress of the United States with this Administration, with Russell Vought, whose intent, as he pointed out, was to visit Trump on federal employees. And to the federal employees who may be watching, our president reported $2.2 billion of income. Do any of you think when he goes to the grocery store \u2013 I don\u2019t think he goes to the grocery store \u2013 and he picks up a piece of pizza, says, \u2018That may be too expensive for me.\u2019 Or that when he goes to a gasoline station \u2013 of course, we know he doesn\u2019t \u2013 that he worries about either diesel or gasoline products being $2, $3, or $4 higher than they were six months ago? Of course you don't. Americans are struggling to pay their bills. Americans are struggling to reach an economy that is affordable for them and their families. By the way, federal employees are Americans, and they are consumers, and they are struggling. And while the President says, \u2018Zero for the federal employees,\u2019 if you're not a federal employee, he's saying 'Zero' to you as well. How is he saying that? He\u2019s saying, \u2018I don't care what inflation is. I don't care [that] costs are going up. I'm going to keep this war going.\u2019 A war of choice. I'm making some signs up, it's going to be at number of gas stations in my district that\u2019s going to say, \u2018Pay Trump's War Tax Here.\u2019\n\n\"I was the sponsor of the Federal Employee Pay Comparability Act. It passed in 2010 or thereabouts \u2013 I think it was 2010, a couple of decades ago \u2013 and what that bill said [was], \u2018We're going to pay somebody in the federal government who does a job that is done in the private sector, comparable.\u2019 Why do [we] want to pay them more comparable? Because we want to compete, so that when DOGE wipes out a couple hundred thousand positions and then, by the way, hires back because, 'Oh, we needed those people,' and you need to hire competent, capable people who have the skills to do the jobs that Americans need them [done] and their families. That's why we're here. That's why we're saying, \u2018Yes, the sergeant over at the Pentagon who is sitting there at the computer and doing a job needs to be compensated in a fair and effective way. But by the way, the person sitting next to that sergeant in a civilian guard, not in the military, who is doing exactly the same thing, exactly the same thing, ought to be comparably compensated.' This president said, \u2018Zero, Mack. You're on your own. Take a hike. I don't care that you're having problems getting food. I don't care that you're having problems paying $6 a gallon if you had a diesel vehicle, or $4.50 if you got a gasoline vehicle.\u2019 And then you have to make a choice between that and your rent, between that and your groceries, between that and your medical costs. \u2018I don't care because I made $2.2 billion, so why do I care? And my son had his wedding paid for.' Although he's worth not a billion, perhaps, but hundreds of millions of dollars himself. His cost of living, of course, is the interest he gets every day, which exceeds what that sergeant makes in a year. So, he apparently doesn't care.\n\n\"So, I\u2019m pleased to join my friend, Congressman Walkinshaw, and my friend, Senator Van Hollen. The civilian pay freeze announced by the Administration is just the latest example of how he traumatized Americans \u2013 not just federal employees, Americans \u2013 why he doesn't care about your costs, why he hasn't offered a policy to help them. They\u2019re trying to create tension and an artificial divide between civilian [employees] and those who wear a uniform. I have been for comparability since I came to the Congress of the United States 45 years ago, and we've been largely successful \u2013 not completely, there were a lot of years where we took a pass, some because things were tough for everybody. And by the way, the Pay Comparability Act says, \u2018Civilian employees in the federal government cannot get a raise if the private sector economic cost (inaudible). That\u2019s what the law says. And, Mr. Walkinshaw, it's about 3.2- 3.3% and going up, and inflation is outstripping \u2013 even in the private sector [salary increases].\n\n\"So, I'm very hopeful that our Members of Congress \u2013 we\u2019ll see what the election results [are], we\u2019re hopeful. The fact of that is, most Members of Congress are dispersed, two weeks before we were supposed to. Somehow, we thought our work was done, while people are struggling, while gas prices are spiraling, while health care costs and housing costs are driving people to distraction, and worse. I want to thank Representative Walkinshaw, I want to thank you Senator Van Hollen, I want all of you for supporting this effort. I want to thank the federal employee unions who have been so active. I congratulate all of them for keeping the faith for the American people and making sure that people who work for the government are still able to afford to work for the government. I\u2019m sure I have some other great remarks, but I'm afraid I\u2019ve probably talked too long. But we need all of you who are watching, just say to your representatives, say to the Congress of the United States, say to the President of the United States, \u2018We value the people for helping us at the federal, state and local level and we need to make sure they don't fall through the floorboards,\u2019 because that\u2019s what\u2019s happening. With the rising costs and the lack of affordable in the American economy, the average working man and woman cannot make $2.2 billion a year. I now yield to my dear friend, and our senior senator from Maryland, who has been, himself, a very strong, consistent, and faithful voice on behalf of federal employees. Of course, being faithful to our federal employees is being faithful to our country, to our state, and to our people. Senator Van Hollen.\"", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://raskin.house.gov/2026/9/ahead-of-u-s-china-summit-raskin-meeks-mcgovern-urge-trump-to-condemn-ccp-law-designed-to-repress-religious-minorities-and-attack-critics-around-the-world", "Ahead of U.S.-China Summit, Raskin, Meeks, McGovern Urge Trump to Condemn CCP Law Designed to Repress Religious Minorities and Attack Critics Around the World", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Jamie Raskin", "R000606", "raskin.house.gov", "raskin", "https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Today, Representative Jamie Raskin (MD-08), House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (NY-05) and Representative Jim McGovern (MA-02) called on President Donald Trump to express the United States\u2019 opposition to China\u2019s sweeping new law to repress ethnic minorities and silence critics around the world, including U.S. citizens, during his meetings with President Xi Jinping at this week\u2019s U.S-China summit. The Ethnic Unity and Progress Law grants Chinese officials broad authority to prosecute transnational dissidents as well as Tibetans, Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups that it classifies as detrimental to \u201cnational unity and Communist Party ideology.\u201d\n\nXi\u2019s visit to the U.S. is scheduled to begin on September 24. The State Department has previously expressed opposition to China\u2019s Ethnic Unity and Progress Law.\n\n\u201cDuring your meeting with Xi Jinping, it is imperative that you continue to voice your administration\u2019s disapproval of this affront to the fundamental freedoms of minority communities, human rights advocates and U.S. citizens,\u201d the lawmakers wrote to President Trump.\n\nEnacted in March, the Ethnic Unity and Progress Law furthers the Chinese government\u2019s efforts to systematically persecute ethnic and religious minorities and attack critics under the guise of protecting \u2018social harmony.\u2019\n\nThe law allows China to target dissidents around the world, including U.S. citizens living outside of China. In recent years, China has sought to silence pro-democracy voices through monetary bounties on Hong Kong advocates, cyberhacking campaigns and other intimidation tactics. Absent a repeal of the Ethnic Unity and Progress Law, the use of such tactics will only become more frequent.\n\n\u201cWe greatly appreciated the State Department\u2019s earlier statement expressing concerns about the Ethnic Unity and Progress Law,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cA president\u2019s personal advocacy, however, has unparalleled power to elicit meaningful change.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers specifically cited the case of Min Zin, a U.S. citizen detained in June while visiting China for an academic conference, to illustrate the government\u2019s repressive practices. Min was an active voice for democracy in Southeast Asia. He remains in Chinese custody.\n\nThe Chinese government has a long and troubling history of subordinating and forcefully assimilating religious and ethnic groups that it deems a threat to state security. As the lawmakers noted, Chinese authorities have sought \u201cto destroy the shrines of Uyghur Muslims, remove Tibetan Buddhist statues from monasteries, censor the holy texts read in Christian churches and otherwise purge houses of worship\u2026\u201d\n\nRaskin, Meeks and McGovern are among the most vocal advocates in Congress for human rights around the world. They have sought and obtained the release numerous of prisoners of conscience, including through the Tom Lantos Commission\u2019s Defending Freedoms Project, an effort to bring attention to international human rights abuses. Tibetan writer Kunchok Tsephel and Vietnamese climate activist Dang Dinh Bach\u2014two political prisoners sponsored by Raskin\u2014were later released from prison.\n\nThe letter is also signed by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (CA-11) and Representatives Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Ami Bera (CA-06), Andr\u00e9 Carson (IN-07), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Lloyd Doggett (TX-10), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Al Green (TX-09), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), George Latimer (NY-16), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Grace Meng (NY-06), Jerry Nadler (NY-12), Richard Neal (MA-01), Eleanor Norton (DC-AL), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Brad Schneider (IL-10), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Tom Suozzi (NY-03), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Dina Titus (NV-01), James Walkinshaw (VA-11) , Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) and Maxine Waters (CA-43).\n\nThe letter is endorsed by the International Campaign for Tibet, Uyghur Human Rights Project and Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation.\n\nRead the full letter here and below.\n\nPresident Donald J. Trump\n\nThe White House\n\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW\n\nWashington, DC 20500\n\nDear President Trump,\n\nAs you engage with President Xi Jinping this month, we urge you to express profound opposition to the Ethnic Unity and Progress Law recently implemented by the Chinese government.\n\nThis law grants Chinese authorities sweeping authority to prosecute Tibetans, Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups that it broadly accuses of undermining national unity and Communist Party ideology.\n\nMoreover, the extraterritorial scope of the law means that it will dramatically accelerate China\u2019s transnational repression of critics living in the U.S. The State Department has itself recognized these ramifications in a statement calling the Ethnic Unity and Progress Law \u201cproblematic.\u201d During your meeting with Xi Jinping, it is imperative that you continue to voice your administration\u2019s disapproval of this affront to the fundamental freedoms of minority communities, human rights advocates and U.S. citizens.\n\nEnacted under the guise of promoting \u201csocial harmony\u201d on March 12, 2026, the Ethnic Unity and Progress Law is in fact an insidious declaration of China\u2019s intent to further repress religious freedom and the freedom of group association. One of the most troubling provisions of the law would require religious activities to undergo \u201cSinicization,\u201d a process championed by Xi Jinping and used in reference to the complete subordination and assimilation of religious and ethnic groups to the political ideology of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Well before the Ethnic Unity and Progress Law came into effect on July 1, 2026, China had already embarked upon a concerted campaign to destroy the shrines of Uyghur Muslims, remove Tibetan Buddhist statues from monasteries, censor the holy texts read in Christian churches and otherwise purge houses of worship in the name of \u201cSinicization.\u201d With the additional legal cover provided by their new law, Chinese authorities are escalating their systemic persecution of minority faith communities.\n\nElsewhere in the text of the law, the Chinese government asserts the alarming power to extend its repressive tactics into U.S. borders and against U.S. citizens. Article 63 plainly states that organizations and individuals outside China will be held legally accountable for activities that China deems are undertaken in opposition to national unity and progress. In codifying this language, China thus purports to exercise jurisdiction over people who are neither Chinese citizens nor residents of the country and who are merely exercising their freedom of expression. For dissidents who fled China in pursuit of the rights and freedoms we enjoy in America, the clause amounts to a promise that they will continue to be pursued by an oppressive state adamant about suppressing their speech and beliefs.\n\nTo grasp the consequences of such a promise, one need only examine the tactics China has increasingly deployed against its U.S.-based critics, including U.S. citizens. In the last couple of years alone, the federal government determined conclusively that Chinese officials intimidated student activists who spoke out against its rule, imposed monetary bounties on Hong Kong activists, launched a cyber-hacking campaign targeting dissidents and employed other sophisticated strategies to silence pro-democracy voices in the U.S. Just this summer, Chinese authorities detained Min Zin, a U.S. citizen and doctoral candidate, upon his arrival in the country for an academic conference. Today, Min Zin, who actively promoted democratization in Southeast Asia, remains in Chinese custody. Absent robust efforts to contest the Ethnic Unity and Progress Law, he will be just one of many more targeted U.S. citizens.\n\nMin Zin\u2019s story, along with the broader trends indicating an intensification of China\u2019s crackdown on religious minorities and dissent abroad, should serve as a warning to us all. If left in place, the Ethnic Unity and Progress Law will expedite ongoing transnational repression, religiously motivated and identity-based persecution and other anti-democratic maneuvers of the Chinese government. In fact, emerging evidence suggests that China has actively begun to leverage the measure against the communities it has historically sought to marginalize. Uyghur-language signs are reportedly being removed from city streets, and during a recent tour of Tibet, a top CCP leader pressed authorities to \u201cadapt\u201d Tibetan Buddhism in accordance with the Ethnic Unity and Progress Law.\n\nWe greatly appreciated the State Department\u2019s earlier statement expressing concerns about the Ethnic Unity and Progress Law. However, a president\u2019s personal advocacy has unparalleled power to elicit meaningful change. During your upcoming meeting with Xi Jinping, we therefore urge you to ask for the repeal of the Ethnic Unity and Progress Law.\n\nAt stake are our national security, sovereignty and basic human rights all over the world.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-more-than-15-senate-democrats-push-trump-to-negotiate-ai-guardrails-with-xi", "Van Hollen, More than 15 Senate Democrats Push Trump to Negotiate AI Guardrails with Xi", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) led more than 15 of his colleagues in calling on President Donald Trump to negotiate a formal agreement between the U.S. and China on guardrails and global standards for the development, testing, and use of frontier Artificial Intelligence (AI) models with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The lawmakers also urged President Trump to consider enacting a mutual pause in frontier AI development to prevent potential cyberattacks, the development of biological weapons, and other dangerous activities that could threaten humanity.\n\nSenator Van Hollen was joined in sending this letter by Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.).\n\nThe lawmakers begin, \u201cWe write concerning public reporting that your administration plans to have discussions about artificial intelligence with China during the upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping currently planned for September 24, 2026. We support this dialogue and encourage you to have those discussions at the highest level. As extraordinary as the promise of some of AI\u2019s advanced capabilities are, safety incidents make clear that both national and international infrastructure is threatened by unregulated testing and release of AI models. It is incumbent upon both governments to discuss necessary guardrails and global standards for the development, testing, and use of AI in order to mitigate the risks of unfettered advancement. As you prepare for the upcoming summit, we urge you to engage with President Xi directly to discuss efforts to avoid the potential harms of this technology for the safety and benefit of the world. America leads in AI innovation, and we must lead the world in AI safety and international cooperation, including by working with China to develop a formal agreement that would slow down, and potentially enact a mutual pause in, frontier AI development to prevent cyberattacks, the development of biological weapons, and other dangerous activities that threaten the lives of the American people and humanity writ large.\u201d\n\nThey note specifically, \u201cThe conversations should include specific focus on the standards needed for development and testing processes, oversight and monitoring of models, enforcing human control over the use of autonomous systems, and technological verification of any agreed upon terms to ensure that an agreement is being enforced. Protecting American safety and leadership in AI will require international cooperation with many countries, but it must start with serious engagement by your administration and China at this summit.\u201d\n\n\u201cAI technology is too powerful, and its risks too many, for the U.S. and China to forgo discussions on parameters around its development and use. What our two countries develop as guardrails will serve as a standard for how the technology is used worldwide. Given how quickly AI technology is developing and how transformative it may be, we cannot delay our pursuit of diplomatic efforts to mitigate its risks. Those efforts must start with direct engagement with China to ensure the safety and well-being of all people as AI innovation continues,\u201d the lawmakers conclude.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nPresident Trump:\n\nWe write concerning public reporting that your administration plans to have discussions about artificial intelligence with China during the upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping currently planned for September 24, 2026. We support this dialogue and encourage you to have those discussions at the highest level. As extraordinary as the promise of some of AI\u2019s advanced capabilities are, safety incidents make clear that both national and international infrastructure is threatened by unregulated testing and release of AI models. It is incumbent upon both governments to discuss necessary guardrails and global standards for the development, testing, and use of AI in order to mitigate the risks of unfettered advancement. As you prepare for the upcoming summit, we urge you to engage with President Xi directly to discuss efforts to avoid the potential harms of this technology for the safety and benefit of the world. America leads in AI innovation, and we must lead the world in AI safety and international cooperation, including by working with China to develop a formal agreement that would slow down, and potentially enact a mutual pause in, frontier AI development to prevent cyberattacks, the development of biological weapons, and other dangerous activities that threaten the lives of the American people and humanity writ large.\n\nThe development, release, and proper and improper use of AI present several risks unique to this technology. Testing AI models without constant monitoring and safe sandboxing has resulted in security breaks. Current publicly available models are concerningly capable of detecting and exploiting cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Companies developing AI have even more powerful models internally. An international race between the U.S. and China to advance these capabilities without safety guardrails, as is currently unfolding, poses unnecessary and dangerous risks to the American people. CIA Director John Ratcliffe recently said that it would \u201cnot be misplaced\u201d to refer to the capabilities of AI as \u201cakin to digital nuclear weapons.\u201d At the same time, despite serious warnings from those in your administration and bipartisan Congressional action, your administration has loosened export controls of semiconductors to China and refused to close relevant loopholes on the remaining regulations, enabling China to access the U.S. chips it needs to accelerate its own AI development. Both countries are currently integrating AI tools into military and defense applications, including in autonomous and unmanned systems, which Congress and AI developers alike have warned against without significant safeguards. AI has many applications and many of them are tools we will find beneficial, but its significant dangers and potential use in lethal applications without meaningful human control must be addressed, in part, through international cooperation.\n\nIn addition, efforts to engage with China should not stop the U.S. from constructing and implementing guardrails domestically, and Congress and U.S. companies should not wait to do so. In fact, both the U.S. and the Chinese government have already put some guardrails in place, but these provisions are not sufficient on their own. Your administration has implemented a voluntary testing scheme before the public release of advanced AI models. China reportedly has put in place several testing and capability restrictions, including registration and safety requirements for certain applications, although consistent implementation remains uncertain. The mutual recognition between the two countries that AI poses significant risks both during development and after release should be the foundation of discussions centered on reaching concrete terms for an international safety agreement. The conversations should include specific focus on the standards needed for development and testing processes, oversight and monitoring of models, enforcing human control over the use of autonomous systems, and technological verification of any agreed upon terms to ensure that an agreement is being enforced. Protecting American safety and leadership in AI will require international cooperation with many countries, but it must start with serious engagement by your administration and China at this summit.\n\nWhile advanced AI may be new, engagement between two superpowers over a technology that poses an existential threat is not. The U.S. and Soviet Union, over decades, negotiated and implemented multiple nuclear arms control agreements with each other, despite many deep-seated ideological differences during the Cold War. At the core of those agreements were verification mechanisms to ensure both countries were complying. Like those agreements that have helped keep the world safe from mutually assured destruction, identifying and coming to terms with the technical specifications for AI safety will require some of the smartest minds in the world committed to diplomacy. We encourage you to embrace these challenges because the stakes are existential, and our response must match the moment.\n\nThe experts building frontier AI models have also been raising concerns for some time that the capabilities of AI models may soon accelerate beyond our ability to understand or control them. In July, over 1,300 employees of frontier AI companies, who are uniquely aware of AI\u2019s potential and risks, called on the U.S. government to engage in an international effort to create the tools necessary to pace the frontier of AI development, particularly as increased automation of AI research may lead to even faster advancement. We should take these warnings seriously. Former Treasury Secretaries Henry Paulson and Robert Rubin recently published an op-ed calling for you and President Xi to work on an \u201cACT\u201d \u2014 AI Cooperation Treaty.\u201d We may not get another moment to take the actions necessary to protect our citizens and people around the world.\n\nAI technology is too powerful, and its risks too many, for the U.S. and China to forgo discussions on parameters around its development and use. What our two countries develop as guardrails will serve as a standard for how the technology is used worldwide. Given how quickly AI technology is developing and how transformative it may be, we cannot delay our pursuit of diplomatic efforts to mitigate its risks. Those efforts must start with direct engagement with China to ensure the safety and well-being of all people as AI innovation continues.", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-booker-davis-adams-introduce-bicameral-bills-to-improve-access-to-care-for-americans-with-sickle-cell-disease", "Van Hollen, Booker, Davis, Adams Introduce Bicameral Bills to Improve Access to Care for Americans with Sickle Cell Disease", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and U.S. Representatives Danny Davis (D-Ill.) and Alma Adams (D-N.C.) reintroduced two bills to improve access to care for Americans living with sickle cell disease (SCD) \u2013 the Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Centers Act, legislation to grow the national network of care for patients with sickle cell disease, and the Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act, legislation to strengthen the medical workforce that treats SCD. The members were joined in introducing both bills by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Congressman Glenn Ivey (D-Md.).\n\nIn the United States, approximately 100,000 people are affected by SCD, a rare, genetically-inherited disorder that causes a person\u2019s red blood cells to become deformed and get stuck in their veins \u2013 blocking oxygen flow throughout the body and leading to chronic pain, infections, stroke, as well as kidney, liver, and heart disease. The disease disproportionately affects Black Americans, but people from other racial and ethnic backgrounds, including Hispanic Americans, are also susceptible. Despite the prevalence of the disease and the need for consistent and coordinated treatment, SCD care is most often accessible only in specialized medical centers in metropolitan areas \u2013 resulting in few patients having access to the multidisciplinary care teams and providers they need.\n\n\u201cSickle cell disease has claimed the lives of too many people far too soon, including a former staff member of mine, John Amara. For Americans living with sickle cell, access to care and qualified providers can be one of the biggest challenges they face. These bills will increase the size and capacity of the medical workforce trained to treat sickle cell, give existing sickle cell centers the capacity to share resources beyond their walls, and help ensure we can more easily expand specialized care and treatment to the countless communities that don\u2019t yet have it. We will not stop fighting to raise awareness, strengthen networks of care and support, and ultimately make sickle cell disease a thing of the past,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cSickle cell disease has been historically overlooked and underfunded, and people living with it, who are disproportionately Black Americans, face systemic barriers to the care they need to live full, healthy lives,\u201d said Senator Booker. \u201cI'm proud to join my colleagues in introducing these bills, which would invest in training and resources for healthcare providers, raise awareness about SCD and the support available, and establish a national network of treatment centers. Together, they move us toward a future where comprehensive, accessible care for everyone living with sickle cell disease is a right, not a privilege.\u201d\n\n\u201cConsidering the significant health challenges that sickle cell disease creates for individuals and families across the United States and around the world, we must invest greater resources in improving awareness, expanding access to comprehensive and coordinated care, advancing better treatments, and supporting research that can lead to new cures,\u201d said Congressman Davis. \u201cFor far too many sickle cell warriors, access to specialized care remains limited, particularly for those who live far from major medical centers. The Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Centers Act of 2026 takes an important step toward changing that by strengthening a national network of treatment centers and connecting specialized providers with community health centers and other organizations closer to where patients live.\u201d\n\n\u201cGrowing up, my sister Linda was in and out of the emergency department because of sickle cell disease. She lost her battle when she was just 26 years old,\u201d said Congresswoman Adams. \u201cHer story is one that I do not want to see repeated. That\u2019s why I am proud to introduce the Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Centers Act and co-lead the Sickle Cell Disease Care Expansion Act to increase access to specialized care for those suffering from this devastating illness.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Sickle Cell Treatment Act bill enables the creation of the national coordination of care and advancements for sickle cell disease, which is the most prevalent life-threatening chronic illness affecting most ethnicities and races in this country \u2014 more than 200,000 individuals along with their families and support systems, all types of medical caregivers in over 10 specialties, researchers, and scientists. Data-driven focus and collaboration for best outcomes and practices for the sickle cell community is imperative as we are in the era of curative therapies, new treatments and medicines, and research enabling better understanding of sickle cell. Likewise, the Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act, providing needed funding of education of the sickle cell family of caregivers \u2014 doctors, nurses, researchers, psychologists, social workers, dietitians, phlebotomists, and others \u2014 is crucial for providing excellence in care and opportunities for more progress for individuals and families effected by sickle cell disease. Let\u2019s be clear, Sickle Cell disease has been severely underfunded, under-resourced, and undercounted in all areas. We must all pull together \u2014 there is more than enough work and room for every organization to contribute to the necessary progress for the improved treatment, access, and outcomes for the sickle cell disease family,\u201d said Kimberley Davis, the Executive Director of KMD Advocacy Center and the mother of John Amara Walters, a member of Senator Van Hollen\u2019s legislative staff who passed away from complications of SCD in 2021 at the age of 29.\n\n\u201cAs co-chair of the bipartisan Rare Disease Congressional Caucus, I\u2019m dedicated to making sure every person living with a rare disease, including sickle cell disease, can be swiftly and accurately diagnosed and have access to effective, affordable treatment,\u201d said Senator Klobuchar. \u201cBy working together with patients, researchers, advocates, and neighbors, Congress can ensure patients with sickle cell disease have the very best available medical care.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am proud to co-sponsor the Sickle Cell Treatment Centers and Care Expansion Acts and stand with the millions of Americans whose lives have been impacted by sickle cell disease. Across the country, too many families in the Black community continue to suffer from this devastating disease while research remains underfunded and this condition too often goes overlooked. We must do better, and we must act with urgency. I applaud the bipartisan leadership in both chambers of Congress working together to introduce and advance this legislation. Together, we can help deliver the resources and treatment to build a healthier future for generations of African Americans living with sickle cell disease,\u201d said Congressman Ivey.\n\nThe Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Centers Act would address the unmet needs of patients with SCD, sickle cell trait, and other inherited blood disorders through the establishment of a nationwide system of treatment centers, as well as much-needed education, outreach, and social services for patients. It establishes a National Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Center Grant Program, which would enable hospitals that offer specialized SCD care to partner with more accessible community health centers and outpatient centers. This would implement a hub-and-spoke framework for the delivery of care and treatment of patients with SCD. The medical hubs and spokes would be required to partner with community-based organizations to provide education and outreach, and help coordinate social services for patients. Additionally, the bill would establish a National SCD Coordinating Center to work in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u2019s (CDC) SCD Data Collection Program.\n\nThe Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act would enable the National Health Service Corps to provide educational incentives such as loan repayment assistance and scholarships for those studying benign hematology, which is the specialty SCD falls under. These incentives are designed to attract more providers to the SCD workforce to meet the treatment needs of the growing number of adult SCD patients. The bill would also create competitive grants to raise awareness of SCD and the resources available to patients, and provide additional resources for hospitals to further fund support services for young adults ages 18-29 who are transitioning from pediatric to adult care, as well as research into the needs of this patient population.\n\nBoth bills have been endorsed by KMD Advocacy Center, American Society of Hematology, Children\u2019s National Hospital, Loma Linda University Children\u2019s Hospital, Maryland Sickle Cell Disease Association (MSCDA), Sickle Cell Coalition of Maryland, Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, the Sickle Cell Disease Partnership, and Sick Cells.\n\n\u201cThe American Society of Hematology (ASH) commends Senator Van Hollen for reintroducing the Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Centers Act and the Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act, which aim to advance the healthcare needs of individuals living with sickle cell disease. ASH remains deeply committed to improving care for individuals with sickle cell disease, and the Society is grateful for Senator Van Hollen\u2019s dedication in this effort. ASH looks forward to continuing to work with the senator as these bills move forward,\u201d said Robert S. Negrin, M.D., President, American Society of Hematology (ASH).\n\n\u201cSickle cell disease affects families in every state, but the expertise to treat it is concentrated in a small number of centers, leaving too many patients without access to the care they need. At Children's National, we care for more than 1,500 children and young adults with sickle cell disease, and we see every day what comprehensive care can achieve. The Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Centers Act would build the national network this community has long needed, linking specialized centers with community health centers and local organizations, and connecting all of them through a National Coordinating Center. With a national network in place, every patient, no matter where they live, can count on expert care and access to the latest therapies. Thanks to advances in care, nearly all of the patients we care for will grow into adulthood. That is a victory, but it also means every one of them will need an adult sickle cell expert waiting on the other side of the transition, and too often there isn't one. The Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act addresses both halves of this problem: it invests in the transition programs that help young adults move safely from pediatric to adult care, and it builds the hematology workforce they will depend on for the rest of their lives. Our patients deserve a system that keeps its promise to them long after they leave our doors,\u201d said Dr. Andrew Campbell, Director, Comprehensive Sickle Cell Disease Program, Children\u2019s National Hospital.\n\n\u201cThe Sickle Cell Treatment Centers Act has the power to revolutionize access to care and aid in understanding the barriers that have made this disease so unassailable. The Hub and Spoke model will allow care to be coordinated efficiently between Sickle Cell Centers of excellence and their community stakeholders so patient care does not fall through the cracks. It will address the unmet need in sickle cell disease care delivery, by supporting sickle cell centers to become centers of excellence, putting the focus on disease prevention and eradication as a unified nationwide network of treatment centers. With new transformative therapies like gene therapy available for children with Sickle cell disease now, this funding will help sickle cell lifespan centers to effectively build capacity to treat young children who likely will have a disease-free life ahead of them,\u201d said Akshat Jain, M.D., M.P.H., Medical Director, Sickle Cell Center of Excellence Children and Young Adult, Loma Linda University School of Medicine.\n\n\u201cSeptember is Sickle Cell Awareness Month and The Maryland Sickle Cell Disease Association (MSCDA) could not be more thrilled to learn that Sen. Van Hollen is reintroducing both the Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act and the Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Centers Act. Both these Bills are of critical importance to the improvement of lives of persons impacted by sickle cell disease. Our community faces a shortage of providers with expertise in sickle cell disease, and the Expansion Act addresses that issue head on. Not only do we lack providers, we need more access to care in communities where affected families live. The hub and spoke model in the Treatment Center Act will bring much needed care to the communities where we are. This model is working right here in in Prince George's County, MD and we couldn't be more excited to see that the model could be expanded nationwide. The Expansion Act and the Treatment Centers Act, working together is exactly what we need to bring positive change to this devastating, life threatening disease. We applaud Senator Van Hollen's efforts and stand ready to do our part to bring these Bills to law,\u201d said Derek Robertson, M.B.A., J.D., C.H.C., President, Maryland Sickle Cell Disease Association.\n\n\u201cOn behalf of the Sickle Cell Coalition of Maryland (SCCM), we support the introduction of the Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Centers Act and the Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act. We endorse new, innovative, and forward-thinking legislation that addresses two of the most urgent challenges facing people living with sickle cell disease: access to comprehensive, affordable care and the shortage of qualified clinicians. We also commend Senator Chris Van Hollen for his continued leadership and advocacy for holistic, affordable, and accessible sickle cell care. We support continued federal efforts that strengthen specialty care access, address workforce shortages, improve transition services, and invest in community-based support,\u201d said Teanika Hoffman, Executive Director, Sickle Cell Coalition of Maryland.\n\n\u201cHeadquartered in Maryland, the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc. is grateful for Senator Van Hollen\u2019s leadership in introducing the Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Centers Act and the Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act. Both bills provide critical recognition for the work done by sickle cell disease community-based organizations, which are the backbone of the sickle cell disease community. Separately, the bills will help create a national infrastructure of sickle cell centers and expand the workforce needed to treat sickle cell warriors. I want to thank Senator Van Hollen for his ongoing dedication to improving care and treatment for our sickle cell warriors,\u201d said Regina Hartfield, President and CEO, Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc.\n\n\u201cSick Cells is pleased to support the reintroduction of these two important pieces of legislation, the Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act and the Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Centers Act. Together, they represent a bold approach to improving care and the quality of life for people living with sickle cell disease across the country through expansive and innovative strategies. The sickle cell disease community has long lacked comprehensive medical and social support, relevant data, and critical auxiliary services. A compounding factor of a limited amount of clinicians further exasperates the situation. These bills demonstrate what can be accomplished through collaboration, and dedicated federal investment. We hope these efforts will be the beginning of a sustained commitment to transforming sickle cell care and ensuring that every person living with sickle cell disease has access to the comprehensive support they need,\u201d said Ashley Valentine, Founder and CEO, Sick Cells.", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyer-statement-calling-immediate-delivery-military-assistance-ukraine", "Hoyer Statement Calling for the Immediate Delivery of Military Assistance to Ukraine", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny H. Hoyer", "H000874", "hoyer.house.gov", "hoyer", "https://hoyer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement urging the Pentagon to ensure immediate delivery of the $400 million that was authorized in the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative:\n\n\u201cOn September 16, Congress sent the President bipartisan sanctions legislation that can substantially degrade Russia\u2019s ability to wage war. This was a major step toward ending the war in Ukraine with a victory that can secure its freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. But it cannot and must not be the only immediate step we take. The signing of that law should be accompanied by the transfer of $400 million in military assistance already authorized and appropriated by Congress for FY26.\n\n\u201cCongress appropriated these funds more than seven months ago!\n\n\u201cWhen Members of Congress visited Ukraine in early September, they heard from the first deputy speaker of its parliament and the secretary of its national defense council that delivery of that assistance was the next-highest priority. The Ukrainians have told us that, to date, they have not received any part of it!\n\n\u201cI urge the Pentagon immediately to deliver to Ukraine the resources that have been appropriated. I also ask the Administration to deliver the second tranche of $400 million, which has also been authorized, as soon as it is appropriated. America should lead in this defense of democracy, sovereignty, and international law.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://mcclaindelaney.house.gov/media/press-releases/mcclain-delaney-and-maryland-delegation-demand-independent-investigation-after", "McClain Delaney and Maryland Delegation Demand Independent Investigation After ICE Operation in Frederick", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "April McClain Delaney", "M001232", "mcclaindelaney.house.gov", "mcclaindelaney", "https://mcclaindelaney.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (MD-06), alongside Senator Chris Van Hollen, led the full Maryland Congressional delegation in demanding an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation into the tactics employed by ICE during its operation in Frederick on September 3rd and 4th. The letter went to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Acting ICE Director David Venturella, and DHS Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari, and it sets a response deadline of October 1, 2026.\n\nThe Members want to know whether ICE had a warrant before entering the home, whether that warrant was administrative or judicial, whether agency policy permits using vehicles to clear peaceful observers, and how ICE obtained a local official\u2019s personal information and why an officer recited it back to her. A federal law enforcement vehicle drove down a Frederick sidewalk and struck an observer. Officers used a baton on a protester and dragged another person off the front steps of a home. An ICE officer told a local elected official that the agency knew her name, her license plate, and where she lived.\n\nAll of it happened over roughly 40 hours in one neighborhood of Frederick, in Maryland\u2019s Sixth District, and all of it is on video.\n\n\u201cThe Frederick community deserves better from its government,\u201d,\u201d said Congresswoman April McClain Delaney. \u201cNone of what happened there earlier this month made anyone safer. This Administration claims it is targeting the worst of the worst, but its own numbers show that seven out of ten people arrested in this region had no criminal record. I brought Team Maryland together because our constituents deserve to know who authorized this operation, what warrant ICE relied on, and what use-of-force policy allowed these tactics. We expect clear answers by October 1.\u201d\n\nThe letter also presses DHS on the scope of last month\u2019s two-week surge across Maryland and Virginia. By the Department\u2019s own numbers, nearly 70 percent of the 1,328 people arrested in that operation had no criminal record.\n\nThe letter was signed by Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Representatives April McClain Delaney, Steny H. Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, Glenn F. Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, and Johnny Olszewski, Jr.", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-mfume-jackson-introduce-house-bill-requiring-the-us-to-rejoin-the-who-and-help-contain-the-fastest-growing-ebola-outbreak-on-record", "Reps. Mfume, Jackson Introduce House Bill Requiring the U.S. to Rejoin the WHO and Help Contain the Fastest-Growing Ebola Outbreak on Record", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Kweisi Mfume", "M000687", "mfume.house.gov", "mfume", "https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 This month, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07) and Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL-01) introduced the Epidemic Barrier and Outbreak Leadership Act, or the EBOLA Act (H.R.10345), which would require the President to rejoin the World Health Organization within 30 days of enactment and direct the United States to begin working with the WHO immediately on the Ebola outbreak in Central and Eastern Africa. The bill is the House companion to legislation introduced by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.\n\nPer the World Health Organization's September 6 Situation Report, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has passed 6,500 confirmed cases and 3,200 confirmed deaths in a little over two months, a faster rate of spread than any previous Ebola outbreak. By comparison, the 2014 West Africa outbreak had roughly 40 suspected cases when the international response began. Fighting between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Rwanda-backed M23 has cut off humanitarian access to some of the areas where the virus is spreading fastest, and the WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention are running the global response without American participation.\n\n\"President Trump pulled the United States out of the World Health Organization and told Americans we would be safer for it. It was a foolish decision the day he made it, and sadly, with Ebola now spreading faster than any outbreak of it we have seen, it did not take long to become a dangerous one,\" said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. \"This Administration also cut foreign assistance and stalled funding for the vaccine organizations that stop outbreaks abroad before they reach us, including Gavi. Every one of those choices made this crisis worse and left Americans more vulnerable. Protecting American families means working alongside the health experts tracking this virus, not turning our backs on them. The House should take this bill up without delay.\"\n\n\"Every American family should be concerned that when this dangerous outbreak began, our own government did not hear about it for nine days because we are no longer in the room,\u201d said Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson. \u201cWhile Ebola continues to spread and communities are living in fear and desperate for support, the United States is on the sidelines, cruelly abandoning the humanitarian mission that our nation guided for decades. In June, I co-led a letter with 74 of my colleagues warning that America\u2019s retreat from the global health system would leave us exposed and vulnerable. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CDC Acting Director Jay Bhattacharya did not heed our warnings, and that\u2019s exactly what has happened. The answer is straightforward: America is safer when we invest in partnerships that have long advanced both our moral responsibilities and American interests. I am proud to co-lead this legislation with Congressman Mfume to require the U.S. to rejoin the WHO and stop treating the health of families in Central and Eastern Africa as separate from the health of families on the South Side of Chicago.\u201d\n\nPresident Trump signed Executive Order 14155 in January 2025 beginning the withdrawal of the United States from the WHO, and the withdrawal was completed in January 2026. It ended nearly all American support for the organization and pulled back U.S. personnel and contracts. One consequence is that the State Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cannot retrieve personal protective equipment that American taxpayers paid for and that is being held in WHO facilities near the affected region. Another is timing: the United States did not learn of this outbreak until nine days after the WHO did.\n\nAdditional House Cosponsors include: Yvette Clarke, Jasmine Crockett, Danny Davis, Madeleine Dean, Jonathan Jackson, Pramila Jayapal, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Stephen Lynch, Sarah McBride, Seth Moulton, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Johnny Olszewski, Ilhan Omar, Deborah Ross, Rashida Tlaib, Nydia Velazquez.\n\nAdditional Senate Cosponsors include: Cory Booker, Chris Van Hollen, Tim Kaine, John Hickenlooper, Amy Klobuchar, Jacky Rosen, Chris Coons, Alex Padilla, Chris Murphy, Tammy Baldwin, Jeff Merkley.\n\nClick HERE to read the bill's full text.\n\nThe EBOLA Act would:\n\nRequire the President to rejoin the WHO no later than 30 days after enactment, and require the United States to begin collaborating with the organization immediately on the outbreak in Central and Eastern Africa; and\n\nAuthorize the appropriations needed to carry out the Act, including membership dues and voluntary or programmatic support aimed at stopping the spread of Ebola.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-delegation-members-press-usda-usfs-to-make-good-on-commitment-to-keep-baltimore-urban-forestry-office-in-baltimore", "Maryland Delegation Members Press USDA, USFS to Make Good on Commitment to Keep Baltimore Urban Forestry Office in Baltimore", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representative Kweisi Mfume were joined by Representatives Steny Hoyer, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all D-Md.), in calling for United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden and United States Forest Service (USFS) Chief Tom Schultz to reverse course on the decision to close the USFS Baltimore Field Office and relocate staff outside of Baltimore. The USFS Baltimore Urban Field Station leads forestry-related projects that benefit the local Baltimore community and conducts important forestry and urban ecology research that informs land use decision-making throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed and beyond. The lawmakers pose several questions to USDA and USFS around the decision, which comes after Senator Van Hollen questioned Chief Tom Schultz in the Senate Appropriations Committee and received commitment to maintain presence in Baltimore.\n\nThe lawmakers begin, \u201cOn April 30, 2026, during the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the United States Forest Service (USFS) FY27 budget, Chief Schultz assured Senator Van Hollen that USFS would not force Baltimore Urban Field Office employees to relocate outside of the Baltimore area during the USDA reorganization. Despite this commitment, when USFS announced earlier this month that the Baltimore Urban Field Office will close, we learned that USFS intends to relocate Baltimore employees to Beltsville, Maryland \u2013 a location that is decidedly outside of the broader Baltimore area. USFS must make good on its word and keep Baltimore Urban Field Office employees in Baltimore so they can effectively continue their place-based and partnership-dependent work in the Baltimore area.\u201d\n\nOn the critical benefits for keeping the Baltimore Urban Field Office in the Baltimore area, the lawmakers write, \u201cWhen Secretary Rollins announced the USDA reorganization, one of the stated pillars of the plan was to \u2018bring USDA closer to its customers.\u2019 Closing the Baltimore Field Office and relocating employees away from Baltimore violates this core principle, since the primary \u2018customers\u2019 of the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Office are in Baltimore; they are the community groups, local government, and academics with whom the Field Office has developed partnerships and collaborations during its nearly 40-year tenure on the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. These relationships have enabled important research projects that benefit the Chesapeake Bay watershed and regional forests, as well as urban forestry projects in the Baltimore community. For example, the Office supports community-led restoration and urban revitalization efforts in Baltimore by leading the Baltimore Urban Waters Partnership. It delivers professional skill building and workforce training to urban youth in Baltimore by supporting youth forestry projects at the Stillmeadow Church and Peace Park. And it started an urban wood reuse project that successfully spun off into a city-run urban sawmill and wood recycling center.\u201d\n\nAmong other questions, the lawmakers go on to ask the following:\n\nDid USDA or USFS conduct an analysis of the costs and benefits associated with closing the Baltimore Urban Field Office as compared to keeping them in the current location?\n\nHas USDA or USFS assessed the impact that closure of the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Office and relocation of employees outside of the Baltimore area will have on the important work that the Baltimore Urban Field Office has been conducting?\n\n\u201cThe Baltimore location is critical to the ability of the Baltimore Urban Field Office to successfully accomplish its place-based and partnership-driven work. This work not only benefits the Baltimore community but serves as a model for urban forestry work in cities across the country and the world. The Baltimore Urban Field Office is an asset to the nation and its closure serves no one. Keep your word and keep the work of the Baltimore Urban Forestry Office in Baltimore.\u201d the lawmakers conclude.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Deputy Secretary Vaden and Chief Schultz,\n\nOn April 30, 2026, during the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the United States Forest Service (USFS) FY27 budget, Chief Schultz assured Senator Van Hollen that USFS would not force Baltimore Urban Field Office employees to relocate outside of the Baltimore area during the USDA reorganization. Despite this commitment, when USFS announced earlier this month that the Baltimore Urban Field Office will close, we learned that USFS intends to relocate Baltimore employees to Beltsville, Maryland \u2013 a location that is decidedly outside of the broader Baltimore area. USFS must make good on its word and keep Baltimore Urban Field Office employees in Baltimore so they can effectively continue their place-based and partnership-dependent work in the Baltimore area.\n\nWhen Secretary Rollins announced the USDA reorganization, one of the stated pillars of the plan was to \u201cbring USDA closer to its customers.\u201d Closing the Baltimore Field Office and relocating employees away from Baltimore violates this core principle, since the primary \u201ccustomers\u201d of the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Office are in Baltimore; they are the community groups, local government, and academics with whom the Field Office has developed partnerships and collaborations during its nearly 40-year tenure on the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. These relationships have enabled important research projects that benefit the Chesapeake Bay watershed and regional forests, as well as urban forestry projects in the Baltimore community. For example, the Office supports community-led restoration and urban revitalization efforts in Baltimore by leading the Baltimore Urban Waters Partnership. It delivers professional skill building and workforce training to urban youth in Baltimore by supporting youth forestry projects at the Stillmeadow Church and Peace Park. And it started an urban wood reuse project that successfully spun off into a city-run urban sawmill and wood recycling center.\n\nUSDA has continually failed to respond to basic questions about the Department\u2019s decision-making during the reorganization process. This includes a failure to answer the questions included in the letter sent to you opposing the closure of the Baltimore Urban Field Office from April 24, 2026, such as whether a cost-benefit analysis has been conducted to understand the true costs to the American taxpayer of closing this facility. This lack of transparency is particularly disturbing when USDA maintains that the reorganization is meant to save money.\n\nTo add to this concern, there are clearly other suitable federal facilities for these employees in the Baltimore area. For example, there is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) facility that is located across the street from the Baltimore Urban Field Office that has the capacity to accommodate USFS employees - a facility that Chief Schultz mentioned during the April 30th hearing. The availability of other Baltimore locations to house the Baltimore Urban Field Office make it extremely difficult to understand why the Field Office\u2019s employees would need to be relocated outside of Baltimore, where it will be harder for them to effectively do their jobs and maintain critical partnerships in the community that this Field Office exists to serve.\n\nIn addition, while Beltsville may fall within the range of the Forest Service\u2019s expansive definition the Baltimore \u201ccommuting area,\u201d despite being well outside of the Baltimore area, relocating Field Office employees to Beltsville realistically means commutes of 2 hours or more for Baltimore-based employees who rely on public transit. This will keep employees away from their families for longer and create an additional cost burden for them \u2013 stressors that stand to decrease overall employee productivity and harm employee retention.\n\nWe urge you to keep your word and reverse course on the decision to relocate USFS Baltimore Field Office employees outside of Baltimore. In addition, please provide answers to the following questions by October 1, 2026:\n\nDid USDA or USFS conduct an analysis of the costs and benefits associated with closing the Baltimore Urban Field Office as compared to keeping them in the current location?\n\nIf so, please provide that analysis, including details on the alternative locations that were considered for Baltimore Field Office employees.\n\nHas USDA or USFS assessed the impact that closure of the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Office and relocation of employees outside of the Baltimore area will have on the important work that the Baltimore Urban Field Office has been conducting?\n\nIf so, please explain in detail how the assessment was conducted and what the findings were.\n\nDid USDA or USFS assess the feasibility of co-locating the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Office with the nearby USGS facility that Chief Schultz referenced in the April 30th hearing?\n\nWill employees still be able and expected to work on the ground in Baltimore?\n\nIf so, how will employee productivity be impacted by the relocation and what will the cost to USDA be, including lost work hours and travel expenses, from frequent employee travel from Beltsville to Baltimore?\n\nThe Baltimore location is critical to the ability of the Baltimore Urban Field Office to successfully accomplish its place-based and partnership-driven work. This work not only benefits the Baltimore community but serves as a model for urban forestry work in cities across the country and the world. The Baltimore Urban Field Office is an asset to the nation and its closure serves no one. Keep your word and keep the work of the Baltimore Urban Forestry Office in Baltimore.", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://olszewski.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-delegation-members-press-usda-usfs-make-good-commitment-keep", "Maryland Delegation Members Press USDA, USFS to Make Good on Commitment to Keep Baltimore Urban Forestry Office in Baltimore", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Johnny Olszewski, Jr.", "O000176", "olszewski.house.gov", "olszewski", "https://olszewski.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Representatives Johnny Olszewski, Steny Hoyer, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, and April McClain Delaney joined U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representative Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.), in calling for United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden and United States Forest Service (USFS) Chief Tom Schultz to reverse course on the decision to close the USFS Baltimore Field Office and relocate staff outside of Baltimore. The USFS Baltimore Urban Field Station leads forestry-related projects that benefit the local Baltimore community and conducts important forestry and urban ecology research that informs land use decision-making throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed and beyond. The lawmakers pose several questions to USDA and USFS around the decision, which comes after Senator Van Hollen questioned Chief Tom Schultz in the Senate Appropriations Committee and received commitment to maintain presence in Baltimore.\n\nThe lawmakers begin, \u201cOn April 30, 2026, during the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the United States Forest Service (USFS) FY27 budget, Chief Schultz assured Senator Van Hollen that USFS would not force Baltimore Urban Field Office employees to relocate outside of the Baltimore area during the USDA reorganization. Despite this commitment, when USFS announced earlier this month that the Baltimore Urban Field Office will close, we learned that USFS intends to relocate Baltimore employees to Beltsville, Maryland \u2013 a location that is decidedly outside of the broader Baltimore area. USFS must make good on its word and keep Baltimore Urban Field Office employees in Baltimore so they can effectively continue their place-based and partnership-dependent work in the Baltimore area.\u201d\n\nOn the critical benefits for keeping the Baltimore Urban Field Office in the Baltimore area, the lawmakers write, \u201cWhen Secretary Rollins announced the USDA reorganization, one of the stated pillars of the plan was to \u2018bring USDA closer to its customers.\u2019 Closing the Baltimore Field Office and relocating employees away from Baltimore violates this core principle, since the primary \u2018customers\u2019 of the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Office are in Baltimore; they are the community groups, local government, and academics with whom the Field Office has developed partnerships and collaborations during its nearly 40-year tenure on the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. These relationships have enabled important research projects that benefit the Chesapeake Bay watershed and regional forests, as well as urban forestry projects in the Baltimore community. For example, the Office supports community-led restoration and urban revitalization efforts in Baltimore by leading the Baltimore Urban Waters Partnership. It delivers professional skill building and workforce training to urban youth in Baltimore by supporting youth forestry projects at the Stillmeadow Church and Peace Park. And it started an urban wood reuse project that successfully spun off into a city-run urban sawmill and wood recycling center.\u201d\n\nAmong other questions, the lawmakers go on to ask the following:\n\n\u2014 Did USDA or USFS conduct an analysis of the costs and benefits associated with closing the Baltimore Urban Field Office as compared to keeping them in the current location?\n\n\u2014 Has USDA or USFS assessed the impact that closure of the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Office and relocation of employees outside of the Baltimore area will have on the important work that the Baltimore Urban Field Office has been conducting?\n\n\u201cThe Baltimore location is critical to the ability of the Baltimore Urban Field Office to successfully accomplish its place-based and partnership-driven work. This work not only benefits the Baltimore community but serves as a model for urban forestry work in cities across the country and the world. The Baltimore Urban Field Office is an asset to the nation and its closure serves no one. Keep your word and keep the work of the Baltimore Urban Forestry Office in Baltimore.\u201d the lawmakers conclude.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-delegation-members-press-usda-usfs-make-good-commitment-keep", "Maryland Delegation Members Press USDA, USFS to Make Good on Commitment to Keep Baltimore Urban Forestry Office in Baltimore", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Glenn Ivey", "I000058", "ivey.house.gov", "ivey", "https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Representative Glenn Ivey, alongside U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representative Kweisi Mfume, joined Representatives Steny Hoyer, Jamie Raskin, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all D-Md.), in calling for United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden and United States Forest Service (USFS) Chief Tom Schultz to reverse course on the decision to close the USFS Baltimore Field Office and relocate staff outside of Baltimore. The USFS Baltimore Urban Field Station leads forestry-related projects that benefit the local Baltimore community and conducts important forestry and urban ecology research that informs land use decision-making throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed and beyond. The lawmakers pose several questions to USDA and USFS around the decision, which comes after Senator Van Hollen questioned Chief Tom Schultz in the Senate Appropriations Committee and received commitment to maintain presence in Baltimore.\n\nThe lawmakers begin, \u201cOn April 30, 2026, during the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the United States Forest Service (USFS) FY27 budget, Chief Schultz assured Senator Van Hollen that USFS would not force Baltimore Urban Field Office employees to relocate outside of the Baltimore area during the USDA reorganization. Despite this commitment, when USFS announced earlier this month that the Baltimore Urban Field Office will close, we learned that USFS intends to relocate Baltimore employees to Beltsville, Maryland \u2013 a location that is decidedly outside of the broader Baltimore area. USFS must make good on its word and keep Baltimore Urban Field Office employees in Baltimore so they can effectively continue their place-based and partnership-dependent work in the Baltimore area.\u201d\n\nOn the critical benefits for keeping the Baltimore Urban Field Office in the Baltimore area, the lawmakers write, \u201cWhen Secretary Rollins announced the USDA reorganization, one of the stated pillars of the plan was to \u2018bring USDA closer to its customers.\u2019 Closing the Baltimore Field Office and relocating employees away from Baltimore violates this core principle, since the primary \u2018customers\u2019 of the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Office are in Baltimore; they are the community groups, local government, and academics with whom the Field Office has developed partnerships and collaborations during its nearly 40-year tenure on the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. These relationships have enabled important research projects that benefit the Chesapeake Bay watershed and regional forests, as well as urban forestry projects in the Baltimore community. For example, the Office supports community-led restoration and urban revitalization efforts in Baltimore by leading the Baltimore Urban Waters Partnership. It delivers professional skill building and workforce training to urban youth in Baltimore by supporting youth forestry projects at the Stillmeadow Church and Peace Park. And it started an urban wood reuse project that successfully spun off into a city-run urban sawmill and wood recycling center.\u201d\n\nAmong other questions, the lawmakers go on to ask the following:\n\nDid USDA or USFS conduct an analysis of the costs and benefits associated with closing the Baltimore Urban Field Office as compared to keeping them in the current location?\n\nHas USDA or USFS assessed the impact that closure of the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Office and relocation of employees outside of the Baltimore area will have on the important work that the Baltimore Urban Field Office has been conducting?", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://olszewski.house.gov/media/press-releases/olszewski-trumps-attack-press-outrageous-and-unconstitutional", "Olszewski on Trump\u2019s Attack on the Press: \u201cOutrageous and Unconstitutional\u201d", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Johnny Olszewski, Jr.", "O000176", "olszewski.house.gov", "olszewski", "https://olszewski.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Towson, MD) \u2013 Maryland Congressman Johnny Olszewski today issued the following statement after President Trump barred CNN, MS NOW and POLITICO from the White House and confiscated the press credentials of their journalists. The three outlets announced today they are suing the Trump Administration over the ban.\n\n\u201cA free and independent press is fundamental to our democracy. President Trump\u2019s attack on news organizations he doesn\u2019t like is outrageous and unconstitutional.\n\nThis issue is bigger than any one news outlet. It\u2019s about whether the President of the United States gets to decide which journalists are allowed access to him based on favorable coverage. He doesn\u2019t.\n\nUnfortunately, this is part of a broader pattern from the Trump Administration \u2014 using the power of the federal government to punish journalists and restrict the ability of the press to hold those in power accountable. That is the kind of overreach we associate with authoritarian regimes, not a healthy democracy. I commend other, competing news organizations for standing in solidarity to defend the First Amendment.\n\nThe White House belongs to the American people. They have a right to an independent press that asks tough questions, reports the facts, and holds their government accountable.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://elfreth.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-members-announce-over-30-million", "Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Announce Over $30 Million for Infrastructure Upgrades at Maryland Airports", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Sarah Elfreth", "E000301", "elfreth.house.gov", "elfreth", "https://elfreth.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representatives April McClain Delaney and Johnny Olszewski (all D-Md.) announced $33,931,039 in federal funding to support infrastructure and equipment upgrades at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Carroll County Regional Airport, and Hagerstown Regional Airport. The investments will fund important safety improvements at all three airports, as well as upgraded equipment and an evaluation of the noise exposure at BWI, including its impact on surrounding communities, which members of Maryland\u2019s Congressional Delegation urged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to address in April.\n\n\u201cAirports are not simply places where flights arrive and depart \u2013 they are engines of opportunity, connecting people to jobs, businesses to customers, communities to global markets, and regions to long-term economic growth,\u201d said Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth. \u201cEach of Maryland\u2019s airports, including the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport here in the Third Congressional District, has played a critical role in the growth of our communities, our state, and our nation. I was grateful to work with Team Maryland to secure this much-needed $21 million investment for BWI that will evaluate noise exposure for our neighbors and ensure the safety of worldwide travelers.\u201d\n\n\u201cMaryland\u2019s airports are economic engines, serving travelers and businesses across the region and around the world. That\u2019s why we worked to deliver these investments in important updates to BWI, Carroll County Regional, and Hagerstown Regional airports. These federal funds will help ensure these airports meet important safety standards, and, at BWI, will support efforts to address local communities\u2019 noise concerns,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cOur airports here in Maryland fuel our economy, connect us to the rest of the world, and support our businesses. I am proud to partner with my colleagues to announce over $33 million in federal funding to upgrade the infrastructure at three of our airports. Modernizing our infrastructure is an investment in our future and in our safety \u2013 I\u2019m glad we are getting this done,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\nMaryland\u2019s airports and aviation industry are crucial for trade and business. Thanks to the hard work of Team Maryland, our congressional offices secured more than $30 million to make our airports safer, more accessible, and more efficient. These investments will provide Hagerstown Regional Airport with the funds necessary to make improvements to its 2/20 runway and adjacent building infrastructure\u2014critical safety upgrades needed to fully comply with FAA guidance,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney.\n\n\u201cAs Maryland continues to grow, we must ensure our airports have the infrastructure and equipment they need to operate safely, efficiently, and effectively,\u201d said Congressman Olszewski. \u201cThis funding will strengthen our aviation infrastructure and help ensure these facilities can continue serving our communities and the rest of the nation. I was proud to work with Team Maryland to help deliver these critical investments.\u201d\n\nThe federal funding has been announced as follows:\n\n$21,091,172 to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) to support an evaluation of noise exposure at the airport and surrounding areas as well as the reconstruction of 110,000 square yards of the existing North Cargo Apron pavement and installation of low-emission equipment, including five gate electrification systems and remote ground power units.\n\n$7,609,500 to Carroll County Regional Airport to shift Runway 16/34 by 250 feet to bring the airport into conformity with current standards.\n\n$5,230,367 to Hagerstown Regional Airport to remove a building and relocate fencing identified as obstructive by the Federal Aviation Administration. The funding will also help the airport rehabilitate lighting and 3000 feet of pavement on Runway 2/20 to maintain the structural integrity and minimize foreign object debris.\n\nThese investments are provided through the FAA\u2019s Airport Improvement Program (AIP). Senator Van Hollen worked to fund the AIP through the passage of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which authorized $4 billion a year for Fiscal Years 2025 through 2028.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://mcclaindelaney.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-members-announce-over-30-million", "Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Announce Over $30 Million for Infrastructure Upgrades at Maryland Airports", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "April McClain Delaney", "M001232", "mcclaindelaney.house.gov", "mcclaindelaney", "https://mcclaindelaney.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Representatives April McClain Delaney, Sarah Elfreth, and Johnny Olszewski and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (all D-Md.) announced $33,931,039 in federal funding to support infrastructure and equipment upgrades at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Carroll County Regional Airport, and Hagerstown Regional Airport. The investments will fund important safety improvements at all three airports, as well as upgraded equipment and an evaluation of the noise exposure at BWI, including its impact on surrounding communities, which members of Maryland\u2019s Congressional Delegation urged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to address in April.\n\n\"Maryland\u2019s airports and aviation industry are crucial for trade and business. Thanks to the hard work of Team Maryland, our congressional offices secured more than $30 million to make our airports safer, more accessible, and more efficient. These investments will provide Hagerstown Regional Airport with the funds necessary to make improvements to its 2/20 runway and adjacent building infrastructure\u2014critical safety upgrades needed to fully comply with FAA guidance,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney.\n\n\u201cMaryland\u2019s airports are economic engines, serving travelers and businesses across the region and around the world. That\u2019s why we worked to deliver these investments in important updates to BWI, Carroll County Regional, and Hagerstown Regional airports. These federal funds will help ensure these airports meet important safety standards, and, at BWI, will support efforts to address local communities\u2019 noise concerns,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cOur airports here in Maryland fuel our economy, connect us to the rest of the world, and support our businesses. I am proud to partner with my colleagues to announce over $33 million in federal funding to upgrade the infrastructure at three of our airports. Modernizing our infrastructure is an investment in our future and in our safety \u2013 I\u2019m glad we are getting this done,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cAirports are not simply places where flights arrive and depart \u2013 they are engines of opportunity, connecting people to jobs, businesses to customers, communities to global markets, and regions to long-term economic growth,\u201d said Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth. \u201cEach of Maryland\u2019s airports, including the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport here in the Third Congressional District, has played a critical role in the growth of our communities, our state, and our nation. I was grateful to work with Team Maryland to secure this much-needed $21 million investment for BWI that will evaluate noise exposure for our neighbors and ensure the safety of worldwide travelers,\u201d said Congresswoman Elfreth.\n\n\u201cAs Maryland continues to grow, we must ensure our airports have the infrastructure and equipment they need to operate safely, efficiently, and effectively,\u201d said Congressman Olszewski. \u201cThis funding will strengthen our aviation infrastructure and help ensure these facilities can continue serving our communities and the rest of the nation. I was proud to work with Team Maryland to help deliver these critical investments.\u201d\n\nThe federal funding has been announced as follows:\n\n$21,091,172 to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) to support an evaluation of noise exposure at the airport and surrounding areas as well as the reconstruction of 110,000 square yards of the existing North Cargo Apron pavement and installation of low-emission equipment, including five gate electrification systems and remote ground power units.\n\n$7,609,500 to Carroll County Regional Airport to shift Runway 16/34 by 250 feet to bring the airport into conformity with current standards.\n\n$5,230,367 to Hagerstown Regional Airport to remove a building and relocate fencing identified as obstructive by the Federal Aviation Administration. The funding will also help the airport rehabilitate lighting and 3000 feet of pavement on Runway 2/20 to maintain the structural integrity and minimize foreign object debris.\n\nThese investments are provided through the FAA\u2019s Airport Improvement Program (AIP). Senator Van Hollen worked to fund the AIP through the passage of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which authorized $4 billion a year for Fiscal Years 2025 through 2028.", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://olszewski.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-olszewski-bills-strengthen-americas-diplomatic-workforce", "House Passes Olszewski Bills to Strengthen America\u2019s Diplomatic Workforce", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Johnny Olszewski, Jr.", "O000176", "olszewski.house.gov", "olszewski", "https://olszewski.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "The Foreign Service Language Readiness Act, introduced with Congressman Michael Baumgartner (R-WA), will require the State Department to maintain an up-to-date list of critical foreign languages tied to national security priorities and improve workforce planning around language proficiency and training. The Open Doors to Diplomacy Act, introduced with Congresswoman Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-American Samoa), will strengthen State Department recruitment and outreach at community colleges, junior colleges, career and technical institutions, and other nontraditional institutions of higher education.\n\nThe bills\u2014included in the broader Foreign Service Modernization Act\u2014will now move to the U.S. Senate. Together, they address two critical pieces of America\u2019s diplomatic readiness: ensuring the Foreign Service has the expertise it needs and making sure it can recruit the talent it needs.\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s diplomatic strength depends on having the right people, with the right skills, ready to serve wherever our national security interests demand it,\u201d said Congressman Olszewski. \u201cThat means investing in critical language capabilities, planning ahead for emerging threats, and making sure talented Americans from every corner of our country see themselves in a career in the Foreign Service. I\u2019m proud these bipartisan bills are moving forward as part of a broader effort to modernize our diplomatic workforce and give our diplomats the tools they need to keep America safe.\u201d\n\nThe Foreign Service Language Readiness Act would:\n\nRequire the State Department to develop and regularly update a list of critical foreign languages based on national security priorities;\n\nEstablish clear proficiency standards for positions requiring critical language expertise;\n\nBetter align language training, career development, and assignments with mission-critical workforce needs; and\n\nImprove the Department\u2019s ability to surge qualified, language-capable personnel during international crises.\n\n\u201cLanguage proficiency isn't a luxury \u2014 it\u2019s a national security necessity,\u201d Congressman Olszewski said when the legislation was introduced. \u201cWhether responding to conflict, countering strategic competitors, or protecting Americans abroad, our diplomats need the expertise to understand the countries where they serve and communicate effectively with the people there.\u201d\n\nThe Open Doors to Diplomacy Act would expand State Department outreach and recruitment efforts at nontraditional institutions of higher education, including community colleges, junior colleges, and career and technical institutions. It would also broaden eligibility for certain Foreign Service internship opportunities and expand digital and hybrid recruitment efforts.\n\n\u201cAmerica needs a Foreign Service that can draw on the full depth of talent our country has to offer,\u201d Congressman Olszewski said. \u201cToo many talented Americans may never consider a career in diplomacy simply because they have limited exposure to the opportunities available to them. We should be opening doors to public service, not narrowing the pipeline.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://olszewski.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-members-announce-over-30-million", "Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Announce Over $30 Million for Infrastructure Upgrades at Maryland Airports", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Johnny Olszewski, Jr.", "O000176", "olszewski.house.gov", "olszewski", "https://olszewski.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Representatives Johnny Olszewski, Sarah Elfreth, and April McClain Delaney and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (all D-Md.) announced $33,931,039 in federal funding to support infrastructure and equipment upgrades at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Carroll County Regional Airport, and Hagerstown Regional Airport. The investments will fund important safety improvements at all three airports, as well as upgraded equipment and an evaluation of the noise exposure at BWI, including its impact on surrounding communities, which members of Maryland\u2019s Congressional Delegation urged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to address in April.\n\n\u201cAs Maryland continues to grow, we must ensure our airports have the infrastructure and equipment they need to operate safely, efficiently, and effectively,\u201d said Congressman Olszewski. \u201cThis funding will strengthen our aviation infrastructure and help ensure these facilities can continue serving our communities and the rest of the nation. I was proud to work with Team Maryland to help deliver these critical investments.\u201d\n\n\u201cMaryland\u2019s airports are economic engines, serving travelers and businesses across the region and around the world. That\u2019s why we worked to deliver these investments in important updates to BWI, Carroll County Regional, and Hagerstown Regional airports. These federal funds will help ensure these airports meet important safety standards, and, at BWI, will support efforts to address local communities\u2019 noise concerns,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cOur airports here in Maryland fuel our economy, connect us to the rest of the world, and support our businesses. I am proud to partner with my colleagues to announce over $33 million in federal funding to upgrade the infrastructure at three of our airports. Modernizing our infrastructure is an investment in our future and in our safety \u2013 I\u2019m glad we are getting this done,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cAirports are not simply places where flights arrive and depart \u2013 they are engines of opportunity, connecting people to jobs, businesses to customers, communities to global markets, and regions to long-term economic growth,\u201d said Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth. \u201cEach of Maryland\u2019s airports, including the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport here in the Third Congressional District, has played a critical role in the growth of our communities, our state, and our nation. I was grateful to work with Team Maryland to secure this much-needed $21 million investment for BWI that will evaluate noise exposure for our neighbors and ensure the safety of worldwide travelers,\u201d said Congresswoman Elfreth.\n\nMaryland\u2019s airports and aviation industry are crucial for trade and business. Thanks to the hard work of Team Maryland, our congressional offices secured more than $30 million to make our airports safer, more accessible, and more efficient. These investments will provide Hagerstown Regional Airport with the funds necessary to make improvements to its 2/20 runway and adjacent building infrastructure\u2014critical safety upgrades needed to fully comply with FAA guidance,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney.\n\nThe federal funding has been announced as follows:\n\n$21,091,172 to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) to support an evaluation of noise exposure at the airport and surrounding areas as well as the reconstruction of 110,000 square yards of the existing North Cargo Apron pavement and installation of low-emission equipment, including five gate electrification systems and remote ground power units.\n\n$7,609,500 to Carroll County Regional Airport to shift Runway 16/34 by 250 feet to bring the airport into conformity with current standards.\n\n$5,230,367 to Hagerstown Regional Airport to remove a building and relocate fencing identified as obstructive by the Federal Aviation Administration. The funding will also help the airport rehabilitate lighting and 3000 feet of pavement on Runway 2/20 to maintain the structural integrity and minimize foreign object debris.\n\nThese investments are provided through the FAA\u2019s Airport Improvement Program (AIP). Senator Van Hollen worked to fund the AIP through the passage of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which authorized $4 billion a year for Fiscal Years 2025 through 2028.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://elfreth.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-delegation-members-statement-trump-administration-decision-rolling", "Maryland Delegation Members\u2019 Statement on Trump Administration Decision Rolling Back Federal Coordination of Chesapeake Bay Restoration", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Sarah Elfreth", "E000301", "elfreth.house.gov", "elfreth", "https://elfreth.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03) joined the full Maryland Congressional Delegation \u2013 U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all Md.) \u2013 to release the following statement regarding the Trump Administration\u2019s decision to revoke an Executive Order declaring the Chesapeake Bay a national treasure and establishing a coordinated federal strategy for the protection and restoration of the Bay and its watershed, including by supporting state-led efforts on water quality goals, pollution limits, agricultural preservation, stormwater management, and climate resiliency.\n\n\u201cThe Chesapeake Bay and its health are vital to lives and livelihoods across our state and the greater region. Now more than ever, we need continued federal partnership and support for Chesapeake Bay restoration, not efforts to roll back all the progress we\u2019ve made. The 2009 Executive Order that the Trump administration just revoked provided vital federal resources that support state-led efforts to improve the health and productivity of the Chesapeake Bay and its surrounding area. Removing the coordinated federal backing that advances the watershed protection and restoration goals of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement risks undermining the future health of the Bay along with the businesses and communities that depend on it. This decision is shortsighted and harmful to our communities. Make no mistake: the Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure. And we will continue to fight for it.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/bicameral-lawmakers-demand-answers-usda-cyclospora-research-terminations", "Bicameral Lawmakers Demand Answers on USDA Cyclospora Research Terminations", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny H. Hoyer", "H000874", "hoyer.house.gov", "hoyer", "https://hoyer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer (MD-05), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), and Glenn Ivey (MD-04) along with U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (both D-MD) sent a letter to the United States Department of Agriculture demanding answers the Department\u2019s decision to shutter all research related to Cyclospora in the midst of the largest outbreak in history and plans to close BARC, the largest and most diversified agricultural research complex in the world. The lawmakers urged USDA to reverse course.\n\nCyclospora has sickened nearly 20,000 Americans, hospitalized over 1,000 and killed at least two \u2013 with case totals expected to continue to rise. A recent Politico story reported that three research programs, that represent nearly all of the Cyclospora research at USDA, are on hold or have been terminated entirely.\n\n\u201c\u2026[T]he proposal to decommission BARC will do nothing but disrupt this important work, endanger Americans\u2019 health and safety, and harm our national security,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201cTherefore, we request that USDA immediately cease its efforts to close BARC and halt its reorganization before it results in any more costly mistakes.\u201d\n\nThe full letter can be read here and below.\n\nThe Honorable Brooke Rollins\n\nSecretary\n\nU.S. Department of Agriculture\n\n1400 Independence Ave., S.W.\n\nWashington, DC 20250\n\nDear Secretary Rollins,\n\nThe United States is in the midst of its largest Cyclospora outbreak in history, sickening over 17,000 Americans, hospitalizing 1,000 and killing at least two. Case totals are expected to continue to rise in the coming weeks.\n\nA recent Politico story reported that the three research programs that represent nearly all of the Cyclospora research at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), all previously or currently underway at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) in Maryland, are on hold or have been terminated. In the story, the Department blames Congress for terminating two of the three projects. What the Department fails to mention is that funding ended based on technical advice Congress received from USDA indicating that despite funding cuts, the researchers working on Cyclospora projects would continue to work at BARC and that USDA would retain their scientific expertise without ending all Cyclospora-related research.\n\nThe third project, which remains funded, has reportedly been halted because of the Department\u2019s overzealous drive to dismantle the Agricultural Research Service as part of its shortsighted reorganization effort of USDA, and in particular its ill-conceived drive to shutter the largest and most diversified agricultural research complex in the world, BARC. According to Politico\u2019s reporting, the scientists working on Cyclospora research at BARC have declined orders to relocate to a different facility in Iowa, and so the project remains on hold and there will be no dedicated USDA research staff to study Cyclospora as confirmed cases continue to rise.\n\nAs Congress continues to work towards a final funding agreement for FY 2027, Democrats stand ready to build on existing Cyclospora research to protect the American people\u2019s health and safety. Americans deserve to trust that the food they eat is safe. The Department can join us in doing its part by reversing its decision to dismantle Cyclospora research at BARC, something that is wholly within your power to do immediately.\n\nDuring a record-breaking number of food safety outbreaks and the worst Cyclospora outbreak our country has ever experienced, USDA\u2019s ill-considered reorganization will only exacerbate the problem and leaves serious questions unresolved:\n\nCan the Department confirm reporting that all staff currently working on Cyclospora research at BARC have declined to relocate to Iowa?\n\na. If so, have any new staff been hired to work on the third Cyclospora research project at its new proposed location?\n\nHow many other research projects will lose scientific staff who have declined or otherwise not finalized an agreement to relocate as a result of the reorganization and more specifically, the closure of BARC?\n\nHow will the Department ensure research progress at BARC remains \u201cuninterrupted,\u201d in particular the food safety research on Cyclospora?\n\nPlease share the Department\u2019s specific and detailed plan to relocate Cyclospora research, including where research will move to and whether receiving labs have capacity to continue BARC research, including appropriate lab space, equipment, and staff expertise.\n\nDoes USDA plan to transport highly pathogenic organisms across the country as a part of the reorganization, and if so, what precautions will be in place to ensure that these samples will remain contained and undamaged during relocation?", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyer-sessions-introduce-american-procurement-improvement-act", "Hoyer, Sessions Introduce the American Procurement Improvement Act", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny H. Hoyer", "H000874", "hoyer.house.gov", "hoyer", "https://hoyer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) and Pete Sessions (TX-17) introduced H.R. 10443, the American Procurement Improvement Act (APIA). The APIA would modernize the statutory framework governing AbilityOne, while preserving its core mission of expanding employment opportunities for people who are blind or have significant disabilities. This bipartisan bill is endorsed by a coalition of 50 organizations, unions, disability stakeholders, and advocacy groups.\n\nCreated in 1938, AbilityOne has helped deliver critical products and services through federal contracting and provided employment for over 41,000 Americans. To keep pace with today's workforce, disability policy, and federal procurement environment, it is critical that the program's governing statute is modernized to preserve its mission of creating job opportunity and career growth for people with disabilities. The bipartisan APIA offers a consensus approach to implementing key changes that would secure an effective, sustainable future for AbilityOne.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to join with Rep. Sessions to introduce this bipartisan, consensus bill to modernize the AbilityOne program,\" said Congressman Steny H. Hoyer. \"For nearly ninety years, this program has opened up job opportunities for tens of thousands of Americans with disabilities, delivering greater independence and dignity while yielding a strong return on investment for the taxpayers. However, its legal framework hasn\u2019t been substantially updated in over half a century. Our bill modernizes procurement under the program, while making it more accountable. It would also expand eligibility and help more Americans with disabilities get hired, promoted, and grow in their careers. Ultimately, this will benefit employees with disabilities and their families, improve government efficiency, and expand our economy. Sponsoring the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990 and helping secure its enactment was one of my proudest achievements in office. Over the years, I have worked alongside many allies on both sides of the aisle to protect and build on that landmark law, including in the area of employment, where so much work is still needed. I look forward to partnering with Rep. Sessions, our cosponsors in both parties, and the broad range of endorsing organizations from across the disability community to try to move this bill through the House before the end of the year. We can and should get this done.\"\n\n\"AbilityOne has worked for nearly 90 years, connecting federal procurement with real employment for Americans who are blind or have significant disabilities. The law governing it has not kept pace. Last year the unemployment rate for Americans with disabilities was 8.3 percent, more than double the rate for Americans without disabilities, and the share of our neighbors with disabilities who are not in the workforce at all is far higher still. This bipartisan bill preserves the mission while modernizing procurement, clearing the way for career advancement, and strengthening accountability to the taxpayer. In Texas we believe every person is made in the image of God and has something to contribute, and I am proud to lead this effort alongside Congressman Steny Hoyer,\" said Congressman Pete Sessions.\n\nFull text of the bill can be found here.\n\nThe bill is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Mike Ezell (MS-04), James Walkinshaw (VA-11), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), and Derrick Van Orden (WI-03).\n\nThe APIA is endorsed by: American Association of People with Disabilities, SourceAmerica, National Council of SourceAmerica Employers, CEO Commission for Disability Employment, Alliance for Expanding America\u2019s Workforce, The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, the Arc of the United States, National Organization on Disability, National Down Syndrome Society, National Disability Rights Network, National Federation of the Blind, Melwood Inc., PCSI, Tessera, Didlake, Alula, Peckham, WORK Inc., ORC Industries, ACCSES, Advocations, Challenge Unlimited, Inc., Employment Source, Global Connections to Employment, Opportunity Center, Inc., PARC, Assets, Inc., ServiceSource, Speak Foundation, Health Hats, Access Ready Inc, Whistleblowers of America, The American Association of Kidney Patients, SEIU, Bender Consulting, Goodwill South Florida, CommunicationFIRST, ACHIEVE Human Services, Inc., Bobby Dodd Institute, Workability International, Chimes International, Eastern Carolina Vocational Center, Inc., Human Technologies, InspiriTec, PORTCO Inc, PRIDE Industries, Phoenix, Pueblo Diversified Industries, Fedcap Rehabilitation Services, Inc., and Association of People Supporting EmploymentFirst (APSE).", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-delegation-members-statement-trump-administration-decision-rolling", "Maryland Delegation Members' Statement on Trump Administration Decision Rolling Back Federal Coordination of Chesapeake Bay Restoration", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny H. Hoyer", "H000874", "hoyer.house.gov", "hoyer", "https://hoyer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, the full Maryland Congressional Delegation \u2013 Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (both D-MD) and U.S. Representatives Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Andy Harris (MD-02), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), and Johnny Olszewski (MD-02) \u2013 released the following statement regarding the Trump Administration\u2019s decision to revoke an Executive Order declaring the Chesapeake Bay a national treasure and establishing a coordinated federal strategy for the protection and restoration of the Bay and its watershed, including by supporting state-led efforts on water quality goals, pollution limits, agricultural preservation, stormwater management, and climate resiliency:\n\n\u201cThe Chesapeake Bay and its health are vital to lives and livelihoods across our state and the greater region. Now more than ever, we need continued federal partnership and support for Chesapeake Bay restoration, not efforts to roll back all the progress we\u2019ve made. The 2009 Executive Order that the Trump administration just revoked provided vital federal resources that support state-led efforts to improve the health and productivity of the Chesapeake Bay and its surrounding area. Removing the coordinated federal backing that advances the watershed protection and restoration goals of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement risks undermining the future health of the Bay along with the businesses and communities that depend on it. This decision is shortsighted and harmful to our communities. Make no mistake: the Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure. And we will continue to fight for it.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://mcclaindelaney.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-delegation-members-statement-trump-administration-decision-rolling", "Maryland Delegation\u00a0Members\u2019\u00a0Statement\u00a0on\u00a0Trump Administration Decision Rolling Back Federal Coordination of Chesapeake Bay Restoration", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "April McClain Delaney", "M001232", "mcclaindelaney.house.gov", "mcclaindelaney", "https://mcclaindelaney.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, the full Maryland Congressional Delegation \u2013 U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all Md.) \u2013 released the following statement regarding the Trump Administration\u2019s decision to revoke an Executive Order declaring the Chesapeake Bay a national treasure and establishing a coordinated federal strategy for the protection and restoration of the Bay and its watershed, including by supporting state-led efforts on water quality goals, pollution limits, agricultural preservation, stormwater management, and climate resiliency.\n\n\u201cThe Chesapeake Bay and its health are vital to lives and livelihoods across our state and the greater region. Now more than ever, we need continued federal partnership and support for Chesapeake Bay restoration, not efforts to roll back all the progress we\u2019ve made. The 2009 Executive Order that the Trump administration just revoked provided vital federal resources that support state-led efforts to improve the health and productivity of the Chesapeake Bay and its surrounding area. Removing the coordinated federal backing that advances the watershed protection and restoration goals of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement risks undermining the future health of the Bay along with the businesses and communities that depend on it. This decision is shortsighted and harmful to our communities. Make no mistake: the Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure. And we will continue to fight for it.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-delegation-members-call-for-answers-investigation-following-alarming-ice-operation-in-frederick", "Maryland Delegation Members Call for Answers, Investigation Following Alarming ICE Operation in Frederick", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representative April McClain Delaney were joined by Representatives Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, and Johnny Olszewski (all Md.) \u2013 in pressing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director David Venturella for answers around Trump\u2019s ICE operations in Frederick, Maryland on Thursday, September 3 and Friday, September 4. In their letter, the lawmakers additionally called on DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari to initiate an independent and transparent investigation of the tactics ICE is deploying in Maryland.\n\nThe lawmakers begin, \u201cAs members of Maryland\u2019s Congressional Delegation, we write to express our serious concerns with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\u2019s (ICE) recent operation in Frederick, Maryland. The tactics used by ICE officers detailed by eyewitnesses and exposed in videos circulating online are alarming and necessitate more information as to how the recently-merged Washington-Baltimore field office and the agency are enforcing our immigration laws. We request an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation of the tactics ICE is deploying in our state.\u201d\n\nThey continued, \u201cRecently, ICE reportedly conducted an approximately 40-hour immigration enforcement operation in one neighborhood of Frederick, Maryland. Videos released by observers revealed that on Friday evening the operation turned violent as a dark law enforcement vehicle with flashing lights drove down the sidewalk toward observers, hitting one of them. Another video depicted ICE officers using a baton to beat a protestor and dragging another from the front steps of a home that ICE was attempting to enter. Additionally, during the operation, an ICE officer reportedly approached a local elected official and told her that ICE knew her name, license plate, and where she lived. If true, this is deeply disturbing and appears to be an attempt to intimidate local elected officials.\u201d\n\n\u201cOn behalf of our constituents, we request an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation of the tactics ICE has been and is currently deploying in our state, and we request responses to the following by no later than September 30, 2026,\u201d the lawmakers conclude.\n\nAmong other questions, the lawmakers go on to ask the following:\n\nPlease provide a detailed description and timeline, with documented evidence such as body camera footage, of the events of the operation.\n\nDoes ICE have a policy that allows the use of vehicles to clear an area of peaceful observers?\n\nDoes that policy allow for ICE to hit observers, or threaten to hit observers, with their vehicles?\n\nWhen an ICE officer informs a legal observer that they have their name, information, and know where they live \u2013 what is the purpose of the officer making that statement?\n\nHow does ICE come to have this information, and for what reasons does ICE use it?\n\nHow did ICE\u2019s use of force in this case align with DHS\u2019s use of force policy?\n\nDuring the operation, video shows ICE entering a home, reportedly in pursuit of a target. Did ICE secure a warrant for the target\u2019s arrest before entering the home?\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Mullin and Acting Director Venturella and Inspector General Cuffari,\n\nAs members of Maryland\u2019s Congressional Delegation, we write to express our serious concerns with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\u2019s (ICE) recent operation in Frederick, Maryland. The tactics used by ICE officers detailed by eyewitnesses and exposed in videos circulating online are alarming and necessitate more information as to how the recently-merged Washington-Baltimore field office and the agency are enforcing our immigration laws. We request an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation of the tactics ICE is deploying in our state.\n\nRecently, ICE reportedly conducted an approximately 40-hour immigration enforcement operation in one neighborhood of Frederick, Maryland. Videos released by observers revealed that on Friday evening the operation turned violent as a dark law enforcement vehicle with flashing lights drove down the sidewalk toward observers, hitting one of them. Another video depicted ICE officers using a baton to beat a protestor and dragging another from the front steps of a home that ICE was attempting to enter.\n\nAdditionally, during the operation, an ICE officer reportedly approached a local elected official and told her that ICE knew her name, license plate, and where she lived. If true, this is deeply disturbing and appears to be an attempt to intimidate local elected officials.\n\nICE has a duty to enforce our immigration laws safely and humanely. Yet, ICE\u2019s operations clearly continue to create chaos and instill fear in our communities. ICE is not making our neighborhoods safer and is not going after the \u201cworst of the worst\u201d as this Administration claims. In fact, the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s own numbers show that nearly 70% of the individuals arrested as part of its two-week surge operation last month in Maryland and Virginia had no criminal record.\n\nOn behalf of our constituents, we request an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation of the tactics ICE has been and is currently deploying in our state, and we request responses to the following by no later than September 30, 2026.", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-delegation-members-statement-on-trump-administration-decision-rolling-back-federal-coordination-of-chesapeake-bay-restoration", "Maryland Delegation Members\u2019 Statement on Trump Administration Decision Rolling Back Federal Coordination of Chesapeake Bay Restoration", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, the full Maryland Congressional Delegation \u2013 U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all Md.) \u2013 released the following statement regarding the Trump Administration\u2019s decision to revoke an Executive Order declaring the Chesapeake Bay a national treasure and establishing a coordinated federal strategy for the protection and restoration of the Bay and its watershed, including by supporting state-led efforts on water quality goals, pollution limits, agricultural preservation, stormwater management, and climate resiliency.\n\n\u201cThe Chesapeake Bay and its health are vital to lives and livelihoods across our state and the greater region. Now more than ever, we need continued federal partnership and support for Chesapeake Bay restoration, not efforts to roll back all the progress we\u2019ve made. The 2009 Executive Order that the Trump administration just revoked provided vital federal resources that support state-led efforts to improve the health and productivity of the Chesapeake Bay and its surrounding area. Removing the coordinated federal backing that advances the watershed protection and restoration goals of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement risks undermining the future health of the Bay along with the businesses and communities that depend on it. This decision is shortsighted and harmful to our communities. Make no mistake: the Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure. And we will continue to fight for it.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-colleagues-press-trump-administration-on-need-for-dedicated-leadership-for-students-with-disabilities-after-abrupt-resignation-of-department-of-education-assistant-secretary", "Van Hollen, Colleagues Press Trump Administration on Need for Dedicated Leadership for Students with Disabilities After Abrupt Resignation of Department of Education Assistant Secretary", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and ten of his colleagues called on Department of Education (ED) Secretary Linda McMahon to cease further disruption of IDEA programs that support essential services for students with disabilities, families, educators, and schools following the abrupt resignation of Kelly Rogers, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS). The lawmakers stressed the urgent need for dedicated leadership to serve students with disabilities and also urged Secretary McMahon to stop the transfer of OSERS to the Department of Health and Human Services, in order to avoid further disruption to critical student services and those who support them.\n\nSenator Van Hollen was joined in sending this letter by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.).\n\nThe lawmakers begin, \u201cWe write to express our concern at the abrupt resignation of Acting Assistant Secretary Kelly Rogers amid the disruptive transfer of Department of Education workers who serve students with disabilities. As the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) at the Department of Education (the Department), it was Ms. Rogers\u2019 role to oversee IDEA programs that provide essential services and supports to students, families, educators, and schools. In your Department, that meant she was tasked with executing the harmful and unnecessary transfer of these education programs to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Ms. Rogers\u2019 resignation was announced the day before the dedicated staff was required to show up at HHS and effective the day after. Since the Department is following through with the transfer of workers and critical programs without educational leadership, every OSERS employee will be forced to carry out this transition with little guidance and even less oversight.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe absence of meaningful OSERS leadership as students head back to school underscores the emptiness of this administration\u2019s public commitments to students with disabilities and longstanding federal law. Students with disabilities need stability and unwavering implementation of special education law and civil rights protections. Without federal commitment or a dedicated leader, students with disabilities and their families will suffer the consequences,\u201d they continue.\n\n\u201cMs. Rogers\u2019 resignation and the temporary appointment of a replacement carrying other critical responsibilities only adds to the Trump administration\u2019s disruption to public education. We urge you to stop the chaotic transfer of OSERS to HHS and to ensure that there is dedicated, experienced leadership capable of providing students with disabilities the quality education they deserve,\u201d the lawmakers conclude.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Secretary McMahon:\n\nWe write to express our concern at the abrupt resignation of Acting Assistant Secretary Kelly Rogers amid the disruptive transfer of Department of Education workers who serve students with disabilities. As the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) at the Department of Education (the Department), it was Ms. Rogers\u2019 role to oversee IDEA programs that provide essential services and supports to students, families, educators, and schools. In your Department, that meant she was tasked with executing the harmful and unnecessary transfer of these education programs to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Ms. Rogers\u2019 resignation was announced the day before the dedicated staff was required to show up at HHS and effective the day after. Since the Department is following through with the transfer of workers and critical programs without educational leadership, every OSERS employee will be forced to carry out this transition with little guidance and even less oversight.\n\nMs. Rogers resigned after four months of serving in this critical position. She was appointed in May 2026, just weeks before the transfer was announced, and expressed public enthusiasm over the opportunity to \u201cmodernize oversight\u201d and \u201creduce barriers\u201d with the move. Now, she is gone. While the Department has made the choice to temporarily appoint the Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education to replace Ms. Rogers, students with disabilities and the workers who serve them deserve undivided guidance and oversight. The students and families who depend on OSERS have no accountable leadership, and the dedicated staff face massive structural change and disruption with the threat of further staffing cuts as proposed in the FY27 budget.\n\nThe absence of meaningful OSERS leadership as students head back to school underscores the emptiness of this administration\u2019s public commitments to students with disabilities and longstanding federal law. Students with disabilities need stability and unwavering implementation of special education law and civil rights protections. Without federal commitment or a dedicated leader, students with disabilities and their families will suffer the consequences.\n\nMs. Rogers\u2019 resignation and the temporary appointment of a replacement carrying other critical responsibilities only adds to the Trump administration\u2019s disruption to public education. We urge you to stop the chaotic transfer of OSERS to HHS and to ensure that there is dedicated, experienced leadership capable of providing students with disabilities the quality education they deserve.", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://elfreth.house.gov/media/press-releases/elfreth-scott-condemn-trump-executive-order-targeting-chesapeake-bay", "Elfreth, Scott Condemn Trump Executive Order Targeting Chesapeake Bay", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Sarah Elfreth", "E000301", "elfreth.house.gov", "elfreth", "https://elfreth.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03) and Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), co-chairs of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force, issued the following statement after President Trump revoked Executive Order 13508, which directed federal agencies to reduce water pollution from federal lands and facilities and to promote ecosystem conservation:\n\n\u201cYesterday, President Trump revoked an executive order by President Obama that directed federal agencies to support the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. The federal government has a responsibility to be a partner in protecting and restoring the Bay, and walking away from that responsibility jeopardizes the hard-fought progress we have made. President Trump is making it more difficult for us to meet the goals outlined in the bipartisan 2025 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement and to secure a healthier bay for the millions of people who live throughout the watershed.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs co-chairs of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force, we urge President Trump to immediately reverse course and reinstate the executive order. We cannot afford to turn back the clock on decades of bipartisan work to restore this national treasure.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://elfreth.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-delegation-members-call-answers-investigation-following-alarming-ice", "Maryland Delegation Members Call for Answers, Investigation Following Alarming ICE Operation in Frederick", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Sarah Elfreth", "E000301", "elfreth.house.gov", "elfreth", "https://elfreth.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03) joined Senator Chris Van Hollen, Senator Angela Alsobrooks, Representative April McClain Delaney, Representative Steny Hoyer, Representative Kweisi Mfume, Representative Jamie Raskin, Representative Glenn Ivey, and Representative Johnny Olszewski (all Md.) \u2013 in pressing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director David Venturella for answers around Trump\u2019s ICE operations in Frederick, Maryland on Thursday, September 3 and Friday, September 4. In their letter, the lawmakers additionally called on DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari to initiate an independent and transparent investigation of the tactics ICE is deploying in Maryland.\n\nThe lawmakers begin, \u201cAs members of Maryland\u2019s Congressional Delegation, we write to express our serious concerns with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\u2019s (ICE) recent operation in Frederick, Maryland. The tactics used by ICE officers detailed by eyewitnesses and exposed in videos circulating online are alarming and necessitate more information as to how the recently-merged Washington-Baltimore field office and the agency are enforcing our immigration laws. We request an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation of the tactics ICE is deploying in our state.\u201d\n\nThey continued, \u201cRecently, ICE reportedly conducted an approximately 40-hour immigration enforcement operation in one neighborhood of Frederick, Maryland. Videos released by observers revealed that on Friday evening the operation turned violent as a dark law enforcement vehicle with flashing lights drove down the sidewalk toward observers, hitting one of them. Another video depicted ICE officers using a baton to beat a protester and dragging another from the front steps of a home that ICE was attempting to enter. Additionally, during the operation, an ICE officer reportedly approached a local elected official and told her that ICE knew her name, license plate, and where she lived. If true, this is deeply disturbing and appears to be an attempt to intimidate local elected officials.\u201d\n\n\u201cOn behalf of our constituents, we request an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation of the tactics ICE has been and is currently deploying in our state, and we request responses to the following by no later than September 30, 2026,\u201d the lawmakers conclude.\n\nAmong other questions, the lawmakers go on to ask the following:\n\nPlease provide a detailed description and timeline, with documented evidence such as body camera footage, of the events of the operation.\n\nDoes ICE have a policy that allows the use of vehicles to clear an area of peaceful observers?\n\nDoes that policy allow for ICE to hit observers, or threaten to hit observers, with their vehicles?\n\nWhen an ICE officer informs a legal observer that they have their name, information, and know where they live \u2013 what is the purpose of the officer making that statement?\n\nHow does ICE come to have this information, and for what reasons does ICE use it?\n\nHow did ICE\u2019s use of force in this case align with DHS\u2019s use of force policy?\n\nDuring the operation, video shows ICE entering a home, reportedly in pursuit of a target. Did ICE secure a warrant for the target\u2019s arrest before entering the home?\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://olszewski.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-delegation-members-statement-trump-administration-decision-rolling", "Maryland Delegation Members\u2019 Statement on Trump Administration Decision Rolling Back Federal Coordination of Chesapeake Bay Restoration", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Johnny Olszewski, Jr.", "O000176", "olszewski.house.gov", "olszewski", "https://olszewski.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, the full Maryland Congressional Delegation \u2013 U.S. Representatives Johnny Olszewski, Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, and April McClain Delaney and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (all Md.) \u2013 released the following statement regarding the Trump Administration\u2019s decision to revoke an Executive Order declaring the Chesapeake Bay a national treasure and establishing a coordinated federal strategy for the protection and restoration of the Bay and its watershed, including by supporting state-led efforts on water quality goals, pollution limits, agricultural preservation, stormwater management, and climate resiliency.\n\n\u201cThe Chesapeake Bay and its health are vital to lives and livelihoods across our state and the greater region. Now more than ever, we need continued federal partnership and support for Chesapeake Bay restoration, not efforts to roll back all the progress we\u2019ve made. The 2009 Executive Order that the Trump administration just revoked provided vital federal resources that support state-led efforts to improve the health and productivity of the Chesapeake Bay and its surrounding area. Removing the coordinated federal backing that advances the watershed protection and restoration goals of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement risks undermining the future health of the Bay along with the businesses and communities that depend on it. This decision is shortsighted and harmful to our communities. Make no mistake: the Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure. And we will continue to fight for it.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-bennet-tillis-reintroduce-bipartisan-bill-to-boost-innovation-in-education", "Van Hollen, Bennet, Tillis Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Boost Innovation in Education", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) reintroduced the New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act, which would drive evidence-based improvements and innovations for our schools, by making strategic investments in education research and development (R&D). The legislation would create a national center that advances high-risk, high-reward education research projects, similar to the model employed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).\n\n\u201cTo meet the evolving challenges our students face, our educators need access to quality data and evidence-based advancements in teaching and learning,\u201d said Van Hollen. \u201cThis legislation would help accomplish that by investing in our students\u2019 success to better prepare them for the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a former school superintendent, I know our teachers are doing everything they can to help students succeed,\u201d said Bennet. \u201cAs social media and a nationwide mental health crisis reshape how students learn and engage in school, educators need better information about what works. Congress can help by investing in cutting-edge education research. This bipartisan bill will help schools, educators, and policymakers make data driven decisions that strengthen education today and in the years ahead.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe owe it to students, parents, and teachers to pass bipartisan legislation that identifies gaps in education and better prepares students to become the next generation of the American workforce,\u201d said Tillis. \u201cThat\u2019s why I am proud to sponsor legislation that invests in education research and development, STEM, and innovative technologies to develop the tools needed to identify these gaps and help teachers better equip students for the future.\u201d\n\nThe NEED Act would create a National Center for Advanced Development in Education (NCADE) at the Department of Education dedicated to developing and disseminating cutting-edge practices and tools, such as voice recognition software to assess dyslexia and other emerging readiness gaps, to adequately prepare students to meet the challenges of a 21st century economy.\n\nSpecifically, the legislation would:\n\nMake robust investments to establish, staff, and operate NCADE;\n\nRequire the Advanced Development Commissioner to appoint an advisory panel to guide the development and implementation of NCADE projects; and\n\nConduct and disseminate the results of periodic evaluations of the effectiveness of NCADE in achieving its mission of expanding education R&D and improving teaching and learning.\n\nThe NEED Act would also improve Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems and help states better track students\u2019 progress through K-12 and into the workforce while protecting the privacy of students\u2019 education records. This data will help policymakers understand and address opportunity and achievement gaps across the country.\n\nThis bill is supported by nearly 65 organizations, including: American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, Accelerate \u2013 National Collaborative for Accelerated Learning, Advanced Education Research and Development Fund, All4Ed, Alliance for Learning Innovation, America Forward, American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association Services, Applied Learning Insights, Beyond100K, Bipartisan Policy Center, Buck Institute Education/PBLWorks, CAST, Committee for Children, Common Cents Education Consulting, Common Sense Media, Consortium for State Education Support, Data Quality Campaign, Digital Promise Global, EDGE Partners, EdTrust, Education Knowledge Broker Network, Education Reform Now Advocacy, Education Reimagined, Educators for Excellence, EdVenture Lab, ExcelinEd in Action, Federation of American Scientists, Foundation for Deeper Learning, FullScale, High Tech High Graduate School of Education, InnovateEDU, Institute for Educational Leadership, KB Stack Consulting, LLC, Knowledge Alliance, Learner-Centered Collaborative, LearnerStudio, Learning Disabilities Association of America, Learning Heroes, LearningForge LLC, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, National Center for Learning Disabilities, National Council on Teacher Quality, National Girls Collaborative, National Parents Union, National School Boards Association, New Classrooms, New Leaders, reDesign, Reinvention Lab at Teach For America, Results for America, SERP Institute, SETDA, SRI, Teach For America, Teach Plus, Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children, The Learning Agency, The Society for Research in Child Development, The Study Group, The Tech Interactive, Thomas B. Fordham Institute, Threadwell Solutions TNTP, Transcend, and the University of Oregon.\n\n\u201cFor too long, education has lacked what nearly every other field takes for granted: a dedicated engine for pursuing bold, high-reward ideas and finding out what works for students,\u201d said Sara Schapiro, Executive Director of the Alliance for Learning Innovation. \u201cThe NEED Act would build that engine, a national center modeled on DARPA inside the Institute of Education Sciences, supporting researchers and educators with the resources to test promising new approaches to teaching and learning and pursue real breakthroughs for education. ALI is proud to support Senators Bennet, Tillis, and Van Hollen in reintroducing this bipartisan legislation, and we urge Congress to move quickly to get it passed.\u201d\n\n\u201cData Quality Campaign applauds the efforts of Senators Bennet, Tillis, and Van Hollen on the introduction of the NEED Act, which will ensure everyone has the data they need to make informed decisions about their education and career journeys,\u201d said Jennifer Bell-Ellwanger, President and CEO, Data Quality Campaign. \u201cBy reimagining how statewide longitudinal data systems support transparency and high-quality data, the NEED Act will enable individuals to better navigate their career pathways and policymakers to create policies that invest in the programs, supports, and interventions needed to make that navigation seamless.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Bipartisan Policy Center\u2019s Commission on the American Workforce called for a Talent Data System and to prioritize research and data on what actually works to support students, teachers, and workers,\u201d said Michele Stockwell, president of Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action). \u201cThe NEED Act takes a critical step forward to answer that call. It will modernize state data systems, strengthen our nation\u2019s research capacity, and help develop breakthrough tools and solutions that improve student outcomes. We applaud Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) for crafting a forward-looking, bipartisan bill as a companion to the House version, led by Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). Congress must advance this important legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThrough our on the ground partnerships with K-12 institutions across the state, the University of Denver has seen firsthand the appetite and need for additional federal investment in cutting-edge education research,\u201d said Jeremy Haefner, Chancellor, University of Denver. \u201cThe authorization of a new National Center for Advanced Development in Education is essential to ensuring Colorado educators have access to timely, innovative, and evidence-based practices to help increase achievement for all of Colorado\u2019s students. We are grateful to Senator Bennet for his championing of the New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act and hope it advances in Congress.\u201d\n\n\u201cRelative to many other countries, the United States spends too little on educational research and development. Indeed, the federal government is investing less in this important work every year. If we want educational policymakers and leaders to make decisions based on evidence, we need much more research on the kinds of innovations that make a difference in all children\u2019s outcomes. Senator Bennet\u2019s New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act will provide the resources needed to accelerate innovation in teaching and learning and help expand opportunity to all,\u201d said William Penuel, Distinguished Professor, School of Education at the University of Colorado Boulder and Director, National Center for Research in Policy and Practice.\n\n\u201cThe ability to longitudinally track student outcomes across the school-to-workforce pipeline will significantly increase knowledge on what works robustly and at scale. The Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) in Senator Bennet\u2019s New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act will help states do this systematically so that the resultant data can be broadly used to broaden the evidence-base and to increase accountability for federal- and state- funded interventions,\u201d said Sidney D\u2019Mello, Professor, Institute of Cognitive Science at the University of Colorado Boulder, and Principal Investigator, National Science Foundation National AI institute for Student-AI Teaming.", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases/bicameral-lawmakers-demand-answers-usda-cyclospora-research-terminations", "Bicameral Lawmakers Demand Answers on USDA Cyclospora Research Terminations", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Glenn Ivey", "I000058", "ivey.house.gov", "ivey", "https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Representative Glenn Ivey (MD-04), alongside U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Steny Hoyer (MD-05), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), and Chellie Pingree (ME-01) and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), sent a letter to the United States Department of Agriculture demanding answers on the Department\u2019s decision to shutter all research related to Cyclospora in the midst of the largest outbreak in history and plans to close BARC, the largest and most diversified agricultural research complex in the world. The lawmakers urged USDA to reverse course.\n\nCyclospora has sickened nearly 20,000 Americans, hospitalized over 1,000 and killed at least two \u2013 with case totals expected to continue to rise. A recent Politico story reported that three research programs, that represent nearly all of the Cyclospora research at USDA, are on hold or have been terminated entirely.\n\n\u201c\u2026[T]he proposal to decommission BARC will do nothing but disrupt this important work, endanger Americans\u2019 health and safety, and harm our national security,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201cTherefore, we request that USDA immediately cease its efforts to close BARC and halt its reorganization before it results in any more costly mistakes.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-delegation-members-call-answers-investigation-following-alarming-ice", "Maryland Delegation Members Call for Answers, Investigation Following Alarming ICE Operation in Frederick", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Glenn Ivey", "I000058", "ivey.house.gov", "ivey", "https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Representative Glenn Ivey joined U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Representatives April McClain Delaney, Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, Sarah Elfreth, and Johnny Olszewski (all Md.) in pressing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director David Venturella for answers around Trump\u2019s ICE operations in Frederick, Maryland on Thursday, September 3 and Friday, September 4. In their letter, the lawmakers additionally called on DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari to initiate an independent and transparent investigation of the tactics ICE is deploying in Maryland.\n\nThe lawmakers begin, \u201cAs members of Maryland\u2019s Congressional Delegation, we write to express our serious concerns with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\u2019s (ICE) recent operation in Frederick, Maryland. The tactics used by ICE officers detailed by eyewitnesses and exposed in videos circulating online are alarming and necessitate more information as to how the recently-merged Washington-Baltimore field office and the agency are enforcing our immigration laws. We request an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation of the tactics ICE is deploying in our state.\u201d\n\nThey continued, \u201cRecently, ICE reportedly conducted an approximately 40-hour immigration enforcement operation in one neighborhood of Frederick, Maryland. Videos released by observers revealed that on Friday evening the operation turned violent as a dark law enforcement vehicle with flashing lights drove down the sidewalk toward observers, hitting one of them. Another video depicted ICE officers using a baton to beat a protestor and dragging another from the front steps of a home that ICE was attempting to enter. Additionally, during the operation, an ICE officer reportedly approached a local elected official and told her that ICE knew her name, license plate, and where she lived. If true, this is deeply disturbing and appears to be an attempt to intimidate local elected officials.\u201d\n\n\u201cOn behalf of our constituents, we request an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation of the tactics ICE has been and is currently deploying in our state, and we request responses to the following by no later than September 30, 2026,\u201d the lawmakers conclude.\n\nAmong other questions, the lawmakers go on to ask the following:\n\nPlease provide a detailed description and timeline, with documented evidence such as body camera footage, of the events of the operation.\n\nDoes ICE have a policy that allows the use of vehicles to clear an area of peaceful observers?\n\nDoes that policy allow for ICE to hit observers, or threaten to hit observers, with their vehicles?\n\nWhen an ICE officer informs a legal observer that they have their name, information, and know where they live \u2013 what is the purpose of the officer making that statement?\n\nHow does ICE come to have this information, and for what reasons does ICE use it?\n\nHow did ICE\u2019s use of force in this case align with DHS\u2019s use of force policy?\n\nDuring the operation, video shows ICE entering a home, reportedly in pursuit of a target. Did ICE secure a warrant for the target\u2019s arrest before entering the home?", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-delegation-members-statement-trump-administration-decision-rolling", "Maryland Delegation Members\u2019 Statement on Trump Administration Decision Rolling Back Federal Coordination of Chesapeake Bay Restoration", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Glenn Ivey", "I000058", "ivey.house.gov", "ivey", "https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Representative Glenn Ivey joined the full Maryland Congressional Delegation \u2013 U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, Jamie Raskin, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all Md.) \u2013 in releasing the following statement regarding the Trump Administration\u2019s decision to revoke an Executive Order declaring the Chesapeake Bay a national treasure and establishing a coordinated federal strategy for the protection and restoration of the Bay and its watershed, including by supporting state-led efforts on water quality goals, pollution limits, agricultural preservation, stormwater management, and climate resiliency.\n\n\u201cThe Chesapeake Bay and its health are vital to lives and livelihoods across our state and the greater region. Now more than ever, we need continued federal partnership and support for Chesapeake Bay restoration, not efforts to roll back all the progress we\u2019ve made. The 2009 Executive Order that the Trump administration just revoked provided vital federal resources that support state-led efforts to improve the health and productivity of the Chesapeake Bay and its surrounding area. Removing the coordinated federal backing that advances the watershed protection and restoration goals of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement risks undermining the future health of the Bay along with the businesses and communities that depend on it. This decision is shortsighted and harmful to our communities. Make no mistake: the Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure. And we will continue to fight for it.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyer-anti-russia-pro-ukraine-bill-let-us-pass-it", "Hoyer: This is an Anti-Russia, Pro-Ukraine Bill. Let us Pass It.", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny H. Hoyer", "H000874", "hoyer.house.gov", "hoyer", "https://hoyer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) delivered remarks on the House Floor during debate on the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. Below are a video and transcript of his remarks:\n\nClick here to watch a video of his remarks.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyer-today-we-took-step-redeem-our-pledge-ukraine", "Hoyer: Today We took a Step to Redeem Our Pledge to Ukraine", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny H. Hoyer", "H000874", "hoyer.house.gov", "hoyer", "https://hoyer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) delivered remarks during a press conference following House passage of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. Below are a video and transcript of his remarks:\n\nClick here to watch a video of his remarks.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://raskin.house.gov/2026/9/raskin-bice-johnson-boebert-introduce-legislation-to-install-new-plaque-at-lincoln-memorial-honoring-where-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-s-gave-his-i-have-a-dream-speech", "Raskin, Bice, Johnson, Boebert Introduce Legislation to Install New Plaque at Lincoln Memorial Honoring Where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.\u2019s Gave His \u201cI Have a Dream\u201d Speech", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Jamie Raskin", "R000606", "raskin.house.gov", "raskin", "https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Representatives Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Stephanie Bice (OK-05), Hank Johnson (GA-04) and Lauren Boebert (CO-04) introduced the bipartisan, bicameralRenewing the Dream Actto authorize the National Parks Service to install a new plaque near the steps of the Lincoln Memorial marking where Civil Rights Movement leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famed \u201cI Have a Dream\u201dspeech.\n\n\u201cDr. Martin Luther King Jr.\u2019s moral clarity, rousing oratory and strategic nonviolent organizing propelled the Civil Rights Movement to the forefront of American consciousness,\u201dsaid Rep. Raskin.\u201cOur legislation honors the life and legacy of this Civil Rights Movement hero and his vision for a \u2018Beloved Community\u2019 by updating the dated, worn plaque marking where he delivered one of his greatest speeches. I\u2019m grateful to this bipartisan group of my colleagues who are joining together to make sure Dr. King\u2019s work and that moment is never forgotten.\u201d\n\n\u201cDr. Martin Luther King Jr\u2019s \u2018I Have a Dream\u2019 speech is an iconic and critical moment in American history,\u201dsaid Rep. Bice. \u201cI\u2019m proud to co-lead a bipartisan legislation which will replace the weathered plaque at the Lincoln Memorial, assuring that every American who visits can easily recognize this historical location for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe plaque commemorating the very spot where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic \u2018I Have a Dream\u2019 speech is in need of renewal, just as his dream is in need of renewal today,\u201dsaid Rep. Johnson. \u201cDr. King dreamed that one day this nation would rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: that all people are created equal. That dream remains as powerful and as necessary today as it was when he delivered those iconic words 63 years ago. I\u2019m pleased to join Ranking Member Raskin and our bipartisan coalition to restore this historic marker and reaffirm the enduring power of Dr. King\u2019s dream.\u201d\n\n\"For over a decade, I have had a dream that one day the now deteriorated and inconspicuous stone upon which Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood at the Lincoln Memorial to share his \u2018Dreams,\u2019 would one day be restored to the dignity it deserves,\u201dsaid Daryl Davis, Cofounder of the Prohuman Foundation. \u201cWe at the Prohuman Foundation are grateful for the blessing of the King family and thrilled with the support of Representatives Jamie Raskin, Hank Johnson, Stephanie Bice and Lauren Boebert who are championing our mission of Renewing The Dream. Every American will be proud to stand in the very spot where Dr. King stood 63 years ago this year, share his Dream and help turn it into a reality.\"\n\nThe Renewing the Dream Act authorizes the National Parks Service to install a new plaque near the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to honor Dr. King.Congress first authorized the plaque in October 2000. Since it was unveiled on August 22, 2003, constant exposure to the elements and countless footsteps have made the plaque nearly unreadable, as is evident in the picture below.\n\nThe new plaque includes a more durable and beautiful design, as seen below, and is completely funded by private donations.\n\nDr. King\u2019s\u201cI Have a Dream\u201d speech was delivered during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963. The march was part of a series of peaceful protests advocating for the civil rights and liberties of Black Americans.\n\nRepresentatives Andy Barr (KY-06) and Lucy McBath (GA-06) are original cosponsors of this legislation.\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by the Prohuman Foundation and its founder, anti-racist activist and musician Daryl Davis. Daryl has advocated for the plaque\u2019s replacement for more than ten years.\n\nThe full bill text can be foundhere.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://raskin.house.gov/2026/9/raskin-spartz-legislation-to-finally-construct-a-national-memorial-honoring-american-patriot-thomas-paine-successfully-passes-out-of-committee", "Raskin, Spartz Legislation to Finally Construct a National Memorial Honoring American Patriot Thomas Paine Successfully Passes Out of Committee", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Jamie Raskin", "R000606", "raskin.house.gov", "raskin", "https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014This week, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources unanimously voted to advance Representative Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and Victoria Spartz\u2019s (IN-05) bipartisan legislation to place the forthcoming memorial honoring indispensable American political writer and philosopher Thomas Paine in \u201cArea 1\u201d of the National Mall. \u201cArea 1\u201d is reserved for memorials of the highest national significance.\n\nThe Common Sense 250 Act would instruct U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to place the memorial in the central section of the National Mall between the U.S. Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial. Rep. Raskin introduced a bill passed and signed into law to create a national memorial to this extraordinary patriot in late 2022. In 2024, the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission (NCMAC) recommended that the memorial be placed in \u201cArea 1.\u201d\n\n\u201cTom Paine\u2019s writings inspired the American people to break free from tyrannical rule and establish a new nation based on democratic self-governance,\u201d said Rep. Raskin. \u201cOur legislation, which is now one step closer to becoming law, finally honors this absurdly unsung patriot with a dazzling memorial on the National Mall, cementing his legacy as indispensable to our country\u2019s very existence.\u201d\n\n\u201cRep. Raskin and I had to go all the way back to the American Revolution to find common ground, but I\u2019m glad we can come together on a bipartisan basis to recognize Thomas Paine and his enormous contribution to the founding of our Republic as we celebrate America\u2019s 250th anniversary,\u201d said Rep. Spartz.\n\nThe bipartisan legislation requires that the previously approved Paine memorial be placed in \u201cArea 1\u201d of the National Mall. \u201cArea 1\u201d is perhaps the most iconic section of the National Mall, including the Lincoln Memorial, the Tidal Basin and the Washington Monument.\n\nReps. Raskin and Spartz have led the fight in Congress to establish a national memorial to Paine:\n\nIn late 2022, Rep. Raskin\u2019s legislation authorizing the Thomas Paine Memorial Association to establish a memorial to Paine in the District of Columbia became law. Rep. Spartz cosponsored this legislation.\n\nIn September 2024, NCMAC recommended that the memorial be placed in \u201cArea 1\u201d of the National Mall.\n\nIn July 2026, Rep. Raskin and Rep. Spartz introduced legislation codifying NCMAC\u2019s recommendation and transmitting those instructions to the Department of the Interior.\n\nThis week, the Committee on Natural Resources unanimously voted to advance the lawmakers\u2019 2026 legislation to the House Floor.\n\nThe Paine memorial construction will be fully funded with private contributions from admirers of Paine and his work. The Thomas Paine Memorial Association plans to commission renowned sculptor Zenos Frudakis to build the memorial.\n\nPaine is best known for writing the pamphlet Common Sense in 1776, which galvanized support for the American revolution. His ideals of democratic self-government, guarding human rights and supporting reason and science inspire millions of Americans to this day.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-mfume-highlight-10-million-federal-investment-to-expand-morgan-state-universitys-research-programs-power-r1-ascent", "Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, Mfume Highlight $10 Million Federal Investment to Expand Morgan State University\u2019s Research Programs, Power R1 Ascent", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Congressman Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) highlighted $10 million in federal funding to support Morgan State University\u2019s research programs, expanding opportunities for students, faculty, and the University. This investment will allow the University to establish the new Institute for Trusted Autonomous Networks (TITAN), expand research and doctoral training, and strengthen the University\u2019s advancement toward a Carnegie R1 \u201cvery high research activity\u201d classification \u2013 which would, in turn, further increase research and funding opportunities at Morgan State. This federal investment comes from the Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI) Pilot Program, a program proposed by Senator Van Hollen and designed to fund research and education programs at HBCUs \u2013 like Morgan State \u2013 to increase their capacity to achieve very high research activity status (R1) on the Carnegie Classification scale. Senator Van Hollen introduced the HBCU Research, Innovation, Security, and Excellence (RISE) Act to establish this program in April 2022, then worked to secure provisions of his bill in the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, which passed into law in December 2022.\n\n\u201cMaryland is a national leader in research and innovation, and institutions like Morgan State are a prime reason for our continued success. I\u2019ve fought for critical investments in Morgan State over the years, including through the creation of the HBCU/MI Pilot Program to support expanding its research capacity. This federal investment will help advance the University\u2019s goal to become one of the pioneering HBCU R1 institutions, opening up greater opportunities for students, faculty, and the University as a whole \u2013 helping Maryland stay at the cutting edge of scientific research for years to come,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen, who introduced legislation and then worked to pass the language to create the HBCU/MI Pilot Program as a provision of the FY23 national defense bill.\n\n\u201cMaryland is leading the nation in research, technology, and innovation. I am so proud that Morgan State University will receive $10 million in federal funding for research programs and strengthen the university's advancement toward a Carnegie R1 \u2018very high research activity\u2019 classification. Morgan State students have always been leaders, leaving lasting impacts on Maryland and our entire nation \u2013 this investment will work to keep building up our students, fueling our economy, and transforming our world,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cMorgan State University is one of our nation's leading Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), and this infusion of funding will only strengthen that reputation,\u201d said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. \u201cThese funds will allow Morgan to expand their research and doctoral training capabilities, empowering their researchers to make greater contributions to their field and bringing Morgan ever closer to the prestigious Carnegie R1 classification.\u201d\n\nTITAN will be a university-wide research and education initiative focused on developing autonomous systems that can operate safely in complex and uncertain environments. It will examine how artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum-enhanced security, resilient communications, wireless networks, robotics, and human-machine collaboration can be integrated so autonomous technologies perform predictably and transparently, resist cyberattacks and system failures, and support sound decision-making. Over five years, TITAN is projected to support approximately 20 research projects, 48 unique STEM research trainees, 24 doctoral students, and 24 postdoctoral researchers. It is also expected to engage 68 students in specialized instruction and symposia, connect 48 trainees with internship and job sessions, and place 20 participating trainees into technical internships or jobs.\n\n\u201cThis award affirms the strength of Morgan\u2019s research trajectory and provides catalytic support at a pivotal point in our evolution as a public research university,\u201d said David K. Wilson, president of Morgan State University. \u201cOur pursuit of R1 is not about attaining a label; it is about building the lasting capacity to generate knowledge, prepare more doctoral scholars, attract consequential investment and produce research that impacts national security. We remain steadfast in reaching R1 by 2030, and this federal investment will help us accelerate that work while creating meaningful opportunities for Morgan students to learn, discover and lead.\u201d\n\nThis federal funding is in addition to $16,358,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending that Federal Team Maryland has secured since Fiscal Year 2022 for research programs and other initiatives at Morgan State University.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-young-reintroduce-bipartisan-bill-to-boost-housing-mobility-vouchers-increase-families-access-to-affordable-housing", "Van Hollen, Young Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Boost Housing Mobility Vouchers, Increase Families\u2019 Access to Affordable Housing", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) reintroduced their bipartisan Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act, legislation to create 250,000 housing mobility vouchers for the nation\u2019s most vulnerable families with young children. The bill couples rental assistance vouchers, which allow families to choose eligible privately owned housing units and pay rent equal to 30 percent of their income, with evidence-based mobility support services, such as housing counselors and landlord coordination, to help families find affordable housing in high-opportunity areas.\n\n\u201cEnsuring children grow up in a safe and secure home is one of the best ways we can support their success. That\u2019s why we need to do more to make sure every family has access to an affordable place to live \u2013 and what\u2019s more, we need to ensure affordable housing is available in neighborhoods with strong schools and good-paying jobs. As we work to expand affordable housing nationwide and increase economic mobility for all families, this bipartisan bill will boost access to housing vouchers that have already served as an effective and immediate solution \u2013 giving more parents the ability to afford a home in the location that best serves their family,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cEvery child deserves the opportunity to grow up in a safe, stable home and reach their full potential,\u201d said Senator Young. \u201cResearch has shown that children who move from high-poverty areas to neighborhoods with greater opportunity at a young age can see significantly higher earnings later in life. Our bipartisan legislation will give families facing homelessness and housing instability more choices about where they live, helping more children access strong schools, safe neighborhoods, and opportunities to succeed.\u201d\n\nResearch shows that higher opportunity areas offer children a greater chance to succeed. This bipartisan bill builds on this cutting-edge policy research to help families overcome barriers to opportunity and achieve generational economic mobility. In the Fiscal Year 2019 appropriations package, Senators Van Hollen and Young secured the authorization and funding of their Housing Choice Voucher Mobility Demonstration Act. The Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act would build upon their previous efforts by expanding this legislation \u2013 providing increased funds and making 250,000 more vouchers available over the next five years.\n\nSpecifically, the bill:\n\nCreates an additional 250,000 housing vouchers over five years for low-income, high-need families with young children. Pregnant women and families with a child under age 6 would qualify for these new vouchers if they have a history of homelessness or housing instability, live in an area of concentrated poverty, or are at risk of being pushed out of an opportunity area. This includes families who are fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking; families who are living in housing conditions that are dangerous or life-threatening; and families who are living in units that are not accessible to a disabled family member.\n\nProvides voucher recipients with a customized approach to mobility-related services that will enable a successful transition to opportunity areas for children, including access to counseling and case management services that have a proven track record of helping families move out of poverty.\n\nEnables housing agencies to engage new landlords in the voucher program and connect families with information about housing in high-opportunity neighborhoods and community-based supports for families as they move.\n\nFull text of the bill is available here.\n\nThe Senators\u2019 legislation is supported by a broad group of experts and advocacy organizations, including: American Association of Service Coordinators, Autism Society of America, Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network, Boston Medical Center, Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership, BPC Action, Caring Across Generations, Catholic Charities USA, Center for Law and Social Policy, Children\u2019s HealthWatch, Children\u2019s Trust Fund Alliance, Church World Service, Coalition on Human Needs, Community Solutions International, Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd U.S. Region, Council of State Community Development Agencies, First Focus Campaign for Children, Family Promise, Futures Without Violence, Healthcare Anchor Network, Housing Assistance Council, Housing Justice Center, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Low Income Investment Fund, Lutheran Services in America, Mobility Works, MomsRising, National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, National Affordable Housing Management Association, National Alliance to End Homelessness, National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies, National Association of Social Workers, National Coalition for the Homeless, National Disability Institute, National Health Care for the Homeless Council, National Homelessness Law Center, National Housing Law Project, National Housing Resource Center, National Leased Housing Association, National Low Income Housing Coalition, National NeighborWorks Association, National Rental Home Council, National WIC Association, Opportunity Starts at Home Campaign, Parents as Teachers, PolicyLink, Poverty & Race Research Action Council, Prosperity Indiana, Public Housing Authorities Directors Association, SchoolHouse Connection, The Kelsey, Union for Reform Judaism, and ZERO TO THREE.\n\n\u201cThe National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) commends Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Todd Young (R-IN) for their leadership in reintroducing the \"Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act,\" bipartisan legislation that expands access to stable housing and high-opportunity neighborhoods for families with young children,\u201d said Renee M. Willis, president and CEO of NLIHC. \u201cSafe, affordable housing is essential to quality of life, supporting educational attainment, economic mobility, and health outcomes. The \"Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act\u201d represents an important step toward advancing housing stability, providing 250,000 additional vouchers to help families with young children secure affordable housing in communities of their choice.\u201d\n\n\u201cSafe, stable, and affordable housing is foundational to child health. Our research has consistently shown that when families struggle with unstable housing, young children face greater risk of poor health and developmental delays,\u201d said Dr. Megan Sandel, pediatrician, and Co-Lead Principal Investigator for Children\u2019s HealthWatch. \u201cThe Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act would give more families with young children the stability and choice they need to find an affordable home in a well-resourced neighborhood where their children can thrive. Investing in housing stability during the earliest years of life is an investment in children\u2019s health, development, and opportunity for the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cBPC Action applauds Sens. Todd Young (R-IN) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) for reintroducing the Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act. The evidence is clear: young children whose families move to high-opportunity neighborhoods do better for life. This bill's proposed 250,000 new vouchers and mobility counseling put that within reach, advancing a key Bipartisan Policy Center recommendation. Strengthening the Housing Choice Voucher program has drawn bipartisan support for decades, and BPC Action stands ready to help Congress make it law,\u201d said Michele Stockwell, president of BPC Action.\n\n\u201cStarting from the earliest years of our lives, the neighborhoods we live in shape our health, education, and economic opportunities. For millions of children across the country, housing instability can mean struggling in school, experiencing poorer health, and having fewer opportunities for economic mobility into adulthood. Decades of research show us that when children have stable homes in well-resourced communities, they have better outcomes and greater opportunities to thrive. The Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act translates that evidence into a cost-effective solution. The Opportunity Starts at Home campaign is proud to champion this legislation and for its promise to give more children the stability and opportunity they deserve,\u201d said Chantelle Wilkinson, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Campaigns at the National Low Income Housing Coalition.\n\n\u201cThe National Association of Social Workers (NASW) applauds and fully supports Senators Chris Van Hollen and Todd Young in their bipartisan introduction of the Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act that would create 250,000 new housing vouchers,\u201d said Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW-C, CEO of the National Association of Social Workers. \u201cAs the nation\u2019s largest professional social work organization, we are well aware of the fact that the most important support service for low-income families is safe and affordable housing. Therefore, we welcome this legislation that will significantly increase the availability of housing vouchers and help to end the cycle of homelessness low-income families with young children too often experience.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act builds on strong evidence that helping families with children access higher-opportunity neighborhoods significantly improves long-term economic outcomes. Findings from Opportunity Insights' Creating Moves to Opportunity and HOPE VI studies as well as HUD's Community Choice Demonstration show that mobility supports like those outlined in this bill can be implemented effectively and at scale. We support the research-informed approaches advanced by this legislation and believe they can expand opportunity for more children and families,\u201d said Raj Chetty, Director of Opportunity Insights and Professor of Economics, Harvard University\n\n\u201cWhere a child grows up can shape everything from their health to their economic future. Through our work, the Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership sees firsthand how housing mobility support services help families access communities that meet their needs and create new possibilities for their children. We thank Senators Van Hollen and Young for their continued bipartisan leadership of the Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act, which would bring the effective tools of housing mobility to more families nationwide, providing stability today while opening doors to brighter futures for the next generation,\u201d said Adria Crutchfield, Executive Director of the Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-merkley-markey-bipartisan-group-of-senators-in-pressing-trump-administration-to-release-all-documents-from-us-saudi-nuclear-deal", "Van Hollen Joins Merkley, Markey, Bipartisan Group of Senators in Pressing Trump Administration to Release All Documents from U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Deal", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chirs Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and a bipartisan group of Senators in pressing the Trump Administration to declassify and publicly release the two side letters accompanying the proposed U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear cooperation agreement, referred to as a \u201c123 agreement.\u201d\n\nThe Trump Administration recently submitted the 123 agreement to Congress\u2014as is required by law\u2014but while the agreement references the side letters, the letters themselves are classified at the lowest possible level, which is unprecedented. Because the side letters affect the obligations and operation of the underlying agreement, Congress and the public cannot fully assess what the United States and Saudi Arabia have agreed to without seeing them.\n\n\u201cCongress has a statutory responsibility under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act to review the proposed nuclear deal, which seeks to facilitate nuclear cooperation with significant implications for U.S. national security interests. Access to the full text is required for the Senate and the public to have a clear understanding of the commitments being made on the nation\u2019s behalf and those being made by Saudi Arabia to the United States,\u201d wrote the bipartisan group of Senators in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. \u201cThe side letters affect the obligations and operations of the underlying agreement and cannot be viewed in isolation from it; the President\u2019s own transmission letter to Congress states that the agreement \u2018\u2026was concluded with two accompanying side letters.\u2019 Their public release would also allow civil society, independent experts, and other affected stakeholders to scrutinize the deal.\u201d\n\nThey emphasized, \u201cTransparency and open debate are cornerstones of our democracy. Congress and the American public must have a meaningful opportunity to review and debate the key components of the U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal before it potentially enters into force. To that end, we call on you to declassify and release the two side letters without delay.\u201d\n\nJoining Van Hollen, Merkley, and Markey in signing the letter were U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-Ky.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below:\n\nDear Secretary Rubio and Secretary Wright:\n\nWe write to urge you to immediately declassify and publicly release the two side letters associated with the Trump Administration\u2019s proposed U.S.-Saudi 123 civil nuclear cooperation agreement. While the text of the agreement and the bilateral safeguards agreement are now publicly available in unclassified form, the two side letters remain classified at the lowest possible level.\n\nIn previous 123 agreements, the Executive Branch publicly released the agreement along with side letters and related documents. Releasing the agreement text without the side letters here leaves that practice only half met. We are aware of no precedent for classifying and withholding the side letters, particularly when the stated purpose is peaceful nuclear cooperation.\n\nCongress has a statutory responsibility under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act to review the proposed nuclear deal, which seeks to facilitate nuclear cooperation with significant implications for U.S. national security interests. Access to the full text is required for the Senate and the public to have a clear understanding of the commitments being made on the nation\u2019s behalf and those being made by Saudi Arabia to the United States. The side letters affect the obligations and operations of the underlying agreement and cannot be viewed in isolation from it; the President\u2019s own transmission letter to Congress states that the agreement \u201c\u2026was concluded with two accompanying side letters.\u201d Their public release would also allow civil society, independent experts, and other affected stakeholders to scrutinize the deal.\n\nTransparency and open debate are cornerstones of our democracy. Congress and the American public must have a meaningful opportunity to review and debate the key components of the U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal before it potentially enters into force. To that end, we call on you to declassify and release the two side letters without delay.\n\nThank you for your attention to this important matter.", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-harris-introduces-legislation-suspend-federal-gas-tax", "Congressman Harris Introduces Legislation to Suspend Federal Gas Tax", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", "harris", "https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Today, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01), introduced legislation to temporarily suspend the federal gas tax, delivering immediate relief to American drivers and truckers ahead of the midterm elections.\n\nStatement from Congressman Harris:\n\n\u201cFamilies and truckers need some immediate relief from the high cost of fuel to drive to work or haul goods across this country. It\u2019s time right now to temporarily suspend the federal gas and diesel tax until the end of the year. Hardworking American taxpayers deserve that break.\u201d\n\nThe federal gas tax currently stands at 18.4 cents per gallon for gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon for diesel.\n\nCongressman Harris\u2019 bill would suspend these taxes through the end of the year, lowering costs at the pump for families, small businesses, and the trucking industry that keeps America\u2019s supply chains moving.", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyer-if-we-do-not-pass-bill-there-will-be-great-joy-kremlin-and-great", "Hoyer: If We Do Not Pass this Bill, There Will be Great Joy in the Kremlin and Great Devastation in Kyiv", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny H. Hoyer", "H000874", "hoyer.house.gov", "hoyer", "https://hoyer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "Click here to watch a video of his remarks.\n\n\"My statement is relatively short. The discussion of this is much more complicated. Nobody in this House believes that I am a defender of Donald Trump's failure to address this issue head on and effectively. No one has opposed his tariff policies any more than I have. They have been harmful to the American people [and] harmful to our relationship in the international community. Madam Chair and Ranking Member McGovern and distinguished Members of the committee, my amendments meant to address an issue of concern for many Members about this bill. A lot of what we've heard in this debate is about affecting other countries than are set forth in the formula in the bill, and those countries are limited by the bill to being impacted. However, none of us on our side trust Donald Trump to be bound by the strictures of legislation or of the Constitution of the United States. That's not why I co-sponsored this bill because I had some trust in Donald Trump, who I think is far more partial to Russia than he is to Ukraine. That's a tough statement, but I think that's borne out by conduct.\n\n\"I support Ranking Member Meeks\u2019 numbers three, four, and five amendments. I think they strengthen the bill; I think they give more confidence to people. I do not support his removal of the tariffs. Not because I'm for the tariffs, although I think the tariffs will have some prophylactic effect on some of those named countries of which there are now ten \u2013 there used to be nine, but they struck two of the '-stans' and counted it as two rather than one. Eighty-six senators supported this bill because they thought it would help Ukraine. Eighty-seven senators support the bill now because Mr. McConnell has come back and he supports the bill. My amendment simply states the ten countries that will be affected, which will be most of the opposition that was articulated, I think, by \u2013 correctly by Mr. Meeks, because we have seen the President go far beyond his legal strictures. Nothing we do to pass this bill or defeat this bill, will adversely affect his inclination to do just that. If we don't pass this bill, it's not going to affect the President at all.\n\n\"Specifically, it tightens the scope of the legal tariff authority by naming the countries, as I said. I agree with the Administration [that] we ought to pass this bill. It's a marker. It's a, \u2018You said this.\u2019 Now the Russians lied in Budapest, when they said they were going to take the nuclear weapons in '94 and honor the boundaries of Ukraine. They lied. The Russians lie regularly. I agree with the Administration that we ought to have sanctions. Our experience is that the President does not put sanctions on Russia or Belarus or others. That is unfortunate. The last time we acted on Ukraine positively was April 20th, 2024; two years and [five] months ago. This bill would prevent manipulation of data on oil and gas imports, as well as sanctions evasions, in order to make them qualify or not. That language is pretty specific. It says no country that does not qualify for the formula \u2013 what we don't trust is the formula, which is why we need to name the countries so that we, acting in our constitutional responsibility, do in fact give authority for those 9 or 10 countries \u2013 the two '-stans' being the 10th, and that he would have to come back if he wanted to add another country. He doesn't want to do that. And so, unfortunately, after talking to the White House, they don't want that amendment. It does not change the substance of the bill one iota, if you believe that the formula will be honored by the President of the United States, period.\n\n\"I believe the change sufficiently addresses the concerns that have been raised, and I hope we can adopt it so the House can move forward on a strongly bipartisan basis with passage of this bill. My friend, Mr. Meeks, who co-sponsored the Ukraine Support Act with me \u2013 we introduced it together. As a matter of fact, I urged him to do that with me. It was a strong bill. I wish the Senate would pass it \u2013 it won\u2019t \u2013 and if it did pass it, the President would veto it. The President won\u2019t veto this bill, and once he signs on to it, we can say, \u2018You said you will do this.\u2019 Does that mean anything? Perhaps not. I urge the committee to include my amendment to the rule, bringing the bill to the Floor. I absolutely agree with the statement made in the report of Mr. Meeks and Mr. Neal. Here's what they said: \u2018We firmly support Ukraine in its fight against Russia's brutal, unjustified invasion.\u2019 And then they said, \u2018Ukraine's victory against Russian aggression is critical to the U.S. national security.\u2019 I think we all believe that. I hope the president believes it. But whether this bill passes or not will not affect the President's view one way or the other. What it will affect is a statement by the Congress of the United States is, \u2018This is what ought to happen. Sanctions ought to be imposed, tariffs or penalize countries who are funding Russia's ability to make war.\u2019 We now have a Department of War. How ironic.\n\n\"I urge the committee to make in order amendments that will facilitate the actions of the Congress of the United States to act nearly unanimously, which will send a strong, powerful message. But if we do not pass this bill, there will be great joy in the Kremlin and great devastation in Kyiv, who will see something that they thought they had in hand \u2013 a strong statement by the United States of America\u2019s Congress \u2013 disappear because of a fight over tariffs. Their morale will tank and we will be still, since April 2024, having not taken the action. I\u2019m for giving them $15 billion and for putting on sanctions. But we need to pass something, and none of you believe, in the next two years, we're going to be able to pass things \u2013 whether we take the majority or not \u2013 that the President can't veto and that we could override.\n\n\"Chairman, the Ranking Member \u2013 and I'll close with this Madam Chair \u2013 the Ranking Member said this may be a Chamberlain-Churchill moment. I agree with him. However, I believe that he chose this to be a Churchill moment rejecting this legislation. I believe it will be a Chamberlain moment, where we will leave unstated the policy of the Congress of the United States, and allow the President's actions to be the only voice that is being heard. That is not in the best interests of our country, of Ukraine, of international law, and peace and freedom. I thank you for the time.\"", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://mcclaindelaney.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-members-announce-48-million-improve-ada", "Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Announce $48 Million to Improve ADA Accessibility at Metropolitan Grove, Martin State Airport MARC Stations", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "April McClain Delaney", "M001232", "mcclaindelaney.house.gov", "mcclaindelaney", "https://mcclaindelaney.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Representatives April McClain Delaney, Jamie Raskin, and Johnny Olszewski, and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (all D-Md.) announced $48,064,000 in federal funding to deliver critical accessibility upgrades at two legacy Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) stations \u2013 Martin State Airport Station on the Penn Line and the Metropolitan Grove Station on the Brunswick Line. Both stations predate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and lack the infrastructure necessary to serve all passengers safely and reliably. These upgrades will bring them into full ADA compliance.\n\n\u201cPublic transportation should work for everyone. Thanks to the hard work of Team Maryland, our congressional offices secured more than $48 million to make MARC stations safer, more affordable, and more accessible. These investments will bring Metropolitan Grove and Martin State Airport stations into full ADA compliance because no Marylander should face barriers to safe, reliable transportation,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney.\n\n\u201cThousands of Marylanders rely on MARC every day to get where they need to go. We fought to pass the infrastructure modernization law to upgrade our state\u2019s transportation systems, and this significant federal investment will help ensure the Martin State and Metropolitan Grove Stations are safer and more accessible for all users, including individuals with disabilities, families with strollers, and older adults,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cThe Americans with Disabilities Act changed our nation for the better\u2013not only making our infrastructure more accessible, but also making our country more inclusive. I am proud to have partnered with my colleagues to secure over $48 million in federal funding to bring two of our MARC stations into full ADA compliance,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cThe Free State and the nation continue to feel the transformative effects of Democrats\u2019 Infrastructure Law,\u201d said Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08). \u201cTeam Maryland fought for and secured an investment of more than $48 million in federal funding to make the MARC more accessible and fully ADA compliant, so everyone can safely get where they need to go. This is a critical win that will make life easier for our people, including those with disabilities, seniors and families with small children.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery Marylander deserves safe, reliable access to public transit,\u201d said Congressman Johnny Olszewski (MD-02). \u201cThese stations have gone decades without the accessibility upgrades our neighbors with disabilities, seniors, and families deserve. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to help deliver this important federal investment so that Martin State Airport and Metropolitan Grove stations finally meet the standard every rider should be able to count on.\u201d\n\nAt the Martin State Airport Station in Baltimore County, the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) will replace existing at-grade crossings with accessible, grade-separated connections, including high-level platforms and a pedestrian bridge. These improvements will enhance safety and eliminate the need for passengers to traverse active rail tracks used by MARC, Amtrak, and freight service. At the Metropolitan Grove Station in Montgomery County, the MTA will reconstruct the platform, improve parking accessibility, update signage, and install wheelchair lifts and enclosures.\n\n\u201cThis award from the Federal Transit Administration supports the Moore-Miller Administration\u2019s priority to ensure customers can safely access our state\u2019s transportation services to get to work, school and life\u2019s opportunities, furthering our goal of creating a transportation system that works for everyone and Leaves No One Behind,\u201d said Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson. \u201cThank you to Maryland\u2019s federal delegation for their work to secure the grant and their partnership in improving transit infrastructure across the state.\u201d\n\nThe federal investment comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s All Stations Accessibility Program, which members of Federal Team Maryland helped create and fund at $1.75 billion through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. On May 12, 2026, the lawmakers also wrote to Jamie Pfister, Acting Executive Director of the Federal Transit Administration, in support of the Maryland Department of Transportation\u2019s application for this funding.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://raskin.house.gov/2026/9/raskin-panetta-mcgovern-proposal-providing-tax-relief-for-scam-disaster-victims-passes-house", "Raskin, Panetta, McGovern Proposal Providing Tax Relief for Scam, Disaster Victims Passes House", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Jamie Raskin", "R000606", "raskin.house.gov", "raskin", "https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed key provisions of abill led by Representatives Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) and Jim McGovern (MA-02) to provide tax relief to Americans who fall victim to financial scams or natural disasters. The provisions were passed as part of legislation led by Representative Tom Suozzi (NY-03).\n\nThe proposal eliminates the \u201cscam tax\u201d which taxes Americans on income or assets stolen from them, even if they no longer possess those funds, by reinstating the Nonbusiness Casualty and Theft Loss Deduction for 2026. Crucially, the lawmakers also secured retroactive relief for victims scammed between 2021 and 2025.\n\n\u201cI first introduced this bill when my constituent was scammed out of her retirement savings, only to be hit with a massive federal tax penalty on that stolen money. When scammers, hucksters and fraudsters cheat our people out of their hard-earned savings, the federal government shouldn\u2019t re-victimize survivors with taxes that only add to the financial and psychological burdens they carry,\u201dsaid Rep. Raskin.\u201cOur proposal reinstates critical financial relief to Americans like my constituent, and there are huge numbers of people in her situation.\u201d\n\n\u201cVictims of scams and fraud should not be forced to pay federal taxes on money that was stolen from them,\u201dsaid Rep. Panetta.\u201cBy passing this bipartisan legislation, the House took an important step toward correcting that injustice and restoring a key tax deduction so victims aren\u2019t punished twice and can focus on rebuilding their lives. I\u2019m proud to have helped secure the inclusion of provisions from our Tax Relief for Victims of Crimes, Scams, and Disasters Act that would extend this relief retroactively to Americans who have already suffered financial losses.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s outrageous that victims of scams, fraud, or disaster are being punished by the IRS for something that wasn\u2019t their fault,\u201dsaid Rep. McGovern. \u201cWhether it\u2019s a family in Massachusetts whose home is falling apart due to a defective, crumbling foundation, or a senior who lost their hard-earned savings to a scammer, they\u2019ve suffered enough. They deserve relief\u2014not a tax bill. Housing and affordability are a major focus for my district. That's why this bill is about fairness as it restores a commonsense tax deduction that will provide my constituents the relief they not only need but deserve, and help so many recover, rebuild, and move forward.\u201d\n\n\u201cMany victims of fraud are shocked to learn they owe the IRS on the money they lost,\u201d said Bill Sweeney, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at AARP. \"Your legislation will do so much to help prevent victims of fraud from feeling re-victimized again by the IRS on the losses they experienced.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers\u2019 proposal reinstates the Nonbusiness Casualty and Theft Loss Deduction, which was eliminated in 2018, allowing survivors of scams and natural disasters to deduct financial losses from their taxes\n\nSince the inception of formal federal income tax in 1913, the federal government has abided by the principle that victims of crimes or disasters should not be revictimized by the tax code on income they no longer possess.\n\nThe lawmakers initiated this proposal as part oflegislation they introduced in the 118th and 119th Congresses, after hearing from constituents who were forced to pay thousands of dollars in taxes after falling victim to a financial scam or natural disaster. The proposal will also provide relief to survivors of non-federally declared disasters.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-votes-no-on-clarity-act/", "ALSOBROOKS VOTES NO ON CLARITY ACT", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "September 15, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) released the following statement after voting against cloture on the CLARITY Act:\n\n\u201cWhen I voted in May to advance the CLARITY Act out of the Banking Committee, I was clear that now is the time to regulate digital assets and protect consumers. I was also clear that I would not vote on the floor for a bill that doesn\u2019t include clear ethics provisions to hold this President \u2014 and all future presidents and members of Congress \u2014 accountable. We were ready to strike a deal today and in discussions right up until the vote. Republican leadership shut it down at the very last minute after it became clear that we were on a path to a successful vote. I am proud of the progress we made, and I am determined to keep fighting to regulate this technology, protect the millions of Americans who own crypto, and ensure that communities across Maryland can harness the benefits of digital assets safely.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-members-announce-48-million-to-improve-ada-accessibility-at-metropolitan-grove-martin-state-airport-marc-stations", "Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Announce $48 Million to Improve ADA Accessibility at Metropolitan Grove, Martin State Airport MARC Stations", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, and U.S. Representatives Jamie Raskin, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all D-Md.) announced $48,064,000 in federal funding to deliver critical accessibility upgrades at two legacy Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) stations \u2013 Martin State Airport Station on the Penn Line and the Metropolitan Grove Station on the Brunswick Line. Both stations predate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and lack the infrastructure necessary to serve all passengers safely and reliably. These upgrades will bring them into full ADA compliance.\n\n\u201cThousands of Marylanders rely on MARC every day to get where they need to go. We fought to pass the infrastructure modernization law to upgrade our state\u2019s transportation systems, and this significant federal investment will help ensure the Martin State and Metropolitan Grove Stations are safer and more accessible for all users, including individuals with disabilities, families with strollers, and older adults,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cThe Americans with Disabilities Act changed our nation for the better\u2013not only making our infrastructure more accessible, but also making our country more inclusive. I am proud to have partnered with my colleagues to secure over $48 million in federal funding to bring two of our MARC stations into full ADA compliance,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cThe Free State and the nation continue to feel the transformative effects of Democrats\u2019 Infrastructure Law,\u201d said Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08). \u201cTeam Maryland fought for and secured an investment of more than $48 million in federal funding to make the MARC more accessible and fully ADA compliant, so everyone can safely get where they need to go. This is a critical win that will make life easier for our people, including those with disabilities, seniors and families with small children.\u201d\n\n\u201cPublic transportation should work for everyone. Thanks to the hard work of Team Maryland, our congressional offices secured more than $48 million to make MARC stations safer, more affordable, and more accessible. These investments will bring Metropolitan Grove and Martin State Airport stations into full ADA compliance because no Marylander should face barriers to safe, reliable transportation,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney.\n\n\u201cEvery Marylander deserves safe, reliable access to public transit,\u201d said Congressman Johnny Olszewski (MD-02). \u201cThese stations have gone decades without the accessibility upgrades our neighbors with disabilities, seniors, and families deserve. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to help deliver this important federal investment so that Martin State Airport and Metropolitan Grove stations finally meet the standard every rider should be able to count on.\u201d\n\nAt the Martin State Airport Station in Baltimore County, the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) will replace existing at-grade crossings with accessible, grade-separated connections, including high-level platforms and a pedestrian bridge. These improvements will enhance safety and eliminate the need for passengers to traverse active rail tracks used by MARC, Amtrak, and freight service. At the Metropolitan Grove Station in Montgomery County, the MTA will reconstruct the platform, improve parking accessibility, update signage, and install wheelchair lifts and enclosures.\n\n\u201cThis award from the Federal Transit Administration supports the Moore-Miller Administration\u2019s priority to ensure customers can safely access our state\u2019s transportation services to get to work, school and life\u2019s opportunities, furthering our goal of creating a transportation system that works for everyone and Leaves No One Behind,\u201d said Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson. \u201cThank you to Maryland\u2019s federal delegation for their work to secure the grant and their partnership in improving transit infrastructure across the state.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-kaine-sanders-lead-20-senators-in-introducing-privileged-resolution-seeking-answers-on-west-bank-violence", "Van Hollen, Kaine, Sanders Lead 20 Senators in Introducing Privileged Resolution Seeking Answers on West Bank Violence", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) are leading 20 of their Senate colleagues in introducing a 502B privileged resolution requiring the Department of State to report to Congress on increasing violence in the West Bank, including the killings of Americans in the West Bank. Nine Americans have been killed in the West Bank in recent years \u2013 and more detained \u2013 and none have received accountability or justice from either the Israeli or United States Governments. The Senators\u2019 resolution would require the Department of State to provide information and assessments related to investigations of the killing of United States citizens by violent Israeli settlers or Israeli security forces in the West Bank, as well as an assessment of the human rights situation in the West Bank, specifically related to the detention of Palestinian children.\n\nThey were joined in introducing the resolution by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ed Markey (D-Mass), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-N.J.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).\n\n\u201cThis Administration has said ensuring the safety and security of American citizens abroad is one of its highest priorities. And yet, as we\u2019ve seen violence rise in the West Bank, American citizens have been killed time and again, and they have received no justice and no accountability. It\u2019s past time we get answers on their deaths \u2013 and on the growing violent Israeli settler attacks and the injustices Palestinians in the West Bank face on a daily basis. This resolution will require the State Department to begin to produce these answers, which are owed to the families of those who have lost loved ones, to the American people, and to all of those who want to ensure recipients of U.S. taxpayer dollars are acting in line with our laws and our values,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cThe violence committed by Israeli settlers in the West Bank is reaching an unprecedented level, and as a result more and more Americans and Palestinians are being killed and injured. These actions\u2014and the Israeli government\u2019s lack of response to this violence\u2014are unacceptable and threaten the long-term safety and security of the entire region,\u201d said Senator Kaine. \u201cFriends need to listen to each other, and my colleagues and I have repeatedly urged Israeli leaders to take firmer action to curtail illegal settlements in the West Bank, prosecute violent settlers, and protect Palestinian residents as well as American citizens living in or visiting the West Bank. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this resolution to require the State Department to conduct a formal assessment and provide a report to Congress on the situation in the West Bank, in particular the safety and security of Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery day, Palestinians in the West Bank experience horrific violence at the hands of Israeli settlers and security forces \u2014 and for years, the Israeli government has offered impunity instead of accountability. Enough is enough. The United States cannot keep bankrolling this violence and looking the other way \u2014 it\u2019s time to end our complicity, once and for all,\u201d said Senator Sanders.\n\n\u201cIn my visits to the West Bank, I\u2019ve heard numerous stories about the organized strategy of harassment and violence settlers are inflicting upon Palestinian villagers and Palestinian Americans. Tactics include cutting off villagers from their wells, their vineyards, and their orchards, burning their vehicles, and assaulting defenseless individuals, all with the implicit support of the Netanyahu government. This is wrong under every moral code,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cThis resolution demands answers about these abuses and accountability for those responsible.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Netanyahu government has failed to stop Israeli security forces and settler attacks in the West Bank for years, including attacks that killed American citizens. The Trump administration has even gone so far as to reverse sanctions against individuals connected to this pattern of horrific violence. It's long past time for the U.S. government to stand up for human rights, investigate this violence against Americans and Palestinian civilians, provide full information to Congress, and hold the perpetrators accountable,\u201d said Senator Warren.\n\n\u201cIsraeli settlers in the West Bank have perpetrated violent crimes against Palestinians, including American citizens, with impunity. It is completely reasonable for Congress to demand our own government to report who was involved in these attacks. The United States has a moral obligation to seek justice for both our own citizens and Palestinians, including many children, targeted by Israeli security forces or settlers in the West Bank,\u201d said Senator Smith. \u201cA mature democracy can face up to its failures and commit to doing better. I am not at all convinced that Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s government is up to that task, which is why it\u2019s up to the United States.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe have a responsibility to protect Americans abroad and seek justice when Americans are killed,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cThe escalating violence in the West Bank and lack of accountability for the deaths of American citizens are deeply concerning. This resolution will help us get the answers we need, demand accountability, and ensure that we have a better assessment of the human rights situation in the West Bank.\u201d\n\n\u201cIsraeli military and police forces are a leading perpetrator of deadly violence against American civilians\u2014including 9 killed since 2022,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cToo often there are no serious investigations and there is no accountability after violent attacks. Israel should be held to the same standards as every other nation when it comes to the lives of American citizens\u2014that\u2019s what this resolution demands.\u201d\n\n\u201cViolent, lethal lawlessness on the West Bank is a betrayal of Israel\u2019s moral standing and our shared values, and must be stopped. This resolution is now necessary, after so many have urged action and violence only continues to rise. Failing to enforce clear legal prohibitions and protections has cost American and Palestinian lives \u2013 and deeply threatens a peaceful, stable future for all Israelis and Palestinians,\u201d said Senator Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cI have long said that continued settlement activity is one of the obstacles to a long term two-state solution. Recent settler violence only further undermines this goal and demands a serious response from the Netanyahu government\u2014a message this resolution clearly conveys,\u201d said Senator Durbin.\n\n\u201cWe have a responsibility to ensure the killing of American citizens is thoroughly investigated anywhere in the world,\u201d said Senator Shaheen. \u201cThese killings and extremist settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank undermine the rule of law and threaten a two-state solution. I\u2019m proud to join this resolution to send the message from Congress that the United States will not sign off on unchecked escalation. I encourage the Trump Administration to continue to make clear that the U.S. opposes annexation of the West Bank and extremist settler policies.\u201d\n\n\"The United States cannot look the other way when Americans are killed or when Palestinians are subjected to violence and displacement, and neither can Israel. We must send a clear message to the Trump administration and the Israeli government: New Mexicans will not stand by while U.S. citizens are killed by violent Israeli settlers and the Israeli military,\u201d said Heinrich. \"We need to end the bloodshed and work toward lasting peace in the region. That starts with holding President Netanyahu accountable for the human rights abuses taking place in the West Bank and making clear that American taxpayers will not provide a blank check for the Israeli government to kill U.S. citizens and kill and displace Palestinians. This resolution will get us closer to real accountability from the Trump Administration and the Israeli Government.\u201d\n\n\u201cSettlers have attacked and killed Palestinians and Americans in the West Bank for years, too often without any real accountability from the Israeli government. We need answers about why this violence has been allowed to continue and what concrete steps are being taken to prevent future tragedies. When settler violence goes unchecked, it puts lives at risk and further undermines the prospects for lasting peace in the region,\u201d said Senator Schatz.\n\n\u201cThe escalating settler violence in the West Bank has claimed the lives of Americans and innocent Palestinian civilians. Both the Trump administration and Netanyahu government have failed to ensure accountability and justice for these families or meaningfully provide for the safety and security of those in the West Bank. This resolution will help Congress receive information it needs to ensure that U.S. taxpayer dollars do not bankroll such abuses,\u201d said Senator Wyden.\n\n\"Escalating settler violence in the West Bank is not only a threat to a peaceful future for Israelis and Palestinians\u2014it is costing American citizens their lives. As the United States continues to provide weapons and security assistance to Israel, Congress cannot look the other way from the escalating violence. The State Department must ensure proper oversight and a clear accounting of these humanitarian concerns. This resolution works to ensure that any nation receiving U.S. support adheres to the rule of law, our shared values, and basic accountability when American citizens are harmed,\" said Senator Hirono.\n\nThe resolution draws upon Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, which allows Congress to file a privileged resolution that, if passed, would require the State Department to provide information on any country receiving U.S. security assistance and that country\u2019s observance of internationally-recognized human rights. After introduction, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has ten days to consider it in committee, and if it fails to do so, the resolution can be called up for a vote on the Senate floor. If the resolution passes the Senate, the Trump Administration must submit the report within 30 days or the majority of security assistance authorized to Israel would be prohibited. If the resolution passes, and following the receipt of the State Department report, Congress may consider any necessary changes to U.S. security assistance to that country in light of the information received. If the Administration declines or fails to submit the required report, the Administration\u2019s decision would prompt the termination of certain covered security assistance programs for Israel.", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-norton-introduce-no-fencing-at-the-united-states-capitol-complex-act", "Van Hollen, Norton Introduce No Fencing at the United States Capitol Complex Act", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) introduced the No Fencing at the United States Capitol Complex Act, which would prohibit the installation of permanent fencing on the grounds of the United States Capitol complex. After the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, a fence was erected around the Capitol that stayed in place for six months as officials recommended a permanent barrier. Norton criticized permanent fencing as both cosmetic and imprecise and instead called for smarter, state-of-the-art solutions.\n\n\u201cOurs is a government of, by, and for the people \u2013 and the people should always be able to safely access our nation\u2019s Capitol and exercise their First Amendment rights. We can protect the Capitol without walling it off to the public. This legislation would ensure this complex never becomes a fortress where the American people are left on the outside looking in,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cPermanent fencing would send an un-American message to the nation and the world, transforming the Capitol from a place that's accessible to the people it serves into a fortress that locks them out,\u201d Congresswoman Norton said. \u201cThe answer to security vulnerabilities is not a crude barrier that makes the Capitol look safer while doing little to address the threats. Instead, we should be investing in the intelligence, technology, training and security measures that actually protect the Capitol while preserving the openness that is fundamental to our democracy. At a time when trust in government is at historic lows, the last thing we should do is put another physical and psychological barrier between the people and the government that serves them.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://olszewski.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-members-announce-48-million-improve-ada", "Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Announce $48 Million to Improve ADA Accessibility at Metropolitan Grove, Martin State Airport MARC Stations", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Johnny Olszewski, Jr.", "O000176", "olszewski.house.gov", "olszewski", "https://olszewski.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Representatives and Johnny Olszewski, Jamie Raskin, and April McClain Delaney and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (all D-Md.) announced $48,064,000 in federal funding to deliver critical accessibility upgrades at two legacy Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) stations \u2013 Martin State Airport Station on the Penn Line and the Metropolitan Grove Station on the Brunswick Line. Both stations predate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and lack the infrastructure necessary to serve all passengers safely and reliably. These upgrades will bring them into full ADA compliance.\n\n\u201cEvery Marylander deserves safe, reliable access to public transit,\u201d said Congressman Johnny Olszewski (MD-02). \u201cThese stations have gone decades without the accessibility upgrades our neighbors with disabilities, seniors, and families deserve. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to help deliver this important federal investment so that Martin State Airport and Metropolitan Grove stations finally meet the standard every rider should be able to count on.\u201d\n\n\u201cThousands of Marylanders rely on MARC every day to get where they need to go. We fought to pass the infrastructure modernization law to upgrade our state\u2019s transportation systems, and this significant federal investment will help ensure the Martin State and Metropolitan Grove Stations are safer and more accessible for all users, including individuals with disabilities, families with strollers, and older adults,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cThe Americans with Disabilities Act changed our nation for the better\u2013not only making our infrastructure more accessible, but also making our country more inclusive. I am proud to have partnered with my colleagues to secure over $48 million in federal funding to bring two of our MARC stations into full ADA compliance,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cThe Free State and the nation continue to feel the transformative effects of Democrats\u2019 Infrastructure Law,\u201d said Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08). \u201cTeam Maryland fought for and secured an investment of more than $48 million in federal funding to make the MARC more accessible and fully ADA compliant, so everyone can safely get where they need to go. This is a critical win that will make life easier for our people, including those with disabilities, seniors and families with small children.\u201d\n\n\u201cPublic transportation should work for everyone. Thanks to the hard work of Team Maryland, our congressional offices secured more than $48 million to make MARC stations safer, more affordable, and more accessible. These investments will bring Metropolitan Grove and Martin State Airport stations into full ADA compliance because no Marylander should face barriers to safe, reliable transportation,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney.\n\nAt the Martin State Airport Station in Baltimore County, the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) will replace existing at-grade crossings with accessible, grade-separated connections, including high-level platforms and a pedestrian bridge. These improvements will enhance safety and eliminate the need for passengers to traverse active rail tracks used by MARC, Amtrak, and freight service. At the Metropolitan Grove Station in Montgomery County, the MTA will reconstruct the platform, improve parking accessibility, update signage, and install wheelchair lifts and enclosures.\n\n\u201cThis award from the Federal Transit Administration supports the Moore-Miller Administration\u2019s priority to ensure customers can safely access our state\u2019s transportation services to get to work, school and life\u2019s opportunities, furthering our goal of creating a transportation system that works for everyone and Leaves No One Behind,\u201d said Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson. \u201cThank you to Maryland\u2019s federal delegation for their work to secure the grant and their partnership in improving transit infrastructure across the state.\u201d\n\nThe federal investment comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s All Stations Accessibility Program, which members of Federal Team Maryland helped create and fund at $1.75 billion through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. On May 12, 2026, the lawmakers also wrote to Jamie Pfister, Acting Executive Director of the Federal Transit Administration, in support of the Maryland Department of Transportation\u2019s application for this funding.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-harris-five-years-after-adirim-mandatory-vaccine-memo-put-her-under-oath", "REP. HARRIS: FIVE YEARS AFTER THE ADIRIM MANDATORY VACCINE MEMO, PUT HER UNDER OATH", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", "harris", "https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D., physician and former Naval Reserve medical officer, calls on Chairman James Comer, Chairman Rand Paul, and Chairman Ron Johnson to bring Dr. Terry Adirim in to testify under oath. Five years ago today, September 14, 2021, Dr. Terry Adirim, then acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, signed the memorandum that told DoD providers they \u201cwill\u201d use EUA-labeled product interchangeably with fully approved vaccines to vaccinate the force.\u00b9\n\nThree weeks earlier, on August 24, 2021, Secretary Austin had limited the mandate to vaccines with full FDA licensure, \u201cin accordance with FDA-approved labeling and guidance.\u201d\u00b2 But because of the subsequent Adirim memorandum, our troops now call September 14 \u201cReign of Terry\u201d day. Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. (R-Md) said Congress should treat the anniversary the way the force already does: as the anniversary of the day that two-page order left her desk, with serious and dire results.\n\nHarris is a Johns Hopkins-trained anesthesiologist and former Naval Reserve medical officer. In March 2021 he administered COVID shots at clinics in his district. That spring the GOP Doctors Caucus agreed that you should talk to your physician and decide. He said then what he said in April 2023 and is saying again: freedom to choose to be COVID vaccinated, not mandates\u2014and the more than 8,400 troops fired for refusing should have been reinstated.\n\n\u201cI know the difference between a clinical recommendation and an order with a discharge packet attached,\u201d Harris said. \u201cI would never tell a healthy infantryman his career depended on an EUA vial. The record since does not let us pretend it was just \u2018following the science.\u2019\u201d\n\nThe regulator (the FDA) said should. Her memo said will.\u00b9 It cited no statute, no presidential waiver, no legal analysis\u2014only a footnote to an FDA web page. Under 10 U.S.C. \u00a7 1107a, a warrior given an EUA product must be told he can refuse. Only the President can waive that right, in writing, for national security.\u00b3 DoD Instruction 6200.02: **only the Secretary of Defense may even ask.**\u2074 They never asked. They mandated it anyway.\n\nIn July 2021 DoD told Justice it could not require an EUA product without that waiver.\u2075 No waiver issued. In November 2021 DoD conceded in open court that the President had not executed one. A federal judge called DoD\u2019s reading of \u00a7 1107a \u201cunconvincing\u201d and wrote that without a waiver \u201cthe DOD cannot mandate vaccines that only have an EUA.\u201d\u2076 FDA\u2019s Peter Marks swore the licensed and EUA products remained legally distinct.\u2077 At Holloman AFB, a service member was told the Adirim memo was why an EUA lot could be forced on him.\u2078\n\nOn April 23, 2025, Secretary Hegseth said the last administration \u201cissued unlawful orders on mandatory vaccines on an experimental vaccine, COVID-19,\u201d\u2079 and signed a remedies memo the same day.\u00b9\u2070 On May 7, 2025, USD(P&R) wrote that the mandate \u201cwas unlawful as implemented.\u201d\u00b9\u00b9 Hegseth later called it \u201cwrongfully forced\u201d and \u201cunjust.\u201d\u00b9\u00b2 Two weeks ago, Politico and the Times reported an Army physician, in a deposition in the Adirim case, said she is reviewing thousands of unverified service-member death reports for HHS and the Pentagon.\u00b9\u00b3 That is not a completed finding. It is why this file cannot close.\n\nAbout 8,600 service members were ejected. Tens of thousands left early. Another 20,000 retired early. Nearly a million ordered to take it. Anthony Fauci got an autopen scribble pardon. Dr. Adirim has no pardon.\n\n\u201cI changed what I was willing to say about the vaccines as the facts changed. That is what a physician does,\u201d Harris said. \u201cOur Warriors deserve the truth. Put her under oath. Let her look those service members whose careers were ruined and family-members of the deceased that were decimated by her memo in the eye.\u201d\n\nHe called on Chairman James Comer (Oversight), Chairman Rand Paul (HSGAC), and Chairman Ron Johnson (PSI) to put Adirim on the record about that destructive and unlawful memo and its human cost.\n\nFootnotes\n\n1. Acting ASD(HA) Terry Adirim memorandum, Sept. 14, 2021, Coker v. Austin, ECF 65-13 (DOD 000001); FOIA 22-F-1262, Enc. 2 p. 28\n\n2. Secretary of Defense memorandum, Aug. 24, 2021, Coker v. Austin, ECF 31-2.\n\n3. 10 U.S.C. \u00a7 1107a.\n\n4. DoDI 6200.02 (Feb. 27, 2008), Enc. 3 \u00a7 E3.4\n\n5. 45 Op. O.L.C. __ (July 6, 2021), at 17.\n\n6. Doe #1\u2013#14 v. Austin, 572 F. Supp. 3d 1224 (N.D. Fla. Nov. 12, 2021), ECF 47 at 12, 14; Tr. ECF 45 at 52:8\u20139. PI denied on proof; no merits holding the mandate was unlawful.\n\n7. Decl. of Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., Coker, ECF 65-14 \u00b6 11.\n\n8. Holloman AFB declaration, Coker, ECF 68-1 (lot 30155BA).\n\n9. Hegseth, X, April 23, 2025\n\n10. SecDef memorandum, April 23, 2025\n\n11. USD(P&R), May 7, 2025, \u201cunlawful as implemented\u201d\n\n12. Hegseth, X, May 8, 2026\n\n13. Politico, Sept. 3, 2026\n\nRep. Andy Harris, M.D., represents Maryland\u2019s 1st District. Johns Hopkins-trained anesthesiologist, former Naval Reserve medical officer, Chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies.", 1, "2026-09-15T09:50:21Z", "2026-09-15T09:52:05Z"], ["https://elfreth.house.gov/media/press-releases/elfreth-scott-wittman-kiggans-celebrate-house-passage-chesapeake-bay-waters", "Elfreth, Scott, Wittman, Kiggans Celebrate House Passage of Chesapeake Bay WATERS Act", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Sarah Elfreth", "E000301", "elfreth.house.gov", "elfreth", "https://elfreth.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013Today, Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03) and Representatives Bobby Scott (VA-03), Rob Wittman (VA-01), and Jennifer Kiggans (VA-02) secured House of passage of H.R. 6893, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Advancement for Training, Education, Restoration, and Science (WATERS) Act. This legislation reauthorizes key programs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\u2019s (NOAA) Chesapeake Bay Office (CBO). Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) has introduced companion legislation in the Senate.\n\nNOAA\u2019s CBO provides a variety of services that advance the restoration of the Bay and support local businesses, schools, and coastal resilience. CBO manages the Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System which collects water quality, meteorological, and oceanographic data used by scientists, fisherman and those recreating on the Bay. CBO also oversees the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program, a competitive grant program for environmental education projects that connect students throughout the watershed with the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay WATERS Act authorizes the Chesapeake Bay B-WET program for the first time in the program\u2019s history.\n\n\u201cI am incredibly proud to represent the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, which conducts critical scientific research and programming to restore the health and habitat of the whole Chesapeake Bay watershed. I was thrilled to see my colleagues come together on the House floor today to pass the Chesapeake Bay WATERS Act to ensure this office is properly resourced and \u2013 for the first time ever \u2013 authorize the Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program to support hands-on outdoor learning for students,\u201d said Congresswoman Elfreth. \u201cIf you talk to folks back in Annapolis, they will describe the Bay as \u2018transcending politics\u2019 and that it\u2019s \u2018like a religion.\u2019 I couldn\u2019t agree more. That is why I will continue to work collaboratively with our partners \u2013 Democrat and Republican alike \u2013 to ensure the Bay can be enjoyed for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure and a critical resource for the millions of Americans that live within its watershed,\u201d said Congressman Scott. \u201cNOAA\u2019s Chesapeake Bay Office is essential to ensuring that government, industry, and nonprofits have the technical and scientific information necessary to improve the health of the Bay. This office also oversees the successful Chesapeake B-WET Program that has connected countless students to hands-on, environmental education programming throughout the watershed. Today\u2019s passage of the Chesapeake Bay WATERS Act is a major step towards ensuring that this office can continue supporting the restoration of the Bay and connecting future generations with the environment around them.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a lifelong outdoorsman, vice chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources, and co-chair of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force, I am proud to have co-led this bipartisan effort to protect the Chesapeake Bay,\u201d said Congressman Wittman. \u201cThe Chesapeake Bay WATERS Act would ensure that the Chesapeake Bay remains healthy for generations to come \u2014 protecting our coastal economies and preserving a national treasure. I will continue to advocate for this legislation as it moves to the Senate.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Chesapeake Bay is vital to the coastal communities, local economies, and natural resources we are fortunate to have in Virginia,\u201d said Congresswoman Kiggans. \u201cThe Chesapeake Bay WATERS Act ensures NOAA can continue providing the research, restoration support, and educational opportunities needed to keep the Bay healthy and thriving. I\u2019m proud to have worked alongside my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass this legislation through the House, and I\u2019ll continue working to see it signed into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cNOAA\u2019s Chesapeake Bay Office is central to the Bay restoration effort, from providing essential water quality monitoring data, to supporting our understanding and management of our fisheries, to fostering a greater appreciation of the Bay through environmental education,\u201d said Anna Killius, Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Commission. \u201cPassing the Chesapeake Bay WATERS Act will ensure these critical functions continue and uphold a strong, science-based foundation for the work of the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership.\u201d\n\n\u201cA healthier Chesapeake Bay starts with science, restoration, and education. This legislation does all three by supporting NOAA\u2019s Chesapeake Bay Office and Bay Watershed Education and Training program,\u201d said Keisha Sedlacek, Senior Policy Director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. \u201cThese programs lead research and restoration work that create cleaner waterways, support fisheries and local economies, and build resiliency to climate change. Education grants allow thousands of kids to learn hands-on outside, building future leaders. We applaud the House and the leadership of Reps. Bobby Scott, Sarah Elfreth, Jen Kiggans, and Rob Wittman for advancing the Chesapeake Bay WATERS Act. We urge swift action from the Senate.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Choose Clean Water Coalition wholeheartedly endorses the Chesapeake WATERS Act, which reauthorizes NOAA\u2019s Chesapeake Bay Office (NCBO),\u201d said Kristin Reilly, Director of the Choose Clean Water Coalition. \u201cMany federal agencies play a critical role in restoring the Chesapeake Bay, and NCBO plays a critical role. They are a leader in restoring the Bay\u2019s oyster population, protecting striped bass and other native species from the onslaught of invasive blue catfish, and helping steward the next generation through outdoor education experiences. It is vital they receive continued support as we enter the next chapter of the Bay restoration effort.\u201d\n\nFull text of the bill can be found by CLICKING HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-chu-introduce-bicameral-resolution-to-designate-community-school-coordinators-appreciation-week", "Van Hollen, Chu Introduce Bicameral Resolution to Designate Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.) introduced a bicameral resolution to designate September 13 through 19, 2026 as Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week to recognize the critical work of community school coordinators in giving students and families at full-service community schools the resources they need to succeed. This resolution is cosponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.).\n\nCommunity schools are public schools that provide wraparound support services, such as medical, mental, transportation, and nutrition health services, mentoring and youth development programs, expanded learning opportunities, and active family and community engagement. Community school coordinators work with the community and non-profits to identify and source additional resources to benefit students and their families. The resolution recognizes the role community school coordinators play in helping students succeed in their academic years and beyond. There are more than 1000 community schools serving students across all 24 of Maryland\u2019s school districts.\n\n\u201cSetting students up for success starts with making sure their needs are met \u2013 both in and out of the classroom. Our community schools are valued partners, empowering local education and community leaders to connect families with vital services while providing a top-notch education. Community school coordinators dedicate themselves to helping students and families get the support they need to succeed while serving as invaluable liaisons to community resources, which is why I\u2019m proud to recognize their hard work with this resolution,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\"Community Schools partner with local organizations to provide the academic, health, and social supports students need to thrive. Research shows that addressing the needs of the whole student can reduce disparities, decrease disciplinary measures, and improve academic outcomes. Community School Coordinators are critical to making these local partnerships work, which is why I\u2019m proud to introduce my resolution designating Community School Coordinator Appreciation Week and recognizing the hard work Community School Coordinators do every day to help students succeed in and out of the classroom,\" said Congresswoman Chu.\n\n\u201cCommunity schools provide the necessary resources to help students succeed both in the classroom and beyond. By partnering with community-based organizations, engaging with families, providing services, and extending programs, community schools build truly supportive environments for students, and community school coordinators are essential to this work,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cAs the Trump regime continues to attack public education at every turn, this resolution recognizes Community School Coordinator Appreciation Week and celebrates the integral role coordinators play in their schools\u2019 success. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in thanking these educators and remain committed to helping schools nationwide provide children with the resources they need.\u201d\n\n\u201cCommunity school coordinators play an important role in making sure students and families have the support they need to succeed, both in and outside the classroom,\u201d said Senator Heinrich. \u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce this resolution recognizing their important work and thanking them for showing up each and every day to support New Mexico\u2019s students and families.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn New Mexico and across the country, students deserve the support and resources they need to succeed, both inside and outside the classroom,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cOur community school coordinators make that possible by connecting students and families with critical services and resources. That is why I\u2019m joining my colleagues in recognizing Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week and honoring the dedicated coordinators who work every day to help our students and families thrive.\u201d\n\n\"Community school coordinators here in Maryland do more than just educate our children \u2014 they feed them, care for their mental and physical well-being, and mentor them far beyond the classroom. I am so proud to be joining my colleagues in designating September 13 through September 19 as Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week. We should celebrate and appreciate the work of our community school coordinators all year,\" said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\nThe full text of the resolution is available here.", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://elfreth.house.gov/media/press-releases/elfreth-hosts-second-constituent-resource-fair-anne-arundel-county", "Elfreth Hosts Second Constituent Resource Fair in Anne Arundel County", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Sarah Elfreth", "E000301", "elfreth.house.gov", "elfreth", "https://elfreth.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Image\n\nImage\n\nImage\n\nImage\n\nImage\n\nImage\n\nImage\n\nImage\n\nImage\n\nImage\n\nImage\n\nImage\n\nImage\n\nImage\n\nImage\n\nImage\n\nANNAPOLIS, MD \u2013 Yesterday, Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03) hosted a second Maryland Third Congressional District Constituent Resource Fair in Anne Arundel County. The first Resource Fair was held in Howard County this past May and featured representatives from 19 agencies. Elfreth and her team were joined by 26 federal, state, local, business, and nonprofit partners, covering a range of services from workforce development to health care, veterans affairs, and more.\n\n\u201cFirst and foremost, my team and I are here to help our neighbors with any issue they face at any level of government, and these resource fairs are just one way we can connect them to the services they need. From our first resource fair to the thousands of cases that my team handles day in and day out \u2013 the need for community services and support is clear, especially as we grapple with the aftermath of DOGE, the weaponization of ICE, skyrocketing costs, and so much more,\u201d said Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth. \u201cI want to extend a sincere thank you to all of our partners who joined us and for their continued commitment to serving our community on their hardest days. This work is never done alone.\u201d\n\nElfreth and her team have also provided casework assistance to constituents on a range of issues with federal agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, Social Security, immigration agencies, and the IRS. To date, Congresswoman Elfreth\u2019s team has closed over 3,000 constituent cases and returned over $4 million directly to constituents.\n\nThe second Constituent Resource Fair included representatives from Senator Shaneka Henson\u2019s Office, the Office of the Comptroller of Maryland, the Maryland Insurance Administration, the Maryland Department of Labor, the Maryland Department of Veterans & Military Families, the Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development, the Anne Arundel County Community Action Agency, the American Kidney Foundation, Comcast, the City of Annapolis - No Harm, the City of Annapolis - Hispanic Community Services, the City of Annapolis - Naptown Anti-dope Move(meant), BGE, Chamber of Mothers, the Housing Commission of Anne Arundel County, American Red Cross, the Anne Arundel County Mental Health Agency/Crisis Response System, the Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities, the Anne Arundel County Office of Community Engagement & Constituent Services, the Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works, the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation, Anne Arundel County Recreation and Parks, HealthCare Access Maryland, Anne Arundel County\u2019s Sheriff Office, the Chief Administrative Office - Office of Talent and Development, and the Chesapeake Children\u2019s Museum.\n\n\u201cGood governance is about solving problems regardless of which agency's logo is on the door,\u201d said Mayor Jared Littmann. \u201cWe're pleased to work with Congresswoman Elfreth to deliver results and one-stop shopping for resources across local, state, and federal agencies.\u201d\n\n\u201cToo often, the biggest barrier between someone and the help they need isn\u2019t a lack of resources-it\u2019s a lack of information. That\u2019s why community collaboration matters so much. My office cannot reach every family on our own. We need neighbors, nonprofits, and local organizations partnering with us to spread the word,\u201d said Senator Shaneka Henson, D30, Annapolis.\n\n\u201cWhen Marylanders have questions about home loans, student loans, or banking (including online banking apps), they deserve answers,\u201d says Antonio P. Salazar, Commissioner of Financial Regulation in the Maryland Department of Labor. \"Our office helps consumers know their rights, avoid scams, file complaints, and find the right resources. We are pleased to join community partners at events like this to help Marylanders access the support and information they need.\"\n\n\u201cAs the nation's leading nonprofit fighting kidney disease, the American Kidney Fund (AKF) works across the country to engage communities and raise awareness about kidney disease, and we are thankful to have the opportunity to be a part of Rep. Elfreth's community resource fair,\u201d said LaVarne A. Burton, President and CEO of the American Kidney Fund. \u201cWith 1 in 7 American adults living with kidney disease and millions more at risk of developing this life-altering condition, events like this are important to our efforts to connect members of the community with valuable resources and ensure people have the knowledge they need to prevent and manage kidney disease.\u201d\n\n\u201cChamber of Mothers is proud to participate in Congresswoman Elfreth\u2019s Constituent Resource Fair,\u201d said Kelsey McCarthy, Co-Facilitator and Volunteer with the Maryland Chapter of Chamber of Mothers. \u201cMothers are navigating complex challenges every day, from finding affordable childcare to accessing quality health care and other essential resources. Strong communities are built when we work together to ensure mothers know where they can turn for support. We\u2019re grateful to Congresswoman Elfreth and her team for creating opportunities like this to connect mothers with organizations that are ready to help and to strengthen the community partnerships that make that support possible.\u201d\n\n\u201cAAEDC is grateful to Congresswoman Elfreth for bringing this Resource Fair to Annapolis. Having federal and local resources together in one place makes it easier for residents and businesses to find the support they need. For AAEDC, it is also an important opportunity to hear directly from businesses about the challenges they are facing and connect them with capital, technical assistance, government resources, and other tools that can help them succeed,\u201d said AAEDC President and CEO, Amy Gowan.\n\n\"The Anne Arundel County Sheriff\u2019s Office was honored to participate in Maryland\u2019s Third District Constituent Resource Fair, hosted by Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth. The Sheriff\u2019s Office values the chance to connect with citizens by sharing resources and information about the services we provide.\" Anne Arundel County Sheriff Everett Sesker stated, \u201cOur participation in events like this allows us to build positive connections with community members and strengthen our relationship with them. Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth is a dedicated partner to public safety, and we appreciate her efforts to offer resources to the community.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-12T09:02:30Z", "2026-09-12T09:03:27Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyer-statement-25th-anniversary-911", "Hoyer Statement on 25th Anniversary of 9/11", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny H. Hoyer", "H000874", "hoyer.house.gov", "hoyer", "https://hoyer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement today commemorating the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001:\n\n\u201cSeptember 11, 2001, was a day of tragedy and created a new sense of vulnerability. But it also was followed by a unity of purpose and conviction that the terrorists would not prevail.\n\n\u201cI will never forget standing on the steps of the U.S. Capitol that evening, rallying with colleagues, staff, and fellow citizens who had gathered to show our solidarity with those who had lost loved ones, who were still searching for the missing, and who were working to restore safety. Moved by that moment, we began to sing 'God Bless America,' and soon everyone was joining in. It was a powerful expression of our unity and resolve. It was, too, a reminder that we are, despite our differences and the often-heated rhetoric in our politics, one nation with a common purpose and a shared hope for peace, justice, and the triumph of good over evil.\n\n\u201cThe magnitude of this tragedy created great unity. But as it fades from memory, the realization of that unity becomes more difficult to sustain. We must nevertheless strive to recapture it.\n\n\u201cGround Zero, the west side of the Pentagon, and the hallowed field in Shanksville are now quiet places of peace. Today, bells will be rung, names will be read, and hymns will be sung. But nothing we do today can honor the dead and injured more than to carry on tomorrow, as we have now done for a quarter century, and continue the difficult task of building the America that terrorists tried in vain to dismantle. An America united. An America filled with optimism in devotion its purpose. An America of big hearts and open arms. An America guided by its highest ideals and committed to ensuring equal justice and opportunity for all.\n\n\u201cLet us rededicate ourselves to seeking that unity of purpose today. May the memory of those lost on September 11, 2001, inspire us to that work now and forever.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-12T09:02:30Z", "2026-09-12T09:03:27Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-presses-openai-ceo-sam-altman-on-alarming-new-ai-model-claims-calls-for-risk-assessment-of-ai-capabilities", "Van Hollen Presses OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on Alarming New AI Model Claims, Calls for Risk Assessment of AI Capabilities", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) called on OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to provide answers on the safety of the company\u2019s newly released model and to reconcile concerning statements regarding its ongoing development practices. In a letter, the Senator pressed Altman to answer a series of questions around the development of OpenAI\u2019s new model as well as recent security failures. Senator Van Hollen also urged Altman to immediately grant researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Security Agency, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency full, transparent access to the technical information that would allow them to assess the safety and risks of OpenAI\u2019s models.\n\nThe Senator begins, \u201cI am writing with serious concerns about the launch of OpenAI\u2019s latest model, GPT-6 Astra, and the uncertainty surrounding its capabilities. Its release coinciding with the independent announcement of a second, previously undisclosed security incident involving OpenAI\u2019s models raises significant safety questions about the risks that Astra poses to our digital systems and protected information. You acknowledged the need for caution upon its release when you said: \u2018The next generation of models are going to be sobering for everybody. I think no one intellectually honest can look at what\u2019s happening and not feel the weight of responsibility.\u2019\u201d\n\nOn OpenAI\u2019s statements that they have decreased ability to monitor their own advanced AI model, Senator Van Hollen notes, \u201cWhen OpenAI or independent safety organizations attempt to investigate a rogue or intentionally harmful action, there will be less of this evidence available. While this is framed as a \u2018jump in intelligence,\u2019 you are telling the American people that your newest model offers you, the developers, less insight into its operations. As you note in your system card, this raises myriad concerns including whether Astra may be \u2018sandbagging\u2019 or intentionally reducing its performance on safety tests.\u201d\n\n\u201cConcerns about OpenAI\u2019s ability to accurately understand, measure, monitor, and safely control AI models are not hypothetical. In addition to the Hugging Face hack, the day after Astra\u2019s release it was reported for the first time that your company failed yet again to contain and monitor AI agents during testing and development. Independent researchers scouring the internet discovered and disclosed that OpenAI agents also \u2018decided\u2019 to make use of a German message board to communicate with one another about topics including how to evade detection. This digital \u2018swarm,\u2019 or mass of AI agents, effectively worked together without specific human direction or guidance to communicate with one another on the open internet,\u201d the Senator continues.\n\nOn the need for independent researchers to assess safety and risks, Senator Van Hollen writes, \u201cAs a start, to the extent that you do not have sufficient monitorability to assure the safety of any OpenAI models, or that you have unresolved concerns the models have misrepresented their capabilities during testing, you should immediately remove them from public access. If you have not already done so, you should also immediately grant researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Security Agency, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency transparent access to the technical information that would allow them to assess the safety of and risks to our critical digital infrastructure in light of Astra\u2019s release.\u201d\n\nAmong other questions, Senator Van Hollen goes on to request answers to the following:\n\nHow does OpenAI reconcile permitting Astra's release under its Preparedness Framework when the company also admits that the safety monitoring system for Astra \u201cmay miss misaligned behavior, and harmful actions can occur before [the monitoring system] intervenes?\u201d\n\nTo what extent, if any, did OpenAI proactively work with critical infrastructure providers that are not part of your enterprise program before releasing the model capable of hacking into their systems?\n\nOpenAI\u2019s staff have raised concerns that Astra could be \u201csandbagging,\u201d or deliberately reducing its capabilities within safety testing environments to mislead human monitors. Additionally, OpenAI has stated: \u201cif the model were to try to sandbag covertly, we would likely be unable to catch it reliably.\u201d How does your company reconcile the decision to release Astra publicly while simultaneously acknowledging the model\u2019s ability to mislead humans during safety testing?\n\nIn the system card, OpenAI wrote: \"We are tracking monitorability closely and will not accept further degradation of monitoring beyond a limit...\" What is the limit?\n\nHow do you reconcile your claim that Astra is your most aligned model yet, but you have taken a step back in your ability to monitor its internal operations?\n\nWhat is your plan for monitorability going forward?\n\nDoes OpenAI have concerns about leading a race to the bottom where AI models react to human safety oversight as an inefficiency?\n\nGiven the \u201cweight of responsibility\u201d you are feeling, what factors and concerns did you weigh before ultimately deciding to release this model to the public?\n\n\u201cI look forward to receiving answers by September 17th and continuing to work with you and OpenAI to address and manage AI risks,\u201d Senator Van Hollen concludes.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Mr. Altman,\n\nI am writing with serious concerns about the launch of OpenAI\u2019s latest model, GPT-6 Astra, and the uncertainty surrounding its capabilities. Its release coinciding with the independent announcement of a second, previously undisclosed security incident involving OpenAI\u2019s models raises significant safety questions about the risks that Astra poses to our digital systems and protected information. You acknowledged the need for caution upon its release when you said:\n\n\u201cThe next generation of models are going to be sobering for everybody. I think no one intellectually honest can look at what\u2019s happening and not feel the weight of responsibility.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are just sailing into unknown waters.\u201d\n\nTechnical reporting indicates that Astra represents a significant increase in capabilities compared to your other models released even this year. However, Astra\u2019s published technical information (\u201csystem card\u201d) and comments from one of OpenAI\u2019s own technical staff make clear that the decision to release this product came with concerning new compromises on safety:\n\n\u201cGPT-6 Astra is more aligned than our previous models. But it\u2019s also less monitorable, which is a concerning trend that we take very seriously. We believe monitorability drop comes from a jump in intelligence and not direct optimization pressure on CoT or architecture changes.\u201d\n\nChain of thought (CoT) reasoning is the process of an AI model noting each decision along a path and explaining the reasoning for choosing a specific next step. When an AI agent is executing a series of tasks from a single human prompt, such as when one is completing a coding task, the CoT represents an important step-by-step analysis of the agent's actions and decision making. Under current safety regimes, CoT is a vital tool for monitoring, building an understanding of AI models, and investigating security incidents. Astra is no different in this regard: OpenAI has stated that it will rely on CoT monitoring to help ensure GPT-6 is used safely.\n\nGiven OpenAI\u2019s ongoing reliance on the CoT for safety monitoring, it is especially concerning that AI agents running on Astra are reported by OpenAI to be doing more opaque reasoning and decision making that does not appear in the CoT. Without that record, there is even less human insight into AI agent behavior. When OpenAI or independent safety organizations attempt to investigate a rogue or intentionally harmful action, there will be less of this evidence available. While this is framed as a \u201cjump in intelligence,\u201d you are telling the American people that your newest model offers you, the developers, less insight into its operations. As you note in your system card, this raises myriad concerns including whether Astra may be \u201csandbagging\u201d or intentionally reducing its performance on safety tests. Releasing a highly capable model with reduced CoT monitorability while relying on CoT monitorability for safety naturally raises questions about the accuracy of your company\u2019s assurances regarding Astra\u2019s risk of causing harm.\n\nYour company's concerns regarding Astra's capabilities for harm appear warranted. The independent testing of Astra that OpenAI has made public is alarming. During its testing of Astra, the UK AI Security Institute found that \u201c[w]hen tasked with solving difficult simulated cybersecurity challenges, Astra performed a range of malicious actions including conducting supply chain attacks against open source providers,\u201d demonstrating that Astra performed harmful actions without explicit human direction in a simulated environment prior to its release. Apollo Research, which was hired to conduct three days of safety testing, determined that Astra demonstrated high rates of \u201cawareness of being evaluated in its reasoning.\u201d Because of this finding, Apollo concluded that other test results that claim to demonstrate Astra\u2019s safety may not be valid evidence of safety. I commend you for including this information in the system card but the absence of evidence that these issues have been mitigated is noticeable. If you have subsequent testing to demonstrate that Astra is no longer capable of performing malicious or harmful actions that has been withheld for some reason, I urge you to share it.\n\nConcerns about OpenAI\u2019s ability to accurately understand, measure, monitor, and safely control AI models are not hypothetical. In addition to the Hugging Face hack, the day after Astra\u2019s release it was reported for the first time that your company failed yet again to contain and monitor AI agents during testing and development. Independent researchers scouring the internet discovered and disclosed that OpenAI agents also \u201cdecided\u201d to make use of a German message board to communicate with one another about topics including how to evade detection. This digital \u201cswarm,\u201d or mass of AI agents, effectively worked together without specific human direction or guidance to communicate with one another on the open internet. Although OpenAI was conducting the tests, both this incident and the Hugging Face hack were discovered by parties other than OpenAI.\n\nOpenAI has disclosed that some training for Astra was temporarily paused in response to the Hugging Face incident. One of the few things we do know about this now-released model is that, should the model\u2019s safeguards fail or malicious actors successfully jailbreak the model, Astra represents a new level of security threat to any private or sensitive digital information. You rate its offensive hacking capabilities as \u201cCritical\u201d by your own metrics, meaning the model, in your company\u2019s own words, \u201ccould introduce unprecedented new pathways to severe harm.\u201d While you have disclosed that you are limiting access to Astra\u2019s most advanced cyber capabilities to a limited pool of trusted actors for now, the model\u2019s system card makes clear that even the publicly available model still maintains the potential for significant cybersecurity exploits, demonstrating an inherent public safety risk.\n\nAI agents, especially those working in conjunction with one another, are capable of entering previously secure digital environments in part through their sheer inexhaustibility. In some instances, it takes AI agents seconds or minutes to identify vulnerabilities in digital infrastructure that would take humans far longer to find, if they would be identified at all. The AI models you have developed can accomplish many tasks, including acting as the most efficient hacking entities ever created. Given the Hugging Face cybersecurity incident, the recently disclosed German wiki incident, and Astra\u2019s advanced cyber capabilities that OpenAI is actively promoting, stringent oversight of Astra\u2019s behavior and use is paramount.\n\nTo the extent AI agents operate independently and work to evade human detection of their activities, they may open companies to significant civil and/or criminal liability should they intentionally access sensitive computer systems without permission to cause certain covered harms. OpenAI\u2019s agents may have already crossed that line and could be at risk of doing so again.\n\nIt is necessary to critically evaluate the developing capabilities of AI models, assess their risks, and manage their operations accordingly.\n\nAs a start, to the extent that you do not have sufficient monitorability to assure the safety of any OpenAI models, or that you have unresolved concerns the models have misrepresented their capabilities during testing, you should immediately remove them from public access. If you have not already done so, you should also immediately grant researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Security Agency, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency transparent access to the technical information that would allow them to assess the safety of and risks to our critical digital infrastructure in light of Astra\u2019s release.\n\nIn addition, I request a publicly available response to the following questions:\n\nOpenAI\u2019s publicly released Preparedness Framework and Astra\u2019s system card outline your company\u2019s safety framework, but they appear to leave critical gaps.\n\nHow do you define what it means for an AI model or agent to be safe enough to conduct internal testing?\n\nHow do you define what it means for it to be safe to release a model to the public?\n\nOpenAI has stated: \u201cwe believe Astra's safeguards sufficiently minimize the risk of severe harm for release under our Preparedness Framework.\u201d What level of risk for severe harm did OpenAI deem acceptable to allow for Astra's release, and did OpenAI consult with any U.S. government agencies in determining this purportedly acceptable level of risk of severe harm?\n\nHow does OpenAI reconcile permitting Astra's release under its Preparedness Framework when the company also admits that the safety monitoring system for Astra \u201cmay miss misaligned behavior, and harmful actions can occur before [the monitoring system] intervenes?\u201d\n\nAlongside this announcement, OpenAI committed $1 billion through its Daybreak program to support U.S. and international cyber defense.\n\nTo what extent, if any, did OpenAI proactively work with critical infrastructure providers that are not part of your enterprise program before releasing the model capable of hacking into their systems?\n\nYou indicated you participated in the White House\u2019s voluntary review process before releasing the model publicly. How long was that review process?\n\nWhat do you estimate is the cost of securing the U.S.\u2019s digital infrastructure to guard against a hack conducted using Astra-level capabilities?\n\nWhat do you estimate the cost of the damage to our collective digital infrastructure would be if Astra is used by malicious actors to hack into critical systems?\n\nYou recently stated, \u201csome things are going to go very wrong with cybersecurity unless people act quite urgently.\u201d Who are the people you are referring to and what actions is OpenAI taking to respond to this urgent risk?\n\nIt is reported that OpenAI models may have conducted the Hugging Face and German wiki attacks during evaluation exercises. Have there been any other incidents where models exploited vulnerabilities to leave secure environments during training, testing, or evaluation?\n\nOpenAI has indicated that steps have been taken to improve the security of sandboxes and other secure testing environments since these incidents. Have there been any breaches of security or containment since those changes have been implemented?\n\nTo what extent does OpenAI conduct or allow others to conduct testing of unreleased models outside of secure testing environments?\n\nHow regularly are security and containment protocols for model training and testing revisited?\n\nIt has been reported that certain AI models helped supervise Astra's training. What models played a role in Astra's training and to what extent was the development or training of Astra automated?\n\nTo what extent did human oversight remain in the training process relative to automated oversight?\n\nOpenAI\u2019s Chief Scientist recently shared a warning about the pace of AI advancement and the move toward AI models themselves playing a larger role in subsequent AI model development. To what extent is OpenAI using AI to develop, train, or monitor other AI models?\n\nOpenAI has pointed to Astra\u2019s purported improvements in alignment over GPT-5.6 Sol to justify its public release. At the same time, questions have been raised by independent safety experts regarding the evidence OpenAI has presented to prove Astra\u2019s alignment. What additional evidence can you provide to justify your company\u2019s claims about Astra\u2019s safety alignment, and will you commit to independent testing in this area?\n\nOpenAI\u2019s staff have raised concerns that Astra could be \u201csandbagging,\u201d or deliberately reducing its capabilities within safety testing environments to mislead human monitors. Additionally, OpenAI has stated: \u201cif the model were to try to sandbag covertly, we would likely be unable to catch it reliably.\u201d How does your company reconcile the decision to release Astra publicly while simultaneously acknowledging the model\u2019s ability to mislead humans during safety testing?\n\nIn the system card, OpenAI wrote: \u201cWe are tracking monitorability closely and will not accept further degradation of monitoring beyond a limit...\u201d What is the limit?\n\nHow do you reconcile your claim that Astra is your most aligned model yet, but you have taken a step back in your ability to monitor its internal operations?\n\nWhat is your plan for monitorability going forward?\n\nDoes OpenAI have concerns about leading a race to the bottom where AI models react to human safety oversight as an inefficiency?\n\nGiven the \u201cweight of responsibility\u201d you are feeling, what factors and concerns did you weigh before ultimately deciding to release this model to the public?\n\nI look forward to receiving answers by September 17th and continuing to work with you and OpenAI to address and manage AI risks.", 1, "2026-09-11T09:25:29Z", "2026-09-11T09:27:08Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-harris-announces-6-million-usda-investment-invasive-catfish", "Congressman Harris Announces $6 Million USDA Investment in Invasive Catfish Processing", "2026-09-09", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", "harris", "https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01), Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, today announced $6 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant funding to expand processing capacity for invasive wild-caught catfish.\n\nThe funding, available through USDA Rural Development\u2019s Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program, will provide grants of $50,000 to $2 million to help eligible processors expand facilities, purchase equipment, and increase invasive catfish processing capacity. Applications are due December 7, 2026, through Grants.gov.\n\nStatement from Congressman Harris:\n\n\u201cInvasive blue catfish are reducing the blue crab and native fish populations that Maryland watermen harvest and sell. Increasing processing capacity will strengthen the market for wild-caught catfish, expand opportunities for watermen and seafood processors, and remove more invasive fish from the Bay. I thank Secretary Rollins and USDA for making this funding available to protect the Chesapeake Bay and strengthen Maryland\u2019s seafood economy.\u201d\n\nTo read USDA\u2019s full press release, click here.", 1, "2026-09-10T09:25:58Z", "2026-09-10T09:27:09Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/university-marylands-terp-magazine-steny-hoyer-yields-floor", "University of Maryland\u2019s Terp Magazine: Steny Hoyer Yields the Floor", "2026-09-09", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny H. Hoyer", "H000874", "hoyer.house.gov", "hoyer", "https://hoyer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) was featured in the University of Maryland's (UMD) Terp Magazine Fall 2026 edition. Click here to read the story or see below:\n\nSTENY HOYER YIELDS THE FLOOR\n\nBy John Tucker\n\nSeptember 4, 2026\n\nSipping a Beer at a Capitol Hill soir\u00e9e in 1988, John Berry \u201980 overheard a congressional staffer mention that a Virginia university was lobbying the National Archives to build a huge facility on its campus to house millions of its documents. The next morning Berry tipped off his boss, U.S. Rep. Steny H. Hoyer \u201963, that the prized repository was in play.\n\nWithin days, Hoyer and University System of Maryland Chancellor John S. Toll were leading the archivist of the United States on a tour of UMD\u2019s campus; a couple of weeks later, Hoyer added an earmark to an appropriations bill establishing UMD as the site of the eventual 1.8 million-square-foot building. A befuddled Virginia staffer who later ran into Berry said, \u201cI\u2019ve never been so thoroughly sideswiped. Hoyer outsmarted us.\u201d\n\nHoyer recalls the coup jubilantly: \u201cNow it\u2019s probably the premier archival institution in the world,\u201d he says. \u201cWe brought some fantastic researchers to the campus.\u201d\n\nIt was a classic move by Hoyer, who will retire from a 45-year career in Congress when his term ends in January. The longest-serving member of either chamber to represent Maryland, Hoyer shaped the influential 5th District abutting Washington into a research powerhouse, helping pump billions of dollars into behemoths like NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center, Patuxent River Naval Air Station and NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction, many of them tightly aligned with the University of Maryland.\n\n\u201cSteny\u2019s leadership resulted in the modern federal research presence in the state of Maryland,\u201d says emeritus UMD trustee Tim Maloney, a former state delegate whose district overlapped with Hoyer\u2019s. \u201cHe did it quietly and without recognition. He was just interested in seeing results.\u201d\n\nThe No. 2 member of the Democratic caucus for two decades\u2014second only to Rep. Nancy Pelosi, an ally and frequent sparring partner\u2014Hoyer played the role of happy warrior and shrewd tactician, a consensus-building centrist who complemented her street-fighting progressivism. The 87-year-old has spent nearly his entire career in public office; Hoyer was elected in 1966 to the Maryland Senate and joined the U.S. House of Representatives in 1981.\n\n\"[Hoyer] is one of the most underrated giants of U.S. legislative history.\" John Berry '80 Former Staffer and Ambassador to Australia\n\nStill popular\u2014he won 72% of the vote in his district in the 2024 primary\u2014Hoyer walks away as the only Marylander to serve as majority leader. A throwback to an era when members of both major parties respected each other, he helped steer the passage of bipartisan landmark legislation including the 1990 American with Disabilities Act and the 2002 Help Americas Vote Act in response to the contested 2000 presidential election, the most sweeping election reform since the Voting Rights Act.\n\n\u201cHe is one of the most underrated giants of U.S. legislative history,\u201d says Berry, who after working for Hoyer ran President Obama\u2019s Office of Personnel Management and served as ambassador to Australia.\n\nFollowing retirement, Hoyer will donate his official papers to UMD Libraries, a collection that contains everything from personal notes, speeches, photos, campaign materials and correspondences with constituents and colleagues.\n\n\u201cFrom the very beginning, the University of Maryland has been a big part of my life, and I\u2019m very proud of it,\u201d he says.\n\nBorn in New York, Hoyer moved to District Heights, Md., as a child and enrolled in UMD in 1957 (tuition: $178). After posting 1.7 and 1.0 GPAs his freshman year, he took a semester off, then reenrolled, still without direction.\n\nOne day that spring, he was set to leave campus when a Pontiac convertible cruised by, carrying the guest speaker to the annual convocation ceremony. Hoyer thought the car looked cool and decided to follow it.\n\nThe teenager sat in awe as the handsome young U.S. senator talked passionately about politics and implored graduates to serve their communities and country. Immediately drawn to public service, Hoyer now calls his walk to the field house to hear John F. Kennedy \u201cmy road to Damascus.\u201d\n\nHe changed his major from business to government and politics and was elected student government vice president. After marrying his high school sweetheart and graduating with high honors, Hoyer enrolled in Georgetown law school and joined the campaign team of U.S. Rep. Daniel Brewster of Maryland; there, he met a young staffer from Baltimore named Nancy D\u2019Alesandro, who the following year became Nancy Pelosi. After he was elected president of the Maryland Young Democrats, anointed by The Washington Post as \u201ca man to watch\u201d and remained on staff when Brewster became a U.S. senator, he made his first run for elected office, distinguishing himself in a crowded field vying for a state Senate seat with a platform on fair housing.\n\nThe newly drawn district had backed segregationist candidate George Wallace in the 1964 presidential election, but Hoyer focused on a concentration of Black constituents, knocking on doors till his knuckles hurt. \u201cPeople saw a skinny white kid looking younger than my 26 years, and said, \u2018What are you doing here?\u2019\u201d he recalls. He won Black voters\u2019 support nearly 7-to-1 and claimed the seat by 300 votes. In Annapolis, he cast one of his first votes to end the ban on interracial marriage.\n\nAt 35, he became Maryland\u2019s youngest-ever Senate president, championing a district growing increasingly Black, educated, affluent and attractive to federal government workers. In 1981 he won a special election to represent the U.S. House\u2019s 5th District, earning the nickname Boy Wonder.\n\n\u201cThere was a certain way Steny Hoyer\u2019s heels click-clicked along the marble halls of the State House that set him apart from the others. He had the sharpest, most urgent click-click in Annapolis,\u201d the Post wrote upon his departure from the legislature.\n\nAmong his new constituents was Yvette Lewis, a Prince George\u2019s County music teacher who dreamed of singing professionally\u2014if only she could get her foot in the door at the Kennedy Center. Her husband suggested she call her congressman; maybe she could speak with a staffer. With surprising ease, she secured a meeting with Hoyer. She left with a smile and no expectations, but two weeks later received a letter from the Kennedy Center offering an interview.\n\nLewis landed a Kennedy Center teaching job, then a Washington Opera audition, then a resident understudy position. Following the contentious 2000 presidential election, she became politically active and ultimately served as chair of the Maryland Democratic Party for eight years. \u201cSteny Hoyer changed my life,\u201d she says.\n\nHoyer didn\u2019t remember their original meeting when they first bumped into each other in political circles years later, but that didn\u2019t surprise her.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m not unique,\u201d says Lewis, now a close friend who sits on the University System of Maryland Board of Regents. \u201cI\u2019m one of a million Hoyer stories.\u201d\n\nHoyer gradually built his influence in Congress, chairing the Helsinki Commission on U.S.-European security, earning a seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee and traveling to Darfur and South Sudan to raise awareness of genocide. He became Pelosi\u2019s chief lieutenant in 2003 and House majority leader in 2007, charged with scheduling floor business and mobilizing the party vote on important legislation.\n\nWith increased clout, he directed millions of dollars into UMD programs through federal agency appropriations. A savvy analyst, he identified potential research partnerships, joint faculty appointments and student pipelines connecting UMD to the government, then brokered behind-the-scenes deals.\n\n\u201cHe might tell his colleagues in the House, \u2018Hey, the engineering school\u2019s developing a remote sensing program that would be great for NASA Goddard,\u2019\u201d says Brian Darmody, chief strategy officer for the Association of University Research Parks. Formerly UMD\u2019s assistant vice president for research and economic development, he worked closely with Hoyer in the 2000s to establish M Square, a public-private research hub that has since grown into UMD\u2019s Discovery District Maryland.\n\nHoyer also secured funds from the Department of Defense for a UMD center now known as the Applied Research Lab for Intelligence and Security; from the Department of Agriculture for the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, where more than two dozen UMD faculty work; and from the Food and Drug Administration for its Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, which has a research partnership with UMD in College Park. On campus, Hoyer also helped net construction money for the Physical Sciences Complex and The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.\n\nMeanwhile, he continued preaching in support of civil rights. In 2010, when a bill to end the \u201cDon\u2019t Ask, Don\u2019t Tell\u201d policy banning gay Americans from serving openly in the military died in committee, Hoyer sidestepped the blockade by orchestrating a second Senate vote at the eleventh hour of the session, a \u201cpolitical miracle,\u201d says Berry, his former staffer.\n\nHoyer was the first person whom Berry came out to as gay, after his parents. When Berry\u2019s partner died of AIDS, Hoyer pulled over on Route 50 and listened to him weep on the phone for 30 minutes.\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s not only the best boss I\u2019ve ever had, but a mentor, a second father, a true saint,\u201d says Berry.\n\nHoyer looks younger han his 87 years, and he knows it. \u201cGod\u2019s been good,\u201d he says, after practically bounding into his office on the top floor of the Longworth building in crisp shirtsleeves and a yellow tie. Mentally sharp, though unsure whether he could deliver at 89, he is retiring somewhat reluctantly. Pelosi, his longtime colleague, is also stepping down at age 86.\n\nOne corner of Hoyer\u2019s office is dedicated to the late Rep. John Lewis, one of his closest friends in Congress, with whom he marched 15 times across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., to make good trouble. In an opposite corner is the flag of Denmark (the self-described \u201cproud Dane\u201d in 2009 was honored as a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog).\n\nAfter retirement, he\u2019ll remain active in Democratic politics and spend more time in his St. Mary\u2019s County home. A rabid UMD football and basketball fan, he intends to keep shouting at nearly every home game alongside his wife, Elaine Kamarck, a director at a public policy nonprofit whom he married in 2023. (Hoyer\u2019s first wife, the educator Judy Pickett Hoyer, died in 1997, leading Hoyer to create early-childhood programs across Maryland in her name.)\n\nHe\u2019ll leave the House having shaped the careers of hundreds of staffers, including Jazz Lewis \u201911, MPP \u201914, who met Hoyer as a graduate student intending to become a community organizer. Instead, he agreed to lead his reelection campaign the day after commencement.\n\n\u201cHis approach to public service was kindness, thoughtfulness and always following up. Every function was super long because he listened to everyone\u2014it didn\u2019t matter if they were a mechanic or someone\u2019s granny,\u201d says Lewis, who became Hoyer\u2019s senior policy adviser and is now UMD\u2019s director of state government relations.\n\nHoyer\u2019s seat will almost certainly be inherited by another recent campaign manager, 32-year-old state Del. Adrian Boafo, who in June won the Democratic primary.\n\nEver congenial, the lion of the House laments that American politics has devolved into pettiness and divisiveness over the last decade. Still, he\u2019s an optimist, easily quoting from Kennedy\u2019s 1961 inaugural address: \u201cThe torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans ... unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed.\u201d\n\nTwelve presidential administrations later, in an emotional January speech on the House floor to announce his retirement, Hoyer passed his own torch, urging his colleagues to examine their conscience and renew their courage: \u201cWe must remember that we are not great or unique because we say we\u2019re great, but because we are just, generous and fair.\u201d\n\n\"I believe in democracy. I believe that over time, people mostly do the right thing.\" Steny Hoyer '63", 1, "2026-09-10T09:25:58Z", "2026-09-10T09:27:09Z"], ["https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases/over-250-current-former-members-congress-urge-supreme-court-block-trumps", "Over 250 Current & Former Members of Congress Urge Supreme Court to Block Trump\u2019s Executive Order Limiting Mail Voting", "2026-09-09", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Glenn Ivey", "I000058", "ivey.house.gov", "ivey", "https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Current and former Members of Congress mobilized in a court filing challenging the legality of President Donald Trump\u2019s Executive Order seeking to exert control over mail-in ballots ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The effort was led by House Administration Ranking Member Joe Morelle; Assistant House Minority Leader Joe Neguse, who leads the House Democrats\u2019 Litigation Task Force; and Task Force Co-Chairs Oversight Ranking Member Robert Garcia and Judiciary Ranking Member Jamie Raskin. In the Senate, the brief was championed by Rules Committee Ranking Member Alex Padilla; Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer; Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin; and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gary Peters.\n\nThe group, made up of a bipartisan, bicameral coalition of 261 lawmakers, filed an amicus brief to the Supreme Court of the United States in the matter of United States Postal Service, et al., v. State of California, et al., a lawsuit brought by a coalition of State Attorneys General against the U.S. Postal Service. The court case challenges a Final Rule issued by the USPS pursuant to Trump\u2019s directive that imposes unconstitutional and unworkable restrictions on mail-in voting, including requiring states to provide a \u201ccitizenship verification list\u201d and attempting to give USPS control over who can vote by mail.\n\nOne-third of Americans are expected to vote by mail in the upcoming midterm elections\u2014a voting practice Donald Trump himself used as recently as August 2026, when the president voted in Florida\u2019s Republican primary.\n\nIn the court filing, the amici curiae argue that Trump\u2019s Executive Order 14399, \u201cEnsuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections,\u201d violates the separation of powers and usurps congressional authorities outlined in Article I of the U.S. Constitution, which gives the states and Congress exclusive authority over election administration.\n\n\u201cAs current and former legislators, amici took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States\u2014including its guarantee of the separation of powers. Amici have a particular interest in defending the institutional role of the Legislative Branch under Article I of the Constitution and in vindicating the long-settled principle that the Constitution commits ultimate regulatory authority over federal elections to Congress. The Constitution does not contemplate the Executive Branch acting unilaterally to assert power over federal elections. Yet that is what the Order and Final Rule do,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\nThe amici also pointed to a recent federal court ruling blocking the USPS from implementing its newly finalized mail ballot rule for the midterm elections, saying the agency lacked the authority to implement the rule and that its actions are \u201csubstantively unconstitutional and contrary to law.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe district court correctly concluded that Appellees are likely to succeed on the merits of their claims that USPS lacked authority to issue the Final Rule, that the Final Rule unconstitutionally imposes mail-ballot requirements on the States, and that the Final Rule unconstitutionally bars non-compliant State and local election officials from using the USPS to mail ballots at all.\u201d\n\nThe group concluded by asserting States\u2019 power to administer elections and Congress\u2019s power to make or alter rules regulating elections, which the Supreme Court itself has described as an \u201coverride\u201d authority. The president\u2019s illegal incursion on this authority is an attempt to disenfranchise people who depend on mail-in ballots to vote.\n\nThe lawmakers concluded: \u201cThe integrity of our constitutional system depends on each branch keeping to its assigned role. The Framers set up a two-part system that gave the States default authority to regulate federal elections subject to Congress\u2019s authority to override the States. The Framers did not provide the President with any authority to interfere in that system, nor has Congress imbued the Executive Branch with any such authority by statute.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-10T09:25:58Z", "2026-09-10T09:27:09Z"], ["https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-statement-on-the-retirement-of-smithsonian-secretary-lonnie-bunch", "Congressman Mfume Statement on the Retirement of Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch", "2026-09-09", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Kweisi Mfume", "M000687", "mfume.house.gov", "mfume", "https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, in response to the retirement of Smithsonian Secretary Dr. Lonnie G. Bunch III, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07) released the following statement:\n\n\"Lonnie Bunch has devoted nearly four decades to ensuring that America tells its whole, unvarnished story. He understood that our history, in all its complexity and consequence, deserves to be preserved, taught, and understood. His extraordinary work bringing the National Museum of African American History and Culture to life changed the National Mall and changed the way current and future generations of Americans understand our nation and themselves.\"\n\n\"Shame again on Donald Trump, who wants to impose his own brand of history and facts on the American public. Kudos to Dr. Lonnie Bunch for a fight well fought. Scholarship is more important than presidential gamesmanship.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-10T09:25:58Z", "2026-09-10T09:27:09Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyer-statement-retirement-smithsonian-secretary-lonnie-g-bunch-iii", "Hoyer Statement on the Retirement of Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III", "2026-09-08", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny H. Hoyer", "H000874", "hoyer.house.gov", "hoyer", "https://hoyer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) issued the following statement after Secretary of the Smithsonian Lonnie G. Bunch III announced his plans to retire:\n\n\u201cFor the past seven years, Lonnie Bunch has led the Smithsonian with a deft hand and a passion for its mission. He has skillfully navigated challenges to the institution\u2019s independence and academic integrity, and the Smithsonian has benefited from his strong leadership and unique cascade of talents.\n\n\u201cEarlier, as the founding Director and principal architect who collaborated with John Lewis and other major African-American leaders, including from the Congressional Black Caucus, Secretary Bunch created one of the premier institutions teaching and preserving African-American history and culture.\n\n\u201cI am extremely disappointed that a world-class institution is losing a world-class leader. The next leader of the Smithsonian must be someone like Secretary Bunch who will fight to preserve its independence. We must not allow political interference to shape how visitors experience the art, history, and science presented at Smithsonian facilities. They must be based on facts and on expert interpretation by respected scholars, not based on ideology.\n\n\u201cSadly, Secretary Bunch is the latest casualty of this Administration\u2019s war on intellectual honesty and the complex facts of our history. This President and his advisors have no shame or regard for the truth, ordering messages to be posted in front of the Smithsonian Museum of American History and other places promoting revisionist, partisan interpretations of our past.\n\n\u201cI look forward to engaging with the Board of Regents and with key Congressional colleagues to ensure that the process to select the fifteenth Secretary of the Smithsonian is fair, open, and unblemished by political interference.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-delegation-submits-items-congressional-time-capsule-celebration", "Maryland Delegation Submits Items for Congressional Time Capsule in Celebration of America\u2019s 250th Anniversary", "2026-09-08", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Glenn Ivey", "I000058", "ivey.house.gov", "ivey", "https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 In honor of America\u2019s 250th anniversary, this summer, the full Maryland Congressional Delegation \u2013 U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all Md.) \u2013 submitted a Fort McHenry Flag and a Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) Railroad Centenary Souvenir Medal to the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule. Sealed and buried by the Architect of the Capitol, the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule contains a joint letter and items of significance from every state and territory reflecting the history and culture of our country. It will be opened by the 224th Congress in celebration of our nation's 500th anniversary on July 4, 2276.\n\nThe items selected by the Maryland delegation represent Maryland\u2019s critical role in the history of America:\n\nFort McHenry Flag: This 15-Star Flag, also known as a Fort McHenry Flag, is a replica of the one that flew above Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the United States national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, in 1814. The flag that was flying at Fort McHenry that day was sewn at 844 E. Pratt Street in Baltimore by Mary Pickersgill, members of her family, and indentured and enslaved African-American women \u2013 it is now on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. The Fort McHenry Flag has 15 stars and 15 stripes to account for Vermont and Kentucky becoming the 14th and 15th states, and was the official flag of the United States from 1795-1818. The Fort McHenry Flag included in the Congressional Time Capsule was flown over 844 E. Pratt Street, now known as the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House, on July 4, 2026, on the occasion of America\u2019s 250th anniversary.\n\nB&O Railroad Centenary Souvenir Medal: This commemorative coin was crafted in honor of the B&O Railroad\u2019s 100th anniversary in 1927. The B&O Souvenir Medal was selected for the Congressional Time Capsule because of the B&O Railroad\u2019s significant impact on both the state of Maryland and the country \u2013 chartered on February 28, 1827, it was the first-ever railroad to carry both passengers and freight for a toll. It pioneered railway engineering and spurred industrial opportunity for the United States. Notably, construction of the B&O Railroad began on July 4, 1828, with a groundbreaking event in Baltimore that featured Marylander Charles Carroll, the last living signer of the Declaration of Independence. The Souvenir Medal was donated to this time capsule by the National Museum of Railroad History and Innovation located in Baltimore.\n\n\u201cMarylanders have always played a central role in American history \u2013 from the Maryland 400 holding strong against the British Army in 1776, to Baltimore\u2019s own Thurgood Marshall expanding justice under the law, to the countless scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs pushing our nation forward every day. Inspired by the legacy of these great Marylanders and those still to come, we will continue working to build a nation that lives up to the American promise of equal justice, equal rights, and equal opportunity for all. As we celebrate America\u2019s 250th anniversary, the items Team Maryland chose for this Congressional Time Capsule showcase the resilience and innovation woven into the histories of both our great state and nation. This time capsule is a reflection on the work our nation has done over the past 250 years to live up to our founding ideals, and a statement of belief that 250 years from now our democracy will be even stronger,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cIt was an honor to celebrate America\u2019s 250th Anniversary by looking back at Maryland\u2019s contributions to technology, science, and culture that have transformed our nation forever. And when this time capsule is opened on July 4, 2276, I hope Marylanders will look back at the mark we are leaving now \u2013 how we stood for justice, worked hard to advance society, cured diseases, found solutions to complex problems, and did it all with joy and love for each other,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cIt can be difficult to imagine America at 500. What technologies will define the way we live and work? What will our nation celebrate and mourn from its history? How will our people build community and understand the bonds that keep us together? The America 250 Congressional Time Capsule will offer them a window into our nation and our moment in history. I\u2019m proud to join Team Maryland in offering future Marylanders a reminder of what we cherish and how we celebrate our state\u2019s place in American history,\u201d said Congressman Hoyer.\n\n\"The United States of America's 250th Birthday is a momentous occasion, and with the selection of these items for the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule, we ensure that Maryland's contributions to American history will be preserved for our nation's Quincentennial,\" said Congressman Mfume. \"The resilience and fortitude represented by this 15-star flag \u2013 the same design as flew over Fort McHenry while Francis Scott Key penned our National Anthem \u2013 as well as the pioneering spirit and ingenuity embodied by the commemorative B&O Railroad coin, are traits that have characterized Marylanders for generations. Let this capsule carry them forward to those Americans who open it next.\"\n\n\u201cMaryland\u2019s contributions to our country stretch back to the earliest days of our nation. More than two centuries later, that legacy continues across the Eastern Shore and Chesapeake Bay, where farmers and watermen remain an important part of American agriculture and seafood production, and through the Port of Baltimore, which connects our state to commerce around the world. The items selected by the Maryland delegation capture two defining moments in that history and will carry a piece of Maryland\u2019s past forward as America celebrates its 250th anniversary,\u201d said Congressman Harris.\n\n\u201cFrom Frederick Douglass to Harriet Tubman to Rachel Carson to Thurgood Marshall, Marylanders have been devoted patriots and fighters for our land, our democracy and our freedom,\u201d said Congressman Raskin. \u201cWhen this time capsule is opened, future Americans will be reminded of the Free State\u2019s many enduring cultural, scientific and political contributions to our nation\u2019s history and our shared work to build a more perfect union.\u201d\n\n\u201cMaryland has always been at the heart of America\u2019s story, and our contributions to this country extend far beyond the moments we typically see in the history books. The flag that inspired our national anthem was sewn in Baltimore by Mary Pickersgill, her family, and Black women whose contributions were essential to our nation\u2019s history. The B&O Railroad helped launch America\u2019s industrial future from right here in Maryland. As we celebrate 250 years of our nation, these artifacts remind us that America\u2019s story has always been shaped by the people, ingenuity, and perseverance of Marylanders. I\u2019m proud to help preserve that story for Americans 250 years from now,\u201d said Congressman Ivey.\n\n\u201cHome to the oldest State Capitol to remain in use and the only State House to have served as the nation\u2019s Capitol; the place where our Founders met in 1786 and decided we needed a new system of government that led to the Constitution we have today; and the state where our flag flew high after the Battle of Fort McHenry, inspiring our national anthem \u2014 Maryland\u2019s role in our nation\u2019s history is undeniable,\u201d said Congresswoman Elfreth. \u201cThe artifacts we preserved today tell crucial pieces of Maryland\u2019s story in the last 250 years of our nation\u2019s history, and Team Maryland is committed to preserving this legacy for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cPeople call Maryland America in miniature. That started as a line about our climate and geography, but I think it says something truer about us: for more than 250 years, Maryland has helped build this country. What our delegation put in this time capsule shows exactly that,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney.\n\n\u201cMaryland has always punched above its weight in shaping the story of America. From the flag that inspired our national anthem to the railroad that helped connect a growing nation, these artifacts help tell the story of Maryland\u2019s role in defending our freedom and creating opportunity,\u201d said Congressman Olszewski. \u201cNow, 250 years later, the fight for these ideals continues in different ways. It is with a spirit of hope that we look to the future -- that generations of Americans will continue our march toward a more perfect union.\"", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://mcclaindelaney.house.gov/media/press-releases/mcclain-delaney-calls-answers-following-federal-enforcement-activity-frederick", "McClain Delaney Calls for Answers Following Federal Enforcement Activity in Frederick", "2026-09-07", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "April McClain Delaney", "M001232", "mcclaindelaney.house.gov", "mcclaindelaney", "https://mcclaindelaney.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington D.C. - What we have seen in Frederick over the past several days is deeply concerning. No family should be afraid to leave their home or feel unsafe in their own neighborhood. The safety and well-being of our residents must come first.\n\nMy office has been closely monitoring the situation, and I have been in direct contact with local elected officials and community leaders to hear about what occurred and the concerns residents have raised. also been in communication with Frederick\u2019s mayor and public safety officials to discuss the situation and determine what additional steps are needed.\n\nI am especially disturbed by reports that ICE agents used force against Frederick residents. These allegations demand immediate answers and a full, transparent investigation.\n\nFederal law enforcement has a responsibility to carry out its duties lawfully and safely\u2014and the Frederick community deserves transparency and answers.\n\nI will continue working proactively with local leaders, law enforcement, and community organizations to get those answers and ensure the safety of Frederick residents remains our top priority.", 1, "2026-09-08T09:24:24Z", "2026-09-08T09:26:10Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-harris-announces-us-service-academy-information-night-high-school", "Congressman Harris Announces U.S. Service Academy Information Night for High School Students", "2026-09-04", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", "harris", "https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "September 4, 2026\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01), announced that his Service Academy Information Night will be held in person on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 6:00 PM ET at the McFaul Activity Center, located at 525 W. MacPhail Rd., Bel Air, MD 21014.\n\nThe event will provide an overview of the application and nomination process for the nation\u2019s five U.S. Service Academies, including the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.\n\nTo register for this event or request additional information, please RSVP to MD01Academy@mail.house.gov. Attendance is limited to applicants and their families and is not open to the media.\n\nCongressman Harris\u2019s Academy Nominations Application Portal is now open and available here. Prospective applicants are encouraged to complete the online application as soon as possible.\n\nFor media inquiries, please contact Michella Carter at Michella.Carter@mail.house.gov", 1, "2026-09-05T08:49:07Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyer-statement-august-jobs-report-2", "Hoyer Statement on August Jobs Report", "2026-09-04", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny H. Hoyer", "H000874", "hoyer.house.gov", "hoyer", "https://hoyer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement on the August jobs report:\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s jobs report continues to demonstrate the urgency with which the current Administration must address the affordability crisis. While our economy saw an increase of 162,000 jobs in August, inflation is rising faster than average household earnings. In fact, wage gains are rising at the slowest pace since the pandemic, leaving families with fewer resources to pay for gas, groceries, and medical care. For months, Americans have faced rising prices, and now, as a result of President Trump\u2019s trade war against Canada, costs will only continue to soar.\n\n\u201cAmericans know all too well where the blame lies. President Trump\u2019s approval rating has reached a record low as workers and their families continue to worry about affordability; meanwhile, the majority of Americans disapprove of his handling of the economy and his endless war of choice in Iran, which is driving up gas prices. But rather than actually addressing the concerns of the public, the President has continued to focus on advantaging himself and his billionaire associates and on expensive vanity projects like the White House ballroom.\n\n\"President Trump and Republicans in Congress are doing everything they can to distract attention from the real issues facing Americans. While President Trump has said, absurdly, that the current economy is \u2018the greatest economy we've ever had, by far,\u2019 Americans know the truth: his claims are nothing but tall tales spun from his gilded halls of Mar-a-Lago. Americans deserve better, and House Democrats are ready to address the affordability crisis from day one if returned to the Majority.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-05T08:49:07Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://mcclaindelaney.house.gov/media/press-releases/mcclain-delaney-statement-reports-ongoing-ice-presence-across-frederick", "McClain Delaney Statement on Reports of Ongoing ICE Presence Across Frederick Communities", "2026-09-04", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "April McClain Delaney", "M001232", "mcclaindelaney.house.gov", "mcclaindelaney", "https://mcclaindelaney.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (MD-06) today issued the following statement in response to reports of a heavy and ongoing presence of federal immigration agents across several Frederick communities:\n\n\u201cI am closely monitoring reports that ICE agents and multiple vehicles have maintained a sustained presence across residential neighborhoods in Frederick for more than 30 hours. According to community members, residents have consistently observed between two and eight vehicles in the area since this activity began.\n\n\u201cFamilies\u2014including many with lawful immigration status\u2014are staying inside and scared to come out. No family should feel unsafe simply living in their own neighborhood.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve reached out to local officials for a full accounting of what\u2019s happening on the ground, and I\u2019ll have more to say once I know the facts. In the meantime, my office is available to any constituent who needs help or has questions about their rights.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-05T08:49:07Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/mfume-maryland-delegation-submits-items-for-congressional-time-capsule-in-celebration-of-america-s-250th-anniversary", "Mfume, Maryland Delegation Submits Items for Congressional Time Capsule in Celebration of America\u2019s 250th Anniversary", "2026-09-04", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Kweisi Mfume", "M000687", "mfume.house.gov", "mfume", "https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 In honor of America\u2019s 250th anniversary, this summer, the full Maryland Congressional Delegation \u2013 Congressman Kweisi Mfume, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer, Andy Harris, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all MD) \u2013 submitted a Fort McHenry Flag and a Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) Railroad Centenary Souvenir Medal to the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule. Sealed and buried by the Architect of the Capitol, the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule contains a joint letter and items of significance from every state and territory reflecting the history and culture of our country. It will be opened by the 224th Congress in celebration of our nation's 500th anniversary on July 4, 2276.\n\nThe items selected by the Maryland delegation represent Maryland\u2019s critical role in the history of America:\n\nFort McHenry Flag: This 15-Star Flag, also known as a Fort McHenry Flag, is a replica of the one that flew above Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the United States national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, in 1814. The flag that was flying at Fort McHenry that day was sewn at 844 E. Pratt Street in Baltimore by Mary Pickersgill, members of her family, and indentured and enslaved African-American women \u2013 it is now on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. The Fort McHenry Flag has 15 stars and 15 stripes to account for Vermont and Kentucky becoming the 14th and 15th states, and was the official flag of the United States from 1795-1818. The Fort McHenry Flag included in the Congressional Time Capsule was flown over 844 E. Pratt Street, now known as the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House, on July 4, 2026, on the occasion of America\u2019s 250th anniversary.\n\nB&O Railroad Centenary Souvenir Medal: This commemorative coin was crafted in honor of the B&O Railroad\u2019s 100th anniversary in 1927. The B&O Souvenir Medal was selected for the Congressional Time Capsule because of the B&O Railroad\u2019s significant impact on both the state of Maryland and the country \u2013 chartered on February 28, 1827, it was the first-ever railroad to carry both passengers and freight for a toll. It pioneered railway engineering and spurred industrial opportunity for the United States. Notably, construction of the B&O Railroad began on July 4, 1828, with a groundbreaking event in Baltimore that featured Marylander Charles Carroll, the last living signer of the Declaration of Independence. The Souvenir Medal was donated to this time capsule by the National Museum of Railroad History and Innovation located in Baltimore.\n\n\"The United States of America's 250th Birthday is a momentous occasion, and with the selection of these items for the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule, we ensure that Maryland's contributions to American history will be preserved for our nation's Quincentennial,\" said Congressman Mfume. \"The resilience and fortitude represented by this 15-star flag \u2013 the same design as flew over Fort McHenry while Francis Scott Key penned our National Anthem \u2013 as well as the pioneering spirit and ingenuity embodied by the commemorative B&O Railroad coin, are traits that have characterized Marylanders for generations. Let this capsule carry them forward to those Americans who open it next.\"\n\n\u201cMarylanders have always played a central role in American history \u2013 from the Maryland 400 holding strong against the British Army in 1776, to Baltimore\u2019s own Thurgood Marshall expanding justice under the law, to the countless scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs pushing our nation forward every day. Inspired by the legacy of these great Marylanders and those still to come, we will continue working to build a nation that lives up to the American promise of equal justice, equal rights, and equal opportunity for all. As we celebrate America\u2019s 250th anniversary, the items Team Maryland chose for this Congressional Time Capsule showcase the resilience and innovation woven into the histories of both our great state and nation. This time capsule is a reflection on the work our nation has done over the past 250 years to live up to our founding ideals, and a statement of belief that 250 years from now our democracy will be even stronger,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cIt was an honor to celebrate America\u2019s 250th Anniversary by looking back at Maryland\u2019s contributions to technology, science, and culture that have transformed our nation forever. And when this time capsule is opened on July 4, 2276, I hope Marylanders will look back at the mark we are leaving now \u2013 how we stood for justice, worked hard to advance society, cured diseases, found solutions to complex problems, and did it all with joy and love for each other,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cIt can be difficult to imagine America at 500. What technologies will define the way we live and work? What will our nation celebrate and mourn from its history? How will our people build community and understand the bonds that keep us together? The America 250 Congressional Time Capsule will offer them a window into our nation and our moment in history. I\u2019m proud to join Team Maryland in offering future Marylanders a reminder of what we cherish and how we celebrate our state\u2019s place in American history,\u201d said Congressman Hoyer.\n\n\u201cMaryland\u2019s contributions to our country stretch back to the earliest days of our nation. More than two centuries later, that legacy continues across the Eastern Shore and Chesapeake Bay, where farmers and watermen remain an important part of American agriculture and seafood production, and through the Port of Baltimore, which connects our state to commerce around the world. The items selected by the Maryland delegation capture two defining moments in that history and will carry a piece of Maryland\u2019s past forward as America celebrates its 250th anniversary,\u201d said Congressman Harris.\n\n\u201cFrom Frederick Douglass to Harriet Tubman to Rachel Carson to Thurgood Marshall, Marylanders have been devoted patriots and fighters for our land, our democracy and our freedom,\u201d said Congressman Raskin. \u201cWhen this time capsule is opened, future Americans will be reminded of the Free State\u2019s many enduring cultural, scientific and political contributions to our nation\u2019s history and our shared work to build a more perfect union.\u201d\n\n\u201cMaryland has always been at the heart of America\u2019s story, and our contributions to this country extend far beyond the moments we typically see in the history books. The flag that inspired our national anthem was sewn in Baltimore by Mary Pickersgill, her family, and Black women whose contributions were essential to our nation\u2019s history. The B&O Railroad helped launch America\u2019s industrial future from right here in Maryland. As we celebrate 250 years of our nation, these artifacts remind us that America\u2019s story has always been shaped by the people, ingenuity, and perseverance of Marylanders. I\u2019m proud to help preserve that story for Americans 250 years from now,\u201d said Congressman Ivey.\n\n\u201cHome to the oldest State Capitol to remain in use and the only State House to have served as the nation\u2019s Capitol; the place where our Founders met in 1786 and decided we needed a new system of government that led to the Constitution we have today; and the state where our flag flew high after the Battle of Fort McHenry, inspiring our national anthem \u2014 Maryland\u2019s role in our nation\u2019s history is undeniable,\u201d said Congresswoman Elfreth. \u201cThe artifacts we preserved today tell crucial pieces of Maryland\u2019s story in the last 250 years of our nation\u2019s history, and Team Maryland is committed to preserving this legacy for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cPeople call Maryland America in miniature. That started as a line about our climate and geography, but I think it says something truer about us: for more than 250 years, Maryland has helped build this country. What our delegation put in this time capsule shows exactly that,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney.", 1, "2026-09-05T08:49:07Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-delegation-submits-items-for-congressional-time-capsule-in-celebration-of-americas-250th-anniversary", "Maryland Delegation Submits Items for Congressional Time Capsule in Celebration of America\u2019s 250th Anniversary", "2026-09-04", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "In honor of America\u2019s 250th anniversary, this summer, the full Maryland Congressional Delegation \u2013 U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all Md.) \u2013 submitted a Fort McHenry Flag and a Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) Railroad Centenary Souvenir Medal to the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule. Sealed and buried by the Architect of the Capitol, the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule contains a joint letter and items of significance from every state and territory reflecting the history and culture of our country. It will be opened by the 224th Congress in celebration of our nation's 500th anniversary on July 4, 2276.\n\nThe items selected by the Maryland delegation represent Maryland\u2019s critical role in the history of America:\n\nFort McHenry Flag: This 15-Star Flag, also known as a Fort McHenry Flag, is a replica of the one that flew above Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the United States national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, in 1814. The flag that was flying at Fort McHenry that day was sewn at 844 E. Pratt Street in Baltimore by Mary Pickersgill, members of her family, and indentured and enslaved African-American women \u2013 it is now on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. The Fort McHenry Flag has 15 stars and 15 stripes to account for Vermont and Kentucky becoming the 14th and 15th states, and was the official flag of the United States from 1795-1818. The Fort McHenry Flag included in the Congressional Time Capsule was flown over 844 E. Pratt Street, now known as the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House, on July 4, 2026, on the occasion of America\u2019s 250th anniversary.\n\nB&O Railroad Centenary Souvenir Medal: This commemorative coin was crafted in honor of the B&O Railroad\u2019s 100th anniversary in 1927. The B&O Souvenir Medal was selected for the Congressional Time Capsule because of the B&O Railroad\u2019s significant impact on both the state of Maryland and the country \u2013 chartered on February 28, 1827, it was the first-ever railroad to carry both passengers and freight for a toll. It pioneered railway engineering and spurred industrial opportunity for the United States. Notably, construction of the B&O Railroad began on July 4, 1828, with a groundbreaking event in Baltimore that featured Marylander Charles Carroll, the last living signer of the Declaration of Independence. The Souvenir Medal was donated to this time capsule by the National Museum of Railroad History and Innovation located in Baltimore.\n\n\u201cMarylanders have always played a central role in American history \u2013 from the Maryland 400 holding strong against the British Army in 1776, to Baltimore\u2019s own Thurgood Marshall expanding justice under the law, to the countless scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs pushing our nation forward every day. Inspired by the legacy of these great Marylanders and those still to come, we will continue working to build a nation that lives up to the American promise of equal justice, equal rights, and equal opportunity for all. As we celebrate America\u2019s 250th anniversary, the items Team Maryland chose for this Congressional Time Capsule showcase the resilience and innovation woven into the histories of both our great state and nation. This time capsule is a reflection on the work our nation has done over the past 250 years to live up to our founding ideals, and a statement of belief that 250 years from now our democracy will be even stronger,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cIt was an honor to celebrate America\u2019s 250th Anniversary by looking back at Maryland\u2019s contributions to technology, science, and culture that have transformed our nation forever. And when this time capsule is opened on July 4, 2276, I hope Marylanders will look back at the mark we are leaving now \u2013 how we stood for justice, worked hard to advance society, cured diseases, found solutions to complex problems, and did it all with joy and love for each other,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cIt can be difficult to imagine America at 500. What technologies will define the way we live and work? What will our nation celebrate and mourn from its history? How will our people build community and understand the bonds that keep us together? The America 250 Congressional Time Capsule will offer them a window into our nation and our moment in history. I\u2019m proud to join Team Maryland in offering future Marylanders a reminder of what we cherish and how we celebrate our state\u2019s place in American history,\u201d said Congressman Hoyer.\n\n\"The United States of America's 250th Birthday is a momentous occasion, and with the selection of these items for the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule, we ensure that Maryland's contributions to American history will be preserved for our nation's Quincentennial,\" said Congressman Mfume. \"The resilience and fortitude represented by this 15-star flag \u2013 the same design as flew over Fort McHenry while Francis Scott Key penned our National Anthem \u2013 as well as the pioneering spirit and ingenuity embodied by the commemorative B&O Railroad coin, are traits that have characterized Marylanders for generations. Let this capsule carry them forward to those Americans who open it next.\"\n\n\u201cMaryland\u2019s contributions to our country stretch back to the earliest days of our nation. More than two centuries later, that legacy continues across the Eastern Shore and Chesapeake Bay, where farmers and watermen remain an important part of American agriculture and seafood production, and through the Port of Baltimore, which connects our state to commerce around the world. The items selected by the Maryland delegation capture two defining moments in that history and will carry a piece of Maryland\u2019s past forward as America celebrates its 250th anniversary,\u201d said Congressman Harris.\n\n\u201cFrom Frederick Douglass to Harriet Tubman to Rachel Carson to Thurgood Marshall, Marylanders have been devoted patriots and fighters for our land, our democracy and our freedom,\u201d said Congressman Raskin. \u201cWhen this time capsule is opened, future Americans will be reminded of the Free State\u2019s many enduring cultural, scientific and political contributions to our nation\u2019s history and our shared work to build a more perfect union.\u201d\n\n\u201cMaryland has always been at the heart of America\u2019s story, and our contributions to this country extend far beyond the moments we typically see in the history books. The flag that inspired our national anthem was sewn in Baltimore by Mary Pickersgill, her family, and Black women whose contributions were essential to our nation\u2019s history. The B&O Railroad helped launch America\u2019s industrial future from right here in Maryland. As we celebrate 250 years of our nation, these artifacts remind us that America\u2019s story has always been shaped by the people, ingenuity, and perseverance of Marylanders. I\u2019m proud to help preserve that story for Americans 250 years from now,\u201d said Congressman Ivey.\n\n\u201cHome to the oldest State Capitol to remain in use and the only State House to have served as the nation\u2019s Capitol; the place where our Founders met in 1786 and decided we needed a new system of government that led to the Constitution we have today; and the state where our flag flew high after the Battle of Fort McHenry, inspiring our national anthem \u2014 Maryland\u2019s role in our nation\u2019s history is undeniable,\u201d said Congresswoman Elfreth. \u201cThe artifacts we preserved today tell crucial pieces of Maryland\u2019s story in the last 250 years of our nation\u2019s history, and Team Maryland is committed to preserving this legacy for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cPeople call Maryland America in miniature. That started as a line about our climate and geography, but I think it says something truer about us: for more than 250 years, Maryland has helped build this country. What our delegation put in this time capsule shows exactly that,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney.\n\n\u201cMaryland has always punched above its weight in shaping the story of America. From the flag that inspired our national anthem to the railroad that helped connect a growing nation, these artifacts help tell the story of Maryland\u2019s role in defending our freedom and creating opportunity,\u201d said Congressman Olszewski. \u201cNow, 250 years later, the fight for these ideals continues in different ways. It is with a spirit of hope that we look to the future -- that generations of Americans will continue our march toward a more perfect union.\"", 1, "2026-09-05T08:49:07Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://elfreth.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-delegation-submits-items-congressional-time-capsule-celebration", "Maryland Delegation Submits Items for Congressional Time Capsule in Celebration of America\u2019s 250th Anniversary", "2026-09-04", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Sarah Elfreth", "E000301", "elfreth.house.gov", "elfreth", "https://elfreth.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 This summer, in honor of America\u2019s 250th anniversary, the full Maryland Congressional Delegation \u2013 Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all MD) \u2013 submitted a Fort McHenry Flag and a Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) Railroad Centenary Souvenir Medal to the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule. Sealed and buried by the Architect of the Capitol, the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule contains a joint letter and items of significance from every state and territory reflecting the history and culture of our country. It will be opened by the 224th Congress in celebration of our nation's 500th anniversary on July 4, 2276.\n\nThe items selected by the Maryland delegation represent Maryland\u2019s critical role in the history of America:\n\nFort McHenry Flag: This 15-Star Flag, also known as a Fort McHenry Flag, is a replica of the one that flew above Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the United States national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, in 1814. The flag that was flying at Fort McHenry that day was sewn at 844 E. Pratt Street in Baltimore by Mary Pickersgill, members of her family, and indentured and enslaved African-American women \u2013 it is now on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. The Fort McHenry Flag has 15 stars and 15 stripes to account for Vermont and Kentucky becoming the 14th and 15th states, and was the official flag of the United States from 1795-1818. The Fort McHenry Flag included in the Congressional Time Capsule was flown over 844 E. Pratt Street, now known as the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House, on July 4, 2026, on the occasion of America\u2019s 250th anniversary.\n\nB&O Railroad Centenary Souvenir Medal: This commemorative coin was crafted in honor of the B&O Railroad\u2019s 100th anniversary in 1927. The B&O Souvenir Medal was selected for the Congressional Time Capsule because of the B&O Railroad\u2019s significant impact on both the state of Maryland and the country \u2013 chartered on February 28, 1827, it was the first-ever railroad to carry both passengers and freight for a toll. It pioneered railway engineering and spurred industrial opportunity for the United States. Notably, construction of the B&O Railroad began on July 4, 1828, with a groundbreaking event in Baltimore that featured Marylander Charles Carroll, the last living signer of the Declaration of Independence. The Souvenir Medal was donated to this time capsule by the National Museum of Railroad History and Innovation located in Baltimore.\n\n\u201cHome to the oldest State Capitol to remain in use and the only State House to have served as the nation\u2019s Capitol; the place where our Founders met in 1786 and decided we needed a new system of government that led to the Constitution we have today; and the state where our flag flew high after the Battle of Fort McHenry, inspiring our national anthem \u2014 Maryland\u2019s role in our nation\u2019s history is undeniable,\u201d said Congresswoman Elfreth. \u201cThe artifacts we preserved today tell crucial pieces of Maryland\u2019s story in the last 250 years of our nation\u2019s history, and Team Maryland is committed to preserving this legacy for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cMarylanders have always played a central role in American history \u2013 from the Maryland 400 holding strong against the British Army in 1776, to Baltimore\u2019s own Thurgood Marshall expanding justice under the law, to the countless scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs pushing our nation forward every day. Inspired by the legacy of these great Marylanders and those still to come, we will continue working to build a nation that lives up to the American promise of equal justice, equal rights, and equal opportunity for all. As we celebrate America\u2019s 250th anniversary, the items Team Maryland chose for this Congressional Time Capsule showcase the resilience and innovation woven into the histories of both our great state and nation. This time capsule is a reflection on the work our nation has done over the past 250 years to live up to our founding ideals, and a statement of belief that 250 years from now our democracy will be even stronger,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cIt was an honor to celebrate America\u2019s 250th Anniversary by looking back at Maryland\u2019s contributions to technology, science, and culture that have transformed our nation forever. And when this time capsule is opened on July 4, 2276, I hope Marylanders will look back at the mark we are leaving now \u2013 how we stood for justice, worked hard to advance society, cured diseases, found solutions to complex problems, and did it all with joy and love for each other,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cIt can be difficult to imagine America at 500. What technologies will define the way we live and work? What will our nation celebrate and mourn from its history? How will our people build community and understand the bonds that keep us together? The America 250 Congressional Time Capsule will offer them a window into our nation and our moment in history. I\u2019m proud to join Team Maryland in offering future Marylanders a reminder of what we cherish and how we celebrate our state\u2019s place in American history,\u201d said Congressman Hoyer.\n\n\"The United States of America's 250th Birthday is a momentous occasion, and with the selection of these items for the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule, we ensure that Maryland's contributions to American history will be preserved for our nation's Quincentennial,\" said Congressman Mfume. \"The resilience and fortitude represented by this 15-star flag \u2013 the same design as flew over Fort McHenry while Francis Scott Key penned our National Anthem \u2013 as well as the pioneering spirit and ingenuity embodied by the commemorative B&O Railroad coin, are traits that have characterized Marylanders for generations. Let this capsule carry them forward to those Americans who open it next.\"\n\n\u201cMaryland\u2019s contributions to our country stretch back to the earliest days of our nation. More than two centuries later, that legacy continues across the Eastern Shore and Chesapeake Bay, where farmers and watermen remain an important part of American agriculture and seafood production, and through the Port of Baltimore, which connects our state to commerce around the world. The items selected by the Maryland delegation capture two defining moments in that history and will carry a piece of Maryland\u2019s past forward as America celebrates its 250th anniversary,\u201d said Congressman Harris.\n\n\u201cFrom Frederick Douglass to Harriet Tubman to Rachel Carson to Thurgood Marshall, Marylanders have been devoted patriots and fighters for our land, our democracy and our freedom,\u201d said Congressman Raskin. \u201cWhen this time capsule is opened, future Americans will be reminded of the Free State\u2019s many enduring cultural, scientific and political contributions to our nation\u2019s history and our shared work to build a more perfect union.\u201d\n\n\u201cMaryland has always been at the heart of America\u2019s story, and our contributions to this country extend far beyond the moments we typically see in the history books. The flag that inspired our national anthem was sewn in Baltimore by Mary Pickersgill, her family, and Black women whose contributions were essential to our nation\u2019s history. The B&O Railroad helped launch America\u2019s industrial future from right here in Maryland. As we celebrate 250 years of our nation, these artifacts remind us that America\u2019s story has always been shaped by the people, ingenuity, and perseverance of Marylanders. I\u2019m proud to help preserve that story for Americans 250 years from now,\u201d said Congressman Ivey.\n\n\u201cPeople call Maryland America in miniature. That started as a line about our climate and geography, but I think it says something truer about us: for more than 250 years, Maryland has helped build this country. What our delegation put in this time capsule shows exactly that,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney.\n\n\u201cMaryland has always punched above its weight in shaping the story of America. From the flag that inspired our national anthem to the railroad that helped connect a growing nation, these artifacts help tell the story of Maryland\u2019s role in defending our freedom and creating opportunity,\u201d said Congressman Olszewski. \u201cNow, 250 years later, the fight for these ideals continues in different ways. It is with a spirit of hope that we look to the future -- that generations of Americans will continue our march toward a more perfect union.\"\n\nAn electronic version of Maryland\u2019s submission to the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-delegation-submits-items-congressional-time-capsule-celebration", "Maryland Delegation Submits Items for Congressional Time Capsule in Celebration of America\u2019s 250th Anniversary", "2026-09-04", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny H. Hoyer", "H000874", "hoyer.house.gov", "hoyer", "https://hoyer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 In honor of America\u2019s 250th anniversary, this summer, the full Maryland Congressional Delegation \u2013 Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (both D-MD) and U.S. Representatives Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Andy Harris (MD-01), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), and Johnny Olszewski (MD-02) \u2013 submitted a Fort McHenry Flag and a Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) Railroad Centenary Souvenir Medal to the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule. Sealed and buried by the Architect of the Capitol, the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule contains a joint letter and items of significance from every state and territory reflecting the history and culture of our country. It will be opened by the 224th Congress in celebration of our nation's 500th anniversary on July 4, 2276.\n\nThe items selected by the Maryland delegation represent Maryland\u2019s critical role in the history of America:\n\nFort McHenry Flag: This 15-Star Flag, also known as a Fort McHenry Flag, is a replica of the one that flew above Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the United States national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, in 1814. The flag that was flying at Fort McHenry that day was sewn at 844 E. Pratt Street in Baltimore by Mary Pickersgill, members of her family, and indentured and enslaved African-American women \u2013 it is now on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. The Fort McHenry Flag has 15 stars and 15 stripes to account for Vermont and Kentucky becoming the 14th and 15th states, and was the official flag of the United States from 1795-1818. The Fort McHenry Flag included in the Congressional Time Capsule was flown over 844 E. Pratt Street, now known as the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House, on July 4, 2026, on the occasion of America\u2019s 250th anniversary.\n\nB&O Railroad Centenary Souvenir Medal: This commemorative coin was crafted in honor of the B&O Railroad\u2019s 100th anniversary in 1927. The B&O Souvenir Medal was selected for the Congressional Time Capsule because of the B&O Railroad\u2019s significant impact on both the state of Maryland and the country \u2013 chartered on February 28, 1827, it was the first-ever railroad to carry both passengers and freight for a toll. It pioneered railway engineering and spurred industrial opportunity for the United States. Notably, construction of the B&O Railroad began on July 4, 1828, with a groundbreaking event in Baltimore that featured Marylander Charles Carroll, the last living signer of the Declaration of Independence. The Souvenir Medal was donated to this timecapsule by the National Museum of Railroad History and Innovation located in Baltimore.\n\n\u201cIt can be difficult to imagine America at 500. What technologies will define the way we live and work? What will our nation celebrate and mourn from its history? How will our people build community and understand the bonds that keep us together? The America 250 Congressional Time Capsule will offer them a window into our nation and our moment in history. I\u2019m proud to join Team Maryland in offering future Marylanders a reminder of what we cherish and how we celebrate our state\u2019s place in American history,\u201d said Congressman Hoyer.\n\n\u201cMarylanders have always played a central role in American history \u2013 from the Maryland 400 holding strong against the British Army in 1776, to Baltimore\u2019s own Thurgood Marshall expanding justice under the law, to the countless scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs pushing our nation forward every day. Inspired by the legacy of these great Marylanders and those still to come, we will continue working to build a nation that lives up to the American promise of equal justice, equal rights, and equal opportunity for all. As we celebrate America\u2019s 250th anniversary, the items Team Maryland chose for this Congressional Time Capsule showcase the resilience and innovation woven into the histories of both our great state and nation. This time capsule is a reflection on the work our nation has done over the past 250 years to live up to our founding ideals, and a statement of belief that 250 years from now our democracy will be even stronger,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cIt was an honor to celebrate America\u2019s 250th Anniversary by looking back at Maryland\u2019s contributions to technology, science, and culture that have transformed our nation forever. And when this timecapsule is opened on July 4, 2276, I hope Marylanders will look back at the mark we are leaving now \u2013 how we stood for justice, worked hard to advance society, cured diseases, found solutions to complex problems, and did it all with joy and love for each other,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\"The United States of America's 250th Birthday is a momentous occasion, and with the selection of these items for the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule, we ensure that Maryland's contributions to American history will be preserved for our nation's Quincentennial,\" said Congressman Mfume. \"The resilience and fortitude represented by this 15-star flag \u2013 the same design as flew over Fort McHenry while Francis Scott Key penned our National Anthem \u2013 as well as the pioneering spirit and ingenuity embodied by the commemorative B&O Railroad coin, are traits that have characterized Marylanders for generations. Let this capsule carry them forward to those Americans who open it next.\"\n\n\u201cMaryland\u2019s contributions to our country stretch back to the earliest days of our nation. More than two centuries later, that legacy continues across the Eastern Shore and Chesapeake Bay, where farmers and watermen remain an important part of American agriculture and seafood production, and through the Port of Baltimore, which connects our state to commerce around the world. The items selected by the Maryland delegation capture two defining moments in that history and will carry a piece of Maryland\u2019s past forward as America celebrates its 250th anniversary,\u201d said Congressman Harris.\n\n\u201cFrom Frederick Douglass to Harriet Tubman to Rachel Carson to Thurgood Marshall, Marylanders have been devoted patriots and fighters for our land, our democracy and our freedom,\u201d said Congressman Raskin. \u201cWhen this time capsule is opened, future Americans will be reminded of the Free State\u2019s many enduring cultural, scientific and political contributions to our nation\u2019s history and our shared work to build a more perfect union.\u201d\n\n\u201cMaryland has always been at the heart of America\u2019s story, and our contributions to this country extend far beyond the moments we typically see in the history books. The flag that inspired our national anthem was sewn in Baltimore by Mary Pickersgill, her family, and Black women whose contributions were essential to our nation\u2019s history. The B&O Railroad helped launch America\u2019s industrial future from right here in Maryland. As we celebrate 250 years of our nation, these artifacts remind us that America\u2019s story has always been shaped by the people, ingenuity, and perseverance of Marylanders. I\u2019m proud to help preserve that story for Americans 250 years from now,\u201d said Congressman Ivey.\n\n\u201cHome to the oldest State Capitol to remain in use and the only State House to have served as the nation\u2019s Capitol; the place where our Founders met in 1786 and decided we needed a new system of government that led to the Constitution we have today; and the state where our flag flew high after the Battle of Fort McHenry, inspiring our national anthem \u2014 Maryland\u2019s role in our nation\u2019s history is undeniable,\u201d said Congresswoman Elfreth. \u201cThe artifacts we preserved today tell crucial pieces of Maryland\u2019s story in the last 250 years of our nation\u2019s history, and Team Maryland is committed to preserving this legacy for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cPeople call Maryland America in miniature. That started as a line about our climate and geography, but I think it says something truer about us: for more than 250 years, Maryland has helped build this country. What our delegation put in this time capsule shows exactly that,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney.\n\n\u201cMaryland has always punched above its weight in shaping the story of America. From the flag that inspired our national anthem to the railroad that helped connect a growing nation, these artifacts help tell the story of Maryland\u2019s role in defending our freedom and creating opportunity,\u201d said Congressman Olszewski. \u201cNow, 250 years later, the fight for these ideals continues in different ways. It is with a spirit of hope that we look to the future -- that generations of Americans will continue our march toward a more perfect union.\"", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://mcclaindelaney.house.gov/media/press-releases/mcclain-delaney-van-hollen-visit-allegany-garrett-counties-highlight-over-5", "McClain Delaney, Van Hollen Visit Allegany & Garrett Counties to Highlight Over $5 Million in Federal Funding for Western Maryland Communities", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "April McClain Delaney", "M001232", "mcclaindelaney.house.gov", "mcclaindelaney", "https://mcclaindelaney.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 On August 20, U.S. Congresswoman April McClain Delaney and Senator Chris Van Hollen(both D-Md.) were in Allegany and Garrett Counties to highlight $5.5 million that they, along with Senator Angela Alsobrooks, secured in Congress for Western Maryland communities. The lawmakers visited Frostburg State University, Potomac Fire Company No. 2 in Westernport, Garrett Regional Medical Center, and Oakland Town Hall in Oakland. This funding is part of the $10,484,000 in Fiscal Year 2026 Congressionally Directed Spending that the Senators fought to deliver for Allegany and Garrett Counties.\n\n\u201cBringing $5.5 million in federal investments home to Western and Mountain Maryland means investing directly in the people and communities that make our state strong,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney. \u201cThese investments will strengthen health care access, equip our first responders, improve critical infrastructure, and expand STEM opportunities for students. I\u2019m proud to work alongside Senators Van Hollen and Alsobrooks to deliver for Western and Mountain Maryland and ensure every community has the resources and opportunities to thrive.\u201d\n\n\u201cLocal partnerships help us identify the priorities that matter most to our communities, and through those partnerships, Team Maryland works to deliver federal investments needed to move those projects forward \u2013 just like these across the region. From expanding educational opportunities and medical services to supporting first responders and infrastructure upgrades, these federal dollars are being put to work where they can make a real difference for Western Maryland residents and communities and have the greatest impact,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cWhat I\u2019ve seen and heard as I\u2019ve gone around the state \u2013 including while I was in Western and Mountain Maryland \u2013 is that residents everywhere want the same things. We all want affordable health care, the ability to buy a home, groceries we can actually afford, gas that isn\u2019t skyrocketing out of control every single day, and the opportunity to actually create generational wealth. And while we\u2019re currently dealing with an administration that doesn\u2019t care about solving these issues, my focus since day one has been to deliver for Marylanders. That\u2019s why I was so proud to partner with Senator Van Hollen and Congresswoman McClain Delaney to secure $5.5 million in federal investment for Western Maryland communities, including for Frostburg State University, Potomac Fire Company No. 2 in Westernport, and the Garrett Regional Medical Center and Oakland Town Hall in Oakland,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\nThe lawmakers first visited Frostburg State University\u2019s Planetarium, where they highlighted $2.8 million in direct federal funding they secured in Congress to purchase new equipment for the Planetarium and provide more STEM education opportunities for students. The investment is in addition to $750,000 in FY23 Congressionally Directed Spending that Senator Van Hollen helped secure for this initiative.\n\n\u201cThis investment allows us to build on the tremendous momentum generated by the Planetarium\u2019s reopening and significantly expand its educational impact,\u201d said Frostburg State University President Dr. Shadow JQ Robinson. \u201cThe Planetarium is more than a place to observe the night sky. It is a gateway to discovery that will connect students and community members to science, technology and exploration through innovative, interactive experiences.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers then visited Potomac Fire Company No. 2, where they highlighted a $675,000 federal investment they secured in Congress to replace the Company\u2019s 35-year-old fire engine.\n\n\u201cWe extend our sincere thanks to U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks, and Congresswoman April McClain Delaney for their unwavering support in helping secure the funding needed to replace our 35-year-old engine. This engine has proudly served the Town of Westernport and surrounding communities for decades, but is now in desperate need of replacement. This investment will ensure our firefighters have the reliable equipment they need to continue providing lifesaving emergency services for years to come. We are incredibly grateful for their support and look forward to putting a new engine in service for generations to come,\u201d said Bill Kight, President, Potomac Fire Company No. 2.\n\nThe lawmakers next visited Garrett Regional Medical Center, where they highlighted a $1 million federal investment they secured in Congress to help plan and design the new radiation department, which will provide on-site radiation treatment services for patients across the region.\n\n\u201cOn behalf of the Board, staff, patients, and community, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the support from Senator Van Hollen, Senator Alsobrooks, and Congresswoman Delaney. Their support will help ensure access to care for radiation oncology services in Garrett County so our citizens will no longer have to travel long distances to receive care. The entire community is grateful for their leadership and true compassion and caring for the patients we serve,\u201d said Mark Boucot, President and CEO of Garrett Regional Medical Center.\n\nLastly, the lawmakers joined Oakland\u2019s Mayor and Town Council at the Oakland Town Hall, where they highlighted $1 million in direct federal funding they secured in Congress to replace the town\u2019s aging water infrastructure. This project will correct critical distribution failures, including low pressure and volume issues, and ensure compliance with the International Fire Code. This investment is in addition to $364,632 in federal funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission that the lawmakers helped secure last year to support upgrades to the town\u2019s water system.\n\n\u201cWe are incredibly thankful to Senator Van Hollen, Senator Alsobrooks, and Congresswoman McClain Delaney for securing this investment to upgrade our water system. The improvements will fix low pressure and volume issues on the west side of town, ensuring that residents have sufficient water and that fire emergency personnel have the flow required to protect our community. This $1 million in federal funding represents over half of our annual water and sewer budget, highlighting that a town of our size cannot tackle infrastructure projects of this scale alone. Beyond public safety, this water infrastructure will also enable residential growth. A planned residential development featuring affordable rentals, market-rate rentals, and single-family homes is ready to move forward as soon as we can supply it with water. Thanks to the Appalachian Regional Commission funding that has also been secured, the planning and engineering phase is now underway. This Congressionally Directed Spending ensures we can see the future phases of this project through to completion,\u201d said Mayor Andrew Sauder, Town of Oakland.\n\nThe total FY26 Congressionally Directed Spending secured for Allegany County is as follows:\n\nProject Name: Planetarium Equipment\n\nApplicant: Frostburg State University\n\nProject Description: Funds will be used to purchase new equipment for Frostburg State University's Planetarium to support STEM education in Western Maryland.\n\nAmount Included: $2,808,000\n\nProject Name: UPMC Western Maryland Health Access\n\nApplicant: UPMC Western Maryland Corporation\n\nProject Description: Funds will support UPMC Western Maryland Schwab Family Cancer Center's comprehensive radiation therapy services and expand treatment services to include intracranial radiation for patients.\n\nAmount Included: $2,750,000\n\nProject Name: Potomac Fire Company Engine Replacement\n\nApplicant: Potomac Fire Company No.2 Inc.\n\nProject Description: Funds will be used to replace a 35-year-old fire engine to better serve and protect the Town of Westernport.\n\nAmount Included: $675,000\n\nProject Name: Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority for Sediment Testing and Remediation\n\nApplicant: Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority\n\nProject Description: Funds will be used to test and remove contaminants from sediment around the Industrial Dam on the Potomac River in Cumberland, MD, and to develop methods to more efficiently remove sediment to improve water quality.\n\nAmount Included: $500,000\n\nThe total FY26 Congressionally Directed Spending secured for Garrett County is as follows:\n\nProject Name: Garrett County Sanitary District for Gorman Water Source Project\n\nApplicant: Garrett County Sanitary District, Inc.\n\nProject Description: Funds will be used to provide water source redundancy by drilling a new production well to replace the previous production well that collapsed.\n\nAmount Included: $1,659,000\n\nProject Name: Town of Oakland for Water System Improvements\n\nApplicant: Town of Oakland\n\nProject Description: Funds will be used to replace Oakland\u2019s antiquated water system infrastructure. The proposed project is necessary to correct critical distribution failures, including low pressure and volume issues, and ensure compliance with the International Fire Code.\n\nAmount Included: $1,092,000\n\nProject Name: Garrett Regional Medical Center Radiology Department Planning and Design\n\nApplicant: Garrett Regional Medical Center\n\nProject Purpose: Funds will be used for a comprehensive radiation department and on-site radiation treatment services for cancer patients in Garrett County, MD, and surrounding communities that currently lack convenient access to this care.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-mcclain-delaney-visit-allegany-and-garrett-counties-to-highlight-over-5-million-in-federal-funding-for-western-maryland-communities", "Van Hollen, McClain Delaney Visit Allegany & Garrett Counties to Highlight Over $5 Million in Federal Funding for Western Maryland Communities", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "On August 20, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (both D-Md.) were in Allegany and Garrett Counties to highlight $5.5 million that they, along with Senator Angela Alsobrooks, secured in Congress for Western Maryland communities. The lawmakers visited Frostburg State University, Potomac Fire Company No. 2 in Westernport, Garrett Regional Medical Center, and Oakland Town Hall in Oakland. This funding is part of the $10,484,000 in Fiscal Year 2026 Congressionally Directed Spending that the Senators fought to deliver for Allegany and Garrett Counties.\n\n\u201cLocal partnerships help us identify the priorities that matter most to our communities, and through those partnerships, Team Maryland works to deliver federal investments needed to move those projects forward \u2013 just like these across the region. From expanding educational opportunities and medical services to supporting first responders and infrastructure upgrades, these federal dollars are being put to work where they can make a real difference for Western Maryland residents and communities and have the greatest impact,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cWhat I\u2019ve seen and heard as I\u2019ve gone around the state \u2013 including while I was in Western and Mountain Maryland \u2013 is that residents everywhere want the same things. We all want affordable health care, the ability to buy a home, groceries we can actually afford, gas that isn\u2019t skyrocketing out of control every single day, and the opportunity to actually create generational wealth. And while we\u2019re currently dealing with an administration that doesn\u2019t care about solving these issues, my focus since day one has been to deliver for Marylanders. That\u2019s why I was so proud to partner with Senator Van Hollen and Congresswoman McClain Delaney to secure $5.5 million in federal investment for Western Maryland communities, including for Frostburg State University, Potomac Fire Company No. 2 in Westernport, and the Garrett Regional Medical Center and Oakland Town Hall in Oakland,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cBringing $5.5 million in federal investments home to Western and Mountain Maryland means investing directly in the people and communities that make our state strong,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney. \u201cThese investments will strengthen health care access, equip our first responders, improve critical infrastructure, and expand STEM opportunities for students. I\u2019m proud to work alongside Senators Van Hollen and Alsobrooks to deliver for Western and Mountain Maryland and ensure every community has the resources and opportunities to thrive.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers first visited Frostburg State University\u2019s Planetarium, where they highlighted $2.8 million in direct federal funding they secured in Congress to purchase new equipment for the Planetarium and provide more STEM education opportunities for students. The investment is in addition to $750,000 in FY23 Congressionally Directed Spending that Senator Van Hollen helped secure for this initiative.\n\n\u201cThis investment allows us to build on the tremendous momentum generated by the Planetarium\u2019s reopening and significantly expand its educational impact,\u201d said Frostburg State University President Dr. Shadow JQ Robinson. \u201cThe Planetarium is more than a place to observe the night sky. It is a gateway to discovery that will connect students and community members to science, technology and exploration through innovative, interactive experiences.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers then visited Potomac Fire Company No. 2, where they highlighted a $675,000 federal investment they secured in Congress to replace the Company\u2019s 35-year-old fire engine.\n\n\u201cWe extend our sincere thanks to U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks, and Congresswoman April McClain Delaney for their unwavering support in helping secure the funding needed to replace our 35-year-old engine. This engine has proudly served the Town of Westernport and surrounding communities for decades, but is now in desperate need of replacement. This investment will ensure our firefighters have the reliable equipment they need to continue providing lifesaving emergency services for years to come. We are incredibly grateful for their support and look forward to putting a new engine in service for generations to come,\u201d said Bill Kight, President, Potomac Fire Company No. 2.\n\nThe lawmakers next visited Garrett Regional Medical Center, where they highlighted a $1 million federal investment they secured in Congress to help plan and design the new radiation department, which will provide on-site radiation treatment services for patients across the region.\n\n\u201cOn behalf of the Board, staff, patients, and community, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the support from Senator Van Hollen, Senator Alsobrooks, and Congresswoman Delaney. Their support will help ensure access to care for radiation oncology services in Garrett County so our citizens will no longer have to travel long distances to receive care. The entire community is grateful for their leadership and true compassion and caring for the patients we serve,\u201d said Mark Boucot, President and CEO of Garrett Regional Medical Center.\n\nLastly, the lawmakers joined Oakland\u2019s Mayor and Town Council at the Oakland Town Hall, where they highlighted $1 million in direct federal funding they secured in Congress to replace the town\u2019s aging water infrastructure. This project will correct critical distribution failures, including low pressure and volume issues, and ensure compliance with the International Fire Code. This investment is in addition to $364,632 in federal funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission that the lawmakers helped secure last year to support upgrades to the town\u2019s water system.\n\n\u201cWe are incredibly thankful to Senator Van Hollen, Senator Alsobrooks, and Congresswoman McClain Delaney for securing this investment to upgrade our water system. The improvements will fix low pressure and volume issues on the west side of town, ensuring that residents have sufficient water and that fire emergency personnel have the flow required to protect our community. This $1 million in federal funding represents over half of our annual water and sewer budget, highlighting that a town of our size cannot tackle infrastructure projects of this scale alone. Beyond public safety, this water infrastructure will also enable residential growth. A planned residential development featuring affordable rentals, market-rate rentals, and single-family homes is ready to move forward as soon as we can supply it with water. Thanks to the Appalachian Regional Commission funding that has also been secured, the planning and engineering phase is now underway. This Congressionally Directed Spending ensures we can see the future phases of this project through to completion,\u201d said Mayor Andrew Sauder, Town of Oakland.\n\nThe total FY26 Congressionally Directed Spending secured for Allegany County is as follows:\n\nProject Name: Planetarium Equipment\n\nApplicant: Frostburg State University\n\nProject Description: Funds will be used to purchase new equipment for Frostburg State University's Planetarium to support STEM education in Western Maryland.\n\nAmount Included: $2,808,000\n\nProject Name: UPMC Western Maryland Health Access\n\nApplicant: UPMC Western Maryland Corporation\n\nProject Description: Funds will support UPMC Western Maryland Schwab Family Cancer Center's comprehensive radiation therapy services and expand treatment services to include intracranial radiation for patients.\n\nAmount Included: $2,750,000\n\nProject Name: Potomac Fire Company Engine Replacement\n\nApplicant: Potomac Fire Company No.2 Inc.\n\nProject Description: Funds will be used to replace a 35-year-old fire engine to better serve and protect the Town of Westernport.\n\nAmount Included: $675,000\n\nProject Name: Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority for Sediment Testing and Remediation\n\nApplicant: Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority\n\nProject Description: Funds will be used to test and remove contaminants from sediment around the Industrial Dam on the Potomac River in Cumberland, MD, and to develop methods to more efficiently remove sediment to improve water quality.\n\nAmount Included: $500,000\n\nThe total FY26 Congressionally Directed Spending secured for Garrett County is as follows:\n\nProject Name: Garrett County Sanitary District for Gorman Water Source Project\n\nApplicant: Garrett County Sanitary District, Inc.\n\nProject Description: Funds will be used to provide water source redundancy by drilling a new production well to replace the previous production well that collapsed.\n\nAmount Included: $1,659,000\n\nProject Name: Town of Oakland for Water System Improvements\n\nApplicant: Town of Oakland\n\nProject Description: Funds will be used to replace Oakland\u2019s antiquated water system infrastructure. The proposed project is necessary to correct critical distribution failures, including low pressure and volume issues, and ensure compliance with the International Fire Code.\n\nAmount Included: $1,092,000", 1, "2026-09-05T08:49:07Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/trump-administration-refuses-to-close-tax-loophole-exploited-by-private-jet-owners", "Trump Administration Refuses to Close Tax Loophole Exploited by Private Jet Owners", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in blasting the Treasury Department\u2019s refusal to close the Standard Industry Fare Level (SIFL) loophole, which has long been abused by private jet owners to substantially undervalue the taxable cost of personal travel on a corporate private jet. The Trump Treasury Department\u2019s pro-billionaire pronouncement came in a response to a July 24 request from the senators.\n\nThe Treasury Department argued in its new letter that calculating the true market value for employer-provided flights taken by employees for personal purposes, rather than using the existing SIFL method, would be \u201cadministratively burdensome\u201d for taxpayers and the Internal Revenue Service. The Department also claims that the SIFL method is intended to produce consistent results \u2013 regardless of the staggering gap between the SIFL rate and the actual charter market rates.\n\n\u201cDonald Trump\u2019s priorities revolve around enriching himself and his billionaire friends. While working families struggle to afford groceries, housing, and gas, this Administration focuses on tax breaks for billionaires \u2013 including tax breaks for private jets. What a disgrace,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump\u2019s 2017 tax law and Big, Beautiful-for-Billionaires bill handed billionaires and big corporations massive tax breaks on private jets. The Trump administration now says it would be \u2018burdensome\u2019 to close the private jet tax loophole because this is an administration hell-bent on using the powers of government to make the ultra-rich even richer, and they don\u2019t care if middle-class taxpayers get stuck with the tab,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse.\n\nPassage of President Trump and Congressional Republicans\u2019 Big, Beautiful-for-Billionaires Bill made permanent an egregious tax provision allowing 100 percent bonus depreciation for the purchase of corporate aircraft, which the senators argued exacerbates the tax giveaway created by the SIFL loophole, letting the ultrawealthy skirt the true cost of personal private jet travel on corporate aircraft.", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-ivey-leads-bipartisan-codel-witness-successful-launch-nancy-grace-roman", "REP. IVEY LEADS BIPARTISAN CODEL TO WITNESS SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF NANCY GRACE ROMAN SPACE TELESCOPE", "2026-09-02", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Glenn Ivey", "I000058", "ivey.house.gov", "ivey", "https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Image\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Glenn Ivey (MD-04) led a bipartisan delegation of Members of Congress to Cape Canaveral, Florida, from Saturday, August 29 through Monday, August 31, in partnership with the U.S. Space Force and NASA, to witness the successful launch of NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.\n\nThe Roman Space Telescope lifted off aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket at 7:26 a.m. EDT on Sunday, August 30, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, and reached orbit roughly 10 minutes later. The delegation observed the launch in person and met with Space Force and NASA leadership to discuss the future of the U.S. space and space science enterprise.\n\n\u201cThe successful launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is a tremendous achievement for NASA and a proud moment for Maryland. I congratulate the exceptional NASA Goddard workforce and every partner whose expertise and dedication made this mission possible\u2014especially nine months ahead of schedule and under budget. This observatory will reveal to us distant worlds, helping us understand dark matter and dark energy, and inspire the imagination of the next generation. Goddard\u2019s critical scientific missions continue to reaffirm America\u2019s global leadership in space science and will now advance discovery for years to come,\u201d said Congressman Ivey, representative of Maryland\u2019s Fourth District.\n\nThe delegation included Representatives George Whitesides (D-CA), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), and Mike Haridopolos (R-FL). Science communicator Bill Nye the Science Guy also joined the delegation for part of the trip.\n\nABOUT THE MISSION\n\nNamed for NASA's first chief astronomer, known as the \u201cmother of Hubble,\u201d the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is NASA's next flagship observatory and its most significant astrophysics mission since the James Webb Space Telescope. Roman carries a primary mirror with a field of view at least 100 times larger than Hubble's, enabling it to survey wide swaths of the sky to study dark energy and dark matter, search for exoplanets, and advance infrared astrophysics. The observatory launched roughly nine months ahead of its required launch readiness date and is now on a three-month journey to join Webb at the second Sun-Earth Lagrange point (L2), where it will operate collaboratively with Hubble and Webb to give humanity an unprecedented view of the universe, paving the way for future observatories in the search for signs of life beyond our solar system.\n\nPARTNERS\n\nRoman is a worldwide collaborative effort, featuring a network of 85 national partners across 17 states and 13 international partners across 9 countries. More information about the global network of partners contributing to this mission can be found at: https://science.nasa.gov/mission/roman-space-telescope/partners/\n\nABOUT CONGRESSMAN IVEY", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://mcclaindelaney.house.gov/media/press-releases/mcclain-delaney-van-hollen-alsobrooks-announce-250000-rehabilitate-boonsboros", "McClain Delaney, Van Hollen, Alsobrooks Announce $250,000 to Rehabilitate Boonsboro\u2019s Wastewater System", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "April McClain Delaney", "M001232", "mcclaindelaney.house.gov", "mcclaindelaney", "https://mcclaindelaney.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congresswoman April McClain Delaney and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (all D-Md.) announced $250,000 in federal funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for the Town of Boonsboro to rehabilitate its wastewater system. The project includes inspecting 20,000 linear feet of sewer mains to identify infiltration sources and installing cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining in deteriorated sections. This work will prevent overflows during rain events, reduce treatment costs, and improve wastewater service to 42 businesses and 475 households.\n\n\u201cStrong rural communities depend on strong, reliable infrastructure,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney. \u201cThis $250,000 federal investment will help Boonsboro modernize its wastewater system, lower long-term costs, and deliver more reliable service for hundreds of families and local businesses. I\u2019m proud to work with Senators Van Hollen and Alsobrooks to bring federal resources home and make sure our rural communities have the infrastructure they need to grow and thrive.\u201d\n\n\u201cUpgrading aging sewage infrastructure is essential to the health and well-being of our communities and the local economy. This federal funding will support these much-needed improvements in Boonsboro, help prevent costly problems in the future, and ensure the town\u2019s wastewater system is well-equipped to serve the needs of the residents and businesses for years to come,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cThe Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) makes critical investments in Western Maryland and across the Appalachian region, and that is why I am fighting so hard to protect it against cuts. As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I oversee ARC and know its critical work is not just a priority for Marylanders but also to the 12 other qualified states. I am proud to partner with Senator Van Hollen and Congresswoman McClain Delaney in announcing that ARC is investing $250,000 in federal investment for the Town of Boonsboro to upgrade its wastewater system. Critical investments in aging infrastructure like this one help fuel our economy and keep us healthy and safe,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cMunicipalities have tight budgets, so large-scale improvements like this often depend on grant funding. Boonsboro is extremely grateful to the Appalachian Regional Commission for the financial support to make this project happen,\u201d said Mayor Howard Long, Town of Boonsboro.\n\nThis investment is provided through the Appalachian Regional Commission, an economic development partnership entity of the federal government and 13 state governments, focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian Region. Senator Van Hollen secured $1 billion in federal funding over five years for the ARC through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. The lawmakers worked to fund the ARC at an additional $200 million through the FY26 Energy & Water Development appropriations bill and have worked to prevent cuts to the program from the Trump Administration.\n\nThis funding builds on the $1,426,613 in federal funding Senator Van Hollen has worked to secure in recent years through Fiscal Year 2022 Congressionally Directed Spending and the Appalachian Regional Commission to support Boonsboro\u2019s work to modernize their wastewater and sewage systems.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-mcclain-delaney-announce-250000-to-rehabilitate-boonsboros-wastewater-system", "Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, McClain Delaney Announce $250,000 to Rehabilitate Boonsboro\u2019s Wastewater System", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (all D-Md.) announced $250,000 in federal funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for the Town of Boonsboro to rehabilitate its wastewater system. The project includes inspecting 20,000 linear feet of sewer mains to identify infiltration sources and installing cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining in deteriorated sections. This work will prevent overflows during rain events, reduce treatment costs, and improve wastewater service to 42 businesses and 475 households.\n\n\u201cUpgrading aging sewage infrastructure is essential to the health and well-being of our communities and the local economy. This federal funding will support these much-needed improvements in Boonsboro, help prevent costly problems in the future, and ensure the town\u2019s wastewater system is well-equipped to serve the needs of the residents and businesses for years to come,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cThe Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) makes critical investments in Western Maryland and across the Appalachian region, and that is why I am fighting so hard to protect it against cuts. As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I oversee ARC and know its critical work is not just a priority for Marylanders but also to the 12 other qualified states. I am proud to partner with Senator Van Hollen and Congresswoman McClain Delaney in announcing that ARC is investing $250,000 in federal investment for the Town of Boonsboro to upgrade its wastewater system. Critical investments in aging infrastructure like this one help fuel our economy and keep us healthy and safe,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cStrong rural communities depend on strong, reliable infrastructure,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney. \u201cThis $250,000 federal investment will help Boonsboro modernize its wastewater system, lower long-term costs, and deliver more reliable service for hundreds of families and local businesses. I\u2019m proud to work with Senators Van Hollen and Alsobrooks to bring federal resources home and make sure our rural communities have the infrastructure they need to grow and thrive.\u201d\n\n\u201cMunicipalities have tight budgets, so large-scale improvements like this often depend on grant funding. Boonsboro is extremely grateful to the Appalachian Regional Commission for the financial support to make this project happen,\u201d said Mayor Howard Long, Town of Boonsboro.\n\nThis investment is provided through the Appalachian Regional Commission, an economic development partnership entity of the federal government and 13 state governments, focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian Region. Senator Van Hollen secured $1 billion in federal funding over five years for the ARC through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. The lawmakers worked to fund the ARC at an additional $200 million through the FY26 Energy & Water Development appropriations bill and have worked to prevent cuts to the program from the Trump Administration.\n\nThis funding builds on the $1,426,613 in federal funding Senator Van Hollen has worked to secure in recent years through Fiscal Year 2022 Congressionally Directed Spending and the Appalachian Regional Commission to support Boonsboro\u2019s work to modernize their wastewater and sewage systems.", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyer-statement-president-trumps-proposed-pay-freeze-civilian-federal", "Hoyer Statement on President Trump\u2019s Proposed Pay Freeze for Civilian Federal Employees", "2026-08-31", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny H. Hoyer", "H000874", "hoyer.house.gov", "hoyer", "https://hoyer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement regarding President Donald Trump's proposal to issue a civilian federal pay freeze in 2027:\n\n\u201cOnce again, this Administration is trying to drive hardworking public servants out of government, delivering the 'trauma' that OMB Director Russ Vought promised to inflict. Last week\u2019s announcement that civilian federal workers will not be receiving an annual cost-of-living adjustment for 2027 - even while military and law-enforcement personnel are given as high as a 7% raise - will only further reduce morale and retention at agencies and make it harder to recruit the best and brightest to serve. I\u2019m proud to represent more than 75,000 civilian federal employees in Maryland\u2019s Fifth District, and I will continue to fight this Administration\u2019s efforts to denigrate them and deny them the pay and benefits they are due. If we want a government that reflects the best of America and can deliver for the safety, health, and opportunity of our people, we must invest in our federal workforce.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-01T09:48:49Z", "2026-09-01T09:49:51Z"], ["https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-mfume-bell-strickland-lead-70-congresspeople-in-efforts-to-stop-navy-from-renaming-ship-honoring-war-hero-to-instead-honor-donald-trump", "Reps. Mfume, Bell, Strickland Lead 70+ Congresspeople in Efforts to Stop Navy from Renaming Ship Honoring War Hero to instead Honor Donald Trump", "2026-08-31", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Kweisi Mfume", "M000687", "mfume.house.gov", "mfume", "https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Last week, Representatives Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07), Wesley Bell (D-MO-01), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10), led over 70 of their Democratic House colleagues in an effort pressing Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao to keep the name of the USS Doris Miller as is.\n\nThe letter follows recent reporting that the U.S. Navy is considering renaming the USS Doris Miller in honor of President Trump. Doris Miller was a sailor aboard the USS West Virginia when Japan began its attack on Pearl Harbor who placed himself in harm's way to help save his fellow sailors.\n\n\u201cRenaming this ship after a sitting President would be unprecedented and break longstanding tradition,\u201d wrote the Representatives. \u201cMost importantly, this would diminish the recognition of one of our country\u2019s greatest military heroes. It was during President Trump\u2019s first term that the Navy announced CVN-81 would bear Doris Miller\u2019s name. Reversing that decision now would be a significant step backward in honoring the courage and sacrifice of those who have served our country.\u201d\n\nNews broke last week about the Navy potentially renaming its ship, CVN-81, to honor Trump. During the president\u2019s first term, the Navy had announced that CVN-81 would bear Doris Miller\u2019s name, making it the first aircraft carrier to be named for an African American, as well as the first named in honor of an enlisted sailor.\n\nDoris \u2018Dorie\u2019 Miller was serving aboard the USS West Virginia on December 7, 1941, when Japan began its attack. At the time, Miller was a Mess Attendant Third Class, and after his station came under fire, he took control of an anti-aircraft gun and fired at incoming aircraft. Even as the ship sank, he kept fighting until he ran out of ammunition, and assisted his fellow wounded sailors to reach safety.\n\n\u201cDoris Miller\u2019s story is one of extraordinary bravery, service, and pure patriotism,\u201d the Representatives continued. \u201cWhen he served, segregation restricted the roles available to Black sailors and servicemembers. Yet, when his country came under attack, Miller did not hesitate to put himself in harms\u2019 way to defend his fellow sailors and his nation. This story embodies the finest traditions of the United States Armed Forces.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere has never been a time when we have named a warship after a sitting president. Changing course and now to satisfy a sitting President\u2019s ego, especially one who dodged service to his country, would be shamefully wrong. We urge you to reject this plan and ensure that CVN-81 bears the name USS Doris Miller. Our Navy must continue honoring the courage of those that answered their country\u2019s call to service,\u201d the lawmakers concluded.\n\nIn addition to co-leading this letter, Congressman Mfume has long led the congressional effort to secure federal recognition for Doris Miller. On March 25, 2025, National Medal of Honor Day, he introduced a pair of bills to honor Miller's heroism at Pearl Harbor:\n\nH.R. 2335, which authorizes the President to award Doris Miller the Medal of Honor posthumously for acts of valor while serving in the Navy during World War II. The bill has 12 cosponsors and was referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.\n\nThe Doris Miller Congressional Gold Medal Act (H.R. 2336), which would posthumously award Miller the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor bestowed by Congress. If enacted, Miller's family would receive the medal and it would be displayed at the Smithsonian. The bill was referred to the Committees on Financial Services and House Administration.\n\nIn introducing the bills, Congressman Mfume continued the work of the late Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, who fought since 2001 to see Miller awarded the Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor legislation is endorsed by the National Association for Black Veterans (NABVETs) and the Dorie Miller Medal of Honor Committee.\n\nCongressman Mfume represents Maryland's Seventh Congressional District and serves as Ranking Member of the House Oversight Subcommittee on Government Operations.\n\nThe letter was signed by: Reps. Gabe Amo, Yassamin Ansari, Joyce Beatty, Julia Brownley, Nikki Budzinski, Salud Carbajal, Andr\u00e9 Carson, Troy Carter, Ed Case, Joaquin Castro, Gilbert Cisneros, Emanuel Cleaver, Steve Cohen, Herb Conaway, Joe Courtney, Jason Crow, Diana DeGette, Christopher Deluzio, Mark DeSaulnier, Debbie Dingell, Sarah Elfreth, Dwight Evans, Shomari Figures, John Garamendi, Daniel Goldman, Maggie Goodlander, Josh Gottheimer, Steven Horsford, Chrissy Houlahan, Glenn Ivey, Sara Jacobs, Jonathan Jackson, William Keating, Timothy Kennedy, Ro Khanna, Greg Landsman, Stephen Lynch, April McClain Delaney, Jennifer McClellan, Christian Menefee, Dave Min, Gwen Moore, Seth Moulton, Jerrold Nadler, Donald Norcross, Eleanor Norton, Frank Pallone, Scott Peters, Brittany Pettersen, Mike Quigley, Patrick Ryan, Bradley Schneider, Robert Scott, Terri Sewell, Adam Smith, Eric Sorensen, Suhas Subramanyam, Shri Thanedar, Bennie Thompson, Dina Titus, Jill Tokuda, Ritchie Torres, Derek Tran, Gabe Vasquez, Marc Veasey, Eugene Vindman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Maxine Waters, George Whitesides, Frederica Wilson.\n\nText of the letter can be viewed here.", 1, "2026-09-01T09:48:49Z", "2026-09-01T09:49:51Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-colleagues-file-amicus-brief-defending-courts-right-to-seek-answers-transparency-in-jgg-v-trump", "Van Hollen, Colleagues File Amicus Brief Defending Court\u2019s Right to Seek Answers, Transparency in JGG v. Trump", "2026-08-31", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), joined by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), submitted an amicus brief to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in the case of In re Donald J. Trump, et. al, supporting the legal authority of the District Court to inquire whether government attorneys misrepresented or concealed facts before the Court and warning of serious consequences of permitting one branch to avoid inquiry and transparency when questioned by another co-equal branch of our federal government. The lawmakers\u2019 amicus brief argues that Congress and the American public have an interest in knowing whether government attorneys misrepresented or concealed facts before a United States District Court, and that concerns of judicial overreach in this case are unfounded because federal courts have an inherent contempt power which includes some inquiry before a referral is made.\n\nThis case arises from JGG v. Trump, one of several legal challenges to the Trump Administration\u2019s use of the Alien Enemies Act. In March 2025, President Trump and the Department of Homeland Security sought to detain and remove individuals from the United States. Several of the individuals who were detained sought emergency relief under the Administrative Procedure Act and federal habeas corpus claims. Proceedings ensued before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, which issued a temporary restraining order preventing further removal of individuals, an order that was then vacated by the Supreme Court. The District Court then began an investigation into potential criminal contempt against the government decisionmakers. Of particular concern to the Court was to determine whether government attorneys had misrepresented, concealed, or otherwise gave misleading information to the Court. Following the contempt inquiry, the government sought a writ of mandamus before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to prevent the District Court from further investigating the actions of the government and its attorneys.\n\nThe Senators begin the brief, \u201cCongress requires that lawyers tell the truth in judicial proceedings. It has set forth through statute that government attorneys are subject to the same rules as all other attorneys requiring truthfulness and transparency to the Courts. When a party or counsel is not honest in proceedings before them, Courts have the fundamental power to punish contempt. Congress has explicitly codified this power. And the exercise of this power is squarely within the providence of the judiciary...The Court has every right to try to make sense of these events. Mandamus to prevent that inquiry should not issue.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe executive branch, through counsel, may have misrepresented or concealed facts when questioned by a federal court...The executive branch must follow court orders the same as the rest of the citizenry...Such conclusion flows inexorably from perhaps the most evident and well-accepted point in constitutional law: that the government of the United States is comprised of three coequal branches,\u201d the Senators stress.\n\nOn the unfounded concerns of judicial overreach, the Senators note, \u201cAll federal courts other than the Supreme Court are creations of Congress. Congress has explicitly provided federal courts with the authority to conduct contempt proceedings and punish accordingly... Exercising the contempt power is fundamentally within the providence of the judiciary... Excusing the executive branch at this stage is simply premature, and the District Court should be permitted to act within its statutorily conferred authority.\u201d\n\n\u201cMandamus is simply not appropriate. This case presents one coequal branch acting in defiance of an order from another coequal branch. This is too critical to prevent inquiry. The District Court was well within its authority to utilize the mechanism of contempt\u2014a power inherent in all courts and explicitly codified by Congress,\u201d the Senators conclude.\n\nFull text of the argument in the brief can be viewed here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-01T09:48:49Z", "2026-09-01T09:49:51Z"], ["https://elfreth.house.gov/media/press-releases/ahead-labor-day-elfreth-reconvenes-local-labor-leaders", "Ahead of Labor Day, Elfreth Reconvenes Local Labor Leaders", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Sarah Elfreth", "E000301", "elfreth.house.gov", "elfreth", "https://elfreth.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "ANNAPOLIS, MD \u2013 Yesterday, Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), a member of the Labor Caucus, hosted her annual roundtable discussion with labor leaders in Maryland\u2019s Third District at the Maryland State & DC AFL-CIO. This was the second annual convening since the Congresswoman first took office last year.\n\n\u201cAs a proud member of the Labor Caucus and daughter of a union rail worker, I know firsthand the hard-fought protections, rights, and dignity that unions have secured for working families across this country,\u201d said Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth. \u201cI reconvened this roundtable to hear directly from our Third District union leaders as to how we can best support their members and workers across Maryland. Especially as this Administration deepens the affordability crisis, attacks collective bargaining rights, and strips back commonsense worker safety regulations, it is all the more important to stand with our brothers and sisters in organized labor in the fight for workers\u2019 rights on the job.\u201d\n\nAt the roundtable, Elfreth delivered an update from Congress, including progress on NDAA amendments and other legislative initiatives to restore the collective bargaining rights of hardworking federal employees and expedite the process of securing labor contracts. The roundtable was an opportunity to hear directly from the representatives of the over 340,000 union workers across the state and 45,000 federal employees in the District. In addition to collective bargaining, the conversation focused on federal funding cuts, healthcare, affordability, and workplace safety for rail, maritime, and emergency responders.\n\nElfreth was joined by various labor unions from across Maryland\u2019s Third District, including the Maryland State and DC AFL-CIO, Maryland State Education Association (MSEA), Carroll County Education Association (CCEA), Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 500 and 32BJ, Howard County International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 2000, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 24 and Local 26, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 487, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1300, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) DC51, the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots, the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MISTAG), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Maryland Council 3, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) Chapter 1734, Laborers\u2019 International Union of North America, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), American Maritime Officers, United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen - B&O, and the Baltimore-DC Building Trades Council.\n\n\u201cSEIU Local 500 is eager to join Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth alongside our labor partners to discuss the real issues facing Maryland workers. As a state legislator, she was a labor champion. In the face of rising costs and attacks on labor rights by the current administration, we are glad to have her in the United States Congress championing the needs of working people,\u201d said Christopher Cano, Director of Political & Legislative Affairs, SEIU Local 500.\n\n\u201cAs an association dedicated to federal workers and retirees, NARFE appreciates Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth\u2019s work to protect the merit-based civil service system and our earned benefits. We pledge to stand with her to fight ongoing threats to public health, food safety, worker rights, and the myriad ways in which the federal workforce protects and enhances the lives of all Americans,\u201d said Teresa Baker, First Vice President, NARFE Maryland Federation.\n\n\u201cIATSE Local 487 is proud to attend this AFL CIO roundtable discussion with Congresswoman Elfreth. Being given the opportunity to discuss the state of the film & television industry in the US, and more specifically the Mid-Atlantic region, allows our skilled craftworkers a voice in how we can bring back the work that supports our families and local industries in Maryland. Our hope is that this conversation highlights the vital importance of a national tax incentive and legislative support for the I.A.T.S.E. workforce\u2014the skilled craftworkers whose labor powers the entertainment industry,\u201d said Vice President Steve Saada, IATSE Local 487.\n\n\u201cCongresswoman Elfreth has been a longtime advocate for Maryland\u2019s firefighters. Her accessibility and commitment to our members are unmatched, whether making time to meet with our leaders in her office on Capitol Hill or visiting local fire stations. Most recently, she co-sponsored H.R. 1269, the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, which extends federal Public Safety Officers\u2019 Benefits to the families of firefighters who die from occupational cancer,\u201d said Adam Nolder, Vice President of IAFF Local 2000.\n\n\u201cThe issues that are top of mind for our union today include the Administration\u2019s Jones Act waiver, which is giving American maritime jobs to foreign seafarers while doing nothing to lower gas prices,\u201d said MM&P President Captain Don Josberger. \u201cWe are also advocating strongly on Capitol Hill for passage of the Faster Labor Contracts Act, which would ensure that unscrupulous companies cannot indefinitely hinder workers\u2019 legal right to form a union.\u201d\n\n\u201cPublic services from our state and local governments, and the public service workers who make them happen, are more important now than ever. Right now, workers face significant challenges on the job, and our union appreciates the partnership and collaboration with Congresswoman Elfreth to ensure public service workers have a voice in Congress fighting for them,\u201d said President Jack Hughes, AFSCME Maryland Council 3.\n\nAs the daughter of two civil servants and the representative of over 45,000 federal employees, Congresswoman Elfreth has been laser-focused on protecting and advancing the rights of workers and civil servants. Elfreth has voted in favor of numerous bills to ensure workers receive the benefits they deserve, including the Faster Labor Contracts Act to speed up the process for workers to secure labor contracts and the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act (PAWA) to repeal a presidential executive order that stripped union rights from 1.5 million federal workers. She has also spoken out in support of legislation like theRailroad Retirement Fairness Act to eliminate provisions that unfairly reduce retirement payments for certain railroad retirees and spouses. On the House Armed Services Committee, Elfreth has fought for civilian DoD civil servants and proudly supported Congressman Donald Norcross\u2019 amendment in each year\u2019s annual defense bill to restore the collective bargaining rights that the President\u2019s executive order stripped.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"], ["https://mcclaindelaney.house.gov/media/press-releases/mcclain-delaney-van-hollen-alsobrooks-announce-over-3-million-federal-funding", "McClain Delaney, Van Hollen, Alsobrooks Announce Over $3 Million in Federal Funding to Improve Water Infrastructure in Western Maryland", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "April McClain Delaney", "M001232", "mcclaindelaney.house.gov", "mcclaindelaney", "https://mcclaindelaney.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congresswoman April McClain Delaney with U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (all D-Md.) announced $3,340,000 in federal funding to improve water and wastewater infrastructure across Western Maryland. This investment, comprising a $2,779,000 loan for the Town of Emmitsburg to replace a critical Main Street water line, a $465,000 grant for the Town of Luke\u2019s replacement of its sewer collection system, and a $96,000 grant for Garrett County\u2019s planning costs for the Friendsville and Crellin wastewater treatment upgrades, will help Western Maryland communities upgrade critical infrastructure.\n\n\u201cEvery rural community deserves reliable water and wastewater infrastructure, no matter its size or ZIP code,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney. \u201cThis more than $3 million federal investment will help replace aging water and sewer systems and lay the groundwork for critical upgrades across Frederick, Allegany, and Garrett Counties. I\u2019m proud to work alongside Senators Van Hollen and Alsobrooks to bring federal resources home and ensure our rural communities have the infrastructure they need to grow and thrive.\u201d\n\n\u201cAging water systems put the health and safety of communities at risk. That\u2019s why it\u2019s essential we invest in modernizing community water and sewer infrastructure. This federal funding will support these much-needed improvements across Western Maryland and help prevent costly problems for communities, businesses, and residents in the future,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cFrom Mountain Maryland to the Eastern Shore, I will always work to ensure Marylanders across our state have access to clean and safe drinking water. Investing in clean water \u2013 as we are in Frederick, Allegany, and Garrett Counties with this over $3 million federal investment \u2013 protects public health, helps us meet our environmental goals, and ensures our infrastructure is modern and resilient,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\nThe federal funding has been awarded as follows:\n\n$2,779,000 loan to the Town of Emmitsburg in Frederick County to replace a water line along Main Street.\n\n$465,000 grant to the Town of Luke in Allegany County to replace its sewer collection system.\n\n$96,000 grant to the Garrett County Sanitary District to conduct Preliminary Engineering and Environmental reports for the Friendsville and Crellin wastewater treatment plants.\n\nThis federal funding is provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants Program, which the lawmakers worked to fund at $140 million in the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations package.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"], ["https://mcclaindelaney.house.gov/media/press-releases/mcclain-delaney-van-hollen-alsobrooks-announce-240000-frederick-municipal", "McClain Delaney, Van Hollen, Alsobrooks Announce $240,000 for Frederick Municipal Airport\u2019s Air Traffic Control Tower", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "April McClain Delaney", "M001232", "mcclaindelaney.house.gov", "mcclaindelaney", "https://mcclaindelaney.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congresswoman April McClain Delaney alongside U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (all D-Md.) announced $240,000 in federal funding for infrastructure upgrades at Frederick Municipal Airport\u2019s air traffic control tower. The investment will fund the rehabilitation of the tower\u2019s HVAC system. This funding is in addition to $1.6 million in federal support that the lawmakers have secured for other infrastructure projects at Frederick Municipal Airport, which serves as a reliever airport for Baltimore Washington International Airport and supports local business and a range of community-related operations, including emergency medical needs.\n\n\"As Frederick County continues to grow, we need infrastructure that grows with it,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney. \u201cThis $240,000 federal investment will modernize Frederick Municipal Airport\u2019s air traffic control tower, strengthen safety and reliability, and support an airport that is critical to our local economy. I\u2019m proud to work with Senators Van Hollen and Alsobrooks to bring federal dollars home and deliver for Frederick County.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs Maryland\u2019s second busiest airport, Frederick Municipal Airport serves as a local economic hub, driving regional businesses, bringing visitors to Maryland, and supporting the surrounding community with a broad array of services. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve worked to support the airport\u2019s modernization and deliver federal investments to upgrade its infrastructure. This investment will help ensure the airport\u2019s control tower has the infrastructure it needs to continue providing safe and efficient service to all travelers,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cThis $1.6 million in critical federal funding will enable the Frederick Municipal Airport to continue serving Maryland\u2014supporting small businesses, moving goods, and strengthening our health care response. This investment will improve our infrastructure, strengthen our economy, and help keep Marylanders safe,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\nThis investment is provided through the Federal Aviation Administration\u2019s Contract Tower Competitive Grant Program, which was created and funded at $100 million over five years through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by Congress in 2021.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-29T11:31:28Z", "2026-08-29T11:32:37Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-mcclain-delaney-announce-240000-for-frederick-municipal-airports-air-traffic-control-tower", "Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, McClain Delaney Announce $240,000 for Frederick Municipal Airport\u2019s Air Traffic Control Tower", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (all D-Md.) announced $240,000 in federal funding for infrastructure upgrades at Frederick Municipal Airport\u2019s air traffic control tower. The investment will fund the rehabilitation of the tower\u2019s HVAC system. This funding is in addition to $1.6 million in federal support that the lawmakers have secured for other infrastructure projects at Frederick Municipal Airport, which serves as a reliever airport for Baltimore Washington International Airport and supports local business and a range of community-related operations, including emergency medical needs.\n\n\u201cAs Maryland\u2019s second busiest airport, Frederick Municipal Airport serves as a local economic hub, driving regional businesses, bringing visitors to Maryland, and supporting the surrounding community with a broad array of services. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve worked to support the airport\u2019s modernization and deliver federal investments to upgrade its infrastructure. This investment will help ensure the airport\u2019s control tower has the infrastructure it needs to continue providing safe and efficient service to all travelers,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cThis $1.6 million in critical federal funding will enable the Frederick Municipal Airport to continue serving Maryland\u2014supporting small businesses, moving goods, and strengthening our health care response. This investment will improve our infrastructure, strengthen our economy, and help keep Marylanders safe,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cAs Frederick County continues to grow, we need infrastructure that grows with it,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney. \u201cThis $240,000 federal investment will modernize Frederick Municipal Airport\u2019s air traffic control tower, strengthen safety and reliability, and support an airport that is critical to our local economy. I\u2019m proud to work with Senators Van Hollen and Alsobrooks to bring federal dollars home and deliver for Frederick County.\u201d\n\nThis investment is provided through the Federal Aviation Administration\u2019s Contract Tower Competitive Grant Program, which was created and funded at $100 million over five years through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by Congress in 2021.", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-mcclain-delaney-announce-over-3-million-in-federal-funding-to-improve-water-infrastructure-in-western-maryland", "Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, McClain Delaney Announce Over $3 Million in Federal Funding to Improve Water Infrastructure in Western Maryland", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (all D-Md.) announced $3,340,000 in federal funding to improve water and wastewater infrastructure across Western Maryland. This investment, comprising a $2,779,000 loan for the Town of Emmitsburg to replace a critical Main Street water line, a $465,000 grant for the Town of Luke\u2019s replacement of its sewer collection system, and a $96,000 grant for Garrett County\u2019s planning costs for the Friendsville and Crellin wastewater treatment upgrades, will help Western Maryland communities upgrade critical infrastructure.\n\n\u201cAging water systems put the health and safety of communities at risk. That\u2019s why it\u2019s essential we invest in modernizing community water and sewer infrastructure. This federal funding will support these much-needed improvements across Western Maryland and help prevent costly problems for communities, businesses, and residents in the future,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cFrom Mountain Maryland to the Eastern Shore, I will always work to ensure Marylanders across our state have access to clean and safe drinking water. Investing in clean water \u2013 as we are in Frederick, Allegany, and Garrett Counties with this over $3 million federal investment \u2013 protects public health, helps us meet our environmental goals, and ensures our infrastructure is modern and resilient,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks.\n\n\u201cEvery rural community deserves reliable water and wastewater infrastructure, no matter its size or ZIP code,\u201d said Congresswoman McClain Delaney. \u201cThis more than $3 million federal investment will help replace aging water and sewer systems and lay the groundwork for critical upgrades across Frederick, Allegany, and Garrett Counties. I\u2019m proud to work alongside Senators Van Hollen and Alsobrooks to bring federal resources home and ensure our rural communities have the infrastructure they need to grow and thrive.\u201d\n\nThe federal funding has been awarded as follows:\n\n$2,779,000 loan to the Town of Emmitsburg in Frederick County to replace a water line along Main Street.\n\n$465,000 grant to the Town of Luke in Allegany County to replace its sewer collection system.\n\n$96,000 grant to the Garrett County Sanitary District to conduct Preliminary Engineering and Environmental reports for the Friendsville and Crellin wastewater treatment plants.\n\nThis federal funding is provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants Program, which the lawmakers worked to fund at $140 million in the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations package.", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-murray-colleagues-in-demanding-nih-director-restore-lifesaving-pediatric-research", "Van Hollen Joins Murray, Colleagues in Demanding NIH Director Restore Lifesaving Pediatric Research", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) in sending a letter to National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya demanding restoration of a promising clinical trial to help children that is ending because of the Trump administration\u2019s budget cuts for contracts and extreme delays in Notices of Funding Opportunities impacting pediatric research, specifically the NIH\u2019s Pediatric Trials Network (PTN). As a direct result of this administration\u2019s actions the PTN is ending the Pediatric Opportunistic Pharmacokinetic Study (POPS), which focuses on determining the right dose of dozens of medicines commonly used in children. The abrupt end to this trial means that children and their families who have already enrolled and donated blood samples for this scientific effort will not see the trial\u2019s goal achieved.\n\n\u201cWe write with great concern regarding the National Institute of Health\u2019s (NIH) budget cuts for contracts and extreme delays in Notices of Funding Opportunities and their impact on pediatric research, specifically the NIH\u2019s Pediatric Trials Network (PTN). We recently learned that, as part of these actions, the PTN is ending its promising clinical trial, the Pediatric Opportunistic Pharmacokinetic Study (POPS), which focuses on determining the right dose of dozens of medicines commonly used in children,\u201d write the senators. \u201cEnding the POPS study will stop enrollment in 25 states and the testing of several dozen drugs in children: including premature infants, critically ill children, and obese children. Ending this study will also mean that children and their families who have already enrolled and donated blood samples for this important scientific effort will not see the trial\u2019s goal achieved.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou cannot claim to be making American children healthier while shutting down the research that would do exactly that. We demand that you reverse this reckless decision immediately and explain your decision making to Congress and the families of the children who rely on this research,\u201d\n\nIn the letter, the senators slam the Trump administration for this wasteful and unnecessary move. \u201cCancelling this research doesn't save a dime, in fact it wastes millions of dollars of taxpayer money. Congress established the BPCA and appropriated the funding for this research. Now the Trump administration is forcing it to shut down, and throwing years of data and children's blood down the drain. Clinical trials aren't light switches - you can't turn this research on and off, and now lifesaving research for our kids is gone.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers also call out Director Bhattacharya for his hypocrisy\u2014because in May, during the FY 2027 NIH Budget Hearing before the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, he vowed to protect these sorts of trials. They note: \u201cWhen asked if you were aware that last year NIH\u2019s PTN received only part of its funding, you replied that you \u2018were absolutely committed to making sure that we do have opportunities for children across the country to participate in clinical trials.\u2019 But your actions are ripping away opportunities for children to participate in clinical trials and scientists\u2019 ability to learn from trials that could benefit all children. Your actions are squandering the investments previously made by NIH to secure data and specimens in a highly productive trial; and wasting the contributions of children and families participating in the POPS study.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below:\n\nDear Director Bhattacharya:\n\nWe write with great concern regarding the National Institute of Health\u2019s (NIH) budget cuts for contracts and extreme delays in Notices of Funding Opportunities and their impact on pediatric research, specifically the NIH\u2019s Pediatric Trials Network (PTN). We recently learned that, as part of these actions, the PTN is ending its promising clinical trial, the Pediatric Opportunistic Pharmacokinetic Study (POPS), which focuses on determining the right dose of dozens of medicines commonly used in children. Ending the POPS study will stop enrollment in 25 states and the testing of several dozen drugs in children: including premature infants, critically ill children, and obese children. Ending this study will also mean that children and their families who have already enrolled and donated blood samples for this important scientific effort will not see the trial\u2019s goal achieved. We urge NIH to reinstate the POPS study to prevent the irreplaceable loss of benefit of these precious blood samples from our most vulnerable populations.\n\nThe PTN was authorized by Congress in the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (BPCA) (P.L. 107-109), bipartisan legislation that authorized $25 million per year for trials of off-patent medicines and devices used in children. Since then, the PTN has developed into an NIH-funded consortium of over 100 clinical research sites across the United States dedicated to conducting studies on the safety, efficacy, and dosing of drugs and medical devices for children. It aims to improve pediatric medication labeling and reduce off-label prescribing in children and provides critical data on how medications act across developmental stages of childhood and adolescence. Currently, the infrastructure for the BPCA trials is supported by contracts. Thus, reductions in contract funding pose barriers to the BPCA implementation. Due to an arbitrary new rule concocted by the Trump administration, the \u201cDepartment of Health and Human Services\u2019 (HHS) Cost Efficiency Initiative,\u201d created in response to Executive Order 14222, that institutes an agency-wide maximum contract spending cap for fiscal years (FY) 2025 and 2026, the BPCA trial funding was cut to substantially less than what has been authorized by Congress.\n\nPOPS provides infrastructure to support pediatric research at 33 sites in 25 states including Washington, New Jersey, and California. Until its recent cancellation, the study was investigating 60 medicines and had enrolled over 2,000 children. Due to its abrupt, unplanned termination, there are drugs for which the PTN will not be able to provide appropriate dosing information for one or more subgroups of children. Stopping this trial will diminish the value of irreplaceable blood samples donated by children and will prevent our ability to learn the safe dose of medicines routinely used to treat American children.\n\nCancelling this research doesn't save a dime, in fact it wastes millions of dollars of taxpayer money. Congress established the BPCA and appropriated the funding for this research. Now the Trump administration is forcing it to shut down, and throwing years of data and children's blood down the drain. Clinical trials aren't light switches - you can't turn this research on and off, and now lifesaving research for our kids is gone.\n\nThe National Institute on Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) previously announced it was planning to support a unified pediatric research consortium. However, that potential effort was discussed nearly a year ago at the NICHD\u2019s Advisory Council. To date, NIH has not released a Notice of Funding Opportunity, meaning that it will likely be years before awards are made and children are enrolled in approved trials. On top of the years it will take to get a unified pediatric research consortium up and running, the PTN was informed that there will be further cuts to the network in FY 2026 because NICHD was directed to reduce the amount of money they spend via contracts in compliance with the administration\u2019s Cost Efficiency Initiative rule.\n\nThis is not the first time cuts to the PTN has been brought to your attention. In May, during the FY 2027 Budget Hearing before the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Murray asked you about this very issue. When asked if you were aware that last year NIH\u2019s PTN received only part of its funding, you replied that you \u201cwere absolutely committed to making sure that we do have opportunities for children across the country to participate in clinical trials.\u201d But your actions are ripping away opportunities for children to participate in clinical trials and scientists\u2019 ability to learn from trials that could benefit all children. Your actions are squandering the investments previously made by NIH to secure data and specimens in a highly productive trial; and wasting the contributions of children and families participating in the POPS study.\n\nThis pediatric trial didn\u2019t have to end prematurely. It is just one example of a direct impact of the arbitrary decisions the Trump administration has made that are hurting our most vulnerable population - children. The contracts that support BPCA infrastructure received 40% less last year (FY 2025) than was received in 2024, and researchers were told by NIH that this year\u2019s funding (FY 2026) will be even less. Senator Murray warned you in May that \u201cresearchers at Seattle Children\u2019s were going to have stop their work investigating how pain medications could be safely used to help some of our sickest children as they face surgeries and hospitalization.\u201d Yet, here we are, in the exact place we feared we would be just a few months ago.\n\nWe urge you to do whatever is necessary to ensure full funding for the NIH\u2019s BPCA infrastructure for the PTN so the important work of the POPS trial and other vital research can move forward. This is not about a budget line\u2014this is about keeping our kids safe and healthy. You cannot claim to be making American children healthier while shutting down the research that would do exactly that. We demand that you reverse this reckless decision immediately and explain your decision making to Congress and the families of the children who rely on this research.", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-on-cnn-measles-crisis-directly-tied-to-rfk-jr/", "ALSOBROOKS ON CNN \u2013 MEASLES CRISIS DIRECTLY TIED TO RFK JR.", "2026-08-27", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Angela D. Alsobrooks", "A000382", "www.alsobrooks.senate.gov", "alsobrooks", "https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "August 27, 2026\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) joined Inside Politics with Dana Bash on CNN to discuss the surge in measles cases happening now in Maryland and across the country and how this crisis is directly tied to the disinformation coming from RFK Jr. and HHS.\n\n\u201cWell, what we know is that we\u2019re seeing a serious surge in these measles cases. This is something I\u2019ve been discussing since last year when we [saw] the outbreak of measles across our country, now going from 285 cases just in 2024 to over 2,777 cases. And we can tie it directly to the horrific leadership of Secretary Kennedy\u2026 And so we have a large number of unvaccinated individuals, including, as you mentioned, children who are dying from a disease that we had eliminated\u2014we [had] an elimination status as of 2000 in our country, and now we\u2019re seeing the resurgence of measles. No one should die of measles in 2026\u2026 It\u2019s horrific and it\u2019s completely preventable. It should not have happened, and it is directly tied, I believe, to the misinformation and disinformation coming out of HHS,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks during the interview.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-kaine-sanders-announce-privileged-resolution-seeking-answers-on-west-bank-violence", "Van Hollen, Kaine, Sanders Announce Privileged Resolution Seeking Answers on West Bank Violence", "2026-08-27", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), along with eight of their colleagues, announced their intent to introduce a 502B privileged resolution requiring the Department of State to report to Congress on increasing violence in the West Bank, including the killings of Americans in the West Bank. Nine Americans have been killed in the West Bank in recent years \u2013 and more detained \u2013 and none have received accountability or justice from either the Israeli or United States Governments. The Senators\u2019 resolution would require the Department of State to provide information and assessments related to investigations of the killing of United States citizens by violent Israeli settlers or Israeli security forces in the West Bank, as well as an assessment of the human rights situation in the West Bank, specifically related to the detention of Palestinian children. They were joined in introducing the resolution by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ed Markey (D-Mass), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).\n\n\u201cThis Administration has said ensuring the safety and security of American citizens abroad is one of its highest priorities. And yet, as we\u2019ve seen violence rise in the West Bank, American citizens have been killed time and again, and they have received no justice and no accountability. It\u2019s past time we get answers on their deaths \u2013 and on the growing violent instability in the West Bank and the injustices facing Palestinian civilians on a daily basis. This resolution will require the State Department to begin to produce these answers, which are owed to the families of those who have lost loved ones, to the American people, and to all of those who want to ensure recipients of U.S. taxpayer dollars are acting in line with our laws and our values,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cThe violence committed by Israeli settlers in the West Bank is reaching an unprecedented level, and as a result more and more Americans and Palestinians are being killed and injured. These actions \u2013 and the Israeli government\u2019s lack of response to this violence \u2013 are unacceptable and threaten the long-term safety and security of the entire region,\u201d said Senator Kaine. \u201cFriends need to listen to each other, and my colleagues and I have repeatedly urged Israeli leaders to take firmer action to curtail illegal settlements in the West Bank, prosecute violent settlers, and protect Palestinian residents as well as American citizens living in or visiting the West Bank. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this resolution to require the State Department to conduct a formal assessment and provide a report to Congress on the situation in the West Bank, in particular the safety and security of Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery day, Palestinians in the West Bank experience horrific violence at the hands of Israeli settlers and security forces \u2014 and for years, the Israeli government has offered impunity instead of accountability. Enough is enough. The United States cannot keep bankrolling this violence and looking the other way \u2014 it\u2019s time to end our complicity, once and for all,\u201d said Senator Sanders.\n\n\u201cIn my visits to the West Bank, I\u2019ve heard numerous stories about the organized strategy of harassment and violence settlers are inflicting upon Palestinian villagers and Palestinian Americans. Tactics include cutting off villagers from their wells, their vineyards, and their orchards, burning their vehicles, and assaulting defenseless individuals, all with the implicit support of the Netanyahu government. This is wrong under every moral code,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cThis resolution demands answers about these abuses and accountability for those responsible.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Netanyahu government has failed to stop Israeli security forces and settler attacks in the West Bank for years, including attacks that killed American citizens. The Trump administration has even gone so far as to reverse sanctions against individuals connected to this pattern of horrific violence. It's long past time for the U.S. government to stand up for human rights, investigate this violence against Americans and Palestinian civilians, provide full information to Congress, and hold the perpetrators accountable,\u201d said Senator Warren.\n\n\u201cIsraeli settlers in the West Bank have perpetrated violent crimes against Palestinians, including American citizens, with impunity. It is completely reasonable for Congress to demand our own government to report who was involved in these attacks. The United States has a moral obligation to seek justice for both our own citizens and Palestinians, including many children, targeted by Israeli security forces or settlers in the West Bank,\u201d said Senator Smith. \u201cA mature democracy can face up to its failures and commit to doing better. I am not at all convinced that Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s government is up to that task, which is why it\u2019s up to the United States.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe have a responsibility to protect Americans abroad and seek justice when Americans are killed,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cThe escalating violence in the West Bank and lack of accountability for the deaths of American citizens are deeply concerning. This resolution will help us get the answers we need, demand accountability, and ensure that we have a better assessment of the human rights situation in the West Bank.\u201d\n\n\u201cIsraeli military and police forces are a leading perpetrator of deadly violence against American civilians\u2014including 9 killed since 2022,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cToo often there are no serious investigations and there is no accountability after violent attacks. Israel should be held to the same standards as every other nation when it comes to the lives of American citizens\u2014that\u2019s what this resolution demands.\u201d\n\nThe resolution draws upon Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, which allows Congress to file a privileged resolution that, if passed, would require the State Department to provide information on any country receiving U.S. security assistance and that country\u2019s observance of internationally-recognized human rights. After introduction, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has ten days to consider it in committee, and if it fails to do so, the resolution can be called up for a vote on the Senate floor. If the resolution passes the Senate, the Trump Administration must submit the report within 30 days or the majority of security assistance authorized to Israel would be prohibited. If the resolution passes, and following the receipt of the State Department report, Congress may consider any necessary changes to U.S. security assistance to that country in light of the information received. If the Administration declines or fails to submit the required report, the Administration\u2019s decision would prompt the termination of certain covered security assistance programs for Israel.", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 17601, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"state\" = :p0 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "MD"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": 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