{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where state = \"MD\" and year = 2024 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-announces-winner-of-congressional-app-challenge", "Congressman Mfume Announces Winner of Congressional App Challenge", "2024-12-31", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Kweisi Mfume", "M000687", "mfume.house.gov", "mfume", "https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "BALTIMORE \u2013 Today, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) announced the winner of this year\u2019s Congressional App Challenge for Maryland\u2019s 7th Congressional District. After deliberation by three distinguished judges on Congressman Mfume\u2019s App Competition judging panel, the app and student team that received the highest score was: EcoGoal by Peter Yang and Vivek Raghavan from Gilman School.\n\nThe winning team consisted of Peter Yang and Vivek Raghavan from Gilman School, for their app, EcoGoal. EcoGoal was designed to help environmental organizations set, organize, and track goals in a private and collaborative space. The EcoGoal team used the programming language JavaScript to develop a web-based app for environmental organizations in particular to have access to a digital chatroom, to-do list, and have the ability to assign other users tasks. This app yields a very powerful communications and planning application that serves many purposes.\n\nCLICK HERE to WATCH the EcoGoal team provide a tutorial on their winning app. To view the full application profile for EcoGoal, please CLICK HERE.\n\nMr. Yang and Mr. Raghavan were inspired to create this app after contacting various leaders of clubs in their school community and discovering a common thematic problem with all of them: most of the clubs needed help organizing events, hosting club meetings effectively, and communicating with the student body of their work and goals.\n\n\"I was immensely impressed by the variety, creativity, and technological ability demonstrated by all of the submissions my Office received for this year's Congressional App Challenge from Maryland's 7th Congressional District. I applaud Mr. Yang and Mr. Raghavan for ultimately being crowned the winners of this year's 'Challenge,' and I am confident this honor will propel both of these young coders in their journeys to become leaders in computer science, engineering, and other STEM fields,\" said Congressman Kweisi Mfume.\n\nAdditional Information: Congressional App Challenge\n\nThe Congressional App Challenge is a way for Members of Congress to encourage middle and high school students to learn to code and to inspire them to pursue careers in computer science. Students have the opportunity to create and submit their original apps for a chance to win the \"Challenge.\"\n\nThe winner of the Congressional App Challenge in Maryland's 7th Congressional District was selected by a panel of judges with technological expertises drawn from local communities. The winning student(s) will have their app displayed on Capitol Hill and on the U.S. House of Representatives Official Website for one year.\n\nIn addition to having their app displayed, the winning student(s) will also have copyright registration application fees waived through the Artistic Recognition for Talented Students (ARTS) Act. The student(s) will also be invited to the #HouseOfCode celebration.\n\nThe Congressional App Challenge was created because Congress recognized that STEM and computer-based skills are essential for economic growth and innovation. These are high-paying, high-demand jobs and it\u2019s crucial that the United States invests in our youth now and helps them acquire these valuable skills.\n\nAdditional information about the Congressional App Challenge can be found by CLICKING HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyer-statement-passing-former-president-jimmy-carter", "Hoyer Statement on the Passing of Former President Jimmy Carter", "2024-12-29", "2024", "2024-12", "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 regarding the passing of Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States:\n\n\u201cToday, America lost a bold visionary, transformational leader, and dedicated public servant: former President Jimmy Carter. From the halls of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis to the dirt roads of his family peanut farm, the floor of the Georgia State Senate to the Oval Office, President Carter always walked with purpose. I join Americans in every corner of the country in mourning his loss.\n\n\"Faith, family, and service defined Jimmy Carter's life. After serving for years in the U.S. Navy, he distinguished himself as a Georgia state legislator and later as governor. His optimism and ability to bring people together propelled him to the White House in 1977. Whether building peace abroad with agreements like the Camp David Accords or laying the groundwork for the renewable energy revolution, he was a president of tremendous vision.\n\n\"He accomplished much after his time in the White House as well. From promoting global health, democracy, and human rights through the Carter Center to building houses for Habitat for Humanity, his service never wavered. After the contentious 2000 presidential election revealed deficiencies with our electoral system, for example, I was proud to work with the Carter-Ford Commission to devise and enact the Help America Vote Act, which transformed how we conduct our elections today.\n\n\"We will remember Jimmy Carter not only as a former president and groundbreaking humanitarian but also as a man of deep faith, humility, and generosity. Crucially, he was a proud husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. My prayers are with his family during this time of loss. His legacy will forever endure in the lives of those touched by his lifelong commitment to service and in the actions of those he inspired to a higher calling.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/12/24/2024/van-hollen-schatz-booker-introduce-bill-to-harden-our-infrastructure-against-impacts-of-climate-change", "Van Hollen, Schatz, Booker Introduce Bill to Harden Our Infrastructure Against Impacts of Climate Change", "2024-12-24", "2024", "2024-12", "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.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) have reintroduced their Federal Flood Risk Management Act, legislation to ensure that federally-funded infrastructure projects are built to withstand the impacts of climate change and flooding.\n\n\u201cFrom increasingly devastating storms to more frequent severe flooding, communities across Maryland and the country are contending with the consequences of the climate crisis every day. This legislation will help ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely on infrastructure that is built to withstand the challenges of climate change as we continue the fight to protect our planet,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cAs temperatures and sea levels continue to rise, the effects of climate change will be more and more acutely felt across the country. As this happens, we must implement more policies to prepare for extreme weather events, like severe flooding. This bill would ensure that the federal government is fully considering and managing the growing flood risk across our nation, investing in resilient infrastructure, and further protecting communities from the threat of climate change,\u201d said Senator Booker.\n\nUnderstanding the dangerous and costly consequences of flooding, the Obama Administration set standards in 2015 to make sure that federal projects were able to stand up to these risks. The order also took into account how climate change is impacting weather and sea levels. But early on in his first Administration, President-Elect Trump signed an executive order undoing this important work. Throughout the four years of the first Trump Administration, the Senators repeatedly pushed back against this effort and introduced the Federal Flood Risk Management Act to codify the standards set forth by President Obama. As Congress prepares for a second Trump Administration, the Senators are reintroducing this important legislation to ensure that we invest in our nation by making resilient investments that take into account the impacts of climate change. Doing so will protect our nation's infrastructure, save taxpayer dollars, safeguard businesses from flood damage, and keep communities safe.\n\n\"Flooding is the costliest disaster facing our country, with billions in taxpayer funds spent to rebuild public infrastructure,\u201d said Joel Scata of the Natural Resources Defense Council. \u201cThe Federal Flood Risk Management Act ensures federally funded projects, like hospitals, roads, and schools, are built to withstand future floods, protecting people and property. When federal funds are used to build or rebuild, the government has a responsibility to ensure those investments are safe, sustainable, and resilient.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-800000-improve-railroad-safety", "Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces $800,000 to Improve Railroad Safety", "2024-12-23", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny H. Hoyer", "H000874", "hoyer.house.gov", "hoyer", "https://hoyer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-MD), and U.S. Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02), John Sarbanes (MD-03), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), David Trone (MD-06), and Glenn Ivey (MD-04) announced $800,000 in federal funding to improve safety on railroads and at train crossings across the state.\n\nThis investment will allow the Maryland Department of Transportation to perform an assessment of incidents on active railways across the state and develop a program designed to reduce injuries and fatalities associated with trespassing on railroad property. Together, these investments will increase the overall safety of the state\u2019s train transit system.\n\n\u201cImproving rail safety can both save lives and reduce costly, time consuming delays that impact travelers and commuters. With this funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Maryland will have the tools to do just that. These federal dollars will help our state increase rail safety, prevent tragic incidents, and improve rail service for all,\u201d said the lawmakers.\n\n\"Saving lives is MDOT\u2019s top priority and these funds will enable the Department to prioritize high-impact safety projects at highway crossings with railroads and local governments,\" said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. \"We appreciate the continued leadership of Team Maryland in securing this critical funding to further enhance safety in Maryland.\"\n\nThe funds are provided through the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, which the lawmakers fought to fund at $5 billion over five years under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/bill-to-rename-fort-mchenry-visitor-and-education-center-after-senator-paul-sarbanes-passes-congress", "Bill to Rename Fort McHenry Visitor and Education Center after Senator Paul Sarbanes Passes Congress", "2024-12-23", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Kweisi Mfume", "M000687", "mfume.house.gov", "mfume", "https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Last week, the U.S. Senate passed H.R. 6826, legislation designating the Visitor and Education Center at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine as the \"Paul S. Sarbanes Visitor and Education Center.\" This bill was crafted and led in the U.S. House by Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07), while Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-MD) introduced an identical, companion bill in the U.S. Senate.\n\nH.R. 6826 is cosponsored by the entire, bipartisan Maryland delegation in the United States House of Representatives who spearheaded its passage in the House on December 3, 2024. With passage of the measure in the Senate, it will be sent to President Joe Biden to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cThe late Senator Sarbanes was a champion of Fort McHenry, and he firmly believed that the site is critical to understanding and appreciating our national heritage and our national identity,\u201d said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. \u201cI am overjoyed that this bill has been triumphantly passed out of the Congress, and I am thankful for the partnership of the bipartisan, Maryland congressional delegation whose unified front made this bill\u2019s advancement attainable,\u201d he concluded.\n\n\u201cSenator Paul Sarbanes was known for his strong commitment to his principles, to public service and to the people of Maryland. He had a long and distinguished career, but he never forgot his Baltimore roots. He saw Fort McHenry as a national treasure in the city and a site worth celebrating. This legislation acknowledges his long-term advocacy for the preservation of the site and the improvement of the visitor experience. He left an indelible mark in the Senate and in Maryland, and the \u2018Paul S. Sarbanes Visitor and Education Center\u2019 at Fort McHenry will be a symbol of his long-standing legacy,\u201d said Senator Ben Cardin.\n\n\u201cDuring his time in the House of Delegates, the U.S. House of Representatives, and as our state\u2019s second-longest serving United States Senator, Paul Sarbanes was a tireless advocate on behalf of all Marylanders. Fort McHenry, a powerful symbol of Maryland\u2019s pride and patriotism, is a fitting place to honor his legacy, and Congress\u2019s passage of this legislation will help pay tribute to all that Paul did for our state and our nation,\u201d said Senator Chris Van Hollen.\n\n\"For decades, my family has cherished Fort McHenry's rich history and its tremendous vistas of the Chesapeake Bay. My father, Paul Sarbanes, deeply understood Fort McHenry's role as the beating heart of Baltimore, and he worked tirelessly for many years to lift up and preserve this treasured site,\" said Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD-03). \"Among my father's proudest achievements was securing a new visitor center for the fort to better welcome growing crowds and ensure it remained accessible to all. There is no finer tribute to his legacy than naming the visitor center at Fort McHenry in his honor. The Sarbanes family is deeply grateful to Rep. Mfume for his leadership in the House, to Senator Cardin for his leadership in the Senate, and to the entire bipartisan Maryland delegation for their support in making this possible.\"\n\nBackground: H.R. 6826\n\nH.R. 6826 would name the visitor and education center at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine (Fort McHenry) in Baltimore, Maryland, as the \"Paul S. Sarbanes Visitor and Education Center.''\n\nFort McHenry is known as the site of the 1814 attack by British troops against 1,000 American soldiers.\n\nThe resistance of Baltimore's Fort McHenry during bombardment by the Royal Navy inspired the poem \"Defence of Fort M'Henry,\" which later became the lyrics to \"The Star-Spangled Banner,\" our national anthem.\n\nThe Honorable Paul S. Sarbanes served the State of Maryland in the House of Representatives for six years and in the U.S. Senate for three decades.\n\nDuring his tenure, Senator Sarbanes helped secure funding for construction of the new visitor center at Fort McHenry, increasing capacity and visitor access.\n\nSenator Sarbanes worked to introduce numerous bipartisan bills that eventually established the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail as the 26th such trail in our nation. It covers Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Maryland, telling the stories of the events, people, and places that led to the birth of our national anthem.\n\nNaming the visitor and education center at Fort McHenry would honor Senator Sarbanes' long history of service to Maryland and his connection with the Fort McHenry site.\n\nRead the bill text HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-800000-to-improve-railroad-safety", "Congressman Mfume, Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces $800,000 to Improve Railroad Safety", "2024-12-23", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Kweisi Mfume", "M000687", "mfume.house.gov", "mfume", "https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Congressman Kweisi Mfume, Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and U.S. Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Jamie Raskin, David Trone, and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) announced $800,000 in federal funding to improve safety on railroads and at train crossings across the state.\n\nThis investment will allow the Maryland Department of Transportation to perform an assessment of incidents on active railways across the state and develop a program designed to reduce injuries and fatalities associated with trespassing on railroad property. Together, these investments will increase the overall safety of the state\u2019s train transit system.\n\n\u201cImproving rail safety can both save lives and reduce costly, time consuming delays that impact travelers and commuters. With this funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Maryland will have the tools to do just that. These federal dollars will help our state increase rail safety, prevent tragic incidents, and improve rail service for all,\u201d said the lawmakers.\n\n\"Saving lives is MDOT\u2019s top priority and these funds will enable the Department to prioritize high-impact safety projects at highway crossings with railroads and local governments,\" said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. \"We appreciate the continued leadership of Team Maryland in securing this critical funding to further enhance safety in Maryland.\"\n\nThe funds are provided through the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, which the lawmakers fought to fund at $5 billion over five years under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/mfume-cardin-and-van-hollen-bill-to-rename-post-office-in-honor-of-elijah-cummings-passes-congress", "Mfume, Cardin, and Van Hollen Bill to Rename Post Office in Honor of Elijah Cummings Passes Congress", "2024-12-23", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Kweisi Mfume", "M000687", "mfume.house.gov", "mfume", "https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Last week, the United States Senate passed legislation (H.R. 9544) to designate a Baltimore United States Post Office (USPS) as the \u2018\u2018United States Representative Elijah E. Cummings Post Office Building.\" The bill to rename the post office at 340 South Loudon Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland, in honor of Congressman Cummings will now be sent to President Joe Biden to be signed into law. H.R. 9544 was crafted and led by Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07) in the U.S. House, and the companion legislation to this bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-MD). Maryland Congressmen Steny Hoyer (D-MD-05), Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD-02), John Sarbanes (D-MD-03), Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), David Trone (D-MD-06), and Glenn Ivey (D-MD-04) all cosponsored the U.S. House legislation when it was introduced.\n\n\"Congressman Elijah Cummings was a person of deep intellect, unlimited compassion, and a champion for working people everywhere. This House and our nation still feel his loss, which makes the renaming of this post office in his honor a fitting tribute to our dear friend,\" said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. \"I am elated that this legislation has prevailed out of the Congress. It is a small but important gesture to say thank you to Congressman Elijah Cummings for the work he did, for so many years, for the people of Baltimore and the state of Maryland. Elijah was a trailblazer, consensus builder, peacemaker, and friend. His name and his image will now be a part of this building for all to see,\" he concluded.\n\n\u201cElijah\u2019s talent for building consensus, as well as his work ethic and dedication to his constituents, propelled him early on to positions of leadership. He never for a moment forgot that his purpose was to represent the people back home in his district and to be a voice for the many who were silenced,\u201d said Senator Ben Cardin. \u201cHe once said that while it was his \u2018constitutional duty to conduct oversight of the executive branch,\u2019 it was his 'moral duty' to fight for his constituents. For this reason and so many others, this is a fitting tribute to our friend and colleague Elijah Cummings and his love for Baltimore and the community he cherished and fought for year after year.\u201d\n\n\u201cCongressman Elijah Cummings was a man of principle and dignity. His life was shaped by a commitment to serve others, and nowhere did he work harder to achieve equal justice and equal opportunity for all than in his beloved Baltimore community. Congress\u2019s passage of this legislation is an important recognition of all that Elijah did for his city, his state, and his country,\u201d said Senator Chris Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cOn behalf of the Cummings family, we thank Congressman Mfume and Senators Cardin and Van Hollen for keeping alive the legacy of my father, their friend, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings. We are deeply grateful for all of their work to rename a district post office in recognition of his commitment to public service, including his work on postal issues that came before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee,\u201d said Jennifer Cummings, the late Congressman's eldest daughter upon the legislation's introduction.\n\nThe introduction of this legislation was an effort in partnership with the Cummings family, who wrote to Congressman Mfume in August 2024. Their letter expressed the Cummings family\u2019s support to honor Congressman Cummings with the renaming of a post office after their father. On November 20, 2024, this bill was passed unanimously by the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. On December 4, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill, sending it to the U.S. Senate.\n\nThe Life of Congressman Elijah E. Cummings\n\nCongressman Cummings was born in Baltimore on January 18, 1951. His father worked at a chemical factory and his mother worked at a pickle factory and later as a maid while raising seven children. Both parents came from Southern sharecropping families.\n\nElected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1982, Mr. Cummings became the youngest Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus and the first African American elected speaker pro tem by the body, a permanent role in the Maryland House. He served in that chamber for 14 years, during which he worked tirelessly to advance the rights and opportunities of Maryland residents.\n\nIn 1996, Mr. Cummings won the seat in the U.S. House of Representatives that Congressman Mfume vacated to become NAACP president, launching a 23-year career in Congress during which he advocated on behalf of all people, including lower-income and working-class Americans.\n\nWhere others saw problems and danger, he saw opportunities and solutions. He advanced measures to improve education, to expand affordable housing, to curb addiction, to enhance public infrastructure, to promote gun safety, and to reform police practices. He worked to erase the racial and class divides that he had grown up with, so that future generations of Baltimoreans would not face the same obstacles he did.\n\nCongressman Cummings became Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus in 2002, where he pushed to increase funding for public education and the Head Start program.\n\nAfter the tragic death of Freddie Gray, Congressman Cummings went to the streets to ask the citizens of Baltimore to come together and find a peaceful path forward. Then, true to form, he launched into action, pushing hard for policies and programs to help the city recover.\n\nAs Ranking Member and then Chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, Mr. Cummings spearheaded much of the impeachment inquiry of former President Trump, and led probes relating to Trump\u2019s family members serving in the White House. In this role, Congressman Cummings also had jurisdiction over postal issues and led the charge to pass the Postal Service Reform Act to ensure the financial solvency of the U.S. Postal Service until his passing in 2019. A version of the legislation ultimately became law in 2022.\n\nHe was passionate about rooting out corruption, protecting our democracy, and achieving equality and freedom for all. He fought for what was right, simply because it was right.\n\nRead the bill text HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/bill-to-rename-fort-mchenry-visitor-and-education-center-after-senator-paul-sarbanes-passes-congress", "Bill to Rename Fort McHenry Visitor and Education Center after Senator Paul Sarbanes Passes Congress", "2024-12-23", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Last week, the U.S. Senate passed H.R. 6826, legislation designating the Visitor and Education Center at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine as the \"Paul S. Sarbanes Visitor and Education Center.\" This bill was crafted and led in the U.S. House by Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), while Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) introduced an identical, companion bill in the U.S. Senate.\n\nH.R. 6826 is cosponsored by the entire, bipartisan Maryland delegation in the United States House of Representatives who spearheaded its passage in the House on December 3, 2024. With passage of the measure in the Senate, it will be sent to President Joe Biden to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cDuring his time in the House of Delegates, the U.S. House of Representatives, and as our state\u2019s second-longest serving United States Senator, Paul Sarbanes was a tireless advocate on behalf of all Marylanders. Fort McHenry, a powerful symbol of Maryland\u2019s pride and patriotism, is a fitting place to honor his legacy, and Congress\u2019s passage of this legislation will help pay tribute to all that Paul did for our state and our nation,\u201d said Senator Chris Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cThe late Senator Sarbanes was a champion of Fort McHenry, and he firmly believed that the site is critical to understanding and appreciating our national heritage and our national identity,\u201d said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. \u201cI am overjoyed that this bill has been triumphantly passed out of the Congress, and I am thankful for the partnership of the bipartisan, Maryland congressional delegation whose unified front made this bill\u2019s advancement attainable,\u201d he concluded.\n\n\u201cSenator Paul Sarbanes was known for his strong commitment to his principles, to public service and to the people of Maryland. He had a long and distinguished career, but he never forgot his Baltimore roots. He saw Fort McHenry as a national treasure in the city and a site worth celebrating. This legislation acknowledges his long-term advocacy for the preservation of the site and the improvement of the visitor experience. He left an indelible mark in the Senate and in Maryland, and the \u2018Paul S. Sarbanes Visitor and Education Center\u2019 at Fort McHenry will be a symbol of his long-standing legacy,\u201d said Senator Ben Cardin.\n\n\"For decades, my family has cherished Fort McHenry's rich history and its tremendous vistas of the Chesapeake Bay. My father, Paul Sarbanes, deeply understood Fort McHenry's role as the beating heart of Baltimore, and he worked tirelessly for many years to lift up and preserve this treasured site,\" said Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD-03). \"Among my father's proudest achievements was securing a new visitor center for the fort to better welcome growing crowds and ensure it remained accessible to all. There is no finer tribute to his legacy than naming the visitor center at Fort McHenry in his honor. The Sarbanes family is deeply grateful to Rep. Mfume for his leadership in the House, to Senator Cardin for his leadership in the Senate, and to the entire bipartisan Maryland delegation for their support in making this possible.\"\n\nBackground: H.R. 6826\n\nH.R. 6826 would name the visitor and education center at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine (Fort McHenry) in Baltimore, Maryland, as the \"Paul S. Sarbanes Visitor and Education Center.''\n\nFort McHenry is known as the site of the 1814 attack by British troops against 1,000 American soldiers.\n\nThe resistance of Baltimore's Fort McHenry during bombardment by the Royal Navy inspired the poem \"Defence of Fort M'Henry,\" which later became the lyrics to \"The Star-Spangled Banner,\" our national anthem.\n\nThe Honorable Paul S. Sarbanes served the State of Maryland in the House of Representatives for six years and in the U.S. Senate for three decades.\n\nDuring his tenure, Senator Sarbanes helped secure funding for construction of the new visitor center at Fort McHenry, increasing capacity and visitor access.\n\nSenator Sarbanes worked to introduce numerous bipartisan bills that eventually established the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail as the 26th such trail in our nation. It covers Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Maryland, telling the stories of the events, people, and places that led to the birth of our national anthem.\n\nNaming the visitor and education center at Fort McHenry would honor Senator Sarbanes' long history of service to Maryland and his connection with the Fort McHenry site.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-800000-to-improve-railroad-safety", "Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces $800,000 to Improve Railroad Safety", "2024-12-23", "2024", "2024-12", "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 Ben Cardin and U.S. Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone, and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) announced $800,000 in federal funding to improve safety on railroads and at train crossings across the state.\n\nThis investment will allow the Maryland Department of Transportation to perform an assessment of incidents on active railways across the state and develop a program designed to reduce injuries and fatalities associated with trespassing on railroad property. Together, these investments will increase the overall safety of the state\u2019s train transit system.\n\n\u201cImproving rail safety can both save lives and reduce costly, time consuming delays that impact travelers and commuters. With this funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Maryland will have the tools to do just that. These federal dollars will help our state increase rail safety, prevent tragic incidents, and improve rail service for all,\u201d said the lawmakers.\n\n\"Saving lives is MDOT\u2019s top priority and these funds will enable the Department to prioritize high-impact safety projects at highway crossings with railroads and local governments,\" said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. \"We appreciate the continued leadership of Team Maryland in securing this critical funding to further enhance safety in Maryland.\"\n\nThe funds are provided through the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, which the lawmakers fought to fund at $5 billion over five years under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-cardin-mfume-bill-to-rename-post-office-in-honor-of-elijah-cummings-passes-congress", "Van Hollen, Cardin, Mfume Bill to Rename Post Office in Honor of Elijah Cummings Passes Congress", "2024-12-23", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Last week, the United States Senate passed legislation (H.R. 9544) to designate a Baltimore United States Post Office (USPS) as the \u2018\u2018United States Representative Elijah E. Cummings Post Office Building.\" The bill to rename the post office at 340 South Loudon Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland, in honor of Congressman Cummings will now be sent to President Joe Biden to be signed into law. H.R. 9544 was crafted and led by Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) in the U.S. House, and the companion legislation to this bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.). Maryland Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Jamie Raskin, David Trone, and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) all cosponsored the U.S. House legislation when it was introduced.\n\n\u201cCongressman Elijah Cummings was a man of principle and dignity. His life was shaped by a commitment to serve others, and nowhere did he work harder to achieve equal justice and equal opportunity for all than in his beloved Baltimore community. Congress\u2019s passage of this legislation is an important recognition of all that Elijah did for his city, his state, and his country,\u201d said Senator Chris Van Hollen.\n\n\"Congressman Elijah Cummings was a person of deep intellect, unlimited compassion, and a champion for working people everywhere. This House and our nation still feel his loss, which makes the renaming of this post office in his honor a fitting tribute to our dear friend,\" said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. \"I am elated that this legislation has prevailed out of the Congress. It is a small but important gesture to say thank you to Congressman Elijah Cummings for the work he did, for so many years, for the people of Baltimore and the state of Maryland. Elijah was a trailblazer, consensus builder, peacemaker, and friend. His name and his image will now be a part of this building for all to see,\" he concluded.\n\n\u201cElijah\u2019s talent for building consensus, as well as his work ethic and dedication to his constituents, propelled him early on to positions of leadership. He never for a moment forgot that his purpose was to represent the people back home in his district and to be a voice for the many who were silenced,\u201d said Senator Ben Cardin. \u201cHe once said that while it was his \u2018constitutional duty to conduct oversight of the executive branch,\u2019 it was his 'moral duty' to fight for his constituents. For this reason and so many others, this is a fitting tribute to our friend and colleague Elijah Cummings and his love for Baltimore and the community he cherished and fought for year after year.\u201d\n\n\u201cOn behalf of the Cummings family, we thank Congressman Mfume and Senators Cardin and Van Hollen for keeping alive the legacy of my father, their friend, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings. We are deeply grateful for all of their work to rename a district post office in recognition of his commitment to public service, including his work on postal issues that came before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee,\u201d said Jennifer Cummings, the late Congressman's eldest daughter upon the legislation's introduction.\n\nThe introduction of this legislation was an effort in partnership with the Cummings family, who wrote to Congressman Mfume in August 2024. Their letter expressed the Cummings family\u2019s support to honor Congressman Cummings with the renaming of a post office after their father. On November 20, 2024, this bill was passed unanimously by the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. On December 4, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill, sending it to the U.S. Senate.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-moran-introduce-legislation-to-empower-individuals-with-disabilities", "Van Hollen, Moran Introduce Legislation to Empower Individuals with Disabilities", "2024-12-23", "2024", "2024-12", "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.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) introduced legislation that would direct the Social Security Administration to change the way it calculates Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to not penalize individuals with disabilities who chose to marry.\n\nThe Eliminating the Marriage Penalty in SSI Act would exclude a spouse\u2019s income and resources when determining eligibility for (SSI) and disregard marital status when calculating the SSI benefit amount for an adult who has a diagnosed intellectual or developmental disability.\n\n\u201cSupplemental Security Income is critical to allowing people with disabilities to strengthen their financial security and independence,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen. \u201cThis legislation will ensure that these Americans won\u2019t be financially penalized simply for marrying.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur policies should support and empower individuals with disabilities to live a full and independent life, including the option to get married,\u201d said Senator Moran. \u201cThis is sensible legislation that would change how disability payments are calculated to make certain the benefits we provide to individuals with disabilities aren\u2019t diminished because they choose to get married.\u201d\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by the National Down Syndrome Society, National Down Syndrome Congress, Autism Speaks, Autism society of America, the Global Down Syndrome Foundation and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-glenn-ivey-provides-statement-commanders-stadium-plans", "Congressman Glenn Ivey Provides Statement on Commanders Stadium Plans", "2024-12-22", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Glenn Ivey", "I000058", "ivey.house.gov", "ivey", "https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Congressman Glenn Ivey issued the following statement regarding the plans for the Commanders stadium:\n\n\"Maryland should have the chance to compete to keep the Commanders here.\n\n\"I opposed this bill in the House, and I oppose it today, because federal taxpayers should not be required to subsidize an NFL stadium by offering a 99-year lease of the RFK campus for free. That's not fair to the taxpayers, and it\u2019s not fair to Maryland because it undermines Maryland's chance to compete on a level playing field.\n\n\"But we can still win. Our site offers two nearby Metro stations, superior highway access, and a larger campus for parking. Now that the Dan Snyder era is over and the Harris team has brought winning football back to the DMV, a state-of-the-art indoor stadium would jumpstart redevelopment in the area and trigger property appreciation in short order. In addition to the ten games or so the Commanders play, the stadium could be used year-round for events like the Final Four and music concerts. Working closely with the Harris team--which owns much of the land around the stadium--we could create an economic win-win that would benefit the community, the region, the team, and the fans.\n\n\"Maryland looks forward to working with the Harris team to make that vision a reality.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-statement-on-vote-to-ensure-full-federal-funding-for-key-bridge-replacement-avert-government-shutdown", "Van Hollen Statement on Vote to Ensure Full Federal Funding for Key Bridge Replacement, Avert Government Shutdown", "2024-12-21", "2024", "2024-12", "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.) released the following statement on his vote to pass a continuing resolution to keep the federal government running through March 14. This stopgap funding package includes the provisions of Team Maryland\u2019s Baltimore BRIDGE Relief Act to ensure 100 percent federal funding for the replacement of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and guarantee that all litigation and insurance proceeds stemming from the collapse are returned to federal taxpayers. Additionally, it replenishes the Department of Transportation\u2019s Emergency Relief Fund, through which Maryland will continue to receive funding for the bridge replacement.\n\n\u201cAfter a months-long push, a united Team Maryland has secured 100 percent full federal funding for the cost of replacing the Key Bridge \u2013 and provided the necessary funds our state needs to move full steam ahead with the reconstruction. This is a major victory for our state, and I\u2019m proud that we were able to deliver the resources that Baltimore and Maryland need to rebuild stronger following the Key Bridge disaster.\n\n\u201cDespite the Republican chaos that brought us dangerously close to a government shutdown just before the holidays, I\u2019m glad we were able to reach an 11th hour bipartisan agreement. This legislation will move the Key Bridge replacement forward while providing relief to other communities across the country hit by disasters. It also ensures that federal employees can continue to provide the country with the vital services we rely on and receive paychecks for the work they do on behalf of the American people.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-votes-to-pass-bill-ensuring-full-social-security-benefits-for-public-employees", "Van Hollen Votes to Pass Bill Ensuring Full Social Security Benefits for Public Employees", "2024-12-21", "2024", "2024-12", "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.) voted to pass the Social Security Fairness Act, bipartisan legislation he cosponsored to ensure public sector workers and their families can receive full Social Security benefits. This bill repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) from the Social Security Act, both of which significantly reduced benefits for nearly 3 million Americans \u2013 including over 54,000 Marylanders \u2013 many of whom are federal employees, teachers, police officers, and state, county, and local government workers. Having previously passed the U.S. House of Representatives before passing the U.S. Senate today, the Social Security Fairness Act advances to President Biden\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cFrom firefighters to teachers to food safety inspectors, we count on the services that public employees provide every day. Our passage of this bill is a critical step toward ensuring all public workers and their families can retire with dignity, receiving the full Social Security benefits that they have paid into \u2013 and earned \u2013 after years of hard work,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\nThe Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), enacted in 1983, reduced the Social Security benefits of workers who receive pensions from a federal, state, or local government for employment not covered by Social Security. The Government Pension Offset (GPO), enacted in 1977, reduced Social Security spousal benefits for spouses, widows, and widowers whose spouses receive pensions from a federal, state, or local government. Together, these provisions reduce Social Security benefits for nearly 3 million Americans \u2013 including many teachers and police officers.\n\nThe Social Security Fairness Act repeals both the WEP and GPO statutes, ensuring public sector workers and their families receive their full Social Security benefits.\n\nThis legislation has been endorsed by a diverse array of labor leaders, including the National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, International Association of Firefighters, and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyer-statement-voting-avert-government-shutdown", "Hoyer Statement on Voting to Avert a Government Shutdown", "2024-12-20", "2024", "2024-12", "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 after voting on a continuing resolution to fund the government and avert a shutdown:\n\n\"Just as it has throughout the 118th Congress, this deeply divided, divisive, and dysfunctional Republican Conference proved incapable of resolving its own manufactured crisis. The only substantive legislation to pass out of the House of Representatives this Congress has done so with Democratic support. Today's Continuing Resolution was no different. After breaking our bipartisan deal at the urging of Donald Trump and Elon Musk, failing to unite their Conference around an alternative, and bringing our nation to the brink of a disruptive and unjustifiable government shutdown, Republicans needed Democrats to step in to ensure our Congress could govern.\n\n\"In addition to keeping the government open, I am pleased that we were able to secure longstanding priorities in this legislation. I worked closely with the rest of Team Maryland to ensure this bill included federal funding to cover the full cost of replacing the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The legislation also included vital aid for Americans affected by other disasters across the country, as well as support for our nation's farmers.\n\n\"I am glad we averted a shutdown, but it is damning that Republicans brought us so close to one. Democrats have consistently provided the votes to keep the government open and operational for the American people, while House Republicans have consistently used government shutdowns in an attempt to achieve their political ends. Today\u2019s vote was no different, and I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to learn from this experience and work with Democrats during the next Congress to deliver for the American people in a bipartisan way.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/mfume-statement-on-avoiding-government-shutdown-and-100-federal-funding-of-key-bridge-rebuild-costs-passing-us-house", "Mfume Statement on Avoiding Government Shutdown and 100% Federal Funding of Key Bridge Rebuild Costs Passing U.S. House", "2024-12-20", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Kweisi Mfume", "M000687", "mfume.house.gov", "mfume", "https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) issued the following statement regarding inclusion of a provision committing the federal government to cover 100% of the rebuild costs for the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the continuing resolution that was passed by the U.S. House ahead of a December 20, 2024 deadline to avoid a government shutdown. The legislation will now be considered in the U.S. Senate before the midnight deadline to keep the government open.\n\n\u201cFor nine months, our bipartisan Maryland Congressional Delegation fought constantly to spearhead the Baltimore BRIDGE Relief Act through Congress. The adoption of this bill into the legislation we voted on this evening to keep the government open \u2013 and ensure our nation is prepared for its next disaster \u2013 makes good on our promise to you, as Baltimoreans and Marylanders everywhere, that the federal government will fully fund the rebuild of our bridge,\u201d said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. \u201cAfter casting my vote in favor of this legislation, I am reminded of our rallying cry, that we are \u2018Maryland Tough, and Baltimore Strong,\u2019\u201d he concluded.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/graham-and-van-hollen-introduce-bipartisan-sanctions-against-turkey", "Van Hollen and Graham Introduce Bipartisan Sanctions Against Turkey", "2024-12-20", "2024", "2024-12", "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 Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) introduced bipartisan sanctions legislation following concerns about military action by Turkey or Turkish-backed groups in northern Syria. The Senators released the following statement upon introduction:\n\n\u201cToday, we introduced the Countering Turkish Aggression Act of 2024 while stressing that the United States should work with Turkey \u2013 through diplomatic means \u2013 to facilitate a sustained ceasefire and demilitarized zone along the border between Turkey and Syria, particularly the city of Kobani. These sanctions seek to prevent further Turkish or Turkish-backed attacks on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which risk the reemergence of ISIS, threatening the national security of the U.S. and the rest of the globe.\n\n\u201cWe remain hopeful that there will be a peaceful resolution to the problems that plague Syria.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-cardin-celebrate-senate-passage-of-historic-92-million-reauthorization-of-the-chesapeake-bay-program-and-other-key-watershed-conservation-measures", "Van Hollen, Cardin Celebrate Senate Passage of Historic $92 Million Reauthorization of the Chesapeake Bay Program and Other Key Watershed Conservation Measures", "2024-12-20", "2024", "2024-12", "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 and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) celebrated passage this week of America\u2019s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act in the U.S. Senate. The legislation reauthorizes important habitat and wildlife conservation efforts in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and throughout the country. The bipartisan legislation builds on previous efforts to protect and preserve ecosystems from evolving threats such as invasive species and wildlife diseases.\n\n\u201cA healthy Bay is central to the health of our communities and our local economies. That\u2019s why we fought to pass this legislation that includes key investments in protecting and preserving the Bay -- including through the Chesapeake WILD program, the Chesapeake Bay Program, and the Chesapeake Gateways. These resources will strengthen our efforts to improve water quality, restore the Bay, and enhance public access to Maryland\u2019s natural treasures,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cThe America\u2019s Conservation Enhancement Act (ACE) of 2024 is a victory for the Chesapeake Bay. Collaborative conservation has always been at the heart of the Chesapeake Bay restoration effort and the ACE Act of 2024 reaffirms the federal government\u2019s role in the stewardship of the Bay and provides the program stability during this dynamic period in the restoration effort,\u201d said Senator Cardin.\n\nThe comprehensive wildlife package includes a provision to reauthorize the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Chesapeake Bay Program at $92 million each fiscal year through fiscal year 2030. The EPA Chesapeake Bay Program is the linchpin of the restoration effort, which coordinates the unique multi-state and federal partnership. Other key reauthorizations include:\n\nThe Chesapeake Watershed Investment for Landscape Defense (WILD) Act which will allow the program authored by Senator Van Hollen and supported by Senator Cardin to continue to serve the region. It provides resources to conserve, steward, and enhance fish and wildlife habitats in addition to advancing related conservation values like public access and community engagement. The legislation authorizes the program at $15 million each year until 2030.\n\nThe Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network and the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Grants Assistance Program. Gateways Network is a system of 200 natural, cultural, historical, and recreational sites, trails, museums, parks, refuges that provide a broad range of entry points or \u201cgateways\u201d to experience the Chesapeake Bay. The program is administered by the National Park Service, which provides $3 million each year for five years\n\nThe National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, known as NFWF. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is a core partner of the Chesapeake Bay Program, helping to target federal conservation dollars and match investments with private funds.\n\nIn addition to Cardin and Van Hollen, the ACE Reauthorization Act is co-sponsored by Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.)., Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Linsdey Graham (R-S.C.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Angus King (I-Maine), and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.).\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by Ducks Unlimited, the Congressional Sportsmen\u2019s Foundation, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, the National Wildlife Federation, the American Sportfishing Association, the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and the National Audubon Society.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-delegation-announces-over-7-million-increase-safety-and-security", "Maryland Delegation Announces Over $7 Million to Increase Safety and Security in Places of Worship", "2024-12-19", "2024", "2024-12", "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), U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-MD), and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02), John Sarbanes (MD-03), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), David Trone (MD-06), and Glenn Ivey (MD-04) announced $7,393,350 in federal funding to strengthen security at 50 churches, synagogues, mosques, and other religious community centers across Maryland. The 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 $454.5 million through Fiscal Year 2024 annual appropriations, an increase from $305 million in Fiscal Year 2023.\n\n\u201cReligious freedom is protected under our Constitution, and every Marylander must be able to worship without fear for their safety,\u201d said the lawmakers. \u201cWith threats and attacks against faith communities on the rise, we must not only speak out against those hateful actions \u2013 we also must invest in protecting these institutions that support communities across our state. Maryland families can trust that these federal grants will help ensure houses of worship have the resources they need to keep them safe.\u201d\n\nA full list of the recipients, selected by DHS, is below:\n\nWestern Maryland - $968,500\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Beth Sholom Congregation\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Chabad Lubavitch of Frederick\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Crossroads Apostolic Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Heritage Academy, Inc.\n\n$148,500.00 \u2013 Islamic Society of Frederick\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Islamic Society of Western Maryland\n\n$70,000.00 \u2013 LaVale Methodist Church\n\nBaltimore Area - $4,050,000\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Adamah, Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Baldwin Memorial United Methodist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Berea Temple Seventh-day Adventist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Cedar Grove Methodist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Chabad of West Pikesville\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Chabad-Lubavitch of Maryland Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Congregation Aish Kodesh, Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Congregation Ariel Russian Community Synagogue, Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Congregation Kneseth Israel\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Grace Bible Baptist Church (Main Building)\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue, Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Hope Center DC\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Jewish Community Services\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Keter Torah\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Khosh Family Foundation\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Mosdos Kehal Chassidim - Day Care\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Odenton Baptist Church and Odenton Christian School\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Ohr Menachem Jewish Center Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 St. Ignatius Hickory Roman Catholic Congregation\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 St. Michael the Archangel, Overlea, Roman Catholic Congregation Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 St. Stephen Roman Catholic Congregation\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 The Greenspring Valley Synagogue and Center (Ner Tamid)\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 The Rector Wardens and Vestry St Anne's Parish of Annapolis, Inc. - Preschool\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Third Space at Shaarei Tfiloh\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Union Memorial United Methodist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Women\u2019s Institute of Torah Seminary for Girls, Inc.\n\nNational Capital Region - $2,239,850\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Beth Sholom Congregation and Talmud Torah\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Chabad of Potomac Village\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Congregation and Talmud Torah B'nai Israel\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Epworth United Methodist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Glenmont United Methodist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 IMAAM Inc.\n\n$149,850.00 \u2013 Lutif Ul Lahi (The Kindness and Praise of God)\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Magen David Sephardic\n\n$142,000.00 \u2013 Metropolitan Baptist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Murugan Temple of North America\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Orthodox Congregation of Silver Spring\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Torah School of Greater Washington\n\n$148,000.00 \u2013 Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Young Israel Shomrai Emunah of Greater Washington\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Young Israel Shomrai Emunah of GW-Youth House\n\nSouthern Maryland - $135,000\n\n$135,000.00 \u2013 Living Hope First United Pentecostal Church\n\nThe Department of Homeland Security awarded nearly $724 million in FY 2024 to help prepare against threats and natural disasters. The total amount for each grant program is set by Congress and the allocations are made by the Department.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-delegation-members-celebrate-maryland-victories-senate-passage", "Maryland Delegation Members Celebrate Maryland Victories in Senate Passage of Bipartisan Water Resources Development Act", "2024-12-19", "2024", "2024-12", "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), U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-MD), and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02), John Sarbanes (MD-03), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), David Trone (MD-06), and Glenn Ivey (MD-04) applauded the Senate passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA 2024), which is the primary authorization for the Civil Works programs of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and enables their critical work to manage our nation\u2019s water resources. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers works to maintain our ports, harbors, and inland navigation, as well as provide communities with flood and storm protection.\n\n\u201cThe Maryland Delegation has always fought to support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and their efforts to support complex projects that are essential to our state. From working tirelessly to reopen the Port of Baltimore following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge to maintaining our shipping channels through frequent dredging and enabling the conservation of the Bay, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plays a critical role here in Maryland. The bill that now heads to the President\u2019s desk includes a wide range of provisions that will enable the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to execute its mission and advance several projects important to Maryland\u2019s economy, environment, and climate resilience,\u201d said the lawmakers. \u201cThis legislation supports our long-standing effort to protect our environment and the Bay, restore our oyster population, support the flow of commerce, and boost our economy \u2013 which are all vital to the health, safety, and livelihoods of Marylanders.\u201d\n\nKey Maryland Wins in WRDA 2024:\n\nFeasibility Study for Route 50 in Prince George\u2019s County\n\nThe bill authorizes a feasibility study for Route 50, a key connector corridor between Washington and Baltimore, that is prone to flooding during extreme storms. Specifically, flooding from Beaverdam Creek can affect both vehicular traffic and CSX and Amtrak rail traffic. The Army Corps feasibility study will help identify potential solutions for mitigating this flooding.\n\nSeagirt Loop Channel\n\nWRDA 2024 authorizes $53.8 million in federal funding for deepening the federal channel at Seagirt Marine Terminal. Seagirt is the Port of Baltimore\u2019s main container terminal, handling 97 percent of its container volume. This project proposes to further widen and deepen (to a 50-foot depth) a channel near the terminal so that large container vessels can more efficiently and safely enter and depart the terminal.\n\nSmall Waterways and Community Harbors\n\nWRDA 2024 builds off a provision Senator Cardin secured in WRDA 2022 to support maintenance dredging of small harbors and channels. These projects are critical for sustaining working waterfronts, recreation, and tourism, but do not easily rise to the top of the Army Corp\u2019s list of priority projects. WRDA 2024 continues to push the Corps to capture the full range of benefits these harbors deliver to Chesapeake Bay communities, including the beneficial use of dredged material for ecosystem restoration, in their project decisions.\n\nIn addition, the legislation includes a Sense of Congress that states shallow draft dredging in the Chesapeake Bay is critical for tourism, recreation, and the fishing industry, and that additional dredging is needed. It encourages the Army Corps to use existing statutory authorities to address the dredging needs at small harbors and channels in the Chesapeake Bay.\n\nOyster Program Authorization Increase\n\nWRDA 2024 increases the program authorization for oyster restoration to $120 million. The Army Corps\u2019 program for oyster restoration (\u201c704b\u201d) has completed important work in Maryland tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay including in Harris Creek and the Tred Avon River.\n\nBaltimore Coastal Storm Risk Management Projects\n\nWRDA 2024 authorizes $51.4 million in federal funding for USACE to implement coastal storm risk mitigation measures for Baltimore City as recommended in the Baltimore Coastal Storm Risk Management Study. In addition to coastal storm risk, the bill also recognizes the riverine flooding challenges that the Baltimore region faces by authorizing a new feasibility study on inland flooding risk in Baltimore City and Baltimore County.\n\nFeasibility Study for Coastal Highway (Route 528)\n\nThe bill authorizes a feasibility study for Route 528 near Ocean City, Maryland. The route follows the Atlantic Coast and is highly vulnerable to damage from erosion, flooding, and waves caused by coastal storms. The Army Corps-partnered study will help identify measures to help protect public infrastructure as well as lives and property and ensure access in times of emergency.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-delegation-announces-over-7-million-increase-safety-and-security", "Maryland Delegation Announces Over $7 Million to Increase Safety and Security in Places of Worship", "2024-12-19", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Glenn Ivey", "I000058", "ivey.house.gov", "ivey", "https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone, and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) today announced $7,393,350 in federal funding to strengthen security at 50 churches, synagogues, mosques, and other religious community centers across Maryland. The 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 $454.5 million through Fiscal Year 2024 annual appropriations, an increase from $305 million in Fiscal Year 2023.\n\n\u201cReligious freedom is protected under our Constitution, and every Marylander must be able to worship without fear for their safety,\u201d said the lawmakers. \u201cWith threats and attacks against faith communities on the rise, we must not only speak out against those hateful actions \u2013 we also must invest in protecting these institutions that support communities across our state. Maryland families can trust that these federal grants will help ensure houses of worship have the resources they need to keep them safe.\u201d\n\nA full list of the recipients, selected by DHS, is below:\n\nWestern Maryland - $968,500\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Beth Sholom Congregation\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Chabad Lubavitch of Frederick\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Crossroads Apostolic Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Heritage Academy, Inc.\n\n$148,500.00 \u2013 Islamic Society of Frederick\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Islamic Society of Western Maryland\n\n$70,000.00 \u2013 LaVale Methodist Church\n\nBaltimore Area - $4,050,000\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Adamah, Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Baldwin Memorial United Methodist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Berea Temple Seventh-day Adventist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Cedar Grove Methodist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Chabad of West Pikesville\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Chabad-Lubavitch of Maryland Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Congregation Aish Kodesh, Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Congregation Ariel Russian Community Synagogue, Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Congregation Kneseth Israel\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Grace Bible Baptist Church (Main Building)\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue, Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Hope Center DC\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Jewish Community Services\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Keter Torah\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Khosh Family Foundation\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Mosdos Kehal Chassidim - Day Care\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Odenton Baptist Church and Odenton Christian School\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Ohr Menachem Jewish Center Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 St. Ignatius Hickory Roman Catholic Congregation\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 St. Michael the Archangel, Overlea, Roman Catholic Congregation Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 St. Stephen Roman Catholic Congregation\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 The Greenspring Valley Synagogue and Center (Ner Tamid)\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 The Rector Wardens and Vestry St Anne's Parish of Annapolis, Inc. - Preschool\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Third Space at Shaarei Tfiloh\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Union Memorial United Methodist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Women\u2019s Institute of Torah Seminary for Girls, Inc.\n\nNational Capital Region - $2,239,850\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Beth Sholom Congregation and Talmud Torah\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Chabad of Potomac Village\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Congregation and Talmud Torah B'nai Israel\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Epworth United Methodist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Glenmont United Methodist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 IMAAM Inc.\n\n$149,850.00 \u2013 Lutif Ul Lahi (The Kindness and Praise of God)\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Magen David Sephardic\n\n$142,000.00 \u2013 Metropolitan Baptist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Murugan Temple of North America\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Orthodox Congregation of Silver Spring\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Torah School of Greater Washington\n\n$148,000.00 \u2013 Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Young Israel Shomrai Emunah of Greater Washington\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Young Israel Shomrai Emunah of GW-Youth House\n\nSouthern Maryland - $135,000\n\n$135,000.00 \u2013 Living Hope First United Pentecostal Church\n\nThe Department of Homeland Security awarded nearly $724 million in FY 2024 to help prepare against threats and natural disasters. The total amount for each grant program is set by Congress and the allocations are made by the Department.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-delegation-announces-over-7-million-to-increase-safety-and-security-in-places-of-worship", "Congressman Mfume, Maryland Delegation Announces Over $7 Million to Increase Safety and Security in Places of Worship", "2024-12-19", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Kweisi Mfume", "M000687", "mfume.house.gov", "mfume", "https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Congressman Kweisi Mfume, Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Jamie Raskin, David Trone, and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) today announced $7,393,350 in federal funding to strengthen security at 50 churches, synagogues, mosques, and other religious community centers across Maryland. The 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 $454.5 million through Fiscal Year 2024 annual appropriations, an increase from $305 million in Fiscal Year 2023.\n\n\u201cReligious freedom is protected under our Constitution, and every Marylander must be able to worship without fear for their safety,\u201d said the lawmakers. \u201cWith threats and attacks against faith communities on the rise, we must not only speak out against those hateful actions \u2013 we also must invest in protecting these institutions that support communities across our state. Maryland families can trust that these federal grants will help ensure houses of worship have the resources they need to keep them safe.\u201d\n\nA full list of the recipients, selected by DHS, is below:\n\nWestern Maryland - $968,500\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Beth Sholom Congregation\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Chabad Lubavitch of Frederick\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Crossroads Apostolic Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Heritage Academy, Inc.\n\n$148,500.00 \u2013 Islamic Society of Frederick\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Islamic Society of Western Maryland\n\n$70,000.00 \u2013 LaVale Methodist Church\n\nBaltimore Area - $4,050,000\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Adamah, Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Baldwin Memorial United Methodist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Berea Temple Seventh-day Adventist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Cedar Grove Methodist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Chabad of West Pikesville\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Chabad-Lubavitch of Maryland Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Congregation Aish Kodesh, Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Congregation Ariel Russian Community Synagogue, Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Congregation Kneseth Israel\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Grace Bible Baptist Church (Main Building)\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue, Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Hope Center DC\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Jewish Community Services\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Keter Torah\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Khosh Family Foundation\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Mosdos Kehal Chassidim - Day Care\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Odenton Baptist Church and Odenton Christian School\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Ohr Menachem Jewish Center Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 St. Ignatius Hickory Roman Catholic Congregation\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 St. Michael the Archangel, Overlea, Roman Catholic Congregation Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 St. Stephen Roman Catholic Congregation\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 The Greenspring Valley Synagogue and Center (Ner Tamid)\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 The Rector Wardens and Vestry St Anne's Parish of Annapolis, Inc. - Preschool\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Third Space at Shaarei Tfiloh\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Union Memorial United Methodist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Women\u2019s Institute of Torah Seminary for Girls, Inc.\n\nNational Capital Region - $2,239,850\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Beth Sholom Congregation and Talmud Torah\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Chabad of Potomac Village\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Congregation and Talmud Torah B'nai Israel\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Epworth United Methodist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Glenmont United Methodist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 IMAAM Inc.\n\n$149,850.00 \u2013 Lutif Ul Lahi (The Kindness and Praise of God)\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Magen David Sephardic\n\n$142,000.00 \u2013 Metropolitan Baptist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Murugan Temple of North America\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Orthodox Congregation of Silver Spring\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Torah School of Greater Washington\n\n$148,000.00 \u2013 Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Young Israel Shomrai Emunah of Greater Washington\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Young Israel Shomrai Emunah of GW-Youth House\n\nSouthern Maryland - $135,000\n\n$135,000.00 \u2013 Living Hope First United Pentecostal Church\n\nThe Department of Homeland Security awarded nearly $724 million in FY 2024 to help prepare against threats and natural disasters. The total amount for each grant program is set by Congress and the allocations are made by the Department.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-delegation-members-celebrate-maryland-victories-in-senate-passage-of-bipartisan-water-resources-development-act", "Congressman Mfume, Maryland Delegation Members Celebrate Maryland Victories in Senate Passage of Bipartisan Water Resources Development Act", "2024-12-19", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Kweisi Mfume", "M000687", "mfume.house.gov", "mfume", "https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Congressman Kweisi Mfume, Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Jamie Raskin, David Trone and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) today applauded the Senate passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA 2024), which is the primary authorization for the Civil Works programs of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and enables their critical work to manage our nation\u2019s water resources. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers works to maintain our ports, harbors, and inland navigation, as well as provide communities with flood and storm protection.\n\n\u201cThe Maryland Delegation has always fought to support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and their efforts to support complex projects that are essential to our state. From working tirelessly to reopen the Port of Baltimore following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge to maintaining our shipping channels through frequent dredging and enabling the conservation of the Bay, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plays a critical role here in Maryland. The bill that now heads to the President\u2019s desk includes a wide range of provisions that will enable the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to execute its mission and advance several projects important to Maryland\u2019s economy, environment, and climate resilience,\u201d said the lawmakers. \u201cThis legislation supports our long-standing effort to protect our environment and the Bay, restore our oyster population, support the flow of commerce and boost our economy \u2013 which are all vital to the health, safety, and livelihoods of Marylanders.\u201d\n\nKey Maryland Wins in WRDA 2024:\n\nSeagirt Loop Channel\n\nWRDA 2024 authorizes $53.8 million in federal funding for deepening the federal channel at Seagirt Marine Terminal. Seagirt is the Port of Baltimore\u2019s main container terminal, handling 97 percent of its container volume. This project proposes to further widen and deepen (to a 50-foot depth) a channel near the terminal so that large container vessels can more efficiently and safely enter and depart the terminal.\n\nOyster Program Authorization Increase\n\nWRDA 2024 increases the program authorization for oyster restoration to $120 million. The Army Corps\u2019 program for oyster restoration (\u201c704b\u201d) has completed important work in Maryland tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay including in Harris Creek and the Tred Avon River.\n\nSmall Waterways and Community Harbors\n\nWRDA 2024 builds off a provision Senator Cardin secured in WRDA 2022 to support maintenance dredging of small harbors and channels. These projects are critical for sustaining working waterfronts, recreation, and tourism, but do not easily rise to the top of the Army Corp\u2019s list of priority projects. WRDA 2024 continues to push the Corps to capture the full range of benefits these harbors deliver to Chesapeake Bay communities, including the beneficial use of dredged material for ecosystem restoration, in their project decisions.\n\nIn addition, the legislation includes a Sense of Congress that states shallow draft dredging in the Chesapeake Bay is critical for tourism, recreation, and the fishing industry, and that additional dredging is needed. It encourages the Army Corps to use existing statutory authorities to address the dredging needs at small harbors and channels in the Chesapeake Bay.\n\nBaltimore Coastal Storm Risk Management Projects\n\nWRDA 2024 authorizes $51.4 million in federal funding for USACE to implement coastal storm risk mitigation measures for Baltimore City as recommended in the Baltimore Coastal Storm Risk Management Study. In addition to coastal storm risk, the bill also recognizes the riverine flooding challenges that the Baltimore region faces by authorizing a new feasibility study on inland flooding risk in Baltimore City and Baltimore County.\n\nFeasibility Study for Coastal Highway (Route 528)\n\nThe bill authorizes a feasibility study for Route 528 near Ocean City, Maryland. The route follows the Atlantic Coast and is highly vulnerable to damage from erosion, flooding, and waves caused by coastal storms. The Army Corps-partnered study will help identify measures to help protect public infrastructure as well as lives and property and ensure access in times of emergency.\n\nFeasibility Study for Route 50 in Prince George\u2019s County\n\nThe bill authorizes a feasibility study for Route 50, a key connector corridor between Washington and Baltimore, that is prone to flooding during extreme storms. Specifically, flooding from Beaverdam Creek can affect both vehicular traffic and CSX and Amtrak rail traffic. The Army Corps feasibility study will help identify potential solutions for mitigating this flooding.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-delegation-announces-over-7-million-to-increase-safety-and-security-in-places-of-worship", "Maryland Delegation Announces Over $7 Million to Increase Safety and Security in Places of Worship", "2024-12-19", "2024", "2024-12", "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 and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone, and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) today announced $7,393,350 in federal funding to strengthen security at 50 churches, synagogues, mosques, and other religious community centers across Maryland. The 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 $454.5 million through Fiscal Year 2024 annual appropriations, an increase from $305 million in Fiscal Year 2023.\n\n\u201cReligious freedom is protected under our Constitution, and every Marylander must be able to worship without fear for their safety,\u201d said the lawmakers. \u201cWith threats and attacks against faith communities on the rise, we must not only speak out against those hateful actions \u2013 we also must invest in protecting these institutions that support communities across our state. Maryland families can trust that these federal grants will help ensure houses of worship have the resources they need to keep them safe.\u201d\n\nA full list of the recipients, selected by DHS, is below:\n\nWestern Maryland - $968,500\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Beth Sholom Congregation\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Chabad Lubavitch of Frederick\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Crossroads Apostolic Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Heritage Academy, Inc.\n\n$148,500.00 \u2013 Islamic Society of Frederick\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Islamic Society of Western Maryland\n\n$70,000.00 \u2013 LaVale Methodist Church\n\nBaltimore Area - $4,050,000\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Adamah, Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Baldwin Memorial United Methodist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Berea Temple Seventh-day Adventist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Cedar Grove Methodist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Chabad of West Pikesville\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Chabad-Lubavitch of Maryland Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Congregation Aish Kodesh, Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Congregation Ariel Russian Community Synagogue, Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Congregation Kneseth Israel\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Grace Bible Baptist Church (Main Building)\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue, Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Hope Center DC\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Jewish Community Services\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Keter Torah\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Khosh Family Foundation\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Mosdos Kehal Chassidim - Day Care\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Odenton Baptist Church and Odenton Christian School\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Ohr Menachem Jewish Center Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 St. Ignatius Hickory Roman Catholic Congregation\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 St. Michael the Archangel, Overlea, Roman Catholic Congregation Inc.\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 St. Stephen Roman Catholic Congregation\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 The Greenspring Valley Synagogue and Center (Ner Tamid)\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 The Rector Wardens and Vestry St Anne's Parish of Annapolis, Inc. - Preschool\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Third Space at Shaarei Tfiloh\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Union Memorial United Methodist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Women\u2019s Institute of Torah Seminary for Girls, Inc.\n\nNational Capital Region - $2,239,850\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Beth Sholom Congregation and Talmud Torah\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Chabad of Potomac Village\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Congregation and Talmud Torah B'nai Israel\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Epworth United Methodist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Glenmont United Methodist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 IMAAM Inc.\n\n$149,850.00 \u2013 Lutif Ul Lahi (The Kindness and Praise of God)\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Magen David Sephardic\n\n$142,000.00 \u2013 Metropolitan Baptist Church\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Murugan Temple of North America\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Orthodox Congregation of Silver Spring\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Torah School of Greater Washington\n\n$148,000.00 \u2013 Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Young Israel Shomrai Emunah of Greater Washington\n\n$150,000.00 \u2013 Young Israel Shomrai Emunah of GW-Youth House\n\nSouthern Maryland - $135,000\n\n$135,000.00 \u2013 Living Hope First United Pentecostal Church\n\nThe Department of Homeland Security awarded nearly $724 million in FY 2024 to help prepare against threats and natural disasters. The total amount for each grant program is set by Congress and the allocations are made by the Department.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-delegation-members-celebrate-maryland-victories-in-senate-passage-of-bipartisan-water-resources-development-act", "Maryland Delegation Members Celebrate Maryland Victories in Senate Passage of Bipartisan Water Resources Development Act", "2024-12-19", "2024", "2024-12", "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 Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone, and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) applauded the Senate passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA 2024), which is the primary authorization for the Civil Works programs of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and enables their critical work to manage our nation\u2019s water resources. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers works to maintain our ports, harbors, and inland navigation, as well as provide communities with flood and storm protection.\n\n\u201cThe Maryland Delegation has always fought to support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and their efforts to support complex projects that are essential to our state. From working tirelessly to reopen the Port of Baltimore following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge to maintaining our shipping channels through frequent dredging and enabling the conservation of the Bay, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plays a critical role here in Maryland. The bill that now heads to the President\u2019s desk includes a wide range of provisions that will enable the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to execute its mission and advance several projects important to Maryland\u2019s economy, environment, and climate resilience,\u201d said the lawmakers. \u201cThis legislation supports our long-standing effort to protect our environment and the Bay, restore our oyster population, support the flow of commerce and boost our economy \u2013 which are all vital to the health, safety, and livelihoods of Marylanders.\u201d\n\nKey Maryland Wins in WRDA 2024:\n\nSeagirt Loop Channel\n\nWRDA 2024 authorizes $53.8 million in federal funding for deepening the federal channel at Seagirt Marine Terminal. Seagirt is the Port of Baltimore\u2019s main container terminal, handling 97 percent of its container volume. This project proposes to further widen and deepen (to a 50-foot depth) a channel near the terminal so that large container vessels can more efficiently and safely enter and depart the terminal.\n\nOyster Program Authorization Increase\n\nWRDA 2024 increases the program authorization for oyster restoration to $120 million. The Army Corps\u2019 program for oyster restoration (\u201c704b\u201d) has completed important work in Maryland tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay including in Harris Creek and the Tred Avon River.\n\nSmall Waterways and Community Harbors\n\nWRDA 2024 builds off a provision Senator Cardin secured in WRDA 2022 to support maintenance dredging of small harbors and channels. These projects are critical for sustaining working waterfronts, recreation, and tourism, but do not easily rise to the top of the Army Corp\u2019s list of priority projects. WRDA 2024 continues to push the Corps to capture the full range of benefits these harbors deliver to Chesapeake Bay communities, including the beneficial use of dredged material for ecosystem restoration, in their project decisions.\n\nIn addition, the legislation includes a Sense of Congress that states shallow draft dredging in the Chesapeake Bay is critical for tourism, recreation, and the fishing industry, and that additional dredging is needed. It encourages the Army Corps to use existing statutory authorities to address the dredging needs at small harbors and channels in the Chesapeake Bay.\n\nBaltimore Coastal Storm Risk Management Projects\n\nWRDA 2024 authorizes $51.4 million in federal funding for USACE to implement coastal storm risk mitigation measures for Baltimore City as recommended in the Baltimore Coastal Storm Risk Management Study. In addition to coastal storm risk, the bill also recognizes the riverine flooding challenges that the Baltimore region faces by authorizing a new feasibility study on inland flooding risk in Baltimore City and Baltimore County.\n\nFeasibility Study for Coastal Highway (Route 528)\n\nThe bill authorizes a feasibility study for Route 528 near Ocean City, Maryland. The route follows the Atlantic Coast and is highly vulnerable to damage from erosion, flooding, and waves caused by coastal storms. The Army Corps-partnered study will help identify measures to help protect public infrastructure as well as lives and property and ensure access in times of emergency.\n\nFeasibility Study for Route 50 in Prince George\u2019s County\n\nThe bill authorizes a feasibility study for Route 50, a key connector corridor between Washington and Baltimore, that is prone to flooding during extreme storms. Specifically, flooding from Beaverdam Creek can affect both vehicular traffic and CSX and Amtrak rail traffic. The Army Corps feasibility study will help identify potential solutions for mitigating this flooding.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-jacobs-announce-administration-has-received-assurances-from-uae-will-monitor-compliance-in-response-to-the-lawmakers-push-on-us-uae-weapons-sale-and-uae-support-for-rsf-in-sudan", "Van Hollen, Jacobs Announce Administration has Received Assurances from UAE, Will Monitor Compliance in Response to the Lawmakers\u2019 Push on US-UAE Weapons Sale & UAE Support for RSF in Sudan", "2024-12-19", "2024", "2024-12", "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 Representative Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) announced that, in response to their legislation to block arms sales to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Administration has received assurances that the UAE will not supply weapons to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan and that the Administration will monitor compliance with those assurances. After filing their Joint Resolution of Disapproval on the Administration\u2019s proposed $1.2 billion arms sale to the UAE, the lawmakers wrote to President Biden that their objective was to stop the transfer of arms from the UAE to the RSF, which the United States has charged with war crimes and ethnic cleansing in Sudan.\n\nIn response to their letter, Deputy Assistant to the President and White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, Brett McGurk, wrote, \u201cDespite reports we have received suggesting the contrary has occurred to date, the UAE has informed the Administration that it is not now transferring any weapons to the RSF and will not do so going forward. The Administration will work with relevant departments and agencies to monitor for indicators of the credibility and reliability of these assurances provided by the UAE. By January 17, I commit to providing you with the executive branch\u2019s up-to-date assessment in that regard.\u201d\n\nFollowing receipt of the Administration letter, Senator Van Hollen said, \u201cI\u2019m glad that the Biden Administration has worked with us to stop the flow of weapons from the UAE to the murderous Rapid Support Forces in Sudan, which the U.S. has charged with war crimes and ethnic cleansing. The United States should not provide weapons to any nation fueling the horrific violence, mass killing, and destruction that we are witnessing in Sudan. Our goal has been to use our leverage to help bring an end to the suffering in Sudan \u2013 and that includes ensuring that the UAE is not transferring weapons to the RSF. I appreciate the Administration\u2019s willingness to work with us to obtain such assurances from the UAE and to create an accountability mechanism to monitor its compliance with those commitments. We will closely review their assessment of the UAE\u2019s compliance with the assurances they\u2019ve provided. Should the UAE fail to live up to these assurances, we retain the right to refile our Joint Resolution of Disapproval to block the sale in the next Congress.\u201d\n\nRep. Sara Jacobs, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, said: \u201cFor months, I have pushed the Biden Administration to use the full weight of their leverage to stop the UAE from arming the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and enabling their horrific crimes in Sudan. I am pleased that the Administration has finally heeded this call and secured assurances from the UAE and oversight mechanisms to verify that they\u2019ve stopped arming the RSF. Without the UAE\u2019s support, the RSF will not have the same capabilities to wage this war \u2013 making negotiation and a ceasefire a much likelier alternative. We will carefully monitor the UAE\u2019s adherence to its commitments, while pushing for more humanitarian assistance, justice and accountability for the Sudanese people, and an end to this devastating war.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-andy-harris-and-sen-rick-scott-lead-bicameral-press-conference", "Congressman Andy Harris and Sen. Rick Scott to Lead Bicameral Press Conference Supporting Two-Step Reconciliation Process", "2024-12-18", "2024", "2024-12", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", "harris", "https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris and Senator Rick Scott will lead a press conference with their Senate and House Republican colleagues supporting a two-step reconciliation strategy in the 119th Congress.\n\nWHAT: House Freedom Caucus and Senate Republicans press conference on budget reconciliation in the 119th Congress\n\nWHO: Congressman Andy Harris, Senator Rick Scott, and Senate and House Colleagues.\n\nWHEN: Wednesday, December 18th 2:15PM\n\nWHERE: RTV Gallery (S-325)\n\nNOTE: Credentialed media may RSVP to press@rickscott.senate.gov to attend.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-andy-harris-and-senator-rick-scott-lead-letter-senate-republican", "Congressman Andy Harris and Senator Rick Scott Lead Letter To Senate Republican Leader-Elect Thune and Speaker Johnson On The Need To Prioritize The Prompt Passage Of A Border Security Reconciliation Bill In The 119th Congress", "2024-12-18", "2024", "2024-12", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", "harris", "https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, M.D. (R-MD) and Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) sent a letter to Senate Republican Leader-Elect John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson on the need to prioritize the prompt passage of a border security-focused reconciliation bill at the beginning of the 119th Congress.\n\n\u201cFollowing President Trump\u2019s decisive victory,\u201d the lawmakers wrote, \u201cHouse and Senate Republicans now have a responsibility to do everything we can to help the President fulfill the promises he made to the American people. One of those promises was to secure our borders and restore the integrity of our nation\u2019s immigration system after four years of President Biden\u2019s open border policies. That is why we believe it is critical that we prioritize the prompt passage of a border security focused reconciliation bill.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers go on to write that the first reconciliation bill introduced in the 119th session should provide four years of funding to:\n\nComplete and strengthen the border wall started during President Trump\u2019s first term as President.\n\nHire thousands of additional Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and agents and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in order to effectively secure the border and apprehend and remove migrants who have entered the U.S. illegally.\n\nEnsure a substantial increase in the number of ICE and CBP detention and short-term holding facilities.\n\nEncourage self-deportation by imposing significant financial penalties on aliens illegally in the United States.\n\nLimit, and in most instances eliminate, a non-citizen\u2019s ability to apply for and receive taxpayer-funded welfare benefits.\n\nNot only be fully offset with real mandatory spending cuts \u2013 not relying on spending reductions that President Trump will make through executive action \u2013 but also achieve deficit reduction with additional spending cuts at a level the conferences require and are realistic for passage.\n\nThe first reconciliation bill should also:\n\nThe lawmakers continue, \u201cThe second budget reconciliation should primarily be focused on preventing the massive tax increase that automatically takes effect on January 1, 2026.\u201d While there are many details to be worked out, the lawmakers conclude, \u201cWe are committed to helping both of you gain the support and passage of these budget reconciliation packages in the House and Senate.\u201d\n\nTo read the full letter, please click HERE.\n\nThe letter was signed by Congressman Andy Biggs, Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, Congressman Josh Brecheen, Congressman Eric Burlison, Congressman Michael Cloud, Congressman Andrew Clyde, Congressman Eli Crane, Congressman Byron Donalds, Congressman Russ Fulcher, Congressman Bob Good, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D., Congressman Clay Higgins, Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, Congresswoman Mary Miller, Congressman Barry Moore, Congressman Ralph Norman, Congressman Andy Ogles, Congressman Scott Perry, Congressman Bill Posey, Congressman Chip Roy, Congressman Tom Tiffany, and Congressman Keith Self. In the Senate, the letter was signed by Senator Rick Scott, Senator Mike Lee, Senator Marsha Blackburn, Senator Ron Johnson, Senator Tedd Budd, Senator Lindsey Graham, and Senator Roger Marshall.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-andy-harris-issues-statement-response-worcester-county", "Congressman Andy Harris Issues Statement In Response To Worcester County Commissioners announcing plans to use eminent domain to prevent US Wind from purchasing two seafood wholesale properties in West Ocean City\u2019s Commercial Maritime Harbor.", "2024-12-18", "2024", "2024-12", "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., released the following statement in response to Worcester County Commissioners announcing plans to use eminent domain to prevent US Wind from purchasing two seafood wholesale properties in West Ocean City\u2019s Commercial Maritime Harbor.\n\nThe statement comes as US Wind\u2019s parent company, Renexia SpA, is looking to demolish the harbor\u2019s only commercial seafood wholesalers, Southern Connection Seafood and the Martin Fish Company.\n\nStatement From Congressman Harris:\n\n\u201cI applaud the Worcester County Commissioners for taking the necessary action to save their historic commercial fishing harbor and keeping it from being demolished by US Wind, a foreign owned, US taxpayer subsidized, multi-billion-dollar corporation. I look forward to working with President Trump to end all offshore wind development when he is back in office.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://raskin.house.gov/2024/12/raskin-salinas-introduce-legislation-to-ban-gambling-on-u-s-elections", "Raskin, Salinas Introduce Legislation to Ban Gambling on U.S. Elections", "2024-12-18", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Jamie Raskin", "R000606", "raskin.house.gov", "raskin", "https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2014 Today, Representatives Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and Andrea Salinas (OR-06) introduced the Ban Gambling on Elections Act to prohibit betting on U.S. elections. The bill is the House companion to Senator Jeff Merkley\u2019s (D-OR) legislation in the Senate.\n\nThe legislation would amend the Commodity Exchange Act\u2014a law that regulates the trading of commodities and futures in the U.S.\u2014to prohibit political election wagering of any kind.\n\n\u201cWith distrust in our electoral system at an all-time high, we must crack down on gambling in all U.S. elections,\u201d said Rep. Raskin. \u201cOur democracy demands reliable and transparent processes to cast ballots and tally results, not a horserace clouded by gambling odds and bets placed. I am proud to go all-in with Congresswoman Salinas and Senator Merkley in calling on Congress to ante up and pass this commonsense legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cElections betting sets a dangerous precedent, incentivizing bad actors to try and influence or interfere with our elections systems. We cannot play roulette with our democracy by allowing this kind of wagering without a thorough accounting of the potential consequences,\u201d said Rep. Salinas. \u201cThat is why I am proud to introduce legislation with Congressman Raskin and Senator Merkley that would ban individuals from gambling on our elections. I will also continue working to provide more federal resources for gambling addiction treatment and research. While sports betting and online gambling have become permanent forms of American entertainment, we must acknowledge and help mitigate the harm caused by related addictions.\u201d\n\n\u201cBetting on elections degrades them from an investment in leadership to a profit-maximizing game,\u201d said Sen. Merkley. \"In addition, this practice is corrupt since those betting can influence the outcome by funding late-cycle smear campaigns. It\u2019s like betting on a baseball game when you control the umpire. It\u2019s a great step forward to have House leaders like Rep. Raskin and Congresswoman Salinas take on this fight.\u201d\n\n\"Gambling on elections is a bad bet,\u201d said Craig Holman, Ph.D., of Public Citizen. \u201cElections should never be viewed as simple games on which to wager for personal financial gain. At a time when the public\u2019s confidence in the integrity of elections is dispiritingly low, widespread gambling threatens to further undermine confidence in the validity of election outcomes.\"\n\n\u201cVoting is the foundation of democracy and gambling should have no place in the process where the American people choose their leaders,\u201d said Dennis Kelleher, Co-founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Better Markets.\u201d Betting hundreds of millions if not billions of dollars on elections will incentivize manipulation and interference while undermining Americans\u2019 faith and trust in elections. Gamblers also should not be allowed to unleash gambling on American elections by sneaking it in through the back door of the CFTC, which has no expertise, experience, or ability to regulate or police election gambling. It will also distract the CFTC from its vital public mission of protecting the commodities markets, which all Americans rely on for everything from cereal and bread to oil and gas. We applaud Reps. Raskin & Salinas for sponsoring this commonsense legislation to protect democracy and the public interest.\u201d\n\nRep. Raskin backed previous efforts to ban gambling on U.S. elections, including calling on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to enforce an outright ban on elections gambling and urging the CFTC to deny a private company\u2019s request to allow individuals to place bets on party control of Congress for a given term.\n\nBetting on elections is not a small problem. At least $930 million was wagered on the 2024 election, across two major betting platforms, including bets on the outcome of the presidential contest and House and Senate races, according to a report. Other brokerages and websites offered gambling on outcomes of the 2024 election but did not immediately disclose the total money users put at stake.\n\nThe full text of the legislation can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://raskin.house.gov/2024/12/rep-jamie-raskin-to-lead-democrats-on-house-judiciary-committee", "Rep. Jamie Raskin to Lead Democrats on House Judiciary Committee", "2024-12-18", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Jamie Raskin", "R000606", "raskin.house.gov", "raskin", "https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2014 Today, Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) was elected Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee for the 119th Congress. He first received the endorsement of House Democrats\u2019 Steering and Policy Committee and was then elected by unanimous vote of the House Democratic Caucus.\n\n\u201cI am honored that my colleagues have placed their faith in me to lead Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee in the 119th Congress,\u201d said Rep. Jamie Raskin. \u201cI\u2019m ready to mobilize our extraordinary members of the Judiciary Committee to defend American freedom, democratic institutions and the rule of law.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs Democrats, our historic assignment now is to stand in the breach to advance the legislation, amendments and arguments that will block a further descent into MAGA chaos. Democrats need to maintain the integrity of our Constitutional order to advance a positive agenda for the common good.\u201d Rep. Raskin continued.\n\n\u201cI want to reiterate my profound admiration for my predecessor, Rep. Jerry Nadler, for his extraordinary Committee and Caucus leadership, and thank him for his endorsement of my candidacy,\u201d added Rep. Raskin. \u201cHe is a great lawyer, patriot and public servant, and I look forward to working with him in all the battles ahead.\u201d\n\nRep. Raskin served on the House Judiciary Committee for six years, including as the Vice Ranking Member in the 115th Congress.\n\nIn the 118th Congress, Rep. Raskin served as Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, leading opposition to Chair Comer and the House GOP\u2019s impeachment drive against President Joe Biden. He also served as the lead House impeachment manager in the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump and on the bipartisan Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/12/18/2024/van-hollen-secures-key-provisions-in-annual-defense-bill-passed-by-senate", "Van Hollen Secures Key Provisions in Annual Defense Bill Passed by Senate", "2024-12-18", "2024", "2024-12", "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.) voted to pass the final fiscal year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the Senate, which includes important investments in Maryland\u2019s military installations, our servicemembers, and our national security. The legislation provides more than $250 million to Maryland military installations, as well as a 14.5 percent pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers and a 4.5 percent pay raise for all other servicemembers.\n\n\u201cInvesting in our military installations and the men and women of our armed forces is important to maintaining our national security. This year\u2019s defense bill includes a significant pay raise for junior enlisted members along with improvements in housing and other key supports for all servicemembers\u2019 families. These are critical steps to ensure we continue to recruit and retain the best fighting force in the world. And as we confront increasingly complex threats across the globe, this legislation also enhances our national security readiness, including through forward-looking investments in Maryland\u2019s military assets and the development of next generation technologies. Recognizing the essential role our foreign service plays in promoting U.S. interests around the world \u2013 and the sacrifices they make to do it \u2013 this bill also takes meaningful steps to improve the quality of life of our diplomatic corps and the family members who travel with them to their posts.\n\n\u201cFor all its benefits for America\u2019s national security, this legislation is still far from perfect. I am deeply concerned about the harmful language unfairly targeting transgender youth and their families. In addition, the bill does not make crucial revisions to the recent reauthorization of Section 702 of FISA, opening the door to increased abuse of a powerful surveillance authority. And I continue to believe we must find ways to streamline our defense spending so we can invest more in priorities here at home. That being said, on balance this compromise NDAA will strengthen our common defense and the servicemembers who protect our nation,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\nWithin the FY25 NDAA, Senator Van Hollen fought to include the following provisions:\n\nFunding authorization for critical military construction projects in Maryland, including:\n\n$116 million for various projects at Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head in Charles County\n\nThis total includes $10 million for a contained burn facility at the warfare center\n\n$68.8 million for energy resilience and conservation programs at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Harford County, including for the construction of a power generation and microgrid\n\n$46 million for a child care center at Fort Meade in Anne Arundel County\n\n$27 million for the ongoing construction of an incinerator facility at Fort Detrick in Frederick County\n\nPreserving states\u2019 full slates of Merchant Marine Academy nomination allowances. This provision ensures that high school students applying to attend the Merchant Marine Academy do not lose the opportunity to be nominated because of a vacancy in the office of one of their U.S. Senators or Representative in the U.S. House. This measure builds on Senator Van Hollen\u2019s SERVE Act provisions that were passed as part of the FY22 NDAA, which allowed the transfer of nomination slots for the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, and U.S. Military Academy to a state\u2019s U.S. Senators in the event of a Congressional vacancy \u2013 or to one Senator if that vacancy is created by the other.\n\nSenator Van Hollen, along with Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and then-Congressman Anthony Brown (D-Md.), fought to pass the SERVE Act after the death of Congressman Elijah Cummings.\n\n$500 million funding authorization for the Port Infrastructure Development Program, a key program that has supported the growth of the Port of Baltimore.\n\nThe FY25 NDAA also includes the Department of State Authorization Act, bipartisan legislation to support America\u2019s diplomatic corps and advance U.S. diplomacy around the world. Senator Van Hollen fought to include the following provisions:\n\nGreater flexibility for foreign service families\u2019 housing arrangements. Currently, foreign service officers (FSOs) are permitted to break housing leases when transitioning to an overseas post, but not when they are assigned a new domestic post \u2013 an issue that heavily impacts diplomatic security agents who frequently serve in domestic offices outside of Washington, D.C. This provision allows FSOs on official orders to break leases without financial penalties, regardless of where they serve.\n\nPortability of professional licenses. FSOs and their family members often run the risk of losing their professional licenses when they relocate on official orders \u2013 particularly harming the employment prospects of FSOs\u2019 family members. This provision offers the same professional license portability benefit that is already available to family of military members.\n\nExpanded eligibility for the State Department child care subsidy. The application for the State Department\u2019s employee child care subsidy is open only for a brief period each year, making it difficult for FSOs who relocate from a post where they did not require child care to one where they do. This provision allows FSOs to enroll in child care services any time a life-qualifying event occurs, and requires the State Department to issue guidance to employees on how to apply for existing child care subsidy programs provided by the agencies.\n\nFair pay for locally-hired foreign service generalists and specialists. Currently, locally hired foreign service personnel (residing within 50 miles of the Washington Monument) receive base pay without the locality adjustment of 32.49 percent that non-local hires receive, and without any reimbursement for lodging or per diem expenses for the duration of onboarding and training, which can last up to 12 months. This provision makes local hires eligible to receive certain per diem reimbursements to assist with living expenses.\n\nAdditional provisions to advance American technological competitiveness and military readiness that the Senator supported include:\n\nUp to $500 million from spectrum auction proceeds for the Department of Commerce\u2019s Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (\u201cTech Hubs\u201d) program, which was established in the bipartisan CHIPS & Science Act of 2022. Funds can be used to support designated Tech Hubs and to expand the program. In 2023, The Baltimore Region Tech Hub was designated as one of the thirty-one inaugural Tech Hubs, out of a competitive pool of nearly 400 applications from across the country.\n\n$102.3 million funding authorization for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) to partner with the Department of Defense on research and development for national security purposes.\n\nAdditional provisions to support servicemembers and their families that the Senator supported include:\n\n$177 million funding authorization to accelerate replacement of poor and failing unaccompanied housing and barracks, and a requirement to create a database of housing complaints to track mold growth, carbon monoxide, and radiation, among other health hazards\n\nElimination of copayments for all FDA approved, granted, or cleared contraceptives for beneficiaries of TRICARE, a health care program for uniformed service members, retirees, and their families\n\nCodification of the Small Business Administration\u2019s \u201cBoots to Business\u201d Program, which provides entrepreneurship training to servicemembers transitioning to civilian life", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-sarbanes-announce-senate-passage-of-chesapeake-national-recreation-area-act", "Van Hollen, Sarbanes Announce Senate Passage of Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act", "2024-12-18", "2024", "2024-12", "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 and U.S. Representative John Sarbanes (both D-Md.) announced the unanimous passage of the Chesapeake National Recreation Act by the United States Senate. The bipartisan, bicameral bill, introduced in July 2023 by Senator Van Hollen and Congressman Sarbanes, would unite a series of voluntarily contributed sites and iconic Bay properties under the National Park Service (NPS) to create a Chesapeake National Recreation Area (CNRA). The creation of the CNRA would spur more federal resources for environmental conservation, celebrate the Chesapeake\u2019s diverse cultural and economic history, foster sustainable and equitable access to the Bay, and support responsible economic growth in the region. After passing this major hurdle, the CNRA Act must next be passed by the House and signed by the President in order to become law. The legislation was cosponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.).\n\n\u201cThe Bay is a treasure to Maryland and to the entire country. And with today\u2019s passage of our Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act, we\u2019re one step closer to recognizing its importance and the opportunities it holds on the national stage. The CNRA will provide greater resources for conversation, increase public access, and support economic opportunity around the Bay. We\u2019ll continue working to get this legislation across the finish line,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\"The Senate's passage of the Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act marks a crucial milestone in our ongoing efforts to safeguard the Chesapeake Bay for the well-being and enjoyment of future generations. This achievement reflects years of bipartisan, bicameral collaboration and the dedicated work of countless stakeholders, including the National Park Service, who have helped shape the vision for the CNRA. I am grateful to all those who have contributed to this effort and look forward to the continued partnerships that will ensure the Bay remains protected, accessible and celebrated for years to come,\" said Congressman Sarbanes.\n\n\u201cGenerations of Marylanders\u2019 stories are connected by memories formed while working, playing and living on the Chesapeake Bay. Creation of a Chesapeake Bay National Recreation Area will honor and build on those legacies by making resources more accessible, allowing visitors to better interact with the watershed and understand the importance of environmental stewardship,\u201d said Senator Cardin. \u201cWith the expertise of the National Park Service and other key stakeholders on natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation, we are investing in the long-term prosperity of the Bay,\u201d said Senator Cardin.\n\n\u201cThe Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure full of rich history and plays a crucial role in the region\u2019s ecology and economy. I\u2019m thrilled that the Senate passed our legislation to create a unified Chesapeake National Recreation Area to honor that legacy and help foster responsible stewardship and economic growth in the watershed region,\u201d said Senator Kaine. \u201cI urge our colleagues in the House to pass this legislation as quickly as possible so it can be sent to the President\u2019s desk for signature.\u201d\n\n\u201cToday, the Senate took a historic step to celebrate and protect the Chesapeake Bay. Establishing the Chesapeake National Recreation Area will enhance conservation, improve access for the public, and preserve this national treasure for generations to come. While there\u2019s more work to do, today the Senate sent a powerful signal about our intent to get this done, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to get it across the finish line,\u201d said Senator Warner.\n\nThe CNRA will increase diverse public access to the Chesapeake Bay and strengthen the culture of stewardship across the region. Additionally, the CNRA will highlight the stories that often go untold \u2013 those of Indigenous peoples; free and enslaved Blacks; the role the Bay played in the earliest days of the Maryland and Virginia Colonies; the key part the Bay has played, and continues to play, in the region\u2019s economy; and the story of watermen and -women who are essential to the economic success and health of the Bay region. Everyone who resides in the region has an important role in Bay conservation and culture.\n\nThe Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act was drafted in collaboration with NPS and the lawmakers\u2019 CNRA Working Group, and in alignment with the ten guiding principles laid out in June 2022. It also incorporates stakeholder feedback on the lawmakers\u2019 discussion draft, released in November 2022. The nearly six-month public comment period also included several listening sessions with groups such as local elected officials, neighborhood community organizations, and interested parties across the watershed.\n\nFollowing thorough review of the feedback provided, Senator Van Hollen and Congressman Sarbanes officially introduced the CNRA Act in July 2023.\n\nSenator Van Hollen and Congressman Sarbanes garnered support for the legislation from a wide array of over 100 stakeholders spanning local elected officials, environmental and historical preservation groups, economic development organizations, racial justice advocates, seafood and outdoor recreation businesses, and many more. The full list of supporters can be viewed here.\n\nFollowing the introduction of the legislation, further modifications were made based on feedback from the National Park Service (NPS) and bipartisan staff of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee staff to align the CNRA with established precedent in order to ensure the amended legislation received the Committee\u2019s support. It was passed by Committee on November 19, 2024.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-398000-support-environmental", "Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces $398,000 to Support Environmental, Historical Conservation of the Chesapeake Bay", "2024-12-17", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny H. Hoyer", "H000874", "hoyer.house.gov", "hoyer", "https://hoyer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "December 17, 2024\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-MD), and U.S. Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02), John Sarbanes (MD-03), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), David Trone (MD-06), and Glenn Ivey (MD-04) announced $398,000 in federal funding to support five Maryland-based projects focused on environmental, cultural, and historical conservation efforts within the Chesapeake Bay watershed.\n\n\u201cThe Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure and plays a central role in Maryland\u2019s rich history. These federal investments will help protect the Bay and provide Maryland residents and visitors alike with new opportunities to explore the watershed's natural beauty while honoring the cultural heritage that has shaped our region,\u201d said the lawmakers.\n\nThe federal grants have been awarded as follows:\n\n$150,000 to Anacostia Watershed Society to expand its volunteer program, which is working to restore 20 acres of native forest and wetland habitat across the Anacostia Watershed, as well as train and deploy community members to become citizen scientists.\n\n$25,000 to Baltimore Heritage to develop a public boat tour of Baltimore\u2019s Inner Harbor that connects diverse stories and history to ecology, launch a companion interactive virtual map, and hold public service stream clean-ups with guided history walks.\n\n$124,000 to Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation to create and implement a plan to build an education center at the new Elktonia Heritage Park.\n\n$49,000 to the Maryland Humanities Council to develop and implement a workshop series, provide online resources, and coordinate a conference aimed at amplifying the work of Maryland-based organizations, communities, and humanities experts.\n\n$50,000 to Nature Forward to collect stories from local underrepresented communities within eight tributary streams in the Washington D.C. region and correlate them with relevant stream health data to highlight the interconnectedness of human activities with the environment and inspire action for conservation.\n\nThese federal awards are provided through the National Park Service\u2019s Chesapeake Bay Gateways Grants Assistance Program. The lawmakers fought to reauthorize the program at $3 million annually for five years through the America's Conservation Enhancement Act, signed into law in 2020, and are currently working to reauthorize the program again for fiscal years 2026-2030.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-398000-to-support-environmental-historical-conservation-of-the-chesapeake-bay", "Congressman Mfume, Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces $398,000 to Support Environmental, Historical Conservation of the Chesapeake Bay", "2024-12-17", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Kweisi Mfume", "M000687", "mfume.house.gov", "mfume", "https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Congressman Kweisi Mfume, Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and U.S. Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Jamie Raskin, David Trone, and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md) announced $398,000 in federal funding to support five Maryland-based projects focused on environmental, cultural, and historical conservation efforts within the Chesapeake Bay watershed.\n\n\u201cThe Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure and plays a central role in Maryland\u2019s rich history. These federal investments will help protect the Bay and provide Maryland residents and visitors alike with new opportunities to explore the watershed's natural beauty while honoring the cultural heritage that has shaped our region,\u201d said the lawmakers.\n\nThe federal grants have been awarded as follows:\n\n$150,000 to Anacostia Watershed Society to expand its volunteer program, which is working to restore 20 acres of native forest and wetland habitat across the Anacostia Watershed, as well as train and deploy community members to become citizen scientists.\n\n$25,000 to Baltimore Heritage to develop a public boat tour of Baltimore\u2019s Inner Harbor that connects diverse stories and history to ecology, launch a companion interactive virtual map, and hold public service stream clean-ups with guided history walks.\n\n$124,000 to Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation to create and implement a plan to build an education center at the new Elktonia Heritage Park.\n\n$49,000 to the Maryland Humanities Council to develop and implement a workshop series, provide online resources, and coordinate a conferenceaimed at amplifying the work of Maryland-based organizations, communities, and humanities experts.\n\n$50,000 to Nature Forward to collect stories from local underrepresented communities within eight tributary streams in the Washington D.C. region and correlate them with relevant stream health data to highlight the interconnectedness of human activities with the environment and inspire action for conservation.\n\nThese federal awards are provided through the National Park Service\u2019s Chesapeake Bay Gateways Grants Assistance Program. The lawmakers fought to reauthorize the program at $3 million annually for five years through the America's Conservation Enhancement Act, signed into law in 2020, and are currently working to reauthorize the program again for fiscal years 2026-2030.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/mfume-statement-on-100-federal-funding-of-key-bridge-rebuild-costs", "Mfume Statement on 100% Federal Funding of Key Bridge Rebuild Costs", "2024-12-17", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Kweisi Mfume", "M000687", "mfume.house.gov", "mfume", "https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) issued the following statement regarding inclusion of a provision committing the federal government to cover 100% of the rebuild costs for the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the continuing resolution that will be considered by the U.S. House and Senate ahead of a December 20, 2024 deadline to avoid a government shutdown.\n\n\u201cThis has been a nine-month fight to make sure that Baltimore City and Baltimore County are made whole again. And now, we are able to secure the full funding of the Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild which the Congress will vote on in the next 48 hours \u2013 this means so much to all of us throughout the state and in particular the residents of Dundalk and Turner Station, our hardworking longshoremen, commuters, and small businesses throughout Maryland that rely on the bridge and the waterway,\" said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. \"Working alongside Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, and the entire Maryland Congressional Delegation, this was a true, bipartisan effort across both chambers of Congress,\u201d he concluded.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/mfume-statement-on-100-federal-funding-of-key-bridge-rebuild-costs-0", "Mfume Statement on 100% Federal Funding of Key Bridge Rebuild Costs", "2024-12-17", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Kweisi Mfume", "M000687", "mfume.house.gov", "mfume", "https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) issued the following statement regarding inclusion of a provision committing the federal government to cover 100% of the rebuild costs for the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the continuing resolution that will be considered by the U.S. House and Senate ahead of a December 20, 2024 deadline to avoid a government shutdown.\n\n\u201cThis has been a nine-month fight to make sure that Baltimore City and Baltimore County are made whole again. And now, we are able to secure the full funding of the Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild which the Congress will vote on in the next 48 hours \u2013 this means so much to all of us throughout the state and in particular the residents of Dundalk and Turner Station, our hardworking longshoremen, commuters, and small businesses throughout Maryland that rely on the bridge and the waterway,\" said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. \"Working alongside Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, and the entire Maryland Congressional Delegation, this was a true, bipartisan effort across both chambers of Congress,\u201d he concluded.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-398000-to-support-environmental-historical-conservation-of-the-chesapeake-bay", "Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces $398,000 to Support Environmental, Historical Conservation of the Chesapeake Bay", "2024-12-17", "2024", "2024-12", "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 Ben Cardin and U.S. Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone, and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md) announced $398,000 in federal funding to support five Maryland-based projects focused on environmental, cultural, and historical conservation efforts within the Chesapeake Bay watershed.\n\n\u201cThe Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure and plays a central role in Maryland\u2019s rich history. These federal investments will help protect the Bay and provide Maryland residents and visitors alike with new opportunities to explore the watershed's natural beauty while honoring the cultural heritage that has shaped our region,\u201d said the lawmakers.\n\nThe federal grants have been awarded as follows:\n\n$150,000 to Anacostia Watershed Society to expand its volunteer program, which is working to restore 20 acres of native forest and wetland habitat across the Anacostia Watershed, as well as train and deploy community members to become citizen scientists.\n\n$25,000 to Baltimore Heritage to develop a public boat tour of Baltimore\u2019s Inner Harbor that connects diverse stories and history to ecology, launch a companion interactive virtual map, and hold public service stream clean-ups with guided history walks.\n\n$124,000 to Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation to create and implement a plan to build an education center at the new Elktonia Heritage Park.\n\n$49,000 to the Maryland Humanities Council to develop and implement a workshop series, provide online resources, and coordinate a conference aimed at amplifying the work of Maryland-based organizations, communities, and humanities experts.\n\n$50,000 to Nature Forward to collect stories from local underrepresented communities within eight tributary streams in the Washington D.C. region and correlate them with relevant stream health data to highlight the interconnectedness of human activities with the environment and inspire action for conservation.\n\nThese federal awards are provided through the National Park Service\u2019s Chesapeake Bay Gateways Grants Assistance Program. The lawmakers fought to reauthorize the program at $3 million annually for five years through the America's Conservation Enhancement Act, signed into law in 2020, and are currently working to reauthorize the program again for fiscal years 2026-2030.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-cardin-announce-full-federal-funding-for-francis-scott-key-bridge-replacement", "Van Hollen, Cardin Announce Full Federal Funding for Francis Scott Key Bridge Replacement", "2024-12-17", "2024", "2024-12", "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 and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) released the following joint statement on the Continuing Resolution and cost-share provisions for the replacement of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore:\n\n\u201cFollowing the tragic collapse of the Key Bridge in Baltimore in March, we led a federal response that was both immediate and all-encompassing. Working alongside Governor Wes Moore, Congressman Kweisi Mfume, and Team Maryland, this all-hands-on-deck approach was necessary to face a catastrophe of the magnitude we experienced in Baltimore on March 26. Since that day, we have fought to deliver the full support of the federal government -- including 100 percent federal funding for the replacement of the bridge.\n\n\u201cWith the inclusion in the Continuing Resolution of our Baltimore BRIDGE Relief Act, Congress is now committed to covering the full cost of replacing the bridge. This will allow the bridge it to be built as quickly as possible. Our provision also ensures that the federal taxpayers will be reimbursed through proceeds from insurance payments and litigation taken on by the Department of Justice, the Maryland Attorney General and others. This legislation also includes critical funding for the Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief Fund to provide this project and others around the country with the resources they need. We were proud to work alongside the governor and Senate and House leadership to secure Congress\u2019s recognition of the severity of this national disaster and the essential role the federal government should play in the response and the rebuilding.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-graham-express-bipartisan-support-for-syrian-kurdish-partners-in-fight-to-prevent-resurgence-of-isis-announce-intent-to-introduce-sanctions-legislation-should-turkey-not-renew-ceasefire", "Van Hollen, Graham Express Bipartisan Support for Syrian Kurdish Partners in Fight to Prevent Resurgence of ISIS; Announce Intent to Introduce Sanctions Legislation Should Turkey Not Renew Ceasefire", "2024-12-17", "2024", "2024-12", "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 Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) released the following statement after their call yesterday with Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) General Mazloum Abdi:\n\n\u201cThe 2019 ceasefire between Turkey and the Syrian Kurds has saved lives, increased regional stability, and ensured that the SDF can continue its vital efforts as the tip of the spear in our fight against ISIS. But now in the wake of the Assad regime\u2019s fall, Turkish-backed forces have ramped up attacks against our Syrian Kurdish partners, once again threatening the vital mission of preventing the resurgence of ISIS. What\u2019s more, the temporary ceasefire between the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) and the SDF enacted last week has now expired, and Turkey has refused to extend the ceasefire, including an offer for a demilitarized zone along the border, particularly the city of Kobani. While Turkey has some legitimate security concerns that can be addressed, these developments are undermining regional security, and the United States cannot sit idly by. Yesterday, we spoke to SDF General Mazloum Abdi and once again reiterated our support for our Syrian Kurdish partners. The United States must immediately use all the tools at our disposal to press for a sustained ceasefire and a demilitarized zone. If Turkey doesn\u2019t immediately accept these terms, we intend to introduce bipartisan sanctions legislation this week, similar to the bill we jointly introduced in 2019.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyer-joins-team-maryland-and-governor-moore-announce-federal-funding-maryland", "Hoyer Joins Team Maryland and Governor Moore to Announce Federal Funding for Maryland DefTech Center", "2024-12-16", "2024", "2024-12", "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) recently joined U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-MD) and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02), John Sarbanes (MD-03), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), David Trone (MD-06), and Glenn Ivey (MD-04), and Governor Wes Moore to announce that the Maryland Department of Commerce, in collaboration with the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO), are once again joining forces to expand Maryland's Defense Technology Commercialization Center (DefTech). The expansion of the program was made possible through a $585,463 grant from the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation and matching funds totaling $183,338 from the Maryland Department of Commerce and TEDCO.\n\n\"Maryland is home to some of the best federal and defense assets in the nation. In partnership, we are leveraging these extraordinary institutions to drive economic growth, invest in innovation, and support Maryland entrepreneurs,\u201d said Governor Wes Moore. \"Making Maryland more competitive means ensuring we have a clear strategy to match our rich assets. Today, we write the next chapter in that critical work \u2013 and our state is going to be better because of it.\u201d\n\n\u201cMaryland is proud to leverage our unique federal assets and partner with the Department of Defense to spur innovation, entrepreneurship, and educational opportunities. Federal grants like this are critical to helping startup companies develop innovative tools for our service members to defend our nation. The Maryland congressional delegation, Team Maryland, will continue to partner with the Department of Defense and Department of Commerce to secure federal investments in our state\u2019s small businesses and our national security. Maryland is a great place to live and work and programs such as this will continue to support our defense industrial base,\u201d said the lawmakers, U.S. Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-MD), and U.S. Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02), John Sarbanes (MD-03), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), David Trone (MD-06), and Glenn Ivey (MD-04).\n\nEstablished in 2018, Maryland\u2019s DefTech Center connects startups and entrepreneurs to federal resources or laboratories for further development of commercial products. DefTech was founded to aid economic growth by encouraging small businesses to utilize federal lab and defense resources to develop a product for non-federal commercial market or government consumption, otherwise known as technology transfer.\n\n\u201cThrough the DefTech program, dozens of start-ups and entrepreneurs have been given the opportunity to explore pathways of transferring defense technologies into the government and commercial markets,\u201d said Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Kevin Anderson. \"The continuation and expansion of this program across our state directly taps into the growth of Maryland\u2019s innovation-based economy while bolstering our ties with the defense industry.\u201d\n\nWith the new grant, the DefTech Center seeks to support 30 active client startups, entrepreneurs, and small businesses with technology transfer and commercialization opportunities. As active members, companies of the DefTech program gain access to the DefTech Academy, an education and training program informing on key topics relevant to working with federal labs; information on research and funding opportunities; introductions to federal lab personnel; and more.\u200b", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/mfume-and-sessions-send-bipartisan-letter-requesting-gao-to-review-persistent-issues-with-dod-s-vetting-system", "Mfume and Sessions Send Bipartisan Letter Requesting GAO to Review Persistent Issues with DOD\u2019s Vetting System", "2024-12-16", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Kweisi Mfume", "M000687", "mfume.house.gov", "mfume", "https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce Ranking Member Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) and Chairman Pete Sessions (R-Texas) continue their bipartisan oversight of the Department of Defense\u2019s personnel vetting practices. The lawmakers remain concerned about delays and issues with the National Background Investigation Service (NBIS) program. In a letter to the U.S. Government and Accountability Office (GAO) Comptroller General Gene L. Dodaro, they requested a GAO review of NBIS citing longstanding concerns about missed deadlines and cost overruns associated with developing a modernized security clearance vetting system that facilitates appropriate and secure access to our nation\u2019s most sensitive materials.\n\n\u201cThe Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce remains concerned with the status of the Department of Defense\u2019s (DOD) personnel vetting practices, especially given the ongoing problems with the National Background Investigation Service (NBIS) program, overseen by DOD\u2019s Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA),\u201d wrote the lawmakers. \u201cWe are further concerned that national security personnel are not undergoing all required record checks, non-sensitive personnel have not been enrolled in a continuous vetting system, and there are indications that there are challenges implementing continuous vetting across the federal government.\u201d\n\nIn 2015, cybersecurity incidents on information technology (IT) systems that supported personnel vetting compromised the data of more than 22 million federal employees and contractor personnel. Subsequently, DOD established NBIS to replace and improve upon the compromised IT systems. However, GAO has repeatedly reported on significant delays with NBIS\u2019 system and included the government-wide personnel security clearance process on its High-Risk List. In June 2024, the Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce held a hearing to examine how DOD has fallen short in its mission to modernize the IT infrastructure of NBIS . At the hearing, lawmakers expressed bipartisan concern about the continued delays with the NBIS system and potential cascading effects on our nation\u2019s national security.\n\n\u201cContinuous vetting involves reviewing the background of a covered individual through automated record checks in various areas, including criminal records, terrorism, and financial issues, during an individual\u2019s period of eligibility. Unfortunately, these changes have not occurred as planned due to continued NBIS delays,\u201d continued the lawmakers in their letter to GAO. \u201cGiven the importance of a timely, accurate and comprehensive personnel vetting process, we request that GAO conduct a review on continued NBIS development and continuous vetting.\u201d\n\nRead the letter to Comptroller General Dodaro here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/low-interest-sba-disaster-loans-available-maryland-businesses-hit-recent", "Low-Interest SBA Disaster Loans Available for Maryland Businesses Hit by Recent Heatwaves", "2024-12-13", "2024", "2024-12", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", "harris", "https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) are available in Maryland for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private nonprofit organizations with economic losses due to the drought and excessive heat that began on June 6 through Oct. 22.\n\nThe declaration includes the primary county of Talbot, and the adjacent counties of Caroline, Dorchester, and Queen Anne's in Maryland.\n\nUnder this declaration, the SBA\u2019s EIDL program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. Apart from aquaculture enterprises, SBA cannot provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, and ranchers. Nurseries are eligible to apply for economic injury disaster loans for losses caused by drought conditions.\n\nThe loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates of 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for private nonprofit organizations, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant\u2019s financial condition. Eligibility is based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.\n\nApplicants are encouraged to submit their loan applications promptly for review in anticipation of future funding. To apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA\u2019s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance.\n\nFor people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.\n\nSubmit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than July 28, 2025.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://raskin.house.gov/2024/12/raskin-names-winners-of-2024-md-08-congressional-app-challenge-during-computer-science-education-week", "Raskin Names Winners of 2024 MD-08 Congressional App Challenge During Computer Science Education Week", "2024-12-13", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Jamie Raskin", "R000606", "raskin.house.gov", "raskin", "https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Representative Jamie Raskin (MD-08) announced that Ayden Yeung of Wheaton High School and Julian Givens of Montgomery Blair High School have won MD-08\u2019s 2024 Congressional App Challenge with \u2018Better Buildings,\u2019 an app that helps students, faculty and staff report problems with school facilities, bridging the gap between campus communities and administrators to maintain safer, cleaner and more functional school environments.\n\nThe announcement comes during Computer Science Education Week, an annual recognition of efforts to strengthen computer science education and technology literacy nationwide.\n\n\u201cAyden and Julian didn\u2019t just create a stellar app, they solved a problem, better connecting campus communities to their administrative leaders,\u201d said Rep. Raskin. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to them and to all the students who participated in the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for their tenacious creativity and vision. MD-08 proudly boasts numerous young tech talents who are already making a mark in our community and in our world. Congratulations, Julian and Ayden, you make our future bright.\u201d\n\nBetter Buildings allows students to report problems in their school\u201a like leaky faucets, broken stall doors, or missing hygiene items, directly to administrators, promoting quicker resolutions and clearer communications on repairs.\n\nWhen students submit a report to Better Buildings, they are prompted to select the relevant issue area and can make edits to their reports in real time, before the job is completed. Students can also upvote and engage with other reports on the site and reflect community input to administrators. Administrators can track needed repairs and communicate progress to students in a direct and transparent way.\n\nThe Congressional App Challenge began in 2014 as an effort to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and to encourage students to learn coding and computer science skills. Students in participating congressional districts compete against their peers by creating original software applications (\u201capps\u201d). Winning apps are featured on the U.S. House of Representatives' website, the Congressional App Challenge website, and are displayed in a U.S. Capitol Building exhibit.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-reverend-warnock-in-calling-for-investigation-into-russian-linked-election-day-bomb-threats-in-georgia-across-the-country", "Van Hollen Joins Reverend Warnock in Calling for Investigation into Russian-linked Election Day Bomb Threats in Georgia, Across the Country", "2024-12-13", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "This week, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and eight lawmakers in calling on several federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies to investigate bomb threats from Russian email domains at multiple polling locations on Election Day and provide proposals to prevent it from happening in the future. At least 67 polling locations in 19 counties across the country, in Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, received threats on Election Day, with many shutting down temporarily. This included 13 polling locations in Georgia that temporarily closed following hoax bomb threats. Many were located in majority-Black precincts in the metro Atlanta area. Notably, Senator Warnock highlighted in his letter how foreign interference is heightened from previous years, which focused around spreading misinformation on social media channels. The Senator\u2019s letter also called for federal officials to provide a classified briefing to Senators examining the facts behind the Election Day bomb threats.\n\n\u201cThe right to vote is a sacred cornerstone of our democracy. It is unacceptable that any foreign actor interferes, or attempts to interfere, with this right\u2026\u201dwrote the lawmakers. \u201cOnline disinformation intended to sow doubt about election integrity is alarming enough. That foreign actors would take direct steps to shut down polling locations on Election Day is a new and deeply concerning escalation, and it must not stand. No voter should ever be turned away from a polling booth because a foreign actor falsely reported a bomb threat. A failure to respond to these egregious actions will only embolden foreign actors and invite more severe activity in future elections.\u201d\n\nSenator Warnock secured support from Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.). Senator Warnock is a champion for safeguarding our democracy in the United States Senate, leading multiple efforts to protect our democracy from interference from bad actors. The Freedom to Vote Act, landmark legislation led by Senator Warnock, includes additional funding to keep voters and election workers safe. The Senator has previously pushed the Department of Homeland Security to prioritize election security funding and keep election workers safe.\n\nA copy of the letter can be found HERE and text can be read below:\n\nDear Director Haines, Director Easterly, and Director Wray,\n\nFollowing reports of foreign interference in the 2024 elections, we ask that your agencies investigate the extent of this malicious interference and provide recommendations on how to prevent such interference from occurring in future elections.\n\nThe right to vote is a sacred cornerstone of our democracy. It is unacceptable that any foreign actor interferes, or attempts to interfere, with this right. In the weeks preceding the November 5, 2024 elections, numerous U.S. officials documented efforts by foreign actors to spread misinformation and disinformation through online channels to undermine faith in the democratic process. Foreign actors also attempted to target and hack both Presidential campaigns.\n\nOn Election Day itself, those foreign actors escalated.\n\nAccording to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, polling locations in states across the country received false bomb threats from foreign e-mail domains. Thankfully, these apparent efforts to shut down polling locations largely failed. However, at least 67 polling locations in 19 counties across the country, in Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, received threats that day, with many shutting down temporarily. This includes 13 polling locations in Georgia that temporarily closed following hoax bomb threats. Many were located in majority- Black precincts in the metro Atlanta area.\n\nWhile we do not question the final outcome of the election, any foreign interference in our elections is an attack on the foundations of our republic. That is particularly true of efforts to directly prevent eligible Americans from casting a ballot.\n\nOnline disinformation intended to sow doubt about election integrity is alarming enough. That foreign actors would take direct steps to shut down polling locations on Election Day is a new and deeply concerning escalation, and it must not stand. No voter should ever be turned away from a polling booth because a foreign actor falsely reported a bomb threat. A failure to respond to these egregious actions will only embolden foreign actors and invite more severe activity in future elections.\n\nIn light of these events, and pursuant to requirements under 50 U.S.C. \u00a7 3371c, we request that your agencies investigate the extent of this malicious interference, particularly as it pertains to interference with the operations of polling locations, and provide recommendations on how to prevent such interference from occurring in future elections. In addition, we ask that you brief us in writing and in person on your investigation by January 10, 2025.\n\nThank you for your attention to this issue of critical importance.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-over-31-million-support-use-low", "Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces Over $31 Million to Support Use of Low-Carbon Construction for MDOT", "2024-12-12", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny H. Hoyer", "H000874", "hoyer.house.gov", "hoyer", "https://hoyer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013U.S. Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-MD), and U.S. Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02), John Sarbanes (MD-03), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), David Trone (MD-06), and Glenn Ivey (MD-04) recently announced $31,933,577 in federal funding to support the use of low-carbon materials in federally funded construction projects statewide. Incorporating the use of low-carbon materials in construction will help reduce pollution while supporting the continued growth of America\u2019s clean manufacturing sector.\n\n\u201cThe Inflation Reduction Act is the single largest investment we've made in fighting the climate crisis \u2013 and it is powering projects like these that will help support a burgeoning low-carbon construction material market cut emissions throughout the state, create jobs, and build a better, healthier future for our communities,\u201d said the lawmakers.\n\n\u201cHaving a world-class transportation system includes using and investing in materials that are better for the environment and create green jobs. This is another example of MDOT leading the way to reduce carbon emissions and support the state\u2019s climate goals,\u201d said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. \u201cThank you to Maryland\u2019s fantastic federal delegation for helping secure this grant.\u201d\n\nThe funds are provided through the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s Low-Carbon Transportation Materials (LCTM) Program, which the lawmakers fought to create and fund at $2 billion under the Inflation Reduction Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/as-debt-ceiling-looms-van-hollen-joins-schatz-colleagues-in-introducing-legislation-to-avoid-catastrophic-default", "As Debt Ceiling Looms, Van Hollen Joins Schatz, Colleagues in Introducing Legislation To Avoid Catastrophic Default", "2024-12-12", "2024", "2024-12", "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 Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) today and a group of 15 colleagues in reintroducing the End the Threat of Default Act, legislation that would permanently remove the threat of a default by repealing the national debt ceiling, an arbitrary limit restricting the amount that the United States Treasury can borrow to pay its debts. In June 2023, the president signed legislation that suspended the statutory debt ceiling until January 2, 2025.\n\n\u201cDefaulting on our national debt would be an economic catastrophe for everyone, especially families, veterans, and seniors. Congress has the chance to debate federal spending, and it\u2019s well before the bill comes due,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cWe need to stop playing this dangerous game with the nation\u2019s economy and get rid of the debt ceiling for good.\u201d\n\nA default would be catastrophic and would likely trigger a recession. Military pay, Social Security and Medicare payments, and Treasury bond yields would all be disrupted.\n\nIn practice, the debt limit has no impact on government spending, which is authorized and approved through the federal budget and appropriations process. Instead, the ceiling restricts the U.S. Treasury from paying for expenditures already approved by Congress therefore requiring Congress to constantly raise the ceiling before it is reached. In recent years, this has become a politicized procedure that often leads to threats of defaulting on the government\u2019s obligation to pay its bills.\n\nThe United States is one of only two democratic countries with a statutory debt ceiling, and the only one that could single-handedly cause a global recession. Since 1960, Congress has acted more than 75 times to raise, temporarily extend, or revise the definition of the debt limit. In 2011, the crisis surrounding raising the debt ceiling led credit rating agency Standard & Poor\u2019s to downgrade the U.S. government\u2019s credit rating for the first time ever. Fitch downgraded the U.S. government\u2019s credit rating following debt limit brinksmanship in 2023.\n\nIn addition to Senators Van Hollen and Schatz, the bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai\u2018i), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Angus King (I-Maine), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sarbanes-van-hollen-scanlon-introduce-bill-to-improve-fairness-and-equality-in-americas-civil-justice-system", "Van Hollen, Sarbanes, Scanlon Introduce Bill to Improve Fairness and Equality in America\u2019s Civil Justice System", "2024-12-12", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.), and Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Penn.) introduced the Fair Access to Legal Counsel Act (FALCA), legislation to help more Americans secure legal representation in civil court. Reps. Sarbanes and Scanlon first introduced FALCA in the House of Representatives in the 116th Congress.\n\n\u201cMany Americans facing civil court can\u2019t afford or don\u2019t have access to a lawyer. Our legislation will help facilitate access to legal representation for those Americans \u2013 and better ensure their right to equal justice under the law,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\"Our civil justice system is difficult to navigate, especially for far too many Americans who cannot afford representation,\" said Congressman Sarbanes, who before coming to Congress worked with the Public Justice Center in Baltimore to help deliver legal services to underserved and underrepresented communities. \"This bill ensures that more people can access a lawyer to help them through the legal process.\u201d\n\n\u201cThroughout 35 years as a public interest lawyer, I saw firsthand how timely and affordable access to legal representation can make all the difference in a person\u2019s life -- whether by keeping a family in their home, securing the right to vote, lifting a person out of poverty, or ensuring that children have a safe, caring home and access to appropriate educational and other services,\u201d said Rep. Scanlon, Co-Chair of the Congressional Access to Legal Aid Caucus. \u201cBut too many Americans are forced to navigate critical legal challenges without representation. I\u2019m proud to join Rep. Sarbanes and Senator Van Hollen in taking this important step to narrow the legal aid gap and advance access to justice.\u201d\n\nIn civil cases, pro se litigants \u2013 people who represent themselves in court, including many who cannot afford legal representation \u2013 often bring complex claims involving civil rights abuses. Under current law, these individuals do not have a guaranteed right to counsel, and in the absence of a single, federal standard for providing counsel, federal courts across the country use different standards for deciding whether to grant a pro se litigant\u2019s request for counsel. As a result of this patchwork of standards, counsel is almost never granted in civil cases, making it harder for pro se litigants to navigate the legal process and creating an added burden for court personnel who often must process illegible or incorrectly filed claims.\n\nFALCA would help more pro se litigants secure legal counsel by establishing a standard set of factors \u2013 including the complexity of the claim, the need for expert testimony and the validity of the claim \u2013 for federal courts to consider when determining whether to provide a lawyer for an individual who cannot afford one. It would also:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-welch-colleagues-in-introducing-bicameral-bill-to-codify-biden-era-executive-order-on-west-bank-sanctions", "Van Hollen Joins Welch, Colleagues in Introducing Bicameral Bill to Codify Biden-Era Executive Order on West Bank Sanctions", "2024-12-12", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "This week, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) along with Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) in introducing the Sanctions and Accountability for Non-Compliance and Transparent Investigative Oversight for National Security (SANCTIONS) in the West Bank Act, bicameral legislation to codify the Biden Administration\u2019s Executive Order allowing for sanctions against extremists in the West Bank who promote or engage in violence, displacement of civilians, or the destruction of property. U.S. Representative Summer Lee (D-Pa.) led companion legislation in the House.\n\nThe legislation provides a clear framework for lifting sanctions under appropriate conditions and strengthening oversight and accountability on imposed sanctions.\n\n\u201cThe Netanyahu Government\u2019s rapid expansion of settlements in the West Bank, and its complicity in increased settler violence against Palestinians, undermine stability in the West Bank and the prospects for achieving a two-state solution. This legislation will strengthen the U.S. government\u2019s ability to hold accountable those who are fueling this illegal activity \u2013 and use the leverage we have to help preserve a path to peace, security and self-determination for Israelis and Palestinians alike,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cGrowing settler violence in the West Bank harms civilians, jeopardizes regional stability, and is a serious threat to U.S. national security. President Biden\u2019s Executive Order has been crucial in addressing the Netanyahu government\u2019s failure to take action against those who instigate heinous acts of fear and hate, and it should become statute,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cSanctions have been an effective tool to deter violence in this deadly year for those living in the West Bank, where lives have been lost, homes have been destroyed, and families have been forever changed. We must ensure accountability for extremists who perpetrate violence against civilians in the West Bank and reaffirm our commitment to a lasting Middle East peace.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe have seen a series of cascading crises following the October 7 attack\u2014with widespread suffering among Israelis, Palestinians, and too many others in the region. Amid the ongoing war that needs to end, I have been troubled by the pursuit of some in Netanyahu\u2019s government of extremist polices in the West Bank and agreed with President Biden\u2019s executive order sanctioning those involved in such actions. That\u2019s why I joined my colleagues today to introduce legislation that would codify these sanctions and ensure they remain an effective tool to deter violence in the West Bank. We have a responsibility in the United States for a renewed push on all sides towards peace, one in which Israeli and Palestinian children can once and forever live in safety, peace, and dignity,\u201d said Senator Durbin.\n\n\u201cThe current extreme right-wing Israeli government has driven record illegal settlement expansion in the West Bank and armed extremist settlers who, with Israeli security forces, have killed more than 700 people in the last year, including three Americans. Enough is enough \u2013 the United States must sanction those responsible for this illegal violence,\u201d said Senator Sanders.\n\n\u201cExtremist violence in the West Bank not only violates basic human rights but also undermines a two-state solution and efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region. The targeting of Palestinian communities, destruction of property, and loss of innocent lives are unacceptable and must end immediately,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cThis bill will help hold perpetrators accountable and reaffirms our commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people.\u201d\n\n\u201cExtremist violence in the West Bank undermines the hope for a peaceful future for Palestinians and Israelis alike,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cThe United States must use all diplomatic tools at its disposal to stop these unacceptable attacks against Palestinian civilians and villages. I call on this administration and future administrations to follow through with established policies, and to use U.S. influence to reaffirm our shared commitment to peace and a two-state solution.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bill is about accountability, justice, and ensuring that U.S. policy stands firmly against extremist violence and destabilization,\u201d said Representative Lee. \u201cThe surge in violence against Palestinians in the West Bank is a humanitarian and moral crisis. By codifying these sanctions, we are making clear that the U.S. supports peace and dignity for all people living in the region.\u201d\n\nThe SANCTIONS in the West Bank Act is supported by the Friends Committee on National Legislation, Human Rights Watch, J Street, New Jewish Narrative, Peace Action, Quincy Institute, American Federation of Ramallah, Palestine (AFRP), and Win Without War.\n\nIn addition to Representative Lee, the legislation is cosponsored in the House by Representatives Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii), Al Green (D-Texas), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), and Andr\u00e9 Carson (D-Ind.).\n\nIn November 2023, Senator Welch called for an indefinite ceasefire in the conflict, citing a need to ensure access to humanitarian relief into Gaza, secure the release of Israeli hostages, and prevent further loss of innocent life.\n\nLearn more about the SANCTIONS in the West Bank Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-reaffirms-support-for-our-syrian-kurdish-allies-following-call-with-sdf-general-mazloum-abdi", "Van Hollen Reaffirms Support for Our Syrian Kurdish Allies Following Call with SDF General Mazloum Abdi", "2024-12-12", "2024", "2024-12", "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.) released the following statement after speaking with Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) General Mazloum Abdi:\n\n\u201cAs the situation on the ground in Syria rapidly evolves, the United States\u2019 steadfast support for our Syrian Kurdish allies must remain unshakeable. In my call this afternoon with Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Commander, General Mazloum Abdi, I reaffirmed this support and underscored the importance of our partnership with the SDF, who serve as the tip of the spear in our fight against ISIS. It is in the United States\u2019 best interest to maintain this strong alliance \u2013 including the U.S. military presence in Northeast Syria \u2013 in order to prevent the resurgence of ISIS. The United States should not allow Turkish-backed militants to attack the SDF with impunity and should push for a sustained ceasefire to support our allies and regional security.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyer-kaine-warner-lead-bicameral-letter-calling-pay-parity-federal-civilian", "Hoyer, Kaine, Warner Lead Bicameral Letter Calling for Pay Parity for Federal Civilian Employees", "2024-12-11", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny H. Hoyer", "H000874", "hoyer.house.gov", "hoyer", "https://hoyer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD-05) and U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark R. Warner (both D-VA) led a bicameral letter calling for pay parity for federal civilian employees. President Joe Biden\u2019s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2025 includes a 4.5% pay raise for military personnel and a 2% pay raise for federal civilian employees. In the lawmakers\u2019 letter to the President, they request that he submit a revised pay plan that would provide a 4.5% pay increase for the entire federal workforce. Over the past two decades, federal pay parity has been upheld by previous Administrations of both parties.\n\n\u201cWe write concerned about the lack of parity between the proposed military and civilian pay raises in your Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request (PBR),\u201d wrote the lawmakers. \u201cThis deviation between military and civilian employee pay increases upends historical bipartisan support for pay parity across the federal workforce.\u201d\n\n\u201cSpecifically, we request you issue a revised alternative pay plan seeking a 4.5% pay increase for the entire federal workforce, including military and civilian employees alike,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cBy aligning military and civilian pay raises for 2025, you will recognize the efforts of the entire federal workforce.\u201d\n\nThe letter was cosigned by U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), John Fetterman (D-PA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ed Markey (D-MA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Alex Padilla (D-CA), as well as U.S. Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA-03), Gerry Connolly (D-VA-11), Don Beyer (D-VA-08), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07), Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-07), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD-02), Glenn Ivey (D-MD-04), John Sarbanes (D-MD-03), Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), Donald Norcross (D-NJ-01), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07), and David Trone (D-MD-06).\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below:\n\nDear President Biden:\n\nWe write concerned about the lack of parity between the proposed military and civilian pay raises in your Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request (PBR). Although you submitted an alternative pay plan in August, it continued to support a differential pay increase: 4.5% for military employees and 2% for civilian employees. This deviation between military and civilian employee pay increases upends historical bipartisan support for pay parity across the federal workforce. Although we understand this decision was made under the constraints put in place by the Fiscal Responsibility Act caps, we believe it is imperative you revise your budget to align military and civilian employee pay raises. Specifically, we request you issue a revised alternative pay plan seeking a 4.5% pay increase for the entire federal workforce, including military and civilian employees alike.\n\nOur nation\u2019s servicemembers and civilian employees both work tirelessly to keep us safe and run the critical operations of the government. Of the federal workforce, more than 2.2 million civilian employees work to ensure resources and services are provided to countless communities across America. By aligning military and civilian pay raises for 2025, you will recognize the efforts and sacrifices of the entire federal workforce.\n\nOur request is grounded in longstanding tradition and precedent. For example, on December 8, 2016, President Barack Obama submitted an alternative federal pay plan to Congress that increased the federal civilian pay raise to the same level as military employees. We implore you to move swiftly to submit a revised alternative pay plan that supports our entire federal workforce.\n\nThank you for your attention to this important issue. We believe this request is fair and timely. We hope you are able to continue to uphold the longstanding bipartisan tenet of federal pay parity.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-over-31-million-to-support-use-of-low-carbon-construction", "Congressman Mfume, Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces Over $31 Million to Support Use of Low Carbon Construction", "2024-12-11", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Kweisi Mfume", "M000687", "mfume.house.gov", "mfume", "https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Congressman Kweisi Mfume, Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and U.S. Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Jamie Raskin, David Trone, and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) announced $31,933,577 in federal funding to support the use of low carbon materials in federally funded construction projects statewide. Incorporating the use of low carbon materials in construction will help reduce pollution while supporting the continued growth of America\u2019s clean manufacturing sector.\n\n\u201cThe Inflation Reduction Act is the single largest investment we've made in fighting the climate crisis \u2013 and it is powering projects like these that will help reduce emissions, support the growing low carbon construction material market, create jobs, and build a better, healthier future for our communities,\u201d said the lawmakers.\n\n\u201cHaving a world-class transportation system includes using and investing in materials that are better for the environment and create green jobs. This is another example of MDOT leading the way to reduce carbon emissions and support the state\u2019s climate goals,\u201d said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. \u201cThank you to Maryland\u2019s fantastic federal delegation for helping secure this grant.\u201d\n\nThe funds are provided through the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s Low Carbon Transportation Materials (LCTM) Program, which the lawmakers fought to create and fund at $2 billion under the Inflation Reduction Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-over-31-million-to-support-use-of-low-carbon-construction", "Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces Over $31 Million to Support Use of Low Carbon Construction", "2024-12-11", "2024", "2024-12", "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 Ben Cardin and U.S. Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone, and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) announced $31,933,577 in federal funding to support the use of low carbon materials in federally funded construction projects statewide. Incorporating the use of low carbon materials in construction will help reduce pollution while supporting the continued growth of America\u2019s clean manufacturing sector.\n\n\u201cThe Inflation Reduction Act is the single largest investment we've made in fighting the climate crisis \u2013 and it is powering projects like these that will help reduce emissions, support the growing low carbon construction material market, create jobs, and build a better, healthier future for our communities,\u201d said the lawmakers.\n\n\u201cHaving a world-class transportation system includes using and investing in materials that are better for the environment and create green jobs. This is another example of MDOT leading the way to reduce carbon emissions and support the state\u2019s climate goals,\u201d said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. \u201cThank you to Maryland\u2019s fantastic federal delegation for helping secure this grant.\u201d\n\nThe funds are provided through the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s Low Carbon Transportation Materials (LCTM) Program, which the lawmakers fought to create and fund at $2 billion under the Inflation Reduction Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-beyer-reintroduce-their-bicameral-cap-and-dividend-legislation", "Van Hollen, Beyer Reintroduce Their Bicameral Cap & Dividend Legislation", "2024-12-11", "2024", "2024-12", "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 Congressman Don Beyer (D-Va.) reintroduced the Healthy Climate and Family Security Act, legislation to price carbon through a \u2018cap and dividend\u2019 approach. This simple, fair, and effective plan would address the dangers of climate change and put more money in the pockets of hardworking Americans, increasing their spending power and growing our entire economy.\n\n\"This legislation takes a straightforward approach to tackling the climate crisis \u2014 it requires the biggest polluters to pay for the emissions they generate within established caps and returns the proceeds to American households. The result: less pollution and more money in the pockets of the American people,\u201d said Senator Chris Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cAs carbon emissions continue to rise and increasing global temperatures lead to more frequent and calamitous weather events, we must take concrete steps to reduce emissions and tackle the climate crisis,\u201d said Congressman Don Beyer. \u201cOur legislation offers a practical and efficient solution to address the climate crisis, spur clean energy innovation and boost economic growth by holding polluters accountable through the auctioning of permits to emit carbon under a continually tightening emissions cap. The revenue raised would then be returned directly into the pockets of American families in the form of a Healthy Climate Dividend. I thank Senator Van Hollen for his leadership on the Healthy Climate and Family Security Act and urge my colleagues to support this measure.\u201d\n\nThe Healthy Climate and Family Security Act aims to cap carbon pollution and reduce CO2 emissions gradually but steadily. The legislation would cap emissions at 50 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and then 90 percent below 2005 levels by 2050 \u2014 in keeping with the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change finding. It auctions carbon pollution permits to the first sellers of oil, coal, and natural gas into the U.S. market, and returns 100 percent of the auction proceeds electronically each quarter to every American in the form of a Healthy Climate Dividend. A University of Massachusetts Amherst study found that this \u2018cap and divided\u2019 approach would mean more than 80 percent of families would see more money in their pockets, even before taking into account the economic benefits of preventing the costly impacts of climate change.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/ranking-member-hoyer-opening-remarks-fsgg-hearing-district-columbia-fiscal", "Ranking Member Hoyer Opening Remarks at FSGG Hearing for District of Columbia Fiscal Year 2025 Budget", "2024-12-10", "2024", "2024-12", "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 Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered opening remarks at the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Hearing for the District of Columbia. Below is a transcript of his remarks and a link to the video:\n\nClick here to watch a full video of his remarks.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyer-statement-november-jobs-report-0", "Hoyer Statement on November Jobs Report", "2024-12-06", "2024", "2024-12", "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 on the November jobs report:\n\n\"The November jobs report demonstrates the continued strength of America's job market and economy, with 227,000 jobs added last month and more than 16.3 million jobs added in the past 46 months under the Biden-Harris Administration. With unemployment down near its fifty-year record low, inflation falling, and wages going up, our economy continues on its impressive upward trajectory. By investing in America and Americans, Democrats laid the foundation for this historic period of job growth and economic success.\n\n\"Right as many Americans are starting to feel the positive impact of this economic moment, however, President-elect Trump's radical far-right agenda threatens to reverse the progress our country has made these past four years. He has already announced his intention to impose heavy tariffs that will raise costs on everyday products \u2013 from produce to clothing to household appliances \u2013 reversing the progress we\u2019ve made to tame inflation.\n\n\"Trump's extreme Project 2025 agenda also seeks to undercut the historic investments that Democrats made in the American people during the 117th Congress. These policies and programs have created millions of jobs by revitalizing American manufacturing, rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, and advancing clean energy projects nationwide. The American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act have helped more Americans access quality, affordable health coverage than ever before and lowered the costs of monthly health premiums, insulin, and prescription drugs for millions of Americans nationwide. Democrats will fight tirelessly to protect these laws from Donald Trump's scorched earth economic plans \u2013 just as we fought tirelessly to pass them last Congress.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-schatz-colleagues-in-renewing-calls-to-biden-administration-to-urge-israeli-government-to-allow-journalists-into-gaza-protect-free-press", "Van Hollen Joins Schatz, Colleagues in Renewing Calls to Biden Administration to Urge Israeli Government to Allow Journalists into Gaza, Protect Free Press", "2024-12-06", "2024", "2024-12", "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 Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and a group of ten other senators in renewing calls to the Biden Administration to urge the governments of Israel and Egypt to protect press freedom and allow journalists into Gaza to cover the ongoing war. In addition to Van Hollen and Schatz, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), George Helmy (D-N.J.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) In their letter to the Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the senators underscored the dangerous conditions for reporters, the importance of safe access into Gaza for journalists, and the need for accurate and independent reporting from inside the warzone. They also raise concerns about violence against journalists in Lebanon and the West Bank. The new letter follows calls led by Schatz a year ago to protect journalists in Gaza.\n\n\u201cSince October 7, 2023, over 130 journalists have been killed, the vast majority of whom were Palestinians killed in Gaza. The lack of safe working conditions for journalists in Gaza makes it almost impossible to have an accurate understanding of the humanitarian devastation taking place in the territory,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\nThey continued, \u201cThe United States must make clear to Israel that targeting media organizations and members of the press is unacceptable. It is also important that the United States support UN efforts calling for accountability and protection of journalists in Gaza and the West Bank. The absence of U.S. government support for accountability efforts by the UN and press freedom defenders only undermines U.S. leadership. Promoting press freedom globally, protecting journalist safety, and advancing international laws and norms are essential to sustaining a rules-based international order.\u201d\n\nThe full letter can be found below and is available here.\n\nDear Secretary Blinken,\n\nWe appreciate your continued engagement with Congress as you work to resolve the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon and secure the release of all hostages. We write today to follow up on the December 2023 letter to President Biden about the lack of press freedom related to the conflicts. It is crucial for you to work with the Israeli and Egyptian governments to allow all interested journalists to report with appropriate protections and without restriction from Gaza. We appreciate the State Department\u2019s response to the letter which reiterated the Biden-Harris Administration\u2019s commitment to protecting journalists during armed conflict. However, the situation on the ground in Gaza has gotten worse since last December. Crackdowns and violence against journalists in the West Bank have steadily increased as well.\n\nWe recognize the longstanding challenges to press freedom in Gaza predate Hamas\u2019s unspeakably brutal attacks on October 7, 2023. Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, has a record of harassing, obstructing, torturing, and using physical violence against journalists in Gaza. Several journalists were among the 1,200 people killed on October 7th. We strongly condemn Hamas\u2019s actions, both in its repression of the Palestinian people and its violent attacks against the Israeli people. However, we must hold our closest democratic allies and partners to a higher standard than a terrorist organization when it comes to protecting the bedrock democratic value of freedom of the press.\n\nOver one year into the war, the Israeli government continues to ban journalists from entering Gaza independently, despite standing calls from Israeli and foreign press in the country. With the exception of operational security requirements for embedded journalists, all interested journalists must be allowed to report without restriction from Gaza. As a Haaretz editorial asserts, \u201cBy blocking journalists from Gaza, Israel not only prevents coverage of the war\u2019s horrors but also hinders real-time scrutiny of Hamas\u2019 claims \u2013 a key Israeli interest.\u201d The Foreign Press Association in Israel calls \u201c...for unfettered and independent access to Gaza. To Israel, we say enough with the excuses. It is time to let us in.\u201d We urge you to prioritize journalists\u2019 immediate access to Gaza with guarantees from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to ensure that it does not target them in its operations.\n\nSince October 7, 2023, over 130 journalists have been killed, the vast majority of whom were Palestinians killed in Gaza. The lack of safe working conditions for journalists in Gaza makes it almost impossible to have an accurate understanding of the humanitarian devastation taking place in the territory. Nevertheless, local reporters have continued working despite being displaced repeatedly, losing family members, experiencing hunger, and living under constant threat of violence. Israel has also injured scores of Palestinian journalists and detained dozens, some of whom have been placed in arbitrary administrative detention without access to due process.\n\nJournalists face safety threats from the IDF outside of Gaza as well. As you are aware, on October 13, 2023, IDF strikes hit a group of journalists in southern Lebanon. These strikes killed Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah, injured Agence France-Presse (AFP) journalist and U.S. citizen Dylan Collins, and caused severe injuries to another AFP journalist at the scene, Christina Assi, who lost her right leg. The journalists were wearing helmets and jackets clearly marked with the word \u201cpress\u201d as they filmed from a location on top of an exposed hillside when they were struck by tank rounds. The IDF has not released a review or investigation into the incident.\n\nViolence against journalists in the West Bank is on the rise as the IDF increases its operations. According to the United Nations (UN), there were at least three incidents in September 2024 alone where Israeli security forces fired live ammunition at journalists or their vehicles while they were reporting in the West Bank. Journalists are at risk of being detained and harassed, making it increasingly difficult to operate in the West Bank. On September 22, the IDF raided and closed Al Jazeera\u2019s office in the West Bank for at least 45 days. This followed the IDF\u2019s decision in May to close Al Jazeera\u2019s offices in Israel. The network remains banned and it is unclear what actions the U.S. government has taken on this issue beyond expressing concern.\n\nThe United States must make clear to Israel that targeting media organizations and members of the press is unacceptable. It is also important that the United States support UN efforts calling for accountability and protection of journalists in Gaza and the West Bank. The absence of U.S. government support for accountability efforts by the UN and press freedom defenders only undermines U.S. leadership. Promoting press freedom globally, protecting journalist safety, and advancing international laws and norms are essential to sustaining a rules-based international order.\n\nConsidering our profound concern for the safety of journalists and demand for justice for targeted attacks on journalists, we respectfully request detailed responses to the following questions:\n\nWhat specific steps has the State Department taken to secure access for international journalists, including Americans, to Gaza?\n\nHas the State Department urged Israel to permit entry to journalists willing to travel to Gaza for reporting? If so, in what ways, by whom, and how often?\n\nHas the State Department expressed support for Israeli journalists and international correspondents in Israel seeking to gain independent access to Gaza? If so, in what ways, by whom, and how often?\n\nHas the State Department advocated for equipment for journalists, including cell phones and cameras, to be allowed into Gaza?\n\nWhat steps has the State Department taken to ensure that the IDF \u2013 a major recipient of U.S. security assistance \u2013 reforms its rules of engagement (ROEs) to mitigate harm to journalists in Gaza and the West Bank?\n\nIf the IDF is unwilling to change ROEs in ways that lessen harm to journalists, what steps are you considering taking to show U.S. government disapproval and secure policy changes that end the pattern of violent attacks on journalists?\n\nIs it your assessment that the Israeli government has thoroughly investigated allegations of any wrongdoing, ensuring immediate and transparent accountability for any abuses?\n\nIs it your assessment that Israeli government\u2019s actions in Gaza are in accordance with international humanitarian law?\n\nWhat support has the State Department provided to help injured journalists leave Gaza for medical care?\n\nWhat steps have you taken to seek full accountability for the killings of journalists by the IDF?\n\nWhat steps have you taken to ensure accountability for the October 13, 2023 attack that injured Mr. Collins and killed Issam Abdallah in southern Lebanon?\n\nDo you have information about the status of the reported Israeli investigation into the incident?\n\nDo you have confidence that any Israeli investigation would result in effective accountability and serve to deter future IDF attacks on journalists?\n\nWhat specific steps has the State Department taken to secure the release of journalists in administrative detention?\n\nHas the U.S. Embassy assessed allegations of mistreatment in Israeli custody of journalists?\n\nHave you discussed allegations of mistreatment of detained journalists with Israeli authorities, including IDF leaders?\n\nWhat steps have you taken to identify the whereabouts of missing Palestinian journalists? Have you asked the Israeli government if missing journalists are in their custody?\n\nIs it your assessment that the Israeli government has thoroughly investigated allegations of any wrongdoing, ensuring immediate and transparent accountability for any abuses or violations related to detentions?\n\nWhat steps has the State Department taken to advocate the importance of press freedom within Israel?\n\nHave you or other State Department officials raised your concern over the closing of Al Jazeera in Israel and the West Bank to the Israeli government? If so, what responses have you received?\n\nWhat is the State Department assessment of the impact on global press freedom of countries \u2013 especially closely allied democracies, like Israel \u2013 of placing restrictions on, detaining, or allowing violence against journalists?\n\nWe appreciate your response to these questions and look forward to hearing from you.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-tillis-lead-bipartisan-push-on-tax-relief-for-taiwan", "Van Hollen, Tillis Lead Bipartisan Push on Tax Relief for Taiwan", "2024-12-06", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) led 27 of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) highlighting the importance of passing U.S.-Taiwan double taxation relief measures this year.\n\n\u201cAs you are aware, Taiwan is a significant economic partner to the United States and yet Taiwan is the only one of the United States\u2019 top 10 trading partners without a formal double taxation agreement. Taiwan has also become an increasing source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the U.S., with TSMC\u2019s investment in Arizona being the largest greenfield FDI project in U.S. history. However, existing tax barriers\u2014including the double taxation of income, interest, and dividends\u2014add financial burdens for businesses from both nations, making it more expensive for them to expand in each other\u2019s markets,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\n\u201cThe 118th Congress has made significant strides in tackling this issue, with the Finance and Foreign Relations Committees working together with the House on Taiwan tax relief legislation. If enacted, this legislation would provide specific relief from double taxation on U.S.-Taiwan cross-border investments and authorize the President to negotiate a tax agreement with Taiwan. Earlier this year, the House passed Taiwan-related provisions as part of H.R. 7024, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 and the Senate Committee on Finance passed Taiwan tax relief legislation out of Committee unanimously,\u201d the senators continued.\n\n\u201cBy passing the U.S.-Taiwan double taxation relief measures this year, we can make significant headway in eliminating tax disincentives on cross-border investments between the U.S. and Taiwan. We believe there is strong support for these measures with Taiwan in the Senate, just as there was in the House. We are eager to work with you to see Taiwan tax relief legislation enacted before the 118th Congress comes to a close. U.S. and Taiwanese investors should not have to wait until the next Congress for action,\u201d the senators concluded.\n\nIn addition to Senators Tillis and Van Hollen, the letter was signed by Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), George Helmy (D-N.J.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jackie Rosen (D-Nev.), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nev.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii).\n\nText of the full letter is available here.\n\nDear Majority Leader Schumer and Minority Leader McConnell,\n\nAs you are aware, Taiwan is a significant economic partner to the United States and yet Taiwan is the only one of the United States' top 10 trading partners without a formal double taxation agreement. Taiwan has also become an increasing source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the U.S., with TSMC's investment in Arizona being the largest greenfield FDI project in U.S. history. However, existing tax barriers\u2014including the double taxation of income, interest, and dividends\u2014add financial burdens for businesses from both nations, making it more expensive for them to expand in each other\u2019s markets. Without relief from double taxation, these barriers could hamper further Taiwanese investments in key U.S. sectors, such as semiconductors. These investments are essential for reducing U.S. reliance on foreign technology imports and preventing supply chain disruptions that threaten national security and economic growth.\n\nThe 118th Congress has made significant strides in tackling this issue, with the Finance and Foreign Relations Committees working together with the House on Taiwan tax relief legislation. If enacted, this legislation would provide specific relief from double taxation on U.S.-Taiwan cross-border investments and authorize the President to negotiate a tax agreement with Taiwan. Earlier this year, the House passed Taiwan-related provisions as part of H.R. 7024, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 and the Senate Committee on Finance passed Taiwan tax relief legislation out of Committee unanimously.\n\nBy passing the U.S.-Taiwan double taxation relief measures this year, we can make significant headway in eliminating tax disincentives on cross-border investments between the U.S. and Taiwan. We believe there is strong support for these measures with Taiwan in the Senate, just as there was in the House. We are eager to work with you to see Taiwan tax relief legislation enacted before the 118th Congress comes to a close. U.S. and Taiwanese investors should not have to wait until the next Congress for action.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-glenn-ivey-provides-statement-final-hearing-task-force-attempted", "CONGRESSMAN GLENN IVEY PROVIDES STATEMENT FROM FINAL HEARING OF THE TASK FORCE ON THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF DONALD J. TRUMP", "2024-12-05", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Glenn Ivey", "I000058", "ivey.house.gov", "ivey", "https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congressman Glenn Ivey (MD-04) joined his colleagues on the Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump for a final hearing entitled \u201cSecret Service Security Failures and the Attempts to Assassinate President-Elect Donald J. Trump.\u201d\n\nThe hearing addressed the security failures that resulted in assassination attempts on President-elect Donald J. Trump in Butler, PA on July 13, 2024, and West Palm Beach, FL on September 15, 2024, and featured witness testimony from U.S. Secret Service Acting Director Ronald. L. Rowe Jr.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s second and final hearing of the Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump showcased the serious, bipartisan efforts to gain knowledge and information on the tragic events of July 13th in Butler, Pennsylvania,\u201d said Congressman Glenn Ivey.\n\n\u201cI thank Acting Director Rowe for his candor and willingness to take accountability for the failures of that day. While at times the discussion became passionate, I believe the Task Force remained focused on its mission to the benefit of our country and the people we represent. The Task Force\u2019s final report will reflect the culmination of 5 months of investigative work by professional, dedicated, and patriotic staff from both parties to better understand the shortcomings and failures which resulted in multiple attempts on President-elect Trump\u2019s life. I am honored to have served on this Task Force and believe we can continue to work together for a brighter and safer future for our Democracy.\u201d\n\nTo view the full hearing, click here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://raskin.house.gov/2024/12/raskin-wyden-kiley-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-promoting-free-speech-cracking-down-on-frivolous-strategic-lawsuits-against-public-participation", "Raskin, Wyden, Kiley Introduce Bipartisan Legislation Promoting Free Speech, Cracking Down on Frivolous \u201cStrategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation\u201d", "2024-12-05", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Jamie Raskin", "R000606", "raskin.house.gov", "raskin", "https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Representatives Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and Kevin Kiley (CA-03) introduced the Free Speech Protection Act, bipartisan legislation to protect individuals and organizations from frivolous lawsuits designed to chill free speech and political action. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) leads companion legislation in the Senate.\n\nCorporations and special interests have used strategic lawsuits against public participation, or \u201cSLAPPs,\u201d since the 1980s to target their opponents with burdensome litigation. Though many such suits often prove meritless, they are nonetheless effective at silencing, intimidating and discouraging dissent.\n\n\u201cGoliath triumphs over David in our justice system when powerful special interests can silence their critics with frivolous strategic lawsuits against public participation, or \u2018SLAPPs,\u2019\u201d said Rep. Raskin. \u201cOur Free Speech Protection Act?would protect people against the threat of crippling retaliation in the form of massive attorney\u2019s fees and prolonged invasive discovery. Our legislation allows federal judges to quickly identify and dismiss SLAPPs when they creep up in the courtroom and compensate the victims for their costs. We call on Congress to stand up for free speech in America\u2014and against litigation abuse\u2014by advancing this legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Free Speech Protection Act will stop trial lawyers from abusing our justice system, clogging our courts, and silencing those they deem to have incorrect politics. Under this legislation, powerful interests will no longer be able to launch frivolous lawsuits intended to bankrupt everyday Americans. While many states have already instituted these protections, we need federal protections to guard all Americans\u2019 First Amendment rights,\u201d said Rep. Kiley.\n\n\u201cThe rich and powerful are all too willing to use the legal system to bludgeon reporters, activists and whistleblowers with expensive lawsuits, even if the claims have no merit,\u201d Sen. Wyden said. \u201cI\u2019m proud to lead the Free Speech Protection Act in the Senate and work with Reps. Raskin and Kiley to advance the proposition that federal judges should be able to end frivolous lawsuits and protect free speech from abusive legal threats.\u201d\n\n\u201cTwo-thirds of the states now have laws limiting frivolous lawsuits that seek censorship. Most pass with strong bipartisan support that is often nearly unanimous,\u201d said David Keating, President of the Institute for Free Speech.\u201d It\u2019s time Congress caught up with the states. The Free Speech Protection Act addresses a critical gap in defending Americans\u2019 First Amendment rights. The state laws often don\u2019t apply in federal courts, so censors frequently file these abusive lawsuits there. This legislation would ensure defendants can quickly end meritless, speech-suppressing lawsuits in federal court and recover their legal costs. The next Congress should move quickly to consider this important bill, which is an excellent starting point for protecting Americans from this threat to free speech. I hope there will be helpful suggestions for improving it in committee. To protect free speech, Congress must soon pass the strongest possible Free Speech Protection Act.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Free Speech Protection Act is an important bipartisan bill to protect the right of citizens, journalists, and activists to participate in public debates about issues that are important in their communities,\u201d said Kirk Herbertson, U.S. Director for Advocacy and Campaigns, EarthRights International. \u201cPeople across the political spectrum should be able to have a voice in decisions that affect their lives without fear of being sued into silence by those with more wealth or power. Courts are for seeking justice, not for retaliating against one's critics.\"\n\n\u201cWe are proud to support this important measure to promote free speech and protect the free press against SLAPP lawsuits that are designed to prevent an individual or organization from exercising their First Amendment rights, and we applaud Rep. Raskin, Rep. Kiley and Senator Wyden for their leadership in championing these essential liberties.\u201d said Danielle Coffey, President and CEO of News/Media Alliance.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re thrilled to endorse the Free Speech Protection Act, which will extend federal protections against frivolous lawsuits to journalists, activists, and individuals across the political spectrum,\u201d said Jenna Leventoff, Senior Policy Counsel at the ACLU. \u201cOur First Amendment rights should not depend on the size of our bank accounts. This bill will ensure that judges can easily dismiss lawsuits that are designed to chill speech and drain people of resources simply for speaking their mind. We thank Reps. Raskin and Kiley, as well as Senator Wyden for helping to preserve a justice system that serves us all, not just the rich and powerful.\u201d\n\nCurrently, 34 states and D.C. have anti-SLAPP laws, most of which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support to protect community groups, civic associations, and nonprofits against efforts by strategic actors to squash dissent, but no such legislation exists at the federal level. This gap opens the door to forum shopping and other avenues for SLAPP filers to evade state laws.\n\nTo address this gap, the Free Speech Protection Act establishes a procedure for federal courts to dismiss and deter SLAPPs. This legislation would:\n\nAllow federal judges to quickly identify and dismiss SLAPPs that target constitutionally protected speech and activity before the lawsuit consumes too much of the defendant\u2019s time and resources;\n\nPrevent the SLAPP filer from using discovery to invade the privacy of the defendant while the case is being reviewed; and\n\nAllow federal judges to award attorney fees and costs to the victim of a SLAPP to reduce the cost burden and deter future exploitation of this tactic.\n\nRep. Raskin previously introduced anti-SLAPP legislation in the 117th Congress.\n\nThe following organizations endorse this legislation: American Booksellers for Free Expression; American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU); American Society for Collective Rights Licensing (ASCRL); Association of American Publishers; Authors Guild; California Anti-SLAPP Project; Center for Democracy & Technology; Committee to Protect Journalists; Earthjustice Action; EarthRights International; Electronic Frontier Foundation; First Amendment Foundation; Freedom of the Press Foundation; Greenpeace USA; Institute for Free Speech; International Corporate Accountability Roundtable (ICAR); Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University; Know Your IX, a project of Advocates for Youth; National Press Club; National Press Club Journalism Institute; National Press Club Press Freedom Committee; National Press Photographers Association (NPPA); National Women's Law Center; News/Media Alliance; No Business With Genocide; PEN America; Public Participation Project; Reporters Without Borders; Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL); Society of Professional Journalists; Songwriters Guild of America (SGA); Student Press Law Center.\n\nFind the bill text here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/video-van-hollen-honors-the-legacy-of-maryland-veteran-and-tuskegee-airman-brigadier-general-charles-mcgee-in-video-tribute-at-memorial-unveiling", "VIDEO: Van Hollen Honors the Legacy of Maryland Veteran & Tuskegee Airman Brigadier General Charles McGee In Video Tribute at Memorial Unveiling", "2024-12-05", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, in a recorded video address, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) honored the legacy and accomplishments of Brigadier General Charles McGee as part of a memorial unveiling for the late Tuskegee Airman hosted by the Distinguished Flying Cross Society at the public library in Silver Spring, Md. that bears his name. General McGee was a decorated combat pilot who served in the United States Military for over 30 years and fought in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam \u2013 amassing a record three-war total of combat missions \u2013 409 \u2013 of any Air Force fighter pilot, with 100 missions or more in each. He passed away on January 16, 2022, at 102 years old, at his home in Bethesda, Maryland. The memorial unveiling coincides with what would\u2019ve been Brig. Gen. McGee\u2019s 105th birthday on December 7th.\n\nIn July of 2019, Senator Van Hollen introduced legislation to authorize General McGee\u2019s honorary promotion to Brigadier General, which was then passed unanimously by the full Senate. Senator Van Hollen and former Congressman Anthony Brown also pushed to include their provision within the House and Senate NDAA. In December of 2019, Senator Van Hollen announced the successful inclusion of the provision within the NDAA, and the legislation was then passed by both the House and the Senate. On December 20, 2019 it was signed into law by the President. Following the Senator\u2019s urging, the U.S. Air Force granted McGee\u2019s promotion in February 2020.\n\nSenator Van Hollen\u2019s recorded remarks can be viewed here, and a transcript is below.\n\nSENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN (D-Md.): Hi, I\u2019m Chris Van Hollen, and I am proud to represent the great state of Maryland in the United States Senate. And I am especially honored to join you today to celebrate the life of Brigadier General Charles McGee, an American hero and a deeply missed friend.\n\nI first met General McGee in 2016, when I was a member of the House of Representatives. He reached out to ask for help getting a replacement set of silver Air Force pilot wings. Pilot wings are, in one sense, a mark of skill and service. They say: I\u2019ve done my training; I\u2019ve mastered my craft; I\u2019ve served my country. But in a larger sense, pilot wings are a mark of character. They say to the world: I am an airman. And Charles McGee was one of the greatest airmen of all time. His service spanned three decades, three wars, 6,308 hours, and 409 combat missions in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam \u2013 a record-breaking number for an Air Force fighter pilot across those three wars.\n\nBut General McGee didn\u2019t just break records: he broke barriers. When he volunteered for the Air Force in 1942, the U.S. military was segregated. But that didn\u2019t stop him. As one of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, he helped prove to a watchful nation something that shouldn\u2019t have required proving. In General McGee\u2019s words: \u201cOne of the things we were fighting for was equality. Equality of opportunity. We knew we had the same skills, or better.\u201d And he was right. Charles McGee was not only fighting the Nazis overseas, he was fighting injustice and segregation here at home. And he made historic advances on both fronts.\n\nGeneral McGee is an American hero. That\u2019s why I worked to honor his heroism by authorizing his honorary promotion to the rank of Brigadier General. It was a long push that lasted four years, but we succeeded. Colonel Charles McGee became Brigadier General Charles McGee \u2013 and future generations will know him by that rank for all time.\n\nGeneral McGee died two years ago, and I had the privilege of delivering a eulogy at his funeral. I said then, and I say it again now, that although General McGee\u2019s journey has ended, his story lives on as a powerful example of American heroism.\n\nHe\u2019s an example to me. He\u2019s an example to Maryland. He\u2019s an example to every American. And a role model for every child who sees this new memorial.\n\nSo I\u2019ll end in the spirit I began: thanking all of you for gathering today to honor Charles McGee. By remembering him, we recommit ourselves to his life\u2019s work: both defending our country and demanding that it live up to its full promise.\n\nHe flew 409 combat missions, returning to the cockpit again and again. Now, every time we tell his story, he takes wing once more.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyer-floor-remarks-renaming-baltimore-post-office-representative-elijah-e", "Hoyer Floor Remarks on Renaming Baltimore Post Office for Representative Elijah E. Cummings", "2024-12-04", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny H. Hoyer", "H000874", "hoyer.house.gov", "hoyer", "https://hoyer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 This afternoon, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) delivered remarks on the House Floor urging bipartisan support for H.R. 9544, legislation to rename a United States Postal Service (USPS) Office in Baltimore, Maryland after the late Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD-07). Below is a video and transcript of his remarks:\n\nClick here to watch a full video of his remarks.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/mfume-cardin-and-van-hollen-bill-to-rename-post-office-in-honor-of-elijah-cummings-passed-by-us-house-of-representatives", "Mfume, Cardin, and Van Hollen Bill to Rename Post Office in Honor of Elijah Cummings Passed by U.S. House of Representatives", "2024-12-04", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Kweisi Mfume", "M000687", "mfume.house.gov", "mfume", "https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the United States of Representatives passed legislation (H.R. 9544) introduced by Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07) in the U.S. House of Representatives to designate a Baltimore United States Post Office (USPS) as the \u2018\u2018United States Representative Elijah E. Cummings Post Office Building.\" The bill to rename the post office at 340 South Loudon Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland, in honor of Congressman Cummings now heads to the United States Senate for consideration. Companion legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-MD).\n\nImage\n\nCLICK HERE or ABOVE to view Rep. Mfume and other Members' remarks on the floor of the U.S. House in support of H.R. 9544.\n\n\"Congressman Elijah Cummings was a person of deep intellect, unlimited compassion, and a champion for working people everywhere. This House and our nation still feel his loss, which makes the renaming of this post office in his honor a fitting tribute to our dear friend,\" said Congressman Mfume. \"I am elated that this legislation has prevailed out of the U.S. House of Representatives. It is a small but important gesture to say thank you to Congressman Elijah Cummings for the work he did, for so many years, for the people of Baltimore and the state of Maryland. Elijah was a trailblazer, consensus builder, peacemaker, and friend. His name and his image will now be a part of this building for all to see,\" he concluded.\n\n\u201cI am proud to have introduced this bill in the Senate and am glad to see it has passed the House. I look forward to this important bill passing the Senate so that we can honor the life and work of Elijah Cummings. His life of public service is an example for us all,\u201d said Senator Cardin.\n\n\u201cCongressman Elijah Cummings was a man of principle. A man of incredible dignity. And a man with a purpose. Nowhere did he work harder to achieve the mission of equal justice and equal opportunity for all than in his beloved Baltimore community. With the House\u2019s passage of our legislation today, we\u2019re one step closer in recognizing all that Elijah did for his city, his state, and his country,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cOn behalf of the Cummings family, we thank Congressman Mfume and Senators Cardin and Van Hollen for keeping alive the legacy of my father, their friend, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings. We are deeply grateful for all of their work to rename a district post office in recognition of his commitment to public service, including his work on postal issues that came before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee,\u201d said Jennifer Cummings, the late Congressman's eldest daughter upon the legislation's introduction.\n\nThe introduction of this legislation was an effort in partnership with the Cummings family, who wrote to Congressman Mfume in August 2024. Their letter expressed the Cummings family\u2019s support to honor Congressman Cummings with the renaming of a post office after their father. On November 20, 2024, this bill was passed unanimously by the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability and sent to the floor for consideration by the entire U.S. House.\n\nThe Life of Congressman Elijah E. Cummings\n\nCongressman Cummings was born in Baltimore on January 18, 1951. His father worked at a chemical factory and his mother worked at a pickle factory and later as a maid while raising seven children. Both parents came from Southern sharecropping families.\n\nElected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1982, Mr. Cummings became the youngest Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus and the first African American elected speaker pro tem by the body, a permanent role in the Maryland House. He served in that chamber for 14 years, during which he worked tirelessly to advance the rights and opportunities of Maryland residents.\n\nIn 1996, Mr. Cummings won the seat in the U.S. House of Representatives that Congressman Mfume vacated to become NAACP president, launching a 23-year career in Congress during which he advocated on behalf of all people, including lower-income and working-class Americans.\n\nWhere others saw problems and danger, he saw opportunities and solutions. He advanced measures to improve education, to expand affordable housing, to curb addiction, to enhance public infrastructure, to promote gun safety, and to reform police practices. He worked to erase the racial and class divides that he had grown up with, so that future generations of Baltimoreans would not face the same obstacles he did.\n\nCongressman Cummings became Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus in 2002, where he pushed to increase funding for public education and the Head Start program.\n\nAfter the tragic death of Freddie Gray, Congressman Cummings went to the streets to ask the citizens of Baltimore to come together and find a peaceful path forward. Then, true to form, he launched into action, pushing hard for policies and programs to help the city recover.\n\nAs Ranking Member and then Chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, Mr. Cummings spearheaded much of the impeachment inquiry of former President Trump, and led probes relating to Trump\u2019s family members serving in the White House. In this role, Congressman Cummings also had jurisdiction over postal issues and led the charge to pass the Postal Service Reform Act to ensure the financial solvency of the U.S. Postal Service until his passing in 2019. A version of the legislation ultimately became law in 2022.\n\nHe was passionate about rooting out corruption, protecting our democracy, and achieving equality and freedom for all. He fought for what was right, simply because it was right.\n\nRead the bill text HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-markey-durbin-waters-lead-72-colleagues-in-calling-on-department-of-education-to-discharge-loans-for-defrauded-borrowers", "Van Hollen, Markey, Durbin, Waters Lead 72 Colleagues in Calling on Department of Education to Discharge Loans for Defrauded Borrowers", "2024-12-04", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), called on the Department of Education to discharge student loan debt for hundreds of thousands of students who were defrauded by predatory schools. During the first Trump administration, defrauded borrowers\u2019 applications for debt relief were left to languish for years, and if reviewed, were often denied. In their letter today, the lawmakers called for the Department to use its authority to immediately discharge debt.\n\nSince 2022, the Department has announced group discharges for more than 1.2 million individuals who attended schools that engaged in documented fraud and misconduct, including ITT Technical Institute and Corinthian Colleges. Yet, hundreds of thousands of borrowers are still awaiting their discharges. Many additional borrowers are eligible for borrower defense group discharge because they attended schools for which the Department possesses evidence of fraud and misconduct; 400,000 borrowers have submitted individual applications for borrower defense discharges that the Department has yet to process.\n\n\u201cThe Department of Education must deliver justice to borrowers who were scammed by for-profit colleges and saddled with unpayable debts before the Trump Administration slams the door shut on borrowers in January,\u201d said Senator Markey. \u201cBorrowers who have struggled with debt for years or even decades cannot afford to wait any longer.\u201d\n\n\u201cTime and time again, for-profit schools make false promises to students, claiming that they can push them ahead in life. Instead, these schools siphon off federal student aid dollars while leaving students in crushing debt and with a near useless degree,\u201d said Senator Durbin. \u201cThe incoming administration has a troubling track record of favoring for-profit colleges over scammed students. It\u2019s critical that the Biden administration swiftly approves any and all borrower defense applications and discharge the debt of those who attended a fraudulent for-profit school.\u201d\n\n\u201cI have fought for many years to prevent predatory, for-profit colleges from defrauding students and to hold these institutions accountable when they do so,\u201d said Congresswoman Waters. \u201cIt is urgent that the Department of Education immediately process debt relief for the hundreds of thousands of student borrowers who were defrauded by these predatory institutions.\u201d\n\n\u201cSwift action to clear predatory debt is imperative to save defrauded student borrowers and their families from financial despair. Thank you to the Congressional leaders who understand the consequences for borrowers and their families if discharges are not implemented immediately. There are hundreds of thousands of individuals' financial well-being at stake, there is no time to waste in taking action,\u201d said Ashley Harrington, Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy, Project on Predatory Student Lending.\n\nIn the letter to the Department of Education, the lawmakers wrote, \u201cThe Biden administration has demonstrated a commitment to supporting student borrowers and mitigating the devastating impact of student loan debt, including issuing targeted debt relief to hundreds of thousands of borrowers defrauded by predatory higher education institutions.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers continued, \u201cWe urge the Department of Education to follow through on its commitment by immediately processing debt discharges for borrowers already approved for relief; issuing additional discharges for students who attended institutions with documented histories of predatory practices; and processing any outstanding borrower defense applications.\u201d\n\nThe letter is co-signed in the Senate by Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Christopher S. Murphy (D-Conn.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.).\n\nThe letter is co-signed in the House of Representatives by Representatives Maxine Waters (CA-43), Andr\u00e9 Carson (IN-07), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Robin L. Kelly (Il-02), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Erica Lee Carter (TX-18), Gwen S. Moore (WI-04), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Alma S. Adams Ph.D. (NC-12), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-03), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Cori Bush (MO-01), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Greg Casar (TX-35), Mark Takano (CA-39), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez (NY-07), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), John B. Larson (CT-01), Lucy McBath (GA-07), Jes\u00fas G. \u201cChuy\u201d Garc\u00eda (IL-04), Summer L. Lee (PA-12), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Al Green (TX-09), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Frederica S. Wilson (FL-17), Hank Johnson (GA-04)., Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Jamaal Bowman (NY-14), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Ra\u00fal M. Grijalva (AZ-07), Adam Smith (WA-09), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Nanette Diaz Barrag\u00e1n (CA-44), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Jennifer L. McClellan (VA-04), Sean Casten (IL-06), Grace Meng (NY-06), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Robert Garcia (CA-42).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-harris-issues-statement-approval-offshore-wind-maryland", "Congressman Harris Issues Statement On The Approval Of Offshore Wind In Maryland", "2024-12-03", "2024", "2024-12", "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., Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies issued the following statement in response to the approval of offshore wind development in Maryland.\n\nToday, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced its approval of the Construction and Operations Plan for the Maryland Offshore Wind project. This is the final approval needed for the project from BOEM following the Department of the Interior\u2019s September 2024 Record of Decision.\n\nStatement From Congressman Harris:\n\n\u201cOffshore wind farms benefit foreign companies - not the residents of Maryland\u2019s First District who have already seen increases in their electric rates thanks to the failed energy policies of the Biden Administration. We should never allow foreign owned companies to control our energy supply\u2014much less harm our marine life while doing it. I look forward to working with President Trump to end all offshore wind development when he is back in office.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyer-floor-remarks-naming-fort-mchenry-visitor-center-after-senator-paul-s", "Hoyer Floor Remarks on Naming Fort McHenry Visitor Center after Senator Paul S. Sarbanes", "2024-12-03", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny H. Hoyer", "H000874", "hoyer.house.gov", "hoyer", "https://hoyer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 This afternoon, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) delivered remarks on the House Floor urging bipartisan support for legislation to name the Fort McHenry Visitor and Education Center in Baltimore, Maryland after the late Senator Paul S. Sarbanes (D-MD). Below is a video and transcript of his remarks:\n\nClick here to watch a full video of my remarks:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases/protecting-americans-russian-litigation-act-passes-house-representatives", "The Protecting Americans from Russian Litigation Act Passes in the House of Representatives", "2024-12-03", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Glenn Ivey", "I000058", "ivey.house.gov", "ivey", "https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Contact: Ram\u00f3n Korionoff, Communications Director\n\nEmail: Ramon.Korionoff@mail.house.gov\n\nWashington, D.C. - Congressman Glenn Ivey's legislation H.R. 9563 - The Protecting Americans from Russian Litigation Act of 2024 passed the House of Representatives by Voice Vote. H.R. 9563 marks another piece of legislation that has been passed favorably out of the House of Representatives in the 118th Congress.\n\nBackground information:\n\nThe following members from the House Judiciary Committee cosponsored this bipartisan legislation: (Co-Lead) Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX), Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI), Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), and Rep. Laurel Lee (R-FL).\n\nH.R. 9563 will protect U.S. businesses and ensure that they are not unfairly punished for complying with U.S. sanctions and export controls. Currently, Russia is pursuing spurious legal action against American companies who have ceased to continue business with Russian entities due to their compliance with U.S. sanctions and export controls. The United States has no provision that would protect U.S. companies from this type of lawsuit. This legislation closes the legal loophole countries like Russia are exploiting and will protect U.S. companies from unfair litigation.\n\nStatements:\n\n\u201cThe Protecting Americans from Russian Litigation Act will ensure that Americans will not be punished for good faith compliance with U.S. sanctions, including those placed on Russia following Putin\u2019s unprovoked war of aggression in Ukraine. Russia should not benefit from its own wrongdoing,\u201d said Congressman Ivey. \u201cI am pleased this important and necessary legislation passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support.\n\n\"Russia's use of this Title 28 loophole to impose fines on American companies and workers is abhorrent,\" said Congressman Hunt. \"Let us recall that sanctions against Russia were only instituted after they made the deliberate decision to invade Ukraine. Protecting America and our business interests should be a top priority for Congress and I'm profoundly grateful for the bipartisan support this legislation has garnered.\"\n\n\u201cToday, the House sent a clear message to our adversaries \u2013 including Russia and others \u2013 that they will not be allowed to retaliate against U.S. sanctions by attacking American businesses using bad-faith litigation. The sweeping bipartisan support for the Protecting Americans from Russian Litigation Act demonstrates our commitment to protecting American enterprises from unjust legal attacks for complying with U.S.-imposed sanctions\", said Congressman Issa. \"I am proud to co-lead this effort with Rep. Hunt and my Judiciary colleagues to protect the sovereignty of American businesses.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/following-introduction-of-jrd-to-pause-arms-sales-to-uae-van-hollen-and-jacobs-seek-assurances-from-administration-on-uae-support-for-rsf", "Following Introduction of JRD to Pause Arms Sales to UAE, Van Hollen & Jacobs Seek Assurances from Administration on UAE Support for RSF", "2024-12-03", "2024", "2024-12", "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.) and Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) have sent a letter to President Biden regarding their recent introduction of a joint resolution of disapproval (JRD) in response to the Administration\u2019s notice of an offensive weapons sales to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In their letter, the lawmakers note deep concern about reports that the UAE has provided materiel support to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), given the RSF\u2019s role in the ongoing civil war and atrocities taking place in Sudan. The lawmakers request that the Administration provide written assurances that the UAE is not supplying the RSF with weapons and that the UAE will refrain from future such transfers.\n\nThe lawmakers begin, \u201cWe write concerning a joint resolution of disapproval (JRD) that we filed on November 21, 2024, on the U.S. sale of offensive weapons \u2013 including rockets and missiles worth $1.2 billion \u2013 to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). We are deeply concerned about reports that the UAE has provided materiel support, including arms and ammunition, to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) amid the civil war in Sudan and believe that the United States should pause offensive arms sales until such support has ceased. If your administration provides written confirmation that the UAE is not supplying the RSF with weapons and has committed to refrain from future such transfers, then we will have accomplished our goal and will not need to call for a vote on this legislation in Congress.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe current war in Sudan has led to a humanitarian and human rights catastrophe. Since the conflict erupted in April 2023, a staggering 11.8 million people have been displaced within Sudan and in neighboring countries. More than half the population, over 25 million people, reportedly face acute food insecurity, including 13 million children, and 1.5 million are at risk of or facing famine. In July 2024, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Famine Review Committee (FRC) confirmed that famine conditions are prevalent in Darfur,\u201d they note.\n\nThey continue, \u201cSince the start of the war, the UAE has enabled the RSF\u2019s atrocities in Sudan. There is ample evidence documenting the UAE\u2019s support for the RSF, including findings by the UN Panel of Experts, which documented \u201ccredible\u201d allegations of the UAE violating Darfur\u2019s arms embargo by supplying the RSF with weapons and ammunition. These findings have been corroborated by credible human rights organizations, as well as reporting by the New York Times and Washington Post. Furthermore, your administration has acknowledged the UAE's support for the RSF. According to U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield, \u2018We are aware that both sides are receiving weapons and other support to fuel their efforts to destroy Sudan, and yes, we have engaged with the parties on that, including with our colleagues from the UAE.\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201cThe U.S. should not be sending weapons to the UAE so long as it is aiding and abetting a group that is one of the primary drivers of the humanitarian disaster in Sudan and has committed atrocity crimes. The UAE is an important partner in the Middle East, but we must not turn a blind eye to its role in the humanitarian disaster in Sudan. That is why our legislation seeks to pause offensive arms sales to the UAE unless you can provide written assurances that the UAE is not providing, and will no longer provide, materiel support to the RSF,\u201d they write in closing.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear President Biden,\n\nWe write concerning a joint resolution of disapproval (JRD) that we filed on November 21, 2024, on the U.S. sale of offensive weapons \u2013 including rockets and missiles worth $1.2 billion \u2013 to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). We are deeply concerned about reports that the UAE has provided materiel support, including arms and ammunition, to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) amid the civil war in Sudan and believe that the United States should pause offensive arms sales until such support has ceased. If your administration provides written confirmation that the UAE is not supplying the RSF with weapons and has committed to refrain from future such transfers, then we will have accomplished our goal and will not need to call for a vote on this legislation in Congress.\n\nThe current war in Sudan has led to a humanitarian and human rights catastrophe. Since the conflict erupted in April 2023, a staggering 11.8 million people have been displaced within Sudan and in neighboring countries. More than half the population, over 25 million people, reportedly face acute food insecurity, including 13 million children, and 1.5 million are at risk of or facing famine. In July 2024, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Famine Review Committee (FRC) confirmed that famine conditions are prevalent in Darfur.\n\nBoth the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have worsened the crisis. Both sides have been credibly accused of using starvation as a weapon of war by intentionally blocking humanitarian aid from reaching those most in need. The United States has determined that both the RSF and the SAF have committed war crimes, and has gone further to determine the RSF has also committed crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing. Reputable human rights organizations and news outlets have also reported widespread acts of sexual violence, including rape, by the RSF.\n\nSince the start of the war, the UAE has enabled the RSF\u2019s atrocities in Sudan. There is ample evidence documenting the UAE\u2019s support for the RSF, including findings by the UN Panel of Experts, which documented \u201ccredible\u201d allegations of the UAE violating Darfur\u2019s arms embargo by supplying the RSF with weapons and ammunition. These findings have been corroborated by credible human rights organizations, as well as reporting by the New York Times and Washington Post. Furthermore, your administration has acknowledged the UAE's support for the RSF. According to U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield, \u201cWe are aware that both sides are receiving weapons and other support to fuel their efforts to destroy Sudan, and yes, we have engaged with the parties on that, including with our colleagues from the UAE.\u201d\n\nWe applaud the efforts your administration has made to bring the war to an end by convening multiple diplomatic dialogues to find a path forward. You underscored U.S. interests in ending the conflict, stating in September 2024, that \u201cthe United States will not abandon our commitment to the people of Sudan, who deserve freedom, peace, and justice. We call on all parties to this conflict to end the violence and refrain from fueling it, for the future of Sudan and for all Sudanese people.\u201d\n\nYour administration has rightly put pressure on the RSF by sanctioning several high-level commanders for their atrocities, but we believe you have yet to use the full leverage at your disposal to hold accountable their primary external backer. We support a mutually beneficial bilateral relationship with the UAE and are not seeking to permanently end arms sales. However, a partnership with the United States should not come with a blank check. We need assurances that U.S. interests, values, and priorities will be respected by foreign governments that benefit from a security relationship with the United States.\n\nThe U.S. should not be sending weapons to the UAE so long as it is aiding and abetting a group that is one of the primary drivers of the humanitarian disaster in Sudan and has committed atrocity crimes. The UAE is an important partner in the Middle East, but we must not turn a blind eye to its role in the humanitarian disaster in Sudan. That is why our legislation seeks to pause offensive arms sales to the UAE unless you can provide written assurances that the UAE is not providing, and will no longer provide, materiel support to the RSF.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyer-statement-veterans-day-2024", "Hoyer Statement on Veterans Day, 2024", "2024-11-11", "2024", "2024-11", "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 in recognition of Veterans Day:\n\n\"From Valley Forge to Korengal Valley, the forests of France to the jungles of Vietnam, the fields of Pennsylvania to the sands of Pacific islands, American service members have braved fearsome challenges in every corner of the world in defense of our Constitution. Today, we honor our Veterans and their families for their service.\n\n\"Those who wear the uniform of the United States of America exemplify our nation's highest ideals: freedom, democracy, and justice. We have a sacred responsibility to care for them even after they remove the uniform. That's why I brought the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act to the House Floor last Congress to expand care and benefits for millions of Veterans who were exposed to dangerous toxins during their service. In the past two years, more than a million Veterans have received benefits under this historic legislation. Millions more have filed PACT Act claims that will be fulfilled in the coming months and years.\n\n\"Whether it's building on the progress of the PACT Act, coming up with new strategies to address PTSD and other Veteran mental health challenges, or creating new economic opportunities to help our Veterans and military families get ahead, I will continue to stand up for the men and women who stood up for America's security. Crucially, we must honor those who served by protecting that for which they served: our country, our Constitution, and our democracy. May the example of U.S. service members past, present, and future guide us in that noble mission.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:07:06Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-statement-on-2024-election", "Van Hollen Statement on 2024 Election", "2024-11-06", "2024", "2024-11", "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.) released the following statement regarding the 2024 presidential election:\n\n\u201cLike many Americans, I am deeply disappointed and disheartened by the results of this election. But the democratic process has run its course, and I will respect the outcome. That being said, I will never \u2013 not for a moment \u2013 stop fighting for the values that I know our nation and our people strive to uphold. I will never stop pursuing the freedoms and the rights that our citizens are promised \u2013 and working to ensure that all Americans have equal access to these rights and opportunity. I will never back down from standing up for what we believe in, and I will continue to demand accountability from our government. Serving Marylanders in the United States Senate is an honor and a responsibility that I do not take lightly \u2013 this is all the more true during turbulent times. And even as we face this challenging moment, I am heartened by the history Maryland made last night in electing Angela Alsobrooks to the Senate. I will continue working every single day to represent our great state and the values we hold so dear.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:07:06Z"], ["https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/mfume-cardin-van-hollen-announce-5-million-to-boost-morgan-state-university-s-research-capabilities", "Mfume, Cardin, Van Hollen Announce $5 Million to Boost Morgan State University\u2019s Research Capabilities", "2024-11-04", "2024", "2024-11", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Kweisi Mfume", "M000687", "mfume.house.gov", "mfume", "https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Congressman Kweisi Mfume, Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (all D-Md.) announced $5 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Education for Morgan State University (MSU) to strengthen its research capacity to better serve its students, faculty, the Baltimore community, and the nation.\n\nMorgan State, a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in Baltimore City, is currently classified as a \u201chigh research activity status\u201d (R2) university by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education; this funding will support the University\u2019s efforts to achieve the Carnegie classification of \u201cvery high research activity status,\u201d (R1), by 2030. An R1 classification would provide more opportunities for MSU students and faculty to conduct even more transformative and impactful research. Among the 146 R1-designated colleges and universities in the U.S., none are HBCUs.\n\n\u201cThis announcement for Baltimore\u2019s Morgan State University will further enhance the research capabilities of one of our country's leading Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). The funding will bolster Morgan in its efforts to attain the prestigious R1 research status \u2013 a needed designation to induce additional federal and state investment and empower the school\u2019s student body, faculty, and researchers,\u201d said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. \u201cI will always work in the Congress to uplift our nation\u2019s HBCUs that represent a beacon for Black excellence and promise,\u201d he concluded.\n\n\u201cMorgan State not only provides a quality education to thousands of students, it also serves as a hub for cutting-edge innovation. With this $5 million in federal funding \u2013 along with support from the HBCU RISE Program \u2013 we are furthering Morgan State\u2019s goal of becoming one of the first HBCUs to achieve R1 status while diversifying the pipeline of leaders working to solve our most pressing challenges,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen, who introduced legislation and then worked to pass the language to create the HBCU RISE program as a provision of the FY23 national defense billin order to spur greater research investment in R2 HBCUs such as Morgan State to help them achieve R1 status while strengthening our national defense research.\n\n\u201cMorgan State has become a central part of our engine of economic growth despite decades of underfunding. The university is leading research that strengthens key industries like technology and health care and prepares students to compete in a global economy,\u201d said Senator Cardin. \u201cThis funding will support new and existing programs that will help Morgan State reach new heights and reinforces our commitment to investing in Maryland\u2019s HBCUs.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis generous $5 million federal investment is a crucial accelerator on Morgan\u2019s journey to becoming a nationally recognized very high research (R1) university. It represents a significant step forward for our students, faculty, and community, enabling new opportunities for transformative research that addresses real-world challenges,\u201d said David K. Wilson, president of Morgan State University. \u201cMorgan is one of the nation\u2019s fastest-rising universities, and our elected leaders have been instrumental in that ascension. We are deeply grateful to Senator Van Hollen, Senator Cardin, and Congressman Mfume for their steadfast support in empowering Morgan as a national leader in inclusive innovation and knowledge creation.\u201d\n\nThe grant was awarded through the HBCU, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU), and Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Research and Development Infrastructure Grant Program, which the lawmakers funded at $50 million in fiscal year 2024. With this $5 million investment, MSU will boost its research expenditures in science, engineering, and other fields, recruit new full-time postdoctoral researchers, and increase its research and development capacity. The funds will also help enhance faculty professional development, prepare students for research and teaching assistant roles, and attract doctoral students to new programs and increase doctoral conferrals in STEM and social sciences fields.\n\nMSU will prioritize efforts to increase diversity among faculty, students, and research topics, ensuring equitable access to research opportunities. Further, the University will actively collaborate with industry, government agencies, and other research institutions to expand research opportunities, leverage resources, and advance solutions to real-world challenges.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:07:06Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-cardin-mfume-announce-5-million-to-boost-morgan-state-universitys-research-capabilities", "Van Hollen, Cardin, Mfume Announce $5 Million to Boost Morgan State University\u2019s Research Capabilities", "2024-11-04", "2024", "2024-11", "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 Ben Cardin and Congressman Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) announced $5 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Education for Morgan State University (MSU) to strengthen its research capacity to better serve its students, faculty, the Baltimore community, and the nation.\n\nMorgan State, a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in Baltimore City, is currently classified as a \u201chigh research activity status\u201d (R2) university by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education; this funding will support the University\u2019s efforts to achieve the Carnegie classification of \u201cvery high research activity status,\u201d (R1), by 2030. An R1 classification would provide more opportunities for MSU students and faculty to conduct even more transformative and impactful research. Among the 146 R1-designated colleges and universities in the U.S., none are HBCUs.\n\n\u201cMorgan State not only provides a quality education to thousands of students, it also serves as a hub for cutting-edge innovation. With this $5 million in federal funding \u2013 along with support from the HBCU RISE Program \u2013 we are furthering Morgan State\u2019s goal of becoming one of the first HBCUs to achieve R1 status while diversifying the pipeline of leaders working to solve our most pressing challenges,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen, who introduced legislation and then worked to pass the language to create the HBCU RISE program as a provision of the FY23 national defense bill in order to spur greater research investment in R2 HBCUs such as Morgan State to help them achieve R1 status while strengthening our national defense research.\n\n\u201cMorgan State has become a central part of our engine of economic growth despite decades of underfunding. The university is leading research that strengthens key industries like technology and health care and prepares students to compete in a global economy,\u201d said Senator Cardin. \u201cThis funding will support new and existing programs that will help Morgan State reach new heights and reinforces our commitment to investing in Maryland\u2019s HBCUs.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis announcement for Baltimore\u2019s Morgan State University will further enhance the research capabilities of one of our country's leading Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). The funding will bolster Morgan in its efforts to attain the prestigious R1 research status \u2013 a needed designation to induce additional federal and state investment and empower the school\u2019s student body, faculty, and researchers,\u201d said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. \u201cI will always work in the Congress to uplift our nation\u2019s HBCUs that represent a beacon for Black excellence and promise,\u201d he concluded.\n\n\u201cThis generous $5 million federal investment is a crucial accelerator on Morgan\u2019s journey to becoming a nationally recognized very high research (R1) university. It represents a significant step forward for our students, faculty, and community, enabling new opportunities for transformative research that addresses real-world challenges,\u201d said David K. Wilson, president of Morgan State University. \u201cMorgan is one of the nation\u2019s fastest-rising universities, and our elected leaders have been instrumental in that ascension. We are deeply grateful to Senator Van Hollen, Senator Cardin, and Congressman Mfume for their steadfast support in empowering Morgan as a national leader in inclusive innovation and knowledge creation.\u201d\n\nThe grant was awarded through the HBCU, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU), and Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Research and Development Infrastructure Grant Program, which the lawmakers funded at $50 million in fiscal year 2024. With this $5 million investment, MSU will boost its research expenditures in science, engineering, and other fields, recruit new full-time postdoctoral researchers, and increase its research and development capacity. The funds will also help enhance faculty professional development, prepare students for research and teaching assistant roles, and attract doctoral students to new programs and increase doctoral conferrals in STEM and social sciences fields.\n\nMSU will prioritize efforts to increase diversity among faculty, students, and research topics, ensuring equitable access to research opportunities. Further, the University will actively collaborate with industry, government agencies, and other research institutions to expand research opportunities, leverage resources, and advance solutions to real-world challenges.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:07:06Z"], ["https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/mfume-sessions-request-gao-examine-27-trillion-in-improper-payments-and-provide-anti-fraud-recommendations-0", "Mfume & Sessions Request GAO Examine $2.7 Trillion in Improper Payments and Provide Anti-Fraud Recommendations", "2024-11-02", "2024", "2024-11", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Kweisi Mfume", "M000687", "mfume.house.gov", "mfume", "https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce Chairman Pete Sessions (R-Texas) and Ranking Member Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) are advancing bipartisan oversight to tackle improper payments and fraud in federal government programs. In a letter to the Comptroller General at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) Gene Dodaro, they request information on how federal agencies are identifying root causes of improper payments and implementing corrective actions and ask GAO to provide recommendations to help reduce improper payments across federal agencies.\n\n\"No matter what side of the political aisle you are on, we should all be able to agree that every single cent of taxpayer dollars that the federal government spends ought to be going to its intended purpose. Every dollar spent on improper payments jeopardizes our ability to better support programs that provide childcare, lower medical costs, strengthen our schools, and address all sorts of other social and human needs,\" said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. \"It is crucial to me that the Congress continues to provide oversight of this issue and invest in solutions,\u201d he concluded.\n\n\u201cThe Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce recently held its third hearing related to improper payments and fraud in the federal government. The goal of that hearing was to discuss agencies\u2019 progress preventing improper payments and fraud in the federal government\u2019s lifesaving programs,\u201d wrote the lawmakers. \u201cThe Subcommittee seeks to continuously evaluate whether agencies are getting better or worse at ensuring the levels of fraud seen during the pandemic will 'never happen again.' Unfortunately, because of limited or unreliable information maintained by federal agencies, the Subcommittee has been unable to adequately assess agencies\u2019 progress.\u201d\n\nThe Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce recently held a hearing where the GAO highlighted improper payments and fraud across government, totaling $2.7 trillion in improper payments since 2003. Witness testimonies at prior hearings made clear that continuing to do the same things to address improper payments is not fully addressing a long-term problem. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has identified a list of high priority programs, which are those with the highest dollar value or rate of improper payments or those with the highest risk of improper payments.\n\n\u201cFederal law requires [high priority] programs report information such as the root causes of their improper payments, mitigation strategies, and corrective action measures. However, the amount of improper payments within these programs continues to grow,\u201d continued the lawmakers. \u201cWe ask that GAO regularly update Subcommittee staff on the progress of this review and provide periodic briefings on known practices that have helped prevent improper payments and fraud.\"\n\nRead the letter to Comptroller Dodaro here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:07:06Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyer-statement-october-jobs-report-0", "Hoyer Statement on October Jobs Report", "2024-11-01", "2024", "2024-11", "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 on the October jobs report:\n\n\"Today's jobs report continues the record breaking streak of job growth since President Biden and Vice President Harris took office. With jobs added in every month, 16.1 million more Americans are working today than in January of 2021. In a single term, more jobs than have been added under this administration than any other in American history. Additionally, unemployment remains near its lowest point in half a century while wages continue to rise as inflation comes down. Earlier this week, we also learned that the U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 2.8% last quarter. So much for Republicans' years-long doomsaying about an imminent recession.\n\n\"Four years ago, America was struggling through perhaps the greatest economic and public health catastrophe in generations. Our economy had hemorrhaged millions of jobs, including 243,000 lost in December of 2020, the last full month of the prior administration. Small businesses were going under on every corner in America. Thousands of Americans were dying every day, and tens of millions of others were struggling to make ends meet. The prior administration's mismanaged response made a terrible situation even worse.\n\n\"Four years later, our economy has made a historic recovery and avoided a devastating recession. Today, our ability to bounce back is the envy of the world. That is no accident. It didn't happen on its own. Our economy isn't perfect, but it is far better off than it would have been without Democrats' transformative Investing in America Agenda. Because of the actions we took, the American economy is stronger and more fair. It will remain so if we continue Investing in America and putting People Over Politics.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:07:06Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyer-cardin-van-hollen-ruppersberger-announce-over-75-million-carroll-county", "Hoyer, Cardin, Van Hollen, Ruppersberger Announce Over $7.5 Million for Carroll County Regional, Tipton, and Martin State Airports", "2024-10-31", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny H. Hoyer", "H000874", "hoyer.house.gov", "hoyer", "https://hoyer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congressman Steny Hoyer (MD-05), U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02) recently announced $7,556,842 in U.S. Department of Transportation awards to Carroll County Regional, Tipton, and Martin State Airports for upgrades to modernize their facilities and improve passenger comfort.\n\n\u201cPresident Biden and Vice President Harris\u2019 Investing in America agenda continues to deliver for Maryland\u2019s airports and boost our economic competitiveness,\u201d said Congressman Hoyer. \u201cAs Chair of the Regional Leadership Council, I have worked with House Democrats and top officials in the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure that every community in America can see and feel the impact of the historic laws that Democrats passed in the 117th Congress. I was pleased to work with Team Maryland to secure these Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds for Carroll County Regional Airport, Martin State Airport, and Tipton Airport, which will create good jobs and provide a more reliable air travel experience. Together, we will continue to lower costs, create jobs, and ensure our state's economy works for all Marylanders.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe landmark infrastructure law enacted by President Biden in 2021 continues to invest in Maryland,\u201d said Senator Cardin. \u201cIt recognized that our airports, both large and small, have aging and outdated facilities that require upgrades to meet the changing demands on our aviation system and keep it safe and competitive.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur local airports are important transportation hubs that support our state\u2019s economy, ensuring that travelers and goods get where they need to go. We fought for these investments to support the Carroll County Regional, Tipton, and Martin State airports in serving the growing needs of Maryland\u2019s businesses, residents, and visitors,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cThe bipartisan infrastructure law continues to reap rewards for Maryland and Marylanders including this funding for local airports, which provide a critical connection to communities and economies throughout the region,\u201d said Congressman Ruppersberger. \u201cThis is a strategic investment that will make our airports safer, more comfortable and convenient. I look forward to even more upgrades to our nation\u2019s aging transportation infrastructure to come.\u201d\n\nThe funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s Airport Improvement Program and Airport Terminal Program.\n\nThe federal grants have been awarded as follows:\n\n$3,612,000. Carroll County Regional Airport: To remove a building and relocate fencing identified as obstructions by the FAA.\n\n$2,944,842, Tipton Airport: To construct a 6,000 square-foot terminal to accommodate the movement of passengers and baggage.\n\n$1,000,000, Martin State Airport: To fund the funds the construction of a new Airport Traffic Control Tower, replacing the 82-year-old sponsor-owned tower that has reached the end of its useful life.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyer-remarks-piscataway-bioenergy-facility-grand-opening-maryland", "Hoyer Remarks at the Piscataway Bioenergy Facility Grand Opening in Maryland", "2024-10-31", "2024", "2024-10", "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) joined Congressman Glenn Ivey (MD-06), Maryland Secretary of the Environment Serena McIlwain, Prince George\u2019s County Council Member Sydney Harrison, Montgomery County Council Member Will Jawando, and local leaders at the grand opening of WSSC Water Company's Piscataway Bioenergy Facility in Accokeek, Maryland. This project was made possible in part by Biden-Harris Administration\u2019s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Below are excerpts of his remarks:\n\n\"We had a pandemic not too long ago. It hit us right between the eyes and cost us a million citizens. And one of things was when the pandemic hit, we found out was that we were reliant on an awful lot of people overseas to produce masks. We didn\u2019t have enough masks to protect our people. And why do I say this? Because in the last Congress \u2013 not this Congress, which has been the least effective Congress in which I\u2019ve served since 1981. But having said that, the last Congress, the 117th was one of the most productive Congresses - with the relevance of this today. We enacted four bills that were investing in America, were building America, creating jobs in America, and we invested a lot in science. We invested a lot in the environment. We invested in making sure America was all that it could be.\"\n\n\"But in the infrastructure bill, normally you think of roads, bridges, highways, airports, seaports, et cetera et cetera, we also invested in something that we knew was critical and had been a failure of infrastructure. Flint, everybody heard of Flint, Michigan? Kids died because the water in Flint, Michigan, was not clean and it made them sick. And so we knew that infrastructure was more than just roads and transportation facilities, et cetera et cetera. It was also clean water, clean pipes.\"\n\n\"And then in the investment \u2013 in the IRA \u2013 we invested a lot of money in climate. And in the science bill, we put the largest investment in science in the history of the world. America will be better in the next decade, and the decade thereafter and the decade thereafter because of those investments in those four bills.\"\n\n\"It\u2019s a lot of money we\u2019ve sent throughout the country to make sure, that this country, in fact, is in the future and will be getting to, very quickly, hopefully certainly by 2050 \u2013 a green environment. Why do we want to get there? Because it is critically important for the wellbeing of every one of our people. Over 300 million strong. And it\u2019s also very important for the world because if America is clean, then the world will be clean. Because we produce a lot of pollution in this world. China does as well. The largest country, India, does as well. The largest countries. And it is incumbent upon us to do not only for our own citizens but for the global community. That\u2019s why this event is so, very important.\"\n\n\"Not only does it take a product that was waste product, that was causing us a problem, it turns that problem into an asset. And I\u2019m so glad to be here with all of you. I want everybody for the WSSC to stand up and be recognized.\"\n\n\"Thank you. Thank you all very much. Because all of the talk, all of the money, all of the activity that the rest of us do empowers you to do things but it would not happen without you. The end would not happen. The objective of our work, our legislation, our money, whether it\u2019s at the federal, state, or local level, would not make a difference if it was not for all of you who stood up. And who, every day, turn that money into product. Turn that money into advantage. Turn that money into a positive result for our community.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-kaine-shaheen-express-concern-about-violence-in-lebanon-and-push-for-de-escalation", "Van Hollen, Kaine, Shaheen, Express Concern About Violence in Lebanon and Push for De-Escalation", "2024-10-31", "2024", "2024-10", "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.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed concern about Israeli military actions that resulted in the deaths of members of the U.S.-supported Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), and reiterated the need for de-escalation in the Middle East. In a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, the senators request additional information related to recent reports regarding incidents of the Israeli Defense Forces killing LAF members, U.S. weapons transfers to the region, and U.S. engagement with partners in the region to protect LAF members and civilians.\n\n\u201cWe write to express our serious concern about recent reports that Israeli military actions in Lebanon have, on multiple occasions, resulted in the deaths of Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) members,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cWe have all stood firm for Israel\u2019s ability to defend itself from external threats posed by Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. But the United States has also made a commitment to the people of Lebanon to provide humanitarian assistance and continue to support the LAF.\u201d\n\nThe senators continued, \u201cReports that Israel is harming LAF forces in its war against Hezbollah run contrary to the U.S. interest in de-escalating violence in the region. Actions that destabilize the one institution in Lebanon that can be a bridge to a more peaceful future are also contrary to Israel\u2019s security interests.\u201d\n\nEarlier this month, Kaine, Shaheen, Van Hollen, and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) expressed concern about the escalation of violence in Lebanon, including the deaths and displacement of civilians and attacks on United Nations peacekeepers.\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below:\n\nDear Secretaries Blinken and Austin:\n\nWe write to express our serious concern about recent reports that Israeli military actions in Lebanon have, on multiple occasions, resulted in the deaths of Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) members. The most recent incident, caused by an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) airstrike on October 20, reportedly killed three LAF soldiers evacuating wounded Lebanese citizens.\n\nWe have all stood firm for Israel\u2019s ability to defend itself from external threats posed by Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. But the United States has also made a commitment to the people of Lebanon to provide humanitarian assistance and continue to support the LAF. The LAF remains a key sovereign institution within Lebanon and is critical to promoting stability amidst ongoing crises. Reports that Israel is harming LAF forces in its war against Hezbollah run contrary to the U.S. interest in de-escalating violence in the region. Actions that destabilize the one institution in Lebanon that can be a bridge to a more peaceful future are also contrary to Israel\u2019s security interests.\n\nWe ask for you to brief us, by letter or in person, on this critical matter. Specifically:\n\nWhat is your assessment of LAF casualties as a result of IDF military operations? To your knowledge, in what instances were the LAF personnel IDF targets versus killed in action?\n\nIf the personnel were IDF targets, do you see any operational justification for targeting the LAF?\n\nHas Israel communicated their use of U.S.-supplied arms or equipment in these operations?\n\nWhat communication has the U.S. had with Israeli officials to strongly protest against actions leading to LAF casualties?\n\nHas Israel made any commitment to focus its efforts against Hezbollah so as to protect LAF troops, Lebanese citizens and international aid workers?\n\nThank you for your time and attention to this critical request.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyer-joins-president-biden-team-maryland-celebrate-147-million-clean-energy", "Hoyer Joins President Biden, Team Maryland to Celebrate $147 Million Clean Energy Investment in the Port of Baltimore", "2024-10-30", "2024", "2024-10", "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) joined President Joseph R. Biden, Governor Wes Moore, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (all D-MD), Congressman Kweisi Mfume, Congressman John Sarbanes, Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger (all D-MD), Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld, and Maryland Port Administration Executive Director Jonathan Daniels at the Port of Baltimore to celebrate more than $147 million in federal funding to create good-paying, clean jobs and to expedite decarbonization and electrification efforts at the Port. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded the funding to the Port of Baltimore through its Clean Ports Program, created under the Biden-Harris Administration's Inflation Reduction Act.\n\n\u201cThe Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America agenda continues to leave no community behind and promote clean air and water in communities that have long borne the brunt of pollution,\" said Congressman Steny Hoyer. \"Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act that I brought to the House Floor as Majority Leader last Congress, the Port of Baltimore is getting the tools it needs to upgrade its equipment, improve electric charging infrastructure, and fight the climate crisis in a way that benefits Marylanders across the state. As Chair of the Regional Leadership Council, I appreciate Administrator Regan and the Biden-Harris Administration's partnership as we continue to ensure the historic investments Democrats passed last Congress reach every community in America. We must continue to work together to strengthen the Port of Baltimore and ensure environmental justice for all Marylanders.\u201d\n\nThe Port of Baltimore generates about 20,300 direct jobs, with more than 273,000 jobs overall linked to port activities. The funding will enable the Maryland Port Administration and its private partners to purchase 213 pieces of new zero-emission vehicles, equipment, and charging infrastructure that will replace old, inefficient, and polluting diesel combustion engines. The funding will also pay for capacity upgrades to the port\u2019s electrical grid, which will help significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions with an estimated 35% decrease in carbon dioxide equivalency compared to 2020 levels.\n\n\"In Maryland, we aren't going to choose between building a competitive state and a sustainable one -\u2014 we will do both at the same time,\" said Gov. Moore. \"In partnership with the Biden-Harris Administration, we are investing in the Port of Baltimore and electrifying the way to a greener, cleaner, and healthier future with a strong economy and good-paying jobs.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Port of Baltimore is a vital economic engine for the state and a leader among the nation\u2019s ports. As we work to improve the port, it is essential that we build for the future. The projects supported by the Clean Ports Program will help reduce emissions, improve air quality in the Baltimore region and create more clean energy jobs,\u201d said U.S. Senator Ben Cardin. \u201cThe Biden-Harris Administration\u2019s bold investments in modernizing our infrastructure are driving our economy forward while enabling us to take on climate change in a meaningful way.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe fought to pass the Inflation Reduction Act to create good-paying jobs in our communities while tackling the climate crisis head-on, and today\u2019s announcement shows these investments are being put to work,\u201d said U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen. \u201cThis new federal funding will support the Port of Baltimore\u2019s transition to electric infrastructure as part of its plans to reduce emissions \u2013 both bolstering the port's growth and improving air quality for nearby communities. These efforts will help strengthen Baltimore\u2019s economy and create more local jobs for Marylanders.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe tremendous projects selected for these federal funding awards will improve air quality and combat climate change by dramatically diminishing the Port of Baltimore's greenhouse gas and toxic pollutant emissions via installation of zero-emission cargo handling equipment and trucks, while also bolstering the Maryland Port Administration\u2019s overall emissions reduction strategy. These extraordinary federal investments into our port are consistent with our collective duty to preserve the planet \u2013 while also continuing to uplift the Port of Baltimore\u2019s workforce and surrounding communities in the transition to a zero-emissions facility,\u201d said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. \u201cAs exemplified by this compelling announcement, the historic Inflation Reduction Act continues to tackle the climate crisis with fierce urgency right here in Baltimore.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Port of Baltimore is a critical hub for Maryland and our nation as a whole, supporting good-paying jobs, driving economic growth and keeping goods and resources moving. This investment will improve the health of our region\u2019s environment and provide cleaner air for port workers and nearby communities \u2013 all while ensuring that the Port remains a thriving center of commerce for generations to come,\u201d said Congressman John Sarbanes. \u201cI appreciate the Biden-Harris Administration for its continued partnership to enhance clean energy and improve infrastructure in Maryland, and for its tireless efforts to advance environmental justice and create a greener, more sustainable future across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis critical investment into the Port of Baltimore will not only keep us globally competitive, but will help mitigate pollution driving climate change,\u201d said Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger. \u201cThe Port of Baltimore has always been at the forefront of efficiency and productivity and now we are leading the nation environmentally. I am proud to have supported this funding request and thank the Biden Administration for this strategic and responsible use of tax dollars.\u201d\n\nFederal grant funding will also support community engagement with neighborhoods such as Turner Station, Brooklyn, and Curtis Bay.\n\n\u201cThese improvements will provide an immediate impact to the people who live and work around the Port of Baltimore and who have borne the brunt of transportation-related health impacts,\u201d said Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld. \u201cThanks to the EPA\u2019s grants, the Port of Baltimore and its partners are accelerating their collective efforts to support Maryland\u2019s climate goals of reaching net zero by 2045.\u201d\n\nToday\u2019s announcement builds on the Biden Administration\u2019s championship of the Port of Baltimore and the State of Maryland\u2019s infrastructure needs, which includes the recent $30.9 million Infrastructure for Rebuilding America award for Dundalk Marine Terminal Reconstruction of Berth 11 and the $7.5 million award for Curtis Creek Drawbridge Rehabilitation and Resiliency projects. The projects directly advance the federal government and State of Maryland\u2019s partnership to recover and rebuild after the DALI struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge.\n\n\u201cThe Maryland Port Administration is committed to integrating our overall mission of increasing cargo and generating jobs through the Port of Baltimore with forward-looking environmental and sustainability solutions,\u201d said Maryland Port Administration Executive Director Jonathan Daniels. \u201cOur customers and port partners are driven to change the way they do business to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, decarbonize, increase electrification throughout our marine terminals, and, most importantly, positively impact our near-port environmental justice communities.\u201d\n\nTo learn more about the clean port project and its benefits, read the Port of Baltimore\u2019s grant proposal.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-cardin-hoyer-ruppersberger-announce-over-75-million-for-carroll-county-regional-tipton-and-martin-state-airports", "Van Hollen, Cardin Hoyer, Ruppersberger Announce Over $7.5 Million for Carroll County Regional, Tipton, and Martin State Airports", "2024-10-30", "2024", "2024-10", "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 and Ben Cardin, Congressmen Steny Hoyer and Dutch Ruppersberger (all D-Md.), today announced $7,556,842 in U.S. Department of Transportation awards to Carroll County Regional, Tipton and Martin State Airports for necessary upgrades to modernize their facilities and improve passenger comfort.\n\n\u201cOur local airports are important transportation hubs that support our state\u2019s economy, ensuring that travelers and goods get where they need to go. We fought for these investments to support the Carroll County Regional, Tipton, and Martin State airports in serving the growing needs of Maryland\u2019s businesses, residents, and visitors,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cThe landmark infrastructure law enacted by President Biden in 2021 continues to invest in Maryland,\u201d said Senator Cardin. \u201cIt recognized that our airports, both large and small, have aging and outdated facilities that require upgrades to meet the changing demands on our aviation system and keep it safe and competitive.\u201d\n\n\u201cPresident Biden and Vice President Harris\u2019 Investing in America agenda continues to deliver for Maryland\u2019s airports and boost our economic competitiveness,\u201d said Congressman Hoyer. \u201cAs Chair of the Regional Leadership Council, I have worked with House Democrats and top officials in the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure that every community in America can see and feel the impact of the historic laws that Democrats passed in the 117th Congress. I was pleased to work with Team Maryland to secure these Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds for Carroll County Regional Airport, Martin State Airport, and Tipton Airport, which will create good jobs and provide a more reliable air travel experience. Together, we will continue to lower costs, create jobs, and ensure our state's economy works for all Marylanders.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe bipartisan infrastructure law continues to reap rewards for Maryland and Marylanders including this funding for local airports, which provide a critical connection to communities and economies throughout the region,\u201d said Congressman Ruppersberger. \u201cThis is a strategic investment that will make our airports safer, more comfortable and convenient. I look forward to even more upgrades to our nation\u2019s aging transportation infrastructure to come.\u201d\n\nThe funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s Airport Improvement Program and Airport Terminal Program.\n\nThe federal grants have been awarded as follows:\n\n$3,612,000. Carroll County Regional Airport: To remove a building and relocate fencing identified as obstructions by the FAA.\n\n$2,944,842, Tipton Airport: To construct a 6,000 square-foot terminal to accommodate the movement of passengers and baggage.\n\n$1,000,000, Martin State Airport: To fund the funds the construction of a new Airport Traffic Control Tower, replacing the 82-year-old sponsor-owned tower that has reached the end of its useful life.\n\nThe Airport Improvement Program funds various types of airport infrastructure projects across the country, including repairs and upgrades to runways, taxiways, airport signage, lighting and markings \u2013 all while creating thousands of good-paying, local jobs. The members have consistently fought to provide funds for airports and terminal operators, including through the fiscal year 2024 appropriations process, which makes $3.35 billion available from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund and an additional $532 million from the general fund for AIP projects.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-cardin-trone-announce-77-million-for-airport-infrastructure-projects-in-western-maryland", "Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone Announce $7.7 Million for Airport Infrastructure Projects in Western Maryland", "2024-10-30", "2024", "2024-10", "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 Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $7,705,850 in federal funding for infrastructure and expansion projects at the Hagerstown Regional Airport and Garrett County Airport. The funding, provided through the Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration\u2019s (FAA) Airport Improvement Program and Airport Terminal Program, will increase the airports\u2019 capacities to meet operational needs and safety standards.\n\n\u201cHagerstown Regional and Garrett County airports help connect Western Maryland with greater economic opportunity. We fought for these investments to provide both airports with resources to continue to serving Maryland\u2019s businesses, residents, and visitors in the years to come,\u201d said the lawmakers.\n\nThe federal grants have been awarded as follows:\n\n$6,786,262 to Hagerstown Regional Airport to remove a building and relocate fencing identified as obstructions by the FAA and to renovate and expand the existing terminal building to accommodate existing and projected airline passenger demand\n\n$919,588 to Garrett County Airport to rehabilitate 7,300 square yards of the existing Terminal Apron pavement\n\nThe Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds various types of airport infrastructure projects across the country, including repairs and upgrades to runways, taxiways, airport signage, lighting and markings \u2013 all while creating thousands of good-paying, local jobs. The members have consistently fought to provide funds for airports and terminal operators, including through the fiscal year 2024 appropriations process, which makes $3.35 billion available from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund and an additional $532 million from the general fund for AIP projects.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases/bipartisan-push-maryland-virginia-lawmakers-call-president-address-venezuelan", "In Bipartisan Push, Maryland, Virginia Lawmakers Call on President to Address Venezuelan Crab Imports", "2024-10-28", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Glenn Ivey", "I000058", "ivey.house.gov", "ivey", "https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen, Ben Cardin (both D-Md.), Mark Warner, and Tim Kaine (both D-Va.) along with U.S. Representatives Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.), John Sarbanes (D-Md.), Rob Wittman (R-Va.), Andy Harris (R-Md.), Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), David Trone (D-Md.), and Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) wrote to President Joe Biden outlining their concerns with the recent surge of crabmeat imports from Venezuela and its impact on the Chesapeake Bay region\u2019s seafood economy as well as public health. In their letter, the lawmakers urge the President to launch an investigation through the International Trade Commission into the harm that these imports pose to our domestic seafood industry, and press the Administration to encourage a fairer seafood trade relationship.\n\n\u201cWe write to express our significant concerns with the influx of crabmeat from Venezuela, which has threatened the viability of local fisheries across the Chesapeake Bay. Domestic seafood producers in Maryland and Virginia have experienced significant strain due to the influx of imported Venezuelan crabmeat, some of which is mislabeled and contaminated. In 2018, Venezuelan crabmeat mislabeled as originating from Maryland caused an outbreak of foodborne illnesses, resulting in multiple hospitalizations,\u201d the lawmakers began.\n\nHighlighting the economic damage caused by Venezuelan imports, they wrote, \u201cSince then, the supply of imported crabmeat has increased, threatening the future livelihood of domestic industry and creating the conditions for a 62 percent decrease in the domestic supply. This has harmed crab fishing industries throughout the Chesapeake Bay, which produces 50 percent of the United States\u2019 total blue crab harvest, a proportion that is now diminishing year over year. There are now fewer than 20 Maryland crab picking and seafood processing companies, down from 53 in 1995.\u201d\n\nThey go on to urge the President to:\n\nDirect the United States International Trade Commission to conduct an investigation, per Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974, looking into the harm caused by Venezuelan crabmeat imports and recommending remedies.\n\nUse the full array of informal actions available to you to address this trade issue, including through negotiations, utilization of World Trade Organization Committees, bilateral dialogues, and other activities.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear President Biden:\n\nWe write to express our significant concerns with the influx of crabmeat from Venezuela, which has threatened the viability of local fisheries across the Chesapeake Bay. Domestic seafood producers in Maryland and Virginia have experienced significant strain due to the influx of imported Venezuelan crabmeat, some of which is mislabeled and contaminated. In 2018, Venezuelan crabmeat mislabeled as originating from Maryland caused an outbreak of foodborne illnesses, resulting in multiple hospitalizations. Since then, the supply of imported crabmeat has increased, threatening the future livelihood of domestic industry and creating the conditions for a 62 percent decrease in the domestic supply. This has harmed crab fishing industries throughout the Chesapeake Bay, which produces 50 percent of the United States\u2019 total blue crab harvest, a proportion that is now diminishing year over year. There are now fewer than 20 Maryland crab picking and seafood processing companies, down from 53 in 1995.\n\nChesapeake Bay crab fisheries and processors follow a strict set of regulations to ensure that the Bay remains one of the most sustainable crab fisheries in the world, that the blue crabs harvested there are of the highest quality, and that the industry does no harm to other species. Foreign competitors often confront little or no such regulation. Not only does this imbalance put local fisheries and seafood businesses at a steep disadvantage, it can also put consumers at increased risk. Consumers are often misled about what they are eating, and sometimes even made sick, as was the case when imported Venezuelan crabmeat was linked with multiple cases of Vibrio parahaemolyticus infections.\n\nWe urge your Administration to use all of the tools at its disposal to remedy this unsustainable situation. Specifically, we urge you to:\n\nDirect the United States International Trade Commission to conduct an investigation, per Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974, looking into the harm caused by Venezuelan crabmeat imports and recommending remedies.\n\nUse the full array of informal actions available to you to address this trade issue, including through negotiations, utilization of World Trade Organization Committees, bilateral dialogues, and other activities.\n\nThe Chesapeake Bay crab industry has faced numerous challenges, and the region has worked hard to preserve the blue crab population over the years. This industry carries unique cultural importance for the broader Mid-Atlantic region, enriching and enhancing the regional culinary landscape. Without the federal government stepping in to protect American manufacturers from unfair competition, they might not make it through this crisis. If they do not, Maryland, Virginia, and the country, will be all the poorer for it.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-statement-on-knesset-move-to-effectively-ban-unrwa-operations", "Van Hollen Statement on Knesset Move to Effectively Ban UNRWA Operations", "2024-10-28", "2024", "2024-10", "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.) released the following statement regarding the Knesset\u2019s votes to effectively ban UNRWA operations:\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s move by the Knesset will undermine the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Palestinians at a time when millions of civilians are living in a full-blown humanitarian crisis and are on the brink of starvation. UNRWA plays a critical role in supporting civilians in Gaza as well as the West Bank and elsewhere in the region, and as countless international organizations have attested to, its efforts cannot simply be replicated or replaced quickly. Once again, the Netanyahu Government and its allies are throwing up insurmountable roadblocks to providing for the basic rights and needs of Palestinian civilians. And once again the Netanyahu Government continues to ignore urging by the United States and the international community, who have repeatedly expressed concern over this proposal, given its ramifications on humanitarian assistance and its interference with Israel\u2019s obligations under international law. The Biden Administration must wholly condemn this move, and beyond that \u2013 it must put words into action when it comes to enforcing its demands that Israel facilitate immediate humanitarian relief to civilians in Gaza.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyer-statement-israels-retaliatory-strike-against-iran", "Hoyer Statement on Israel's Retaliatory Strike Against Iran", "2024-10-26", "2024", "2024-10", "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 regarding Israel's retaliatory, targeted strike on Iran:\n\n\"The United States continues to stand with Israel as it exercises its absolute right to defend itself and its people. Israel's recent precise strikes on military targets in Iran are an appropriate and direct response to Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel earlier this month with nearly 200 ballistic missiles.\n\n\"From attacking Israel to supporting Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and other terrorist proxies, Iran continues its genocidal mission to destroy the State of Israel. No nation in the world would be expected to sit idly by in the face of these existential threats, and neither should Israel. America will not yield in its support for Israel as it counters Iran's decades-long campaign of terror and destruction.\n\n\"Iran and its proxies must stop further violence. If they don't, the State of Israel can and must take necessary action to protect its people and its own existence.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/mfume-cardin-van-hollen-react-to-federal-government-s-initial-1019-million-settlement-with-dali-owner-operator", "Mfume, Cardin, Van Hollen React to Federal Government\u2019s Initial $101.9 Million Settlement with Dali Owner, Operator", "2024-10-25", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Kweisi Mfume", "M000687", "mfume.house.gov", "mfume", "https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Congressman Kweisi Mfume, Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (all D-Md.), released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Justice\u2019s (DOJ) $101,980,000 settlement with the owner and operator of the Dali, the vessel that destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The settlement, according to DOJ, will cover federal costs incurred to restore access to the Port of Baltimore.\n\n\u201cThe catastrophic loss of the Francis Scott Key Bridge required a massive and coordinated response from all levels of government and the private sector. Those efforts removed about 50,000 tons of debris from the Patapsco River and cleared the shipping channel faster than anyone predicted. The initial settlement that the U.S. Justice Department reached for cleanup costs is an important step in holding accountable the owner and operator of the Dali, the ship that caused this disaster,\u201d said the lawmakers. \u201cThe federal government has properly stepped up to underwrite urgent and essential needs with an expectation that the appropriate parties will be held financially responsible for their actions. Congress should now act quickly to pass the Baltimore BRIDGE Relief Act, which will ensure full federal backing of the bridge replacement costs, while the Justice Department, State of Maryland and other stakeholders keep up their work to reimburse the taxpayers to the fullest extent possible and provide justice for the families of those we lost.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-cardin-mfume-react-to-federal-governments-initial-1019-million-settlement-with-dali-owner-operator", "Van Hollen, Cardin, Mfume React to Federal Government\u2019s Initial $101.9 Million Settlement with Dali Owner, Operator", "2024-10-25", "2024", "2024-10", "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 and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Justice\u2019s (DOJ) $101,980,000 settlement with the owner and operator of the Dali, the vessel that destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The settlement, according to DOJ, will cover federal costs incurred to restore access to the Port of Baltimore.\n\n\u201cThe catastrophic loss of the Francis Scott Key Bridge required a massive and coordinated response from all levels of government and the private sector. Those efforts removed about 50,000 tons of debris from the Patapsco River and cleared the shipping channel faster than anyone predicted. The initial settlement that the U.S. Justice Department reached for cleanup costs is an important step in holding accountable the owner and operator of the Dali, the ship that caused this disaster,\u201d said the lawmakers. \u201cThe federal government has properly stepped up to underwrite urgent and essential needs with an expectation that the appropriate parties will be held financially responsible for their actions. Congress should now act quickly to pass the Baltimore BRIDGE Relief Act, which will ensure full federal backing of the bridge replacement costs, while the Justice Department, State of Maryland and other stakeholders keep up their work to reimburse the taxpayers to the fullest extent possible and provide justice for the families of those we lost.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-king-rounds-in-seeking-maximum-h-2b-work-visas-to-support-small-businesses-in-2025", "Van Hollen Joins King, Rounds in Seeking Maximum H-2B Work Visas to Support Small Businesses in 2025", "2024-10-24", "2024", "2024-10", "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 joined Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), alongside a bipartisan group of their colleagues, in writting to the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to release the maximum allowable number of additional H-2B visas for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025.\n\nH-2B visas fill needs for American small businesses when there are not enough able and willing American workers to fill the temporary, seasonal positions. As required by law, employers must first make a concerted effort to hire American workers to fill open positions; when the local workforce is insufficient, H-2Bs are seen as a necessary tool to support local economies. With Maine continuing to see a shortage of seasonal and temporary employees, these special visas provide a lifeline for the economy and ensure small businesses can meet the demand for their products and services.\n\n\u201cMany employers turn to the H-2B program to meet their workforce needs to not only sustain their businesses, but also support their American workers. The H-2B program places requirements on employers to recruit U.S. workers, who are intentionally prioritized by the program and also receive demonstrated, positive impacts from their seasonal colleagues. In fact, a 2020 Government Accountability Office report concluded that \u2018counties with H-2B employers generally had lower unemployment rates and higher average weekly wages than counties that do not have any H-2B employers,\u2019\u201d wrote the senators.\n\n\u201cThe most current employment data illustrates the workforce struggles of seasonal businesses nationwide. The Department of Labor\u2019s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Surveys (JOLTS) show the rate of job openings have increased year over year for the industries that represent the top five H-2B occupations. As you know, the FY 2025 H-2B first half fiscal year cap was met on September 18, 2024\u2014roughly three weeks earlier than the cap was met in FY 2024. The result is that seasonal employers whose peak seasons are in late fall and winter are capped out before their period of seasonal need begins. Absent cap relief, these employers will be unable to receive temporary, U.S. government-vetted guest workers,\u201d continued the senators.\n\nThe letter was also signed by Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), John Cornyn (R-Teas.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Fetterman (D-Penn.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), George Helmy (D-N.J.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Joe Manchin (I-W.V.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Thune (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.)\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here or below.\n\nDear Secretaries Mayorkas and Su:\n\nWe write on behalf of seasonal businesses in our states\u2014including employers of housekeepers in tourist destinations, landscapers with defined seasons, seafood processors with short harvesting windows, and fairs and carnivals\u2014who are struggling to hire a sufficient number of temporary, seasonal laborers to support their operations.\n\nIn light of these labor shortages, we strongly urge the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of Labor (DOL), to utilize the authority provided by Congress in the FY2025 Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act to release the maximum allowable number of additional H-2B visas for Fiscal Year 2025, as you did for Fiscal Year 2024. These visas will help employers handle their labor challenges, and provide additional certainty regarding their workforce planning decisions in the coming months. We urge you to promptly publish a temporary rule implementing the release of these supplemental visas.\n\nMany employers turn to the H-2B program to meet their workforce needs to not only sustain their businesses, but also support their American workers. The H-2B program places requirements on employers to recruit U.S. workers, who are intentionally prioritized by the program and also receive demonstrated, positive impacts from their seasonal colleagues. In fact, a 2020 Government Accountability Office report concluded that \u201ccounties with H-2B employers generally had lower unemployment rates and higher average weekly wages than counties that do not have any H-2B employers.\u201d\n\nThe most current employment data illustrates the workforce struggles of seasonal businesses nationwide. The Department of Labor\u2019s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Surveys (JOLTS) show the rate of job openings have increased year over year for the industries that represent the top five H-2B occupations. As you know, the FY 2025 H-2B first half fiscal year cap was met on September 18, 2024\u2014roughly three weeks earlier than the cap was met in FY 2024. The result is that seasonal employers whose peak seasons are in late fall and winter are capped out before their period of seasonal need begins. Absent cap relief, these employers will be unable to receive temporary, U.S. government-vetted guest workers.\n\nCongress has acknowledged this seasonal labor shortage by providing DHS with the authority to lift the H-2B visa cap for each of the past eight fiscal years. Given the growing demand for H-2B workers as employers continue to struggle with staffing shortages, we encourage you to promptly promulgate a temporary final rule for FY 2025 along the same lines as the FY 2024 rule.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/in-bipartisan-push-congressman-mfume-maryland-virginia-lawmakers-call-on-president-to-address-venezuelan-crab-imports", "In Bipartisan Push, Congressman Mfume, Maryland, Virginia Lawmakers Call on President to Address Venezuelan Crab Imports", "2024-10-23", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Kweisi Mfume", "M000687", "mfume.house.gov", "mfume", "https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), Senators Chris Van Hollen, Ben Cardin (both D-Md.), Mark Warner, and Tim Kaine (both D-Va.) along with U.S. Representatives Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.), John Sarbanes (D-Md.), Rob Wittman (R-Va.), Andy Harris (R-Md.), , David Trone (D-Md.), and Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) wrote to President Joe Biden outlining their concerns with the recent surge of crabmeat imports from Venezuela and its impact on the Chesapeake Bay region\u2019s seafood economy as well as public health. In their letter, the lawmakers urge the President to launch an investigation through the International Trade Commission into the harm that these imports pose to our domestic seafood industry, and press the Administration to encourage a fairer seafood trade relationship.\n\n\u201cWe write to express our significant concerns with the influx of crabmeat from Venezuela, which has threatened the viability of local fisheries across the Chesapeake Bay. Domestic seafood producers in Maryland and Virginia have experienced significant strain due to the influx of imported Venezuelan crabmeat, some of which is mislabeled and contaminated. In 2018, Venezuelan crabmeat mislabeled as originating from Maryland caused an outbreak of foodborne illnesses, resulting in multiple hospitalizations,\u201d the lawmakers began.\n\nHighlighting the economic damage caused by Venezuelan imports, they wrote, \u201cSince then, the supply of imported crabmeat has increased, threatening the future livelihood of domestic industry and creating the conditions for a 62 percent decrease in the domestic supply. This has harmed crab fishing industries throughout the Chesapeake Bay, which produces 50 percent of the United States\u2019 total blue crab harvest, a proportion that is now diminishing year over year. There are now fewer than 20 Maryland crab picking and seafood processing companies, down from 53 in 1995.\u201d\n\nThey go on to urge the President to:\n\nDirect the United States International Trade Commission to conduct an investigation, per Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974, looking into the harm caused by Venezuelan crabmeat imports and recommending remedies.\n\nUse the full array of informal actions available to you to address this trade issue, including through negotiations, utilization of World Trade Organization Committees, bilateral dialogues, and other activities.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear President Biden:\n\nWe write to express our significant concerns with the influx of crabmeat from Venezuela, which has threatened the viability of local fisheries across the Chesapeake Bay. Domestic seafood producers in Maryland and Virginia have experienced significant strain due to the influx of imported Venezuelan crabmeat, some of which is mislabeled and contaminated. In 2018, Venezuelan crabmeat mislabeled as originating from Maryland caused an outbreak of foodborne illnesses, resulting in multiple hospitalizations. Since then, the supply of imported crabmeat has increased, threatening the future livelihood of domestic industry and creating the conditions for a 62 percent decrease in the domestic supply. This has harmed crab fishing industries throughout the Chesapeake Bay, which produces 50 percent of the United States\u2019 total blue crab harvest, a proportion that is now diminishing year over year. There are now fewer than 20 Maryland crab picking and seafood processing companies, down from 53 in 1995.\n\nChesapeake Bay crab fisheries and processors follow a strict set of regulations to ensure that the Bay remains one of the most sustainable crab fisheries in the world, that the blue crabs harvested there are of the highest quality, and that the industry does no harm to other species. Foreign competitors often confront little or no such regulation. Not only does this imbalance put local fisheries and seafood businesses at a steep disadvantage, it can also put consumers at increased risk. Consumers are often misled about what they are eating, and sometimes even made sick, as was the case when imported Venezuelan crabmeat was linked with multiple cases of Vibrio parahaemolyticus infections.\n\nWe urge your Administration to use all of the tools at its disposal to remedy this unsustainable situation. Specifically, we urge you to:\n\nDirect the United States International Trade Commission to conduct an investigation, per Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974, looking into the harm caused by Venezuelan crabmeat imports and recommending remedies.\n\nUse the full array of informal actions available to you to address this trade issue, including through negotiations, utilization of World Trade Organization Committees, bilateral dialogues, and other activities.\n\nThe Chesapeake Bay crab industry has faced numerous challenges, and the region has worked hard to preserve the blue crab population over the years. This industry carries unique cultural importance for the broader Mid-Atlantic region, enriching and enhancing the regional culinary landscape. Without the federal government stepping in to protect American manufacturers from unfair competition, they might not make it through this crisis. If they do not, Maryland, Virginia, and the country, will be all the poorer for it.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/in-bipartisan-push-maryland-virginia-lawmakers-call-on-president-to-address-venezuelan-crab-imports", "In Bipartisan Push, Maryland, Virginia Lawmakers Call on President to Address Venezuelan Crab Imports", "2024-10-23", "2024", "2024-10", "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, Ben Cardin (both D-Md.), Mark Warner, and Tim Kaine (both D-Va.) along with U.S. Representatives Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.), John Sarbanes (D-Md.), Rob Wittman (R-Va.), Andy Harris (R-Md.), Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), David Trone (D-Md.), and Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) wrote to President Joe Biden outlining their concerns with the recent surge of crabmeat imports from Venezuela and its impact on the Chesapeake Bay region\u2019s seafood economy as well as public health. In their letter, the lawmakers urge the President to launch an investigation through the International Trade Commission into the harm that these imports pose to our domestic seafood industry, and press the Administration to encourage a fairer seafood trade relationship.\n\n\u201cWe write to express our significant concerns with the influx of crabmeat from Venezuela, which has threatened the viability of local fisheries across the Chesapeake Bay. Domestic seafood producers in Maryland and Virginia have experienced significant strain due to the influx of imported Venezuelan crabmeat, some of which is mislabeled and contaminated. In 2018, Venezuelan crabmeat mislabeled as originating from Maryland caused an outbreak of foodborne illnesses, resulting in multiple hospitalizations,\u201d the lawmakers began.\n\nHighlighting the economic damage caused by Venezuelan imports, they wrote, \u201cSince then, the supply of imported crabmeat has increased, threatening the future livelihood of domestic industry and creating the conditions for a 62 percent decrease in the domestic supply. This has harmed crab fishing industries throughout the Chesapeake Bay, which produces 50 percent of the United States\u2019 total blue crab harvest, a proportion that is now diminishing year over year. There are now fewer than 20 Maryland crab picking and seafood processing companies, down from 53 in 1995.\u201d\n\nThey go on to urge the President to:\n\nDirect the United States International Trade Commission to conduct an investigation, per Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974, looking into the harm caused by Venezuelan crabmeat imports and recommending remedies.\n\nUse the full array of informal actions available to you to address this trade issue, including through negotiations, utilization of World Trade Organization Committees, bilateral dialogues, and other activities.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear President Biden:\n\nWe write to express our significant concerns with the influx of crabmeat from Venezuela, which has threatened the viability of local fisheries across the Chesapeake Bay. Domestic seafood producers in Maryland and Virginia have experienced significant strain due to the influx of imported Venezuelan crabmeat, some of which is mislabeled and contaminated. In 2018, Venezuelan crabmeat mislabeled as originating from Maryland caused an outbreak of foodborne illnesses, resulting in multiple hospitalizations. Since then, the supply of imported crabmeat has increased, threatening the future livelihood of domestic industry and creating the conditions for a 62 percent decrease in the domestic supply. This has harmed crab fishing industries throughout the Chesapeake Bay, which produces 50 percent of the United States\u2019 total blue crab harvest, a proportion that is now diminishing year over year. There are now fewer than 20 Maryland crab picking and seafood processing companies, down from 53 in 1995.\n\nChesapeake Bay crab fisheries and processors follow a strict set of regulations to ensure that the Bay remains one of the most sustainable crab fisheries in the world, that the blue crabs harvested there are of the highest quality, and that the industry does no harm to other species. Foreign competitors often confront little or no such regulation. Not only does this imbalance put local fisheries and seafood businesses at a steep disadvantage, it can also put consumers at increased risk. Consumers are often misled about what they are eating, and sometimes even made sick, as was the case when imported Venezuelan crabmeat was linked with multiple cases of Vibrio parahaemolyticus infections.\n\nWe urge your Administration to use all of the tools at its disposal to remedy this unsustainable situation. Specifically, we urge you to:\n\nDirect the United States International Trade Commission to conduct an investigation, per Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974, looking into the harm caused by Venezuelan crabmeat imports and recommending remedies.\n\nUse the full array of informal actions available to you to address this trade issue, including through negotiations, utilization of World Trade Organization Committees, bilateral dialogues, and other activities.\n\nThe Chesapeake Bay crab industry has faced numerous challenges, and the region has worked hard to preserve the blue crab population over the years. This industry carries unique cultural importance for the broader Mid-Atlantic region, enriching and enhancing the regional culinary landscape. Without the federal government stepping in to protect American manufacturers from unfair competition, they might not make it through this crisis. If they do not, Maryland, Virginia, and the country, will be all the poorer for it.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-harris-announces-upcoming-military-service-academy-nomination", "Congressman Harris Announces Upcoming Military Service Academy Nomination Deadline", "2024-10-22", "2024", "2024-10", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", "harris", "https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today the office of Congressman Andy Harris, M.D., announced the upcoming deadline for high school students interested in pursuing a Congressional nomination to submit their application to attend one of the nation's military service academies.\n\nTo be considered for a nomination, each applicant must submit a complete application before November 1, 2024. A complete application must include:\n\nOnline application\n\nThree Letters of Recommendations: One letter should be written by your High School Principal or Guidance Counselor. Other letters may be written by teachers, coaches, scout masters, clergy or community leaders who can accurately comment and attest to your character, abilities and potential success at a Military Academy. Letters should be sealed and submitted with the application packet.\n\nOfficial High School Transcript: Please include a copy of your Senior Class Schedule. Senior grades should be submitted as soon as they are available and will be accepted after the application deadline.\n\nPhotograph: 4x6 color photograph\n\nOfficial SAT/ACT Scores: Scores must be sent directly to Congressman Harris\u2019 Office by the testing service. The institution code for SAT scores is 5158 and the ACT scores code is 7443. You are encouraged to take the SAT or ACT exams \u201cearly and often\u201d in order to improve your academic competitiveness. Academies will accept the highest scores in each academic area (superscore), regardless of testing date.\n\nAny questions about this process can be emailed toMD01Academy@mail.house.gov. The subject line should read \u201c[first name] [last name] Academy Application Process.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases/van-hollen-cardin-ivey-highlight-115-million-direct-federal-investments-youth", "Van Hollen, Cardin, Ivey Highlight $1.15 Million in Direct Federal Investments for Youth Services and Restoration Projects in Prince George\u2019s County", "2024-10-22", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Glenn Ivey", "I000058", "ivey.house.gov", "ivey", "https://ivey.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Recently, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) were in Prince George\u2019s County to highlight $1,150,000 in direct federal investments they secured for youth services and environmental restoration projects in the community. The lawmakers fought for these investments in the federal funding bills passed and signed into law for Fiscal Year 2024.\n\n\u201cWe fought for these direct investments in Prince George\u2019s County with key goals in mind: building stronger communities and empowering our future leaders. Funding for the Laurel Boys & Girls Clubs will enable them to maintain safe spaces for after-school activities, and resources for restoring the Laurel Dam ruins will preserve the historic landmark that this City was built around while enhancing outdoor recreational opportunities. These are investments in the preservation of our local history and the wellbeing of Marylanders today and for generations to come,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cThe dam ruins at Laurel\u2019s Riverfront Park and the Laurel Boys and Girls Club are at the heart of the community and tell the city\u2019s origin story. These are stories that need to be told,\u201d said Senator Cardin. \u201cInvestment in these historic places preserves our history and culture while creating economic and educational opportunities for Laurel\u2019s residents,\u201d said Senator Cardin.\n\n\u201cInvesting in our communities begins with raising the quality of life for residents. Creating a beautiful, safe and environmentally friendly park space in the ruins of a dam along the Patuxent River gives people of Laurel and beyond a look into it\u2019s storied history as a mill town and its future with the walkable Riverfront Park. Keeping kids safe and promoting their wellbeing is a down payment on our leaders of tomorrow. Keeping one of the oldest boys and girls clubs in the region thriving gives a glimpse of that future. With the leadership of Maryland\u2019s federal delegation bringing these grant monies, Laurel\u2019s future is as bright as ever,\u201d said Congressman Glenn Ivey (MD-04).\n\nSenators Van Hollen, Senator Cardin and Congressman Ivey were joined by Laurel Council President James Kole to celebrate $850,000 in direct federal funding they secured to stabilize, protect, and restore the Dam Ruins at the City\u2019s Riverfront Park. The project involves renovating the observation deck, improving drainage to control erosion, and repairing signage around the dam.\n\n\u201cI am thankful and thrilled to receive this funding, which will help us preserve and enhance the Laurel Dam Ruins, an important piece of our town\u2019s history. This investment ensures that future generations can appreciate its significance while improving safety and access for our community. Our goal is to make the Ruins a destination place for all to enjoy,\u201d said City of Laurel Mayor Keith Sydnor.\n\nThe lawmakers then visited the Boys and Girls Club of Laurel to highlight $300,000 for renovations at the clubhouse. The funds will allow the Boys and Girls Club to continue providing after-school activities and a positive, safe learning environment for middle and high school students.\n\n\u201cWe are so thankful for the continued support and leadership by Senator Van Hollen, Senator Cardin, and Congressman Ivey. This federal funding will enable us to make some of the critical renovations to our center and continue providing the care and services that impact the lives of our community\u2019s children every day,\u201d said Adrian Rousseau, President of the Laurel Boys and Girls Club.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyer-receives-perfect-score-human-rights-campaigns-118th-congressional", "Hoyer Receives Perfect Score on Human Rights Campaign's 118th Congressional Scorecard", "2024-10-21", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny H. Hoyer", "H000874", "hoyer.house.gov", "hoyer", "https://hoyer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) awarded Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) a score of 100% on its 118th Congressional Scorecard.The biannual scorecard measures federal lawmakers\u2019 support for LGBTQ+ equality.\n\n\"Congress has a responsibility to stand against bigotry and discrimination and to promote inclusion and opportunity for LGBTQ+ Americans,\" Congressman Hoyer said. \"At a time when MAGA Republicans are working to undermine protections for the LGBTQ+ community \u2013 especially transgender Americans \u2013 it is vital that we support policies that reflect the American principles of equality and justice for all. I will continue to work with Democrats to advocate for LGBTQ+ Americans and their rights.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-team-maryland-announce-more-than-38-million-for-critical-transportation-port-infrastructure-projects-in-baltimore", "Congressman Mfume, Team Maryland Announce More Than $38 Million for Critical Transportation & Port Infrastructure Projects in Baltimore", "2024-10-21", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Kweisi Mfume", "M000687", "mfume.house.gov", "mfume", "https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Congressman Congressman Kweisi Mfume, Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, Governor Wes Moore (all D-Md.), and Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld today announced $38,406,076 in U.S. Department of Transportation awards to rehabilitate the Dundalk Marine Terminal and the Curtis Creek Drawbridge. This investment will improve vital infrastructure at and around the Port of Baltimore, which is critical to Maryland's economy.\n\n\u201cThis monumental federal investment is a transformative display of the continued unity among us in Team Maryland to deliver for all of those who have been personally affected by the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and continue to navigate the recovery alongside us. After speaking with so many of those impacted, I was and remain inspired by their grit, fierceness, and commitment to getting through this disaster together,\u201d said Congressman Kweisi Mfume.\n\n\u201cWith these grants, the federal government is recognizing that Baltimore is home to nationally significant supply chain infrastructure that is overdue for investment and improvement. We are seeing once again how the Biden-Harris Administration\u2019s historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is delivering for Maryland, and we will continue to push for federal commitments to our infrastructure, including the rebuilding of the Francis Scott Key Bridge,\u201d said Senator Cardin.\n\n\u201cThrough the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, we continue to deliver historic resources to upgrade everything from our transportation network to the Port of Baltimore. With these major federal investments, we are priming the Port for future growth \u2013 while sustaining the thousands of jobs it already supports \u2013 and modernizing an essential bridge for commuting and commerce. These efforts will help drive Baltimore\u2019s economic success and create more good paying jobs for Marylanders,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cThese two projects reinforce the Moore-Miller Administration\u2019s commitment to making Maryland more competitive by investing in our critical infrastructure, including our world-class Port of Baltimore,\u201d said Governor Moore. \u201cWe are grateful for the partnership from the Biden-Harris Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation and our Congressional delegation in supporting projects that will serve all Marylanders and help expand our growing economy.\u201d\n\n\u201cTogether, these federal grants will support increased economic growth at the Port of Baltimore and the greater Baltimore region,\u201d said Secretary Wiedefeld. \u201cThe funding will support critical rehabilitation efforts at the Dundalk Martine Terminal, the largest publicly owned terminal in the Port, and the Curtis Creek Drawbridge on I-695. Thank you to our federal delegation and partners for their continued commitment in rebuilding Baltimore's infrastructure better than before.\u201d\n\n\u201cThanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Biden-Harris administration is carrying out ambitious, complex transportation projects that will shape our country\u2019s infrastructure for generations to come,\u201d said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. \u201cWith this latest round of awards, dozens of major and much-needed projects \u2013 projects that are often difficult to fund through other means \u2013 are getting the long-awaited investment they need to move forward.\u201d\n\nThe funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s Infrastructure for Rebuilding America Grant Program (INFRA), which has administered historic levels of federal investments through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.\n\n$30,906,076, Dundalk Marine Terminal: Awarded to the Maryland Port Administration to reconstruct Berth 11, consisting of the rehabilitation and replacement of 597 linear feet of wharf deck including pilings, substructure, storm water drainage, utilities, and installation of new mooring bollards, cleats, pneumatic fenders, flood barriers, and tidal gates.\n\n$7,500,000, Curtis Creek Drawbridge Rehabilitation: Awarded to the Maryland Transportation Authority to rehabilitate parallel drawbridges over Curtis Creek on I-695. The project will replace portions of the reinforced concrete deck, perform repairs to the exposed steel superstructure and existing catwalks, remove and replace bridge parapets, traffic lights, and low-level lights, and install new electrical service systems, drainage systems, and pavement markings.\n\nThe Infrastructure for Rebuilding America Grant Program provides funding for multimodal freight and highway projects of national or regional significance to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of freight and people in and across rural and urban areas.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/team-maryland-announces-more-than-38-million-for-critical-transportation-and-port-infrastructure-projects-in-baltimore", "Team Maryland Announces More Than $38 Million for Critical Transportation & Port Infrastructure Projects in Baltimore", "2024-10-21", "2024", "2024-10", "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 and Ben Cardin, Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Governor Wes Moore (all D-Md.), and Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld today announced $38,406,076 in U.S. Department of Transportation awards to rehabilitate the Dundalk Marine Terminal and the Curtis Creek Drawbridge. This investment will improve vital infrastructure at and around the Port of Baltimore, which is critical to Maryland's economy.\n\n\u201cThrough the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, we continue to deliver historic resources to upgrade everything from our transportation network to the Port of Baltimore. With these major federal investments, we are priming the Port for future growth \u2013 while sustaining the thousands of jobs it already supports \u2013 and modernizing an essential bridge for commuting and commerce. These efforts will help drive Baltimore\u2019s economic success and create more good paying jobs for Marylanders,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cWith these grants, the federal government is recognizing that Baltimore is home to nationally significant supply chain infrastructure that is overdue for investment and improvement. We are seeing once again how the Biden-Harris Administration\u2019s historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is delivering for Maryland, and we will continue to push for federal commitments to our infrastructure, including the rebuilding of the Francis Scott Key Bridge,\u201d said Senator Cardin.\n\n\u201cThis monumental federal investment is a transformative display of the continued unity among us in Team Maryland to deliver for all of those who have been personally affected by the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and continue to navigate the recovery alongside us. After speaking with so many of those impacted, I was and remain inspired by their grit, fierceness, and commitment to getting through this disaster together,\u201d said Congressman Kweisi Mfume.\n\n\u201cThese two projects reinforce the Moore-Miller Administration\u2019s commitment to making Maryland more competitive by investing in our critical infrastructure, including our world-class Port of Baltimore,\u201d said Governor Moore. \u201cWe are grateful for the partnership from the Biden-Harris Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation and our Congressional delegation in supporting projects that will serve all Marylanders and help expand our growing economy.\u201d\n\n\u201cTogether, these federal grants will support increased economic growth at the Port of Baltimore and the greater Baltimore region,\u201d said Secretary Wiedefeld. \u201cThe funding will support critical rehabilitation efforts at the Dundalk Martine Terminal, the largest publicly owned terminal in the Port, and the Curtis Creek Drawbridge on I-695. Thank you to our federal delegation and partners for their continued commitment in rebuilding Baltimore's infrastructure better than before.\u201d\n\n\u201cThanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Biden-Harris administration is carrying out ambitious, complex transportation projects that will shape our country\u2019s infrastructure for generations to come,\u201d said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. \u201cWith this latest round of awards, dozens of major and much-needed projects \u2013 projects that are often difficult to fund through other means \u2013 are getting the long-awaited investment they need to move forward.\u201d\n\nThe funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s Infrastructure for Rebuilding America Grant Program (INFRA), which has administered historic levels of federal investments through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.\n\n$30,906,076, Dundalk Marine Terminal: Awarded to the Maryland Port Administration to reconstruct Berth 11, consisting of the rehabilitation and replacement of 597 linear feet of wharf deck including pilings, substructure, storm water drainage, utilities, and installation of new mooring bollards, cleats, pneumatic fenders, flood barriers, and tidal gates.\n\n$7,500,000, Curtis Creek Drawbridge Rehabilitation: Awarded to the Maryland Transportation Authority to rehabilitate parallel drawbridges over Curtis Creek on I-695. The project will replace portions of the reinforced concrete deck, perform repairs to the exposed steel superstructure and existing catwalks, remove and replace bridge parapets, traffic lights, and low-level lights, and install new electrical service systems, drainage systems, and pavement markings.\n\nThe Infrastructure for Rebuilding America Grant Program provides funding for multimodal freight and highway projects of national or regional significance to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of freight and people in and across rural and urban areas.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-shaheen-murphy-kaine-issue-statement-expressing-concern-about-the-escalation-of-violence-in-lebanon", "Van Hollen, Shaheen, Murphy, Kaine Issue Statement Expressing Concern About the Escalation of Violence in Lebanon", "2024-10-21", "2024", "2024-10", "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.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), all senior members of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following joint statement regarding the deteriorating situation in Lebanon:\n\n\u201cOver the past few weeks, there has been a concerning escalation of violence in Lebanon, which has resulted in the deaths of hundreds, the displacement of over one million civilians and unacceptable attacks on United Nations peacekeepers.\n\n\u201cThere is no question that Israel has a right to defend itself from terrorism on its northern border and that Hezbollah is a terrorist organization whose actions have led to Lebanese, American and Israeli deaths. By preventing the formation of a functioning government, Hezbollah has exacerbated an economic crisis and perpetuated the suffering of everyday Lebanese citizens. We also assert firmly that Iran must be stopped from supplying Hezbollah with resources and weapons, which is essential to securing peace on the border and ensuring that Israelis in the north can return safely to their homes.\n\n\u201cAt the same time, the Israel Defense Forces have an obligation to conduct their operations in a way that limits civilian harm and does not impede humanitarian access. We also strongly condemn the attacks against United Nations peacekeepers who operate in Lebanon under UN Security Council resolutions 1701 and 2749. Peacekeepers must be allowed to fulfill their mission of ensuring peace along the Blue Line.\n\n\u201cWe must work towards de-escalation and implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 in Lebanon while also urging all parties involved to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and hostage release deal. We must do all we can to prevent further civilian casualties, dangerous destabilization and expansion of this conflict into a full-out war.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://hoyer.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyer-statement-elimination-hamas-leader-yahya-sinwar", "Hoyer Statement on the Elimination of Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar", "2024-10-17", "2024", "2024-10", "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 after Israeli sources confirmed the elimination of Hamas's leader, Yahya Sinwar, by IDF soldiers:\n\n\"Hamas' genocidal leader, Yahya Sinwar, was the architect of the terrorist organization's brutal October 7 attack on the State of Israel. Today, he met justice for the crimes he committed that terrible day, for the continued captivity of the 101 hostages still held in Gaza, and for the terror campaign he waged against Israel for decades. Israelis, Palestinians, and the entire world are safer now that Sinwar is gone.\n\n\"Sinwar also brought suffering and devastation down upon Palestinian civilians in Gaza both before and after October 7. He and his terrorist organization cowardly used non-combatants as human shields, and Sinwar even described the loss of civilian life in Gaza as 'necessary sacrifices.' The time has come for Hamas to surrender, release the remaining hostages, and grant Palestinians the opportunity to choose a better future free from terrorists like Sinwar. All those involved in the negotiations ought to pressure Hamas to that end.\n\n\"No matter where they attack, terrorists must be found and forced to suffer the consequences for their actions. The United States will continue to support Israel in its mission to dismantle and permanently eliminate the terrorist organizations that threaten the Israeli people. That includes Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and other proxies Iran uses to advance its goal of destroying the State of Israel.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://raskin.house.gov/2024/10/raskin-van-hollen-mcclellan-and-beyer-lead-30-colleagues-in-urging-regional-power-grid-operator-to-lower-electricity-prices-and-improve-reliability-for-working-families", "Raskin, Van Hollen, McClellan, and Beyer Lead 30 Colleagues in Urging Regional Power Grid Operator to Lower Electricity Prices and Improve Reliability for Working Families", "2024-10-17", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Jamie Raskin", "R000606", "raskin.house.gov", "raskin", "https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Representatives Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) and Don Beyer (VA-08), and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) led 30 members of Congress in writing a letter calling on PJM Interconnection (PJM), the region\u2019s power grid operator, to swiftly improve the reliability of the electricity grid, deliver cheaper electricity prices, and address the biggest roadblocks to transitioning to renewable energy.\n\nIn their letter sent today to PJM\u2014the country\u2019s largest electricity market serving 65 million customers across 13 states in the Mid-Atlantic region and the Great Lakes\u2014the lawmakers urged the grid operator to swiftly and fully comply with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission\u2019s (FERC\u2019s) Order No. 1920 and Order No. 2023 and pursue proactive transmission planning and interconnection reforms to help the electricity grid maintain reliability and increase the supply of clean energy.\n\n\u201cOur region must add new energy sources to our electric grid to meet our constituents\u2019 and businesses\u2019 growing energy needs,\u201d wrote the lawmakers. \u201cRenewable energy is now the cheapest form of energy, and a recent PJM report shows that renewables can meet our region\u2019s increasing energy demands. Federal investments in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and state policies on fostering renewable energy have created an opportunity for billions of dollars of investment in low-cost, low-carbon electricity supply and storage. The PJM region can seize this opportunity to facilitate the replacement of old, costly, increasingly unreliable, and polluting power plants with lower-cost clean energy\u2014and score a triple win for public health, the environment, and consumers\u2019 energy bills.\u201d\n\nPJM expects energy demands to increase nearly 40% by 2039. As the region\u2019s energy needs grow, energy supply must keep pace with rising demand\u2014or consumers will face higher utility bills. In PJM\u2019s most recent electricity capacity auction for 2025, prices increased more than six-fold to about $14.7 billion from $2.4 billion in 2024. The price increases in the electricity auction are estimated to translate into price increases for millions of customers in the PJM region.\n\nThe letter from the lawmakers urges PJM to do the following:\n\nComply with FERC Order No. 1920 by developing transmission planning scenarios that account for states\u2019 clean energy policies and incentives in the IRA, consider and maximize the economic benefits of renewable power, and comprehensively plan for fossil fuel retirements driven by states\u2019 policies and economic factors;\n\nComply with FERC Order No. 2023, which requires grid operators across the country to address the backlog of new energy sources waiting to be connected to our electricity grid;\n\nCreate a robust process for state policymakers and regulators to engage with PJM on transmission planning decisions;\n\nAnd prioritize energy solutions such as advanced transmission technologies that help minimize community impacts resulting from siting and permitting decisions.\n\nThe lawmakers emphasized, \u201cA robust transmission grid that is ready to accept new resources and maintain reliability in the face of increasing energy demand will not be possible without swift and full compliance with Order No. 1920 and Order No. 2023.\u201d\n\nRepresentatives Raskin, Beyer and McClellan and Senator Van Hollen were joined on the letter by Representatives Matt Cartwright (PA-08), Sean Casten (IL-06), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Danny Davis (IL-07), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Bill Foster (IL-11), Jes\u00fas Garc\u00eda (IL-04), Steny Hoyer (MD-05), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Andy Kim (NJ-03), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Summer Lee (PA-12), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Eleanor Norton (D-DC), Mike Quigley (IL-05), John Sarbanes (MD-03), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Eric Sorensen (IL-17), David Trone (MD-06), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Thomas Carper (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL).\n\nThe full letter to PJM can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-raskin-mcclellan-and-beyer-lead-30-colleagues-in-urging-regional-power-grid-operator-to-lower-electricity-prices-and-improve-reliability-for-working-families", "Van Hollen, Raskin, McClellan, and Beyer Lead 30 Colleagues in Urging Regional Power Grid Operator to Lower Electricity Prices and Improve Reliability for Working Families", "2024-10-17", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Representatives Jamie Raskin (Md.-08), Jennifer McClellan (Va.-04), and Don Beyer (Va.-08) led 30 members of Congress in writing a letter calling on PJM Interconnection (PJM), the region\u2019s power grid operator, to swiftly improve the reliability of the electricity grid, deliver cheaper electricity prices, and address the biggest roadblocks to transitioning to renewable energy.\n\nIn their letter sent today to PJM\u2014the country\u2019s largest electricity market serving 65 million customers across 13 states in the Mid-Atlantic region and the Great Lakes\u2014the lawmakers urged the grid operator to swiftly and fully comply with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission\u2019s (FERC\u2019s) Order No. 1920 and Order No. 2023 and pursue proactive transmission planning and interconnection reforms to help the electricity grid maintain reliability and increase the supply of clean energy.\n\n\u201cOur region must add new energy sources to our electric grid to meet our constituents\u2019 and businesses\u2019 growing energy needs,\u201d wrote the lawmakers. \u201cRenewable energy is now the cheapest form of energy, and a recent PJM report shows that renewables can meet our region\u2019s increasing energy demands. Federal investments in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and state policies on fostering renewable energy have created an opportunity for billions of dollars of investment in low-cost, low-carbon electricity supply and storage. The PJM region can seize this opportunity to facilitate the replacement of old, costly, increasingly unreliable, and polluting power plants with lower-cost clean energy\u2014and score a triple win for public health, the environment, and consumers\u2019 energy bills.\u201d\n\nPJM expects energy demands to increase nearly 40% by 2039. As the region\u2019s energy needs grow, energy supply must keep pace with rising demand\u2014or consumers will face higher utility bills. In PJM\u2019s most recent electricity capacity auction for 2025, prices increased more than six-fold to about $14.7 billion from $2.4 billion in 2024. The price increases in the electricity auction are estimated to translate into price increases for millions of customers in the PJM region.\n\nThe letter from the lawmakers urges PJM to do the following:\n\nComply with FERC Order No. 1920 by developing transmission planning scenarios that account for states\u2019 clean energy policies and incentives in the IRA, consider and maximize the economic benefits of renewable power, and comprehensively plan for fossil fuel retirements driven by states\u2019 policies and economic factors;\n\nComply with FERC Order No. 2023, which requires grid operators across the country to address the backlog of new energy sources waiting to be connected to our electricity grid;\n\nCreate a robust process for state policymakers and regulators to engage with PJM on transmission planning decisions;\n\nAnd prioritize energy solutions such as advanced transmission technologies that help minimize community impacts resulting from siting and permitting decisions.\n\nThe lawmakers emphasized, \u201cA robust transmission grid that is ready to accept new resources and maintain reliability in the face of increasing energy demand will not be possible without swift and full compliance with Order No. 1920 and Order No. 2023.\u201d\n\nSenator Van Hollen and Representatives Raskin, Beyer and McClellan were joined on the letter by Representatives Matt Cartwright (Pa.-08), Sean Casten (Ill.-06), Gerry Connolly (Va.-11), Danny Davis (Ill.-07), Chris Deluzio (Pa.-17), Bill Foster (Ill.-11), Jes\u00fas Garc\u00eda (Ill.-04), Steny Hoyer (Md.-05), Jared Huffman (Calif.-02), Glenn Ivey (Md.-04), Jonathan Jackson (Ill.-01), Robin Kelly (Ill.-02), Andy Kim (N.J.-03), Raja Krishnamoorthi (Ill.-08), Summer Lee (Pa.-12), Kweisi Mfume (Md.-07), Eleanor Norton (D-D.C.), Mike Quigley (Ill.-05), John Sarbanes (Md.-03), Jan Schakowsky (Ill.-09), Eric Sorensen (Ill.-17), David Trone (Md.-06), Delia Ramirez (Ill.-03), Dutch Ruppersberger (Md.-02), Bonnie Watson Coleman (N.J.-12) and Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Thomas Carper (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).\n\nThe full letter to PJM can be found here and below:\n\nDear Mr. Takahashi and Mr. Asthana:\n\nThe U.S. energy sector is entering a period of significant transformation due to rising energy demands, more frequent and intense extreme weather events, and falling renewable energy prices. As the grid operator representing our 13-state region and the District of Columbia, PJM Interconnection (PJM) has a crucial responsibility to maintain a reliable and cost-effective electric grid capable of adapting to these evolving conditions. We write to you today to urge PJM to fully and swiftly comply with the letter and intent of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission\u2019s (FERC) Order No. 1920 and Order No. 2023 and pursue proactive transmission planning and interconnection reforms to help our region\u2019s electricity grid maintain reliability and meet our clean energy goals. Specifically, we request that PJM conduct scenario development and benefit evaluation to the standards of Order No. 1920.\n\nOur region must add new energy sources to our electric grid to meet our constituents\u2019 and businesses\u2019 growing energy needs. Renewable energy is now the cheapest form of energy, and a recent PJM report shows that renewables can meet our region\u2019s increasing energy demands. Federal investments in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and state policies on fostering renewable energy have created an opportunity for billions of dollars of investment in low-cost, low-carbon electricity supply and storage. The PJM region can seize this opportunity to facilitate the replacement of old, costly, increasingly unreliable, and polluting power plants with lowercost clean energy\u2014and score a triple win for public health, the environment, and consumers\u2019 energy bills. We applaud PJM\u2019s recent commitment to comply with FERC Order No. 1920 by moving forward with developing long-term transmission planning scenarios this year. We also understand that PJM has challenged some of the requirements in Order No. 1920 in a request for rehearing. While we acknowledge that PJM oversees a region with diverse interests and differing clean energy targets, we are concerned that PJM may use this request to delay comprehensive transmission planning. Any delays in the clean energy transition will not only contribute to rising climate-related costs, but also harm consumers in our states who will foot the bill for inefficient energy infrastructure.\n\nFERC Order No. 1920 provides a framework for grid operators to conduct comprehensive transmission planning and allocate costs to states and stakeholders based on benefits. This order ensures that states will pay their fair share for the clean energy benefits they receive from transmission on the same terms they would pay for other transmission benefits. PJM must develop a fair and robust process for states and stakeholders to participate in good faith engagement on cost allocation rules. We specifically request that PJM conduct scenario development and benefit analysis to the standards of the Order to ensure the region can plan for a reliable, cost-effective future. This planning should:\n\nIncorporate state clean energy policies, the private investments spurred by the IRA, and economic drivers of change in at least three planning scenarios. At least one of the scenarios should include a high-renewables scenario.\n\nForecast future fossil retirements as accurately as possible, including both those mandated by policy and those driven by economic factors.\n\nMaximize the entire range of economic and reliability benefits of clean energy and storage.\n\nPrioritize solutions that minimize community impacts resulting from siting and permitting considerations, including deploying advanced transmission technologies.\n\nIn addition to complying with the long-term regional planning rule, PJM should also swiftly comply with FERC Order No. 2023, which will help address the backlog of renewable energy projects waiting to be connected to the electricity grid. PJM\u2019s May 2024 compliance filing fails to meet the standards of the FERC rule, and instead asks FERC for special exemptions and lengthy extensions to the rule\u2019s deadlines. We are deeply concerned that more than 3,309 projects are in PJM\u2019s interconnection queue, which represents the longest queue of any region. As PJM has noted, \u201caccelerating the pace of new entry is critical to maintaining reliability\u201d as we embrace the energy transition. Thus, we urge PJM to swiftly and fully comply with FERC Order No. 2023.\n\nLastly, to ensure a successful and cost-effective transmission planning process, PJM must work closely with state policymakers and regulators to incorporate states\u2019 statutory clean energy targets in all long-term planning scenarios. By working with state policymakers and regulators, PJM can better maintain grid reliability as fossil plants retire and avoid expensive reliability must-run agreements which keep aging fossil plants online at great cost to consumers. A robust transmission grid that is ready to accept new resources and maintain reliability must-run agreements which keep aging fossil plants online at great cost to consumers. A robust transmission grid that is ready to accept new resources and maintain reliability in the face of increasing energy demand will not be possible without swift and full compliance with Order No. 1920 and Order No. 2023. As Representatives of states in PJM\u2019s region, we stand ready to support these efforts and seek answers to the following questions:\n\nHow can PJM ensure that the flexibility it sought in its June 2024 request for a rehearing on Order No. 1920 will not result in delays to PJM developing comprehensive and costeffective long-term transmission planning scenarios?\n\nHow can PJM ensure that entrenched incumbent special interests will not undermine PJM\u2019s efforts to comply with Order No. 1920 and plan cost-effective transmission?\n\nWhat steps is PJM taking to establish a process for engaging with state policymakers and regulators on Order No. 1920, including on cost allocation and on developing scenario inputs?\n\nWhat is PJM\u2019s plan to comply with Order No. 2023? Specifically, what steps is PJM taking to accelerate the pace of new entry?\n\nPlease outline PJM\u2019s plans for meeting the new entry and interregional coordination needs identified in its recent Energy Transition study. In the interest of increasing transparency and ensuring those plans are on track, how will PJM keep the public and policymakers apprised on its progress?\n\nHow will PJM help minimize adverse impacts on local communities from transmission deployment, such as by increasing usage of grid-enhancing and advanced transmission technologies?\n\nThank you again for your thoughtful attention to this important matter and we look forward to your response.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-team-maryland-announce-139-million-in-federal-funds-to-support-workforce-development-and-postsecondary-education-for-individuals-with-disabilities", "Congressman Mfume, Team Maryland Announce $13.9 Million in Federal Funds to Support Workforce Development and Postsecondary Education for Individuals with Disabilities", "2024-10-16", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Kweisi Mfume", "M000687", "mfume.house.gov", "mfume", "https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "BALTIMORE - Today, U.S. Congressman Kweisi Mfume, Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, with Governor Wes Moore and Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Jamie Raskin, David Trone, and Glenn Ivey, announced $13.9 million in federal funding to support workforce development and postsecondary education for individuals with disabilities. Administered through the Maryland Department of Disabilities, the funding will help increase access to resources, promote data sharing, and improve employment outcomes.\n\n\u201cTeam Maryland continues to drive federal investment in Marylanders' futures. These new funds will bolster the use of evidence-based strategies to engage individuals with disabilities in careers of their choice, enhancing inclusion, economic mobility, and career growth,\" said members of the Maryland Congressional Delegation Congressman Mfume, Senators Cardin, Van Hollen, and Hoyer; and Congressmen Ruppersberger, Sarbanes, Raskin, Trone and Ivey. \u201cOne in four Americans has a disability, and these investments will empower those Americans to achieve greater economic independence while supporting our changing economic and workforce needs. This is an important investment in ensuring people with disabilities are able to continue playing a meaningful role in their community.\"\n\n\u201c'Leave no one behind' is not just a talking point for us, it's a governing philosophy. Today's action reaffirms Maryland's commitment to building a state where every person is seen and supported,\" said Gov. Moore. \u201cI want to thank the Biden-Harris Administration for their partnership. Together, we will open paths to work, wages, and wealth for Marylanders; grow our economy; and create an equitable future for all.\"\n\nThe U.S. Department of Education allocated $9.4 million from the Disability Innovation Fund Program to develop a tool that connects students with accessible services, including vocational rehabilitation and long-term support. The tool represents a pioneering data-sharing system that will enable school and state agency personnel\u2014including the Maryland State Department of Education Division of Rehabilitative Services and the Developmental Disabilities Administration at the Maryland Department of Health\u2014to share information about student applications, eligibility, and services.\n\nThe Maryland Department of Disabilities also received $4.5 million from the Social Security Administration's Interventional Cooperative Agreement Program. The funding will be used to assess the impact of outreach and assistance for children with disabilities who qualify for both Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income, in an effort to enhance access to transition services and improve employment outcomes through competitive, integrated employment.\n\nThe two grants begin this month and will continue over five years.\n\n\u201cBoth grants underscore our unwavering commitment to advancing opportunity, access and choice for individuals with disabilities,\" said Maryland Department of Disabilities Secretary Carol A. Beatty. \u201cAllowing them to live a life of their own choosing in their communities. Everyone can work with the right support and services and jobs are a critical element of independence.\"\n\nGovernor Moore issued a proclamation in support of October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month, highlighting that people with disabilities are more than twice as likely to be unemployed than their non-disabled peers. By removing barriers to employment, Maryland is putting young people with disabilities on the road to financial independence.\n\nFor more information on the Disability Innovation Fund grant visit ed.gov.?\n\nFor more information on the Interventional Cooperative Agreement Program grant visit ssa.gov.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/team-maryland-announces-139-million-in-federal-funds-to-support-workforce-development-and-postsecondary-education-for-individuals-with-disabilities", "Team Maryland Announces $13.9 Million in Federal Funds to Support Workforce Development and Postsecondary Education for Individuals with Disabilities", "2024-10-16", "2024", "2024-10", "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 Ben Cardin, with Governor Wes Moore and Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone, and Glenn Ivey, announced $13.9 million in federal funding to support workforce development and postsecondary education for individuals with disabilities. Administered through the Maryland Department of Disabilities, the funding will help increase access to resources, promote data sharing, and improve employment outcomes.\n\n\u201cTeam Maryland continues to drive federal investment in Marylanders' futures. These new funds will bolster the use of evidence-based strategies to engage individuals with disabilities in careers of their choice, enhancing inclusion, economic mobility, and career growth,\" said members of the Maryland Congressional Delegation Senators Cardin, Van Hollen, and Hoyer; and Congressmen Ruppersberger, Sarbanes, Mfume, Raskin, Trone and Ivey. \u201cOne in four Americans has a disability, and these investments will empower those Americans to achieve greater economic independence while supporting our changing economic and workforce needs. This is an important investment in ensuring people with disabilities are able to continue playing a meaningful role in their community.\"\n\n\u201c'Leave no one behind' is not just a talking point for us, it's a governing philosophy. Today's action reaffirms Maryland's commitment to building a state where every person is seen and supported,\" said Gov. Moore. \u201cI want to thank the Biden-Harris Administration for their partnership. Together, we will open paths to work, wages, and wealth for Marylanders; grow our economy; and create an equitable future for all.\"\n\nThe U.S. Department of Education allocated $9.4 million from the Disability Innovation Fund Program to develop a tool that connects students with accessible services, including vocational rehabilitation and long-term support. The tool represents a pioneering data-sharing system that will enable school and state agency personnel\u2014including the Maryland State Department of Education Division of Rehabilitative Services and the Developmental Disabilities Administration at the Maryland Department of Health\u2014to share information about student applications, eligibility, and services.\n\nThe Maryland Department of Disabilities also received $4.5 million from the Social Security Administration's Interventional Cooperative Agreement Program. The funding will be used to assess the impact of outreach and assistance for children with disabilities who qualify for both Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income, in an effort to enhance access to transition services and improve employment outcomes through competitive, integrated employment.\n\nThe two grants begin this month and will continue over five years.\n\n\u201cBoth grants underscore our unwavering commitment to advancing opportunity, access and choice for individuals with disabilities,\" said Maryland Department of Disabilities Secretary Carol A. Beatty. \u201cAllowing them to live a life of their own choosing in their communities. Everyone can work with the right support and services and jobs are a critical element of independence.\"\n\nGovernor Moore issued a proclamation in support of October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month, highlighting that people with disabilities are more than twice as likely to be unemployed than their non-disabled peers. By removing barriers to employment, Maryland is putting young people with disabilities on the road to financial independence.\n\nFor more information on the Disability Innovation Fund grant visit ed.gov.?", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-applauds-ftc-approval-of-click-to-cancel-rule-to-ease-cancellation-of-recurring-subscriptions", "Van Hollen Applauds FTC Approval of \u201cClick to Cancel\u201d Rule to Ease Cancellation of Recurring Subscriptions", "2024-10-16", "2024", "2024-10", "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.) welcomed the Federal Trade Commission\u2019s (FTC) approval of the \u201cClick to Cancel\u201d final rule, which requires companies to seek informed consent from consumers before beginning a subscription service and makes it easier to end a membership or recurring-payment program. The rule mirrors key provisions of the Senator and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke\u2019s (D-N.Y.) Consumer OPT-IN Act, including those requiring informed consent and easing the ability to cancel subscriptions, as well as enforcement authority allowing the FTC to return money to consumers impacted by a company that has violated the rule. Last year, the Senator wrote to the FTC in support of the proposed Click to Cancel rule during the review process.\n\n\u201cToo many Americans know the frustration of being blindsided by a charge for a subscription they never meant to sign up for \u2013 and jumping through endless hurdles to try to cancel. Using key components of our Consumer OPT-IN Act, the Biden-Harris Administration\u2019s Click to Cancel rule is a critical tool to ensure an easy way out of subscription traps and hold companies accountable for deceptive tactics. We will build on this important progress by working to pass the other provisions of our legislation to further protect Americans from unwanted charges and corporate greed,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\nThe FTC\u2019s Click-to-Cancel final rule ensures that consumers aren\u2019t misled when they\u2019re signing up for subscriptions in the first place and requires companies to seek their informed consent before making recurring charges. The rule will require businesses to disclose key terms \u2013 such as when trial periods end, the deadline to cancel, and the frequency of charges \u2013 before collecting any billing information from people. The rule will allow the FTC to return money to impacted consumers and levy stiff penalties against companies that violate it.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 723, "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 and \"year\" = :p1 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "MD", "p1": "2024"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=MD&year=2024", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 687, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=MD&year=2024&party=Democrat", "selected": false}, {"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 36, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=MD&year=2024&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=MD&year=2024", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 423, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=MD&year=2024&chamber=House", "selected": false}, {"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 300, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=MD&year=2024&chamber=Senate", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=MD&year=2024", "results": [{"value": "MD", "label": "MD", "count": 723, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?year=2024", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=MD&year=2024", "results": [{"value": "2024", "label": "2024", "count": 723, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=MD", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2024-10-16,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Evanhollen~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fpress-releases~2Fvan-hollen-applauds-ftc-approval-of-click-to-cancel-rule-to-ease-cancellation-of-recurring-subscriptions", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=MD&year=2024&_next=2024-10-16%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Evanhollen~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fpress-releases~2Fvan-hollen-applauds-ftc-approval-of-click-to-cancel-rule-to-ease-cancellation-of-recurring-subscriptions&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 283.8271572254598, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}