url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/12/statement-of-congressman-jamie-raskin-to-the-people-of-maryland-s-8th-district,Statement of Congressman Jamie Raskin to the People of Maryland’s 8th District,2022-12-28,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) today released the following statement.

“After several days of tests, I have been diagnosed with Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma, which is a serious but curable form of cancer. I am about to embark on a course of chemo-immunotherapy on an outpatient basis at Med Star Georgetown University Hospital and Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Prognosis for most people in my situation is excellent after four months of treatment.

“I expect to be able to work through this period but have been cautioned by my doctors to reduce unnecessary exposure to avoid COVID-19, the flu and other viruses. In addition to destroying cancer cells, chemotherapy impairs natural antibodies and undermines the body’s immune system. I am advised that it also causes hair loss and weight gain (although I am still holding out hope for the kind that causes hair gain and weight loss).

“With the benefit of early detection and fine doctors, the help of my extraordinary staff, the love of Sarah and our daughters and sons-in-law (actual and to-be) and family and friends, and the support of my beloved constituents and my colleagues in the House, I plan to get through this and, in the meantime, to keep making progress every day in Congress for American democracy.

“My love and solidarity go out to other families managing cancer or any other health condition in this holiday season—and all the doctors, nurses and medical personnel who provide us comfort and hope.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-secures-23965000-for-direct-investments-in-local-community-organizations,"Congressman Mfume Secures $23,965,000+ for Direct Investments in Local Community Organizations",2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) worked to secure more than $23,965,000 in Community Project Funding for Maryland’s 7th Congressional District in the final 2023 appropriations government funding package today. A listing of each project is found below. The legislation now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law.

Under rules established by the U.S. House of Representatives and its Appropriations Committee, each House member may request funding for a limited number of community projects for the fiscal year. For the last year, Congressman Mfume successfully fought to ensure all his submitted projects received momentous federal investment from the U.S. House and worked with Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen to bolster their support for the legislative initiatives in the U.S. Senate.

“My work throughout the past year on this substantial Community Project Funding has been a critical priority for me because real dollars that will go directly to organizations deserving of federal backing for the work they do each and every day in our communities were at stake,” said Congressman Mfume.

“The high volume of competitive applications I received for the fiscal year 2022 funding made it difficult to narrow down all the applications my Office received for 2023 funding. Rest assured that the organizations receiving this game-changing funding through my efforts are ready to build on the profound successes they have already demonstrated. I look forward to seeing these organizations leverage the federal investments for the benefit of our neighbors,” he concluded.

Congressman Mfume championed funding for all 15 projects he submitted this year. The deserving organizations work tirelessly on the ground in Maryland’s 7th Congressional District, and their work encompasses a range of services from job training to housing assistance and veterans assistance. The projects receiving the fiscal year 2023 round of funding follows.

Arena Playhouse Capital Improvement Project

$4,000,000 to support Arena Players Incorporated Capital Campaign which will renovate the organization’s current three-story theatre and office building.

National Great Blacks In Wax Museum, Inc.

$2,008,580 for facility upgrades and capital renovations.

Maryland Center for Veterans Education and Training (MCVET)

$3,000,000 to upgrade facilities.

East Baltimore Development, Inc. (EBDI)

$2,300,000 to repair and upgrade public roadways, update lighting and storm drainage, and support the creation of a much-needed grocery store in an East Baltimore food desert.

Afro Charities - Historic Upton Mansion

$2,000,000 to renovate the Historic Upton Mansion in West Baltimore which will house the AFRO American Newspapers archive, and the Afro Charities community outreach headquarters.

Morning Star Baptist Church Five Star Program

$2,300,000 to create a vibrant multi-use community space, known as “The Star Community Family Life Center.”

Park West Health System Capital Expansion Project for Integrated Behavioral Health

$1,000,000 to integrate new behavioral health programming and to physically expand and renovate the Park West Belvedere location of the Park West Health System.

Center for Urban Families

$750,000 to provide Baltimore residents, many of whom are returning citizens, with job readiness programming and support.

Druid Heights Maggie Quille Center

$1,500,000 to the Druid Heights Community Development Corporation to assist with the total renovation of the Druid Heights Maggie Quille Center and increase the services and programs within the Druid Heights community.

Sanaa Center Arts Project - Pennsylvania Avenue

$750,000 to fund the construction of the Sanaa Center, a stand-alone building with offices, art-making spaces, indoor and outdoor performance spaces, and art incubation services.

Juanita Jackson Mitchell Legal Center

$1,750,000 to restore Juanita Jackson Mitchell’s office and create the Juanita Jackson Mitchell Legal Center, which will provide office space for legal and social services to victims of domestic violence from the Rebuild, Overcome, and Rise (ROAR) program.

Permanent Housing on East Baltimore Street

$750,000 to the Helping Up Mission to create affordable permanent housing for formerly incarcerated individuals seeking to re-enter society as contributing members.

CASA - Baltimore Center Workforce Development

$573,045 to support the creation of a Baltimore Center for Workforce Development to prepare adults for the job hiring process and provide life skills training to support workers in their job search.

Green & Healthy Homes Baltimore Initiative

$750,000 to renovate 75 homes in Baltimore City to improve energy efficiency and health outcomes.

Gwynns Falls Mighty Park

$535,000 to transform 6 contiguous vacant lots into a vibrant community park in the Gwynns Falls area of Southwest Baltimore.

For full descriptions of these projects, please visit Congressman Mfume’s congressional website here.

Community Project Funding – Additional Information

Projects are restricted to a limited number of federal funding streams, and only state and local governments and eligible non-profit entities are permitted to receive funding.

Additional information on the reforms governing Community Project Funding is available here.

Project funding was included in the final 2023 appropriations government funding package. A detailed summary of this package is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congress-extends-baltimore-national-heritage-area-funding-by-13-years,Congress Extends Baltimore National Heritage Area Funding by 13 Years,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) and Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) announced passage of legislation they led to reauthorize the Baltimore National Heritage Area funding through 2037. The legislation, co-led by Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02) and John Sarbanes (MD-03), ensures federal support for the Baltimore National Heritage Area’s efforts to promote and preserve Baltimore’s history and the ongoing efforts to highlight Baltimore’s contributions to our nation’s story. The legislation was passed by the U.S. Senate on December 20, 2022, and passed the U.S. House of Representatives today as one of the last actions by this Congress. It now goes to President Biden to be signed into law.

“There are so many stories to tell about every community in Baltimore. We have a rich history and legacy that needs to be told over and over again. Indeed, we hold the keys to many national treasures, big and small. The Baltimore National Heritage Area, which encompasses most of my Congressional District, serves a unique role in our City by attracting tourism, educating our youth, and celebrating this City’s history and culture,” said Congressman Mfume. “I am immensely proud to have successfully reauthorized the Baltimore National Heritage Area funding well before it was set to expire in 2024,” he concluded.

""The Baltimore National Heritage Area showcases the rich historic and cultural legacy of Maryland's largest city,” said Senator Cardin. “Extending this impactful federal designation ensures local agencies and non-profits can continue to recognize and protect our heritage resources and serve residents and visitors alike through recreational and educational opportunities.""

Shauntee Daniels, Executive Director of the Baltimore National Heritage Area, said on the bill's passage: “It ensures that Baltimore’s strong connection to the history of the country is preserved for many generations to come. It also will continue to allow the National Heritage Area to invest in programs, projects and initiatives which are unique to Baltimore and our Nation’s history. It is our mission to work with public and private partners to create spaces that engage youth and adults to live, work and play.”

This legislation adopted, with technical corrections, the language of the Baltimore National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act that Congressman Mfume introduced as a standalone bill in March of 2022. Senator Cardin introduced an identical measure in the Senate on the same day.

Baltimore National Heritage Area Reauthorization – Additional Information

Continues Critical Federal Support to Preserve Historic Baltimore

Prior to this bill’s passage, the Baltimore National Heritage Area was authorized by the federal government through 2024.

If the federal government had not reauthorized the Baltimore National Heritage Area, it would have lost critical federal funding that supports its historical sites.

The federal support goes to local agencies and non-profits who preserve and promote Baltimore’s pivotal role in our nation’s story and make strategic investments in cultural heritage tourism projects.

The annual economic impact of the Baltimore National Heritage Area is more than $750 million, 6,400 jobs, and $61 million in state and tax revenue.

The Baltimore National Heritage Area has served more than 15,000 youth from underserved communities and provides continuous operation and program support to 35 historic museums, cultural attractions, and historic neighborhoods through a competitive grant program.

This bill extends the Baltimore National Heritage Area’s authorization until 2037 and modifies the boundary to include additional historic neighborhoods.

More details about the Baltimore National Heritage Area can be found here: https://www.explorebaltimore.org/.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/12/cardin-raskin-introduce-bill-to-protect-vulnerable-individuals-left-without-a-country,"Cardin, Raskin Introduce Bill to Protect Vulnerable Individuals Left Without a Country",2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-8), a member of the House Judiciary Committee, have introduced the “Stateless Protection Act,” bicameral legislation establishing a new protected status, permanent residency and a pathway to citizenship for stateless individuals residing in the United States. These vulnerable individuals do not have nationality or citizenship in any country of the world, a situation which often results in significant financial hardship, separation from relatives, and lengthy or sometimes even indefinite immigration detention.

Current estimates reveal that there are more than 200,000 individuals in the U.S. who are stateless or at risk of becoming stateless. While U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas earlier this year announced that his agency is developing a definition to identify stateless individuals, there currently is no definition to recognize this perilous status in immigration law or current regulations, making it even harder to identify stateless people.

“Stateless individuals fall outside of the protection of any country of the world through no fault of their own,” said Senator Cardin. “Our laws need to show our values as a nation of immigrants and should protect stateless people, providing them and their immediate families with the opportunity to become full citizens of the United States. I am proud to work with Congressman Raskin and with our advocacy partners to begin to truly address this hidden problem.”

“To be stateless is to live in a dreadful and dangerously vulnerable condition,” Rep. Jamie Raskin. “We should help stateless people by giving them a way to become citizens in our free and great country. America was created as an ‘asylum to humanity,’ as Tom Paine put it, to afford refuge to all the ‘persecuted lovers of freedom’ on earth. I’m proud to introduce this legislation with Senator Cardin to give the prospect of citizenship and real rights to people hoping for the best but living without the protection of any government.”

Karina Ambartsoumian-Clough, Executive Director of United Stateless, said: ""Stateless people like me want to contribute more to American life. But we're stuck in limbo. This bill provides the path forward. I was too young to qualify for a passport when my parents left Soviet Ukraine with me, as a child. Now, years later, I have no country to return to. And I'm a citizen of nowhere through no fault of my own. There are thousands of people like me, and we are, together, building a movement to end the needless suffering of stateless people in the U.S. I applaud Senator Ben Cardin and Congressman Jamie Raskin's bill and expect it to achieve bipartisan support. All we are asking is to get on with our lives.""

“We commend Senator Cardin and Congressman Raskin for introducing bills to provide stateless people in the U.S. with pathways to permanent residency and citizenship, and we also thank our partners at United Stateless for their tireless advocacy,” said HIAS President and CEO Mark Hetfield. “A full year after the Department of Homeland Security publicly announced its commitment to adopt a definition of statelessness to enhance protections, more than 200,000 stateless individuals in the U.S. and their families are still waiting. As an organization rooted in the Jewish imperative of welcoming the stranger, and with over a century of experience helping people trapped in the legal limbo of statelessness, HIAS urges lawmakers in the Senate and the House to move swiftly to pass this crucial legislation.”

Text of S. 5330/H.R. 9671, the Stateless Protection Act, can be downloaded here.

The bill establishes a new stateless protected status (SPS) to individuals who are stateless, defined as ‘individuals who are not considered as a national by any state under the operation of its law.’ Available to stateless people in the United States and their direct relatives, this status would provide access to work and travel authorization and protection from deportation, removal, or detention. The legislation would also provide discretion to stay any immigration proceedings for individuals with SPS. Some exclusions would apply to individuals who intentionally renounced citizenship or due to persecution of others or terrorism grounds.

The bill instructs DHS to adjust the status of individuals with SPS to legal permanent residency (LPR) status for individuals who are not inadmissible under criminal or national security bars and who pass all standard background checks. After three years, an individual granted LPR status could apply for naturalization.

To prevent the future occurrence of statelessness, the bill expands access to U.S. citizenship to individuals who would otherwise be stateless and who are children of U.S. citizens or are found in the U.S. before the age of 21. Also directs DHS and Department of State to carry out data-collection, research, programs, and grants to prevent future occurrence of statelessness.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/12/rep-jamie-raskin-to-lead-democrats-on-house-oversight-committee,Rep. Jamie Raskin to Lead Democrats on House Oversight Committee,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) was elected Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee for the 118th Congress. After securing the endorsement of the House Democratic Steering Committee, he was then selected by vote of the full Democratic caucus. He succeeds outgoing representative Carolyn Maloney (NY-12).

“I am truly humbled and honored beyond measure to be elected Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee for the 118th Congress,” said Rep. Raskin. “I was recruited to this Committee by Representative Elijah Cummings on my first day of my first Term and it is overwhelming to think I will now be one of his successors. I am thinking about him a lot today.”

“I look forward to championing our Democratic priorities on the House’s lead investigative committee and drawing on the remarkable talents and voices of our Democratic Members. I want to thank Representatives Steve Lynch and Gerry Connolly for their remarkable work, integrity and commitment to the Oversight Committee, and all my colleagues for entrusting me with this awesome responsibility. And a special shout-out to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus for endorsing my candidacy many weeks ago.”

Rep. Raskin currently serves as chair of the Oversight Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, where he led a seven-part series on the rise of violent white supremacy and convened hearings exposing censorship and book banning in public schools, among many other projects. He was the lead House impeachment manager in the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump and a Member of the Select Committee on the January 6 attack.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-delegation-members-announce-71-million-in-infrastructure-law-funding-to-upgrade-martin-airport-station,"Congressman Mfume, Maryland Delegation Members Announce $7.1 Million in Infrastructure Law Funding to Upgrade Martin Airport Station",2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes and Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, (all D-Md.) today announced $7,109,500 in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding to help the Maryland Department of Transportation modernize and increase the accessibility of Maryland Area Regional Commuter’s (MARC) Martin Airport Station - a “legacy station” constructed before the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.

The funding comes through the Federal Transit Administration’s All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP). The federal dollars will be used to improve safety and accessibility at Martin Airport Station, bringing it into compliance with the ADA by upgrading boarding and alighting platforms.Under the existing station configuration, commuters board and depart from MARC trains directly on the train tracks.

“Martin Airport Station has been a staple for Maryland commuters and travelers for decades, but aging infrastructure that predates the passage of the ADA has created barriers for people with disabilities,” said the lawmakers. “With this grant, we are equitably rebuilding our infrastructure and sending a message that public transit must be safe, efficient and accessible for all Marylanders.”

The Federal Transit Administration’s ASAP was created by theInfrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which the Maryland Democratic Congressional Delegation unanimously supported as it passed in November 2021. Its goal is to upgrade the nation’s oldest transit systems to be more accessible for people with disabilities.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/12/raskin-pressley-lynch-and-colleagues-urge-extension-of-covid-19-workers-compensation-benefits-for-postal-workers,"Raskin, Pressley, Lynch and Colleagues Urge Extension of COVID-19 Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Postal Workers",2022-12-16,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) in partnership with Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Congressman Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08) led their colleagues in calling for the extension of an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provision that made it easier for postal workers who contract COVID on the job to receive federal workers compensation. In a letter to Congressional appropriators, the lawmakers called for the provision—which is set to expire next month—to be extended as part of the omnibus government spending package.

“As Congress continues to undertake efforts to advance health equity, it is imperative that postal employees receive nothing short of the robust support they deserve when recovering from illness,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter. “This critical protection provides America’s postal workers with the resources they need to safeguard their own health and safety and ensure the continuation of timely, reliable, and efficient mail services for the American people.”

Prior to the enactment of ARPA in March of 2021, postal and other federal workers were required to submit onerous proof that they contracted COVID-19 on the job and could not have otherwise contracted the illness in the course of their daily personal lives. The enactment of ARPA temporarily removed this burden, facilitating the ability of postal and other federal workers diagnosed with COVID-19 to receive coverage under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA). Specifically, the law established a presumption of FECA coverage for federal employees that received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis and recently carried out job duties requiring contact with members of the public, co-workers, or patients.

“This immense and inequitable burden of proof resulted in invasive questioning and the denial of nearly half of all workers’ compensation claims,” the lawmakers continued. “In stark contrast, implementation of the [ARPA provision] has decreased denial rates for USPS employees to less than three percent.”

COVID-19 cases nationwide continue to pose a great health risk for the 650,000+ postal clerks, mail handlers, letter carriers, and other postal workers on the frontlines, many of whom come from marginalized communities.

“We would also underscore that the Postal Service is one of the largest employers of veterans—with more than 100,000 employees having served in the military. The agency also retains a highly diverse workforce comprised of nearly 40 percent of Black and brown postal workers—many representing vulnerable communities whose health disparities across COVID-19 cases, treatments, and deaths have been well-documented,” the lawmakers continued.

Joining Reps. Pressley, Lynch and Raskin in sending the letter are Reps. Steve Cohen, Gerry Connolly, Brian Higgins, Carolyn Maloney, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Jan Schakowsky, Mike Thompson, Paul Tonko, Lori Trahan, and Brenda Lawrence.

The letter has been endorsed by the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association (NRLCA), and the National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU).

Find a copy of the letter here.

Throughout her time in Congress, Congresswoman Pressley has championed for federal resources to support the United States Postal Service and its employees.

In February 2021, in a House Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley discussed how postal banking would help the United States Postal Service (USPS) raise revenue while working to close the racial wealth gap.

Earlier that month, she sent a letter to President Biden today urging him to remove Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and the entire United States Postal Service (USPS) Board of Governors, and appoint a diverse Board with the experience and skills needed to represent the public interest and restore the integrity of the USPS.

In August 2020, Congresswoman Pressley delivered remarks on the House floor in which she criticized the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans for their attacks on the USPS, and shared stories of constituents from the Massachusetts 7th Congressional District who have been impacted by the operational changes imposed on the USPS by Postmaster General DeJoy.

In August 2020, Rep. Pressley slammed GOP gaslighting and uplifted Massachusetts voices in a floor speech to support the Delivering for America Act to save USPS.

Later that month, in a House Oversight Committee hearing, she questioned DeJoy and USPS Board of Governors Chairman Robert Duncan about the harmful impact the recent policy changes at the USPS have had on the workforce, and about the troubling history of anti-union labor practices of Mr. DeJoy’s former company, New Breed Logistics. In that hearing, she called on Mr. DeJoy to resign or be removed by the USPS Board of Governors immediately.

In May 2020, Reps. Pressley and Lynch penned an op-ed in WBUR’s Cognoscenti urging Congress to take urgent action to support postal workers in the next COVID-19 relief package.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/statement-on-passage-of-legislation-to-train-law-enforcement-officers-on-mental-health-crises,Statement on Passage of Legislation to Train Law Enforcement Officers on Mental Health Crises,2022-12-14,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) issued the following statement upon passage of the Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act. This bill invests in local and state law enforcement agencies by training law enforcement officers in de-escalation tactics to safely and successfully be of service to individuals experiencing mental health crises.

“I’m proud to send this legislation to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. Those suffering from their mental health deserve effective treatment, not instant criminalization, when facing a crisis,” said Congressman Mfume. “Law enforcement officers are often the first to encounter individuals in these emergency situations and providing them with the proper training and resources to do their jobs is the right thing to do. This bill will keep our communities safe and help save lives,” he concluded.

Topline Highlights of the Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act

Responds to Need for Alternatives to Use of Force

More than 2 million people with serious mental illness are arrested per year, with as many as 64% of jail inmates having a mental illness.

People in crisis make up 25-50% of fatalities during law enforcement encounters.

Protects Individuals in Crisis, Law Enforcement, and Bystanders

Instructs the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services to build curricula in the training topics, or identifying current curricula, in discussion with law enforcement, mental health organizations, family advocacy organizations, civil liberties groups, and more.

Authorizes $90 million in grant funding for training, which incorporates exercises and evaluative assessments.

Requires the National Institute of Justice and the Government Accountability Office to examine the effectiveness of the program and its results.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/12/raskin-announces-climate-action-app-clima-as-winner-of-2022-md-08-congressional-app-challenge,Raskin Announces Climate Action App ‘Clima’ as Winner of 2022 MD-08 Congressional App Challenge,2022-12-09,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"ROCKVILLE, M.D. — At the close of Computer Science Education Week, Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) announced the winners of the 2022 Congressional App Challenge. This year’s winners are Yixuan Li and Brian Mason of Walt Whitman High School, 11th grade students who created Clima, an app that gamifies carbon reduction through a creative user-driven experience. Clima rewards users points for taking sustainable actions in their home and community, like recycling bottles, washing laundry with cold water and more to earn points and care for a virtual sapling that grows as players complete green activities.

“Yixuan and Brian’s inventive app Clima makes individual climate action accessible and fun–a perfect demonstration of the boundless creativity and public spirit that live among young people,” said Rep. Raskin. “Not only am I impressed by their pure technological savvy, I am heartened by Yixuan and Brian’s commitment to sustainability. Thanks to every student who entered my competition, and to the teachers, mentors and family of the 8th District who have supported our next generation of coders.”

Rep. Raskin also featured Yixuan and Brian as “Local Heroes” on his weekly video series, available here.

The Congressional App Challenge began in 2014 in an effort to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and to encourage students to develop coding and computer science skills. Students in participating congressional districts compete against their peers by creating original software applications (“apps”). 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.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-statement-on-passage-of-legislation-to-protect-same-sex-interracial-marriage,Congressman Mfume Statement on Passage of Legislation to Protect Same Sex & Interracial Marriage,2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) issued the following statement regarding his vote to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, which upholds marriage equality under federal law for same sex and interracial couples. This legislation now goes to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

“When the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe v. Wade, it marked a frightening reversal in what our country recognized as the long-established law of the land. When a sitting member of the same court suggested revisiting the legal precedent regarding marriage could be next, it became imperative for Congress to answer the call, act, and protect this critical human right,” said Congressman Mfume.

“All discrimination is wrong, and with the Respect for Marriage Act we are defending the millions of interracial and same-sex couples in America, whom many of us simply know as family, friends, and neighbors. I will continue to do everything in my power to defend the rights and liberties that make us American, including the right to love who you love,” he concluded.

Topline Highlights of the Respect for Marriage Act

Federally Recognizes Marriage Regardless of Sex or Race

Requires, for federal law purposes, that an individual be considered married if the marriage was valid in the state where it was performed.

Gives same-sex and interracial couples additional security that they will continue to enjoy equal treatment under federal law as all other married couples.

Repeals, once and for all, the discriminatory and unconstitutional Defense of Marriage Act so that it cannot be utilized against the LGBTQ community.

Prohibits any person acting under color of state law from denying full faith and credit to an out-of-state marriage based on the sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin of the individuals in the marriage.

Provides the U.S. Attorney General with the authority to pursue enforcement actions and creates a private right of action for any individual harmed by a violation of this provision.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-statement-on-the-release-of-brittney-griner,Congressman Mfume Statement on the Release of Brittney Griner,2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) issued the following statement regarding the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner from Russian custody.

“Today is a great day for all Americans and the freedoms we fight so hard for, because Brittney Griner has been released from her unjust detention in Russia,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume.

“I am proud to have helped keep the cruel treatment Ms. Griner faced in the public eye through my own advocacy on the national airwaves and in print. We knew that the more said from us all, the more opportunities there would be to bring her home. Those collective efforts have finally paid off. I thank President Biden and Vice President Harris along with everyone who stood up, spoke out, and never relented in the effort to secure Ms. Griner's safety. Today, we can finally rest assured – that mission is complete,” he concluded.

Congressman Mfume’s Advocacy for Ms. Griner’s Release

April 21, 2022, The AFRO, Op-ed: Freeing Brittney Griner is More Than a Slogan.

April 24, 2022, MSNBC, Maryland Rep. Kweisi Mfume speaks on the detainment of WNBA star Brittney Griner in Russia on “PoliticsNation.”

August 7, 2022, MSNBC, Congressman Mfume Advocates for the Release of WNBA Star Brittney Griner with Reverend Al Sharpton on “PoliticsNation.""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/12/maryland-delegation-announces-more-than-55-million-for-public-health-infrastructure-and-workforce,Maryland Delegation Announces More Than $55 Million for Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce,2022-12-07,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $55,352,598 in funding for the Maryland and Baltimore City Health Departments to ensure that public health systems and facilities have the staff, equipment and services needed to protect community health.

“Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, our health care heroes have been navigating some of the most difficult public health challenges in this country’s history, exhausting their equipment, facilities and themselves,” said the lawmakers. “These federal dollars will allow our public health departments to fill staff vacancies and replenish equipment to better protect the health of all Marylanders.”

Supported in large part by the American Rescue Plan Act, this funding, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems grant program, is a groundbreaking $3.2 billion investment in the critical public health infrastructure needs of jurisdictions across the country. The following awards were made to public health agencies in Maryland to ensure that systems and facilities have the staff, equipment and services needed to protect community health:

Maryland Department of Health, $46,924,126: Forty percent of recruitment funds will be given to local health departments.

Baltimore City Health Department, $8,428,472

The American Rescue Plan Act passed last year with overwhelming Maryland Delegation Democratic support. This first-of-its-kind funding will go directly to facilities, giving public health officials the freedom to spend the money based on their region’s most critical needs.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/12/maryland-virginia-lawmakers-urge-congressional-leaders-to-leave-door-open-to-arpa-h-in-the-national-capital-region,"Maryland, Virginia Lawmakers Urge Congressional Leaders to Leave Door Open to ARPA-H in the National Capital Region",2022-12-05,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Lawmakers from across Maryland and Virginia, led by Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), are urging congressional leaders to allow maximum flexibility when the administration selects a location for the newly created Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). Signed by Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-Va.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), as well as Representatives Steny Hoyer (Md.-5), Bobby Scott (Va.-3), Dutch Ruppersberger (Md.-2), John Sarbanes (Md.-3), Gerald Connolly (Va.-11), Kweisi Mfume (Md.-7), Donald Beyer (Va.-8), Anthony Brown (Md.-4), Jamie Raskin (Md.-8), Abigail Spanberger (Va.-7), David Trone (Md.-6) and Jennifer Wexton (Va.-10), the bicameral group of lawmakers “respectfully request the omission of language in any bill or committee report that restricts the location of the agency.” This comes in response to suggestions that Congress place statutory restrictions on ARPA-H being within the National Capital Region.

The full letter follows and can be downloaded at this link.

The Honorable Charles E. Schumer

Majority Leader

United States Senate

Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Mitch McConnell

Minority Leader

United States Senate

Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi

Speaker

United States House of Representatives

Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Kevin McCarthy

Minority Leader

United States House of Representatives

Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Majority Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi, Minority Leader McConnell, and Minority Leader McCarthy,

Thank you for your ongoing work to support the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). As work on an end of year package advances, we write to respectfully request the omission of language in any bill or committee report that restricts the location of the agency.

We commend your efforts to ensure ARPA-H can achieve its goal of advancing biomedical and health research in innovative ways. However, some ARPA-H proposals have suggested authorizing the agency while placing a statutory restriction on its location, such as a prohibition on ARPA-H being located within the National Capital Region (which includes Washington, D.C., Alexandria, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Manassas, Manassas Park, and the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Montgomery, and Prince George’s). This restriction would be both arbitrary and unnecessary, and it would hinder the agency from using a truly objective process to determine the best location.

ARPA-H was proposed as a biomedical version of the Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). A legislative restriction on DARPA’s location was not necessary for the agency to accomplish its groundbreaking work. As you know, DARPA is, in fact, located in close proximity to the Pentagon, which allows for close collaboration but independence from the Department of Defense.

In order to live up to its promise to advance breakthrough scientific research, ARPA-H, like its model DARPA, must be able to find a location with the best physical and human infrastructure to support its mission. Should legislation with regional location restrictions advance, not only would ARPA-H be harmed, but other federal agencies could be subjected to similar provisions in the future and risk losing access to crucial resources.

We are excited about the opportunities ARPA-H will have to advance health research and look forward to working with you to ensure the agency has the resources essential to success.

Sincerely,

CC: The Honorable Patrick Leahy, Richard Shelby, Patty Murray, Richard Burr, Roy Blunt, Rosa DeLauro, Kay Granger, Tom Cole, Frank Pallone, Jr., and Cathy McMorris Rodgers

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/12/raskin-maryland-delegation-members-urge-state-to-apply-for-grant-to-expand-access-to-mental-health-and-substance-use-care,"Raskin, Maryland Delegation Members Urge State to Apply for Grant to Expand Access to Mental Health and Substance Use Care",2022-12-01,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"ROCKVILLE, MD – Today, Congressman Jamie Raskin, Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, David Trone, Anthony G. Brown, Kweisi Mfume, Dutch Ruppersberger, and John Sarbanes (all D-Md) wrote Maryland Secretary of Health Dennis Schrader urging the Maryland Department of Health to apply for a Certified Community Behavioral Health Center (CCBHC) planning grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). SAMHSA is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agency that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation.

This is a new federal grant opportunity created by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a groundbreaking public safety and mental health package that President Biden signed into law in June.

CCBHCs are specially designated mental health clinics that must meet rigorous federal standards, such as serving anyone who needs care regardless of their ability to pay, providing 24/7 crisis services, and delivering developmentally appropriate care to children and youth. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act included a nationwide expansion of the CCBHC Medicaid demonstration program over ten years. However, to be eligible to join the demonstration, states must first apply for and receive a SAMHSA planning grant.

“Given that the [planning grant] application deadline is December 19, 2022, and the next opportunity to participate in the demonstration will not be until 2026, we urge the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) to pursue this significant federal grant opportunity in order to allow the incoming administration maximum flexibility to determine whether participation is appropriate for the state,” wrote the lawmakers.

The lawmakers continued, “available evidence shows that Medicaid-financed CCBHCs expand access to intensive, coordinated community-based mental health and substance use services.”

The CCBHC Medicaid demonstration program can enable mental health clinics to hire more staff, serve more people and offer more services. Maryland’s participation could help alleviate the state’s mental health and substance use crises, including the challenge of emergency room boarding of behavioral health patients.

The letter is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/mfume-votes-to-support-rail-workers-and-avert-devastating-supply-chain-shutdown,Mfume Votes to Support Rail Workers and Avert Devastating Supply Chain Shutdown,2022-11-30,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) issued the following statement upon passage of legislation to ratify the rail labor agreement and legislation to add seven days of paid sick leave to the agreement.

“American workers are the engine that drives our economy, so I proudly supported legislation to provide paid sick leave to railroad workers as well as legislation to provide them with much-needed improvements to their take-home pay, health benefits, and working conditions. I look forward to swift action by the Senate on these measures designed to protect both workers and the American supply chain,” said Congressman Mfume.

Topline Highlights of H.J. Res. 100

Avoids Economic Turmoil

A rail strike would grind our economy to a halt and touch the lives of nearly every family:

As many as 765,000 workers, including many union members, would lose their jobs in just the first two weeks of a strike

Millions of families would not be able to get groceries, medications and other goods

Many communities wouldn’t be able to acquire chlorine to keep their water supply clean

Businesses would not be able to get their products to market

Perishable goods would spoil before reaching consumers

Secures Well-Earned Advancements for Railroad Workers

Includes a pay raise of 24% and a $5,000 bonus

Does not affect copays, deductibles or coinsurance costs

Provides some time off for routine, preventative, and emergency medical care

Safeguards the two-man crew

Topline Highlights of H. Con. Res. 119

Provides Railroad Workers with Much-Needed Paid Sick Leave

Ensures freight railroad workers receive 7 paid sick leave days

Allows sick leave to be used without penalty under rail carrier attendance policies

Allows parties to negotiate the implementation of these 7 paid sick days, and includes important protections to ensure an agreement is met",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-statement-on-the-devastating-passing-of-congressman-donald-mceachin,Congressman Mfume Statement on the Devastating Passing of Congressman Donald McEachin,2022-11-29,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) issued the following statement regarding the passing of Congressman Donald McEachin (VA-04).

""Don fought a quiet, dignified fight, all the way to the end. May the grace of God give comfort to his soul and eternal peace to the spirit he leaves behind.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-statement-on-mass-shooting-in-virginia,Congressman Mfume Statement on Mass Shooting in Virginia,2022-11-23,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) issued the following statement following the tragic mass shooting in Chesapeake, Virginia.

""For too long, our nation has remained on edge because we all know it is just a matter of days or weeks before we hear about another horrific mass shooting, exemplified by the two back-to-back tragedies in Colorado and Virginia,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. “While our hearts and prayers of course go out to the affected families and communities, Congress must do more to end the carnage. It is a national emergency and a national disgrace.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-statement-on-speaker-pelosi-s-decision-to-step-down-following-influential-and-historic-leadership-tenure,Congressman Mfume Statement on Speaker Pelosi's Decision to Step Down Following Influential and Historic Leadership Tenure,2022-11-18,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Image

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) issued the following statement on the decision by U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (CA-12) not to seek reelection for her leadership position in Congress.

“Speaker Pelosi’s long and successful career has been nothing short of impeccable. Her legacy as one of the greatest leaders, if not the greatest leader, of our generation in Congress is solidified in the history books.

Nancy Pelosi and I both entered Congress in 1987, and I can vividly recall the pride her father exuded during her swearing-in. Decades later, after making history as the first female Speaker of the U.S. House and guiding some of the most defining legislation our nation has ever seen, Speaker Pelosi warmly welcomed me back when I returned to Congress. I congratulate Nancy on a truly amazing career, and I look forward to serving with her as she adjusts her role in Congress to guide House Democrats into the future.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-mfume-watson-coleman-introduce-new-pathways-act-to-aide-reentry-and-reduce-recidivism,"Reps. Mfume, Watson Coleman Introduce New Pathways Act to Aide Reentry and Reduce Recidivism",2022-11-18,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Yesterday, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) and Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) introduced the New Pathways Act, legislation to help formerly incarcerated Americans re-enter society by requiring the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to help these individuals obtain government-issued identification.

More than 600,000 Americans are released from state and federal prisons each year and upon release face significant barriers to reentry. Among the barriers is the need for government-issued identification, a requirement for renting an apartment, setting up a bank account, registering to vote, and more.

“If we are serious about addressing inequality in the United States, then we must take a hard look at the criminal justice system and offer comprehensive solutions. Formerly incarcerated individuals unmistakably face barriers to successfully re-entering our communities after paying their debts to society,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. “The New Pathways Act is a necessary step towards reentry reform and will help formerly incarcerated individuals obtain the resources they need to more quickly become productive community members, as is the intended outcome of any fair and equitable criminal justice system.”

“Our criminal justice system as it exists now seemingly encourages recidivism. When incarcerated people are released, they are left on their own to create new lives for themselves while simultaneously facing obstacles that are almost insurmountable. Without the resources necessary to overcome these obstacles, many newly released Americans remain stuck in a cycle of recidivism,” said Congresswoman Watson Coleman. “The federal government must do more to support recently released individuals, and assisting them in the process of obtaining identification is a crucial first step. By passing the New Pathways Act, we can reduce the number of repeat offenders and bring us one step closer to ending mass incarceration. I’m proud to have introduced this legislation and urge my colleagues in Congress to support it.”

The New Pathways Act mandates that the BOP take steps to obtain a Social Security card and a proof-of-citizenship document (e.g., a passport) for formerly incarcerated citizens. For non-citizens, the bill requires the BOP to help the individual obtain either proof of lawful residence or an employment authorization document.

The New Pathways Act is sponsored in the U.S. Senate by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). It has been endorsed by Families Against Mandatory Minimums, the Center for Law and Social Policy, Justice Action Network, JustLeadershipUSA, Campaign for Youth Justice, The Sentencing Project, the Interfaith Action for Human Rights, National Crittenton, and the Coalition for Juvenile Justice.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/11/raskin-hosts-pact-act-forum-with-leading-u-s-department-of-veterans-affairs-officials,Raskin Hosts PACT Act Forum with Leading U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Officials,2022-11-11,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Rockville, MD – In celebration of Veterans Day and in honor of veterans in Maryland's Eighth Congressional District and around the country, Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) convened a forum of leading Veterans Affairs (V.A.) officials to share information about new coverage available to veterans because of the PACT Act, which expands V.A. health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. Rep. Raskin advocated and voted to pass this landmark legislation earlier this year, and President Biden signed it into law in August.

Rep. Raskin invited Antione Waller, Director of the Baltimore Regional Office of the U.S. Veterans Benefits Administration, and Michael Heimall, Director of the Washington D.C. V.A. Medical Center, to provide veterans with an update on how the PACT Act affects their benefits and to offer them advice on how to apply for the new health care options.

“We’ve been fighting for our veterans to receive quality medical care, and with the PACT Act signed into law, we can now provide veterans who have been to exposed to toxic chemicals with critical treatment,” said Rep. Raskin. “The men and women who fought for our country and defended democracy at home and abroad deserve the best care we have. I’m thrilled that Director Waller and Director Heimall could join me to share key information and resources with the people of the Eighth District.”

For more information on the PACT Act, visit va.gov/PACT.

To apply for V.A. health care, visit https://www.va.gov/health-care/apply/application/introduction.

To file a Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) claim, visit https://www.va.gov/disability/file-disability-claim-form-21-526ez/introduction.

Reach the 24-hour V.A. hotline at 1-800-MyVA411 (1-800-698-2411).

To reach the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, visit https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/burnpits/registry.asp.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/maryland-police-departments-receive-nearly-380000-for-mental-health-support-services-and-community-policing-training,"Maryland Police Departments Receive Nearly $380,000 for Mental Health Support Services and Community Policing Training",2022-11-09,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, and John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) today announced $378,538 to promote community policing and provide mental health support to Maryland police departments. This federal funding comes through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Community Policing Development (CPD) program and the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) program.

The following agencies are receiving funds:

City of Baltimore: $199,900 in CPD funding to expand community policing strategies through de-escalation, tolerance and diversity, and anti-bias trainings.

Baltimore County: $160,138 in LEMHWA funding to enhance mental health and wellness services for law enforcement through training and technical assistance, demonstration projects, the implementation of promising practices related to peer mentoring mental health and wellness, and suicide prevention programs.

Charles County: $18,500 in LEMHWA funding to enhance mental health and wellness services for law enforcement through training and technical assistance, demonstration projects, the implementation of promising practices related to peer mentoring mental health and wellness, and suicide prevention programs.

“Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to help make communities safer. This funding will advance innovative solutions to prevent and respond to crime and support the health of law enforcement officers,” said the lawmakers. “Together, these practices create stronger relationships and trust between law enforcement and citizens, making every officer better equipped to serve.”

The COPS Office advances public safety through the practice of community policing and building stronger bonds between law enforcement and the communities served.

Nationally, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing by awarding grants to more than 13,000 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 136,000 officers.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/11/raskin-statement-on-passing-of-delegate-sheila-hixson,Raskin Statement on Passing Of Delegate Sheila Hixson,2022-11-07,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"ROCKVILLE, MD – United Sates Congressman Jamie Raskin, State Senator Will Smith, State Delegate Lorig Charkoudian, State Delegate David Moon and State Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins released the following statement at 12:30 p.m. Monday, November 7, 2022:

“We are filled with sadness to share news of the loss last night of our beloved friend and mentor and former District 20 colleague, Delegate Sheila Hixson, the former Chair of the House of Delegates Ways and Means Committee. We extend heartfelt condolences to her wonderful family and share their grief over this terrible loss.

“Sheila was a trailblazer in Maryland politics and government. A former staffer at the Democratic National Committee, she got involved locally and led the way for a generation of women running in Maryland elections at every level, always working pragmatically for progressive change. She was the longest serving woman in the Maryland General Assembly and the first woman to become Chair of the powerful Ways and Means Committee. She advocated for gun safety, the rights of same-sex marriage, repeal of the death penalty and progressive tax policy for many decades before any of these causes were popular or easy.

“We are grateful for her impassioned life of service and her enduring contributions to the dynamic political culture of District 20, where her Breakfast Club was always the center of the action, the good-government politics of Montgomery County and progressive legislative change in the state of Maryland. Sheila believed in the power of government to be an instrument of common prosperity and the agent of excellent constituent service. She listened to and valued the voice of the people. May her example of passionate commitment to the people always be our guide in our community and may her sparkling memory always be a blessing to her family and friends and those who love her.

""Sheila’s family and colleagues will be announcing a memorial service in the New Year in Annapolis.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-congressional-delegation-urges-state-action-on-innovative-health-care-model,"Congressman Mfume, Maryland Congressional Delegation Urges State Action on Innovative Health Care Model",2022-11-04,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony Brown, Jamie Raskin and David Trone today wrote to Gov. Larry Hogan urging the state to work with stakeholders to protect Maryland’s unique, innovative and effective health care model. The Members of Congress underscored that the state is at risk of failing to meet its contractual obligations to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

“We write to express our concern that the state is projected to fail three of the six targets of the Maryland Total Cost of Care (TCOC) Model in calendar year (CY) 2022,” the members wrote. “As you know, the model has been a crucial part of our state’s health care system, especially through the COVID-19 pandemic, providing much needed financial stability to health care providers while incentivizing addressing population health to drive better health outcomes for Marylanders. Though the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will not make an official determination the state has failed to meet the model requirements until summer 2023, we urge you to work closely with the Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC), Maryland health care stakeholders, and the federal delegation to take decisive action to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Maryland TCOC Model.”

The full text of the letter is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/today-congressman-mfume-maryland-leaders-to-urge-biden-administration-to-select-maryland-for-next-fbi-headquarters,"Today: Congressman Mfume, Maryland Leaders to Urge Biden Administration to Select Maryland for Next FBI Headquarters",2022-11-04,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"BALTIMORE, MD – Congressman Kweisi Mfume will speak and stand with Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, Congressman Anthony Brown, and other Maryland local and state leaders at a press conference on Friday, November 4, to advocate for Prince George’s County, Maryland as the selection process for the new FBI headquarters continues. Prince George’s County is the only majority-Black jurisdiction under consideration.

Maryland leaders will stress that the criteria used for the past decade, including access to transit, security, cost, environmental impact, and equity considerations, are achieved at each of the two Prince George’s County sites in the final phase of federal consideration.

See President Biden’s Executive Order on advancing racial equity here as an example.

More on equity from the Biden Administration can be found here.

In August, Congressman Kweisi Mfume and other top Maryland leaders, including Congressman Anthony Brown, Speaker Adrienne A. Jones of the Maryland House of Delegates, and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks led a letter urging President Biden to choose a Prince George’s County site for the new consolidated FBI headquarters on their merits and as part of the federal government’s broader equity and empowerment initiatives.

More recently, Congressman Mfume authored a strongly-worded October 20, 2022 Twitter statement, garnering more grassroots and grasstops attention to this issue and the need for the final location to be in Maryland.

WHAT: Press Conference to Discuss FBI Headquarters Selection Process

WHEN: Friday, November 4, 2022, at 11:00 AM

WHO: Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks

Congressman Steny Hoyer, U.S. House Majority Leader

U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, U.S. Senator for Maryland

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, U.S. Senator for Maryland

Congressman Anthony Brown, Maryland Congressional District 4

Congressman Kweisi Mfume, Maryland Congressional District 7

Delegate Nick Charles, Chair, Prince George’s House Delegation

Senator Malcolm Augustine, Legislative District 47

Councilman Mel Franklin, Prince George’s County Council

WHERE: Greenbelt Metro Station (Media should park in the Kiss & Ride Lot)

5717 Greenbelt Metro Drive

Greenbelt, MD

LIVESTREAM: To watch a livestream of the press conference, click here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/11/maryland-congressional-delegation-urges-state-action-on-innovative-health-care-model,Maryland Congressional Delegation Urges State Action on Innovative Health Care Model,2022-11-04,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony Brown, Jamie Raskin and David Trone today wrote to Gov. Larry Hogan urging the state to work with stakeholders to protect Maryland’s unique, innovative and effective health care model. The Members of Congress underscored that the state is at risk of failing to meet its contractual obligations to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

“We write to express our concern that the state is projected to fail three of the six targets of the Maryland Total Cost of Care (TCOC) Model in calendar year (CY) 2022,” the members wrote. “As you know, the model has been a crucial part of our state’s health care system, especially through the COVID-19 pandemic, providing much needed financial stability to health care providers while incentivizing addressing population health to drive better health outcomes for Marylanders. Though the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will not make an official determination the state has failed to meet the model requirements until summer 2023, we urge you to work closely with the Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC), Maryland health care stakeholders, and the federal delegation to take decisive action to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Maryland TCOC Model.”

The full text of the letter is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/11/maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-over-1-million-to-support-mental-health-services-across-the-state,Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces Over $1 Million to Support Mental Health Services Across the State,2022-11-02,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $1,295,259 for the Maryland Department of Health to provide community mental health services for adults and children across Maryland.

“We need a strong network of mental health services to ensure all Marylanders can access the care they need to lead healthy lives. This funding is critical to providing more comprehensive mental and behavioral health care, and we urge the Maryland Department of Health to distribute it as efficiently and equitably as possible. We will continue fighting to invest in the necessary mental health resources to ensure no Marylander falls through the cracks,” said the lawmakers.

This federal funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG) program is intended to meet the need for comprehensive community mental health services among adults and children.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-over-1-million-to-support-mental-health-services-across-the-state,"Congressman Mfume, Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces Over $1 Million to Support Mental Health Services Across the State",2022-11-01,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $1,295,259 for the Maryland Department of Health to provide community mental health services for adults and children across Maryland.

“We need a strong network of mental health services to ensure all Marylanders can access the care they need to lead healthy lives. This funding is critical to providing more comprehensive mental and behavioral health care, and we urge the Maryland Department of Health to distribute it as efficiently and equitably as possible. We will continue fighting to invest in the necessary mental health resources to ensure no Marylander falls through the cracks,” said the lawmakers.

This federal funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG) program is intended to meet the need for comprehensive community mental health services among adults and children.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/11/maryland-congressional-delegation-members-announce-over-10-million-for-enhanced-security-measures-at-houses-of-worship-across-the-state,Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Announce Over $10 Million for Enhanced Security Measures at Houses of Worship Across the State,2022-11-01,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $10,691,398 to enhance security measures at local religious and nonprofit community organizations across the state. This federal funding is provided through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which the lawmakers fought to deliver a $70 million funding increase for in the Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations bill. The program provides support for physical security enhancements and training to religious nonprofit organizations in response to the rise in religiously motivated attacks on faith communities across the country.

“Religious liberty is a fundamental freedom protected by our Constitution, but the concerning rise of hate-fueled attacks against religious communities threatens that liberty both here in Maryland and across the country. We fought for these investments so our faith-based organizations can ensure the protection and security of their members. Team Maryland will continue working with our faith organizations to secure more resources so all Marylanders can be free to worship as they choose without fear,” said the lawmakers.

A full list of award recipients is below:

Agudath Israel of Baltimore - $150,000

Bais Yaakov School for Girls - $150,000

Yaakov School for Girls - $150,000

Baltimore Hebrew Congregation - $150,000

Beth Am In-Town Synagogue - $150,000

Beth Tfiloh - $150,000

B'nai Israel Congregation of Baltimore - $150,000

Bnos Yisroel of Baltimore - $150,000

Chabad Israel Center of Baltimore - $150,000

Chabad Lubavitch of Hunt Valley - $150,000

Chabad of Towson - $150,000

Cheder Chabad, Inc. - $150,000

Chizuk Amuno Congregation - $150,000

Congregation Beit Yaakov - $150,000

Congregation Shomrei Emunah, Inc. - $150,000

Congretation of Kol Shalom - $150,000

Darchei Noam Montessori - $150,000

Edward Myerberg Senior Center - $150,000

Har Sinai - Ohem Shalom Congregation - $150,000

Mesivta Kesser Torah of Baltimore - $150,000

Ner Israel Rabbinical College - $150,000

Ohr Chadash Congregation - $150,000

Owings Mills Synagogue, Inc. - $150,000

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church - $150,000

Star-K Certification, Inc. - $150,000

Talmudical Academy of Baltimore - $150,000

Temple Beth Sholom of Anne Arundel County - $150,000

Yeshivas Lubavitch of Baltimore - $150,000

Yeshivas Toras Simcha - $150,000

Gethsemane United Methodist Church - $150,000

Islamic Center of Maryland - $150,000

Jewish Community Center of Prince Georges County - $150,000

Kemp Mill Synagogue - $150,000

Magen David Sephardic Congregation - $150,000

Seven Locks Jewish Community - $150,000

Temple Beth Ami - $150,000

Temple Emanuel - $150,000

Beth Sholom Congregation - $150,000

Calvary Assembly of God, Inc. - $150,000

Islamic Society of Frederick, Inc. - $150,000

Mother Seton School, Inc. - $150,000

Shoresh, Inc. - $150,000

The Banner School - $150,000

TidalHealth Peninsula Regional - $150,000

Williamsport Church of God - $150,000

Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore - $149,985

Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore - $149,974

St. Paul Church - $148,943

Islamic Community Center of Laurel - $148,000

Bishop Walsh School - $147,366

Islamic Society of Baltimore - $147,257

St. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church - $147,097

St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church - $141,227

St. Agnes Catholic School - $139,971

Resurrection St. Paul School - $139,560

Prince George's Muslim Association - $139,450

Mt. Olive Methodist Church - $136,000

Atlantic General Hospital - $134,843

Sacred Monastery of Saint Nina, Inc. - $130,000

Jewish Rockville Outreach Center - $128,400

Chesapeake Church - $128,099

Bender Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington - $125,343

St. Michael-St. Clement School Willow - $120,886

Institute for Islamic, Christian and Jewish Studies - $110,577

Pikesville Jewish Congregation - $109,200

Grace Bible Baptist Church - $107,575

The Jewels School - $105,000

Temple Bat Yam - $98,995

St. John Regional Catholic School - $95,000

Carolina Missionary Baptist Church - $93,200

B'nai Israel Congregation Cemetery - $89,550

Trinity Assembly of God - $80,928

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim - $75,000

Temple B'nai Israel - $75,000

Bolton St. Synagogue - $74,731

St. Agnes Catholic Congregation - $68,717

Ohr Hatorah, Inc - $61,530

Temple Shalom - $60,570

Covenant Family Chapel - $32,000

Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics - $30,517

Redeeming Grace Baptist Church - $26,907

Jewish Federation of Greater Washington - $25,000

Faith Christian Fellowship Church - $19,000

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-congressional-delegation-members-announce-over-10-million-for-enhanced-security-measures-at-houses-of-worship-across-the-state,"Congressman Mfume, Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Announce Over $10 Million for Enhanced Security Measures at Houses of Worship Across the State",2022-10-31,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $10,691,398 to enhance security measures at local religious and nonprofit community organizations across the state. This federal funding is provided through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which the lawmakers fought to deliver a $70 million funding increase for in the Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations bill. The program provides support for physical security enhancements and training to religious nonprofit organizations in response to the rise in religiously motivated attacks on faith communities across the country.

“Religious liberty is a fundamental freedom protected by our Constitution, but the concerning rise of hate-fueled attacks against religious communities threatens that liberty both here in Maryland and across the country. We fought for these investments so our faith-based organizations can ensure the protection and security of their members. Team Maryland will continue working with our faith organizations to secure more resources so all Marylanders can be free to worship as they choose without fear,” said the lawmakers.

A full list of award recipients is below:

Agudath Israel of Baltimore - $150,000

Bais Yaakov School for Girls - $150,000

Yaakov School for Girls - $150,000

Baltimore Hebrew Congregation - $150,000

Beth Am In-Town Synagogue - $150,000

Beth Tfiloh - $150,000

B'nai Israel Congregation of Baltimore - $150,000

Bnos Yisroel of Baltimore - $150,000

Chabad Israel Center of Baltimore - $150,000

Chabad Lubavitch of Hunt Valley - $150,000

Chabad of Towson - $150,000

Cheder Chabad, Inc. - $150,000

Chizuk Amuno Congregation - $150,000

Congregation Beit Yaakov - $150,000

Congregation Shomrei Emunah, Inc. - $150,000

Congretation of Kol Shalom - $150,000

Darchei Noam Montessori - $150,000

Edward Myerberg Senior Center - $150,000

Har Sinai - Ohem Shalom Congregation - $150,000

Mesivta Kesser Torah of Baltimore - $150,000

Ner Israel Rabbinical College - $150,000

Ohr Chadash Congregation - $150,000

Owings Mills Synagogue, Inc. - $150,000

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church - $150,000

Star-K Certification, Inc. - $150,000

Talmudical Academy of Baltimore - $150,000

Temple Beth Sholom of Anne Arundel County - $150,000

Yeshivas Lubavitch of Baltimore - $150,000

Yeshivas Toras Simcha - $150,000

Gethsemane United Methodist Church - $150,000

Islamic Center of Maryland - $150,000

Jewish Community Center of Prince Georges County - $150,000

Kemp Mill Synagogue - $150,000

Magen David Sephardic Congregation - $150,000

Seven Locks Jewish Community - $150,000

Temple Beth Ami - $150,000

Temple Emanuel - $150,000

Beth Sholom Congregation - $150,000

Calvary Assembly of God, Inc. - $150,000

Islamic Society of Frederick, Inc. - $150,000

Mother Seton School, Inc. - $150,000

Shoresh, Inc. - $150,000

The Banner School - $150,000

TidalHealth Peninsula Regional - $150,000

Williamsport Church of God - $150,000

Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore - $149,985

Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore - $149,974

St. Paul Church - $148,943

Islamic Community Center of Laurel - $148,000

Bishop Walsh School - $147,366

Islamic Society of Baltimore - $147,257

St. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church - $147,097

St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church - $141,227

St. Agnes Catholic School - $139,971

Resurrection St. Paul School - $139,560

Prince George's Muslim Association - $139,450

Mt. Olive Methodist Church - $136,000

Atlantic General Hospital - $134,843

Sacred Monastery of Saint Nina, Inc. - $130,000

Jewish Rockville Outreach Center - $128,400

Chesapeake Church - $128,099

Bender Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington - $125,343

St. Michael-St. Clement School Willow - $120,886

Institute for Islamic, Christian and Jewish Studies - $110,577

Pikesville Jewish Congregation - $109,200

Grace Bible Baptist Church - $107,575

The Jewels School - $105,000

Temple Bat Yam - $98,995

St. John Regional Catholic School - $95,000

Carolina Missionary Baptist Church - $93,200

B'nai Israel Congregation Cemetery - $89,550

Trinity Assembly of God - $80,928

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim - $75,000

Temple B'nai Israel - $75,000

Bolton St. Synagogue - $74,731

St. Agnes Catholic Congregation - $68,717

Ohr Hatorah, Inc - $61,530

Temple Shalom - $60,570

Covenant Family Chapel - $32,000

Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics - $30,517

Redeeming Grace Baptist Church - $26,907

Jewish Federation of Greater Washington - $25,000

Faith Christian Fellowship Church - $19,000",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/10/norton-raskin-van-hollen-and-cardin-urge-national-park-service-to-remove-name-of-segregationist-newlands-from-chevy-chase-circle,"Norton, Raskin, Van Hollen and Cardin Urge National Park Service to Remove Name of Segregationist Newlands from Chevy Chase Circle",2022-10-28,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) wrote the Director of the National Park Service (NPS) requesting permanent removal of the name Francis Griffith Newlands in Chevy Chase Circle, a federal park located both in D.C. and Maryland. The lawmakers have introduced legislation in the House and Senate, respectively, to remove the name.

“We urge you to permanently remove or conceal the name of Francis Griffith Newlands at Chevy Chase Circle, a federal park located both in the District of Columbia and Maryland, during the ongoing construction in the park,” the members wrote. “Newlands does not deserve to be honored on federal land. In 1912, he called for the repeal of the 15th Amendment, which gave African American men the right to vote. As a founder of the Chevy Chase Land Company, Newlands included covenants to homes on Connecticut Avenue to explicitly prohibit the land from being owned by African American or Jewish homeowners and priced the properties to keep low-income people out of the neighborhood.”

The full letter follows.

October 27, 2022

The Honorable Charles Sams III

Director

National Park Service

1849 C St., NW

Washington, D.C. 20240

Dear Director Sams:

We urge you to permanently remove or conceal the name of Francis Griffith Newlands at Chevy Chase Circle, a federal park located both in the District of Columbia and Maryland, during the ongoing construction in the park. We believe the National Park Service (NPS) has the administrative authority to do so, given that the memorial fountain’s authorizing statute (47 Stat. 78) does not name Senator Newlands nor dedicate the memorial to him.

We understand that the coping stones and tablet that bear Newlands’ name have been temporarily removed as part of a rehabilitation project and will be returned to the fountain in four to five weeks. It appears that the name can be physically removed or otherwise concealed efficiently, without further impairment to the structure.

Newlands does not deserve to be honored on federal land. In 1912, he called for the repeal of the 15th Amendment, which gave African American men the right to vote. As a founder of the Chevy Chase Land Company, Newlands included covenants to homes on Connecticut Avenue to explicitly prohibit the land from being owned by African American or Jewish homeowners and priced the properties to keep low-income people out of the neighborhood. He sought to use Rock Creek Park to keep white communities separate from emerging Black communities on what he called the “wrong side of the park.”

We introduced bills in the House and Senate directing NPS to remove Newlands’ name. However, given the limited time remaining in this Congress, and the existing administrative authority for NPS to act on removing Newlands’ name from the memorial, we urge NPS to swiftly coordinate the rehabilitation of the park with permanent removal or concealment of his name. This is the perfect time to do so. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton

Congressman Jamie Raskin

Senator Chris Van Hollen

Senator Benjamin L. Cardin

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-congressional-delegation-members-welcome-johns-hopkins-carefirst-contract-resolution,"Congressman Mfume, Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Welcome Johns Hopkins-CareFirst Contract Resolution",2022-10-26,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) welcomed the contract agreement between Johns Hopkins Medicine and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. The deal comes after the lawmakers sent a letter to the two parties last week calling on them to come to an agreement before the upcoming health insurance enrollment deadline, and it ensures Johns Hopkins patients with CareFirst insurance plans will not have their health care access disrupted during this year’s open enrollment period, which begins in one week on November 1.

“Marylanders can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing that they won’t experience disruptions to their health care coverage during this year’s open enrollment period. We’re glad to see Hopkins and CareFirst heed our calls to reach an agreement and urge the strengthening of their partnership to promote access to high-quality, affordable health care to Marylanders,” said the lawmakers.

During the health insurance open enrollment period, which begins on November 1, Marylanders can purchase new health insurance plans or modify their existing coverage at MarylandHealthConnection.gov.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:34:28Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/10/maryland-congressional-delegation-members-welcome-johns-hopkins-carefirst-contract-resolution,Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Welcome Johns Hopkins-CareFirst Contract Resolution,2022-10-26,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) welcomed the contract agreement between Johns Hopkins Medicine and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. The deal comes after the lawmakers sent a letter to the two parties last week calling on them to come to an agreement before the upcoming health insurance enrollment deadline, and it ensures Johns Hopkins patients with CareFirst insurance plans will not have their health care access disrupted during this year’s open enrollment period, which begins in one week on November 1.

“Marylanders can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing that they won’t experience disruptions to their health care coverage during this year’s open enrollment period. We’re glad to see Hopkins and CareFirst heed our calls to reach an agreement and urge the strengthening of their partnership to promote access to high-quality, affordable health care to Marylanders,” said the lawmakers.

During the health insurance open enrollment period, which begins on November 1, Marylanders can purchase new health insurance plans or modify their existing coverage at MarylandHealthConnection.gov.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:34:28Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-delegation-announces-more-than-3-million-for-rural-health-care-facilities,"Congressman Mfume, Maryland Delegation Announces More Than $3 Million for Rural Health Care Facilities",2022-10-25,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $3,079,600 in U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development funding for six Maryland health and wellness-based facilities to improve and modernize their services.

Funding comes through the Emergency Rural Health Care Grants Program of the American Rescue Plan Act and will be allocated to the following facilities:

Westminster Rescue Mission Inc., $998,400 – To hire additional staff for its Addiction Healing Center, upgrade the Mission’s building and purchase more COVID-19 tests and resources for staff and patients.

Garrett County Regional Medical Center, $802,700 – To provide equipment for Garrett County Memorial Hospital that will help hospital staff assess patients over 65, who are at greater risk of contracting a more serious case of COVID-19, and replace equipment that has been exhausted during the pandemic.

Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center, $459,000 – To establish the “Eastern Shore Delmarva Farm to Freezer Project” – a produce processing and aggregation facility that will increase the availability of locally processed produce, increase opportunities for local farmers and provide a wider access to a variety of foods in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester Counties.

Minary’s Dream Alliance Inc., $374,900 – To fund the staff and their travel expenses, along with the purchase of food, packaging supplies and equipment for the Alliance’s “Feed the Elderly Program,” which was established during the pandemic to provide food to low-income seniors in Kent County.

Brook Lane Health Services Inc. in Washington County, $268,100 – To reimburse lost revenue caused by the pandemic. Over the past three years, Brook Lane was forced to remove some of its inpatient beds to limit the spread of COVID-19.

End Hunger in Charles County, Maryland Inc., $176,500 – To establish a food distribution facility in Indian Head, Maryland by investing in a building, trucks, walk-in freezers and bulk food. Indian Head has a population of 3,844 people, over 12 percent of whom live in poverty. This will serve as the first fresh food source in the town since 1999.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been tough on Maryland families in every corner of our state, exacerbating challenges that have been building up in the health care system for years. That’s why we must keep working to ensure that everyone has equitable access to health services they need, regardless of their zip code,” the lawmakers said. “These federal funds will support the health and wellbeing of people across our state, especially targeting rural areas that are often under-served. We will continue to support these health care facilities and work to increase access to health care in all of our communities.”

TeamMaryland fought to pass the historicAmerican Rescue Plan Act with unified Democratic support.

The Emergency Rural Health Care Grants were first made available in August 2021. The grants provide assistance to health care facilities, tribes and communities looking to expand health care services and nutrition assistance in rural areas.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:34:28Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/10/maryland-delegation-announces-more-than-3-million-for-rural-health-care-facilities,Maryland Delegation Announces More Than $3 Million for Rural Health Care Facilities,2022-10-25,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $3,079,600 in U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development funding for six Maryland health and wellness-based facilities to improve and modernize their services.

Funding comes through the Emergency Rural Health Care Grants Program of the American Rescue Plan Act and will be allocated to the following facilities:

Westminster Rescue Mission Inc., $998,400 – To hire additional staff for its Addiction Healing Center, upgrade the Mission’s building and purchase more COVID-19 tests and resources for staff and patients.

Garrett County Regional Medical Center, $802,700 – To provide equipment for Garrett County Memorial Hospital that will help hospital staff assess patients over 65, who are at greater risk of contracting a more serious case of COVID-19, and replace equipment that has been exhausted during the pandemic.

Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center, $459,000 – To establish the “Eastern Shore Delmarva Farm to Freezer Project” – a produce processing and aggregation facility that will increase the availability of locally processed produce, increase opportunities for local farmers and provide a wider access to a variety of foods in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester Counties.

Minary’s Dream Alliance Inc., $374,900 – To fund the staff and their travel expenses, along with the purchase of food, packaging supplies and equipment for the Alliance’s “Feed the Elderly Program,” which was established during the pandemic to provide food to low-income seniors in Kent County.

Brook Lane Health Services Inc. in Washington County, $268,100 – To reimburse lost revenue caused by the pandemic. Over the past three years, Brook Lane was forced to remove some of its inpatient beds to limit the spread of COVID-19.

End Hunger in Charles County, Maryland Inc., $176,500 – To establish a food distribution facility in Indian Head, Maryland by investing in a building, trucks, walk-in freezers and bulk food. Indian Head has a population of 3,844 people, over 12 percent of whom live in poverty. This will serve as the first fresh food source in the town since 1999.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been tough on Maryland families in every corner of our state, exacerbating challenges that have been building up in the health care system for years. That’s why we must keep working to ensure that everyone has equitable access to health services they need, regardless of their zip code,” the lawmakers said. “These federal funds will support the health and wellbeing of people across our state, especially targeting rural areas that are often under-served. We will continue to support these health care facilities and work to increase access to health care in all of our communities.”

Team Maryland fought to pass the historic American Rescue Plan Act with unified Democratic support.

The Emergency Rural Health Care Grants were first made available in August 2021. The grants provide assistance to health care facilities, tribes and communities looking to expand health care services and nutrition assistance in rural areas.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:34:28Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/10/raskin-restates-the-fundamental-importance-of-the-ukrainian-struggle-for-national-sovereignty-democracy-and-freedom,"Raskin Restates the Fundamental Importance of the Ukrainian Struggle for National Sovereignty, Democracy and Freedom",2022-10-25,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jamie Raskin today released the following statement.

“I am glad to learn of the withdrawal of the letter of October 24, 2022, which—because of its unfortunate timing and other flaws—led to the conflation of growing Republican opposition to support for Ukraine, as exemplified by recent statements of Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, with the polar-opposite position of dozens of Democrats like me who have passionately supported every package of military, strategic and economic assistance to the Ukrainian people and are determined to see the Ukrainian people win victory over Vladimir Putin and expel his imperialist forces from their country.

“In the eight months since Russia began its atrocity-filled and illegal war of aggression against the people of Ukraine, the Ukrainian people have given Americans not just the chance to defend the values of national sovereignty, democracy and pluralism but also great hope for the world’s future. Had Ukrainians been quickly defeated by Putin’s army, as so many people expected, had Volodymyr Zelensky fled the country, as so many people expected, then a dangerous tyranny would have destroyed a nascent democracy, and prospects for democratic causes everywhere in the world would have darkened. Large countries would have felt emboldened to attack small countries everywhere.

“But today there is hope because of the strength of President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people, and the cause of democracy and freedom in Ukraine is the cause of the democratic world. We should unite around this just struggle and stay focused on it.

“Ukraine has given the world a lesson in anti-imperialism and how to fight a just war of self-defense even amidst enormous civilian suffering. Putin has claimed, as European colonizers did for hundreds of years, that the Ukrainian state and the Ukrainian nation do not exist. This obvious lie has been his rationale for an increasingly genocidal war of destruction, the openly avowed goal of which is the destruction of the Ukrainian people as such. These last weeks and days, Russian propagandists have repeatedly appeared on television to urge the murder of Ukrainian children and violence against the Ukrainian population.

“It is a bad colonial habit to suppose that ultimately peace depends upon the wishes of the great powers and the great powers alone, and even progressive and liberal people can fall into this colonialist reflex.

“Ukraine’s struggle embodies a democratic future. Its civilian and military leadership is young and diverse, representing a post-Soviet generation that has learned to treasure freedom and value democracy. Its president, who is Jewish and thus belongs to a small national minority, was elected with 73% of the population, and now has even higher levels of support, thanks to his extraordinary wartime leadership. Thousands of Ukrainian women are fighting on the front, and a woman serves as deputy minister of defense. Sexual minorities are represented within the Ukrainian armed forces. Ukrainians soldiers routinely speak two languages. Ukraine has displayed a striking degree of toleration and decency during a war.

“The Ukrainians also inspire democratic forces all over the world with their example of civil society. This war is fought and won on the Ukrainian side with the help of countless civilians, organized informally into small horizontal groups, who fill the gaps in logistics. An emblematic image of this war is of the vans driven to the front by civilians to supply soldiers. Where conscripted Russians destroy Ukrainian homes, neighbors come to help. Another common image of this war is the partially repaired house: in the regions from which Russia has been forced to retreat, Ukrainians do what they can to rebuild their neighbors' homes.

“Moscow right now is a hub of corrupt tyranny, censorship, authoritarian repression, police violence, propaganda, government lies and disinformation, and planning for war crimes. It is a world center of antifeminist, antigay, anti-trans hatred, as well as the homeland of replacement theory for export. In supporting Ukraine, we are opposing these fascist views, and supporting the urgent principles of democratic pluralism. Ukraine is not perfect, of course, but its society is organized on the radically different principles of democracy and freedom, which is why Russia's oligarchical leaders seek to destroy it forever. I am proud to have been banned from Putin’s Russia for my pro-Ukrainian legislative activism, and I look forward to visiting Ukraine.

“Ukrainians provide us with an example of courage in defense of national sovereignty and democracy. They are defending their democratic right to choose their own leaders and live in freedom and peace, and they are doing so at great risk and staggering personal cost.

“Ukrainians today give the democratic world a chance for a critical and historic victory, and we must rally to their side. It is important to be on the right side of a just war, and it is even more important to be on the right side and win. Just as Ukrainian resistance gives us hope, a Ukrainian victory would give us an opening to a much better future for all humanity. All champions of democracy over autocracy—whether they call themselves progressives, conservatives or liberals—should be doing whatever we can to ensure that Ukraine wins this just war as quickly as possible. Diplomacy by the Biden administration will inevitably follow as sustained diplomacy always marks the conclusion of war—even with tyrants and despots. But first Ukraine must win—let us continue to unite as Americans and focus on that central and historic imperative.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:34:28Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-baltimore-delegation-members-announce-900000-for-black-women-s-workforce-reentry-and-development-in-baltimore,"Congressman Mfume, Baltimore Delegation Members Announce $900,000 for Black Women’s Workforce Reentry and Development in Baltimore",2022-10-24,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Dutch Ruppersberger, and John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) announced $900,000 for PIVOT, a workforce reentry and development nonprofit in Baltimore that connects formerly incarcerated Black women with critical resources as they prepare to return to their communities. This project will work in partnership with PREPARE, a parole preparation nonprofit that provides pre-release services and reentry planning as part of the parole process.

“Formerly incarcerated individuals who have served their time deserve a fair shot to rebuild their lives. But we know that too many of these individuals – and especially Black women – lack the basic supports that are critical to successful reentry into our communities. PIVOT’s services ensure Black women have the resources they need to transition successfully back into the workforce and rejoin their communities and families,” said the lawmakers.

PIVOT’s program is one of the only of its kind in Maryland, focusing specifically on the reentry and employment needs of Black women. The curriculum includes group learning and individual case management, as well as personal success coaching and career counseling. PIVOT partners with corrections, law enforcement, employers, and transitional housing organizations, among others, to assist with every possible need upon participants’ reentry. Participants in PIVOT’s programs have an employment placement rate of 70 percent and a recidivism rate of less than 5 percent.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:34:28Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/10/maryland-delegation-announces-nearly-3-million-to-combat-illegal-drug-manufacturing-and-distribution,Maryland Delegation Announces Nearly $3 Million to Combat Illegal Drug Manufacturing and Distribution,2022-10-24,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $2,782,058 to support the Maryland State Police in curbing the use of illegal and dangerous drugs statewide. This federal funding comes through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Anti-Methamphetamine Program (CAMP) and Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF). Both programs help state law enforcement agencies investigate and shut down laboratories and illicit distribution networks related to the sale of methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and carfentanil.

“No corner of our state has been left untouched by illicit drug use. So, it is as important as ever to invest in resources that take life-threatening, illegal substances out of circulation,” said the lawmakers. “This federal funding will support our fight against the drug and opioid crisis that has unfortunately taken the lives of far too many Marylanders and devastated far too many families. Team Maryland is committed to securing funding for public safety programs that help keep our communities safe and healthy.”

The COPS Office advances public safety through the practice of community policing and building stronger bonds between law enforcement and the communities served. Nationally, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including through grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 136,000 officers.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:34:28Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-congressional-delegation-members-urge-administration-to-fund-baltimore-city-efforts-towards-reconnecting-communities-divided-by-highway-to-nowhere,"Congressman Mfume, Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Urge Administration to Fund Baltimore City Efforts Towards Reconnecting Communities Divided by Highway to Nowhere",2022-10-21,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg in support of Baltimore City’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) program grant application to fund the planning of the redevelopment of the Highway to Nowhere in West Baltimore, a highway project that displaced hundreds of residents at the time of its construction more than 50 years ago and has divided and damaged those communities in various ways ever since.

The Reconnecting Communities Pilot grant program was modeled off of a pilot program authored by Senator Van Hollen and introduced by both Senators Van Hollen and Cardin in the Senate and led by Congressmen Brown, Mfume, Ruppersberger, Sarbanes, and Trone in the House. Following their introduction of the bills, the lawmakers successfully fought to include their legislation in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The new federal grant program is dedicated to reconnecting communities isolated and excluded from economic opportunity by past infrastructure decisions. The Highway to Nowhere is in Maryland’s 7th Congressional District.

In their letter, the lawmakers outlined how this 1970s-era federal infrastructure project tore at the fabric of Black communities in West Baltimore, writing, “Backed by Federal-Aid Highway funding, construction on the Highway to Nowhere resulted in the destruction of 971 homes and 62 businesses. Approximately 1,500 Black residents were displaced, hurting and dividing the communities of several West Baltimore neighborhoods in the process and serving as a stark example of the long history of inequity in the siting of infrastructure. Fifty years later, the Highway to Nowhere remains a physical and symbolic barrier to progress.”

The lawmakers explained that the Highway to Nowhere was the impetus behind their work to create the Reconnecting Communities Program, stating, “To create opportunity and build stronger cities, we introduced the Reconnecting Communities Act to right this wrong and remove harmful infrastructure that separates our communities. The legislation we introduced formed the basis of a provision included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (i.e., the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) to establish a grant program for this purpose. In other words, the injustice of the Highway to Nowhere in West Baltimore is the genesis of the new Reconnecting Communities grant program.”

“We sought to empower and reconnect communities to one another with our legislation. We seek to connect those same communities to economic opportunities, more academic possibilities, arts and entertainment, healthy food options, safe and inviting open-space options, and so much more through the RCP Program,” they continued.

“It is our strong belief that BCDOT’s application meets the goals and objectives of the RCP Program. Removing the Highway to Nowhere and giving back nearly 600 acres to West Baltimore Communities with complete streets and community-oriented development will reconnect communities that have been divided for over half a century. We urge you to give the BCDOT’s application full and fair consideration,” the lawmakers concluded.

Full text of the letter can be viewed here and below.

Dear Secretary Buttigieg:

Thank you for the leadership and vision you bring to transportation issues in America. Your commitment to addressing past transportation challenges while simultaneously establishing the foundation for a more responsible transportation future is truly appreciated. Please continue to view us as partners in this effort.

We are pleased to support Baltimore City Department of Transportation (BCDOT)'s Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) discretionary grant application. BCDOT seeks to jumpstart Baltimore’s efforts to redevelop the “Highway to Nowhere,” a 1.39-mile-long vacated highway corridor in between the West Baltimore MARC Station and North Greene Street.

Built in the early 1970s, the Highway to Nowhere is a reminder of racially insensitive 20th century transportation decisions. This segment of Route 40, formerly known as I-170, stems from past efforts to connect Interstate 70 with Downtown Baltimore. Community activism stopped the plan from further damaging the City’s urban fabric, but the West Baltimore section of the defunct I-170 was left stranded within Baltimore City, hurting surrounding neighborhoods without adding value to the region’s transportation system.

Backed by Federal-Aid Highway funding, construction on the Highway to Nowhere resulted in the destruction of 971 homes and 62 businesses. Approximately 1,500 Black residents were displaced, hurting and dividing the communities of several West Baltimore neighborhoods in the process and serving as a stark example of the long history of inequity in the siting of infrastructure. Fifty years later, the Highway to Nowhere remains a physical and symbolic barrier to progress. BCDOT is working to repair the harm done by urban freeway construction, and the RCP grant program will play a critical role in Baltimore City’s efforts to dismantle this barrier and revitalize these neighborhoods.

To create opportunity and build stronger cities, we introduced the Reconnecting Communities Act to right this wrong and remove harmful infrastructure that separates our communities. The legislation we introduced formed the basis of a provision included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (i.e., the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) to establish a grant program for this purpose. In other words, the injustice of the Highway to Nowhere in West Baltimore is the genesis of the new Reconnecting Communities grant program.

We believe transportation should be a source of growth and mobility, not division and exclusion. We also believe it is never too late to undo the wrongs of the past if there is a clear and renewed vision for the future.

We sought to empower and reconnect communities to one another with our legislation. We seek to connect those same communities to economic opportunities, more academic possibilities, arts and entertainment, healthy food options, safe and inviting open-space options, and so much more through the RCP Program.

It is our strong belief that BCDOT’s application meets the goals and objectives of the RCP Program. Removing the Highway to Nowhere and giving back nearly 600 acres to West Baltimore Communities with complete streets and community-oriented development will reconnect communities that have been divided for over half a century. We urge you to give the BCDOT’s application full and fair consideration. Your time and attention are appreciated.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:34:28Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/relaying-constituent-concerns-congressman-mfume-and-maryland-s-full-congressional-delegation-ask-for-an-end-to-troubling-issues-with-routine-immigration-services-in-baltimore,"Relaying Constituent Concerns, Congressman Mfume and Maryland’s Full Congressional Delegation Ask for an End to Troubling Issues with Routine Immigration Services in Baltimore",2022-10-21,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Andy Harris, Anthony Brown, Jamie Raskin and David Trone Thursday wrote to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Baltimore District Director Greg Collett urging him to address concerning trends in the delivery of routine services at the USCIS Baltimore Field Office. The lack of responsiveness from the USCIS Baltimore Field Office “frustrates our constituents and leaves them with an upsetting lack of information about decisions that are fundamental to their livelihoods,” the delegation said.

“We recognize that the past few years have been particularly challenging for USCIS nationwide,” the delegation wrote to Collett. However, there are “significant delays in processing numerous immigration benefits adjudicated by the USCIS Baltimore Field Office, such as family, employment and asylum-based I-485 applications, I-130 petitions, and I-751 applications … public data suggests that the USCIS Baltimore Field Office’s processing times lag considerably behind most other field offices across the country.”

“These delays have real, devastating consequences on the lives of individuals, families, and employers in Maryland. Delayed processing times negatively affect our constituents’ employment and financial welfare. Marylanders are regularly denied promotions, transfers, or growth opportunities because they have not yet received the benefits for which they applied. Delays create financial and emotional stress for the families and communities of applicants.”

The lawmakers urge the Baltimore District Director to improve services and communication with the public and Congress.

The full letter to USCIS Baltimore follows and can be found at this linkand below.

Dear Director Collett,

As members of the Maryland Congressional Delegation, we write to you in your capacity as District Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Baltimore Field Office (USCIS Baltimore Field Office) with regard to the office’s average service times and responsiveness. Declines on both fronts in recent years are negatively affecting the people of Maryland, and we are concerned that processing times for the critical services the office provides lag significantly behind other comparable field offices across the country. We are committed to understanding the issues facing the USCIS Baltimore Field Office and working with you to better assist the constituents we serve.

We recognize that the past few years have been particularly challenging for USCIS nationwide. The agency has had to work through considerable changes in policies and priorities while also dealing with the implications of COVID-19 and managing increases in application receipting and humanitarian-based needs. During public meetings and congressional briefings, the agency has cited staffing and attrition as a leading challenge. We appreciate that USCIS Director Ur Jaddou has made it a priority to reduce application processing times and backlogs.

There are significant delays in processing numerous immigration benefits adjudicated by the USCIS Baltimore Field Office, such as family, employment and asylum-based I-485 applications, I-130 petitions, and I-751 applications. We applaud USCIS’s effort to redistribute the workload of I-485s nationally across field offices to create more uniform processing times for employment-based I-485 applications. However, public data suggests that the USCIS Baltimore Field Office’s processing times lag considerably behind most other field offices across the country. Despite the aforementioned progress on employment-based I-485s, the USCIS Baltimore Field Office is currently processing most such applications in 31.5 months compared to 20 months in the Chicago field office and 19.5 months in the Los Angeles field offices. Additionally, the processing time for family-based I-485s is 34.5 months, compared to 15.5 months in Chicago and 18.5 months in Los Angeles.

These delays have real, devastating consequences on the lives of individuals, families, and employers in Maryland. Delayed processing times negatively affect our constituents’ employment and financial welfare. Marylanders are regularly denied promotions, transfers, or growth opportunities because they have not yet received the benefits for which they applied. Delays create financial and emotional stress for the families and communities of applicants.

A related concern is the deterioration of the USCIS Baltimore Field Office’s responsiveness to our constituents and their advocates. This trend pre-dated the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic but has certainly increased during that time period. Responses to constituents and their advocates come slower, if they come at all. When provided, responses are generic and do not respond substantively to the situation presented. We are especially concerned about responsiveness to emergencies. Our offices are often contacted by constituents experiencing life-or-death emergencies with immediate need for travel authorization. These constituents contact USCIS’s National Call Center and are advised to await a phone call from the local field office; a call that they never receive.

These conditions have caused an increasing number of applicants to seek assistance from our congressional staffs, who themselves report decreased responsiveness from the USCIS Baltimore Field Office. Congressional staff often need to contact agency staff by phone to discuss sensitive cases or time-sensitive matters, but their calls are frequently not answered or returned. Further, USCIS Baltimore Field Office staff previously provided a substantive, unique explanation of reasons for delays when a case exceeded normal processing times. That information helped provide context to constituents, aid their understanding as to the status of their application(s), and mitigate concerns, follow-up questions, and repeat inquiries on the same topic. However, our staff now often receive only a generic or form response in such cases. This lack of meaningful engagement frustrates our constituents and leaves them with an upsetting lack of information about decisions that are fundamental to their livelihoods. It also restricts the ability of our staff to serve their important role of prioritizing cases, identifying procedural errors, and educating the public about their rights under our laws and regulations.

As Maryland’s Congressional delegation, we value our long history of collaboration with your office to best serve our constituents. We look forward to working together to reverse recent trends. Toward that end, we respectfully request that the USCIS Baltimore Field Office implement the steps below. We ask that you respond to the following questions and requests in writing by November 21, 2022.

What issues, aside from staffing, are causing these delays? What, if any congressional action is needed to address them?

Develop and share a clear and date-specific plan for improving processing times to at least the level of field offices in comparable metropolitan centers. Please address the specific plans for all types of I-485s, I-130, and I-751 applications.

Schedule quarterly Congressional meetings with USCIS Baltimore Field Office leadership.

Ensure the existence of a dedicated phone line for Congressional staff for urgent and sensitive matters that provides responses within 24-48 hours. Such a line is offered at most other USCIS field offices and service centers.

Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:34:28Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/10/maryland-congressional-delegation-members-urge-administration-to-fund-baltimore-city-efforts-towards-reconnecting-communities-divided-by-highway-to-nowhere,Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Urge Administration to Fund Baltimore City Efforts Towards Reconnecting Communities Divided by Highway to Nowhere,2022-10-21,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg in support of Baltimore City’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) program grant application to fund the planning of the redevelopment of the Highway to Nowhere in West Baltimore, a highway project that displaced hundreds of residents at the time of its construction more than 50 years ago and has divided and damaged those communities in various ways ever since.

The Reconnecting Communities Pilot grant program was modeled off of a pilot program authored by Senator Van Hollen and introduced by both Senators Van Hollen and Cardin in the Senate and led by Congressmen Brown, Mfume, Ruppersberger, Sarbanes, and Trone in the House. Following their introduction of the bills, the lawmakers successfully fought to include their legislation in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The new federal grant program is dedicated to reconnecting communities isolated and excluded from economic opportunity by past infrastructure decisions. The Highway to Nowhere is in Maryland’s 7th Congressional District.

In their letter, the lawmakers outlined how this 1970s-era federal infrastructure project tore at the fabric of Black communities in West Baltimore, writing, “Backed by Federal-Aid Highway funding, construction on the Highway to Nowhere resulted in the destruction of 971 homes and 62 businesses. Approximately 1,500 Black residents were displaced, hurting and dividing the communities of several West Baltimore neighborhoods in the process and serving as a stark example of the long history of inequity in the siting of infrastructure. Fifty years later, the Highway to Nowhere remains a physical and symbolic barrier to progress.”

The lawmakers explained that the Highway to Nowhere was the impetus behind their work to create the Reconnecting Communities Program, stating, “To create opportunity and build stronger cities, we introduced the Reconnecting Communities Act to right this wrong and remove harmful infrastructure that separates our communities. The legislation we introduced formed the basis of a provision included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (i.e., the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) to establish a grant program for this purpose. In other words, the injustice of the Highway to Nowhere in West Baltimore is the genesis of the new Reconnecting Communities grant program.”

“We sought to empower and reconnect communities to one another with our legislation. We seek to connect those same communities to economic opportunities, more academic possibilities, arts and entertainment, healthy food options, safe and inviting open-space options, and so much more through the RCP Program,” they continued.

“It is our strong belief that BCDOT’s application meets the goals and objectives of the RCP Program. Removing the Highway to Nowhere and giving back nearly 600 acres to West Baltimore Communities with complete streets and community-oriented development will reconnect communities that have been divided for over half a century. We urge you to give the BCDOT’s application full and fair consideration,” the lawmakers concluded.

Full text of the letter can be viewed here and below.

Dear Secretary Buttigieg:

Thank you for the leadership and vision you bring to transportation issues in America. Your commitment to addressing past transportation challenges while simultaneously establishing the foundation for a more responsible transportation future is truly appreciated. Please continue to view us as partners in this effort.

We are pleased to support Baltimore City Department of Transportation (BCDOT)'s Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) discretionary grant application. BCDOT seeks to jumpstart Baltimore’s efforts to redevelop the “Highway to Nowhere,” a 1.39-mile-long vacated highway corridor in between the West Baltimore MARC Station and North Greene Street.

Built in the early 1970s, the Highway to Nowhere is a reminder of racially insensitive 20th century transportation decisions. This segment of Route 40, formerly known as I-170, stems from past efforts to connect Interstate 70 with Downtown Baltimore. Community activism stopped the plan from further damaging the City’s urban fabric, but the West Baltimore section of the defunct I-170 was left stranded within Baltimore City, hurting surrounding neighborhoods without adding value to the region’s transportation system.

Backed by Federal-Aid Highway funding, construction on the Highway to Nowhere resulted in the destruction of 971 homes and 62 businesses. Approximately 1,500 Black residents were displaced, hurting and dividing the communities of several West Baltimore neighborhoods in the process and serving as a stark example of the long history of inequity in the siting of infrastructure. Fifty years later, the Highway to Nowhere remains a physical and symbolic barrier to progress. BCDOT is working to repair the harm done by urban freeway construction, and the RCP grant program will play a critical role in Baltimore City’s efforts to dismantle this barrier and revitalize these neighborhoods.

To create opportunity and build stronger cities, we introduced the Reconnecting Communities Act to right this wrong and remove harmful infrastructure that separates our communities. The legislation we introduced formed the basis of a provision included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (i.e., the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) to establish a grant program for this purpose. In other words, the injustice of the Highway to Nowhere in West Baltimore is the genesis of the new Reconnecting Communities grant program.

We believe transportation should be a source of growth and mobility, not division and exclusion. We also believe it is never too late to undo the wrongs of the past if there is a clear and renewed vision for the future.

We sought to empower and reconnect communities to one another with our legislation. We seek to connect those same communities to economic opportunities, more academic possibilities, arts and entertainment, healthy food options, safe and inviting open-space options, and so much more through the RCP Program.

It is our strong belief that BCDOT’s application meets the goals and objectives of the RCP Program. Removing the Highway to Nowhere and giving back nearly 600 acres to West Baltimore Communities with complete streets and community-oriented development will reconnect communities that have been divided for over half a century. We urge you to give the BCDOT’s application full and fair consideration. Your time and attention are appreciated.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:34:28Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/10/relaying-constituent-concerns-maryland-s-full-congressional-delegation-asks-for-an-end-to-troubling-issues-with-routine-immigration-services-in-baltimore,"Relaying Constituent Concerns, Maryland’s Full Congressional Delegation Asks for an End to Troubling Issues with Routine Immigration Services in Baltimore",2022-10-21,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, Anthony Brown, Jamie Raskin and David Trone Thursday wrote to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Baltimore District Director Greg Collett urging him to address concerning trends in the delivery of routine services at the USCIS Baltimore Field Office. The lack of responsiveness from the USCIS Baltimore Field Office “frustrates our constituents and leaves them with an upsetting lack of information about decisions that are fundamental to their livelihoods,” the delegation said.

“We recognize that the past few years have been particularly challenging for USCIS nationwide,” the delegation wrote to Collett. However, there are “significant delays in processing numerous immigration benefits adjudicated by the USCIS Baltimore Field Office, such as family, employment and asylum-based I-485 applications, I-130 petitions, and I-751 applications … public data suggests that the USCIS Baltimore Field Office’s processing times lag considerably behind most other field offices across the country.”

“These delays have real, devastating consequences on the lives of individuals, families, and employers in Maryland. Delayed processing times negatively affect our constituents’ employment and financial welfare. Marylanders are regularly denied promotions, transfers, or growth opportunities because they have not yet received the benefits for which they applied. Delays create financial and emotional stress for the families and communities of applicants.”

The lawmakers urge the Baltimore District Director to improve services and communication with the public and Congress.

The full letter to USCIS Baltimore follows and can be found at this link and below.

Dear Director Collett,

As members of the Maryland Congressional Delegation, we write to you in your capacity as District Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Baltimore Field Office (USCIS Baltimore Field Office) with regard to the office’s average service times and responsiveness. Declines on both fronts in recent years are negatively affecting the people of Maryland, and we are concerned that processing times for the critical services the office provides lag significantly behind other comparable field offices across the country. We are committed to understanding the issues facing the USCIS Baltimore Field Office and working with you to better assist the constituents we serve.

We recognize that the past few years have been particularly challenging for USCIS nationwide. The agency has had to work through considerable changes in policies and priorities while also dealing with the implications of COVID-19 and managing increases in application receipting and humanitarian-based needs. During public meetings and congressional briefings, the agency has cited staffing and attrition as a leading challenge. We appreciate that USCIS Director Ur Jaddou has made it a priority to reduce application processing times and backlogs.

There are significant delays in processing numerous immigration benefits adjudicated by the USCIS Baltimore Field Office, such as family, employment and asylum-based I-485 applications, I-130 petitions, and I-751 applications. We applaud USCIS’s effort to redistribute the workload of I-485s nationally across field offices to create more uniform processing times for employment-based I-485 applications. However, public data suggests that the USCIS Baltimore Field Office’s processing times lag considerably behind most other field offices across the country. Despite the aforementioned progress on employment-based I-485s, the USCIS Baltimore Field Office is currently processing most such applications in 31.5 months compared to 20 months in the Chicago field office and 19.5 months in the Los Angeles field offices. Additionally, the processing time for family-based I-485s is 34.5 months, compared to 15.5 months in Chicago and 18.5 months in Los Angeles.

These delays have real, devastating consequences on the lives of individuals, families, and employers in Maryland. Delayed processing times negatively affect our constituents’ employment and financial welfare. Marylanders are regularly denied promotions, transfers, or growth opportunities because they have not yet received the benefits for which they applied. Delays create financial and emotional stress for the families and communities of applicants.

A related concern is the deterioration of the USCIS Baltimore Field Office’s responsiveness to our constituents and their advocates. This trend pre-dated the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic but has certainly increased during that time period. Responses to constituents and their advocates come slower, if they come at all. When provided, responses are generic and do not respond substantively to the situation presented. We are especially concerned about responsiveness to emergencies. Our offices are often contacted by constituents experiencing life-or-death emergencies with immediate need for travel authorization. These constituents contact USCIS’s National Call Center and are advised to await a phone call from the local field office; a call that they never receive.

These conditions have caused an increasing number of applicants to seek assistance from our congressional staffs, who themselves report decreased responsiveness from the USCIS Baltimore Field Office. Congressional staff often need to contact agency staff by phone to discuss sensitive cases or time-sensitive matters, but their calls are frequently not answered or returned. Further, USCIS Baltimore Field Office staff previously provided a substantive, unique explanation of reasons for delays when a case exceeded normal processing times. That information helped provide context to constituents, aid their understanding as to the status of their application(s), and mitigate concerns, follow-up questions, and repeat inquiries on the same topic. However, our staff now often receive only a generic or form response in such cases. This lack of meaningful engagement frustrates our constituents and leaves them with an upsetting lack of information about decisions that are fundamental to their livelihoods. It also restricts the ability of our staff to serve their important role of prioritizing cases, identifying procedural errors, and educating the public about their rights under our laws and regulations.

As Maryland’s Congressional delegation, we value our long history of collaboration with your office to best serve our constituents. We look forward to working together to reverse recent trends. Toward that end, we respectfully request that the USCIS Baltimore Field Office implement the steps below. We ask that you respond to the following questions and requests in writing by November 21, 2022.

What issues, aside from staffing, are causing these delays? What, if any congressional action is needed to address them?

Develop and share a clear and date-specific plan for improving processing times to at least the level of field offices in comparable metropolitan centers. Please address the specific plans for all types of I-485s, I-130, and I-751 applications.

Schedule quarterly Congressional meetings with USCIS Baltimore Field Office leadership.

Ensure the existence of a dedicated phone line for Congressional staff for urgent and sensitive matters that provides responses within 24-48 hours. Such a line is offered at most other USCIS field offices and service centers.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:34:28Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-congressional-delegation-members-urge-hopkins-carefirst-to-reach-contract-agreement-to-protect-marylanders-health-care-access,"Congressman Mfume, Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Urge Hopkins, CareFirst to Reach Contract Agreement to Protect Marylanders’ Health Care Access",2022-10-20,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) sent a letter to Johns Hopkins Medicine CEO Ted DeWeese and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield President & CEO Brian Pieninck urging the two parties to reach a contract resolution before the upcoming health insurance enrollment deadline to ensure hundreds of thousands of Marylanders do not risk losing access to their current care.

“We write to express our concern regarding the status of the contract negotiations between Johns Hopkins Medicine (Hopkins) and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) that threaten many of our constituents’ access to high-quality, affordable health care in Maryland. We are aware that if an agreement is not reached by December 5, 2022, many Marylanders will need to find new providers or change to a new health insurance plan in order to continue accessing the care they need. Thus, we strongly urge Hopkins and CareFirst to work collaboratively to reach a contract resolution ahead of the December deadline,” the lawmakers wrote.

“We urge both Hopkins and CareFirst to work collaboratively and earnestly to reach a fair contract resolution ahead of the December 5, 2022 deadline that puts patients first, keeps avenues to top tier care open to all that rely on them, and limits the impact on cost of care to patients,” they concluded.

Full text of the letter can be viewed here and below.

Dear Mr. DeWeese and Mr. Pieninck:

We write to express our concern regarding the status of the contract negotiations between Johns Hopkins Medicine (Hopkins) and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) that threaten many of our constituents’ access to high-quality, affordable health care in Maryland. We are aware that if an agreement is not reached by December 5, 2022, many Marylanders will need to find new providers or change to a new health insurance plan in order to continue accessing the care they need. Thus, we strongly urge Hopkins and CareFirst to work collaboratively to reach a contract resolution ahead of the December deadline.

As you know, this negotiation process is occurring during open enrollment season, a critical decision-making time for patients and families as they consider which health plans will work best for them and their loved ones in the coming year. While CareFirst members were advised that this will not immediately impact anyone’s access to healthcare services offered through Hopkins, ongoing negotiation terms for the provider rates continue to increase uncertainty around coverage of primary care and specialty services, surgery centers, hospital in-network status, and the impact on the cost of care for patients. If CareFirst and Hopkins do not come to an agreement, nearly 40,000 providers employed by Hopkins will be out-of-network, including providers at the Johns Hopkins flagship hospital, Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore, Howard County General Hospital in Columbia, Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, and Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington. We continue to hear from many of our constituents with concerns that a breakdown in negotiations between Hopkins and CareFirst would greatly impede their access to primary and specialty care moving forward.

We believe Hopkins and CareFirst are committed to reaching a resolution that best serves patients across our communities in Maryland and surrounding areas that also rely on this collaborative care system between Hopkins and CareFirst. We applaud the ongoing, good-faith negotiations and remain hopeful that both organizations will find a solution before the December deadline. This resolution is vital for the health of our constituents in Maryland, and patients that rely on specialty care across the Mid-Atlantic region.

We urge both Hopkins and CareFirst to work collaboratively and earnestly to reach a fair contract resolution ahead of the December 5, 2022 deadline that puts patients first, keeps avenues to top tier care open to all that rely on them, and limits the impact on cost of care to patients.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:34:28Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/10/maryland-congressional-delegation-members-urge-hopkins-carefirst-to-reach-contract-agreement-to-protect-marylanders-health-care-access,"Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Urge Hopkins, CareFirst to Reach Contract Agreement to Protect Marylanders’ Health Care Access",2022-10-20,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) sent a letter to Johns Hopkins Medicine CEO Ted DeWeese and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield President & CEO Brian Pieninck urging the two parties to reach a contract resolution before the upcoming health insurance enrollment deadline to ensure hundreds of thousands of Marylanders do not risk losing access to their current care.

“We write to express our concern regarding the status of the contract negotiations between Johns Hopkins Medicine (Hopkins) and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) that threaten many of our constituents’ access to high-quality, affordable health care in Maryland. We are aware that if an agreement is not reached by December 5, 2022, many Marylanders will need to find new providers or change to a new health insurance plan in order to continue accessing the care they need. Thus, we strongly urge Hopkins and CareFirst to work collaboratively to reach a contract resolution ahead of the December deadline,” the lawmakers wrote.

“We urge both Hopkins and CareFirst to work collaboratively and earnestly to reach a fair contract resolution ahead of the December 5, 2022 deadline that puts patients first, keeps avenues to top tier care open to all that rely on them, and limits the impact on cost of care to patients,” they concluded.

Full text of the letter can be viewed here and below.

Dear Mr. DeWeese and Mr. Pieninck:

We write to express our concern regarding the status of the contract negotiations between Johns Hopkins Medicine (Hopkins) and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) that threaten many of our constituents’ access to high-quality, affordable health care in Maryland. We are aware that if an agreement is not reached by December 5, 2022, many Marylanders will need to find new providers or change to a new health insurance plan in order to continue accessing the care they need. Thus, we strongly urge Hopkins and CareFirst to work collaboratively to reach a contract resolution ahead of the December deadline.

As you know, this negotiation process is occurring during open enrollment season, a critical decision-making time for patients and families as they consider which health plans will work best for them and their loved ones in the coming year. While CareFirst members were advised that this will not immediately impact anyone’s access to healthcare services offered through Hopkins, ongoing negotiation terms for the provider rates continue to increase uncertainty around coverage of primary care and specialty services, surgery centers, hospital in-network status, and the impact on the cost of care for patients. If CareFirst and Hopkins do not come to an agreement, nearly 40,000 providers employed by Hopkins will be out-of-network, including providers at the Johns Hopkins flagship hospital, Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore, Howard County General Hospital in Columbia, Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, and Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington. We continue to hear from many of our constituents with concerns that a breakdown in negotiations between Hopkins and CareFirst would greatly impede their access to primary and specialty care moving forward.

We believe Hopkins and CareFirst are committed to reaching a resolution that best serves patients across our communities in Maryland and surrounding areas that also rely on this collaborative care system between Hopkins and CareFirst. We applaud the ongoing, good-faith negotiations and remain hopeful that both organizations will find a solution before the December deadline. This resolution is vital for the health of our constituents in Maryland, and patients that rely on specialty care across the Mid-Atlantic region.

We urge both Hopkins and CareFirst to work collaboratively and earnestly to reach a fair contract resolution ahead of the December 5, 2022 deadline that puts patients first, keeps avenues to top tier care open to all that rely on them, and limits the impact on cost of care to patients.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:34:28Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/10/maryland-congressional-delegation-members-announce-over-700-000-in-federal-funding-to-help-student-parents-access-child-care,"Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Announce Over $700,000 in Federal Funding to Help Student-Parents Access Child Care",2022-10-19,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, David Trone, and Jamie B. Raskin (all D-Md.) announced $706,819 in federal grants for four Maryland institutions of higher education to assist student-parents in meeting their child care needs.

“When our students are set up for success, our entire community benefits. Too often, parents seeking to continue their education are held back by a lack of access to affordable child care,” said the lawmakers. “We recognize the challenges that student-parents face, and this funding will help them ensure their kids are cared for as they work toward a brighter future for themselves and their families.”

The federal grants have been awarded as follows:

$348,687 for Bowie State University

$122,592 for Hagerstown Community College

$119,414 for Wor-Wic Community College

$116,126 for Frederick Community College

The funds come from the U.S. Department of Education's Child Care Access Means Parents in School program, which supports low-income parents’ academic success in post-secondary education through the provision of campus-based or local community-based child care services. Funds can be used to support or establish campus-based child care programs primarily serving the needs of low-income student-parents, including before- and after-school services. The lawmakers fought for a $10 million increase in fiscal year 2022 for the Child Care Access Means Parents in School program.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:34:28Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-delegation-announces-more-than-67-million-for-covid-19-testing-reimbursement,"Congressman Mfume, Maryland Delegation Announces More Than $67 Million For COVID-19 Testing Reimbursement",2022-10-18,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $67,724,611 in U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding to reimburse the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for previous COVID-19 testing costs.

Funding is authorized by Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. The federal dollars will be used to pay for more than 1.3 million COVID-19 PCR tests that were administered to Maryland public school students and staff between July 20, 2021 and May 31, 2022.

“Testing has been a critical step in curbing the spread of COVID-19 throughout the pandemic. This federal reimbursement will allow our schools to continue prioritizing the health of our students and campus communities,” said the lawmakers.

Team Maryland urged and advocated for both the Trump and Biden administration to waive the standard 25 percent non-federal cost share of FEMA assistance during the pandemic. This funding is now 100 percent covered by the federal government. To date, Maryland has received more than $260 million in pandemic relief from FEMA.

The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act allows FEMA to take actions and distribute funding in emergency situations.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/10/maryland-delegation-announces-more-than-67-million-for-covid-19-testing-reimbursement,Maryland Delegation Announces More Than $67 Million For COVID-19 Testing Reimbursement,2022-10-18,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $67,724,611 in U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding to reimburse the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for previous COVID-19 testing costs.

Funding is authorized by Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. The federal dollars will be used to pay for more than 1.3 million COVID-19 PCR tests that were administered to Maryland public school students and staff between July 20, 2021 and May 31, 2022.

“Testing has been a critical step in curbing the spread of COVID-19 throughout the pandemic. This federal reimbursement will allow our schools to continue prioritizing the health of our students and campus communities,” said the lawmakers.

Team Maryland urged and advocated for both the Trump and Biden administration to waive the standard 25 percent non-federal cost share of FEMA assistance during the pandemic. This funding is now 100 percent covered by the federal government. To date, Maryland has received more than $260 million in pandemic relief from FEMA.

The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act allows FEMA to take actions and distribute funding in emergency situations.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-delegation-members-announce-over-75-million-in-federal-funding-to-strengthen-the-public-health-workforce,"Congressman Mfume, Maryland Delegation Members Announce Over $7.5 Million in Federal Funding to Strengthen the Public Health Workforce",2022-10-12,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmembers Kweisi Mfume, John Sarbanes, Anthony G. Brown, and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $7,586,334 in federal funding to train new community health workers in Maryland. The funding is provided through the Community Health Worker Training program, a new initiative created by the lawmakers through the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act. This program, administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, provides education and on-the-job training to strengthen the public health workforce and delivers greater access to medical resources, COVID care, mental health services, chronic disease care, and other important health services to our communities. Nationwide, it will train over 13,000 Community Health Workers.

“Strengthening our public health workforce ensures more Marylanders can access critical health care services. This new funding through the American Rescue Plan will reduce disparities in care and ultimately improve overall community health and wellbeing, all while providing Marylanders with highly in-demand skills – it’s a win-win. We will keep working to deliver investments like these to bolster our health care workforce and provide quality care to all,” said the lawmakers.

The federal grants have been awarded as follows:

$2,867,385 for Access to Wholistic and Productive Living Incorporated in Brentwood

$2,373,217 for the Asian American Center of Frederick

$2,345,732 for The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore City

The Community Health Worker Training program provides federal funding to advance public health, strengthen the public health workforce, reduce health disparities, and help underserved populations achieve health equity by growing the healthcare workforce and equipping providers with the skills they need to provide effective community outreach, care, and health services – particularly for those recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other public health emergencies.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-on-sen-tuberville-s-racist-comments-this-is-how-violence-gets-started-against-black-people,Congressman Mfume on Sen. Tuberville's Racist Comments: “This is How Violence Gets Started Against Black People.”,2022-10-09,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Image

BALTIMORE – Today, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) joined MSNBC’s PoliticsNation with Rev. Al Sharpton to discuss racist comments made by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), President Joe Biden’s marijuana reform, and the introduction of Congressman Mfume’s National Council on African American History and Culture Act.

Congressman Mfume on Senator Tuberville’s Racist Comments

“His comments are about the most vicious, vile, repugnant, parochial, racist things that I’ve heard in a long, long time. This is how violence gets started against Black people… Black people have had it being the targets of crime. Every time there’s a reason something is wrong, we’re the ones that are responsible.”

Congressman Mfume on President Biden’s Marijuana Reform Announcement

“He, in my opinion, is doing the right thing at the right time…Decriminalizing it to…[make] sure that people have a chance to be able to apply for a job, be able to get employment, get an education, find themselves as a productive member of society again without being tainted by this curse of a sentence as a result of marijuana possession.”

Congressman Mfume on His Legislation, the National Council on African American History and Culture Act

“What we’re trying to push back against is this notion that critical race theory is taking over our schools and destroying our kids, and making some of them feel guilty…

This bill creates, within the National Endowment of the Humanities and Arts, an opportunity for us to create a twelve-member commission designed to study, and to report back on African American history and culture since the beginning of the nation. We think it’s the right thing to do, many teachers have applauded us on this, and Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland and myself have put forth that legislation.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-celebrates-477-million-in-funding-to-fortify-middle-branch-against-destructive-flooding,Congressman Mfume Celebrates $47.7 Million in Funding to Fortify Middle Branch Against Destructive Flooding,2022-10-07,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Image

BALTIMORE – Today, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) joined Congressman John Sarbanes (MD-03), Mayor Brandon M. Scott, County Executive John Olszewski and others to announce $47.7 million in funding to fortify the Middle Branch shoreline against climate change and mitigate destructive flooding. $31.9 million (67%) comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program, which received $1 billion in funding following passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in Congress last year — legislation Congressman Mfume helped champion.

This investment will fund Phase I of the Middle Branch Resiliency Initiative (MBRI) to mitigate substantial flooding that can cause lasting damage to public utilities, hospitals, and transportation infrastructure in the area.

“The Middle Branch Resiliency Initiative is yet another example of the work we are doing to protect the Chesapeake Bay and make our communities more resilient to the effects of climate change,” said Congressman Mfume. “I am particularly proud that the program from which this $32 million FEMA grant comes from recently received $1 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that President Biden signed into law last year. Democrats, including myself, worked very hard to make this critical infrastructure funding a reality and today we are seeing the results.”

Topline Highlights of the Middle Branch Resiliency Initiative (MBRI)

Currently, persistent flooding poses a risk to public utilities, hospitals, transportation infrastructure, and communities surrounding the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River.

Through a coordinated network of vegetated berms, living shorelines, restored wetlands/aquatic habitats, and public space enhancements, the MBRI will protect critical infrastructure elements.

Phase I of the MBRI focuses on increasing the resilience of the BGE Spring Gardens site (BGE) and MedStar Harbor Hospital site (MHH).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-over-965000-to-strengthen-internet-access-for-marylanders,"Congressman Mfume, Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces Over $965,000 to Strengthen Internet Access for Marylanders",2022-10-07,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $966,659 in federal funding to help develop Maryland’s digital equity plan, which will increase affordable access to high-speed internet and close the digital divide. The State Digital Equity Planning Grant is awarded to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development to bolster its digital equity plan through new staff recruitment, increased outreach initiatives, and data collection and analysis. The lawmakers supported the creation of the grant program as a provision of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to ensure that all communities can access and use affordable, reliable high-speed internet to meet their needs and improve their lives.

“Far too many of our communities still lack reliable and affordable internet connectivity. That’s why we fought to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and bolster initiatives, like the Digital Equity Program, that will help bring broadband access to all Marylanders. This funding is critical for communities that struggle with connectivity, getting us closer to narrowing the digital divide and furthering the mission of equitable access to affordable high-speed internet. We will keep working to strengthen the state’s broadband infrastructure and ensure no community is left behind,” said the lawmakers.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a once-in-a-generation investment in American infrastructure that will provide more than $7 billion in federal funding directly to Maryland over five years to expand broadband internet; rebuild roads and bridges; and strengthen water infrastructure, climate resilience, and more. The lawmakers worked to pass this law to help bring our nation’s infrastructure to the 21st century – closing the digital divide, creating good jobs, growing the economy, enhancing U.S. competitiveness in the world, and making our transportation system more sustainable and equitable.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/10/maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-over-965-000-to-strengthen-internet-access-for-marylanders,"Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces Over $965,000 to Strengthen Internet Access for Marylanders",2022-10-07,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $966,659 in federal funding to help develop Maryland’s digital equity plan, which will increase affordable access to high-speed internet and close the digital divide. The State Digital Equity Planning Grant is awarded to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development to bolster its digital equity plan through new staff recruitment, increased outreach initiatives, and data collection and analysis. The lawmakers supported the creation of the grant program as a provision of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to ensure that all communities can access and use affordable, reliable high-speed internet to meet their needs and improve their lives.

“Far too many of our communities still lack reliable and affordable internet connectivity. That’s why we fought to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and bolster initiatives, like the Digital Equity Program, that will help bring broadband access to all Marylanders. This funding is critical for communities that struggle with connectivity, getting us closer to narrowing the digital divide and furthering the mission of equitable access to affordable high-speed internet. We will keep working to strengthen the state’s broadband infrastructure and ensure no community is left behind,” said the lawmakers.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a once-in-a-generation investment in American infrastructure that will provide more than $7 billion in federal funding directly to Maryland over five years to expand broadband internet; rebuild roads and bridges; and strengthen water infrastructure, climate resilience, and more. The lawmakers worked to pass this law to help bring our nation’s infrastructure to the 21st century – closing the digital divide, creating good jobs, growing the economy, enhancing U.S. competitiveness in the world, and making our transportation system more sustainable and equitable.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-congressional-delegation-members-announce-over-1-million-in-federal-funding-to-set-students-up-for-success-in-math-and-science,"Congressman Mfume, Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Announce Over $1 Million in Federal Funding to Set Students Up for Success in Math and Science",2022-10-04,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $1,029,802 in federal funding to strengthen Maryland students’ math and science skills. The funds come from the U.S. Department of Education's Upward Bound Math and Science Program, which supports academic and career counseling to help students recognize their potential in math and science and prepare them to excel in STEM-focused postsecondary degrees and careers. The lawmakers fought for increased funding in fiscal year 2022 for Upward Bound and other federal TRIO Programs, which are federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and support educational pursuits.

“Ensuring America remains competitive on the global stage starts with young students realizing their full potential in math and science. This funding will help students excel through training, research, and mentorship programs and empower them to thrive in higher education and in their careers. We will continue working to deliver critical funding like this to help our leaders of tomorrow’s STEM industries succeed,” said the lawmakers.

Recipients of the Upward Bound Math and Science funding include:

$371,263 for the University of Maryland, Baltimore County

$360,938 for Frostburg State University

$297,601 for Baltimore City Community College

The Upward Bound Math and Science program is designed to strengthen the math and science skills of students through trainings, research, counseling, and mentoring. The goal of the program is to help students recognize and develop their potential to excel in these subjects and encourage them to pursue postsecondary degrees and ultimately careers in related professions.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-nearly-17-million-for-violence-prevention-and-safer-schools,"Congressman Mfume, Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces Nearly $17 Million for Violence Prevention and Safer Schools",2022-10-03,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $16,990,815 in federal funding for Maryland schools to foster safer and more supportive learning environments that address the evolving social, emotional, physical, and mental health needs of students. The funding is administered through the U.S. Department of Education’s Stronger Connection’s Grant Program, which was authorized by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act’s historic public safety legislation that the lawmakers all fought to pass in order to reduce the threat of violence across the country.

“Today’s young people face unprecedented challenges, pressures, and potential threats that can negatively affect their ability to learn. We were proud to ensure enactment of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act which will not only make our schools safer, but also support each of our students through their growth and development. These funds will help strengthen our school safety programs and better protect our youngest minds, helping to maximize their potential for a thriving future,” said the lawmakers.

The Stronger Connections grants are designed to fund programs and resources that prevent and help students cope with violence, trauma and bullying. The funds will also allow schools to engage their communities to develop best practices for creating the safest, most inclusive environment unique to their needs. The Maryland State Department of Education will distribute the funding to local school districts in Maryland on a competitive basis to high-need districts.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-over-4-million-in-federal-housing-assistance-for-marylanders,"Congressman Mfume, Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces Over $4 Million in Federal Housing Assistance for Marylanders",2022-10-03,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $4,258,979 in federal assistance to help low-income residents across Maryland afford quality, safe, and stable housing. The assistance is administered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s New Incremental Housing Choice Vouchers Program and is fully funded by the fiscal year 2022 appropriations law that the lawmakers voted for in March.

“Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. But we know housing costs are eating up too large a share of lower-income residents’ budgets, often leaving them with impossible choices between paying for rent or meeting their daily needs. This federal relief will help those facing hardship find suitable housing for their families as we continue working to increase access to affordable housing in our communities,” said the lawmakers.

The federal grants have been awarded as follows:

$1,000,632 for the Housing Authority of Baltimore City

$749,045 for the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County

$730,941 for the Housing Authority of Prince George’s County

$403,548 for Baltimore County

$188,204 for the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development

$153,704 for the Housing Commission of Anne Arundel County

$115,109 for the Rockville Housing Enterprises

$107,935 for the Howard County Housing Commission

$102,794 for the Charles County Government

$96,876 for the City of Frederick Housing Authority

$94,579 for the Housing Authority of St. Mary's County

$83,195 for the Harford County Housing Agency

$70,923 for the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis

$53,588 for the Carroll County Housing and Community Development

$49,249 for the Housing Authority of Calvert County

$49,126 for the Cecil County Housing Agency

$47,793 for the Wicomico County Housing Authority

$47,036 for the Housing Authority of Queen Anne’s County

$40,570 for the City of Westminster Housing Office

$39,651for the Housing Authority of Washington County

$34,481for the Housing Commission of Talbot County

The Incremental Housing Choice Vouchers Program is the federal government's major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and those with disabilities to afford housing in the private market. The program’s housing assistance allows participants to choose their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/10/maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-nearly-17-million-for-violence-prevention-and-safer-schools,Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces Nearly $17 Million for Violence Prevention and Safer Schools,2022-10-03,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $16,990,815 in federal funding for Maryland schools to foster safer and more supportive learning environments that address the evolving social, emotional, physical, and mental health needs of students. The funding is administered through the U.S. Department of Education’s Stronger Connection’s Grant Program, which was authorized by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act’s historic public safety legislation that the lawmakers all fought to pass in order to reduce the threat of violence across the country.

“Today’s young people face unprecedented challenges, pressures, and potential threats that can negatively affect their ability to learn. We were proud to ensure enactment of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act which will not only make our schools safer, but also support each of our students through their growth and development. These funds will help strengthen our school safety programs and better protect our youngest minds, helping to maximize their potential for a thriving future,” said the lawmakers.

The Stronger Connections grants are designed to fund programs and resources that prevent and help students cope with violence, trauma and bullying. The funds will also allow schools to engage their communities to develop best practices for creating the safest, most inclusive environment unique to their needs. The Maryland State Department of Education will distribute the funding to local school districts in Maryland on a competitive basis to high-need districts.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/10/maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-over-4-million-in-federal-housing-assistance-for-marylanders,Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces Over $4 Million in Federal Housing Assistance for Marylanders,2022-10-03,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $4,258,979 in federal assistance to help low-income residents across Maryland afford quality, safe, and stable housing. The assistance is administered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s New Incremental Housing Choice Vouchers Program and is fully funded by the fiscal year 2022 appropriations law that the lawmakers voted for in March.

“Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. But we know housing costs are eating up too large a share of lower-income residents’ budgets, often leaving them with impossible choices between paying for rent or meeting their daily needs. This federal relief will help those facing hardship find suitable housing for their families as we continue working to increase access to affordable housing in our communities,” said the lawmakers.

The federal grants have been awarded as follows:

$1,000,632 for the Housing Authority of Baltimore City

$749,045 for the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County

$730,941 for the Housing Authority of Prince George’s County

$403,548 for Baltimore County

$188,204 for the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development

$153,704 for the Housing Commission of Anne Arundel County

$115,109 for the Rockville Housing Enterprises

$107,935 for the Howard County Housing Commission

$102,794 for the Charles County Government

$96,876 for the City of Frederick Housing Authority

$94,579 for the Housing Authority of St. Mary's County

$83,195 for the Harford County Housing Agency

$70,923 for the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis

$53,588 for the Carroll County Housing and Community Development

$49,249 for the Housing Authority of Calvert County

$49,126 for the Cecil County Housing Agency

$47,793 for the Wicomico County Housing Authority

$47,036 for the Housing Authority of Queen Anne’s County

$40,570 for the City of Westminster Housing Office

$39,651for the Housing Authority of Washington County

$34,481for the Housing Commission of Talbot County

The Incremental Housing Choice Vouchers Program is the federal government's major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and those with disabilities to afford housing in the private market. The program’s housing assistance allows participants to choose their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-votes-to-fund-the-government,Congressman Mfume Votes to Fund the Government,2022-09-30,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) voted to keep the government open and working For The People by voting yes on the Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023. The final vote was 230 – 201 with all “No” votes coming from Republicans.

“Keeping the government open for the people should not be subject to partisan posturing. I’m proud to have voted yes on this package to ensure vital federal agencies, including education, health, housing, and public safety programs have the resources they need to serve all Americans without interruption,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume.

This continued funding grows opportunity through early childhood education, invests in our schools and high-quality job training programs, provides critical nutrition assistance and affordable housing opportunities, secures our nation, and supports our veterans.

Additionally, this package advanced a number of key priorities For The People:

Billions in relief for New Mexico, Puerto Rico, Florida, Alaska and other communities hit by natural disasters, especially in the wake of Hurricane Ian

$12.3 billion to power the fight for freedom in Ukraine, including new security, economic and humanitarian assistance

Bolstering funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: this will help working families pay for higher energy bills as we enter the winter months

Five-year reauthorization of FDA user fees: ensuring no interruption to the FDA’s life-saving work reviewing and approving new prescription drugs coming to market",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-nearly-700000-to-support-outdoor-and-classroom-learning-on-the-chesapeake-bay,"Congressman Mfume, Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces Nearly $700,000 to Support Outdoor and Classroom Learning on the Chesapeake Bay",2022-09-29,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $692,918 to support environmental education programs that provide students the opportunity to learn about the importance of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed in both outdoor and classroom settings. This federal funding is through the NOAA Chesapeake Bay-Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) grant program.

“Young Americans hold the keys to a better future for our planet. That’s why providing hands-on experiences for students to learn about our environment and its stewardship is so important. Through these environmental education programs, students will also have the opportunity to explore one of Maryland’s greatest natural treasures – the Chesapeake Bay. Team Maryland will continue to support these projects that help students get outdoors to investigate and see firsthand the environmental stresses our planet is facing,” said the lawmakers.

Awards include:

$299,468 for the Paleontological Research Institution to support its initiative titled, “A Watershed of Trees: A MWEE to Engage Students at the Intersection of Forest, Water, Climate, and Environmental Stewardship”

$200,000 for the Maryland Association of Environmental and Outdoor Educators to support the Maryland Environmental Literacy Advisory Network

$193,450 for the National Career Technical Education Foundation to support its project titled, “Developing a Statewide Framework for Incorporating Environmental Literacy in Career Technical Education”

The lawmakers worked to secure an increase in federal funds for the B-WET program through fiscal year 2022 appropriations to help school districts provide teachers with relevant training and students with outdoor and classroom learning experiences to explore local environmental issues.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/9/maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-nearly-700-000-to-support-outdoor-and-classroom-learning-on-the-chesapeake-bay,"Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces Nearly $700,000 to Support Outdoor and Classroom Learning on the Chesapeake Bay",2022-09-29,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $692,918 to support environmental education programs that provide students the opportunity to learn about the importance of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed in both outdoor and classroom settings. This federal funding is through the NOAA Chesapeake Bay-Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) grant program.

“Young Americans hold the keys to a better future for our planet. That’s why providing hands-on experiences for students to learn about our environment and its stewardship is so important. Through these environmental education programs, students will also have the opportunity to explore one of Maryland’s greatest natural treasures – the Chesapeake Bay. Team Maryland will continue to support these projects that help students get outdoors to investigate and see firsthand the environmental stresses our planet is facing,” said the lawmakers.

Awards include:

$299,468 for the Paleontological Research Institution to support its initiative titled, “A Watershed of Trees: A MWEE to Engage Students at the Intersection of Forest, Water, Climate, and Environmental Stewardship”

$200,000 for the Maryland Association of Environmental and Outdoor Educators to support the Maryland Environmental Literacy Advisory Network

$193,450 for the National Career Technical Education Foundation to support its project titled, “Developing a Statewide Framework for Incorporating Environmental Literacy in Career Technical Education”

The lawmakers worked to secure an increase in federal funds for the B-WET program through fiscal year 2022 appropriations to help school districts provide teachers with relevant training and students with outdoor and classroom learning experiences to explore local environmental issues.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-and-senator-cardin-introduce-bill-to-establish-national-council-on-african-american-history-and-culture,Congressman Mfume and Senator Cardin Introduce Bill to Establish National Council on African American History and Culture,2022-09-27,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) and Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) announced the introduction of the National Council on African American History and Culture Act of 2022 in the United States House of Representatives and Senate. This legislation would create a 12-person National Council on African American History and Culture to educate, preserve and celebrate Black history and culture. In short, the Council would advise the National Endowment for the Humanities on how they can best amplify the work of Black creators, strengthen teaching and learning in schools to ensure Black history and culture is recognized, and provide critical resources dedicated to preserving Black history.

“African Americans have played an essential role in creating our country as it exists today. Yet, our contributions are not always fully recognized, celebrated, or preserved, including in the humanities,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. “Establishing the National Council on African American History and Culture will ensure African American history is fully integrated into the telling of American history. By giving Black professors, artists, and storytellers a seat at the table, America advances one step closer to a nation that recognizes the tremendous value of Black history and culture.”

“The lessons our children learn in school last a lifetime, and for too long those lessons have failed to fully acknowledge the role of Black Americans. And it happens in far more places than schools – so much of what we have learned for generations about history, music, culture and more has diminished the role of African American creators, writers, musicians and beyond,” said Senator Ben Cardin. “I am proud to lead the effort in the Senate to advance the companion legislation to Congressman Mfume’s bill to create a National Council on African American History and Culture. The time has come to ensure that every future generation has a factual and complete understanding of the role that all Americans have played in advancing our society, and this legislation moves us decisively in the right direction.”

Highlights of the National Council on African American History and Culture Act of 2022

The Council will be composed of 12 members appointed by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate.

The Council will prepare an annual report for the Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), which evaluates various programs and activities of the NEH to document the extent to which they are contributing to the preservation and celebration of Black history and culture.

The Council will also:

Monitor the work of museums and organizations dedicated to the preservation of Black history and culture;

Gather information concerning historical developments and cultural trends in Black history and culture;

Propose national policy recommendations to foster and promote the understanding of African American history, the preservation of African American culture, and the celebration of African Americans as contributors to the country’s economic, cultural, and political success; and

Make and furnish research and recommendations at the Chairperson of the NEH may request.

To view the full text of the National Council on African American History and Culture Act of 2022, click here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/9/maryland-delegation-members-announce-over-12-million-for-firefighters-in-western-maryland,Maryland Delegation Members Announce Over $12 Million for Firefighters in Western Maryland,2022-09-23,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $12,108,037.50 in federal funding for Maryland firefighters and first responders in Frederick, Allegany, and Washington Counties. The funding will enhance firefighters’ emergency response capabilities and their ability to protect the health and safety of the public and themselves. It will also support the recruitment and retention of additional firefighters.

“Investing in Maryland firefighters and first responders is an investment in the safety of our communities and the well-being of those on the frontlines who are putting themselves at risk to protect the rest of us every day. This federal funding will help expand recruitment for new firefighters and will equip our local fire departments with the tools they need to continue safely providing critical services to Western Marylanders,” said the lawmakers.

“We are extremely grateful for the support of Senator Van Hollen and our entire Federal delegation,” said Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner. “This SAFER grant will allow us to improve staffing to keep our community and our firefighters safe.”

The federal grants have been awarded as follows:

$8,565,688.64 to Frederick County to hire full-time firefighters;

$1,927,818.18 to Washington County to provide new portable radios for Fire & EMS departments across the County;

$1,499,999.27 to The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, headquartered in Frederick County, for its fire prevention and training programs;

$97,142.85 to Borden Shaft Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 in Allegany County for vehicle extrication and rescue tools; and

$17,388.57 to the Community Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. of District No. 12 in Washington County to purchase a gear washer and dryer.

Funding is from the Department of Homeland Security's FY2021 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, Fire Prevention and Safety Grant (FPS) program, and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) awards. The programs are administered by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/9/van-hollen-raskin-join-with-nsa-bethesda-fire-fighters-iaff-leaders-to-highlight-progress-on-efforts-to-improve-base-conditions-build-new-facility,"Van Hollen, Raskin Join with NSA Bethesda Fire Fighters, IAFF Leaders to Highlight Progress on Efforts to Improve Base Conditions, Build New Facility",2022-09-23,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – On Monday, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and Congressman Jamie Raskin (both D-Md.) joined fire fighters working at Naval Support Activity Bethesda (NSA Bethesda) – the naval installation home to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center – along with International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) General President Edward A. Kelly and National Capital Federal Fire Fighters President Scott Burkhardt Jr. to discuss progress in pushing the Navy to improve the living and working conditions for the fire fighters who serve the base and the surrounding community. The lawmakers and IAFF leadership toured the station and saw first-hand the subpar living conditions that persist within the existing fire station and living quarters – including issues such as water leaks, mold, pest infestation, and a broken exhaust removal system, among others. Following their tour, the group reaffirmed their efforts to push the Navy forward and pointed to a recent confirmation from the Secretary of the Navy that preliminary planning for an entirely new 16,000-square-foot fire station has been completed, at an estimated cost of $22.5 million. This progress follows the letter sent by the Senator and his colleagues pressing for an update on the Navy’s efforts to address the unsafe conditions at the facility and is a crucial step in allowing future funding of the project.

Senator Van Hollen and IAFF leadership also highlighted the Fire Station Construction Grants Act, legislation the Senator recently introduced to help build and upgrade fire stations in Maryland and across the country.

“The deplorable conditions that persist at the NSA Bethesda firehouse not only endanger our fire fighters – they also make it more difficult for them to protect the Walter Reed complex and the surrounding communities. But with the help of the fire fighters and IAFF, we’ve finally pushed the Navy leadership to commit to a plan to build a brand new fire station fit for the mission of this base that is at the vanguard of military medicine and serves our wounded warriors and thousands of veterans,” said Senator Van Hollen. “I’ll keep working to push the Navy to provide the necessary funds to get this project off the ground, and I am committed to ensuring our fire fighters and first responders and have the tools they need to keep us all safe.”

“The firefighters at NSA Bethesda provide an essential public service to the naval base and surrounding community, yet their facilities remain in a state of unacceptable disrepair,” said Rep. Raskin. “These brave public servants regularly put their lives in danger to protect us. They should never feel unsafe in their home station. While I commend Secretary Del Toro for committing to build a new fire station, I urge the Navy to carry out swiftly the interim facility repairs required to keep our firefighters safe today.”

“Fire fighters are answering calls today from dilapidated fire stations across the United States. The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center provides world-class medical care to our brave military, yet its fire station is in shambles. Just this summer, a fire fighter there sustained a serious injury when he fell through the floor and required three months of rehabilitation. This injury was preventable; it should not have occurred,” said Edward A. Kelly, president, International Association of Fire Fighters. “The staff at Walter Reed has done everything it can with the resources it has to repair the current station. It is time for the Navy to prioritize the modernization and replacement of this house and others like it at bases around the nation. The IAFF is grateful to Representative Raskin and Senator Van Hollen for their steadfast dedication to fire fighters and their continued efforts to correct the decades of inaction that have left our nation’s fire stations in a failing state.”

“IAFF Federal Fire Fighters should not have to worry about falling through the floor of their bunk room. We worry about that when we're in burning buildings. We also shouldn’t have to worry about waterlogged flooring or insect infestations where we live and work, but it’s a reality that our federal fire fighters face every day,” said Scott Burkhardt Jr., president, National Capital Federal Fire Fighters. “The leadership of NSA Bethesda, Walter Reed, and the Commander Navy Region have all express their support for us, but they have been hamstrung by cuts to their budgets and the meddling of their internal affairs. We as fire fighters aren’t asking for more than what the Navy Facilities Engineering Command have told us we’re supposed to be able to expect in our stations. That’s what we’re fighting for, and we’re glad Senator Van Hollen and Congressman Raskin have our backs.”

Following the June 28 letter sent to Navy leadership by Senator Van Hollen and his colleagues seeking an update on the status of the firehouse, U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro told the lawmakers that the Navy has completed its preliminary plans for a new 16,000 square-foot fire facility and committed to working to budget funds for its construction. Secretary Del Toro also outlined how the Navy planned to fix many of the immediate safety issues in the existing fire station – where fire fighters are still living – and those plans include replacing damaged floors, installing new doors and frames, and making retrofits to prevent water leaks, among others. Additionally, the Secretary provided an update on the improvements made in two barracks for junior enlisted service members on NSA Bethesda, the conditions of which Senator Van Hollen and his colleagues had also raised concerns about earlier this year. Secretary Del Toro’s letter to Senator Van Hollen and his colleagues can be viewed here, and form outlining the plans for the new fire station can be viewed here.

Senator Van Hollen has consistently championed issues important to fire fighters and first responders during his time in the Senate. Last year, as part of the fiscal year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, he passed his Federal Firefighter Flexibility and Fairness Act into law. This legislation allows federal fire fighters to trade shifts across pay periods without it affecting their overtime. State and local fire fighters have been able to engage in trade time for many years, and this law extended that right to federal fire fighters. Additionally, last month, Senator Van Hollen introduced the Fire Station Construction Grants Act, a bill that authorizes $1 billion in grants to be administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help modify, upgrade, and construct fire and EMS department facilities.

A member of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Van Hollen works each year to secure federal funding for local fire departments and EMS agencies across Maryland to enhance their response capabilities and ability to protect the health and safety of the public and first-responders. So far this year, he has led his Congressional colleagues in announcing over $15.5 million for various agencies around the state.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-over-86m-in-federal-funds-for-investments-in-minority-and-underserved-communities,"Congressman Mfume, Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces Over $86M in Federal Funds for Investments in Minority and Underserved Communities",2022-09-21,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced today that three Maryland-based community financial institutions will receive a combined $86.6 million from the U.S. Department of the Treasury Emergency Capital Investment Program (ECIP) to help low-income and minority borrowers. Funded through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, which was supported by all Democratic members of Team Maryland, these funds are direct, wide-ranging investments in our communities that have been financially underserved and harmed the most during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The economic harm from COVID-19 still lingers across Maryland, especially among minority small businesses and others who were systemically underserved before the pandemic,” the lawmakers said. “We have fought to create an equitable recovery that drives investment, including capital and loans, in our communities with the greatest need. These community financial institutions know the region and are uniquely suited to personalize support for local businesses so they can create jobs and expand economic opportunities for all Marylanders.”

The three Maryland-headquartered Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDI) receiving funds are:

$75.038 million - Harbor Bankshares Corporation, Baltimore City (CDFI and MDI)

$7 million - SkyPoint Federal Credit Union, Germantown (CDFI)

$4.6 million - Securityplus Federal Credit Union, Baltimore City (MDI)

“These investments are designed to support the efforts of community financial institutions to, among other things, provide loans, grants, and forbearance for small and minority-owned businesses and consumers,” according to Treasury. They also include the “development and preservation of affordable housing, and investments in community development projects.”

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the importance of investing in CDFIs and MDIs, key components of the federal government’s effort to deliver capital to underserved small businesses and entrepreneurs. In March, the Senate Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee, which is chaired by Senator Cardin, released a report finding that set-asides for CDFIs and MDIs in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ensured that minority-owned, rural, and other underserved small businesses had access to PPP loans. According to the staff report, “The equity-focused policies implemented by Congress and the Biden administration over the lifetime of PPP resulted in a significant improvement in the number and share of loans that were made to minority-owned, women-owned, and other underserved small businesses.” As Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Financial Service and General Government, which funds the Department of the Treasury Emergency Capital Investment Program as well as funding for CDFI and MDI programs, Senator Van Hollen oversaw the increase of these funds in the 2022 appropriations bill.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-congressional-delegation-urges-administration-to-kick-start-new-chesapeake-bay-blue-crab-stock-assessment,"Congressman Mfume, Maryland Congressional Delegation Urges Administration to Kick-Start New Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Stock Assessment",2022-09-21,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all Md.) today urged U.S. Department of Commerce leadership to initiate a new benchmark stock assessment for the Chesapeake Bay blue crab population, in line with the recommendations of leading scientists and fisheries managers.

Following the lowest-ever blue crab population estimates in this year’s winter dredge survey, the Members of Congress called for expedient action to be undertaken using funding from the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) or the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

“The 2022 [winter dredge] survey demonstrates the complexity of the blue crab fishery. This year saw the Bay’s lowest number of crabs observed (227 million crabs) in the survey’s history. Approximately 97 million mature female crabs were estimated to be present in the Bay at the start of the 2022 crabbing season, which is above the abundance threshold of 72.5 million adult females, but well below the target of 196 million,” the Members of Congress write. “While these results suggest that the blue crab population is not depleted relative to the reference points, worryingly, juvenile abundance has not responded to increases in female abundance as expected. Current, comprehensive information is needed to understand this disconnect, as well as to identify and address other factors attributed to the low overall population, including water quality, changes in weather patterns associated with climate change, habitat loss, and predation, including by invasive species such as blue catfish and northern snakehead.”

“Sound management of the species is vital to ensure the sustainability of this natural resource, which supports commercial, recreational, and subsistence fisheries,” the Members affirm. “We write to express our full support for a new benchmark stock assessment, as recommended in the Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee (CBSAC) 2022 Blue Crab Advisory Report.”

The Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee is an advisory group under the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Sustainable Fisheries Goal Implementation Team. The Maryland DNR, Virginia Marine Resource Commission, and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission each have a representative on this team to discuss fishery policies, including blue crab management. This committee has met each year since 1997 to review the results of annual Chesapeake Bay blue crab surveys and develop management advice for the three jurisdictions, summarized in an annual report. The 2022 Blue Crab Advisory Report released in July included a new recommendation to update the 2011 benchmark stock assessment.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/9/maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-over-86m-in-federal-funds-for-investments-in-minority-and-underserved-communities,Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces Over $86M in Federal Funds for Investments in Minority and Underserved Communities,2022-09-21,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced today that three Maryland-based community financial institutions will receive a combined $86.6 million from the U.S. Department of the Treasury Emergency Capital Investment Program (ECIP) to help low-income and minority borrowers. Funded through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, which was supported by all Democratic members of Team Maryland, these funds are direct, wide-ranging investments in our communities that have been financially underserved and harmed the most during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The economic harm from COVID-19 still lingers across Maryland, especially among minority small businesses and others who were systemically underserved before the pandemic,” the lawmakers said. “We have fought to create an equitable recovery that drives investment, including capital and loans, in our communities with the greatest need. These community financial institutions know the region and are uniquely suited to personalize support for local businesses so they can create jobs and expand economic opportunities for all Marylanders.”

The three Maryland-headquartered Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDI) receiving funds are:

$75.038 million - Harbor Bankshares Corporation, Baltimore City (CDFI and MDI)

$7 million - SkyPoint Federal Credit Union, Germantown (CDFI)

$4.6 million - Securityplus Federal Credit Union, Baltimore City (MDI)

“These investments are designed to support the efforts of community financial institutions to, among other things, provide loans, grants, and forbearance for small and minority-owned businesses and consumers,” according to Treasury. They also include the “development and preservation of affordable housing, and investments in community development projects.”

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the importance of investing in CDFIs and MDIs, key components of the federal government’s effort to deliver capital to underserved small businesses and entrepreneurs. In March, the Senate Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee, which is chaired by Senator Cardin, released a report finding that set-asides for CDFIs and MDIs in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ensured that minority-owned, rural, and other underserved small businesses had access to PPP loans. According to the staff report, “The equity-focused policies implemented by Congress and the Biden administration over the lifetime of PPP resulted in a significant improvement in the number and share of loans that were made to minority-owned, women-owned, and other underserved small businesses.” As Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Financial Service and General Government, which funds the Department of the Treasury Emergency Capital Investment Program as well as funding for CDFI and MDI programs, Senator Van Hollen oversaw the increase of these funds in the 2022 appropriations bill.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/9/maryland-congressional-delegation-urges-administration-to-kick-start-new-chesapeake-bay-blue-crab-stock-assessment,Maryland Congressional Delegation Urges Administration to Kick-Start New Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Stock Assessment,2022-09-21,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all Md.) today urged U.S. Department of Commerce leadership to initiate a new benchmark stock assessment for the Chesapeake Bay blue crab population, in line with the recommendations of leading scientists and fisheries managers.

Following the lowest-ever blue crab population estimates in this year’s winter dredge survey, the Members of Congress called for expedient action to be undertaken using funding from the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) or the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

“The 2022 [winter dredge] survey demonstrates the complexity of the blue crab fishery. This year saw the Bay’s lowest number of crabs observed (227 million crabs) in the survey’s history. Approximately 97 million mature female crabs were estimated to be present in the Bay at the start of the 2022 crabbing season, which is above the abundance threshold of 72.5 million adult females, but well below the target of 196 million,” the Members of Congress write. “While these results suggest that the blue crab population is not depleted relative to the reference points, worryingly, juvenile abundance has not responded to increases in female abundance as expected. Current, comprehensive information is needed to understand this disconnect, as well as to identify and address other factors attributed to the low overall population, including water quality, changes in weather patterns associated with climate change, habitat loss, and predation, including by invasive species such as blue catfish and northern snakehead.”

“Sound management of the species is vital to ensure the sustainability of this natural resource, which supports commercial, recreational, and subsistence fisheries,” the Members affirm. “We write to express our full support for a new benchmark stock assessment, as recommended in the Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee (CBSAC) 2022 Blue Crab Advisory Report.”

The Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee is an advisory group under the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Sustainable Fisheries Goal Implementation Team. The Maryland DNR, Virginia Marine Resource Commission, and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission each have a representative on this team to discuss fishery policies, including blue crab management. This committee has met each year since 1997 to review the results of annual Chesapeake Bay blue crab surveys and develop management advice for the three jurisdictions, summarized in an annual report. The 2022 Blue Crab Advisory Report released in July included a new recommendation to update the 2011 benchmark stock assessment.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-800000-in-new-federal-funding-for-chesapeake-bay-oyster-restoration,"Congressman Mfume, Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces $800,000 in New Federal Funding for Chesapeake Bay Oyster Restoration",2022-09-20,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced a new federal grant of $800,000 for the restoration of oyster reefs that are vital to the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

The new funding for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources comes through NOAA Fisheries to support the placement of spat-on-shell, or oyster larvae, on up to 100 acres of oyster reefs in four Maryland tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay. Higher oyster density is expected to lead to increased environmental benefits, such as water filtration and more habitat for fish.

“Oysters are restoration engines for the Chesapeake Bay. They play a key role in the Bay’s ecosystem, filtering water and providing habitat for biodiverse aquatic wildlife. This new federal grant will deliver the resources to create 100 acres of oyster reefs, an area equivalent to 75 football fields, that will provide fertile ground for Bay restoration,” said the members. “We look forward to the successful implementation of these restoration projects and are committed to continuing to lead the effort to expand our investment in the health of the Chesapeake Bay.”

NOAA Fisheries provides funding and technical support to partners across the country to develop high-quality habitat restoration projects. Funding for the new Maryland project comes through the Community-based Restoration Program, which funds habitat restoration projects focused on supporting sustainable fisheries and recovering Endangered Species Act-listed species.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/9/maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-800-000-in-new-federal-funding-for-chesapeake-bay-oyster-restoration,"Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces $800,000 in New Federal Funding for Chesapeake Bay Oyster Restoration",2022-09-20,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced a new federal grant of $800,000 for the restoration of oyster reefs that are vital to the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

The new funding for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources comes through NOAA Fisheries to support the placement of spat-on-shell, or oyster larvae, on up to 100 acres of oyster reefs in four Maryland tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay. Higher oyster density is expected to lead to increased environmental benefits, such as water filtration and more habitat for fish.

“Oysters are restoration engines for the Chesapeake Bay. They play a key role in the Bay’s ecosystem, filtering water and providing habitat for biodiverse aquatic wildlife. This new federal grant will deliver the resources to create 100 acres of oyster reefs, an area equivalent to 75 football fields, that will provide fertile ground for Bay restoration,” said the members. “We look forward to the successful implementation of these restoration projects and are committed to continuing to lead the effort to expand our investment in the health of the Chesapeake Bay.”

NOAA Fisheries provides funding and technical support to partners across the country to develop high-quality habitat restoration projects. Funding for the new Maryland project comes through the Community-based Restoration Program, which funds habitat restoration projects focused on supporting sustainable fisheries and recovering Endangered Species Act-listed species.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-delegation-members-announce-39-million-in-american-rescue-plan-funding-to-connect-maryland-students-to-internet-service,"Congressman Mfume, Maryland Delegation Members Announce $3.9 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding to Connect Maryland Students to Internet Service",2022-09-19,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) announced $3,913,553 to help provide schools and libraries on the Eastern Shore and in Baltimore with the tools and services they need to enhance internet connectivity. These funds were provided by the Federal Communications Commission’s Emergency Connectivity Fund, which the lawmakers worked to establish in the American Rescue Plan, to close the digital divide. Maryland has received over $85 million since the Fund’s creation last year. This funding has supported over 70 schools and libraries across Maryland and expanded broadband internet access for thousands of students, school staff, and library patrons.

“Reliable internet access is vital to ensuring students get a twenty-first century education and have the opportunity to reach their full potential. Unfortunately, too many Maryland students still lack internet access at home and are caught in the digital divide. That’s why we fought to secure this funding in the American Rescue Plan to help provide additional support directly to our schools and libraries so that more students have the devices and internet connections they need to get online. We will continue to help every student — no matter their zip code — access secure and affordable internet,” said the lawmakers.

Awards in this wave of funding include:

$3,799,575.44 for the Enoch Pratt Free Library System

$74,860.38 for the Caroline County Public Schools

$27,748.15 for the Talbot County Public School District

$11,370.00 for the Talbot County Free Library

The American Rescue Plan, which the lawmakers fought to pass, included historic investments in Maryland for broadband infrastructure, education and child care, health care, small businesses, public transit, and more. These investments have delivered significant resources directly to Maryland to help workers, families, and local officials combat COVID-19 and recover from the health and economic impacts of the virus.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/9/members-of-congress-and-truck-safety-coalition-call-for-lifesaving-cmv-safety-advances-following-release-of-deadliest-truck-crash-states-report,Members of Congress and Truck Safety Coalition Call for Lifesaving CMV Safety Advances Following Release of Deadliest Truck Crash States Report,2022-09-19,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC — Today, safety leaders in Congress alongside the Truck Safety Coalition called for immediate action to advance critical truck safety reforms following the sobering release of the “Deadliest Truck Crash States” report. The report ranks States on truck crash fatalities per 100,000 population for 2020, the most recent year for which data is available. The “deadliest dozen” states in order are Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Arkansas, Montana, Alabama, Idaho, Mississippi, North Dakota, Kentucky, Tennessee, and South Dakota. The report data was generated by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The report release comes on the heels of one of the worst years for roadway safety ever recorded. NHTSA reports that large truck fatalities surged 13% over the previous year reaching 5,600 deaths. Annually, there are over 146,000 injuries. Since 2009, truck crash deaths have increased by 66%. Despite this alarming trend, policymakers are acting with little urgency to curb the carnage on our roads. Members of Congress and truck crash victim volunteers of the Truck Safety Coalition issued a powerful call to action in Washington, DC today demanding decision-makers reckon with the price of inaction and take swift and meaningful action to address this crisis.

Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), “It is incumbent upon us to improve truck safety on our roadways for bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists. This is an urgent priority that is searingly important to our community because of the loss of Sarah Langenkamp, a devoted mother, wife, daughter and friend. May Sarah’s memory inspire us to move swiftly on road and truck safety reform. Transportation safety requires a comprehensive effort at the county, state and national levels, and I will continue to work with my colleagues to forward this important reform.”

Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-DC), Chair, U.S. House of Representatives Highways and Transit Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure: “The roadway safety crisis does not receive the attention it deserves. One of the fundamental roles of government is to protect people. With that in mind, I have made safety one of my top priorities as chair of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit. I will continue to work toward safer roadways for all users, including in my run for chair of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in the 118th Congress. Thank you to the Truck Safety Coalition for preparing this landmark report on truck crashes.""

Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Chair, U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce: “In 2020, over 70% of the deaths in underride crashes were occupants of other vehicles. I have heard from families affected by these horrific crashes, and it is past time we act to keep people safe. Underride guards on large trucks save lives. The recently finalized rulemaking on rear underride guards is a good beginning, but we must go even further. I stand with the victims, survivors, and their families and urge NHTSA to make rear underride protections even stronger and require side underride guards.”

Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL-04): “I’ve met families whose lives have been forever changed by the devastating injury or loss of a loved one. They are burdened with insurmountable debt due to medical costs on top of the grief they are going through. We must do all we can to protect victims of catastrophic crashes with trucks. This is why I reintroduced the INSURANCE Act, to change the minimum insurance requirement for trucks, which has not changed for more than 40 years. I’m proud to partner with the Truck Safety Coalition to continue supporting truck crash victims and their families.”

Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), “This report highlights the need for urgent action by Congress to stem the rising tide of truck crashes and fatalities. NHTSA’s data makes it clear that without stronger precautions and safety measures, commercial motor vehicle incidents – including deadly underride accidents – will continue to plague our roads. I’m proud to stand with advocates and families of victims to demand comprehensive, lifesaving solutions.”

Kirstin Gillibrand (D-NY), “I’ve fought for years to protect Americans from dangerous and deadly underride crashes. And no matter what setbacks we face, I will keep fighting to raise the bar on truck safety. I thank Congresswoman Holmes Norton, the Truck Safety Coalition, and the families of victims here today for their tireless advocacy and I’m proud to be fighting by your side. We will not give up until we stop these preventable accidents from occurring.”

Alex Padilla (D-CA), “America’s truck drivers are on the frontlines of keeping goods and our economy moving,” said Senator Padilla. “We know that better pay and working conditions create safer outcomes for our truck drivers and all roadway users. I’ve introduced the Guaranteeing Overtime for Truckers Act to improve wages and working conditions for these essential workers and build the foundation for good-paying, stable trucking jobs.”

Joan Claybrook, CRASH Board Chair & former NHTSA Administrator, “Truck crash fatalities have increased 66% since 2009, costing victims and taxpayers an estimated $180 billion dollars. The large truck fatality crisis is an unattended and ignored public health crisis and it’s time for Secretary Buttigieg and Members of Congress to act accordingly. The solutions are not a mystery: require strong rear and side underride guards in addition to proven, low-cost technology like Automatic Emergency Braking and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems technology on all CMVs and critically terminate the lethal teen trucking pilot program immediately.”

Elise Acosta, crash victim who lost her four children, Anesa (age 15), Quintin (age 13), Brekkin (age 8), and Trentin (age 6) in a preventable truck crash: I am a mother with no children. My children died a horrific death sitting in a work zone when their vehicle was struck by an inattentive and speeding semi. Hundreds of lives are lost every year in work zone crashes. There’s no reason this should be acceptable. Congress must act and implement NTSB’s recommendation to develop performance standards for connected-vehicle technology such as variable speed limiters and require this technology to be installed on all CMVs.

Pam Biddle, crash victim who lost her son, Aaron Lee (age 23), in a preventable truck crash: Despite readily available technology, DOT still has failed to require Automatic Emergency Braking in all CMVs. Further inaction is intolerable and unacceptable, over 5,600 people needlessly died in large truck crashes last year, an increase of 13% over the previous year. Travelling on U.S. highways should not require an act of faith to survive.

Gage Evans, crash victim who lost her husband, Bill Bailey in a preventable truck crash: It is incomprehensible to me that motor carriers only have to file paperwork and show proof of insurance to put a rig on the road. For over 20 years, FMCSA has failed to require new motor carriers to prove they are knowledgeable about safety standards as required by the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act. For over 40 years, FMCSA has failed to increase the Minimum Liability Insurance required for Motor Carriers. The crash stole the opportunity for me to spend retirement with my husband happened because a brand new, minimally insured carrier that was completely ignorant regarding safety standards was allowed to operate in the first place. How many more years will it take for Congress to hold FMCSA responsible to fulfill the lowest threshold of its safety mission?

Daniel Langenkamp, crash victim who lost his wife, Sarah Langenkamp, in a preventable truck crash: My wife, a career diplomat for the U.S. State Department, fled war-torn Ukraine in July only to be killed in August by a 13-ton truck while riding her bike in a clearly marked bike lane in Bethesda. Such tragic and senseless deaths are absolutely preventable. Congress can require that NHTSA require that truck drivers actually have hours of practice behind the wheel of a rig prior to obtaining a CDL, it can require Advanced Driver Assistance Systems for all CMVs, and it can require that large trucks use side underride guards. These are not expensive or complicated solutions. My kids are asking why we are not doing more to prevent deaths like their mom’s. I ask that those opposing these commonsense changes look them in the eyes and tell them.

Zach Cahalan, Executive Director, Truck Safety Coalition: Our victim volunteers are the strongest, most courageous people I know. Their witness shines a spotlight on the abysmal state of truck safety in this country. It does not have to be this way. If more DOT, industry leaders, and elected officials display a fraction of the courage our volunteers have demonstrated today, we will succeed in drastically driving down truck crash deaths and injuries.

Truck Safety Coalition victim volunteers are the strongest, most courageous people I know. They bear witness to shine a spotlight on the deplorable state of truck safety in this country. It does not have to be this way. If enough DOT, industry leaders, and elected officials display a fraction of the courage our volunteers have demonstrated today and implemented the solutions offered by our victims we will succeed in driving down truck crash deaths and injuries.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/9/raskin-s-press-act-passes-house-with-unanimous-bipartisan-support/f7a6b5ab-9f9f-469d-9d6e-1a8f13666a90,"Raskin’s PRESS Act Passes House with Unanimous, Bipartisan Support",2022-09-19,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Jamie Raskin’s (MD-08) Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying (PRESS) Act, passed the House of Representatives with unanimous, bipartisan support. Introduced with Representatives John Yarmuth (KY-03) and Ted Lieu (CA-33), Rep. Raskin’s legislation would safeguard a free and independent press by affording a federal statutory privilege to protect journalists from being compelled to reveal confidential sources and prevent federal law enforcement from abusing subpoena power.

“Today is a triumphant day for press freedom,” said Rep. Raskin. “With the PRESS Act closer than ever to becoming law, a federal press shield law is within reach that affords journalists protection from government overreach and abuse of the subpoena power. I’m grateful to Representatives Yarmuth and Lieu for their partnership in this effort to make good on this foundational constitutional promise, and I urge our colleagues in the Senate to advance the central, bipartisan mission of protecting a truly free and unmuzzled press—by sending this legislation to the president’s desk.”

The PRESS Act has the endorsement of Demand Progress, National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), News Media Alliance (NMA), News Leaders Association, MPA – The Association of Magazine Media, Protect the 1st, Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ).

Rep. Raskin previously introduced a bipartisan federal press shield bill in 2017. That bill was based on a 2007 press shield bill (H.R. 2102) that passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support on a 398-21 vote and was championed by then-Congressman Mike Pence. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced a Senate version of the bill in 2021.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/9/rep-raskin-recognizes-u-s-postal-inspection-service-inspector-charles-wickersham-as-a-local-hero,Rep. Raskin Recognizes U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspector Charles Wickersham as a Local Hero,2022-09-16,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Rockville, MD – Today, Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) recognized U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Inspector Charles Wickersham as a “Local Hero” for his diligent efforts to ensure the integrity of the Postal Service throughout Maryland’s Eighth District. Inspector Wickersham’s work contributed to the arrest and indictment of four accused postal thieves in the national capital region this July.

“Constituents have shared alarming stories of postal problems ranging from misdeliveries to stolen checks worth thousands of dollars, and I have been working closely with USPIS to address these problems and crimes,” said Rep. Raskin. “I’m thankful we have a steadfast advocate in Inspector Wickersham and his team. I’m profoundly grateful for his partnership in strengthening the Postal Service for our community.”

To watch the Local Hero segment with Inspector Wickersham, please visit Rep. Raskin’s YouTube channel, or visit his other social media accounts.

Based on a review conducted by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service observed a 161% increase in mail theft complaints from March 2020 through February 2021, compared to the same period in the previous year. Rep. Raskin has worked closely with Inspector Wickersham to understand and respond to escalating mail thefts and concerns within the Eighth District. Recently, Rep. Raskin invited Inspector Wickersham to join him at a Silver Spring Civic Association meeting, where Inspector Wickersham provided an overview of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and their efforts to address these issues.

Rep. Raskin alerted the Department of Justice to a pattern of mail thefts in the Eighth District, and in July, four individuals allegedly responsible for postal thefts were indicted by federal prosecutors. More information on the indictments is available at the Department of Justice website.

As a member of the House Oversight Committee, Rep. Raskin continually advocates for secure, reliable mail service for the Eighth District and the country, most recently sounding the alarm on these local mail thefts and misdeliveries to senior USPS officials at a Government Operations Subcommittee hearing on mail delivery issues in Maryland. A video of some of those remarks is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/9/van-hollen-cardin-trone-raskin-announce-nearly-8-5-million-for-improvements-at-frederick-carroll-county-airports,"Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone, Raskin Announce Nearly $8.5 Million for Improvements at Frederick, Carroll County Airports",2022-09-16,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $8,463,915 in federal funding to support improvements at Frederick Municipal airport and Carroll County Regional airport. The funds are provided through the Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP).

“Ensuring our airports are in the best condition keeps passengers safe, flights on time, and our economy growing. And with these federal resources, we’re not only helping Frederick and Carroll County airports better serve travelers and regional businesses, we’re also creating good-paying, local jobs,” said the lawmakers. “We will continue working to secure funding for critical infrastructure upgrades across our state because these investments are key to supporting our local economies.”

The federal grants have been awarded as follows:

$5,476,556 for Frederick Municipal Airport to extend the runway to meet the operational needs of the airport; and

$2,987,359 for Carroll County Regional/Jack B Poage Field Airport to help reconstruct the runway by relocating a portion of a public use road and reimbursing for land acquisition.

AIP funds various types of airport infrastructure projects across the country, including repairs and upgrades to runways, taxiways, airport signage, lighting and markings – all while creating thousands of good-paying, local jobs. The members have consistently fought to provide funds for airports and terminal operators, including by securing an additional $20 billion to address the financial impacts of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/9/chairman-raskin-introduces-legislation-establishing-federal-anti-slapp-statute-to-protect-first-amendment-rights,Chairman Raskin Introduces Legislation Establishing Federal Anti-SLAPP Statute to Protect First Amendment Rights,2022-09-15,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington D.C. (September 15, 2022) — Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, introduced the Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) Protection Act to establish a procedure to dismiss and deter strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) and punish entities that attempt to use this litigation to stifle First Amendment protected speech. The legislation follows a Subcommittee hearing yesterday that highlighted the fossil fuel industry’s use of SLAPPs to silence environmental activists and non-profits who speak out against proposed fossil fuel pipelines and other projects that contribute to climate change.

“For decades, the fossil fuel industry has abused our legal system by deploying costly, protracted and meritless lawsuits to target activists, non-profits and other organizations exercising their First Amendment rights,” said Chairman Raskin. “The rights to free speech, peaceful assembly, and a free press are fundamental to what it means to be an American, but this gap in federal law has allowed corporations and bad actors to chill speech and dissent. This legislation will stop wealthy forces from weaponizing the law to protect selfish interests.”

“SLAPPs undermine the very values that are fundamental to our democracy: free speech and healthy debate. For the past six years, Greenpeace USA has been fighting SLAPPs that collectively seek more than $400 million in damages. Smaller groups and individuals can be sued into silence by the mere filing of a SLAPP, which is precisely the intent behind this tactic. Federal anti-SLAPP legislation will lower the rising price tag on free speech—and protect the voices of those who dedicate their lives to defending our planet and our communities,” said Deepa Padmanabha, Deputy General Counsel for Greenpeace USA.

“By introducing the SLAPP Protection Act, Congressman Raskin is leading the way in ensuring that people can speak up about problems and injustices important to their communities and the American people. SLAPP lawsuits aren’t regular court cases. They're baseless legal actions filed by powerful individuals and businesses, targeting the free speech of protestors, journalists, and others who speak out on public matters. The aim of these cases is to tie up their targets in court until they sign away their First Amendment rights. Dozens of states have passed anti-SLAPP laws protecting people and state courts from this abusive tactic. The SLAPP Protection Act would do the same for the federal court system, representing a significant step forward in eliminating these harmful attacks,” said David McKean, Executive Director, International Corporate Accountability Roundtable (ICAR) and Protect the Protest task force leadership.

“Congressman Raskin’s landmark legislation will help ensure that concerned citizens, journalists, and activists can speak up about issues that are important in their communities without fear of retaliation. The SLAPP Protection Act will provide courts with the tools to quickly identify and throw out SLAPPs, while keeping safeguards in place to protect plaintiffs who are seeking access to justice,” said Kirk Herbertson, Senior Policy Advisor, EarthRights International.

Since the 1980s, SLAPPs have been used by powerful entities and individuals to silence critics through costly, lengthy, and often meritless litigation. Currently, there is no federal SLAPP statute that provides consistent protection across federal courts. This bill would create a “special motion to dismiss” SLAPP suits within federal law, modeled on the language and procedure currently in place in states with strong anti-SLAPP statutes. The special motion is distinct from other types of motions to dismiss, listed under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), and would be substantively treated as a Motion for Summary Judgement under Rule 56. The law would also provide a floor for anti-SLAPP measures in the 18 states that currently do not have any anti-SLAPP provisions whatsoever.

The SLAPP Protection Act of 2022 aims to protect the exercise of constitutionally protected rights, including free speech, petition, and peaceful assembly, as well as freedom of the press and the right to strike. To protect legitimate defamation cases, the bill includes several exceptions, such as government officials acting in their official capacity, whistleblower actions and litigation under anti-discrimination statutes.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-delegation-announces-823000-for-americorps-vista-programs-in-howard-montgomery-and-frederick-counties,"Congressman Mfume, Maryland Delegation Announces $823,000 for AmeriCorps VISTA Programs in Howard, Montgomery and Frederick Counties",2022-09-14,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $822,780 in federal funding for AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) programs in Maryland which aim to alleviate poverty through partnerships with local organizations. AmeriCorps VISTA members work with local non-profits and groups to hone their leadership skills while working on issues facing communities, including housing & food insecurity, climate change, access to education, and more. This investment will support up to 42 AmeriCorps VISTA members per year in Maryland.

“As the only federal agency focused on national volunteer work, AmeriCorps is an invaluable partner in tackling many of the challenges our communities face,” the lawmakers said. “From providing emergency aid during the COVID-19 pandemic to supporting communities affected by the opioid crisis, AmeriCorps strategically pairs its federal resources with those of local groups to help Americans in need. This funding for VISTA programs in Maryland will allow AmeriCorps members to provide vital services in our communities while they gain experience working in public service.”

The FY22 AmeriCorps VISTA Quarter 3 Maryland Awards are:

$724,830 to the Campus Compact Mid-Atlantic VISTA project based in Frederick, a non-profit membership association of public, private, 2- and 4-year colleges and universities that encourages student participation in community service and public service.

$58,770 to Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. in Columbia, a national nonprofit that addresses housing shortages in communities through tactical investments and community development.

$39,180 to CareerCatchers 2.0 based in Silver Spring, an organization that provides personalized career coaching and mentorship to individuals in low-income areas.

In addition to the awards announced today, AmeriCorps will also provide $272,790 each year in education scholarships for the AmeriCorps VISTA members supported by this award to help pay for college, vocational training, or pay back existing student loans.

Every year, tens of thousands AmeriCorps members serve through 21,000+ schools, nonprofits, community and faith-based organizations and state, tribal and local governments across the country. Since the program’s inception in 1994, more than 1 million Americans have served in AmeriCorps, providing more than 1.6 billion hours of service and earned more than $4 billion in education scholarships. Currently, there are 7,000 AmeriCorps members in the VISTA program. Those interested in joining AmeriCorps can learn more at AmeriCorps.gov/Join.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/9/maryland-delegation-announces-823-000-for-americorps-vista-programs-in-howard-montgomery-and-frederick-counties,"Maryland Delegation Announces $823,000 for AmeriCorps VISTA Programs in Howard, Montgomery and Frederick Counties",2022-09-14,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $822,780 in federal funding for AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) programs in Maryland which aim to alleviate poverty through partnerships with local organizations. AmeriCorps VISTA members work with local non-profits and groups to hone their leadership skills while working on issues facing communities, including housing & food insecurity, climate change, access to education, and more. This investment will support up to 42 AmeriCorps VISTA members per year in Maryland.

“As the only federal agency focused on national volunteer work, AmeriCorps is an invaluable partner in tackling many of the challenges our communities face,” the lawmakers said. “From providing emergency aid during the COVID-19 pandemic to supporting communities affected by the opioid crisis, AmeriCorps strategically pairs its federal resources with those of local groups to help Americans in need. This funding for VISTA programs in Maryland will allow AmeriCorps members to provide vital services in our communities while they gain experience working in public service.”

The FY22 AmeriCorps VISTA Quarter 3 Maryland Awards are:

$724,830 to the Campus Compact Mid-Atlantic VISTA project based in Frederick, a non-profit membership association of public, private, 2- and 4-year colleges and universities that encourages student participation in community service and public service.

$58,770 to Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. in Columbia, a national nonprofit that addresses housing shortages in communities through tactical investments and community development.

$39,180 to Career Catchers 2.0based in Silver Spring, an organization that provides personalized career coaching and mentorship to individuals in low-income areas.

In addition to the awards announced today, AmeriCorps will also provide $272,790 each year in education scholarships for the AmeriCorps VISTA members supported by this award to help pay for college, vocational training, or pay back existing student loans.

Every year, tens of thousands AmeriCorps members serve through 21,000+ schools, nonprofits, community and faith-based organizations and state, tribal and local governments across the country. Since the program’s inception in 1994, more than 1 million Americans have served in AmeriCorps, providing more than 1.6 billion hours of service and earned more than $4 billion in education scholarships. Currently, there are 7,000 AmeriCorps members in the VISTA program. Those interested in joining AmeriCorps can learn more at AmeriCorps.gov/Join.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/9/cardin-van-hollen-raskin-trone-announce-108-000-to-repair-flood-damaged-sections-of-the-c-o-canal-and-george-washington-memorial-parkway,"Cardin, Van Hollen, Raskin, Trone Announce $108,000 to Repair Flood-Damaged Sections of the C&O Canal and George Washington Memorial Parkway",2022-09-09,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $108,942 in federal funding for the National Park Service to support the reconstruction of portions of the Chesapeake and Ohio National Historical Park and George Washington Memorial Parkway that suffered severe damage due to heavy rains and flooding.

“Climate change has already taken a toll on our local roadways and infrastructure. This federal investment will allow for much-needed repairs to Maryland’s transportation network – from our roads to local visitor centers. It will help fix serious damage sustained from extreme flooding in recent years and highlights yet another example of the need to upgrade and rebuild our infrastructure to withstand severe weather events driven by climate change,” the lawmakers said. “That is why Team Maryland fought to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and why we will continue fighting to secure federal funding that bolsters the resilience of communities.”

Funding comes through an Emergency Relief program within the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration to repair damaged roads and bridges. The award includes multiple project sites at Chesapeake and Ohio National Historical Park impacting both Maryland and Washington D.C. — Great Falls access road & fee booth, Great Falls Tavern, Pennyfield parking lot and access road, Fletcher's Boathouse Bridge #1, and Fletcher's Boathouse Tunnel — and the south section of the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Alexandria, Virginia.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/9/maryland-delegation-members-announce-more-than-1-million-for-firefighters-in-prince-george-s-and-montgomery-counties,Maryland Delegation Members Announce More Than $1 Million for Firefighters in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties,2022-09-08,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Jamie B. Raskin, Anthony Brown, and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $1,178,400 in federal funding for firefighters and first responders in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties. The funding will directly bolster fire departments, State Fire Training Academies, and nonaffiliated emergency medical services organizations to enhance their response capabilities and ability to protect the health and safety of the public – as well as first-responders – and recruit and retain frontline firefighters.

“Maryland firefighters and first responders are on the front lines every single day, working tirelessly to keep Marylanders safe. This federal funding will help equip our local fire departments with the tools they need to continue doing their jobs safely, providing critical services to Marylanders, and recruiting new firefighters,” said the lawmakers.

The federal grants have been awarded as follows:

$720,000 for the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire-Rescue Association, Inc. to support its high school cadet training program and its tuition assistance firefighter retention program

$458,400 for the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute at the University of Maryland College Park for the State Training Academy

Funding is from the Department of Homeland Security's FY2021 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) awards. The programs are administered by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/9/maryland-delegation-members-announce-nearly-1-4-million-for-firefighters-in-garrett-and-carroll-counties,Maryland Delegation Members Announce Nearly $1.4 Million for Firefighters in Garrett and Carroll Counties,2022-09-08,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Jamie B. Raskin, David Trone, and Andy Harris (all Md.) announced $1,399,058.69 in federal funding for Maryland firefighters and first responders in Garrett and Carroll Counties. The funding will directly bolster fire departments, State Fire Training Academies, and nonaffiliated emergency medical services organizations to enhance their response capabilities and ability to protect the health and safety of the public – as well as first-responders.

“Maryland firefighters and first responders are on the front lines every single day, putting themselves at risk to keep Marylanders safe. This federal funding will help equip our local fire departments with the tools they need to accomplish their mission and provide critical services in Garrett and Carroll Counties,” said the lawmakers.

The federal grants have been awarded as follows:

$797,227.27 for the Carroll County Department of Fire and Emergency Services for portable and mobile radios

$428,571.42 for the Deep Creek Volunteer Fire Co Inc. to replace a 40-year-old tanker

$173,260.00 for the Gorman Volunteer Fire Department to replace Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (“SCBA”)

Funding is from the Department of Homeland Security's FY2021 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. The program is administered by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-congressional-delegation-members-announce-over-28-million-in-federal-funding-to-support-maryland-museums-educational-institutions,"Congressman Mfume, Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Announce Over $2.8 Million in Federal Funding to Support Maryland Museums, Educational Institutions",2022-09-07,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) announced $2,844,230 in federal funding to support projects at museums, libraries, and educational institutions across Maryland. The funding, which is administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), comes from annual appropriations legislation and the American Rescue Plan, both of which the lawmakers fought to pass.

“Maryland’s museums and library programs help connect residents to educational resources, catalog our rich history, and inspire people across generations,” said the lawmakers. “We will continue to support federal investments like these because they strengthen our communities and foster greater access to valuable cultural programs and tools to better preserve and explore our history.”

The awards include:

$496,070 for the University of Maryland, College Park’s Inverting Colonial Archival Authority: Increasing Access for Indigenous Communities in SNAC project;

$458,151 for the University of Maryland, College Park’s Crowdsourced Data: Accuracy, Accessibility, Authority project;

$399,698 for University of Maryland, College Park’s Launching the TALENT Network to Promote the Training of Archival & Library Educators with Innovative Technologies project;

$398,171 for Howard County Library’s Pathways to Success: Professional Development for Skilled New Americans project;

$275,045 for Sandy Spring Museum’s Equity in Metadata project and Advancing the Regional Folklife Center project;

$250,000 for the Baltimore Museum of Art’s American Collection Cataloguing, Digitization & Reinstallation project;

$249,900 for The Peale Center for Baltimore History and Architecture’s Accomplished Arts Apprentices project;

$246,195 for the Trustees of the Walters Art Gallery’s Across Asia project; and

$71,000 for the Baltimore Children’s Museum’s Strengthening Multi-Generational Early Childhood Education project.

The IMLS supports America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through federal funding, research, and policy development. In fiscal year 2022, the lawmakers worked to secure $268 million for the agency. In fighting to pass the American Rescue Plan, the lawmakers supported the creation of an additional IMLS grant program to support museum and library services in addressing community needs created or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and assisting with recovery.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-delegation-members-announce-12-million-to-support-survivors-of-domestic-violence-in-baltimore-region,"Congressman Mfume, Maryland Delegation Members Announce $1.2 Million to Support Survivors of Domestic Violence in Baltimore Region",2022-09-07,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Dutch Ruppersberger, and John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) announced $1.2 million to increase the availability of civil and criminal legal assistance for survivors of dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, among other forms of domestic violence. This funding comes from the Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program, administered by the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women, and provides funds for comprehensive direct legal services relating to or arising out of abuse or violence.

“Throughout the pandemic, we saw an alarming rise in intimate partner and gender-based violence, which put the health and wellbeing of too many Marylanders at greater risk. This funding gives more resources to trusted organizations that are working on the ground to protect survivors and ensure their safety. We will continue to stand with domestic violence survivors and do everything we can to support and fund local partners who are making a positive difference in our communities,” said the lawmakers.

Funding awards include:

$600,000 for the Tahirih Justice Center in Baltimore City

$600,000 for the Sexual Assault/Spouse Abuse Resource Center (SARC) in Harford County

The lawmakers supported the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in the fiscal year 2022 government funding bill, which reauthorized critical domestic violence survivor programs through 2027. These programs include the Rape Prevention and Education grant program to provide services, protection, and justice for young victims of violence; the STOP Violence Against Women Formula Program, which enhances judicial and law enforcement tools to help crack down on domestic violence; and the SMART Prevention Program, which reduces dating violence. The reauthorization also took historic steps to expand jurisdiction for American Indian and Alaskan Native tribes and increase services and supports for historically underserved populations – including LGBTQ+ survivors, survivors with disabilities, immigrant survivors, older Americans, and others.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-baltimore-delegation-members-announce-nearly-600000-for-firefighters-in-baltimore,"Congressman Mfume, Baltimore Delegation Members Announce Nearly $600,000 for Firefighters in Baltimore",2022-09-06,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Dutch Ruppersberger, and John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) announced $597,900.90 in federal funding for Baltimore firefighters and first responders. The funding will help fire departments, state fire training academies, and nonaffiliated emergency medical services organizations enhance their response capabilities and better protect the health and safety of the public and first-responders. This funding also provides for active shooter trainings and the purchase of HAZMAT supplies.

“Baltimore firefighters and first responders are on the front lines every single day, working tirelessly to keep Marylanders safe. This federal funding will help provide Baltimore City Firefighters with the tools and training they need to continue doing their jobs safely and providing critical services to Baltimore residents,” said the lawmakers.

Funding is awarded to the Baltimore City Fire Department from the Department of Homeland Security's FY2021 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. The program is administered by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-top-black-leaders-in-maryland-emphasize-equity-in-choice-of-prince-george-s-county-for-new-consolidated-fbi-hq,"Congressman Mfume, Top Black Leaders in Maryland Emphasize Equity in Choice of Prince George’s County for New Consolidated FBI HQ",2022-08-29,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Congressman Anthony G. Brown (MD-04), Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and Maryland House of Delegates Speaker Adrienne A. Jones urged the Biden Administration to choose a Prince George’s County site for the new consolidated FBI headquarters as part of the federal government’s broader equity and empowerment initiatives.

Two of the three sites in the final-selection round are in Prince George’s County, the largest majority Black jurisdiction in the region, which has not seen an equitable share of federal office space.

“Prince George’s County remains the best positioned to serve as the home of the FBI’s new consolidated headquarters,” the leaders wrote. “The county offers a talented and educated workforce ready to support such an investment while taking the best advantage of its economic impact to grow local communities that have historically been left behind in allocations of federal office space.”

The leaders continued, “We hope you will take all of these factors into strong consideration when making a final decision on site selection. Choosing a site in Prince George’s County would not only be good for the FBI, national security, and the environment; it would also further the Biden-Harris Administration’s important equity goals.”

While Prince George’s County has 48% of federal warehouse space and 20% of the region’s federal workforce, it hosts only 4% of the region’s federal office space. Median incomes are 48% lower in Prince George’s County than in Fairfax County, Virginia and Prince Georgians’ median incomes trail the region as a whole by 18%.

The full text of the letter is included below:

Dear Administrator Carnahan:

On February 28 of this year, the Biden-Harris Administration released its plan for advancing “Equity and Opportunity for Black People and Communities Across the Country.” That initiative made clear the President’s strong commitment to ensuring that federal resources are more equitably distributed to communities of color that have historically been disadvantaged when it comes to federal investment. This is an extension of a longstanding commitment, dating back to the Carter Administration, to include equity considerations in decision-making about where to locate federal facilities. We urge you to see the siting of the new consolidated FBI headquarters as part of that commitment. Locating it in Prince George’s County, Maryland, would contribute to the Biden-Harris Administration’s equity goals.

Two of the three sites in the final-selection round are in Prince George’s County, which historically has been home to many African-American communities that have not seen an equitable share of federal office space. The presence of the new consolidated FBI headquarters would not only meet the needs of the FBI; it would bring economic growth and development to a majority-Black county and its communities, and we hope you will take this into consideration when deciding on a site. Given that the General Services Administration (GSA) has found all three final sites viable, we believe that serious consideration should be given to the two locations being considered in Prince George’s County with the context of the Administration’s priorities.

In recent decades, federal agencies have been acquiring space and locating more and more middle-class, public-sector jobs in the greater Washington metro area. Prince George’s County, however, has become an outlier as the county that has trailed its regional neighbors in housing federal office space. While the county has 48% of federal warehouse space and 20% of the region’s federal workforce, it hosts only 4% of the region’s federal office space. We can also see the impact of that lower rate of federal office space, with median incomes 48% lower in Prince George’s County than in Fairfax County, Virginia. Indeed, Prince Georgians’ median incomes trail the region as a whole by 18%. Meanwhile, wealth and incomes in Prince George’s County have grown more slowly than in nearby counties, and the District of Columbia.

Prince George’s County remains the best positioned to serve as the home of the FBI’s new consolidated headquarters. The county offers a talented and educated workforce ready to support such an investment while taking the best advantage of its economic impact to grow local communities that have historically been left behind in allocations of federal office space. Nearby are world-class research and education institutions like the University of Maryland system and Bowie State University, and the sites are close to the National Security Agency; U.S. Cyber Command; Secret Service Training Center; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms Explosives National Laboratory System; Joint Base Andrews; the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center facility in Cheltenham; BWI Marshall Airport; and the Reagan National Airport.

We hope you will take all of these factors into strong consideration when making a final decision on site selection. Choosing a site in Prince George’s County would not only be good for the FBI, national security, and the environment; it would also further the Biden-Harris Administration’s important equity goals.

We thank you for considering this view and look forward to remaining engaged with you as this process moves forward.

Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/8/hoyer-lee-clyburn-and-house-democrats-call-on-senate-to-stop-delaying-action-on-legislation-to-remove-symbols-of-hate,"Hoyer, Lee, Clyburn, Raskin and House Democrats Call on Senate to Stop Delaying Action on Legislation to Remove Symbols of Hate",2022-08-25,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) was joined by several lawmakers, including Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), House Majority Whip James Clyburn (SC-06), Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Congresswoman Karen Bass (CA-37), Congressman G.K. Butterfield (NC-01), Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02), Congressman John Sarbanes (MD-03), Congressman Anthony Brown (MD-04), Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Congressman David Trone (MD-06), Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07); Chairman of the Rules Committee Jim McGovern (MD-02), Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Congressman Tom Malinowski (NJ-07), and Congresswomen Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Nikema Williams (GA-05) in writing a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) demanding action on H.R. 3005, legislation to remove the bust of Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney from the U.S. Capitol building and replace it with a bust of Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall. The House passed this legislation over a year ago on June 26, 2021 to remove from public display in the U.S. Capitol other statues or busts that are symbols of slavery and segregation, including those of individuals who served voluntarily in the Confederate States of America. This letter is a follow up letter to one the lawmakers sent on September 24, 2021.

“We write to follow up from the letter we sent to Leader Schumer on September 24 of last year regarding H.R. 3005, which was passed by the House both this Congress and last,” the lawmakers wrote. “This legislation would provide for the bust of Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney to be removed permanently from the Old Supreme Court Chamber in the U.S. Capitol, an honor that he, as author of the heinous 1857 Dred Scott v. Sanford ruling, does not deserve.”

“It is shameful that individuals who fought to uphold slavery, participated in seditious rebellion, or worked to promote segregation remain honored in such a way. It is an indignity for African-American Members, staff, and visitors to the Capitol buildings to be confronted with these memorials to those who viewed African Americans as inferior and unworthy of full and equal inclusion under our Constitution. It is essential that we correct this injustice now. We implore you to bring this legislation up for consideration so that these odious symbols can be removed from the sacred halls of our American temple to democracy,” the lawmakers continued.

Click here to read the text of the letter or see below:

Hon. Chuck Schumer

Majority Leader

United States Senate

322 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

Hon. Amy Klobuchar

Chair

U.S. Senate Committee on Rules &

Administration

301 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

Hon. Mitch McConnell

Republican Leader

United States Senate

317 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

Hon. Roy Blunt

Ranking Member

U.S. Senate Committee on Rules &

Administration

301 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Senators Schumer, McConnell, Klobuchar, and Blunt:

We write to follow up from the letter we sent to Leader Schumer on September 24 of last year regarding H.R. 3005, which was passed by the House both this Congress and last. This legislation would provide for the bust of Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney to be removed permanently from the Old Supreme Court Chamber in the U.S. Capitol; as author of the heinous 1857 Dred Scott v. Sanford ruling, Taney does not deserve that honor. Furthermore, the bill calls for the removal of other statuary depicting individuals who either served the Confederacy or were active in promoting the institutions of slavery and segregation. With the end of the 117th Congress approaching later this year, we write to ask again that you bring H.R. 3005 up for a vote in the Senate without delay.

Memorialization as part of the collection of artwork in the U.S. Capitol is one of the highest honors available to Americans and those who have stood with our country in defense of liberty and democracy. It is shameful that individuals who fought to uphold slavery, participated in seditious rebellion, or worked to promote segregation remain honored in such a way. It is an indignity for African-American Members, staff, and visitors to the Capitol buildings to be confronted with these memorials to those who viewed African Americans as inferior and unworthy of full and equal inclusion under our Constitution. It is essential that we correct this injustice now.

Introduced by Leader Hoyer, H.R. 3005 passed the House on June 29, 2021, and has been awaiting Senate action ever since. We implore you to bring this legislation up for consideration so that these odious symbols can be removed from the sacred halls of our American temple to democracy. On January 6 last year, Americans were shocked and appalled to see the Confederate battle flag carried into the Capitol by insurrectionists; African-American Members, staff, and visitors must see just as poignant a symbol of injustice every single day in the likenesses of these individuals who were at the root of what that flag represents. That must end. It is time for Roger Brooke Taney, John C. Calhoun, Charles Aycock, James Paul Clarke, Jefferson Davis, James Z. George, Wade Hampton, John Kenna, Uriah Rose, Alexander Stephens, Zebulon Vance, Joseph Wheeler, Edward White, and John C. Breckenridge to leave the Capitol and not return. Statues memorializing each of these individuals would be removed under H.R. 3005. This legislation would also replace Taney’s bust with one of another Marylander: Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first African American to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. We hope that you will take steps to allow the Senate to act on this bill without further. delay. We thank you for your consideration of this request to advance H.R. 3005 and the important and meaningful goals it seeks to achieve, long overdue.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/8/maryland-delegation-announces-nearly-42-million-for-eco-friendly-upgrades-to-regional-bus-systems-in-prince-george-s-anne-arundel-and-montgomery-counties,"Maryland Delegation Announces Nearly $42 Million for Eco-Friendly Upgrades to Regional Bus Systems in Prince George’s, Anne Arundel, and Montgomery Counties",2022-08-22,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $41,765,975 in federal funds to improve and rehabilitate bus systems in Maryland to support the adoption of fuel-efficient technologies, such as low- and zero-emission vehicles.

These awards are administered through the Department of Transportation’s Buses and Facilities Program and the Low or No Emissions Program. This funding comes from the $1.47 billion made available to these programs through the fiscal year 2022 funding law, which the lawmakers worked to pass earlier this year, and is authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

“Upgrading our public transportation to be more fuel-efficient will improve Marylanders’ daily commutes, save taxpayer dollars, and reduce air pollution in our communities. That’s why we’re pleased to announce this substantial federal funding to transition Maryland bus systems away from heavily polluting equipment. Our public transportation plays a vital role in keeping our communities connected and our economies strong and upgrading our stations and fleets to accommodate fuel-efficient technologies is the next step in improving our transit infrastructure as we work to combat climate change,” the lawmakers said. “Investing in projects like these that will keep our communities safe while combatting climate change is exactly why we fought to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. We will continue working to secure federal funding for initiatives like this one.”

Prior to receiving this funding, the Delegation wrote to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Buttigieg and Federal Transit Administrator Fernandez in support of these Maryland applications. The grant awardees include:

$25,000,000 to Prince George’s County Government to buy approximately 20 zero-emission, battery electric buses and upgrade the electrical system at their transit depot, add additional electric chargers at multiple transit hubs and install a microgrid, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 1,227 metric tons per year.

$14,875,975 to Montgomery County Department of Transportation to buy 13 zero-emission buses powered by hydrogen fuel cell technology. MCDOT, which operates close to 400 buses in Maryland's most populous county, has committed to transition to a zero-emission fleet by 2035.

$1,890,000 to Maryland Transit Administration, Anne Arundel County to purchase Anne Arundel County approximately four diesel-electric hybrid buses as part of their five-year plan to transition to a zero-emission fleet.

The Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Program makes federal resources available to states and directs recipients to replace, rehabilitate and purchase buses and related equipment and to construct bus-related facilities, including by making technological changes or innovations to modify low or no emission vehicles or facilities. Funding is provided through formula allocations and competitive grants. The goal of the Low and No Emission Vehicle Program is to assist transit agencies in their shift to cleaner technologies, supporting the administration’s goal of reducing emissions by 50% by the end of the decade. More information on both programs can be found here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/8/maryland-delegation-members-announce-nearly-4-million-for-early-childhood-education-projects,Maryland Delegation Members Announce Nearly $4 Million for Early Childhood Education Projects,2022-08-17,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Anthony Brown, and Jamie B. Raskin (all D-Md.) today announced $3,961,485 in federal funding for EasterSeals Head Start projects in Prince George’s County and across the region. EasterSeals is a nonprofit provider of early childhood education services that focuses on promoting school readiness for children in low-income families by meeting children’s emotional, social, health, nutritional, and psychological needs. Through the Head Start program, children build literacy, math, and social skills with the support of well-trained teachers and an engaging curriculum.

“Students’ success begins with early childhood learning. The COVID-19 pandemic had particularly devastating effects on our low-income communities, and programs like Head Start are critical to helping close that gap,” the lawmakers said. “We are pleased to announce this funding that will help young learners develop the social, emotional, and cognitive skills they need to succeed and thrive in the classroom.”

This award comes from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Administration for Children & Families and the Office of Head Start. Head Start and Early Head Start grant recipients provide services to more than 1 million children every year, in every U.S. state and territory, in farm worker camps, and in more than 155 tribal communities. More information on Head Start and Early Head Start programs and services can be found here.

EasterSeals DC MD VA not only provides personalized child development and early intervention services, but also disability and community services to adults and veterans. EasterSeals offers employment support and mental healthcare for military families, engaging activities and expansive resources for adults with disabilities, and comprehensive services and supports for caregivers. They work to help reduce poverty and homelessness and improve healthcare and employment by empowering people of all ages and abilities to be full and equal participants in their communities.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/8/rep-raskin-announces-2022-congressional-app-challenge,Rep. Raskin Announces 2022 Congressional App Challenge,2022-08-17,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Rockville, MD – Today, Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) launched the 2022 Congressional App Challenge. The Congressional App Challenge encourages middle and high school students to learn how to code by creating their own applications for congressional recognition. Since 2013, members of the House of Representatives have hosted the Challenge to inspire students across the nation to explore computer science and coding. More information on the Congressional App Challenge and its history is available here.

“Each year, the Congressional App Challenge summons the tech savvy and civic responsibility of Maryland’s Eighth District youth,” said Rep. Raskin. “Our past winners have created innovative technological solutions to COVID-19 risk mitigation and active missing persons cases. I am excited for our impressive Eighth District students to again inspire us with their technological skills, social vision and problem-solving ingenuity.”

Middle and high school students living or attending school in Maryland’s Eighth Congressional District may submit their applications to the Challenge beginning today, August 17, until the final deadline: Tuesday, November 1 at 12:00 p.m. On December 6, at the beginning of Computer Science Education Week, Rep. Raskin will announce the Eighth District winner.

Students are advised that they need not submit a finished app to the challenge. Instead, they are simply required to submit a short video explaining their app and show footage of any finished portions of the app.

The 2021 MD-08 Congressional App Challenge winners were Walter Johnson High School seniors Ainesh Chatterjee, Salamun Nuhin, Botond Parkanyi and Charles Wang. The four created CoronaSafe, a Python-based application that analyzes COVID case data and urban density to create a unique COVID contraction risk calculation for any global address given by the user. Rep. Raskin interviewed the students about their application and creation process on his weekly Local Hero series.

More information about the Challenge, including eligibility and submission guidelines is available at Congressman Raskin’s website.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-votes-yes-on-historic-health-care-climate-and-corporate-tax-bill-inflation-reduction-act,"Congressman Mfume Votes YES On Historic Health Care, Climate and Corporate Tax Bill: Inflation Reduction Act",2022-08-12,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) proudly voted in favor of the Inflation Reduction Act, historic legislation focused on lowering the skyrocketing cost of health care and prescription drugs, making large corporations pay their fair share in taxes and tackling the climate crisis. The bill passed with a vote of 220 to 207 with no Republicans voting in favor of the legislation. It will now go to President Biden’s desk for his signature.

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WATCH: Congressman Mfume's Remarks on the Inflation Reduction Act

“The Inflation Reduction Act is what Democrats are all about: lowering the cost of health care, standing up to the biggest corporations ripping off everyday Americans, and tackling the climate crisis with the fierce urgency of now,” said Congressman Mfume (MD-07). “I’m proud to support this historic legislation that puts people over politics and money back into the pockets of my constituents in Baltimore.”

Topline Highlights of the Inflation Reduction Act

Lowers the Cost of Health Care

Allows Medicare for the first time to negotiate the price of high price prescription drugs

Caps Medicare recipient out-of-pocket prescription drug costs at $2,000 for the 1 million Marylanders qualifying for Medicare

Caps the monthly cost of covered insulin products at $35 for the 50,000 Marylanders on Medicare that have diabetes and are on insulin

Extends Affordable Care Act subsidies for three more years, locking in lower health care premiums that will save 153,000 Marylanders about $80 per month

Tackles the Climate Crisis

Takes the most aggressive action in our history to combat the existential crisis of climate change with a $369 billion overall investment in clean energy, which is projected to reduce emissions by 40% by 2030

Offers a tax credit of up to $7,500 for qualified ‘clean’ vehicles

Boosts the tax credit for installing energy efficient products at nonbusiness properties from 10% to 30%

Taxes the Largest Corporations and Reduces the Deficit

Makes corporations pay their fair share by implementing a 15% corporate minimum tax that applies to the top 150 corporations earning over $1 billion in profits that pay less than 15%

Strengthens IRS enforcement against wealthy tax cheats

Does not tax any families making $400,000 or less and makes no new taxes on small businesses

Makes a historic down payment on deficit reduction of approximately $300 billion to fight inflation

According to 126 leading economists—including seven Nobel Prize winners, three former chairs of the Council of Economic Advisers, two former Treasury Secretaries—this legislation “will fight inflation and lower costs for American families while setting the stage for strong, stable, and broadly-shared long-term economic growth.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-6-million-in-additional-federal-funds-for-baltimore-s-penn-station-modernization,"Congressman Mfume, Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces $6 Million in Additional Federal Funds for Baltimore’s Penn Station Modernization",2022-08-10,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes and Kweisi Mfume (All D-Md.) announced Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $6 million through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program for the ongoing modernization of Baltimore’s Penn Station. The lawmakers worked to authorize the RAISE grant program at $12.5 billion over five years under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. For Fiscal Year 2022, the program was funded at $2.275 billion from both the infrastructure law and the FY22 omnibus appropriations bill. These federal funds for the Building Baltimore Penn Station Connections Project, which the lawmakers supported, supplements the $5 million congressional earmark the delegation obtained for the project in the Fiscal Year 2022 omnibus appropriations bill to increase multimodal mobility, safety, and connectivity.

“Serving more than three million passengers a year, Penn Station is the nation’s rail gateway to Baltimore and its local neighborhoods. Investing in the station and its vicinity by creating safer and more useful connections between trains, buses, pedestrian and bike access, is one of the most important things we can do to support the city’s economy and livability,” the lawmakers said. “This grant is a prime example of why we fought to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which is transforming neighborhoods by creating jobs and local opportunities across the country. Team Maryland will continue to deliver federal funding for locally-driven projects that strengthen our communities.”

The Maryland Department of Transportation describes the project as offering “comprehensive benefits to Baltimore City residents and the region, which include:

“Improving the safety of transportation options with well-designed streets that support safe walking, biking, transit use and for-hire vehicle use.

“Providing more reliable transit travel times.

“Supporting projected doubling of rail passenger ridership by 2040 with multi-modal connections to the station.

“Leveraging the $100M+ commitment from Amtrak to redevelop and expand the historic station.”

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a once-in-a-generation investment in American infrastructure that will provide more than $7 billion in federal funding directly to Maryland over five years to strengthen our roads and bridges, along with our water infrastructure, broadband internet, climate resilience, and more. The lawmakers worked to enact this law in Congress to create good jobs, grow the economy, enhance U.S. competitiveness in the world, and make our transportation system more sustainable and equitable.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-maryland-delegation-members-applaud-president-s-signing-of-veterans-health-care-bill-with-funding-for-two-maryland-veterans-clinics,"Congressman Mfume, Maryland Delegation Members Applaud President’s Signing of Veterans’ Health Care Bill with Funding for Two Maryland Veterans Clinics",2022-08-10,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, and Anthony G. Brown (all D-Md.) applauded President Biden’s signing of legislation to open two veterans’ outpatient clinics in Baltimore and Prince George’s County. The bipartisan Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT Act) provides healthcare benefits for all generations of toxic-exposed veterans for the first time in the nation’s history and will improve access to care for all those who served in our nation’s armed forces.

The lawmakers fought to include authorization and funding for the two Maryland veterans’ health clinics – one in the Baltimore region and another in Prince George’s County. $43 million will support the construction of a new Baltimore Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), which will replace and expand the outpatient services currently provided at the existing Baltimore VA Clinic Annex on Fayette Street while reducing the strain on the Baltimore VA Medical Center. $32 million is set aside for the construction of a Prince George’s CBOC; this new facility will be significantly larger than the existing clinic in the southern part of the county and represent a major upgrade for area veterans, as the new clinic will be equipped to provide services beyond the capabilities of the current clinic as well as the Southeast D.C. CBOC.

“If you put your life on the line abroad to protect Americans’ freedoms at home, you deserve to be taken care of both during and after your military service,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. “I’m proud to have supported the Honoring Our PACT Act, which furthers our nation’s commitment to our brave servicemembers by guaranteeing that their health needs will always be met no matter the circumstances.”

“We’ve got to keep our promises to veterans who put themselves as risk to serve our country, and that includes ensuring they have access to high-quality health care. The bipartisan PACT Act does just that – ensuring every veteran exposed to burn pits or other toxins gets first class care and provides $75 million for the VA to expand and upgrade its network of veterans out-patient clinics in Maryland,” said Senator Van Hollen. “This is a big win for our communities and a critical step forward in improving access to quality health care for veterans across our nation.”

“Maryland veterans served this nation with honor and they deserve access to top-notch health care services in a timely and convenient manner,” said Senator Cardin. “Providing health care benefits to the thousands of American veterans exposed to toxins emanating from burn pits is essential. Expanding the network of Community Based Outpatient Clinics available to Baltimore area veterans and greatly upgrading the facilities and services for veterans within Prince George’s County will bring much needed, state-of-the-art health care services within easier reach for all veterans who call Maryland home.”

“This historic piece of legislation will have a significant impact on the lives of Prince George’s County veterans, improving the quality of their health care and ensuring that they receive the benefits and services they deserve. I am glad that President Biden has signed this historic bill into law, and I look forward to witnessing the positive difference it will make in the Fifth District and throughout the state of Maryland,” said Congressman Hoyer.

“Our veterans deserve state-of-the-art healthcare in state-of-the-art facilities,” Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger said. “They also deserve a healthcare system that is accessible and convenient. This new clinic will help us deliver on all of these promises and I am proud of the team effort that went into making it happen for our local veterans.”

“As the Honoring Our PACT Act becomes law today, it delivers on our promises to the veterans who have selflessly served this nation. This legislation extends critical benefits to veterans exposed to toxic substances in the line of duty and expands access to care for veterans nationwide, including by improving Maryland’s network of Community Based Outpatient Clinics,” said Congressman Sarbanes. “I am pleased that President Biden has signed this landmark bill into law today.”

“We make a sacred promise to our servicemembers when they return home - to provide our veterans with the best health care our country has to offer. Critical to upholding that promise, is a commitment to access in the communities our veterans live in,” said Congressman Anthony Brown. “This legislation and funding will help meet Maryland veterans where they are and provide the quality care that they deserve. We’ll never stop fighting for the brave men and women who have served and we’ll always have their backs.”

“I want to thank Senator Van Hollen and the members of our Federal Delegation for pushing forward this important legislation. Prince George's County is home to more than 60,000 veterans, the highest number in our state, and we must continue to do all we can to ensure that they have access to the quality healthcare they need and deserve. Providing a new and improved CBOC will ensure that they can receive that care close to home in a facility with all the resources they need for high quality, comprehensive healthcare,” said Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks.

“Baltimore’s veterans are essential to our vibrant and diverse communities, and they deserve access to the best health care we can offer. I am grateful to our incredible federal delegation and the Biden Administration for reaffirming our shared commitment to our veterans by opening a new outpatient clinic right here in Baltimore. These brave women and men have gone above and beyond in service to our country, and now they can get the care they need close to home. The PACT Act is a win for Baltimore and veterans across our nation,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott.

“Taking care of our veterans is a moral imperative, and this funding will go a long way toward improving services for veterans from around the Baltimore region. I’m grateful to Senator Van Hollen and all of our members of Congress for their efforts to bring these resources to the region and to support the men and women who have served our country,” said Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski, Jr.

Additional Background on the Baltimore and Prince George’s County CBOC Plans

For the Baltimore CBOC, this legislation provides for a lease of an approximately 112,624 square foot outpatient clinic, including 800 parking spaces. The new facility would enable VA to enhance outpatient services and provide more primary care space than is currently available at the Baltimore VA Clinic Annex.

For the Prince George’s County clinic, the PACT Act provides for a lease of an approximately 85,116 square foot outpatient clinic, including 600 parking spaces. The new facility would enable VA to accommodate the workload that the Southern Prince George’s County and Southeast D.C. CBOCs currently service, which has increased since the closure of the Greenbelt CBOC in 2015, and allow more patients to receive care closer to their homes.

Both clinics will allow for the full implementation of the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) model of care delivery, improving operational efficiencies and the veteran experience. They will be state-of-the-art, energy-efficient health care facilities offering primary care, mental health, specialty care, and ancillary services to veterans.

About the PACT Act

Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson deployed to Kosovo and Iraq with the Ohio National Guard. He died in 2020 from toxic exposure as a result of his military service. Among its many priorities, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 will:

Expand VA health care eligibility to Post-9/11 combat veterans, which includes more than 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans;

Create a framework for the establishment of future presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure;

Add 23 burn pit and toxic exposure-related conditions to VA’s list of service presumptions, including hypertension;

Expand presumptions related to Agent Orange exposure;

Includes Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam, American Samoa, and Johnston Atoll as locations for Agent Orange exposure;

Strengthen federal research on toxic exposure;

Improve VA’s resources and training for toxic-exposed veterans; and

Set VA and veterans up for success by investing in:

VA claims processing;

VA’s workforce; and

VA health care facilities.

Establish 31 new VA health care facilities across 19 states, including the two in Maryland.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/8/maryland-congressional-delegation-members-announce-20-5-million-for-new-carrollton-station-expansion-improvements,"Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Announce $20.5 Million for New Carrollton Station Expansion, Improvements",2022-08-10,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, John Sarbanes, Anthony Brown, and Jamie Raskin (all D-Md.) announced $20,500,000 in federal funding to improve and expand New Carrollton Station and increase accessibility to the Prince George’s County transit hub. This funding, which the lawmakers supported, will support major infrastructure improvements for the multi-modal site, including the construction of a new train hall, preparations for Purple Line service, and creation of new trails and walkways to increase cyclist and pedestrian accessibility. The funds are provided through the Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability & Equity (RAISE) Grants Program, which the lawmakers fought to significantly boost within the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

“This is a major investment in the future of Prince George’s County,” the lawmakers said. “This funding will help grow New Carrollton Station into a state-of-the-art bus and rail transit hub that is more accessible by foot, bike, or car and promotes sustainable development in the surrounding communities. Projects like these – which improve our infrastructure, reduce emissions, and spur local economic development – are exactly why we fought to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. We were proud to support Prince George’s County's request for federal funding for this project, and we will keep working to deliver more federal resources to expand Maryland’s public transportation network.”

“This is yet another symbol of rising opportunity for all Prince Georgians,” said Alsobrooks. “We are excited about this project because it will transform the largest employment cluster in the County into a true “downtown” area and help ensure that New Carrollton becomes the premier transit hub on the eastern seaboard. We want to thank our federal delegation, WMATA, and Urban Atlantic for support on this project and for their dedication to improving the quality of life for Prince Georgians.”

This $20.5 million investment will fund construction of multi-modal transit station improvements at New Carrollton Station, including a new train hall for the existing MARC, Metrorail, and Amtrak service, incorporating connections to Metrobus, TheBus, and Greyhound bus services, and the future Maryland Purple Line light rail. It will also make new sidewalks, bike lanes, lighting, signalization, and traffic calming improvements on Garden City Drive to increase access to the station and enhance the train hall plaza space to be more welcoming to users.

The lawmakers worked to authorize the RAISE Grant Program at $12.5 billion over five years under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. For fiscal year 2022 (FY22), the program was funded at a combined $2.275 billion from both the infrastructure law and the FY22 government funding bill.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a once-in-a-generation investment in American infrastructure that will provide more than $7 billion in federal funding directly to Maryland over five years to strengthen our infrastructure from transit systems to roads and bridges to water infrastructure, broadband connectivity, and more. The law includes measures on workforce development, equity, and climate change. The lawmakers worked to secure passage of this law in Congress, which will help spur job creation, enhance U.S. competitiveness, and make our transportation systems more sustainable and equitable.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/mfume-cardin-van-hollen-hoyer-announce-nearly-630000-to-help-underrepresented-students-pursuing-advanced-degrees,"Mfume, Cardin, Van Hollen, Hoyer Announce Nearly $630,000 to Help Underrepresented Students Pursuing Advanced Degrees",2022-08-09,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) today announced $629,718 in federal funding through the Department of Education’s highly competitive Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement (MSP) program for the University of Maryland (UMD) and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). This investment will help low-income, first-generation, and disadvantaged students prepare for doctoral and graduate studies through research and other academic activities.

“We are pleased to announce this funding for UMD and UMBC to help close the racial gap in higher education achievement. This federal investment will support underrepresented students with mentoring programs, additional counseling services, collaborative educational opportunities with their peers, and other activities designed to help students earn their advanced degrees,” the lawmakers said. “Team Maryland is committed to educational equity and will continue to work to secure federal funding for this priority.”

Award details include:

· $329,737 for the University of Maryland to serve 32 MSP students

· $299,981 for the University of Maryland, Baltimore County to serve 30 MSP students

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2019 more than 64% of graduate degrees were awarded to White individuals while only 13% and 11% were awarded to Black and Hispanic individuals, respectively. The McNair Program’s goal is to close this gap by preparing students from underrepresented groups for doctoral studies through involvement in research and mentorship, among other activities.

Eligible students will have demonstrated outstanding academic potential and will be selected from all scholarly backgrounds. They will participate in multi-step programs to hone their skills in advanced academic research and analysis. For more information about this grant program please visit https://www2.ed.gov/programs/triomcnair/.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mfume-praises-democrats-inflation-reduction-act-as-it-passes-through-the-senate,Congressman Mfume Praises Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act as it Passes through the Senate,2022-08-08,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"BALTIMORE – Yesterday, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) joined MSNBC’s PoliticsNation with Rev. Al Sharpton to discuss Democrats’ signature legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act, as it passed through the 50-50 Senate, along with the President’s tremendous efforts to bring WNBA star Brittney Griner and other Americans back home from their unjust detention in Russia.

INFLATION REDUCTION ACT

REV. SHARPTON: Joining me now, Congressman Kweisi Mfume, Democrat of Maryland. Congressman, thank you for joining us. First, the breaking news, the Senate Democrats', climate, health care, and tax bill having just passed. Your reaction? What does it mean for your Baltimore district?

CONGRESSMAN MFUME: Well, it's a tremendous piece of legislation. It is not Build Back Better. It's a smaller version of it. But in many respects, it's groundbreaking because for once, we're able to say to working Americans, we're going to actually reduce the cost of prescription drugs. We give Medicare the ability now to negotiate prices on an open market that has never happened before. The cost of health care under the Obama plan, which was going to end the subsidies that were going to end next month, will now be extended well beyond that into 2025, at the very least. There is a $35 cap on insulin for diabetics, and you were right to point out earlier, unfortunately, that does not cover the private insurers, but for the Americans who are on Medicare, their cost for insulin will be capped at $35.

There is in this bill significant efforts to deal with the environment, the air that we breathe, the water that we [drink], and the way we are using it, disposing of things. And I agree with you again, at the very least, if what we breathe through the air is not a civil rights matter, I don't know what can be, particularly given the increasing amounts of cancer that we see all over our society as a result of carcinogens because of a carbon footprint that is way out of place in terms of where it should be. So that's going to be reduced, I think, by about 40% by the end of this decade, as you point out.

There are a number of things. Thankfully, I was really glad to hear the remarks of the EPA director on the provisions and the things that they are undertaking. But this bill also does a number of other things. It takes corporations who make over $1 billion a year, for the first time, puts on them a mandatory tax rate of 15%. If everyday people have to pay taxes, there is no reason why those corporations should not, which is probably why the other side of the aisle fought it so very, very long.

So it's groundbreaking in many respects. It's coming to the House. We're in session this coming week. We will get that bill going on and finalize it and then send it to the President's desk for signature.

BRITTNEY GRINER

REV. SHARPTON: Congressman, let me go to another subject. You know, I've been very vocal from the beginning about the case of Brittney Griner, and you've become one of Brittney Griner's biggest advocates in Congress throughout her detention. And as of last week, conviction for cannabis possession in Russia earlier this year of Griner now is facing nine years in prison. Now, both Russia and the U.S. have signaled openness to a prisoner swap that would bring Griner home, as well as probably Paul Whelan. Again, we've been back and forth. I tried a clergy visit. You've taken a strong stance. Are you optimistic about a swap that could lead to Brittney's release?

CONGRESSMAN MFUME: Well, I'm cautiously optimistic. I would be remiss if I did not thank you for your public support of this. In the early days when it first broke, a lot of people weren't saying anything because the word was the less said, the better things are. But we realize that that's not true. The more said, the more opportunities there are to get Ms. Griner home.

So I'm cautiously optimistic. Let me just explain why. Putin is a great chess player and he realizes this is an issue here in this country. And so instead of a one for one, he's looking to find others that he can put into that deal in my opinion, that will sweeten the deal and then cause the swap to take place. Well, Viktor Bout is a ""Merchant of Death,"" as he's known, he's a gun runner, has been arrested and locked up for some time. It's clear that Putin wants him back on Russian soil. Ms. Griner, along with Paul Whelan, another American who's been locked up since 2020, are both in, as we know, in detention. And so, the question becomes, is it a one for one, two for one, or two for two swap? And I think Putin would prefer a two for two swap. There’s a lot of talk about a Russian who is in jail in Germany, right now, which has nothing to do with the U.S. It’s about adding it to the situation.

So, what we hear coming out of Putin’s mouth and his foreign minister has to be taken with a grain of salt. It’s primarily for domestic consumption in Russia. We know that there are back channels now that are open and have been open for three and a half weeks where discussions are taking place. My assumption is that it will culminate in the release of Ms. Griner and perhaps even Mr. Whelan. But at this particular point in time, part of the problem I think the President faces is that people, for the most part, don’t want prisoner swaps. And we’ve had a situation where that’s never been the case. But even foreign [relations] secretaries of this country have said over and over again that there comes a time when these things are necessary. And this is one of those times.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mfume-maryland-delegation-announces-nearly-7-million-for-public-health-and-infectious-disease-research,"Rep. Mfume, Maryland Delegation Announces Nearly $7 Million for Public Health and Infectious Disease Research",2022-08-04,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all Md.) today announced $6,938,832 in federal funding to promote public health and support infectious disease and medical research efforts in Maryland. This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funding will be directed to the Maryland Department of Health.

“As we continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential that we arm ourselves with the data and resources needed to be ready for future public health challenges,” the lawmakers said. “This federal funding is crucial to building our understanding of the environment’s impact on public health and infectious diseases. Team Maryland will continue working to secure federal investments in our state’s medical and health systems.”

Project recipient include:

$6,323,832 to Maryland Department of Health for Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases (ELC) to support work across a wide range of infectious disease areas including food and waterborne diseases, antimicrobial resistance, vector-borne diseases, vaccine-preventable diseases, influenza surveillance, and more

$615,000 to the Maryland Department of Health for Advancing Maryland’s Health through Environmental Public Health Tracking to help us better understand the adverse effects of pollutants such as chemicals and emission on public health

Respectively, funding comes from the National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, And Enteric Diseases (CK) and the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) within the CDC.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mfume-us-dept-of-commerce-announce-229-million-to-train-and-hire-maryland-workers-for-good-paying-clean-energy-jobs-through-american-rescue-plan,"Rep. Mfume, U.S. Dept. of Commerce Announce $22.9 Million to Train and Hire Maryland Workers for Good-Paying Clean Energy Jobs Through American Rescue Plan",2022-08-04,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"BALTIMORE – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves announced a $22.9 million investment in Maryland to implement a new apprenticeship model that well help train local workers and connect them to employers providing good-paying jobs in the clean energy sector. This project will simultaneously help tackle the climate crisis by support the region’s growing offshore wind industry. This grant was made possible through the Good Jobs Challenge program created by American Rescue Plan, historic legislation Rep. Mfume helped craft and pass as a member of the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee.

Excerpt from Rep. Mfume’s Remarks as Delivered:

“Every young person that comes through high school matriculating is not going to necessarily go to college, is not necessarily going into the armed services, but do want very much to go into apprenticeships that will provide them with a skill in a certain amount of time and with the oversight and the training they need to be able to take care of their families.

At the end of the day, that's what this is really all about.”

The Maryland Works for Wind Project will partner leading employers and seven local unions to build a training model that meets the needs of employers and local communities. With a focus on formerly incarcerated individuals, veterans, young adults who are no longer in school or working and other populations, this project will train thousands of individuals to enter good-paying jobs in the industry.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/8/maryland-delegation-announces-nearly-7-million-for-public-health-and-infectious-disease-research,Maryland Delegation Announces Nearly $7 Million for Public Health and Infectious Disease Research,2022-08-04,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all Md.) today announced $6,938,832 in federal funding to promote public health and support infectious disease and medical research efforts in Maryland. This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funding will be directed to the Maryland Department of Health.

“As we continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential that we arm ourselves with the data and resources needed to be ready for future public health challenges,” the lawmakers said. “This federal funding is crucial to building our understanding of the environment’s impact on public health and infectious diseases. Team Maryland will continue working to secure federal investments in our state’s medical and health systems.”

Project recipient include:

$6,323,832 to Maryland Department of Health for Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases (ELC) to support work across a wide range of infectious disease areas including food and waterborne diseases, antimicrobial resistance, vector-borne diseases, vaccine-preventable diseases, influenza surveillance, and more

$615,000 to the Maryland Department of Health for Advancing Maryland’s Health through Environmental Public Health Tracking to help us better understand the adverse effects of pollutants such as chemicals and emission on public health

Respectively, funding comes from the National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, And Enteric Diseases (CK) and the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) within the CDC.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/8/amid-sky-high-rate-of-flight-cancellations-senator-markey-leads-bicameral-colleagues-in-introducing-cash-refunds-for-flight-cancellations-act-to-protect-air-travelers-rights,"Amid Sky-High Rate of Flight Cancellations, Senator Markey Leads Bicameral Colleagues in Introducing Cash Refunds for Flight Cancellations Act to Protect Air Travelers’ Rights",2022-08-03,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington (August 1, 2022) ­– Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), along with Representatives Steve Cohen (TN-09), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), and Jamie Raskin (MD-08), today introduced the Cash Refunds for Flight Cancellations Act, which would provide consumers an enforceable right to a full cash refund for flight and ticket cancellations. The bill codifies the Department of Transportation rule requiring major airlines to offer consumers a cash refund if the airline cancels or significantly delays a flight, and provides consumers a new right to a cash refund if they cancel their ticket up until 48 hours of the flight’s scheduled departure.

The lawmakers are introducing the Cash Refunds for Flight Cancellations Act amid months of nightmarish air travel issues and the ongoing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past few months, flight cancellations and delays have skyrocketed, far exceeding the number before the pandemic and leading to an avalanche of consumer complaints. While federal law requires airlines to provide cash refunds when they cancel a flight, most airlines only offer to rebook passengers or provide a voucher as the default option instead, forcing customers to jump through hoops to claim their rightful refund. At the same time, with the emergence of new COVID-19 variants, consumer travel plans continue to be unpredictable. In this age of increased travel uncertainty, passengers should not be forced to choose between their money and their health. The Cash Refunds for Flight Cancellations Act corrects this problem by giving consumers an enforceable right to a cash refund for flights cancelled by the airline or tickets cancelled by the passenger.

“Enough is enough: Travelers are sick of wasting their valuable time fighting the airlines to receive their legally-required cash refunds,” said Senator Markey. “And they are tired of making flight reservations months in advance, only to face a health scare that forces them to choose between cancelling a nonrefundable flight, or traveling and risking the health of their fellow passengers. Just as hotels often allow consumers to cancel their reservation and receive a full refund, the Cash Refunds for Flight Cancellations Act would extend a similar requirement for air travel. These airlines must get their heads out of the clouds and deliver the effective and accountable service that travelers deserve.”

“Flight cancellations are happening all too frequently,” said Rep. Cohen. “My flight was canceled just last week. The flying public does not expect or want to get credits when the airlines are the cause of the cancellation, especially when they already benefited from a multibillion-dollar bailout from American taxpayers. Our bill remedies this situation and restores some needed consumer protections for air travelers.”

“This measure will put money back into the pockets of consumers suffering from airline travel chaos,” said Senator Blumenthal. “Faced with record delays and cancellations, travelers deserve their money back in cash—not airline vouchers—when their plans are unexpectedly upended. By requiring full cash refunds, our legislation is an important first-step towards airline accountability and restoring reliability and fairness to Americans’ air travel experiences.”

“This bill is a common-sense step to lighten the burden on air passengers who have faced particularly stressful travel conditions since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Senator Whitehouse. “It’s bad enough to miss out on vacation time when your flight gets cancelled or an emergency pops up. You shouldn’t also have to fight tooth and nail with an airline for your legally required cash refund.” “It’s time to hold the airlines accountable, because travelers shouldn’t pay the price for flight delays and cancellations. Customers should be able to receive cash refunds instead of company credit or miles they may not be able to use, and this bill is about ensuring they get what they are owed without spending hours in line or on the phone,” said Congressman García. “ As travelers face increasing uncertainty at the airport, this bill will add much needed accountability for airlines and peace of mind for customers.”

“After receiving a historic pandemic bailout in 2020, the airline industry has repaid a lot of consumers and taxpayers with ruined vacation plans and demeaning customer service standards,” said Rep. Raskin. “I’m thankful to my colleagues in both the House and the Senate for joining me to introduce this much-needed legislation to guarantee that consumers can receive a cash refund for flight cancellations or delays. Our bill also provides new flexibilities to travelers by guaranteeing them a cash refund for any flights they choose to cancel, within two days of departure. We need to restore efficiency, civility and decency to interstate travel, and the airline industry should strive to provide effective, reliable service to the American people. This legislation is a crucial step in ensuring that airlines hold up their end of the bargain.” A copy of the legislation can be found HERE.

In 2020, Senator Markey and Representative Cohen introduced the Cash Refunds for Coronavirus Cancellations Act, legislation which required major airlines to offer full cash refunds for all cancelled tickets during the coronavirus pandemic. The bill introduced today would expand that right beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Specifically, the Cash Refunds for Flight Cancellations Act would:

Require a covered airline or ticket agent to offer a full cash refund within 30 days if the airline cancels or significantly delays a flight, or if a passenger cancels their ticket for any flight up until 48 hours of the scheduled departure time.

Permit a covered carrier or ticket agent to offer travel vouchers as an alternative to cash refunds, as long as that offer includes a clear and conspicuous notice of the flyer’s right to a cash refund and the voucher is valid and redeemable indefinitely.

Require a covered carrier or ticket agent to disclose to the passenger, prior to purchasing a ticket, that they can cancel their flight and receive a full cash refund.

Require a covered carrier or ticket agent to disclose to the passenger whose flight was cancelled or significantly delayed that they have a right to receive a full cash refund.

Authorize the Secretary of Transportation to impose a $1,000 civil penalty on an airline for failing to provide a full cash refund to a passenger within 30 days.

The following House members also co-sponsored the Cash Refunds for Flight Cancellations Act: André Carson (IN-07), Bobby Rush (IL-01), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Henry C. ""Hank"" Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), J. Luis Correa (CA-46), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Katie Porter (CA-45), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Mike Doyle (PA-18), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08), Tim Ryan (OH-13).

TheCash Refunds for Flight Cancellations Act is endorsed by the American Economic Liberties Project, the Consumer Federation of America, and the National Consumers League.

“For more than two years now, the US airline industry has been sitting on more than $10 billion in unpaid flight refunds to consumers who were unable to fly during Covid-19,” said William J. McGee, Senior Fellow for Aviation at the American Economic Liberties Project. “We applaud Sen. Markey and Rep. Cohen for fighting for the millions of air travelers who have been inconvenienced while their hard-earned money earns interest for the airlines. The Cash Refunds for Flight Cancellations Act will ensure that an industry that has failed to respond to the needs of their customers while generating record numbers of consumer complaints with the DOT will be forced to provide refunds—and in cash, not in vouchers that are likely to expire. This has become even more critical in 2022, as industry meltdowns have led to operational chaos with tens of thousands of lengthy flight delays and cancellations.”

“CFA supports Senator Markey’s dedication to strengthening consumer protections in the air travel marketplace,” said Erin E. Witte, Director of Consumer Protection for the Consumer Federation of America. “His bill presents a straightforward resolution to the time-consuming and costly problems that consumers face when airlines cancel flights. Congress needs to act quickly and decisively to provide consumers with some protections from the airline industry, and this proposed legislation is a solid step in that direction.”

“This summer’s air travel meltdown has left far too many consumers stranded and frustrated,” said John Breyault, Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud at the National Consumers League. “This bill gives power back to the flying public, allowing them to obtain cash refunds when carriers fail to deliver the service they promised or when plans change and vacations have to be delayed or canceled.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mfume-maryland-delegation-members-applaud-final-passage-of-veterans-health-care-bill-with-funding-for-two-maryland-veterans-clinics,"Rep. Mfume, Maryland Delegation Members Applaud Final Passage of Veterans’ Health Care Bill with Funding for Two Maryland Veterans Clinics",2022-08-02,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, and Anthony G. Brown (all D-Md.) announced the final Senate passage of legislation to open two veterans clinics in Baltimore and Prince George’s County. The bipartisan Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT Act) which passed today by a vote of 86-11, provides healthcare benefits for all generations of toxic-exposed veterans for the first time in the nation’s history and will improve access to care for all those who served in our nation’s armed forces. The bill now goes to President Biden to be signed into law.

The lawmakers fought to include authorization and funding for the two Maryland veterans’ health clinics – one in the Baltimore region and another in Prince George’s County. $43 million will support the construction of a new Baltimore Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), which will replace and expand the outpatient services currently provided at the existing Baltimore VA Clinic Annex on Fayette Street while reducing the strain on the Baltimore VA Medical Center. $32 million is set aside for the construction of a Prince George’s CBOC; this new facility will be significantly larger than the existing clinic in the southern part of the county and represent a major upgrade for area veterans, as the new clinic will be equipped to provide services beyond the capabilities of the current clinic as well as the Southeast D.C. CBOC.

“If you put your life on the line abroad to protect Americans’ freedoms at home, you deserve to be taken care of both during and after your military service,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. “I’m proud to have supported the Honoring Our PACT Act, which furthers our nation’s commitment to our brave servicemembers by guaranteeing that their health needs will always be met no matter the circumstances.”

“We’ve got to keep our promises to veterans who put themselves as risk to serve our country, and that includes ensuring they have access to high-quality health care. The bipartisan PACT Act will do just that – investing $75 million in new and upgraded outpatient clinics that will help deliver much-needed services to Maryland veterans,” said Senator Van Hollen. “This is a big win for our communities and a critical step forward in improving the network of care for veterans across our state while also making a historic investment in care and benefits for veterans exposed to toxins. I look forward to the President signing this bill into law as soon as possible.”

“Maryland veterans served this nation with honor and they deserve access to top-notch health care services in a timely and convenient manner,” said Senator Cardin. “Providing health care benefits to the thousands of American veterans exposed to toxins emanating from burn pits is essential. Expanding the network of Community Based Outpatient Clinics available to Baltimore area veterans and greatly upgrading the facilities and services for veterans within Prince George’s County will bring much needed, state-of-the-art health care services within easier reach for all veterans who call Maryland home.”

“This historic piece of legislation will have a significant impact on the lives of Prince George’s County veterans, improving the quality of their health care and ensuring that they receive the benefits and services they deserve. I am glad that the Senate passed this bill today, sending it to President Biden for signature, and I look forward to witnessing the positive difference it will make in the Fifth District and throughout the state of Maryland,” said Congressman Hoyer.

“Our veterans deserve state-of-the-art healthcare in state-of-the-art facilities,” Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger said. “They also deserve a healthcare system that is accessible and convenient. This new clinic will help us deliver on all of these promises and I am proud of the team effort that went into making it happen for our local veterans.”

“Our country can never repay the debt we owe our veterans, but passage of this legislation today is a crucial step to improve access to the critical benefits they deserve. Upholding our responsibility to care for those who defend our country and democracy, the Honoring Our PACT Act expands coverage for veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service and establishes two new veterans’ clinics in Maryland,” said Congressman Sarbanes. “I am pleased that we are sending this legislation to President Biden’s desk with strong, bipartisan support.”

“We make a sacred promise to our servicemembers when they return home - to provide our veterans with the best health care our country has to offer. Critical to upholding that promise, is a commitment to access in the communities our veterans live in,” said Congressman Anthony Brown. “This legislation and funding will help meet Maryland veterans where they are and provide the quality care that they deserve. We’ll never stop fighting for the brave men and women who have served and we’ll always have their backs.”

Additional Background on the Baltimore and Prince George’s County CBOC Plans

For the Baltimore CBOC, this legislation provides for a lease of an approximately 112,624 square foot outpatient clinic, including 800 parking spaces. The new facility would enable VA to enhance outpatient services and provide more primary care space than is currently available at the Baltimore VA Clinic Annex.

For the Prince George’s County clinic, the PACT Act provides for a lease of an approximately 85,116 square foot outpatient clinic, including 600 parking spaces. The new facility would enable VA to accommodate the workload that the Southern Prince George’s County and Southeast D.C. CBOCs currently service, which has increased since the closure of the Greenbelt CBOC in 2015, and allow more patients to receive care closer to their homes.

Both clinics will allow for the full implementation of the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) model of care delivery, improving operational efficiencies and the veteran experience. They will be state-of-the-art, energy-efficient health care facilities offering primary care, mental health, specialty care, and ancillary services to veterans.

About the PACT Act

Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson deployed to Kosovo and Iraq with the Ohio National Guard. He died in 2020 from toxic exposure as a result of his military service. Among its many priorities, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 will:

Expand VA health care eligibility to Post-9/11 combat veterans, which includes more than 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans;

Create a framework for the establishment of future presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure;

Add 23 burn pit and toxic exposure-related conditions to VA’s list of service presumptions, including hypertension;

Expand presumptions related to Agent Orange exposure;

Includes Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam, American Samoa, and Johnston Atoll as locations for Agent Orange exposure;

Strengthen federal research on toxic exposure;

Improve VA’s resources and training for toxic-exposed veterans; and

Set VA and veterans up for success by investing in:

VA claims processing;

VA’s workforce; and

VA health care facilities.

Establish 31 new VA health care facilities across 19 states, including the two in Maryland.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z
https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases/mfume-and-maryland-congressional-delegation-shares-priorities-with-new-chesapeake-bay-leaders,Mfume and Maryland Congressional Delegation Shares Priorities with New Chesapeake Bay Leaders,2022-07-28,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,MD,Kweisi Mfume,M000687,mfume.house.gov,mfume,https://mfume.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, John Sarbanes, Andy Harris MD, Kweisi Mfume and David Trone met Wednesday in the U.S. Capitol with the new president and CEO of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Hilary Harp Falk and the newly selected U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Chesapeake Bay Program Director Dr. Kandis Boyd. The group shared perspectives and progress on challenges including upstream accountability, blue crabs, and the Conowingo Dam, as well as the broader need to maintain unity among Bay Program partners through 2025 and beyond.

“I grew up on the water, so I understand the importance of our waterways in a very personal way. Marylanders of every stripe, including many of our small businesses, rely on a healthy Bay for food, recreation, and to make a living,” said Congressman Mfume. “I am proud of the work we are doing in Congress to bring federal expertise and federal money to the table as we fight for a healthier Bay.”

“There is no higher priority that we have as a delegation than the Chesapeake Bay. Recognized by presidents as a national treasure, it is the iconic representation of the state of Maryland – quality of life, economy, culture and more,” said Senator Cardin. “Team Maryland has worked year after year to ensure the federal government is a strong partner with the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program and stakeholders like the Chesapeake Bay Foundation as we work to restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed in a sustainable and equitable way. We welcome Dr. Boyd and Ms. Falk to the forefront of this fight. We have reason to be optimistic about the state of the Bay, but there is much more work ahead of us.”

“Protecting and preserving the Chesapeake Bay requires an all-hands-on-deck effort. Today’s meeting was an opportunity to discuss the significant progress we’ve made in these efforts but also to underscore all the work that remains ahead. Dr. Boyd and Ms. Harp Falk have already hit the ground running in their new roles, and understand the challenges we face. As a delegation we’ve fought to deliver historic federal investments for Bay cleanup efforts through annual appropriations and the infrastructure modernization bill, and we must continue to put these dollars where they’re needed most – and hold our state partners accountable in following suit,” said Senator Van Hollen. “I’m committed to working together to continue these efforts to preserve the Bay for generations to come.”

“I was glad to meet with CEO and President of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation Hilary Harp Falk and EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Director Dr. Kandis Boyd. Conservation efforts to protect the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries are of critical importance our Congressional Delegation,” said Congressman Hoyer. “I am particularly concerned about the Blue Crab shortages we are witnessing and the impact that is having on our ecosystem and our economy. I am looking forward to working closely with Hilary as she leads efforts in our state and across the region to advance our mutual goal of cleaning up the Bay, protecting its wildlife, and strengthening its health for future generations.”

“As the Maryland Delegation has remained intensely committed to restoring the Chesapeake Bay and securing robust funding to support conservation projects, the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program and Chesapeake Bay Foundation have been essential partners in coordinating and implementing these efforts,” said Congressman Sarbanes. “My conversation with Dr. Kandis Boyd and Hilary Harp Falk reaffirmed our shared commitment to restoring and protecting the Bay Watershed, centering the voices of those most impacted by environmental injustice in our solution-making and working collaboratively with the community to be good stewards of the Bay.”

“The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure and vital economic engine on the Eastern Shore, which is why I’m proud to have consistently fought for federal funding for the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program and to have secured language in the FY23 Appropriations bill to help eradicate the invasive blue catfish,” said Dr. Harris. “At the meeting, I was pleased to hear of the support from the entire Maryland Delegation and look forward to working with them, the Foundation, and our colleagues in the Senate to sustain this critical language toward eradicating this dangerous and invasive species.”

“Congratulations to Dr. Kandis Boyd upon her appointment as EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program Director and to Hilary Falk for her selection as President of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation,” said Congressman Raskin. “The Chesapeake Bay is a natural treasure and the pride of Maryland, and I’m thrilled that these two talented leaders are bringing decades of experience in government and conservation to the task of protecting and restoring the Bay. I look forward to working with my Maryland colleagues to bolster their Bay preservation efforts.”

“Protecting the health of the Chesapeake Bay is essential to Maryland’s way of life and its local economies. Every year, billions of dollars in seafood revenue and tourism benefits hardworking Maryland families, and we remain dedicated to ensuring that folks can continue to enjoy the Bay for generations,” said Congressman Trone. “I look forward to working with the leadership of the EPA and Chesapeake Bay Foundation to further these efforts on the federal level.”

“The Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams bind together more than 18-million people. Restoring clean water is vital to the health, welfare, and economic strength of their communities,” Falk said. The science-based Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint is working to achieve that goal. We are reducing pollution and underwater dead zones are shrinking over time. At the same time, warning signs like this summer’s shortage of blue crabs demonstrate that we still have a long way to go. Climate change also threatens progress. However, today’s meeting gives me hope. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation applauds the bipartisan leadership of the Maryland Congressional delegation and others in the region who are standing up for clean water. By working together – residents, businesses, local and federal governments – we will finish the job and ensure clean water for our communities and future generations.”

“It was truly an honor and a privilege to speak with the Maryland Congressional Delegation about the most pressing issues affecting the Chesapeake Bay, its watershed, and those that recreate, live, and work in the Bay,” Dr. Boyd said. “More than ever it’s important to address climate change and its impact on the Bay to continue the nearly 40+ years of partnership that has provided marked improvements in the air, land, and water quality surrounding the Bay.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z
https://raskin.house.gov/2022/7/maryland-congressional-delegation-shares-priorities-with-new-chesapeake-bay-leaders,Maryland Congressional Delegation Shares Priorities with New Chesapeake Bay Leaders,2022-07-28,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,raskin,https://raskin.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, John Sarbanes, Andy Harris MD, Kweisi Mfume and David Trone met Wednesday in the U.S. Capitol with the new president and CEO of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Hilary Harp Falk and the newly selected U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Chesapeake Bay Program Director Dr. Kandis Boyd. The group shared perspectives and progress on challenges including upstream accountability, blue crabs, and the Conowingo Dam, as well as the broader need to maintain unity among Bay Program partners through 2025 and beyond.

“There is no higher priority that we have as a delegation than the Chesapeake Bay. Recognized by presidents as a national treasure, it is the iconic representation of the state of Maryland – quality of life, economy, culture and more,” said Senator Cardin. “Team Maryland has worked year after year to ensure the federal government is a strong partner with the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program and stakeholders like the Chesapeake Bay Foundation as we work to restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed in a sustainable and equitable way. We welcome Dr. Boyd and Ms. Falk to the forefront of this fight. We have reason to be optimistic about the state of the Bay, but there is much more work ahead of us.”

“Protecting and preserving the Chesapeake Bay requires an all-hands-on-deck effort. Today’s meeting was an opportunity to discuss the significant progress we’ve made in these efforts but also to underscore all the work that remains ahead. Dr. Boyd and Ms. Harp Falk have already hit the ground running in their new roles, and understand the challenges we face. As a delegation we’ve fought to deliver historic federal investments for Bay cleanup efforts through annual appropriations and the infrastructure modernization bill, and we must continue to put these dollars where they’re needed most – and hold our state partners accountable in following suit,” said Senator Van Hollen. “I’m committed to working together to continue these efforts to preserve the Bay for generations to come.”

“I was glad to meet with CEO and President of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation Hilary Harp Falk and EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Director Dr. Kandis Boyd. Conservation efforts to protect the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries are of critical importance our Congressional Delegation,” said Congressman Hoyer. “I am particularly concerned about the Blue Crab shortages we are witnessing and the impact that is having on our ecosystem and our economy. I am looking forward to working closely with Hilary as she leads efforts in our state and across the region to advance our mutual goal of cleaning up the Bay, protecting its wildlife, and strengthening its health for future generations.”

“As the Maryland Delegation has remained intensely committed to restoring the Chesapeake Bay and securing robust funding to support conservation projects, the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program and Chesapeake Bay Foundation have been essential partners in coordinating and implementing these efforts,” said Congressman Sarbanes. “My conversation with Dr. Kandis Boyd and Hilary Harp Falk reaffirmed our shared commitment to restoring and protecting the Bay Watershed, centering the voices of those most impacted by environmental injustice in our solution-making and working collaboratively with the community to be good stewards of the Bay.”

“The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure and vital economic engine on the Eastern Shore, which is why I’m proud to have consistently fought for federal funding for the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program and to have secured language in the FY23 Appropriations bill to help eradicate the invasive blue catfish,” said Dr. Harris. “At the meeting, I was pleased to hear of the support from the entire Maryland Delegation and look forward to working with them, the Foundation, and our colleagues in the Senate to sustain this critical language toward eradicating this dangerous and invasive species.”

“I grew up on the water, so I understand the importance of our waterways in a very personal way. Marylanders of every stripe, including many of our small businesses, rely on a healthy Bay for food, recreation, and to make a living,” said Congressman Mfume. “I am proud of the work we are doing in Congress to bring federal expertise and federal money to the table as we fight for a healthier Bay.""

“Congratulations to Dr. Kandis Boyd upon her appointment as EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program Director and to Hilary Falk for her selection as President of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation,” said Congressman Raskin. “The Chesapeake Bay is a natural treasure and the pride of Maryland, and I’m thrilled that these two talented leaders are bringing decades of experience in government and conservation to the task of protecting and restoring the Bay. I look forward to working with my Maryland colleagues to bolster their Bay preservation efforts.”

“Protecting the health of the Chesapeake Bay is essential to Maryland’s way of life and its local economies. Every year, billions of dollars in seafood revenue and tourism benefits hardworking Maryland families, and we remain dedicated to ensuring that folks can continue to enjoy the Bay for generations,” said Congressman Trone. “I look forward to working with the leadership of the EPA and Chesapeake Bay Foundation to further these efforts on the federal level.”

“The Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams bind together more than 18-million people. Restoring clean water is vital to the health, welfare, and economic strength of their communities,” Falk said. The science-based Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint is working to achieve that goal. We are reducing pollution and underwater dead zones are shrinking over time. At the same time, warning signs like this summer’s shortage of blue crabs demonstrate that we still have a long way to go. Climate change also threatens progress. However, today’s meeting gives me hope. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation applauds the bipartisan leadership of the Maryland Congressional delegation and others in the region who are standing up for clean water. By working together – residents, businesses, local and federal governments – we will finish the job and ensure clean water for our communities and future generations.”

“It was truly an honor and a privilege to speak with the Maryland Congressional Delegation about the most pressing issues affecting the Chesapeake Bay, its watershed, and those that recreate, live, and work in the Bay,” Dr. Boyd said. “More than ever it’s important to address climate change and its impact on the Bay to continue the nearly 40+ years of partnership that has provided marked improvements in the air, land, and water quality surrounding the Bay.”

The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. Its watershed, declared a national treasure in Executive Order 13508 (2009), comprises a 64,000-square-mile area and includes portions of Maryland, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia and the entire District of Columbia. The lawmakers have secured significant federal funding and worked alongside state and local governments in the seven jurisdictions, as well as federal agencies, academic, nongovernmental and other partners to restore the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z