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/media/in-the-news/view-national-shield-law-press,A view of a national shield law for the press,2017-12-29,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,,,legacy,"Some weeks back I decided to sit in on the House Judiciary Committee hearing with Attorney General (AG) Jeff Sessions. Having attended previous Congressional hearings with the Attorney General as the key witness, I didn't expect much in terms of new or enlightening testimony regarding the Russian meddling in our election probe and I was certainly not disappointed or, rather, pleasantly surprised by his testimony or lack thereof. Read more here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/statement-from-baltimore-congressional-delegation-on-the-fbi-refusal-to-lead-investigation-of-the-murder-of-bpd-detective-sean-suiter,Statement from Baltimore Congressional Delegation on the FBI Refusal to Lead Investigation of the Murder of BPD Detective Sean Suiter,2017-12-28,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 28, 2017 Statement from Baltimore Congressional Delegation on the FBI Refusal to Lead Investigation of the Murder of BPD Detective Sean Suiter WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Elijah Cummings, Dutch Ruppersberger and John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) today released the following joint statement: We are disappointed by the refusal of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to take the lead in investigating the murder of Baltimore Police Department Detective Sean Suiter. While we appreciate the FBI contention that no evidence exists to suggest that Det. Suiters homicide was directly connected to the corruption probe in which he was to testify, the reality remains that little-to-no progress has been made in solving the homicide. This means that his family, colleagues and community still lack the peace of mind and sense of justice that would accompany a successful resolution of this investigation, underscoring that the full resources and attention of the federal government remain required to solve this case. We expect that the FBI and other federal agencies that have been cooperating in this investigation will remain fully engaged until justice is delivered, and that the FBI will immediately reconsider its decision to assume leadership of the investigation should any new evidence suggest it is merited. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cummings.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-baltimore-congressional-delegation-fbi-refusal-lead,Statement from Baltimore Congressional Delegation on the FBI Refusal to Lead Investigation of the Murder of BPD Detective Sean Suiter,2017-12-27,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Elijah Cummings,C000984,cummings.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Elijah Cummings, Dutch Ruppersberger and John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) today released the following joint statement: We are disappointed by the refusal of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to take the lead in investigating the murder of Baltimore Police Department Detective Sean Suiter. While we appreciate the FBI contention that no evidence exists to suggest that Det. Suiters homicide was directly connected to the corruption probe in which he was to testify, the reality remains that little-to-no progress has been made in identifying his killer(s). This means that his family, colleagues and community still lack the peace of mind and sense of justice that would accompany a successful resolution of this investigation, underscoring that the full resources and attention of the federal government remain required to solve this case. We expect that the FBI and other federal agencies that have been cooperating in this investigation will remain fully engaged until justice is delivered, and that the FBI stands ready to immediately reconsider its decision to assume leadership of the investigation should any new evidence suggest it is merited.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/statement-from-baltimore-congressional-delegation-on-the-fbi-refusal-to-lead-investigation-of-the-murder-of-bpd-detective-sean-suiter,Statement from Baltimore Congressional Delegation on the FBI Refusal to Lead Investigation of the Murder of BPD Detective Sean Suiter,2017-12-27,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Chris Van Hollen,V000128,www.vanhollen.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 27, 2017 Statement from Baltimore Congressional Delegation on the FBI Refusal to Lead Investigation of the Murder of BPD Detective Sean Suiter U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Elijah Cummings, Dutch Ruppersberger and John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) today released the following joint statement: ""We are disappointed by the refusal of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to take the lead in investigating the murder of Baltimore Police Department Detective Sean Suiter. While we appreciate the FBI contention that no evidence exists to suggest that Det. Suiter's homicide was directly connected to the corruption probe in which he was to testify, the reality remains that little-to-no progress has been made in solving the homicide. This means that his family, colleagues and community still lack the peace of mind and sense of justice that would accompany a successful resolution of this investigation, underscoring that the full resources and attention of the federal government remain required to solve this case. We expect that the FBI and other federal agencies that have been cooperating in this investigation will remain fully engaged until justice is delivered, and that the FBI will immediately reconsider its decision to assume leadership of the investigation should any new evidence suggest it is merited."" ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/sarbanes-discusses-infrastructure-daca-and-protecting-the-mueller,"Sarbanes Discusses Infrastructure, DACA and Protecting the Mueller Investigation",2017-12-23,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"Arundel Center 44 Calvert Street, Suite 349 Annapolis, MD 21401 Phone: (410) 295-1679 Fax: (410) 295-1682 Hours: Tu, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., or by appointment",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://raskin.house.gov/media/in-the-news/keep-federal-pay-freeze-benefits-cuts-sequestration-bargaining-table-lawmakers,"Keep federal pay freeze, benefits cuts, off sequestration bargaining table, lawmakers warn",2017-12-22,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,,,legacy,"Amid the threat of sequestration following the passage of President Donald Trumps tax reform bill, abloc of House Democrats has warned House leadership off freezing federal employees pay or reducing their benefits as a way to offset tax cuts. Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), along with House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) and Reps. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) led a coalition of 95 members in warning House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) not to use federal employees compensation as a bargaining chip, as Congress must decide where to make cuts in federal government spending following passage of the Republican-backed tax plan. Read more here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://raskin.house.gov/media/press-releases/connolly-raskin-cummings-lead-95-members-congress-urging-house-leadership-not,Connolly-Raskin-Cummings Lead 95 Members of Congress in Urging House Leadership Not To Use Federal Employees for Government Funding Offset,2017-12-22,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,,,legacy,"(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Today, Representatives Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-MD) led 95 Members of Congress in urging Speaker Paul Ryan and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to oppose any further cuts to federal employee pay and benefits to offset increased discretionary spending. Enough is enough. The federal workforce should be thanked for their honorable service, not treated like a piggy bank, said Connolly, Raskin and Cummings. Since 2011, federal employees have had their pay frozen three times (2011, 2012, 2013), three years of reduced pay increases (2014, 2015, 2016), unpaid furlough days from the 2013 sequestration, and two increases in retirement contributions for new employees (2013, 2014), the Members of Congress wrote. While we agree that a long-term bipartisan budget agreement to lift the devastating sequestration caps is necessary, to finance such an agreement on the backs of middle class federal employees who have dedicated their lives to serving our nation would be wrong under any circumstances, they added. We respectfully request you explore other avenues to offset the cost of lifting the caps. The letter was signed by Representatives Hoyer, Connolly, Raskin, Barragan, Beyer, Bishop (GA), Blumenauer, Bonamici, Boyle, Brown, Carbajal, Carson, Cicilline, Clay, Cleaver, Costa, Courtney, Crist, Cummings, Davis (CA), Davis (IL), DeFazio, DeGette, Delaney, DeSaulnier, Deutch, Dingell, Doyle, Engel, Espaillat, Evans, Foster, Fudge, Gabbard, Gallego, Hanabusa, Higgins, Jackson Lee, Jayapal, Keating, Khanna, Kilmer, Kildee, Lawrence, Lee (CA), Levin, Lewis, Lipinski, Lofgren, Lowenthal, Lynch, Maloney, Matsui, McCollum, McEachin, McGovern, McNerney, Meng, Murphy (FL), Nadler, Napolitano, Nolan, Norcross, Norton, O'Halleran, Pallone, Perlmutter, Peters, Plaskett, Pocan, Price, Roybal-Allard, Ruppersberger, Rush, Ryan (OH), Sablan, Sanchez, Sarbanes, Schakowsky, Schrader, Scott (GA), Scott (VA), Serrano, Shea-Porter, Sires, Smith, Takano, Titus, Vargas, Visclosky, Watson Coleman, Welch, Wilson, Yarmuth. The full letteris available here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delaney.house.gov/news/press-releases/delaney-statement-on-continuing-resolution-vote,Delaney Statement on Continuing Resolution Vote,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Delaney,D000620,delaney.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Today the House passed a short-term funding bill to avoid a government shutdown and keep the government open through January 19. Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-6) releases the following statement: I believe that a government shutdown would have been really bad for my constituents and bad for the country. I didnt like the short-term bill that Speaker Ryan brought to the floor and it was disappointing that we again needed to do a short-term continuing resolution rather than a real funding bill that included long-term full funding for the many priorities we have for our nation, including CHIP and a DACA fix. But the terrible choice we were given was to either not get these things and keep the government open or not get these things and shut the government down on top of that. So I voted to keep the government open, keep paying federal workers and contractors, keep Social Security checks being delivered and to keep fighting for our priorities. This is a four week bill so the fight will resume in January and I plan on continuing to fight for full CHIP funding and continuing to fight for the Dreamers. ##",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/fema-opens-application-assistance-firefighters-grant-program,FEMA Opens Application for Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,MD,Andy Harris,H001052,harris.house.gov,,,legacy,"On December 26, FEMA will open its application for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. The purpose of the AFG Program is to award grants directly to fire departments, nonaffiliated Emergency Medical Services (EMS) organizations, and state fire training academies to enhance their ability to protect the health and safety of the public and first responders. The AFG Program will award approximately $310.5 million in competitive grants. For more information about the AFG program, please visit http://www.fema.gov/assistance-firefighters-grant. The deadline to apply is February 2, 2018.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hoyer.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2896,Hoyer Statement on the Passage of Legislation to Fund the Government Through January 19,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Steny Hoyer,H000874,hoyer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement today after the House of Representatives passed short-term legislation to fund the government through January 19: Once again, Republicans in the House of Representatives have ignored their responsibility to govern, and opted to kick the can down the road. Instead of completing their work on time and working with Democrats to fund the government in a responsible manner, Republicans have yet again passed legislation to fund the government for the short term. While I am glad that Republicans have not shut down the government, funding the government for just weeks at a time is not a responsible or sustainable way to govern, and Marylanders deserve better. Republicans in Congress continue to ignore the most pressing issues facing families in Maryland, and across the nation. Instead of bringing the bipartisan DREAM Act or legislation to reauthorize the Childrens Health Insurance Program to the Floor of the House of Representatives, they wasted time passing their partisan tax bill, which will raise taxes on thousands of hardworking middle class families in our state. I will continue to urge my colleagues across the aisle to join with Democrats and work in a bipartisan manner to responsibly fund the government and get things done for our constituents.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://raskin.house.gov/media/press-releases/raskin-joins-171-dems-letter-support-special-counsel-investigation,Raskin Joins 171 Dems in Letter of Support for Special Counsel Investigation,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,,,legacy,"(WASHINGTON, D.C.) -Today, Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) joined 171 Members of Congress, led by Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), in sending a letter to the Deputy Attorney General of the United States, Rod J. Rosenstein, to express their support for the investigation being conducted by Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller, III. Special Counsel Mueller was appointed by Mr. Rosenstein on May 17, 2017 to lead an investigation into important matters arising out of the 2016 elections, including any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump. However, despite Mr. Muellers record of integrity, established through his previous service as the FBI Director during two presidential administrations, and despite the clear progress that Mr. Mueller is making in his investigation, the right-wing media, Republican Members of Congress andPresidentDonald Trump, himself, have attempted toundermine Mr. Muellers investigation byadvancinga false narrative that Special Counsel Muellers investigation is biased. We write to express our support for the work of Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III, and to urge you to ensure that he be allowed to continue his investigation unfettered by political influence or threats to his authority to its natural and appropriate conclusion based on the law, the facts, and the evidence, the Members wrote. The full letter is available here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://ruppersberger.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ruppersberger-votes-no-on-continuing-resolution,Ruppersberger Votes No on Continuing Resolution,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger,R000576,ruppersberger.house.gov,,,legacy,"(Washington, D.C.) Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger today issued the following statement after voting against a short-term Continuing Resolution: ""Today, I made the difficult decision to vote against a continuing resolution (CR) that would fund the federal government. This is something I have done only rarely throughout my time in Congress and reflects the irresponsibility of the bill place before us today. Funding the government is the most basic responsibility of Congress, yet this is the third temporary Continuing Resolution weve seen nearly three months into the fiscal year with no full-year Appropriations plan in sight. I am especially concerned that the Department of Defense continues to operate under a CR as adversaries like China and Russia continue to close in on us. Band aid budgets are bad for our national security. I am also very disappointed that this bill contains no long-term reauthorization of the Childrens Health Insurance Program, nor does it offer a solution for Dreamers. Failing to find a way for these residents who serve our military, lead our communities and contribute taxes -- to stay in this country legally is inexcusable. I hope Senator McConnell means it when he says the Senate will vote on a DACA fix in January.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/floor-speech-on-the-dreamers-and-tps,FLOOR SPEECH ON THE DREAMERS AND TPS,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 21, 2017 FLOOR SPEECH ON THE DREAMERS AND TPS Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I thank Senator Durbin for his extraordinary leadership on this issue and so many others. The Dreamers are part of this country. They are America's future. They are helping to build this great Nation, and they need our attention now. The Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the White House. One of their principal responsibilities is to pass a budget. We are now 3 months into the fiscal year, and we don't have a budget, and we are talking about another continuing resolution. A couple of weeks ago, we were told on the floor to give it a couple of more weeks, and we would work out some of these issues. I agree with Senator Durbin. The time to act is now. We should not be going into recess without dealing with the problems of our country. We need to deal with the budget problem, and we, certainly, need to deal with the problem of the Dreamers. Let me just talk a little bit about them. They entered the United States before they were 16 years old--that is required--before 2007. Under President Obama's Executive order of 2012, they were entitled to a 2-year renewable work permit and the ability to remain in this country without being in fear of deportation. Each one has to go through a criminal background check. They need to be enrolled in school. They must either be high school graduates or in the U.S. military. In the United States today, we have 800,000 who are registered under the Dreamers. There are 10,000 in my State of Maryland, and they are contributing a half a billion dollars to Maryland's GDP, or gross domestic product. They are our next generation of teachers, doctor, engineers, and entrepreneurs. They are going to help build America, and they know no other country but the United States, which is their home. In our values, what makes America the great Nation that it is is that we are a welcoming country. We are a country in which people have come over the years to build this great Nation. That is America's strength. Are we going to turn our back now on the values that built this country? Are we going to rip families apart? Is that what America stands for? I find that hard to imagine. Would we do this to our own economy and hurt ourselves, as we are growing with their help? I have met with many Dreamers, not as many as Senator Durbin. He probably has the record. But I met with several Dreamers in Maryland. We had one in our office yesterday who had tears in her eyes. She said: I have an expiration date on my back. She doesn't know what is going to happen when that date occurs. How would you like to live under that fear in the United States of America? We are not talking about some communist country. We are talking about America, where people are living in fear. I have had several roundtable discussions with Dreamers in Maryland. I have had them in College Park, Baltimore, and in other areas. Let me mention two Dreamers I met with. Adam was originally born in Canada. His family grew up in Pakistan. He came to the United States with his parents when he was very young. Becky was born in Peru and came here with her parents to the United States. I mention them collectively because they both attend the University of Maryland at College Park. Our State allows Dreamers to have instate tuition so they can go to college and get the tools they need in order to succeed. They need work permits because they have to work. Otherwise, they never would have been able to get through school. They need a driver's license. Adam explained to me that he needed a driver's license to go to a magnet school so that he could advance his own education. That was all possible through President Obama's Executive order. Now all of that has been put into doubt because of President Trump's announcements that the program will end. It puts their lives on hold and in fear, and they wonder whether they need to go into the shadows in the United States of America. President Trump's actions were wrong. We can correct that, and Congress must act. We must act now before we go home for the holidays. I wish to talk about a similar group of people in our country--a large number in my State of Maryland--those under Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, because it is a similar situation. There are 437,000 people in America from El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. In Maryland, 22,500 people are here from El Salvador, Honduras, and Haiti--from those three countries alone--and 90 percent of the TPS people in this country are from El Salvador, Honduras and Haiti, the three principal countries. My own State's recipients contribute $1.2 billion of our gross domestic product. This is a very similar situation to the Dreamers. They get a 6- to 18-month extension. They have been here for decades because the underlying conditions in the countries from which they came still exist today. I have been to Central America. I can tell you that it is not safe for these people to be returned to those gang activities. They have the same similar situation. They know no other country but America. If they are required to go back to the country in which they were born, it will tear families apart. They have been disadvantaged by the President's actions where he is now threatening to end these programs. We need to act. We need to act in order to protect this group of citizens. I want to acknowledge that my colleagues have introduced legislation on this. S. 2144 provides a pathway to citizenship for those with TPS status. It is sponsored by Senators Van Hollen, Feinstein, and others. We should take that bill up and pass it. Let's provide protections. Let's strengthen American values. Let's do our work. Let's do it now. Let's do it before we go on recess. It is the right thing to do. Let me just conclude by quoting from Becky again, one of the Dreamers I met. She said the best present she ever got was on her 13th birthday, when President Obama executed the Executive order that gave her legal status and hope here in America. Well, we can give her an even better present right now before we take the recess for the Christmas holidays. We can give her a present of Congress, acting to provide protection for the Dreamers and for those on TPS so they don't have to worry again and they know they have a home here in America.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-calls-the-latest-cr-a-failure-of-constitutional-responsibilities,Cardin Calls the Latest CR a Failure of Constitutional Responsibilities,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 21, 2017 Cardin Calls the Latest CR a Failure of Constitutional Responsibilities I voted against this latest continuing resolution because I want Congress to finish its work. WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and a member of the Senate Finance Committee, expressed his continuing frustration that Republicans are unable and unwilling to put forward real appropriations bills and continue to rely on Continuing Resolutions (CR) to fund the federal government. Its unconscionable that the party that controls the Senate, the House of Representatives and the White House the Republican Party -- cannot pass a timely, reasonable spending bill. Continuing resolutions are a failure of our Constitutional responsibilities. They may keep the federal government running, which is good news for all Americans, but it is no way to run a government year after year after year."" I voted against this latest continuing resolution because I want Congress to finish its work. Dreamers and those with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) do not get a reprieve from the fear they will be kicked out of this country because its Christmas. Children who are sick and in need of long-term health coverage provided by CHIP dont get a holiday break. The tax extenders package that Republicans have been promising since the fall which would help shore up critical clean energy and energy efficiency incentives is not included. Where is the disaster relief? Where is the opioid crisis funding? Where is the long-term funding for our community health centers? Weve given the Republicans a series of short-term continuing resolutions and they still have been unable to pass regular spending bills. Enough is enough. Our country needs predictability and stability that continuing resolutions cannot provide. We need an equal increase in both our domestic and national security budgets that will fund essential programs while protecting both hard-working families and our military. Congress needs to stay and get the job done. ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-mccain-welcome-global-magnitsky-sanctions-for-human-rights-abusers-corruption,"Cardin, McCain Welcome Global Magnitsky Sanctions for Human Rights Abusers, Corruption",2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 21, 2017 Cardin, McCain Welcome Global Magnitsky Sanctions for Human Rights Abusers, Corruption U.S. Senators authored 2016 law to advance international human rights norms WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and John McCain (R-Ariz.), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following joint statement Thursday after the Trump Administration announced the first list of sanctions designations for international human rights abusers and corrupt individuals per the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. Senators Cardin and McCain are the co-authors of the law: We wrote the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act last year because the United States must lead the world in using the power of our financial and legal institutions to hold human rights abusers and corrupt individuals accountable for their heinous crimes. We started advancing this important goal five years ago with the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law and Accountability Act, to hold accountable the Russian officials who tortured and killed Sergei as well as those who act with impunity throughout the country, violating the basic rights of the Russian people. In Sergeis name, and in the spirit of the many unsung and unnamed individuals around the world who have suffered human rights abuse for uncovering corruption and fighting for freedom, the United States continues to support their efforts and seek accountability and justice with the Global Magnitsky sanctions out today. Thirteen people around the world have been targeted for their crimes today, as well as more than three dozen of their individual and organizational associates that fuel their criminal activities. While we would like to see a more geographically diverse and rigorous list going forward, including more of the individuals we highlighted to the Administration, overall we welcome this first edition of the Global Magnitsky list. In particular, we welcome the sanctioning of two individuals from Russia and Burma. Artem Chayka has used his position of familial privilege as the son of Russias Prosecutor General to steer government-contracting funds to his associates and punish competitors, fueling Russias widespread corruption. And Maung Maung Soe has played a leading role in the ethnic cleansing campaign Burma has carried out against the Rohingya people of Rakhine State. We thank the Administration for todays announcement, and express our gratitude to the career professionals whose expertise and dedication to justice made todays Global Magnitsky sanctions designations possible. We look forward to continuing to work with the Administration and the human rights community to end a global culture of impunity and ensure robust and comprehensive implementation of this landmark law. We will continue to conduct rigorous oversight of the Magnitsky laws to ensure that the United States remains a nation guided by its values and its respect for the rule of law. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-requests-extension-of-protected-status-for-salvadorans-in-the-united-states,Cardin Requests Extension of Protected Status for Salvadorans in the United States,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 21, 2017 Cardin Requests Extension of Protected Status for Salvadorans in the United States WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen Thursday requesting an 18-month extension of the existing Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for nearly 200,000 Salvadoran nationals currently living in the United States. The status expires on March 9, 2018. Senator Cardin said in part, For nearly a decade, El Salvador has consistently suffered per capita murder rates that have been among the worst in the world. In 2016, the people of El Salvador were victims of over 5,200 homicides, an alarming rate of more than 80 per 100,000 people and the highest globally. Beyond these challenges, I am concerned about the capacity of the Salvadoran government to receive the nearly 200,000 individuals who could be subject to immediate deportation. The disorderly repatriation of so many people who would be particularly vulnerable due to limited support from their governments could potentially exacerbate already precarious conditions in the country and increase pressures for migration, Senator Cardin continued. We must also take into account the more than 190,000 U.S. born children who have Salvadoran parents that are TPS beneficiaries. Forcing these parents to return would create unnecessary burdens and separate families. The Senators letter is below and can be found at this link. Dear Secretary Tillerson and Secretary Nielsen: I am writing to request that the Administration grant an 18-month extension of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for El Salvador, which expires on March 9, 2018. Established in 1990, TPS permits the United States to offer temporary humanitarian protection to foreign nationals who are unable to return to safe conditions in their homeland. In El Salvador, an acute crisis caused by a devastating earthquake has had lasting effects that have been complicated by ongoing security, economic, and environmental challenges in the country. For nearly a decade, El Salvador has consistently suffered per capita murder rates that have been among the worst in the world. In 2016, the people of El Salvador were victims of over 5,200 homicides, an alarming rate of more than 80 per 100,000 people and the highest globally. These troubling security statistics are compounded by the fact that 31 percent of the Salvadoran population live below the poverty line. Moreover, in 2016, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reported a historic drought in the Northern Triangle where El Salvador is located has left some 1.5 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. Beyond these challenges, I am concerned about the capacity of the Salvadoran government to receive the nearly 200,000 individuals who could be subject to immediate deportation. The disorderly repatriation of so many people who would be particularly vulnerable due to limited support from their governments could potentially exacerbate already precarious conditions in the country and increase pressures for migration. We must also take into account the more than 190,000 U.S. born children who have Salvadoran parents that are TPS beneficiaries. Forcing these parents to return would create unnecessary burdens and separate families. Since 2014, the U.S. Government has greatly expanded its engagement with Central America in order to address the underlying factors driving irregular migration. Congress approved significant increases in U.S. assistance to the region in recent years, and has signaled continuing support for FY2018. Vice President Pence, speaking at the June conference on Central America, reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to a safer and more prosperous region. U.S. assistance will advance progress over time, increasing security, development, and greater protections for human rights and vulnerable populations. Ending TPS could put our investments at risk. Thank you for attention to this important matter, I look forward to your response. Sincerely, Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-ag-committee-democrats-seek-information-on-senior-career-employee-reassignments-at-usda,"Van Hollen, Ag Committee Democrats Seek Information on Senior Career Employee Reassignments at USDA",2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Chris Van Hollen,V000128,www.vanhollen.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 21, 2017 Van Hollen, Ag Committee Democrats Seek Information on Senior Career Employee Reassignments at USDA Today, the ten Democratic members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry wrote a letter to Stephen Vaden, the Trump administration's nominee for General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), to seek more information regarding the reassignments of several high-level career employees at USDA. Since January 20, USDA has reassigned at least a dozen Senior Executive Service (SES) employees. Recently, questions were raised to the Senate Agriculture Committee regarding these reassignments. ""SES career employees are highly skilled leaders that enable the USDA to provide the highest level of service to our farmers, families and rural communities,"" wrote the Senators. ""It is critically important for us to understand the purpose of these reassignments in order to ensure that all staffing changes are made in the best interest of USDA's customers."" U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, raised these concerns during the Committee's vote on Vaden, who has been serving as a leader in the USDA Office of the General Counsel since early in the Trump administration. The letter, led by Ranking Member Stabenow, was also signed by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Robert Casey (D-Pa.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) - who all serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee. The full text of the letter is below. A PDF of the letter is available here. December 21, 2017 Dear Mr. Vaden, We are writing today to obtain further information regarding recent questions that have been raised about SES career employees at the Department of Agriculture (USDA). SES career employees are highly skilled leaders that enable the USDA to provide the highest level of service to our farmers, families and rural communities. In your responses to a question raised by Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow in evaluating your nomination, you identified 12 career SES officials that USDA had reassigned since January 20, 2017. It is critically important for us to understand the purpose of these reassignments in order to ensure that all staffing changes are made in the best interest of USDA's customers. Please respond in writing to the following questions by January 11, 2018. 1.What role did the Office of General Counsel play in the reassignment of the individuals identified in your responses? 2.Please explain in detail your role in the reassignment of the individuals identified in your responses. 3.Please provide the names of any senior officials in the Office of Human Resources Management that were involved in working on the reassignments identified in your responses. 4.Since January 20, 2017, what changes have been made in the process for performance reviews for the SES employees? Why were any such changes made? 5.For each of the reassigned individuals identified in your responses regarding the SES reassignments, please provide: a.the basis of or reason for the reassignment; b.the qualifications of the reassigned employee for the new position to which the employee was assigned; c.a description of how the reassignment will better serve taxpayer interests and the operations and functioning of USDA; d.the reassigned employee's race, national origin, and gender; e.the date when the reassigned employee first became an SES employee; and f.the name of each individual that replaced the reassigned SES official. 6.Were any of the reassignments identified in your responses regarding the SES reassignments made because of the political affiliation of the individual reassigned or because the individual had worked closely with Obama Administration leadership officials at USDA? If yes, please explain. 7.During 2017, how many career SES employees have challenged or contested their initial performance evaluation or asked for a higher level of review for their performance ratings, and how many career SES employees had their ratings changed by the Performance Review Board? 8.During 2016, how many career SES employees have challenged or contested their initial performance evaluation or asked for a higher level of review for their performance ratings, and how many career SES employees had their ratings changed by the Performance Review Board? 9.Since January 20, 2017, have any career SES employees retired or terminated their employment with the agency in lieu of being reassigned? If so, please provide the name, race, national origin, and gender of any such individuals. 10.Please provide the names of any other career SES employees USDA has considered reassigning or proposed to be reassigned since January 20, 2017 not listed in the response you previously provided to Ranking Member Stabenow' Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cummings.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cummings-issues-statement-revote-gop-tax-scam,Cummings Issues Statement on Revote of GOP Tax Scam,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Elijah Cummings,C000984,cummings.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC (December 20, 2017)Today, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) released the following statement on the House revote of the Republican tax bill: If you are a middle class American, or someone working to get into the middle class, this Republican tax bill is a scam. Republicans advertised their plan as helping the middle class, but it actually helps President Trump, his family, and his filthy rich corporate friends beyond their wildest dreams. This is one of the biggest transfers of wealth to the rich in the history of our country. Even worse than this kleptocracy, the bill explodes the deficit by more than a trillion dollars, and Republicans are already using this factwhich they createdas a pretext to slash key programs that middle class families rely on every single day, like Medicare and Social Security. When you add up all the numbers, this bill hurts middle class familiesespecially people of colorso Republicans can lavish hundreds of billions of dollars on President Trump and his rich corporate friends.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/010-congressman-andy-harris-r-md-gun-control,010 - Congressman Andy Harris (R-MD) & Gun Control,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,MD,Andy Harris,H001052,harris.house.gov,,,legacy,"15 East Churchville Road Suite 102B Bel Air, MD 21014 By Appointment Only Phone: 410-588-5670 Fax: 410-588-5673",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/enewsletters/the-gop-tax-scam,The GOP Tax Scam,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friend, The massive tax giveaway just passed by the Republican-controlled Congress is a broken promise of historic magnititude. Broken Promise #1: Americans were promised, ""a simpler, fairer tax code."" Yet, the tax bill relies on a series of gimmicks and expiring provisions that will undoubtedly complicate tax filing for millions of American households for years to come. Broken Promise #2: Americans were promised the tax plan would provide economic relief to our nation's middle-class. Instead, millions of middle-class Americans will see their taxes increase immediately. And once the gimmicks expire in 2027, every income below $75,000 will see their taxes increase. Broken Promise #3: Americans were promised there would be ""no absolute tax cut for the upper class."" Yet, the non-partisian Tax Policy Center found that the top 1% of earners will enjoy 83% of the tax benefits of this legislation. Broken Promise #4: Americans were promised the tax cuts will pay for themselves. Yet, nearly every independent analysis of the bill has confimed this plan will explode our nation's deficit by over one trillion, while only providing modest benefits to our economy. Broken Promise #5: Americans were promised no cuts to Medicare or Social Security. Yet, already some in Congress, including Speaker Ryan, are speaking openly about how they now hope to cut Social Security and Medicare to fill the hole caused by this uncessary giveaway. So much for Presdient Trump's promise to protect those critical programs. Broken Promise #6: Americans were promised a thorough and thoughtful process. Instead, this bill was assembled in backrooms with little time for expert review or input. What's worse, not a single hearing was held on the bill and not one Democratic amendment was adopted. Compare that to the process of the Affordable Care Act, when Democrats held over 79 public, bipartisan hearings and markups on the bill; spent over 100 hours in hearings; and considered 239 amendments, from Democrats and Republicans alike. The Senate, for its part, spent 160 hours considering the bill and included 147 amendments offered by Republicans. At every step of the process and with every broken promise, the Republican tax bill has gotten worse. As I said when I wrote you last, it didn't have to be this way. Both parties have long supported a revamping of the tax code, but it needed to be done in a bipartisan way. Republicans rejected that approach from the outset. Time will further expose just how bad this legislation is. It will need to be fixed. Let's hope that a different Congress will have the capacity and the leadership to truly build a more sensible tax code, that is fairer, simpler and boosts economic growth. Sincerely, John P. Sarbanes Maryland's Third Congressional District",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-asks-haley-to-convene-emergency-un-session-on-venezuela,Cardin Asks Haley to Convene Emergency UN Session on Venezuela,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 20, 2017 Cardin Asks Haley to Convene Emergency UN Session on Venezuela In floor speech, Senator laments crisis Maduro has unleashed on Venezuelan people, calls for regional, international resolve WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spoke on the Senate floor Wednesday about the dire state of affairs facing the Venezuelan people and wrote to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, urging her to convene an emergency session of the UN Security Council to explore ways to alleviate human suffering in Venezuela. With Venezuelas humanitarian crisis growing daily, conditions facing Venezuelan children are particularly dire. The Catholic relief organization Caritas has determined that over 50 percent of children are suffering nutritional deficiencies, [projecting that] 280,000 Venezuelan children could eventually die of hunger without an urgently needed humanitarian response, Senator Cardin said. As Venezuelans increasingly suffer the ravages of hunger, the countrys hospital system is collapsing. Essential medicines are in short supply and more than half of the nations operating facilities no longer function or have sufficient supplies. Disturbingly, international relief organizations have found that over 60 percent of Venezuelan hospitals dont even have potable water. The United States and our partners in the hemisphere now confront a situation in which the Maduro regime would rather see its people go hungry than accept the assistance that Venezuelans desperately need, Senator Cardin continued. This man-made tragedy is absolutely unacceptable and today I have written to Ambassador Nikki Haley to urge her to call for an emergency special session of the United Nations Security Council to evaluate which UN mechanisms, including UN Security Council Resolutions, should be pursued to alleviate humanitarian suffering inside Venezuela. The Senators letter to Ambassador Haley can be found at this link. The Senators floor speech as prepared for delivery can be found at this link. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-decries-backsliding-in-burma-as-un-human-rights-investigator-denied-access-to-country,Cardin Decries Backsliding in Burma as UN Human Rights Investigator Denied Access to Country,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 20, 2017 Cardin Decries Backsliding in Burma as UN Human Rights Investigator Denied Access to Country U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Wednesday after the chief UN official investigating human rights abuses in Burma was denied access to the country in an upcoming trip. Earlier today, Cardin spoke out about the two Reuters reporters arrested and detained in Burma: Burma continues to move in the wrong direction. A genocide has taken place against the Royhingya community in Rakhine, Burma, and Burma continues to move in the wrong direction. A genocide has taken place against the Royhingya community in Rakhine, Burma, and it is astounding that the government has the audacity to now deny entry to the international official responsible for upholding human rights standards in that country. This development compounds the disastrous decision by Burmese authorities to arrest and detain two Reuters reporters working to uncover mass graves in Rakhine, who must be released immediately. I will be working with Senator McCain to gain more traction in the New Year for our legislation, S. 2060, to impose targeted sanctions and visa restrictions on key senior Burmese military officials and hold them accountable for human rights abuses. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-opposes-republican-tax-bill-calls-it-an-assault-on-middle-income-families,"Cardin Opposes Republican Tax Bill, Calls It An Assault on Middle-Income Families",2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 20, 2017 Cardin Opposes Republican Tax Bill, Calls It An Assault on Middle-Income Families This bill is not good for middle-income families and its not good for our economy. WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, took to the floor of the United States Senate Tuesday night prior to the vote on the Republican tax bill to highlight many of the grave issues with the legislation. Video of Senator Cardins full remarks can be found here: WATCH: https://youtu.be/MWhGhpLWIwk DOWNLOAD: Snapstream The American people understand that this tax bill will hurt middle-income families. They know it will add to the deficit. This bill, which has been advertised as a tax cut, is not good for America. Its not good for middle-income families and its not good for our economy. Its an extraordinary thing to get a majority of Americans against a bill that is purported to be a tax cut. Its because they understand that it is not a tax cut for middle-class families. It is a tax cut for mega corporations You arent helping middle-income families when you raise the estate tax limits that affects the 0.2 percent wealthiest in America. And middle-income taxpayers will be asked to foot the $1.5 trillion bill. This bill will not grow the middle class this bill will make income and wealth disparities even more extreme. Many of these tax provisions are only temporary, such as the tax relief for individuals . . . the business relief is permanent. Republicans are not deficit hawks when they deficit finance a tax cut. Thats not helping this country. This bill also is an attack on our states. Its an attack on Marylanders. Its an attack on the State of Maryland. Marylanders will come out much worse under this bill. There are many reasons for it, but one of the major reasons is that the bill eliminates the deduction for state and local taxes . . . It will be more challenging for state and local governments to meet their needs. They have the primary function of educating our children and keeping our communities safe. . . . Did we consider that when we took up this bill? When you look at the ANWR provision which opens up the pristine areas of the Artic to drilling in Alaska, you know that this bill is tilted towards fossil fuels rather than having a level playing field for Americas energy. I worry this is the first step to mid-Atlantic drilling off the Atlantic Coast of Maryland and the impact it could have on the Chesapeake Bay. I've been in conversations with some of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, asking whether we will cooperate on a corrections bill. I find that amazing. We haven't passed this bill yet, and were talking about the process to correct the mistakes that are clearly in this bill. That's not the way we should be legislating. The one argument I hear from -- all stakeholders is make the tax code predictable so we can plan. Give us the rules. Don't change the law all the time. Don't put temporary provisions in here because Congress has a habit of missing extender dates . . . this bill is anything but simplifying the tax code. This bill is an assault on middle-income families, dangerous to our national security by increasing our deficit. It will hurt millions of people who will lose their health coverage and it should be defeated. Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-welcomes-latest-sergei-magnitsky-act-sanctions,Cardin Welcomes Latest Sergei Magnitsky Act Sanctions,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 20, 2017 Cardin Welcomes Latest Sergei Magnitsky Act Sanctions WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Wednesday after the Trump Administration released five new sanctions designations under the 2012 Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law and Accountability Act. Cardin and U.S. Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) are the legislations co-authors: I welcome the addition of five new sanctions designations under the 2012 Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law and Accountability Act. Today marks a victory for the citizens of the Russian Federation, many of whom strive for a future governed by the rule of law. I hope that todays news provides a semblance of justice for the family of Sergei Magnitsky and those who continue the fight against corruption and human rights abuses across the country. The Magnitsky List now includes 49 names, an important testament to the central importance that accountability and human rights should play in U.S. foreign policy. These five additions to the list includeAlexei Sheshenya, Yulia Mayorova, and Andrei Pavlov for their roles in the Magnitsky case, and Ramzan Kadyrov and Ayub Kataev for gross violations of human rights. I appreciate the work of career officials at the Treasury and State Departments for their work in investigating and designating these important cases. Since 2012, Senator John McCain and I have conducted rigorous oversight to ensure robust implementation of the Magnitsky law. In 2016, we wrote to the State Department with certain suggestions for inclusions on the list relevant to the death of Sergei Magnitsky. We also expressed concern that the allegations of torture in Chechnya against gay men and other human rights violations in the North Caucasus should be investigated. I am pleased they took actions that were responsive to our inquiries. Americas values are our interests. As a country we must remain steadfastly committed to the principles embedded in the Magnitsky law accountability, the rule of law and respect for human rights. The American people expect U.S. policymakers to advance these principles in all aspects of our diplomatic relations. I welcome todays announcement and also expect the first publication of the Global Magnitsky sanctions designations this week. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/human-rights-spotlight-wa-lone-and-kyaw-soe-oo,Human Rights Spotlight: Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 20, 2017 Human Rights Spotlight: Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo Arrested and detained Reuters journalists Today at his regular pen and pad session with reporters on Capitol Hill, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee, distributed the below fact sheet about imprisoned Reuters reporters, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, in Burma. Cardin called for their immediate release. He also took the opportunity to make the following statement about broader press freedom issues: I want to acknowledge that there has been a real, serious attack against the independence of journalists globally, and the safety of journalists globally. These are serious issues in many parts of the world. I hope that by my putting a spotlight on the situation in Burma, more people will focus on protecting the independence of journalists and allowing them to report on what is happening. I would also call on President Trump to end his irresponsible attacks on the independence of media here in the United States. Background: On December 2, 2017, two Reuters reporters, Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 27, were arrested after being invited to meet with police officials for dinner. Both reporters had been reporting on the military crackdown on the Rohingya minority. The Ministry of Information has said that the reporters illegally acquired information with the intention to share it with foreign media, in violation of the countrys Official Secrets Act, a colonial era law which if applied broadly, allows journalists to be prosecuted at any time. Under the law, the presidents office must also approve before court proceedings can begin and on Monday, December 18, Burmas civilian President, Htin Kyaw, authorized the police to proceed with the case. On November 2nd, 15 Senators, led by Senators Cardin and McCain, introduced S.2060, the Burma Human Rights and Freedom Act of 2017, which seeks to impose targeted sanctions and visa restrictions on key senior Burmese military officials and hold them accountable for human rights abuses. On October 24, at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee Full Committee hearing on Burma, Senator Cardin was one of the first U.S. Senators to label the Rohingya crisis a genocide. Quote from U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee: The arrest and continued detention of Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo are an attack on press freedom and democracy in Burma. The decision by Burmese authorities to abuse a colonial-era law to arrest these reporters harkens back to the dark days of repressive military rule and further underscores the need for serious legal reform in the country. I call on the Burmese government to immediately release both reporters and allow them access to their lawyers and families. In this era of disinformation, attacks on the press and blatant disregard for professional journalism have become all too commonplace. Just last week, the Committee to Protect Journalists found that the number of journalists imprisoned for their work hit a new record this year. A free press provides a check on government leaders and catalyzesbetter governance. We must do more to defend the rights of journalists, to report the news uncensored, and hold those who seek to stop them accountable. Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-statement-opposing-republican-short-term-funding-patch,Van Hollen Statement Opposing Republican Short-Term Funding Patch,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Chris Van Hollen,V000128,www.vanhollen.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 20, 2017 Van Hollen Statement Opposing Republican Short-Term Funding Patch Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen issued the following statement in opposition of the Republican short-term funding patch: ""Republicans are once again forcing a short-term budget patch instead of dealing with the long-term needs of our economy, our national security, and our nation. Just two weeks ago, we passed a similar measure that was meant to give us the time to negotiate a budget for next year. Instead, Republicans spent that time behind closed doors, surrounded by lobbyists, crafting their corporate tax giveaway. Now they're kicking the can down the road again. Budgeting two weeks at a time is no way to run a business, much less a government. ""These short-term plans have far-reaching negative impacts. This process has thrown millions of Americans into uncertainty-from the 9 million children relying on the Children's Health Insurance Program, to working families who depend on our community health centers, to Dreamers looking for a secure future in the country they call home. We have not moved forward on adequate disaster relief for the parts of our country that have been ravaged by storms and wildfires or provided stability to the National Flood Insurance Program. ""The only thing we've resolved is making sure the very wealthy and special interests get a tax windfall-paid for by millions of middle-class families and adding over $1 trillion dollars to our national credit card. It's time Republicans get their priorities straight. For this reason, I am opposing their short-term budget patch."" Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delaney.house.gov/news/press-releases/delaney-votes-against-gop-tax-bill-0,Delaney Votes against GOP Tax Bill,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Delaney,D000620,delaney.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Today, Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-6) voted against H.R. 1, the Republican tax bill. Congressman Delaney, the only former CEO of a publicly-traded company in the House of Representatives, releases the following statement: One of the things that used to be admirable about the Republican Party was that they espoused prudence and fiscal responsibility. Its clear now that those days are long gone. By increasing our deficit, this legislation is going to make it much more difficult to invest in infrastructure, education and science and research and thats going to hurt our ability to thrive in the future thats coming. This bill will also put increased pressure on important programs that help the most vulnerable in our society. I am deeply concerned that this bill will cement-in the stark inequality that has accelerated in recent decades. This is a huge missed opportunity, because we really do need to do actual tax reform in a way that helps working people and helps our businesses compete. A bill that would have included infrastructure, tax breaks for the middle class and a lower corporate rate, would have passed with substantial bipartisan support, instead we have this bill that delivers 83% of its benefits to the top 1% according to the Tax Policy Center. This bill is being sold as a jobs bill, when the private sector is already saying they wont use these cuts to hire people its a classic bait and switch. The rushing through and the hasty passage of this bill, with hardly any public hearings, open disdain for factual analysis and no effort at working across the aisle is a fitting conclusion to a 2017 that was defined by hyper-partisanship. For the good of the country I sincerely hope that we try a new approach in 2018. ##",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-representatives-passes-historic-tax-reform,House of Representatives Passes Historic Tax Reform,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,MD,Andy Harris,H001052,harris.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC: On December 19, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Conference report to accompany H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) released the following statement lauding its passage: The Conference report passed by the House of Representatives today will put more money back into the pockets of Marylanders and facilitate job creation right here in Maryland and across America. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act preserves the deductions that working- and middle-class Americans rely on, while simplifying the tax code and filing process. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will support economic growth and stimulate job creation right here in America. Lowering tax rates for small and family-owned businesses and for larger employers will encourage American businesses to reinvest in their own operations, increase their employees pay, and make the United States more competitive in the global marketplace. I applaud my colleagues in the House for passing this legislation, and I urge the Senate to follow suit. Congress owes the American people a long-overdue tax break, and now is the time to deliver it. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/us-army-corps-engineers-begins-jetty-dredging-projects-md-01,"U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Begins Jetty, Dredging Projects in MD-01",2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,MD,Andy Harris,H001052,harris.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is starting work on two projects that will benefit residents of Smith Island in Somerset County, Maryland. The projects entail the construction of two jetties to improve navigation at Rhodes Point and dredging the Big Thorofare and Twitch Cove federal channels. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01), who advocated for the projects, issued the following statement in support of the projects: I commend the Army Corps of Engineers for their attention to these important projects. The residents of Smith Island heavily depend on these channels for transportation to and from the mainland, and to receive shipments of goods. Severe erosion and shoaling have concerned the Marylanders living on Smith Island for years now, so the Army Corps plan to complete the projects in fall 2018 is welcome news. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hoyer.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2895,Hoyer Statement on the Passage of the Conference Report for the Republican Tax Bill,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Steny Hoyer,H000874,hoyer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement today after voting against the conference report on the Republican tax bill: The Republican tax bill passed today by the House of Representatives will raise taxes on thousands of middle class families in Maryland while giving tax cuts to the wealthiest in our state. If that werent bad enough, the Republican bill explodes the deficit by $1.5 trillion over the next ten years a bill that our children and grandchildren will have to pay. This bill is not fiscally responsible, and will have long-term economic consequences for our state. If Republicans were serious about tax reform, they would have worked with Democrats in a bipartisan manner to make real changes to help working families. Im disappointed that this bill passed the House of Representatives, and I will continue to urge my colleagues in the Senate to reject this unsustainable and irresponsible legislation.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://ruppersberger.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ruppersberger-votes-no-on-tax-reform-bill,Ruppersberger Votes No on Tax Reform Bill,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger,R000576,ruppersberger.house.gov,,,legacy,"(Washington, DC) Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger today issued the following statement after voting against H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This bill was a missed opportunity to provide meaningful tax relief for American families. I am disappointed that, today, the House passed a bill opposed by the majority of our constituents. And I am worried for the tens of millions of families who will eventually see a tax increase under it, according to the non-partisan Tax Policy Center. Instead, more than 80 percent of the tax cuts included in this bill will go to our countrys corporations and wealthiest 1 percent. Legislation is always better when both parties work together on behalf of our country. In fact, in the mid to late-1990s, our country saw strong economic growth, record job creation and even budget surpluses. It was achieved two ways: by structuring taxes to favor the middle class and by bringing both parties into the tent. Unfortunately, the tax reform bill passed today did neither. This bill caps the state and local tax deduction which Maryland residents claim more than any other state in the Union to $10,000. By offering a standard deduction instead, this bill is nothing more than a shell game that will cost most Marylanders the benefits it promises to the middle class. Further, it repeals the requirement for all Americans to buy health insurance, which will increase premiums another 10 percent. And it adds at least $2 trillion to the national debt over the next decade. While I was a strong no vote today, I want to thank my friend and colleague, Republican Congressman Randy Hultgren of Illinois, for our bipartisan work to protect the tax benefits of private activity and municipal bonds. These job-creating bonds are critical tools for local governments to build new roads, hospitals, fire stations, libraries and other infrastructure projects. I am pleased that they were spared in this otherwise terrible tax reform bill.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/house-democrats-demand-ryan-take-action-on-election-security,House Democrats Demand Ryan Take Action on Election Security,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"A group of 21 House Democrats are asking Speaker Paul Ryan to take immediate steps to protect future elections from foreign interference.... ""When a sovereign nation attempts to meddle in our elections, it is an attack on our country,"" the group said today in a letter to Ryan.... The group inclding Democracy Reform Task Force Chair John Sarbanes and composed of lawmakers from 18 of the 21 states the Homeland Security Department has disclosed were targeted during the last year's election request a briefing from DHS and the FBI about the cyberattacks.... They also urge Ryan to direct all relevant House committees to investigate the cyberattacks and back bipartisan legislation to bolster the security of state election systems.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sarbanes-condemns-another-gop-special-interest-giveaway-to-wall-street,Sarbanes Condemns Another GOP Special-Interest Giveaway to Wall Street [Video],2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. On the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today, Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) spoke out against H.R. 3312, a partisan special-interest bill that would allow Wall Street and Big Banks to return to the same risky practices that led to the 2008 financial crisis. This is crazy, said Congressman Sarbanes. This is a case of amnesia at best, or cynical capitulation to Wall Street at worst. Sarbanes continued, Americans are tired of watching this Congress forget the lessons of the 2008 financial crash, theyre tired of a Congress who routinely favors Wall Street over the interest of main street and theyre tired of the same worn out talking points that are used to justify deregulation of Wall Street. I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill. See below for a video of the Congressmans remarks. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sarbanes-urges-speaker-ryan-to-take-bipartisan-action-to-protect-us,Sarbanes Urges Speaker Ryan to Take Bipartisan Action to Protect U.S. Elections from Foreign Hacking and Cyber Attacks,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Democracy Reform Task Force Chair Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today, along with Members of Congress from 18 of the 21 states targeted by Russian hackers in 2016, called on House Speaker Paul Ryan to take immediate action to protect state voting systems from cyberattacks and to bolster state election infrastructure. In a letter, the Members asked Speaker Ryan to request a briefing from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) about Russian cyberattacks on state election systems in 2016. The letter also urged Speaker Ryan to direct all relevant House committees to investigate the attacks and to support bipartisan legislation to strengthen the security of state election systems around the country. When a sovereign nation attempts to meddle in our elections, it is an attack on our country, the Members wrote. The attacks in 2016 were not a one-off occurrence. In March 2017, then-FBI Director James Comey testified before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence that: [T]heyll be back. Theyll be back in 2020. They may be back in 2018. The threat remains, and Congress must act. Maryland was among the 21 states whose election systems were targeted by Russian hackers in 2016. To date, the Republican-led Congress has not held any hearings or opened any investigations into the Russian cyberattacks. It has also failed to take up any legislation to help improve the security and integrity of state voting systems. See below for a full copy of the letter. * * * December 19, 2017 The Honorable Paul Ryan Speaker of the House H-232, United States Capitol Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Mr. Speaker: We represent 18 of the 21 states whose elections were targeted by Russian hackers in 2016, and we write because we are deeply concerned about the security of Americas election infrastructure. Fair, free, and secure elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. Accordingly, we respectfully request that you ask DHS and the FBI to brief all Members of Congress on the Russian attack on 21 states voting systems, direct the relevant Congressional committees to investigate this attack, and seek bipartisan solutions to secure our elections going forward. The attacks in 2016 were not a one-off occurrence. In March 2017, then-FBI Director James Comey testified before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence that: [T]heyll be back. Theyll be back in 2020. They may be back in 2018.[1] Days before the 2017 elections, Bob Kolasky, the acting Deputy Undersecretary of the National Protection and Programs Directorate at the Department of Homeland Security said, We saw in 2016 that Russia had an intent to be involved in our elections and some capability to be active or to attempt to be active in scanning election systems. We have not seen any evidence that intent or capability has changed.[2] The threat remains, and Congress must act. Over the past six months, the Election Security Task Force, comprised of Democratic Members of the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on House Administration, has conducted an in-depth examination of Americas voting systems. The Task Forces preliminary findings demonstrate that this issue needs urgent, bipartisan attention. Our voting machines can easily be hacked. In July, at DefCon, one of the worlds largest, longest-running, and best-known hacker conferences, 25 pieces of election equipment were successfully breached by participants with little prior knowledge and limited tools.[3] In over 40 states, elections are carried out using voting machines that were purchased more than a decade ago.[4] These machines are now either obsolete or at the end of their useful life. Some of these machines rely on operating systems like Windows XP or Windows 2000 which pose a particularly significant security risk as those operating systems either do not receive regular security patches, or have stopped receiving support altogether.[5] These issues are exacerbated by the fact that twenty percent of Americans cast their ballot on voting machines that do not have any kind of paper backup.[6] In other words, if these paperless machines were hacked, it would be nearly impossible to tell.[7] State voter registration databases are also vulnerable to attack. In Illinois, hackers successfully breached registration databases and attempted, but failed, to alter and delete voting records.[8] In Arizona, hackers successfully installed malware on a county election officials computer.[9] Russian hackers also targeted at least one election vendor with the hope of ultimately obtaining access into numerous state and local voter registration databases.[10] If these attacks had been successful, hackers would have been able to alter or delete voter registration records, causing a great deal of chaos on Election Day and potentially swaying the results of the election. State and local election officials are acutely aware of these issues, but many are struggling to get the necessary funding from their legislatures,[11] and are frustrated by Congressional inaction.[12] The plea for Congress to act is echoed by a bipartisan group of former government officials, academics and cyber security experts. Michael Chertoff, former Secretary of Homeland Security wrote in The Wall Street Journal, [L]awmakers and election officials lackadaisical response is both staggering and distressingThis is a matter of national security, and Congress should treat it as such. Given that were still dealing with the unfunded mandates of 2002s Help America Vote Act, theres a clear need for action to upgrade security systems and create meaningful standards. In June, a group of over 100 computer scientists and cyber experts wrote to Congress to take simple, straightforward, and cost-effective actions to set meaningful standards to protect American elections. [13] When a sovereign nation attempts to meddle in our elections, it is an attack on our country. We urge you to recognize that ensuring the security and integrity of our election system is a bipartisan issue, to request a briefing for all Members of Congress from DHS and the FBI, and to direct the relevant committees to open an investigation on securing Americas election infrastructu Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, ### [1] United States Cong. House. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Open Hearing on Russian Active Measures Investigation, March 20, 2017. 115th Congress. 1st session, 2017. [2] Morgan Chalfant, Homeland Security Cyber Unit on Alert for Election Day, The Hill (Nov. 4, 2017), available at http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/358710-homeland-security-cyber-unit-on-alert-for-election-day. [3] Matt Blaze et al., DEFCON 25 Voting Machine Hacking Village: Rep. on Cyber Vulnerabilities in U.S. Election Equipment, Databases, and Infrastructure, 4 (2017) https://www.defcon.org/images/defcon-25/DEF%20CON%2025%20voting%20village%20report.pdf. [4] Lawrence Norden & Ian Vanderwalker, Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, Securing Elections from Foreign Interference, 9 (2017). [6] Norden & Vandewalker, 11. [7] Eric Geller, Virginia Bars Voting Machines Considered Top Hacking Target, POLITICO (Sept. 8, 2017) http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/08/virginia-election-machines-hacking-target-242492. [8] Pam Fessler, 10 Months After Election Day, Feds Tell States More About Russian Hacking, NPR (Sept. 22, 2017) https://www.npr.org/2017/09/22/552956517/ten-months-after-election-day-feds-tell-states-more-about-russian-hacking. [10] Matthew Cole et al., Top-Secret NSA Report Details Russian Hacking Effort Days Before 2016 Election, The Intercept (June 5, 2017) https://theintercept.com/2017/06/05/top-secret-nsa-report-details-russian-hacking-effort-days-before-2016-election/. [11] Cory Bennett et al., Cash-Strapped States Brace for Russian Hacking Fight, POLITICO (Sept. 3, 2017), http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/03/election-hackers-russia-cyberattack-voting-242266. [12] Reid Wilson, Election Officials Race to Combat Cyberattacks, The Hill (Nov. 8, 2017) http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/359243-election-officials-race-to-combat-cyberattacks. [13] National Election Defense Coalition, Expert Sign-On Letter to Congress: Secure American Elections (2017). https://www.electiondefense.org/election-integrity-expert-letter/.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-praises-un-renewal-of-syrian-humanitarian-assistance,Cardin Praises UN Renewal of Syrian Humanitarian Assistance,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 19, 2017 Cardin Praises UN Renewal of Syrian Humanitarian Assistance Senator criticizes Russia, China abstention, reiterates concerns about Putins role in Syria amid need for political resolution to crisis WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Tuesday after the United Nations Security Council voted to renew UNSC Resolution 2165, which authorizes cross-border humanitarian assistance in Syria: Todays decision by the UN Security Council was the right one, and I urge all friends of the Syrian people to do much more to ensure humanitarian access to besieged areas, particularly East Ghouta. I am disappointed that Russia, China and Bolivia abstained from voting rather than stand with the Syrian people who are in desperate need of life-saving assistance. With an estimated 13.1 million Syrians, or seven out of ten people, in need of some form of humanitarian assistance, the renewal of this resolution recognizes the critical role of cross-border assistance within the Syria humanitarian response and the grave humanitarian needs that still exist inside Syria. It also underscores the brutality of the Assad regime, which is starving, torturing, gassing, bombing and murdering its way to through Syria. President Putin cast Russias lot with the Assad regime in Damascus, and should now compel compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 2165. While the Security Council action today is a promising step, it does not address the underlying conditions that are causing the humanitarian crisis in Syria. I urge Ambassador Haley and the Trump Administration to commit to a robust U.S. role in supporting UN-facilitated political talks in Geneva. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/2017/12/19/van-hollen-sullivan-lead-discussion-with-deputy-secretary-of-state-john-j-sullivan,"Van Hollen, Sullivan Lead Discussion with Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan",2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Chris Van Hollen,V000128,www.vanhollen.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 19, 2017 Van Hollen, Sullivan Lead Discussion with Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), co-chairs of the bipartisan Foreign Service Caucus, hosted Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan for a discussion with their Senate colleagues. The Senators talked about U.S. foreign policy, the State Department's reorganization and management, and challenges confronting our diplomats at home and abroad. Senators Van Hollen and Sullivan were joined by a bipartisan group of 15 Senators. ""Across the world and here at home, the members of our State Department work on the frontlines of diplomacy and foreign policy. I appreciate Deputy Secretary Sullivan taking the time to provide us with an update on current issues, in addition to the needs of the Department,"" said Senator Van Hollen. ""It's crucial that the State Department has the resources it needs to fulfill its diplomatic mission around the world. I will continue working to ensure our State Department is fully equipped to represent the United States abroad."" ""Senator Van Hollen and I launched the Senate Foreign Service Caucus with the goal of strengthening the bond between the Department of State, members of the Foreign Service, and the Senate. In much the same way as the Senate Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Caucuses support the missions of the brave men and women who serve our country in uniform, we wanted to do the same for those individuals who serve as the lynchpin of American diplomacy abroad,"" said Senator Sullivan. ""yesterday's meeting was a constructive opportunity for Members to hear from Deputy Secretary Sullivan and I thank him for his insight and his time. I look forward to continuing the discussion with leadership at the department, as we advance America's interests around the globe."" Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-sullivan-lead-discussion-with-deputy-secretary-of-state-john-j-sullivan,"Van Hollen, Sullivan Lead Discussion with Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan",2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Chris Van Hollen,V000128,www.vanhollen.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 19, 2017 Van Hollen, Sullivan Lead Discussion with Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan Yesterday, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), co-chairs of the bipartisan Foreign Service Caucus, hosted Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan for a discussion with their Senate colleagues. The Senators talked about U.S. foreign policy, the State Department's reorganization and management, and challenges confronting our diplomats at home and abroad. Senators Van Hollen and Sullivan were joined by a bipartisan group of 15 Senators. ""Across the world and here at home, the members of our State Department work on the frontlines of diplomacy and foreign policy. I appreciate Deputy Secretary Sullivan taking the time to provide us with an update on current issues, in addition to the needs of the Department,"" said Senator Van Hollen. ""It's crucial that the State Department has the resources it needs to fulfill its diplomatic mission around the world. I will continue working to ensure our State Department is fully equipped to represent the United States abroad."" ""Senator Van Hollen and I launched the Senate Foreign Service Caucus with the goal of strengthening the bond between the Department of State, members of the Foreign Service, and the Senate. In much the same way as the Senate Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Caucuses support the missions of the brave men and women who serve our country in uniform, we wanted to do the same for those individuals who serve as the lynchpin of American diplomacy abroad,"" said Senator Sullivan. ""yesterday's meeting was a constructive opportunity for Members to hear from Deputy Secretary Sullivan and I thank him for his insight and his time. I look forward to continuing the discussion with leadership at the department, as we advance America's interests around the globe."" Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delaney.house.gov/news/blogs/on-the-house-floor-this-week-121817,On the House Floor This Week - 12/18/17,2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Delaney,D000620,delaney.house.gov,,,legacy,"The House of Representatives is in session this week. The legislative schedule in the House is set by Speaker Paul Ryan and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy. To contact my office about the legislation were considering this week, please contact my office at 202-225-2721 or by clicking here. MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2017 On Monday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for Morning Hour debate and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business, with first votes postponed until 6:30 p.m. Suspensions (8 bills) H.R. 3759 RAISE Family Caregivers Act, as amended (Rep. Harper Education and the Workforce) H.Con.Res. 95 Expressing support for the use of public-private partnerships to bring computer science education to more K-12 classrooms, as amended (Rep. Taylor Education and the Workforce) H.R. 3979 Keep Americas Refuges Operational Act, as amended (Rep. Jeffries Natural Resources) H.R. 4661 United States Fire Administration, AFG, and SAFER Program Reauthorization Act of 2017 (Rep. Comstock Science, Space, and Technology) H.R. 4375 STEM Research and Education Effectiveness and Transparency Act, as amended (Rep. Comstock Science, Space, and Technology) H.R. 4254 Women in Aerospace Education Act, as amended (Rep. Knight Science, Space, and Technology) H.R. 4323 Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act, as amended (Rep. Dunn Science, Space, and Technology) H.R. 1159 United States and Israel Space Cooperation Act, as amended (Rep. Kilmer Science, Space, and Technology) TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2017 AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK On Tuesday and the balance of the week, the House could meet as early as9:00 a.m. for Morning Hour debate and 10:00 a.m. for legislative business. Suspensions (3 bills) S. 1393 Jobs for Our Heroes Act (Sen. Cornyn Transportation and Infrastructure) S. 1536 Combating Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act (Sen. Klobuchar Transportation and Infrastructure) S. 1532 No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act (Sen. Thune Transportation and Infrastructure) Conference Report to AccompanyH.R. 1 GOP Tax Bill (Rep. Brady (TX) Ways and Means)(Subject to a Rule) H.R. 3312 Systemic Risk Designation Improvement Act of 2017 (Rep. Luetkemeyer Financial Services) (Subject to a Rule) H.R. 4015 Corporate Governance Reform and Transparency Act of 2017 (Rep. Duffy Financial Services) House Amendment to Senate Amendment toH.R. 1370 Further Continuing Resolution (Rep. Frelinghuysen Appropriations) (Subject to a Rule) Additional Legislative Items are Possible",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-harris-issues-statement-revised-tax-legislation,Rep. Harris Issues Statement on Revised Tax Legislation,2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,MD,Andy Harris,H001052,harris.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris has issued the following statement in support of the revised Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: ""The Conference committee delivered a Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that will lower taxes, stimulate economic growth, and create new jobs. The bill will protect the deductions that many working families depend on and repeals the burdensome Obamacare individual mandate penalty tax, so that Maryland families can be free to choose the health insurance plans that best meet their household needs. I commend my colleagues on the Conference committee for their hard work. I am proud to support this historic pro-job growth tax reform that will lower taxes and put more money back into the pockets of hardworking Marylanders. I also thank my colleagues on the Conference for working with me to protect key deductions, including a revised state and local tax deduction. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will create a pro-job growth economy by encouraging employers to bring their operations back to the U.S. from overseas, by lowering tax rates to a globally competitive level, and by enhancing the deductions that encourage companies to reinvest into their own operations."" ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hoyer.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2893,Hoyer Statement on Reports of Trump Administration's Continued Attack on Federal Employees,2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Steny Hoyer,H000874,hoyer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement today after it was reported that the Trump Administration is considering a proposal to freeze the salaries of federal employees in Fiscal Year 2019: The Trump Administrations continued attacks on our hardworking federal workforce must end. First, President Trump foolishly instituted an across-the-board hiring freeze on the federal workforce. Only after seeing the severely negative consequences of this action did the Administration reverse the policy. Now, reports indicate that the Administration seeks to freeze the pay of the people who contribute to our nation, including those who provide health care to our veterans, make sure our food is safe to consume, and keep our communities safe. President Trumps relentless attacks on federal employees only make it harder to recruit talented individuals to serve their country and demoralize our workforce. This proposed action is unacceptable, and our federal employees deserve better. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to fight back against the Trump Administrations efforts to undermine our dedicated federal civilian workforce.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hoyer.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2894,Hoyer Statement on Reports of Trump Administration's Continued Attack on Federal Employees,2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Steny Hoyer,H000874,hoyer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement today after it was reported that the Trump Administration is considering a proposal to freeze the salaries of federal employees in Fiscal Year 2019: The Trump Administrations continued attacks on our hardworking federal workforce must end. First, President Trump foolishly instituted an across-the-board hiring freeze on the federal workforce. Only after seeing the severely negative consequences of this action did the Administration reverse the policy. Now, reports indicate that the Administration seeks to freeze the pay of the people who contribute to our nation, including those who provide health care to our veterans, make sure our food is safe to consume, and keep our communities safe. President Trumps relentless attacks on federal employees only make it harder to recruit talented individuals to serve their country and demoralize our workforce. This proposed action is unacceptable, and our federal employees deserve better. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to fight back against the Trump Administrations efforts to undermine our dedicated federal civilian workforce.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://raskin.house.gov/media/press-releases/judiciary-democrats-urge-goodlatte-hold-hearings-trumps-threat-abuse-pardon,Judiciary Democrats Urge Goodlatte to Hold Hearings on Trump's Threat to Abuse Pardon Power,2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,,,legacy,"(WASHINGTON, D.C.) -Rep. Jamie Raskin joinedevery Democratic Member of the House Judiciary Committee in sendinga letterto House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, urging him to hold hearings on Trumps threat to abuse his pardon power. In their letter to Chairman Goodlatte, the Members wrote, As you know, Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation has directly implicated several of President Trumps closest advisorsincluding Mr. Flynn, who has pleaded guilty to a single count of lying to the FBI and pledged to cooperate with the investigation as it moves forward. The Committee must anticipate the possibility that, as the investigation develops, it may further implicate additional White House officials, the Presidents family, and perhaps even the President himself. President Trump, by sending a signal that he may pardon Michael Flynn and perhaps others willing to assist Mr. Mueller, has raised serious concerns about obstruction of justice and abuse of the pardon power The issue of abuse of the pardon power need not be a partisan issue. In fact, in 2001, our Committee held a hearing on the question of President Bill Clintons use of the pardon power. We ask for the same type of forum to discuss both the Arpaio pardon and the Presidents stated willingness to consider pardoning Mr. Flynn and perhaps others implicated in the Russia investigation. The letter was signed by every Democratic Member of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, including: Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Karen Bass (D-CA), Cedric Richmond (D-LA), Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), David Cicilline (D-RI), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Brad Schneider (D-IL). Full text of the letter to the House Judiciary Committee Chairman is available here. ****",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-expresses-concern-about-the-electoral-crisis-in-honduras-,Cardin Expresses Concern about the Electoral Crisis in Honduras,2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 18, 2017 Cardin Expresses Concern about the Electoral Crisis in Honduras WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement Monday regarding the current electoral crisis in Honduras: The widespread irregularities documented in the second report by the Organization of American States election observation mission raise further doubts about the legitimacy of the Honduran elections. The fact that the OAS observation mission cannot certify the election results is a startling statement about the fragility of democratic institutions in Honduras. It is also an alarming indication about the lack of confidence Hondurans can have when exercising their most fundamental rights to choose their next president. Given these developments, I support the steps by OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro to defuse political tensions and strengthen the credibility of democratic processes in Honduras, including the call for a new free, fair and transparent election. While these efforts continue, I urge all sides to refrain from violence and appeal to Honduran security forces to cease their use of live ammunition against protestors. ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/filibuster-proof-number-of-senators-urge-appropriators-to-strip-environmental-riders-from-end-of-year-spending-package,Filibuster-proof Number of Senators Urge Appropriators to Strip Environmental Riders from End-of-Year Spending Package,2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 18, 2017 Filibuster-proof Number of Senators Urge Appropriators to Strip Environmental Riders from End-of-Year Spending Package WASHINGTON Forty senators, led by Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), are urging appropriators negotiating an end-of-year package to keep the spending bill free of dangerous environmental policy riders too often found in House appropriations. The letter, also supported by Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), brings together more senators than have signed onto a letter of this type in recent history and more than the required number of votes needed to block any of these riders from moving forward. As you consider Fiscal Year 2018 appropriations bills or a continuing resolution, we urge you to oppose any riders that would eviscerate the United States foundational environmental laws, the senators wrote to Chairman Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). Unfortunately, many of the appropriations bills approved this year have included deeply divisive environmental policy riders that have no place in must-pass legislation and that complicate the bipartisan cooperation necessary to pass such legislation. To avoid these harmful outcomes, we write to you to express our strong opposition to any riders that would gut bedrock U.S. environmental laws and threaten our air, water, lands, and wildlife. The letter was signed by Senators Ben Cardin, Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Michael F. Bennet (D-Colo.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Angus King (I-Maine), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Gary C. Peters (D-Mich.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Margaret Wood Hassan (D-N.H.), Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.). Examples of destructive policy riders added by the House of Representatives include: House Interior and Environment appropriations. Rep. Bob Goodlattes (R-Va.) rider would undermine a successful regional effort to clean up the Chesapeake Bay. The amendment (House amend. 354) would run counter to federalism and hamper progress being made to clean up local waters. House Energy and Water appropriations. A rider in this bill (Sec. 108) would allow EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to ignore public input in repealing the 2015 Clean Water Rule. The House Interior and Environment Appropriations bill had a similar rider (Sec. 431). Senate Interior and Environment chairmans mark (p. 37). This language would potentially open up all American coastlines to the risks that come from offshore drilling. This amendment works in opposition to overwhelming public opposition. House Interior and Environment appropriations. Rep. Markwayne Mullins (R-Va.) amendment (House amend. 368) would keep the EPA from implementing the first-ever limits on methane pollution a potent greenhouse gas from the oil and gas sector. The health benefits of such safeguards are significant, while the costs would be low. House Interior and Environment appropriations. Rep. Mullins amendment (House amend. 369) would ignore the costs of climate change, putting businesses, families and local communities at risk for billions of dollars for long-term property damage, health, food and other costs that would skyrocket when an extreme event hit. The full text of the letter can be found below and at this link: Dear Chairman Cochran and Vice Chairman Leahy: We understand that you are working to formulate multiple pieces of short-term or long-term legislation to fund the federal government. As you consider Fiscal Year 2018 appropriations bills or a continuing resolution, we urge you to oppose any riders that would eviscerate the United States foundational environmental laws. Unfortunately, many of the appropriations bills approved this year have included deeply divisive environmental policy riders that have no place in must-pass legislation and that complicate the bipartisan cooperation necessary to pass such legislation. To avoid these harmful outcomes, we write to you to express our strong opposition to any riders that would gut bedrock U.S. environmental laws and threaten our air, water, lands, and wildlife. We urge you to bring forward legislation that is free of these harmful ideological riders. Instead of undermining this legislation with harmful environmental policy riders that have nothing to do with the nations spending certainty, we strongly urge you to bring forward legislation free of controversial provisions to fund the federal government through a short-term or long-term spending package. Please oppose any riders that would gut Americas foundational environmental laws. Sincerely, ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-statement-for-the-record-on-the-nomination-of-owen-west-to-be-assistant-secretary-of-defense-for-special-operations-and-low-intensity-conflict,Van Hollen Statement For The Record On The Nomination Of Owen West To Be Assistant Secretary Of Defense For Special Operations And Low Intensity Conflict,2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Chris Van Hollen,V000128,www.vanhollen.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 18, 2017 Van Hollen Statement For The Record On The Nomination Of Owen West To Be Assistant Secretary Of Defense For Special Operations And Low Intensity Conflict Mr. President, equality of opportunity is one of our nation's greatest pursuits and greatest struggles. Though the path has not been easy, our society has slowly and steadily become more just, more decent, and more powerful. President Obama's Defense Secretary Carter reaffirmed this principle when he stated that every qualified woman who met the high physical standards required of her would be allowed to serve our country in combat. Owen West soundly rejected this policy, and the ethic undergirding it, in an inflammatory opinion editorial authored with his father in March of 2016. He asserted that integrating women into infantry platoons - including those who ""could run circles around the average Marine grunt"" with their ""physical prowess"" - would ""swiftly reduce combat effectiveness."" He discounted the ability of women to contribute to mission effectiveness, equating them only with ""intimate scandals."" He contended that women would ""introduce sex, affection, favoritism, protectiveness, jealously, anxiety and all the other co-ed dynamics to an infantry platoon."" These chauvinistic views have no place in the Department of Defense, particularly in positions of leadership. As Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, Mr. West will be responsible for the integration of women into our Special Operations Forces. I appreciate that Mr. West offered a retraction of his viewson women in the militaryduring his Senate confirmation hearing, at the behest of Democratic Members of the Armed Services Committee and itis my hope that Mr. West will do his utmost to support and recruit qualified women into the military in the future. However, many of President Trump's nominees have reneged on commitments made during their confirmation hearings. Given Mr. West's public record on women in combat, I cannot take that risk by supporting his nomination. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-bipartisan-group-of-senators-urge-appropriators-to-strip-environmental-riders-from-end-of-year-spending-package,"Van Hollen, Bipartisan Group of Senators Urge Appropriators to Strip Environmental Riders from End-of-Year Spending Package",2017-12-17,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Chris Van Hollen,V000128,www.vanhollen.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 17, 2017 Van Hollen, Bipartisan Group of Senators Urge Appropriators to Strip Environmental Riders from End-of-Year Spending Package Forty senators, including U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen(D-Md.),areurging appropriatorsnegotiating an end-of-year package to keep the spending bill free of dangerous environmental policy riders too often found in House appropriations. The letter, also supported byDemocratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), brings together more senators than have signed onto a letter of this type in recent history and more than the required number of votes needed to block any of these riders from moving forward. ""As you consider Fiscal Year 2018 appropriations bills or a continuing resolution, we urge you to oppose any riders that would eviscerate the United States' foundational environmental laws,""the senators wrote to Chairman Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.).""Unfortunately, many of the appropriations bills approved this year have included deeply divisive environmental policy riders that have no place in must-pass legislation and that complicate the bipartisan cooperation necessary to pass such legislation. To avoid these harmful outcomes, we write to you to express our strong opposition to any riders that would gut bedrock U.S. environmental laws and threaten our air, water, lands, and wildlife."" The letter was also signed bySenators Ben Cardin (D-Md.),Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Michael F. Bennet (D-Colo.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Angus King (I-Maine), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Gary C. Peters (D-Mich.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Margaret Wood Hassan (D-N.H.), Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.),andCatherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.). Examples of destructive policy riders added by the House of Representatives include: House Interior and Environment appropriations. Rep. Bob Goodlatte's (R-Va.) rider would undermine a successful regional effort to clean up theChesapeake Bay. The amendment (House amend. 354) would run counter to federalism and hamper progress being made to clean up local waters. House Energy and Water appropriations. A rider in this bill (Sec. 108) would allow EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to ignore public input in repealing the 2015Clean Water Rule. The House Interior and Environment Appropriations bill had a similar rider (Sec. 431). Senate Interior and Environment chairman's mark (p. 37). This language would potentially open up all American coastlines to the risks that come fromoffshore drilling. This amendment works in opposition to overwhelming public opposition. House Interior and Environment appropriations. Rep. Markwayne Mullin's (R-Va.) amendment (House amend. 368) would keep the EPA from implementing the first-ever limits onmethane pollution- a potent greenhouse gas - from the oil and gas sector. The health benefits of such safeguards are significant, while the costs would be low. House Interior and Environment appropriations. Rep. Mullin's amendment (House amend. 369) would ignore the costs ofclimate change, putting businesses, families and local communities at risk for billions of dollars for long-term property damage, health, food and other costs that would skyrocket when an extreme event hit. The full text of the letter can be found below andat this link: Dear Chairman Cochran and Vice Chairman Leahy: We understand that you are working to formulate multiple pieces of short-term or long-term legislation to fund the federal government. As you consider Fiscal Year 2018 appropriations bills or a continuing resolution, we urge you to oppose any riders that would eviscerate the United States' foundational environmental laws. Unfortunately, many of the appropriations bills approved this year have included deeply divisive environmental policy riders that have no place in must-pass legislation and that complicate the bipartisan cooperation necessary to pass such legislation. To avoid these harmful outcomes, we write to you to express our strong opposition to any riders that would gut bedrock U.S. environmental laws and threaten our air, water, lands, and wildlife. We urge you to bring forward legislation that is free of these harmful ideological riders. Instead of undermining this legislation with harmful environmental policy riders that have nothing to do with the nation's spending certainty, we strongly urge you to bring forward legislation free of controversial provisions to fund the federal government through a short-term or long-term spending package. Please oppose any riders that would gut America's foundational environmental laws. Sincerely, ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-state-on-the-nomination-of-don-r-willett-to-be-a-united-states-circuit-judge-for-the-fifth-circuit,Van Hollen State on the Nomination of Don R. Willett To Be A United States Circuit Judge For The Fifth Circuit,2017-12-17,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Chris Van Hollen,V000128,www.vanhollen.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 17, 2017 Van Hollen State on the Nomination of Don R. Willett To Be A United States Circuit Judge For The Fifth Circuit Mr. President, I opposed the nomination of Don Willet to serve as a Judge on the Fifth Circuit. Senate Republicans, lacking a robust legislative agenda, despite unilateral control of the government, decided to confirm another highly controversial nominee. Last week, Republicans confirmed three Circuit Court judges. In early November, Senate Republicans confirmed four judges in one week. This accelerated confirmation pace is unconventional and alarming. Republicans on the Judiciary Committee are willing to set aside decades of standing tradition and policies in order to confirm highly ideological judges who, in many cases, seem to have more of a political agenda than the impartial temperament necessary for the fair administration of justice. This seat has been open for years because Senate Republicans refused to work with the Obama Administration and agree upon a consensus mainstream nominee that reflects the views and opinions of the majority of Americans. Now that Republicans are in the majority and no longer need to obstruct the White House, they have decided to advance Judge Willet, a judge described as the ""most conservative justice in Texas."" Judge Willet was on Trump's Supreme Court short list which indicates that he met the Federalist Society's and the Heritage Foundation's ideological litmus test. This should concern all Americans, regardless of party affiliation. Our judicial system should not be outsourced to outside groups who want to stack the courts with judges who share their extreme political agenda. Judge Willet has expressed insensitive views towards the LGBTQ community and skepticism that women face unique challenges in the work place such as unequal pay and sexual harassment and discrimination. In light of the #MeToo Movement and the countless women who have shared their stories of workplace sexual harassment, Judge Willet's opinion is at best misinformed. I hope that Judge Willet's views have evolved since he wrote that opinion for then-Governor George W. Bush. I also hope my colleagues will start to recognize that they are setting a dangerous precedent by turning the Senate into an assembly line for highly ideological judges who appear to be more aligned with a political agenda that the impartial administration of justice. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-discusses-republican-tax-plan-on-abcs-this-week,Van Hollen Discusses Republican Tax Plan on ABCs This Week,2017-12-16,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Chris Van Hollen,V000128,www.vanhollen.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 16, 2017 Van Hollen Discusses Republican Tax Plan on ABC's This Week Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined George Stephanopoulos on ABC's This Week to discuss the Republican tax plan and the news of the day. Below is a transcript of highlights of that interview, and the full video is available here: STEPHANOPOULOS: Let's move on to the tax bill right now. You heard Senator Cornyn right there inviting Democrats to come to the table for what he says will be a big boom to the middle class. Your response? VAN HOLLEN: Look, George, this is a total betrayal of President Trump's economic populist message on the campaign trail. It's a huge giveaway to big corporations. Millions of middle class taxpayers will see their taxes go up, even though Republicans promised that would not happen. Millionaires will get an average annual tax break of $35,000 a year. And the big winners are those corporations. And I think many people haven't focused on the fact that 35 percent of the shareholders of those corporations are actually foreign stock holders, who in the year 2019, are going to get a $31 billion tax break. So millions of American taxpayers handing over money to foreign stock holders. It doesn't sound like America first to me. It doesn't sound like the middle class first. STEPHANOPOULOS: You heard the Senator's response to that provision I asked him about, which had caught your eye earlier as well -- a special carve-out for real estate LLCs, which could mean tens of millions of dollars to President Trump and other Republicans. Do you have any idea how that got in? Any chance it could be taken out? VAN HOLLEN: I don't know how it got in. What we do know is they're behind closed doors, there are a whole army of lobbyists who were surrounding them. And the longer they're in there, the more you see these special interest provisions, George, which as you indicate would be a windfall to Donald Trump based on everything we know. Of course, he hasn't released his tax returns. It reminds me of the fact that during the campaign, the one issue Donald Trump used as Exhibit A for why this tax code was broken was the carried interest loophole for hedge fund managers. He said during the campaign that hedge fund managers are getting away with murder. You just heard Senator Cornyn, they have got a 1,000-page bill. Nowhere in it do they get rid of the one tax giveaway, special break that Donald Trump focused on most during the campaign. And that is why this is a total betrayal of that economic populist message -- and people are catching on. That's why it's so unpopular STEPHANOPOULOS: You also heard Senator Cornyn's response to the possibility that Medicare cuts would be triggered by this bill. He certainly invited Democrats to prevent those, expects Democrats to come on board. Will Democrats allow $25 billion in Medicare cuts to take effect? You won't vote for the waiver? VAN HOLLEN: No, Democrats are not going the allow those cuts to go in place. And it is fact that when Republicans voted for this tax bill that increases the debt by $1.5 trillion, in doing so they automatically triggered this provision that would cut Medicare by $25 billion. Now we hope that they will join us in turning it off. But if you look forward next year, you have got a lot of Republicans who used to care about the debt. I used to be the senior Democrat on the Budget Committee. Paul Ryan used to talk always about the dangers of the debt. We actually agreed on that issue. Now they have blown a big hole in the debt. And if you look at their budget, it's right there, their plan for dealing with that is to cut Medicare by $500 billion and Medicaid by over $1 trillion. It's right there in the Republican budget. And this is step two of their plan, because they just increased our debt by over $1 trillion. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cummings.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cummings-announces-2017-congressional-app-challenge-winner,Cummings Announces 2017 Congressional App Challenge Winner,2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Elijah Cummings,C000984,cummings.house.gov,,,legacy,"Baltimore, MD (December 15, 2017) Today, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) announced the winner of the 2017 Congressional App Challenge for Marylands 7th Congressional District. Luke Mann, who attends Marriotts Ridge High School, won the challenge for his app Damage Analysis of Puerto Rico Using Satellite Imagery. Lukes app works to solve problems like coordinating disaster relief and deploying resources effectively and efficiently. I am delighted to host the Congressional App Challenge each year because it is such a tremendous opportunity for students in my district to use their ingenuity to create an app and become more engaged in computer science, Cummings said. Lukes app is very impressive and shows his clear desire to use his skills to enhance disaster relief in the future. I am certain he will inspire other students at Marriotts Ridge High School with his creativity and passion to help those in need. The contest was open to high school students in the Seventh Congressional District of Maryland and is designed to promote innovation and engagement in coding and computer science. Students competed against their peers by creating an application or app, for mobile, tablet or computer devices. Submissions were judged on the following criteria: quality of the idea, including creativity and originality; implementation of the idea, including user experience and design; and demonstrated excellence of coding and programming skills. The five judges who helped pick the winners were Ms. Beth Sappe with Baltimore City Public Schools, Ms. Sharon Kramer with the Howard County Public School System, Dr. Jayfus Doswell with Juxtopia, LLC, Dr. Ali Emdad with Morgan State University, and Mr. Jordan Snyder with the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Video of Luke demonstrating his app is available here. Lukes app will be featured on display in the United States Capitol Building and available online at the House of Representatives website.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://raskin.house.gov/media/press-releases/doj-inspector-general-doj-did-not-consult-ig-releasing-fbi-text-messages-media,DOJ Inspector General: DOJ Did Not Consult IG Before Releasing FBI Text Messages to Media,2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,,,legacy,"(WASHINGTON, D.C.) This evening, the Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General (IG) Michael Horowitz sent a letter to House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Vice Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD), and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) informing them that DOJ did not consult the Inspector General (IG) before releasing to the media text messages between two Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) employees Peter Strzok and Lisa Page. Todays letter followed two letters sent yesterday by Nadler, Jeffries and Raskin to DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz and DOJ's Office of Public Affairs, requesting details regarding the release of text messages between FBI officials to the media. Ranking Member Nadler and Reps. Jeffries and Raskin released the following joint statement in response to the IGs letter: We are disappointed and alarmed that some within the Justice Department would mislead us about whether or not officials had obtained the approval of the Inspector General before releasing the text messages of Department employees to Congress and the press. This baffling breach of procedure raises the question of whether these messages should have been released at this time and in this manner in the middle of an ongoing IG investigation. It also invites questions about whether any responsible DOJ officials are going out of their way, not only to disparage the reputations of their colleagues, but to actively try to undermine confidence in Special Counsel Robert Mueller and the investigation into Russian interference with the 2016 election in an attempt to appease or directly serve the interests of President Trump. This is a very serious matter, and we expect a full and complete explanation for these misstatements and the underlying suspicious actions by the Department of Justice, including by the Public Affairs Officer, in the coming days. Earlier today, the Members sent a letter to DOJs Office of Public Affairs Director Sarah Flores seeking clarity after she made inconsistent statements regarding the release of the FBI text messages to the press. In a statement to CNN yesterday evening, Flores said, When the initial inquiries came from the committees and members of Congress, the deputy attorney general consulted with the inspector general, and the inspector general determined that he had no objection to the Departments providing the material to the Congressional committees . . . . After that consultation, senior career ethics advisers determined that there were no legal or ethical concerns, including under the Privacy Act, that prohibited the release of the information to the public either by members of Congress or by the Department. In a later statement to POLITICO, Flores said, As we understand now, some members of the media had already received copies of the texts before thatbut those disclosures were not authorized by the department. On the evening of Tuesday, December 12, 2017, DOJ released 375 text messages between FBI employees Peter Strzok and Lisa Page to the House Judiciary Committee. When Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein testified before the Committee the next day, he confirmed that the Department released the text messages to Congress in consultation with the Inspector General and that any determination on wrongdoing regarding Strzok or the Clinton investigation would be made after the IG issued his final report. The Office of the Inspector General informed the Special Counsel of the existence of these texts messages on July 27, 2017. Although federal regulations permit an FBI agent to [e]xpress his or her opinion as an individual privately and publicly on political subjects and candidates, Special Counsel Mueller immediately removed Strzok from the investigation. View the original letter to the DOJ Inspector General here. View the original letter to the DOJ Public Affairs Director here. View todays follow up letter to the DOJ Public Affairs Director here. View the Inspector Generals response letter here. **** Congressman Jamie Raskin represents Marylands 8th Congressional District, which includes Montgomery, Frederick, and Carroll counties. He is the Vice Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, a Senior Democratic Whip, and Freshman Representative to the House Democratic Steering & Policy Committee. He also serves on the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee and the Committee on House Administration. He has been a professor of constitutional law at American Universitys Washington College of Law for more than 25 years.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://raskin.house.gov/media/press-releases/judiciary-democrats-demand-clarity-after-doj-releases-inconsistent-statements,Judiciary Democrats Demand Clarity After DOJ Releases Inconsistent Statements about FBI Text Messages Released to Media,2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,,,legacy,"(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Today, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Reps. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Jamie Raskin (D-MD),sent a letterto the U. S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Public Affairs Director Sarah Flores to demand clarity after she made inconsistent statements regarding the release of text messages between two FBI employees Peter Strzok and Lisa Page to the press. In a statement to CNNyesterday evening, Flores said, When the initial inquiries came from the committees and members of Congress, the deputy attorney general consulted with the inspector general, and the inspector general determined that he had no objection to the Departments providing the material to the Congressional committees . . . . After that consultation, senior career ethics advisers determined that there were no legal or ethical concerns, including under the Privacy Act, that prohibited the release of the information to the public either by members of Congress or by the Department. In a statement to POLITICOissued later, Flores said, As we understand now, some members of the media had already received copies of the texts before thatbut those disclosures were not authorized by the department. Todaysletterfollows two letters sent yesterday by Nadler, Jeffries and Raskin toDOJ Inspector GeneralMichael Horowitz andDOJ Public Affairs, requesting details regarding the release of text messages between FBI officials to the media. The Committee has not received a formal response from the Inspector General or the Public Affairs Director. On the evening of Tuesday, December 12th, the U.S. Department of Justice released 375 text messages between FBI employees Peter Strzok and Lisa Page to the House Judiciary Committee. The following day, DOJ Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein testified before the Committee.During the hearing, Rosenstein confirmed that the Department released the text messages to Congress in consultation with the Inspector General and that any determination on wrongdoing regarding Strzok or the Clinton investigation would be made after the IGs report. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries questioned Rosenstein about a tweet which stated that Fox News had obtained 10,000 text messages between Strzok and Page, noting that the Committee had only received 375 messages. The Office of the Inspector General informed the Special Counsel of the existence of these texts messages on July 27, 2017. Although federal regulations permit an FBI agent to [e]xpress his or her opinion as an individual privately and publicly on political subjects and candidates, Special Counsel Mueller immediately removed Strzok from the investigation. View the original letter to the DOJ Inspector General here. View the original letter to the DOJ Public Affairs Director here. View todays follow up letter to the DOJ Public Affairs Director here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://raskin.house.gov/media/press-releases/members-congress-condemn-fcc-vote-kill-net-neutrality,Members of Congress Condemn FCC Vote to Kill Net Neutrality,2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,,,legacy,"Members of Congress Condemn FCC Vote to Kill Net Neutrality (WASHINGTON,D.C.) Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) joined RepresentativeMike Doyle (PA-14), the Ranking Member on the House Energy and Commerce Committees Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, and severalother Members of Congress in condemning the Federal Communications Commissionsvoteon Thursdayto kill theOpen Internet Order, which guarantees Net Neutrality. Representatives Anna Eshoo (CA-18), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Richard M. Nolan (MN-08), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Jerry McNerney (CA-09), Carolyn Maloney (NY-12), Betty McCollum (MN-04), and Peter Welch (VT-AL) also joined CongressmenDoyle and Raskin in condemning the FCCs action and announcing their intention to introducelegislationto overturn theRestoring Internet Freedom orderthe Commission adopted with that vote. Companion legislation will be introduced in the Senate by Senator Ed Markey (D-MA). The Open Internet Order has been effective at preserving a level playing field where consumers have access to the content and services they want and online businesses are able to compete on the basis of cost and quality of their product rather than how much they can pay Internet Service Providers to block or throttle their competition,Congressman Doyle said in response to the FCC vote.Ive tried repeatedly to convince Chairman Pai to abandon his plans to dismantle the Open Internet Order most recently by organizing aletterfrom 118 Members of Congress urging him not to take this vote today and now that the FCC has voted to kill Net Neutrality andgive ISPs a green light to control access to the Internet, I will introduce legislation under theCongressional Review Actto overturn todays order and restore Net Neutrality. ****",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sarbanes-urges-speaker-ryan-house-gop-to-reconsider-tax-scam,"Sarbanes Asks Speaker Ryan, House GOP to Reconsider Tax Scam",2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined 166 Members of Congress in sending a letter to Speaker Paul Ryan, urging him to reconsider the Republican tax plan, which would increase the federal deficit by at least $1.5 trillion and undermine key programs that help lower health care costs for millions of Americans. The irresponsible tax cuts you are pursuing will explode the federal deficit, violating the principle that tax cuts should be paid for, the Members wrote. Your unpaid-for tax cuts, if enacted, will trigger automatic, across-the board cuts to Medicare, the farm safety net, and other programs. Given the lack of bipartisanship to date in your effort to provide massive tax cuts to the wealthy at the expense of the middle class while adding $1.5 trillion to the deficit, it will be your responsibility to deal with these consequences. The Members continued: In addition to the looming $25 billion Medicare cut next month, enacting your tax bill will result in widespread chaos to the health insurance market. We will not be complicit in any effort to undermine access to affordable coverage or increase costs for millions of Americans, just as we will continue our strenuous opposition to your reckless tax proposals. See below for a full copy of the letter. * * * December 14, 2017 The Hon. Paul D. Ryan Speaker U.S. House of Representatives H-232, The Capitol Washington, DC 20515 Dear Speaker Ryan: The irresponsible tax cuts you are pursuing will explode the federal deficit, violating the principle, enshrined in the 2010 Statutory PAYGO law, that tax cuts should be paid for.Under that law, your unpaid-for tax cuts, if enacted, will trigger automatic, across-the board cuts to Medicare, the farm safety net, and other programs.Given the lack of bipartisanship to date in your effort to provide massive tax cuts to the wealthy at the expense of the middle class while adding $1.5 trillion to the deficit, it will be your responsibility to deal with these consequences. With that in mind, we read with interest your recent joint statement with the Senate Majority Leader suggesting that these required across-the-board cuts will not happen.These cuts would be a direct consequence of your massive $1.5 trillion deficit increase from tax cuts for the wealthy, so it is confusing to hear that you and Leader McConnell will work to ensure these spending cuts are prevented.We are curious how you plan to do that, as the obvious solution would be not to pass those tax cuts in the first place. In addition to the looming $25 billion Medicare cut next month, enacting your tax bill will result in widespread chaos to the health insurance market.The Senate bills elimination of the individual mandate, according to the Congressional Budget Office, will increase premiums and 13 million Americans will lose their health insurance coverage.Likewise, seniors and those preparing for retirement are rightly nervous that your recent pronouncement that we're going to have to get back next year at entitlement reform, which is how you tackle the debt and the deficit means that cuts to Medicare and Social Security benefits are the necessary next step to pay for the added deficits your tax cuts would produce. Overwhelming uncertainty looms over our entire health care system and throughout our economy as a result of these developments. Should you enact a tax bill by the end of the year that adds $1.5 trillion to the deficit and, as a result, triggers PAYGO cuts next month, any effort to mitigate those cuts must also remove these other catalysts of uncertainty.At a minimum, that must include rejecting the elimination of the individual mandate aswell as the use of reconciliation procedures next year for Medicare benefit cuts in order to fill the fiscal gap left by your tax bill. We will not be complicit in any effort to undermine access to affordable coverage or increase costs for millions of Americans, just as we will continue our strenuous opposition to your reckless tax proposals. Sincerely, ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delaney.house.gov/news/press-releases/delaney-criticizes-fcc-decision-to-repeal-net-neutrality,Delaney Criticizes FCC Decision to Repeal Net Neutrality,2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Delaney,D000620,delaney.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today in a 3-2 vote the Federal Communications Commission voted to end federal net neutrality rules which require internet providers to treat all online services equally. Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-6) opposed this effort to roll back net neutrality. “I am very concerned that rolling back net neutrality will hurt consumers, entrepreneurs and small businesses and undermine our global leadership on innovation,” said Congressman Delaney. “I am strongly opposed to the FCC’s actions to end net neutrality and will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to oppose these drastic and unnecessary changes.” Congressman Delaney is a cosponsor of the Save Net Neutrality Act (H.R. 4584), which would have halted the FCC’s rulemaking process and was introduced by Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18). Congressman Delaney also joined 117 colleagues in the House of Representatives on a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai urging him to halt his efforts to end net neutrality. The letter was led by Congressman Mike Doyle (PA-14), the Ranking Member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. The Doyle letter to the FCC is available here.   ##",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delaney.house.gov/news/press-releases/following-cardin-van-hollen-and-delaney-efforts-ndaa-provision-requiring-study,"Following Cardin, Van Hollen and Delaney Efforts, NDAA Provision Requiring Study on Ft. Detrick Biodefense Lab Signed Into Law",2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Delaney,D000620,delaney.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, and Congressman John K. Delaney (all D-Md.) applaud the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report signed this week by the President, which includes a provision that would require a thorough study of the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) at Fort Detrick. Using language similar to Senator Cardin's amendment passed in the Senate version of NDAA, which was cosponsored by Senator Van Hollen and Congressman Delaney’s amendment passed in the House version of NDAA, the mandated study would require a report on the implications of recent moves by the Trump Administration to close a unique lab that supports federal law enforcement investigations and identifies biological threats. The Maryland lawmakers wrote to President Trump in July urging him to reverse course on his budget plan to close the NBACC lab.   “The Trump Administration’s move to close the NBACC are ill-advised and this congressionally mandated study should provide the thoughtful analysis needed to upend such plans that would run counter to our national security,” said Senator Cardin. “The need to protect the American people from biological threats continues to be very real and should not be brought to a screeching halt for arbitrary or political reasons,” said Senator Cardin.    “Biological attacks are a serious threat to our homeland, and without the work of the NBACC we would undoubtedly be more vulnerable,” said Senator Van Hollen. “I hope this study will provide the Administration with a clear picture of NBACC’s mission and their vital importance to our country. I will continue to fight this Administration’s puzzling efforts to strip our homeland defense of such an important tool.”   “The country needs NBACC and the efforts by the Trump Administration to abruptly close it have never made much sense. We know NBACC because it’s close to home, but the fact is this is of national importance because it is such a unique and critical facility,” said Congressman Delaney. “The inclusion of this provision protecting NBACC in the NDAA Conference Report reflects a strong bipartisan consensus that we need to hit the brakes here. I would hope that this provision being signed into law sends a clear message to the Administration that NBACC needs to be off the chopping block for good.”   The NDAA conference report provision (Section. 1053) requires a joint report from the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Defense (DOD) by March 1, 2018, on the functions and end users of the NBACC. The report must detail the cost and mission impact for users if NBACC is closed, including an analysis on NBACC functions that cannot be replicated elsewhere, and must include a transition plan for essential functions. The language requires DHS and DOD to consult with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Attorney General, Director of National Intelligence, and other DHS components, when drafting the report, which may include a classified annex. This provision prevents the use of any funds authorized under the NDAA to close or transfer NBACC until the report is submitted to Congress, and the heads of the Federal agencies that use the NBACC certify that its closure would not have a negative effect on biological defense capabilities.   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://ruppersberger.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ruppersberger-issues-statement-on-net-neutrality,Ruppersberger Issues Statement on Net Neutrality,2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger,R000576,ruppersberger.house.gov,,,legacy,"(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger today issued the following statement on Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit V. Pai’s decision to hold a vote on the repeal of net neutrality rules today. “I am strongly against Chairman Pai’s hasty and misguided decision to move forward with a vote to repeal net neutrality rules. I am deeply concerned that Chairman Pai’s current path for the FCC will result in an Internet environment that devalues consumers, small businesses and others that depend on open Internet principles. Chairman Pai’s intentions to roll back net neutrality rules have been abundantly clear since he took over the FCC earlier this year despite millions of consumer statements in opposition during the open comment period. He has been unwavering in his pursuit of this goal. The Chairman should halt this vote immediately. While I do not approve of the FCC vote, it is clear that Congress must intervene and pass legislation. I have long urged the Congressional committees of jurisdiction to get to work to solve these problems for American consumers and businesses. Ultimately, we must make sure that ISPs cannot block, slow down or discriminate against lawful content on the Internet.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sarbanes-statement-on-repeal-of-net-neutrality,Sarbanes Statement on Repeal of Net Neutrality,2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) released the following statement today after the Republican-led Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to undo net neutrality rules, paving the way for internet service providers to control internet speeds and to make ordinary Americans pay more for online platforms and services: “The FCC’s decision to eliminate net neutrality protections is a serious blow to American consumers and small businesses,” said Congressman Sarbanes. “We cannot allow big corporations to become the overlords of the internet. In Congress, I will continue fighting for legislation that reverses the FCC’s misguided ruling.” ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-magnitsky-act-author-speaks-at-helsinki-commission-hearing-on-impact-of-human-rights-law-five-years-later,"Cardin, Magnitsky Act Author, Speaks at Helsinki Commission Hearing on Impact of Human Rights Law Five Years Later",2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 14, 2017 Cardin, Magnitsky Act Author, Speaks at Helsinki Commission Hearing on Impact of Human Rights Law Five Years Later WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of both the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission), delivered the following opening remarks Thursday at a Commission hearing on ‘The Magnitsky Act at Five: Assessing Accomplishments and Challenges.’ Senator Cardin is the lead author of the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act and the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act: “Chairman Wicker, first of all, thank you for your leadership on the Helsinki Commission. You’ve been a true champion on the human rights basket of the OSCE and U.S. participation, and I thank you for convening this hearing. We do have three very distinguished witnesses here today and I thank all three for being here. “Mr. Browder, I remember when you first brought Sergei Magnitsky to my attention in June of 2009. I was shocked to hear what had happened and you were able to do something that has been very difficult. What happened to Sergei Magnitsky was not unique under Mr. Putin in Russia. But what made it unique was your ability to tell that story to the international community. And the international community was forced to take action and you were able to take that activity to help so many people around the world. So, I thank you for your courage and I thank you for making sure we remember Sergei Magnitsky and remember his courage and are motivated by him every day. “Mr. Cotler, I want to thank you. Canada has been our true ally and friend because there was a lot of pushback about taking action against Russia and your leadership in Canada, your leadership in helping us with the OSCE parliamentary assembly was critical and we thank you for that partnership for giving us international legitimacy to moving forward on the Magnitsky Act. “Mr. Kasparov, I want to thank you because you represent the Russian people, what the Russian people want. This is not about penalizing Russia, it’s about penalizing the leaders of Russia for what they’re doing and first hurting the people of their own country. So, I thank our three witnesses. “The tragic death of Sergei Magnitsky in November 2009 for discovering $230 million corruption, one of the largest in the history of Russia, was just beyond our comprehension that the political leadership of Russia could stoop to that type of level and take out the life of a very young lawyer, and we took some action. We, the Helsinki Commission, said ‘Look, we’re going to do some things.’ And I remember conversations I had with the Administration on how we could perhaps use visas or use the banking system to take action against the known perpetrators. Those conversations were going through the normal bureaucracy problems that you see in Executive branches in diplomacy. “In April of 2010, I sent a letter to Secretary of State Clinton suggesting formally that she take action. And they were considering it. And then, Mr. Chairman, we came to the conclusion that for this to really work, we know the Executive had the authority, but would they exercise that authority? Because when you talk about bilateral relations with countries, there are so many things on the agenda, will human rights really get the place it needs? So we knew that Congress needed to act and the Helsinki Commission did get engaged on this issue. “I filed legislation and I was proud of so many people who joined in that, and I thank the Chairman, Senator Wicker, clearly Senator McCain was one of our true champions throughout this process. And our prayers are with him on his health as we go through this. Also I want to mention Kyle Parker, a staff member of the Helsinki Commission who was critically important in keeping us focused, and again this never became partisan. We worked it through the Senate. I then went on to Senate Foreign Relations Committee and got a little bit of a hostile treatment there. But a champion emerged and I have to mention that. Senator Lugar was a real champion in giving us, again, the bipartisan support needed. Senator Shaheen was a critical supporter on Senate Foreign Relations Committee on this issue. “And we got it enacted. And we celebrate the fifth anniversary of its enactment but we didn’t stop there because it was Russia-specific and we knew these problems were global and [last year] we passed the Global Magnitsky Law. “So, I just really want to acknowledge that when the United States leads, we find other countries that follow. We’ve seen action taken in Estonia, Lithuania, and the U.K. We’ve made significant progress. So I just really want to acknowledge the importance of the work that has been done but tell us as I said earlier, we can’t rest of our laurels. There are serious issues globally taking place, the Administration is supposed to present their Global Magnitsky list very shortly and we’ll be watching that very closely. We also will be watching their implementation of the Russian sanction law that requires reports as early as next month and we will be watching very closely to make sure they comply with the laws that we have passed. “The bottom line is that the Helsinki Commission, the United States Congress, has taken leadership on this issue and we will continue to lead on protecting human rights globally.” ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/following-cardin-van-hollen-and-delaney-efforts-ndaa-provision-requiring-study-on-ft-detrick-biodefense-lab-signed-into-law,"Following Cardin, Van Hollen and Delaney Efforts, NDAA Provision Requiring Study on Ft. Detrick Biodefense Lab Signed Into Law",2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 14, 2017 Following Cardin, Van Hollen and Delaney Efforts, NDAA Provision Requiring Study on Ft. Detrick Biodefense Lab Signed Into Law WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, and Congressman John K. Delaney (all D-Md.) applaud the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report signed this week by the President, which includes a provision that would require a thorough study of the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) at Fort Detrick. Using language similar to Senator Cardin's amendment passed in the Senate version of NDAA, which was cosponsored by Senator Van Hollen and Congressman Delaney’s amendment passed in the House version of NDAA, the mandated study would require a report on the implications of recent moves by the Trump Administration to close a unique lab that supports federal law enforcement investigations and identifies biological threats. The Maryland lawmakers wrote to President Trump in July urging him to reverse course on his budget plan to close the NBACC lab. “The Trump Administration’s move to close the NBACC are ill-advised and this congressionally mandated study should provide the thoughtful analysis needed to upend such plans that would run counter to our national security,” said Senator Cardin. “The need to protect the American people from biological threats continues to be very real and should not be brought to a screeching halt for arbitrary or political reasons,” said Senator Cardin.  “Biological attacks are a serious threat to our homeland, and without the work of the NBACC we would undoubtedly be more vulnerable,” said Senator Van Hollen. “I hope this study will provide the Administration with a clear picture of NBACC’s mission and their vital importance to our country. I will continue to fight this Administration’s puzzling efforts to strip our homeland defense of such an important tool.” “The country needs NBACC and the efforts by the Trump Administration to abruptly close it have never made much sense. We know NBACC because it’s close to home, but the fact is this is of national importance because it is such a unique and critical facility,” said Congressman Delaney. “The inclusion of this provision protecting NBACC in the NDAA Conference Report reflects a strong bipartisan consensus that we need to hit the brakes here. I would hope that this provision being signed into law sends a clear message to the Administration that NBACC needs to be off the chopping block for good.” The NDAA conference report provision (Section. 1053) requires a joint report from the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Defense (DOD) by March 1, 2018, on the functions and end users of the NBACC. The report must detail the cost and mission impact for users if NBACC is closed, including an analysis on NBACC functions that cannot be replicated elsewhere, and must include a transition plan for essential functions. The language requires DHS and DOD to consult with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Attorney General, Director of National Intelligence, and other DHS components, when drafting the report, which may include a classified annex. This provision prevents the use of any funds authorized under the NDAA to close or transfer NBACC until the report is submitted to Congress, and the heads of the Federal agencies that use the NBACC certify that its closure would not have a negative effect on biological defense capabilities. ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/lawmakers-running-out-of-patience-on-drug-prices,Lawmakers Running Out of Patience on Drug Prices,2017-12-13,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"""Get your act together or else ..."" was the message Republican and Democrat alike delivered Wednesday to drug companies, insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) during a House subcommittee hearing on the prescription drug supply chain and its impact on drug prices.... ""I hope the message is getting through that, on a bipartisan basis, we're kind of reaching the end of our tether"" on drug pricing, Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) said as he warned witnesses from the various industries involved in the supply chain that if they don't address the problem, Congress may go in a direction they won't like. One possibility would be to treat drugs like a utility, he said.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/veterans-charity-raises-millions-to-help-those-who-ve-served-but,Veterans Charity Raises Millions to Help Those Whove Served. But Telemarketers Are Pocketing Most of It.,2017-12-13,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"Rep. John Sarbanes, D-Md., said Congress should look into ways to crack down on organizations that spend most of their money on fundraising. At the very least, it should be easier for donors to research how charities are using their money, he said.... Sarbanes, a vocal opponent of super PACs, condemned their use as fundraising mechanisms.... “The bottom line is this,” Sarbanes said. “The more money that sloshes around in our political system, the more opportunity there’s going to be … to take advantage of that and try to make a fast buck.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sarbanes-grills-big-pharma-executives-over-prescription-drug-prices,Sarbanes Grills Big Pharma Executives Over Prescription Drug Prices [Video],2017-12-13,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a House Subcommittee on Health hearing today, Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) called on Big Pharma executives to find ways to reduce prescription drug prices. “I hope, as many Members have emphasized today, that the message is getting through on a bipartisan basis that we’re getting to the end of our tether,” said Congressman Sarbanes. “And a lot of it has to do with trying to catch smoke with how this pricing works…. If the drug supply chain can’t be improved, then we may start out in a place that you all don’t like.” See below for a video of the Congressman’s remarks. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sarbanes-urges-fcc-chairman-to-halt-tomorrow-s-vote-to-undo-net,Sarbanes Urges FCC Chairman to Halt Tomorrows Vote to Undo Net Neutrality Rules,2017-12-13,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined 117 Members of Congress in sending a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai, urging him to delay the agency’s vote to dismantle net neutrality protections, which keep the internet free and open. Net neutrality protections prevent internet service providers (ISPs) from favoring certain websites and internet companies over others. Without net neutrality rules, ISPs can require websites and internet companies to pay more money for faster internet service or restrict certain content all together. Eliminating net neutrality protections would increase costs for small businesses and consumers, while threatening the vitality and innovation of the internet. See below for a full copy of the letter. * * * December 13, 2017 The Honorable Ajit V. Pai Chairman Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554   Dear Chairman Pai: We write to you today regarding the “Restoring Internet Freedom” item, WC Docket No. 17-108, on the Federal Communication Commission’s December Open Meeting Agenda. We urge you to delay consideration of this item and remove it from the December agenda. Thank you for your attention to this important request.   Sincerely, ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-expresses-concerns-raises-questions-about-presidential-use-of-military-force-issues,"Cardin Expresses Concerns, Raises Questions about Presidential Use of Military Force Issues",2017-12-13,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 13, 2017 Cardin Expresses Concerns, Raises Questions about Presidential Use of Military Force Issues WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the following opening remarks Wednesday at a hearing on “The Use of Force: Strategic, Political and Legal Considerations.”: “Mr. Chairman, thank you for convening this hearing.  As I said when Secretaries Tillerson and Mattis were before our committee this is perhaps one of the most important responsibilities we have in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to consider circumstances and legal authority for sending our men and women into harm’s way. So, I thank you very much for this hearing and I welcome our distinguished panel. We have some really great experts here who I hope will engage us in this conversation. “America faces unprecedented crises around the world, from the continuing terrorist threats presented by ISIS and al Qaeda and their affiliates, to a worsening nuclear crisis with North Korea, to the growing proxy fight between Saudi Arabia and Iran destabilizing the entire Middle East.  “President Trump's apparent inclination to use military force and to risk war rather than find diplomatic solutions to these crises is troubling.  His attitude toward diplomacy ranges from disinterest to naivety to actively sabotaging his own Secretary of State.    “Finding the proper balance for the authority to use force is not unique to this President.  The last two Presidents have stretched their authorities to the breaking point, especially in the use of the 2001Authorization of Use of Military Force, which in my view was intended as a necessary narrow response to the 9/11 plotters—most of whom are either dead or in custody. “And while we can expect that any president will seek to stretch his or her authorities, it is also incumbent on those of us here in Congress to make sure that we exercise our constitutional authorities, too, when it comes to the use of force. “Secretary Mattis confirmed at our hearing a few weeks ago that there is no Congressional authority for military action against North Korea.  But I remain deeply concerned that President Trump will decide to preemptive or preventive military action against North Korea that is not justified under the circumstances and that Congress has not authorized.   He might even potentially seek to initiate a nuclear first-strike and, as borne out by our recent hearing on this issue, we would have to rely on the strength of character and bravery of those in the military responsible for carrying out that attack to question its legality. “Mr. Chairman, what also became abundantly clear during the hearing with the Secretaries of Defense and State is that we also need to take stock of what we are already doing.  We have U.S. troops deployed almost everywhere in the world including in circumstances that would easily involve them, and the United States, in combat—as happened recently in Niger.    “In addition to significant deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria, and major deployments in South Korea, Japan, and Europe, U.S. forces are and have been engaged in counterterrorism operations in Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, Libya, and Chad, with extensive advice, train, and capacity-building efforts in many more.  “A few weeks ago I read in a Politico story that the number of U.S. military forces in Somalia has grown this year to over 500 people, with the Pentagon quietly posting hundreds of additional special operations personnel to advise local forces around the country.  This Committee has the jurisdiction for ‘intervention abroad,’ yet no additional authority was sought even as the United States doubled its military forces in Somalia, potentially placing them in harm’s way.  This is a problem, Mr. Chairman.   “We have all been seized by the tragic loss of U.S. soldiers in Niger, but let us not forget that we had already seen similar loss in Somalia.  In May of this year, a U.S. Navy Seal was killed while accompanying Somali soldiers in an ‘advise and assist’ mission.  “The incident marked the first loss of U.S. military personnel in Somalia since eighteen U.S. soldiers died there in 1993.   The “Black Hawk Down” incident had serious consequences for  U.S. engagement and policy in Somalia, just as the recent incidents in Niger and Somalia will impact how we view train, equip, advise, assist, and accompany missions going forward.  “And just last week the Pentagon acknowledged that there are 2000 U.S. forces in Syria.   This is nearly quadruple the level of 503 authorized by the previous Administration.  This is yet another warning to Congress and the American people that the Trump national security team is greatly expanding the deployment of U.S. military forces on the ground worldwide, with minimal congressional consultation, minimal buy-in from the American people, minimal limitations, and minimal transparency. “So, as we contemplate the impact of these missions, we must engage in a serious ‘gut-check’ and ask ourselves:  What are the consequences of our military personnel being involved in places where lethal action seems almost inevitable? “Mr. Chairman, I think we are seeing that over time, a kind of gray space is growing in which significant and consequential uses of force result from activities we all thought  did not constitute the use of offensive military force—such as deployments to train-and-equip other militaries.  This is either classic ‘mission-creep,’ or a significant miscalculation about the very nature of ‘advise and assist’ and ‘train and equip missions.’ “This Committee needs to take stock of where we are, on two fronts.  First—what, exactly, should we be doing now to ensure that the President does not engage in military actions that Congress has not authorized and that cannot be justified under the President’s Article 2 authorities?  And second, what exactly is our military doing around the world right now in the gulf between mere training and conventional war—a gulf that is growing and can be lethal?  “Both of these issues have consequences for our long-term foreign policy goals and national security. “Yesterday, we received the latest report due every six months pursuant to the War Powers Resolution. This is a four-page document updating us on U.S. armed forces equipped for combat. There are some new things compared to the June report, and I think we need to pay attention to this because the President tells us this is his notification. “One hundred U.S. troops have been deployed to Lebanon to enhance the government’s counter-terrorism capabilities and support anti-ISIL operations. Since the last report United States forces have conducted a number of airstrikes against ISIS terrorists and their camps in Libya. And U.S. forces equipped for combat have deployed in the Philippines to support counter-terrorism operations. “Folks, these are all new activities and this notification offers us too little information about expanding U.S. military operations around the world. “I think this Committee needs to get a more granular understanding of these activities, the authorities under which they’re being done, and the troop distribution numbers in this country and other countries around the world. “When we talk about our role, Congress’s role, we are inevitably talking about the War Powers Resolution, which was has been much criticized over the years.  We need to consider whether it is sufficient to deal with new circumstances as well as our current use of our military and lethal force, or if something more is needed.  “I noted with interest the introduction, last month, of a bipartisan concurrent resolution in the House of Representatives pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution that directs the President to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen, except those engaged in operations directed at Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula or associated forces.  This is an interesting example of a potential way Congress could assert itself on these matters. “The 9/11 and Iraq AUMFs have now become mere authorities of convenience for presidents to conduct military activities anywhere in the world.  They should not be used as the legal justification for the Administration's international military activities.  Nor should Title 10 authorities become authorities of convenience for presidents to conduct lethal offensive military activities anywhere in the world.  “I will end by saying that the United States has relied for too long on military force as the first response to the problems of terrorism, insurgency, and instability abroad.  What makes this issue even more urgent is this Administration’s growing reliance on military force, while at the same time pushing dramatic reductions in budgets and resources for diplomacy and development.  “It’s really quite astonishing—and deeply troubling—and I think the American public needs to hear more about it.  Diplomacy, development, and support for human rights are the critical means through which we are safer in the world. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-senators-proposed-cuts-to-epa-threaten-public-health,"Van Hollen, Senators: Proposed Cuts to EPA Threaten Public Health",2017-12-13,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Chris Van Hollen,V000128,www.vanhollen.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 13, 2017 Van Hollen, Senators: Proposed Cuts to EPA Threaten Public Health Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined three dozen Senators in pushing back on proposed cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) budget that would threaten public health and the environment. ""The Trump Administration has made dismantling the EPA a core mission. We urge you to oppose any legislation that advances that goal by further cutting the EPA's already decimated funding levels,"" the Senators wrote in a letter to Senate leaders. ""Because of these endless attacks on both the career employees and regional programs, the EPA is badly underfunded, understaffed and struggling to perform its basic and legally required functions,"" they continued. ""We cannot tolerate efforts to cripple an agency that, with increased use of Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments, is operating with staffing levels not seen since the 1980s."" As the Senators pointed out in the letter, these cuts threaten the EPA's core missions of protecting the environment and public health. If the EPA's funding levels continue to be slashed, fewer polluters will be held accountable, and clean air and water projects across the United States will be threatened. In addition to Senator Van Hollen, the letter was signed by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tom Udall (D-NM), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Gary Peters (D-MI), Al Franken (D-MN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Patty Murray (D-WA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Angus King (I-ME), Tom Carper (D-DE), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Jon Tester (D-MT). The full text of the letter is below and here. ### Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Minority Leader Schumer, Chairman Cochran, and Vice Chairman Leahy: We are deeply concerned that Senate Interior Appropriations bill includes yet another cut to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While the 2% total reduction in the Senate bill may seem small, it masks deep cuts into programs ensuring public health and enforcement, showing that this bill is another example of Republicans repeatedly pushing funding cuts that erode the EPA's core budget and capabilities. As a result of these sustained, partisan attacks, the EPA's overall budget is down 22% since 2010. Adjusted for inflation, the Senate's mark would be the smallest EPA operating budget since 1986. This trend cannot continue. Moreover, this bill includes deep and harmful cuts in programs critical to protecting public health and the environment. For example, the Senate Interior Appropriations bill would make significant cuts to vital programs that protect clean air and water, and that hold polluters accountable, including reducing Enforcement by 10%, Compliance by 15%, human health protection in the water office by 9%, and clean air programs by 10%. The Trump Administration has made dismantling the EPA a core mission. We urge you to oppose any legislation that advances that goal by further cutting the EPA's already decimated funding levels. Because of these endless attacks on both the career employees and regional programs, the EPA is badly underfunded, understaffed and struggling to perform its basic and legally required functions. We cannot tolerate efforts to cripple an agency that, with increased use of Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments, is operating with staffing levels not seen since the 1980s. The EPA provides critical technical assistance, grant funding, and support to state environmental agencies. With health crises across the country in the form of Superfund sites, lead contaminated water, and air pollution hotspots, we cannot afford to further erode the EPA's budget and dedicated workforce. We must ensure that the EPA has the funding needed to carry out vital public health and environment protections. We urge you to oppose these insidious budget cuts, and oppose any reduction in funding for the EPA in the final Fiscal Year 2018 Appropriations package. Thank you for your attention to this issue. Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delaney.house.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-young-markey-delaney-olson-introduce-bill-to-further-understand-and,"Cantwell, Young, Markey, Delaney & Olson Introduce Bill to Further Understand and Promote Development of Artificial Intelligence, Drive Economic Opportunity",2017-12-12,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Delaney,D000620,delaney.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Todd Young (R-IN), and Ed Markey (D-MA), along with Representatives John K. Delaney (D-MD) and Pete Olson (R-TX), introduced first-of-its-kind legislation that would promote an enabling environment for the continued development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The forward-looking bill, known as the Fundamentally Understanding the Usability and Realistic Evolution of Artificial Intelligence Act of 2017 – or FUTURE of AI Act – establishes a federal advisory committee to examine and wrestle with the economic opportunities and impacts emerging AI technologies will have in many aspects of American life.   AI technologies are evolving in capability and application at a rapid clip. Yet, the United States currently has no federal policy towards AI and no part of the federal government has ownership of the advancement of this technology.   “We expect that artificial intelligence will be an incredibly transformative force for growth and productivity.  We need to be ready for it,” said Senator Cantwell.   “Artificial Intelligence has the ability to drastically boost our economy,” said Senator Young. “As Americans continue to interact with this technology every day, and as its capabilities expand, it’s important that we study and prepare for AI’s continued use in our society.”   “While artificial intelligence holds the promise of providing goods and services more efficiently and effectively, increased automation has potentially broad negative impacts on our workforce and our privacy,” said Senator Edward J. Markey. “This bill serves as an important step in bringing together all stakeholders to better understand how this new technology will impact our lives. I thank Senators Cantwell and Young, as well as Representatives Delaney and Olson, for their partnership on this important bipartisan issue.”    “It’s time to get proactive on artificial intelligence,” said Congressman Delaney, co-chair of the House AI Caucus. “AI is going to reshape our economy the way the steam engine, the transistor or the personal computer did and as a former entrepreneur, I believe the impact will be positive overall. Big disruptions also create new policy needs and we should start working now so that AI is harnessed in a way that society benefits, that businesses benefit and that workers benefit. This bill starts the process, by bringing together experts and policymakers. As co-chairs of the AI Caucus, Rep. Olson and I are shining a spotlight on these issues and this bipartisan bill makes sure that both Congress and the Executive Branch get engaged on this topic. I thank Senator Cantwell, Senator Young and Senator Markey for their leadership in the Senate.”   Rep. Pete Olson said, “Artificial Intelligence has the power to truly transform our society, and as policymakers, we must be forward thinking about its applications. The AI Advisory committee will help ensure that the federal government enables growth and advancement in this exciting field, while empowering Congress to address potential AI issues going forward. I thank my AI Caucus Co-Chair John Delaney and our Senate colleagues for this collaborative effort and look forward to moving this bill forward.”   The FUTURE of AI Act names the Department of Commerce responsible for leading government policy on artificial intelligence and directs the Department to create an advisory committee tasked with submitting recommendations within 18 months on how the government and business can work together to address concerns in four key areas:   Potential growth, restructuring, and other changes for the U.S. workforce that result from adoption of AI, including potential actions to train and skill workers for an AI workplace Protecting the privacy rights of individuals as AI continues to grow Promoting a climate of innovation to ensure global competitiveness for American companies developing AI technologies Supporting the development and application of unbiased AI   The AI advisory committee will pull from a wide array of sectors and perspectives. The committee will be comprised of civil liberties groups, labor groups, research institutions and universities, technology companies, the manufacturing sector, data scientists, and federal agency officials, among others.   ""This is a very thoughtful and timely bill. Gaining the expertise to make wise and inclusive policy around artificial intelligence is absolutely critical. I applaud Senator Cantwell and her co-sponsors for their leadership,” said Ryan Calo, an associate professor at the University of Washington School of Law and the faculty co-director of the University of Washington Tech Policy Lab.   The section-by-section of the bill can be found HERE.   The full text of the bill can be found HERE.   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sarbanes-statement-on-house-republican-vote-to-sink-public-service-loan,Sarbanes Statement on House Republican Vote to Sink Public Service Loan Forgiveness,2017-12-12,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) issued the below statement today after a majority of Republicans on the House Education and Workforce Committee voted to prevent new student borrowers from participating in Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Congressman Sarbanes authored the legislation creating the PSLF program, which became law as part of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act in 2007. By a vote of 19-20, Republicans voted down a bipartisan amendment to H.R. 4508, the PROSPER Act, that would have protected the PSLF program and expanded it to cover farmers, ranchers, veterans and military service organizations. “The failure of this crucial amendment represents an unnecessary and senseless attack on a bipartisan student loan forgiveness program designed to help our nation’s service members, community health care workers, teachers, public defenders, social workers and other public servants,” said Congressman Sarbanes, the author of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness law. “I will continue to fight to protect PSLF as this bill moves forward. I want to thank my colleague, Congressman Courtney, for introducing this amendment and for championing the PSLF program.” ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-remains-concerned-about-damage-inflicted-on-state-department-usaid-following-tillerson-address-to-employees,"Cardin Remains Concerned About Damage Inflicted on State Department, USAID Following Tillerson Address to Employees",2017-12-12,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 12, 2017 Cardin Remains Concerned About Damage Inflicted on State Department, USAID Following Tillerson Address to Employees Senator welcomes some developments, fears more questions raised than answered WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Tuesday after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson addressed employees of the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development: “Secretary Tillerson missed an opportunity today to put the State Department back on a path to full health and definitively end his poorly conceived and ill-executed hiring freeze at State and USAID, among the only agencies in the Executive Branch left under such a policy months after the President lifted the wider freeze. We do not yet know the extent of the damage the hiring freeze has done to State and USAID, but it is likely to be felt for years to come. Some steps the Secretary announced today, such as the lifting of the freeze for Eligible Family Members (EFMs), improvements to information technology, and expediting security clearances, are welcome, but these are drops in a bucket compared to the magnitude of issues facing this Department. These problems have been needlessly inflicted by this Administration, and the Secretary confessed he does not have any ‘wins to put on the board’ at this time. It will take a lot of hard work to help State and USAID recover from the damage the freeze and rudderless ‘redesign’ have done, and I am committed to helping them do so. “The personnel of the State Department and USAID are on the front lines, every day, all around the world protecting our interests, promoting our values, and keeping us safe.   From Havana to Tehran to Moscow to Pyongyang to Juba—never have the roles of diplomacy and development been more important to our national security.”   Background: On November 9, Cardin questioned the abrupt cancellation of job offers for 97 USAID Foreign Service Officers. At a SFRC hearing on November 14th, Senator Cardin stood up for the Foreign and Civil Service employees at the Department and questioned the hiring freeze. On December 5, Cardin and Senator Todd Young called on Tillerson to lift the hiring freeze. On December 6, Cardin led the 10 Democrats on the SFRC in also calling for the hiring freeze to be lifted, among a host of pressing problems they want addressed. ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/senators-to-tax-budget-conferees-remove-harmful-renewable-energy-provisions-protect-clean-energy-blue-collar-jobs,"Senators to Tax Budget Conferees: Remove Harmful Renewable Energy Provisions, Protect Clean Energy Blue-Collar Jobs",2017-12-12,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 12, 2017 Senators to Tax Budget Conferees: Remove Harmful Renewable Energy Provisions, Protect Clean Energy Blue-Collar Jobs Three provisions in Senate and House bills would harm ability to claim essential federal tax credits, reduce tax credits specifically for wind industry, eliminate tax credit for electric vehicles WASHINGTON – As Republicans on the congressional tax scam conference committee try to finalize their partisan plan this week, Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) are demanding removal of renewable energy provisions from the final conference report that would devastate clean energy deployment and job growth. Wind and solar energy currently have more than 360,000 workers in their industries, the majority of them blue-collar jobs such as roofers, electricians and steelworkers. These clean energy industries are projected to support 500,000 American workers in just three years. “The potential of these industries and this job creation is imperiled by provisions in the legislation that has been passed by the House and Senate,” write the Senators in the letter. “Wind and solar here in the United States are creating hundreds of thousands of good-paying, blue-collar jobs and more sustainable economic growth. The increasing deployment of electric vehicles will help reduce our consumption of foreign oil and enhance our national security.” A copy of the letter can be found here. A first provision included in the Senate bill called the “base-erosion anti-abuse tax” (BEAT) would harm the ability of renewable energy projects to make full use of essential federal tax credits. A second provision included in the House bill would significantly reduce tax credits for the wind industry, which could eliminate over half of all new wind production planned in the United States. A different provision included in the House bill would eliminate the tax credit for electric vehicles, jeopardizing the market just as automakers are increasingly ramping up their commitments to producing these vehicles. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delaney.house.gov/news/blogs/on-the-house-floor-this-week-121117,On the House Floor This week - 12/11/17,2017-12-11,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Delaney,D000620,delaney.house.gov,,,legacy,"The House of Representatives is in session this week. The legislative schedule, including which bills are brought to the floor for a vote, is set by Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy. To contact my office about the legislation we’re considering this week, please contact my office at 202-225-2721 or by clicking here.   MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2017 On Monday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for Morning Hour debate and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business, with first votes postponed until 6:30 p.m. Suspensions (5 bills) H.R. 3359 – Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act of 2017, as amended (Rep. McCaul – Homeland Security) H.R. 3669 – Securing General Aviation and Commercial Charter Air Carrier Service Act of 2017, as amended (Rep. Estes – Homeland Security) H.R. 2706 – Financial Institution Customer Protection Act of 2017, as amended (Rep. Luetkemeyer – Financial Services) H.R. 3093 – Investor Clarity and Bank Parity Act (Rep. Capuano – Financial Services) H.R. 1730 – Protecting Religiously Affiliated Institutions Act of 2017, as amended (Rep. Kustoff – Judiciary) TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2017 On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for Morning Hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. Suspensions (13 bills) H.R. 2880 – Promoting Closed-Loop Pumped Storage Hydropower Act, as amended (Rep. Griffith – Energy and Commerce) H.R. 2872 – Promoting Hydropower Development at Existing Nonpowered Dams Act, as amended (Rep. Bucshon – Energy and Commerce) H.R. 1733 – To direct the Secretary of Energy to review and update a report on the energy and environmental benefits of the re-refining of used lubricating oil (Rep. Brooks (IN) – Energy and Commerce) H.R. 4171 – To amend title 5, United States Code, to extend the authority to conduct telework travel expenses test programs, and for other purposes (Rep. Gianforte – Oversight and Government Reform) H.R. 2815 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 30 East Somerset Street in Raritan, New Jersey, as the ""Sergeant John Basilone Post Office"" (Rep. Lance – Oversight and Government Reform) H.R. 1208 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 9155 Schaefer Road, Converse, Texas, as the ""Converse Veterans Post Office Building"" (Rep. Cuellar – Oversight and Government Reform) H.R. 3638 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1100 Kings Road in Jacksonville, Florida, as the ""Rutledge Pearson Post Office Building"" (Rep. Lawson – Oversight and Government Reform) H.R. 3655 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1300 Main Street in Belmar, New Jersey, as the ""Dr. Walter S. McAfee Post Office Building"" (Rep. Smith (NJ) – Oversight and Government) H.R. 4042 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1415 West Oak Street, in Kissimmee, Florida, as the ""Borinqueneers Post Office Building"" (Rep. Soto – Oversight and Government Reform) H.R. 4285 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 123 Bridgeton Pike in Mullica Hill, New Jersey, as the ""James C. 'Billy' Johnson Post Office Building"" (Rep. LoBiondo – Oversight and Government Reform) H.Res. 407 – Condemning the persecution of Christians around the world, as amended (Rep. Grothman – Foreign Affairs) H.Res. 336 – Reaffirming a strong commitment to the United States-Mexico Partnership (Rep. Engel – Foreign Affairs) H.Res. 357 – Reaffirming the strategic partnership between the United States and Canada, recognizing bilateral cooperation that advances United States national interests, and urging increased bilateral cooperation on security, economic issues, and energy, and for other purposes, as amended (Rep. Duncan (SC) – Foreign Affairs) H.R. 3971 – Community Institution Mortgage Relief Act of 2017 (Rep. Tenney – Financial Services)  WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2017  On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for Morning Hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. H.R. 1638 – Iranian Leadership Asset Transparency Act (Rep. Poliquin – Financial Services) (Subject to a Rule) H.R. 4324 – Strengthening Oversight of Iran's Access to Finance Act (Rep. Rogers (TX) – Financial Services) (Subject to a Rule) THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2017 AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business, with last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m.  On Friday, no votes are expected in the House.  H.R. 2396 – Privacy Notification Technical Clarification Act (Rep. Trott – Financial Services) (Subject to a Rule)",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://raskin.house.gov/media/in-the-news/12-house-democrats-and-republicans-call-civilian-military-pay-parity,"12 House Democrats and Republicans call for civilian, military pay parity",2017-12-11,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,,,legacy,"In the final month of the year, a group of House Democrats and Republicans are joining the National Treasury Employee Union in calling for pay parity in 2018 between members of the military and civilian federal employees. Read more here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://ruppersberger.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ruppersberger-announces-winners-of-2017-high-school-app-challenge,Ruppersberger Announces Winners of 2017 High School App Challenge,2017-12-11,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger,R000576,ruppersberger.house.gov,,,legacy,"(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger today announced that an all-girls team of students from Randallstown High has won his fourth-annual high school “App Challenge.” The academic competition, which is open to all high school students in Maryland’s Second Congressional District, requires students to create an original software application for mobile, tablet or other device on a platform of their choice. The winners – Aaliyah Philippe-Auguste, Re'Niya Avery, Saniya  Holmes and Adaora  Umeadi – created an app called “Health Care 4 U” that teaches users medical terminology through an interactive matching game. Over the course of several months, the 10th grade students learned computer coding, designed graphics, developed music and created a marketing and advertising plan for their game. Contest participants were required to submit a video demonstrating and explaining their app and what they learned through the competition process. You can see the winning team’s video here. “I am particularly proud that this year’s winners are all women, who are historically underrepresented in STEM industries,” Congressman Ruppersberger said. “Their creativity and technical expertise is remarkable and I see bright futures ahead for each of them.  If they are any example, our community will be generating impressive talent that will help our country innovate and create jobs.” The contest is part of a national effort established by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014 to promote science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) innovation. Winners from across the country will be invited to showcase their apps to Members of Congress and members of the tech community at #HouseOfCode, a reception on Capitol Hill to be held in April 2018. Their work is eligible to be featured for one year on permanent display in the U.S. Capitol Building and on the House.gov website. Each winning student will also be awarded $250 in Amazon Web Service credits.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-urges-nationwide-review-of-va-providers-in-light-of-usa-today-report,Van Hollen Urges Nationwide Review of VA Providers in Light of USA Today Report,2017-12-11,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Chris Van Hollen,V000128,www.vanhollen.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 11, 2017 Van Hollen Urges Nationwide Review of VA Providers in Light of USA Today Report U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined a bipartisan group of U.S. Senatorson Fridayin calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a nationwide review of its providers after aUSA Todayinvestigationfound multiple providers hired by the Department had at least one state medical license revoked due to malpractice. In a letter to VA Secretary David Shulkin, the Senators presented a series of questions. ""For years, states have experienced provider shortages across many different medical specialties, and like the private sector healthcare industry, the VA has faced similar provider shortages,""the Senators wrote.""As such, we request information about the VA's oversight of provider hiring guidelines to ensure that the pressure to fill shortages has not led to insufficient health care quality controls."" In addition to Senator Van Hollen, the letter was led by Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), John Boozman (R-AR) and signed by Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Bill Nelson (D-FL), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). Full text of the letter is availablehereand below: December 8, 2017 The Honorable David Shulkin Secretary U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 810 Vermont Ave NW Washington, DC 20420-0001 Dear Secretary Shulkin: We write to express our serious concerns regarding recent media reports suggesting that the Department of Veterans Affairs offers employment to medical practitioners with a known history of licensure revocation by a state medical licensing board. The national reporting also highlighted cases of the VA hiring providers with known conduct and performance deficiencies that resulted in sanctions and criminal charges of the individuals. For years, states have experienced provider shortages across many different medical specialties, and like the private sector healthcare industry, the VA has faced similar provider shortages. For states, such as Arkansas, in which many veterans eligible for VA care are rural, the provider shortage is even more pronounced. As such, we request information about the VA's oversight of provider hiring guidelines to ensure that the pressure to fill shortages has not led to insufficient health care quality controls. We request that the Department of Veterans Affairs conduct a nationwide review to identify all providers by state and specialty, who were known to have had adverse actions taken against their clinical privileges, to include the revocation of state medical licensure, and were subsequently hired by the Department. Of the individuals identified by the aforementioned report, what is the employment status of each individual identified? What additional oversight measures are required for providers identified through this review who remain employed by and practicing within the VA? In addition to a review to determine the current status of providers within the VA, we would also like information relevant to oversight of VA policies regarding hiring of individuals who have disciplinary or performance deficiencies that resulted in sanctions, claims, or charges. At what level is a final personnel decision approved? Does the VA have regular reporting and review of any providers hired under these circumstances? How is the performance and conduct of such individuals tracked, including the healthcare outcomes they deliver for veterans? When the VA intends to hire a provider with known medical malpractice claims, what additional scrutiny or consideration are such applicants subjected to? Does the VA have authority to hire a provider whose license has been revoked? When the VA considers hiring these providers, at what level does the VA approve a final offer of employment? Are such hiring decisions subject to reporting requirements to the Department? If so, to what level? Following the employment of such a provider, does the VA require any probationary periods of review or mandatory consultation prior to authorizing the direct provision of care to patients? Do these positions include any responsibility for the direct provision of medical care? Please confirm the status of this request and provide a timeline for completion of the requested review. We ask that you please keep our offices updated on this issue. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-andy-harris-plans-tele-town-hall-december-11,Congressman Andy Harris Plans Tele-Town Hall for December 11,2017-12-08,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,MD,Andy Harris,H001052,harris.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC: On December 11, Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) will hold his seventh telephone town hall of 2017. The Congressman’s office will automatically call out to nearly 40,000 constituents living on the Eastern Shore, pulling phone numbers from the constituent services database. If constituents prefer to be called on a certain phone number, they can list that number through the link below. Questions about the event can be directed to Congressman Harris’ DC office at (202) 225-5311. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hoyer.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2891,"Hoyer Speaks with NASA Astronaut Richard ""Ricky"" R. Arnold II",2017-12-07,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Steny Hoyer,H000874,hoyer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC –Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) spoke with NASA Astronaut Richard “Ricky” R. Arnold II this afternoon to wish him well in advance of his upcoming spaceflight. Astronaut Arnold was raised in Bowie, Maryland, and was selected as a Mission Specialist by NASA in 2004. He is a member of the Expedition 55/56 Space Station crew, and is expected to launch in March 2018. This will be his second spaceflight. “I join in wishing my fellow Terp, Astronaut Arnold, the best of luck on his upcoming spaceflight,” said Congressman Hoyer. “I’m very proud that an impressive Marylander such as Astronaut Arnold will be representing the United States on this upcoming mission. I look forward to learning more about the important research that he and his fellow astronauts will conduct during their time on the International Space Station, and I wish them success on their upcoming flight.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hoyer.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2892,Hoyer Statement on Passage of Short-Term Legislation to Fund the Government,2017-12-07,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Steny Hoyer,H000874,hoyer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement today after the House of Representatives passed legislation to fund the government for two weeks: “Congress should be able to get its work done on time. While I am glad that Republicans in Congress did not shut down the government, it is inexcusable that Republicans have spent the past three months working on a bill to cut taxes for the wealthiest individuals instead of working with Democrats to responsibly fund the government. “It is disappointing that we need another continuing resolution to fund the government – a result of Republicans wasting time on a bill that would raise taxes on thousands of families in Maryland and add $1.7 trillion to the national debt. Enough is enough – I urge my Republican colleagues to work in a bipartisan manner to fund the government and address the most pressing issues facing our nation, including passing the DREAM Act and reauthorizing the Children’s Health Insurance Program.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://raskin.house.gov/media/in-the-news/democrats-ask-kushner-if-he-sought-help-abroad-towe,Democrats Ask Kushner If He Sought Help Abroad for Towe,2017-12-07,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,,,legacy,"A group of Democratic lawmakers has sent a letter to White House Senior Adviser Jared Kushner asking if since the election of his father-in-law Donald Trump he has discussed with foreigners the financing of a Manhattan office tower owned by his family. The letter says the legislators are concerned Kushner has held a senior government post “while possibly seeking massive cash bailouts for 666 Fifth Avenue from foreign nationals or foreign entities.” It was signed by 13 Democratic lawmakers, including Ted Lieu, of California, Jamie Raskin of Maryland, and Brendan Boyle, of Pennsylvania.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://raskin.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-raskin-announces-2017-congressional-app-challenge-winners-md-08,Rep. Raskin Announces 2017 Congressional App Challenge Winners for MD-08,2017-12-07,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,,,legacy,"(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Representative Jamie Raskin (MD-08) announced the winners of his 2017 Congressional App Challenge today: a team of Montgomery Blair High School students, William Wang and Kevin Higgs, who won for their submission, “Keyster.” The Congressional App Challenge began in 2014 as an effort to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and to encourage students to learn coding and computer science skills. Students in participating congressional districts compete against their peers by creating original software applications (“apps”). Applicants competed to win prizes, including a $250 Amazon Web Services credit that can be used toward the cost of hosting their app, and to have their work displayed in the Capitol Building. Winners from across the country will be recognized at the House of Code reception next spring in Washington, D.C. to demonstrate their app to Members of Congress and staff. This year’s winners, William and Kevin, describe their impressively useful app Keyster as a password manager to help people secure their online accounts. The students noted that four in five people reuse passwords across multiple platforms, which means that when one account is hacked, other accounts using the same password are also compromised. Keyster aims to minimize this risk this by “generating a unique password for every account that, unlike other password managers, is never stored anywhere on your computers or our servers.” Runner-up, Jason Maa, who is also a student at Montgomery Blair High School, was selected for his app, “Chattering With Me.” He described his app as “a simple, gimmick-free chatroom” without all the excess features included in most other messaging services. “I wanted to make a messenger that functioned with as little overhead as possible,” Mas explained, “while still functioning effectively as a messaging app that could be accessed from both PC and mobile.” “It is a singular honor to represent Maryland’s 8th District, which is home to so many talented and inspired students, as evidenced by the many excellent entries submitted in this year’s Congressional App Challenge,” said Raskin. “I commend all of the student coders who submitted such innovative and creative apps, and I want to say thank you to all of the family members and educators who support these wonderful students.” **** Congressman Jamie Raskin represents Maryland’s 8th Congressional District, which includes Montgomery, Frederick, and Carroll counties. He is the Vice Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, a Senior Democratic Whip, and Freshman Representative to the House Democratic Steering & Policy Committee. He also serves on the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee and the Committee on House Administration.  He has been a professor of constitutional law at American University’s Washington College of Law for more than 25 years.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/democratic-lawmakers-press-oversight-of-trump-administration,Democratic Lawmakers Press Oversight of Trump Administration,2017-12-07,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"Reps. Raskin, Cummings and John Sarbanes, D-Towson, responded with other Democratic colleagues in a June letter to the General Services Administration, condemning the withholding of information.... ""Although you may wish to limit oversight from Democratic members of Congress through a misguided policy that responds only to Republican chairmen, compliance with federal law is not an optional exercise that may be overridden by a new Trump administration policy,"" the congressmen insisted.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/sarbanes-seeks-additional-chesapeake-bay-funds,Sarbanes Seeks Additional Chesapeake Bay Funds,2017-12-07,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"Third District Representative John Sarbanes (D-Md.) has signed on as co-sponsor of a bill to expand funding for cleanup efforts on the Chesapeake Bay.... “This bill is mostly about securing additional funding,” Sarbanes said. “It would refocus the way dollars are directed on to regional and local programs, not so much national programs.” ... Known as the Chesapeake Bay Farm Bill Enhancements Act of 2017 (H.R.4420), the legislation aims to minimize agricultural runoff within the bay’s watershed. As an extension of the Farm Bill which Congress must re-authorize every five years, Sarbanes seeks to triple the funding to $300 million for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), a multi-state partnership including Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/new-report-shows-republicans-admitting-that-tax-bill-is-primarily-for,New Report Shows Republicans Admitting that Tax Bill Is Primarily for Their Wealthy Donors,2017-12-07,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Democracy Reform Task Force Chair Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today released a new mini-report, “Republicans Take Truth Serum: The GOP Is Accidentally Telling the Truth about Their Tax Scam.” The report shows that as the GOP-led House and Senate race forward to pass their tax plan, some Republican Members of Congress and conservative ideologues are admitting that the bill is largely a gift for their wealthy donors. “Republican Members of Congress are spilling the beans about their tax scam,” said Democracy Reform Task Force Chair Rep. John Sarbanes. “President Trump and Congressional Republicans claim that this bill will benefit the middle class, but in a moment of jarring honesty, quite a few Republicans are confessing that it’s really for their wealthy donors and politically connected rent-seekers.” Sarbanes continued, “This tax bill is more evidence that the wealthy and well-connected are poisoning our government and our politics in ways that harm the American people. We need to put people’s interests ahead of special interests. It’s time for government of, by and for the people.” Report highlights include: Republicans are feeling pressure to pass their tax scam because, as Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.) said, “My donors are basically saying, ‘Get it done or don’t ever call me again.’” (Source) Rep. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.) said the bill is “fundamentally a corporate tax reduction,” but that it’s being sold as a middle-class tax cut because Republicans are scared of the bill “being labeled as what might be best for [President Trump].” (Source) If Republicans don’t pass their $1.5 trillion giveaway to the donor class, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said, “financial contributions will stop.” (Source) See here for a full copy of the report. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sarbanes-calls-out-epa-administrator-pruitt-s-conflicts-of-interest-and,Sarbanes Calls Out EPA Administrator Pruitts Conflicts of Interest and Ethical Lapses [Video],2017-12-07,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a Subcommittee on Environment hearing today, Democracy Reform Task Force Chair Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) questioned EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt about his secret meetings with industry polluters. Below is a written excerpt from their exchange. Sarbanes: “On April 26, you met with Southern Power, one of the nation’s largest coal-burning utilities, and had dinner with Alliance Resource Partners, a major coal mining company. Is that also correct?” Pruitt: “If that’s what the calendar reflects.” Sarbanes: “I think that’s what the calendar shows. Since then, the EPA has announced that the agency will consider rolling back rules that protect mining communities from toxic coal ash. An Alliance Resource Partners CEO donated almost $2 million to elect the President.” “I’m not mentioning this stuff as a gotcha thing,” Sarbanes continued. “I’m mentioning it because it really makes a lot of Americans anxious when you consider the conflict of interest that this suggests.”   See below for video of the full exchange. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sarbanes-presses-epa-administrator-to-keep-commitments-to-protect-the,Sarbanes Presses EPA Administrator Pruitt to Keep Commitments to Protect the Chesapeake Bay [Video],2017-12-07,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Sarbanes,S001168,sarbanes.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a Subcommittee on Environment hearing today, Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) grilled EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt about his failure to protect the Chesapeake Bay Program. During Administrator Pruitt’s January confirmation hearing, he promised to maintain his agency’s commitment to the Chesapeake Bay Program, which has helped improve the health and vitality of the Bay over the last 34 years. To date, Secretary Pruitt has remained silent as the Trump Administration aims to cut Bay Program funding by 93 percent. “What I’m looking for is a follow through on the original commitment that you made in the sense of fighting back inside the administration and saying programs like the Chesapeake Bay Program are valuable and the funding needs to be there,” said Congressman Sarbanes. “It appears under your leadership that that commitment is being zeroed out.” See below for a full video of the Congressman’s remarks. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-statement-on-senator-frankens-resignation,Cardin Statement on Senator Franken’s Resignation,2017-12-07,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 07, 2017 Cardin Statement on Senator Franken’s Resignation WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), released the following statement in response to Senator Al Franken’s announcement that he would resign in the coming weeks. “Senator Franken has done what Americans expect from their public servants – he put his constituents, the people he was elected to serve, first. I took the allegations against Senator Franken very seriously. As he said, ‘all women deserve to be heard and their experiences taken seriously.’ The women of this country deserve to be heard – not only those who garner spotlights and headlines, but all women. All women deserve respect. I hope that other men who have acted inappropriately against women, some in elected office and others hoping to be there some day, will take heed of Senator Franken’s actions and also take responsibility for their own transgressions.”  ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-van-hollen-announce-5-million-for-umd-cybersecurity-scholarships_,"Cardin, Van Hollen Announce $5 Million for UMD Cybersecurity Scholarships",2017-12-07,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 07, 2017 Cardin, Van Hollen Announce $5 Million for UMD Cybersecurity Scholarships WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) today announced that University of Maryland (UMD) College Park has been awarded a $5,046,316 grant by the National Science Foundation (NSF) for the CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service Program. This funding will provide scholarships and internship opportunities for 36 students in UMD’s Advanced Cybersecurity Experience for Students (ACES) Program, the first undergraduate honors program in cybersecurity in the United States. The ACES Program aims to meet the challenge of educating the students for the cyber workforce through a unique, multidisciplinary education. The University of Maryland is a National Security Agency Center of Academic Excellence in Research. “Maryland is at the epicenter of cyber technology innovation. These funds will help our state continue that trend of excellence and ensure that the University of Maryland is able to keep training a technologically savvy workforce with the skills to meet our national security challenges,” said Senator Cardin. “I’ll fight to ensure that every student, in every corner of Maryland, receives the resources they need to thrive and pursue well-paying jobs.” “Now more than ever we need to adequately prepare our students for the jobs of the future. Fortunately for Marylanders, UMD is leading this charge,” said Senator Van Hollen. “This funding will prepare Maryland’s best and brightest to compete for opportunities in the cyber sector and will help grow our state’s cyber workforce. I’m proud to see this well-deserved recognition of UMD’s ACES program, and I will continue to support efforts to improve Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education and create good paying jobs across our state.”      CyberCorps: Scholarship For Service is a unique program designed to increase and strengthen the cadre of federal information assurance professionals that protect the government's critical information infrastructure. This program provides scholarships that may fully fund the typical costs incurred by full-time students while attending a participating institution, including tuition and education and related fees. Additionally, participants receive stipends of $22,500 for undergraduate students and $34,000 for graduate students. The scholarships are funded through grants awarded by the National Science Foundation. The NSF is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 ""to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare and to secure the national defense.”  The NSF is the funding source for approximately 24 percent of all federally supported basic research conducted by America's colleges and universities. In many fields such as mathematics, computer science and the social sciences, NSF is the major source of federal backing. ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-welcomes-wh-engagement-on-yemen-as-millions-continue-to-be-at-risk-of-starvation,Cardin Welcomes W.H. Engagement on Yemen as Millions Continue to be at Risk of Starvation,2017-12-07,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 07, 2017 Cardin Welcomes W.H. Engagement on Yemen as Millions Continue to be at Risk of Starvation WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Thursday related to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen: “I am relieved that the White House is finally engaged on the crisis in Yemen.  The humanitarian crisis in Yemen has been tragically, needlessly exacerbated in recent weeks by the closure of ports of entry into Yemen and blockades of both humanitarian aid and commercial imports.  I agree with President Trump’s statement yesterday that the Government of Saudi Arabia must take immediate steps to allow food, fuel, water, and medicine to reach Yemeni civilians. “The blockade has left millions of people without fuel, reliable access to medicine, and exacerbated a food crisis that has lefts millions of innocent men, women and children at risk of famine. While the Saudi-led Coalition’s efforts to partially open ports of entry are an important step, there is much more that can be done.  Ships carrying fuel must be granted clearance to access all ports so that food can be prepared and transported, and generators can operate to provide health, water, and sewage treatment systems.  Aid workers must be provided quickly with visas and unhindered access must be guaranteed to all civilian areas. Blocking access of journalists to Yemen must also end immediately. “The escalation in fighting and air strikes, particularly in Sanaa, is forcing humanitarian organizations to reduce their staff presence, blocking access to humanitarian warehouses, and preventing emergency relief from reaching civilians in desperate need.  I call on all parties to this to conflict to take immediate steps to facilitate the movement of humanitarian relief and commercial goods.” ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/rep-harris-speaks-favor-concealed-carry-reciprocity,Rep. Harris Speaks In Favor of Concealed Carry Reciprocity,2017-12-06,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,MD,Andy Harris,H001052,harris.house.gov,,,legacy,"15 East Churchville Road Suite 102B Bel Air, MD 21014 By Appointment Only Phone: 410-588-5670 Fax: 410-588-5673",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/us-house-representatives-passes-concealed-carry-reciprocity-act,U.S. House of Representatives Passes Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act,2017-12-06,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,MD,Andy Harris,H001052,harris.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC: On December 6, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. The legislation allows concealed carry permit holders to carry a concealed handgun into or possess a concealed handgun in another state that allows concealed carry. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) released the following statement in support of the legislation: “The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act is common sense legislation that will only make our country safer. Every state in the Union has now adopted a concealed carry law. More than 12 million citizens have carry permits. And yet, the nation’s violent crime rate has fallen by 51 percent and hit a 43 year low. The Second Amendment helps keep Americans safe. It’s time for our federal government to secure the Constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to conceal carry across state lines.” ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hoyer.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2890,Hoyer Announces Winners of the Fourth Annual Fifth District Congressional App Challenge,2017-12-06,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Steny Hoyer,H000874,hoyer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC– Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) announced the winners of the Fourth Annual Fifth District Congressional App Challenge. Ian Barnes of Gwynn Park High School won first place with his app, “Break Ball.” Ian’s app is a strategy brick breaking game. Destini Brown of Gwynn Park High School won second place with her app, “How Are You Feeling?” Her app was designed to help autistic children address their emotions. Afe Addeh of Eleanor Roosevelt High School won third place with her app, “Career Finder.” Her app helps high school students identify which career might be most suitable for them. “This year’s submissions for the fourth annual App Challenge were extremely impressive, and I congratulate all students who participated,” said Congressman Hoyer. “I’m pleased to announce the winners from Maryland’s Fifth District – Ian, Destini, and Afe. These students put a lot of time and energy into creating their apps, and I applaud them for their hard work and creativity. The skills they’ve learned and used in this competition will serve them well in their future endeavors.” The Congressional App Challenge, established by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2013, is a nationwide event that invites students from all participating Congressional districts to compete, either individually or in a group of up to four, by creating and presenting an original software application, or “app,” for a mobile, tablet, or computer platform of their choice. The contest, modeled off the long-successful Congressional Art Competition, is designed to promote innovation and engagement in the STEM education fields. High school students who live in or are eligible to attend public schools located in Maryland’s Fifth Congressional District were invited to join the Fifth District App Challenge, and the winning app will be placed on display in the U.S. Capitol alongside winners from across the country.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://raskin.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-raskin-s-25th-amendment-bill-gains-momentum-garners-50-cosponsors,"Rep. Raskins 25th Amendment Bill Gains Momentum, Garners 50 Cosponsors",2017-12-06,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Jamie Raskin,R000606,raskin.house.gov,,,legacy,"(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Representative Jamie Raskin’s 25th Amendment bill is picking up momentum in Congress. As of today, 50 cosponsors have signed on to the ‘Oversight Commission on Presidential Capacity Act’ (H.R. 1987), which will establish the Constitutionally-provided and Congressionally-appointed “body” we need to determine presidential capacity with the Vice President. Under Section 4 of the 25th Amendment, the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet or the Vice President and a majority of “such other body as Congress may by law provide” can determine in the event of a crisis that the President is “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office” due to physical or mental incapacity. Although the 25th Amendment was ratified more 50 years ago, Congress has so far not set up this body. President Trump’s recent behavior has triggered alarm across the political spectrum, among national security officials and diplomats, and within the medical and mental health communities. Last week, multiple media reports suggested that the President had “come unhinged.” Citing sources close to the President, the New York Times and the Washington Post last week reported that Trump sometimes seems to be inhabiting an alternate reality, which prompted a New York Magazine piece titled, “New Reports Suggest Trump Might Not Be a Liar at All, But Truly Delusional.” Other writers have detailed “Trump’s Rejection of Observable Reality”, asserted that “Trump Is Cracking Up” and wondered aloud: “Is Donald Trump Gaslighting Himself?”. A Washington Post opinion piece about Trump’s growing mental disorder summed up the situation: “This is getting worse.” “Since January, President Trump has thrown our country into chaos at every turn,” said Raskin. “For the security of our people and the safety of the Republic, we need to set up the ‘body’ called for in the 25th Amendment. The President can fire his entire Cabinet for asking the same question tens of millions of Americans are asking at their dinner tables, but he cannot fire Congress or the expert body we set up under the Constitution.  At a moment of unprecedented presidential chaos, the Oversight Commission on Presidential Capacity is essential, urgently needed and indispensable.” To learn more about the Oversight Commission on Presidential Capacity Act (OCPC Act), click here. A list of the Members of Congress who have already cosponsored the OCPC Act follows: Donald Beyer, Earl Blumenauer, Anthony Brown, Andre Carson, Joaquin Castro, Judy Chu, David Cicilline, Yvette Clarke, Wm. Lacy Clay, Steve Cohen, Peter DeFazio, John Delaney, Diana DeGette, Mark DeSaulnier, Lloyd Doggett, Keith Ellison, Adriano Espaillat, Dwight Evans, Al Green, Raul Grijalva, Luis Gutierrez, Colleen Hanabusa, Steny Hoyer, Jared Huffman, Sheila Jackson Lee, Pramila Jayapal, Hakeem Jeffries, Hank Johnson, Marcy Kaptur, Barbara Lee, Ted Lieu, Zoe Lofgren, Jim McGovern, Gwen Moore, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Jerry Nadler, Grace Napolitano, Donald Payne Jr., Ed Perlmutter, Mark Pocan, Jan Schakowsky, Bobby Scott, Carol Shea Porter, Louise Slaughter, Jackie Speier, Darren Soto, Mark Takano, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Bonnie Watson Coleman, and Peter Welch. **** Congressman Jamie Raskin represents Maryland’s 8th Congressional District, which includes Montgomery, Frederick, and Carroll counties. He is the Vice Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, a Senior Democratic Whip, and Freshman Representative to the House Democratic Steering & Policy Committee. He also serves on the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee and the Committee on House Administration.  He has been a professor of constitutional law at American University’s Washington College of Law for 27 years and has read the entire legislative history of the 25th Amendment.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-reacts-to-jerusalem-announcement-by-trump,Cardin Reacts to Jerusalem Announcement by Trump,2017-12-06,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 06, 2017 Cardin Reacts to Jerusalem Announcement by Trump WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Wednesday in reaction to President Trump’s announcement that the U.S. will recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and eventually relocate the American embassy there from Tel Aviv: “The President’s announcement today implements what Congress affirmed in 1995 with the passage of the Jerusalem Embassy Act:  Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Israel and the location of the U.S. Embassy should reflect this fact.  Going forward, it is critical that all religious and ethnic groups continue to have access to Jerusalem.  “I expect that in advance of the President’s announcement appropriate planning and precautions were taken to ensure the safety of U.S. personnel and facilities, and also that careful consideration and consultations focused on not exacerbating conflicts in a region already suffering from unprecedented levels of violence. “I look forward to learning more about the Administration’s plans for restarting direct negotiations for a just, sustainable two-state solution.” ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-cardin-announce-5-million-for-umd-cybersecurity-scholarships,"Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $5 Million for UMD Cybersecurity Scholarships",2017-12-06,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Chris Van Hollen,V000128,www.vanhollen.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 06, 2017 Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $5 Million for UMD Cybersecurity Scholarships U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today announced that University of Maryland (UMD) College Park has been awarded a $5,046,316 grant by the National Science Foundation (NSF) for the CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service Program. This funding will provide scholarships and internship opportunities for 36 students in UMD's Advanced Cybersecurity Experience for Students (ACES) Program, the first undergraduate honors program in cybersecurity in the United States.The ACES Program aims to meet the challenge of educating the students for the cyber workforce through a unique, multidisciplinary education. The University of Maryland is a National Security Agency Center of Academic Excellence in Research. ""Now more than ever we need to adequately prepare our students for the jobs of the future. Fortunately for Marylanders, UMD is leading this charge,"" said Senator Van Hollen. ""This funding will prepare Maryland's best and brightest to compete for opportunities in the cyber sector and will help grow our state's cyber workforce. I'm proud to see this well-deserved recognition of UMD's ACES program, and I will continue to support efforts to improve Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education and create good paying jobs across our state."" ""Maryland is at the epicenter of cyber technology innovation. These funds will help our state continue that trend of excellence and ensure that the University of Maryland is able to keep training a technologically savvy workforce with the skills to meet our national security challenges,"" said Senator Cardin. ""I'll fight to ensure that every student, in every corner of Maryland, receives the resources they need to thrive and pursue well-paying jobs."" CyberCorps: Scholarship For Service is a unique program designed to increase and strengthen the cadre of federal information assurance professionals that protect the government's critical information infrastructure. This program provides scholarships that may fully fund the typical costs incurred by full-time students while attending a participating institution, including tuition and education and related fees. Additionally, participants receive stipends of $22,500 for undergraduate students and $34,000 for graduate students. The scholarships are funded through grants awarded by the National Science Foundation. The NSF is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 ""to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare and to secure the national defense."" The NSF is the funding source for approximately 24 percent of all federally supported basic research conducted by America's colleges and universities. In many fields such as mathematics, computer science and the social sciences, NSF is the major source of federal backing. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-markey-collins-capito-introduce-legislation-to-extend-availability-of-new-alzheimers-semipostal-stamp,"Van Hollen, Markey, Collins, Capito Introduce Legislation to Extend Availability of New Alzheimers Semipostal Stamp",2017-12-06,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Chris Van Hollen,V000128,www.vanhollen.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 06, 2017 Van Hollen, Markey, Collins, Capito Introduce Legislation to Extend Availability of New Alzheimer's Semipostal Stamp Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.),today introduced legislation with to authorize the recently-released United States Postal Service Alzheimer's research stamp for an additional six years, providing more time to raise additional Alzheimer's research funds for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Senators made the announcement alongside U.S. Representatives Elijah Cummings (MD-07) and Maxine Waters (CA-43), who introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives earlier this year, at a press conference with Alzheimer's researchers and advocates. The group spoke about the importance of research funding to help end Alzheimer's, a progressive, neurological disease that affects more than five million Americans. ""Alzheimer's causes immeasurable heartache to families across Maryland and our country, and over the years I've fought to increase funding for critical research,""said Senator Van Hollen.""I'm proud to join Senator Markey and Maryland advocate Kathy Siggins today in announcing legislation to direct the Postal Service to continue the stamp beyond the current planned two years. Whether it's sending holiday packages or mailing a letter to a friend, every dollar we put towards Alzheimer's research can help make a difference."" ""While we've made significant progress in our fight against Alzheimer's, we need continued research investments through the National Institutes of Health to help us end this disease,"" said Senator Markey. ""This stamp will help us achieve that, but we need more than two years that the Postal Service has dedicated to build upon the momentum that this stamp will create. The issuance of this stamp gives me a renewed hope that, as the stamp art depicts, we will continue to bring Alzheimer's out of the darkness and into the light. And together, we will find a cure."" ""Alzheimer's is an irreversible disease that slowly robs people of their memories, their identities, and their ability to care for themselves,"" said Rep. Cummings. ""That's why this stamp is so important-it will enable Americans everywhere who are touched by Alzheimer's to make a contribution to help us win the fight against it. The Breast Cancer stamp issued nearly 20 years ago has raised more than $86 million to fight that disease, and I am confident that the Alzheimer's stamp can be just as effective in supporting Alzheimer's research."" ""In addition to the human suffering it causes, Alzheimer's is our nation's costliest disease. As the founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's, I strongly advocated for the $1.8 billion for Alzheimer's research that was included in the proposed funding bill for the upcoming fiscal year,"" said Senator Collins. ""By allowing Americans to continue to purchase Alzheimer's research stamps, our legislation will promote additional funding for the NIH to help combat this devastating disease."" ""The new stamp recently released by the U.S. Postal Service will be another source of funding for critically important Alzheimer's research. By making that stamp available for an even longer period of time, we can further strengthen our efforts to fight Alzheimer's,"" said Senator Capito. ""We have a long way to go in a fight that means so much to so many, and this bipartisan legislation is another step forward in finding a cure to this devastating disease."" ""I am so proud that the Postal Service has heeded our call and established an Alzheimer's stamp. I am also proud that my Senate colleagues are introducing a Senate companion to my bill, in order to make this stamp available for six years instead of two,"" said Congresswoman Waters. A copy of the legislation can he found HERE. Today at the press conference, Dr. John Lazo and Dr. Beth Sharlow, Alzheimer's researchers at the University of Virginia, highlighted the importance of building upon recent developments in Alzheimer's research. Advocates Kathy Siggins of Maryland, Caitlin Moran of Washington, D.C., and Tom Misciagna of Virginia shared their personal experience with Alzheimer's disease and why the new Alzheimer's stamp is important to raise awareness about the disease and help enhance research funding. Senator Markey first introduced legislation to authorize the Alzheimer's research stamp in 2005 and has worked with Senate and House members every year to reintroduce this legislation. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-expresses-concern-about-the-political-crisis-in-honduras_,Cardin Expresses Concern about the Political Crisis in Honduras,2017-12-05,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 05, 2017 Cardin Expresses Concern about the Political Crisis in Honduras WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement Tuesday regarding the current political crisis in Honduras: “The reports by the Organization of American States and European Union election observation missions raise serious questions about the legitimacy of the Honduran presidential election, but also identify steps that must be taken to restore transparency and citizen confidence in a final result. The OAS and EU recommendations for a recount of nearly 5,200 tally sheets not transmitted on election night and the review of voter participation in three specific departments are legitimate requests that should be fully supported by the United States government and the international community. “It is time for the leading candidates to pursue a negotiated solution to the country’s political crisis that addresses the conditions that both sides need to recognize a final result. Failing to do so will betray the confidence that Hondurans have in their democracy and their fundamental rights to choose their next president. “I am also deeply concerned about the recent incidents of violence in Honduras, the imposition of a nationwide curfew, and the coercive tactics used against protesters by certain sectors of the Honduran security forces. Citizens must be guaranteed the freedom to peacefully express themselves.” ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-requests-gao-study-of-trump-changes-to-key-measure-of-carbon-pollution-cost,Cardin Requests GAO Study of Trump Changes to Key Measure of Carbon Pollution Cost,2017-12-05,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 05, 2017 Cardin Requests GAO Study of Trump Changes to Key Measure of Carbon Pollution Cost WASHINGTON – Seven Senators, including U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, have asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to examine the government’s method for calculating the social cost of carbon — the measure of long-term damage done by carbon pollution — after the Trump administration dramatically reduced estimates of the costs of climate change in recent actions. Using a lower estimate for the social cost of carbon could allow the administration to undermine a range of environmental regulations by exaggerating the compliance costs compared to the societal benefits of reduced carbon emissions. Senator Cardin, with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), made the request in a letter to the Comptroller General today. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump issued an executive order disbanding an important interagency working group charged with formulating the social cost of carbon and withdrew the guidance it had issued. The Trump administration also directed agencies to use an outdated Office of Management and Budget policy to monetize the value of greenhouse gas emissions from changes in federal regulation. The result has been a severe downtick in the value of the social cost of carbon. The Environmental Protection Agency’s assessment of its proposed rule to repeal the Clean Power Plan, for example, dropped the social cost of carbon from $45 per ton to as low as $1 per ton for 2020.  The Senators ask the GAO to look at states and other countries’ social costs of carbon; the Trump administration’s justification for dramatically changing the way it discounts the costs or benefits of regulation change affecting carbon pollution; and the rationales that have been used to support various discount rates in assessing the social cost of carbon. Full text of the Senators’ letter to the GAO is below. A PDF copy is available here.   December 5, 2017   The Honorable Gene L. Dodaro Comptroller General of the United States U.S. Government Accountability Office 441 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20548 Dear Mr. Dodaro: We write to ask the GAO analyze the social cost of carbon.  Various statutes, executive orders, and guidance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) direct federal agencies to analyze the benefits and costs of proposed regulations.  These regulatory impact analyses can also provide affected entities, agencies, Congress, and the public with important information about the potential effects of new regulations. In 2008, a federal appeals court held that the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration violated the Energy Policy and Conservation Act by failing to include in its cost-benefit analysis of fuel economy standards for light trucks the benefits of carbon emission reduction.  The court noted that monetized estimates existed of the social cost of carbon (SCC)—the dollar value of the net damages of an increase in emissions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.  In 2009, in part because agencies used varying SCC estimates, the White House convened an interagency working group to develop SCC estimates for government use, and it issued final estimates in a 2010 guidance document.  Since then, the working group has issued revised estimates on several occasions and also developed estimates for damages from an increase in emissions of methane and nitrous oxide, which are also greenhouse gases.  Federal courts have upheld agencies’ use of these SCC estimates.  In addition, the National Academies has recommended improvements to the working group’s process, including by updating SCC estimates roughly every five years to remain consistent with the current state of scientific knowledge. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported in 2014 that, in developing the original estimates, the working group used consensus-based decision making, relied largely on existing academic literature and models, and took steps to disclose limitations and incorporate new information.[1] In 2014, GAO also issued a report on environmental regulations and recommended that OMB should consider clarifying the relationship between the working group’s guidance document and OMB Circular A-4, which provides direction to federal agencies for systematic evaluation of benefits and costs.[2] In March 2017, Executive Order 13783 disbanded the working group and withdrew SCC guidance documents as no longer representative of governmental policy.  The order directs agencies to be consistent with OMB Circular A-4 when monetizing the value of changes in greenhouse gas emissions resulting from regulations.  As a result, the Environmental Protection Agency’s draft regulatory impact analysis for its proposed rule that would repeal the Clean Power Plan includes revised values reducing the SCC from approximately $45 per ton to as low as $1 per ton for 2020 (both figures in 2011 dollars). We request that GAO build on its past work on this topic.  In particular, we would like GAO to answer the following questions: To what extent have individual states developed and/or used estimates for the SCC; what have been the differences, if any, in these estimates and uses? To what extent have other countries developed and/or used estimates for the SCC; what have been the differences, if any, in these estimates and uses? To what extent have estimates been developed and/or used for the social cost of other greenhouse gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide? What justification did the Trump administration use to support its change from a default discount rate of 3% for climate -focused regulations to 7%?  What rationales have been advanced to support the use of various discount rates in assessing the social cost of carbon?  To the extent that discount rates are based on evolving factors like interest rates and economic growth rates, should they be periodically reevaluated? Please contact Aaron Goldner (Senator Whitehouse) at (202) 224-2921 to discuss in detail the specific scope of work and timelines for completing this request. Thank you in advance for your consideration. ### [1] GAO, Regulatory Impact Analysis: Development of Social Cost of Carbon Estimates, GAO-14-663 (Washington, D.C.: July. 24, 2014). [2] GAO, Environmental Regulation: EPA Should Improve Adherence to Guidance for Selected Elements of Regulatory Impact Analyses, GAO-14-519 (Washington, D.C.: July. 18, 2014).  Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/in-letter-to-state-dept-cardin-and-young-express-concerns-about-reorganization-effort,"In Letter to State Dept., Cardin and Young Express Concerns About Reorganization Effort",2017-12-05,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Benjamin Cardin,C000141,www.cardin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 05, 2017 In Letter to State Dept., Cardin and Young Express Concerns About Reorganization Effort Foreign Relations Committee Members Call for Greater Transparency with Congress and Immediate Lifting of the Department’s Hiring Freeze WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) sent a bipartisan letter to Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan Tuesday expressing concerns regarding reorganization efforts within the Department of State and their impact on our country’s diplomatic capacity and national security.  Both senators serve as members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, with Cardin serving as the Ranking Member.  “We share a goal of improving the Department’s efficiency and effectiveness, and stand ready to work together where possible. In that vein, we have significant concerns regarding the effect of the “redesign” effort on our country’s diplomatic capacity and national security. Based on those concerns, we write to request that the Department of State reassess the assumptions guiding the reform effort, end its counter-productive hiring freeze, and strengthen its transparency with Congress,” the Senators wrote. They continued, “We look forward to hearing from you and want to work in full partnership with you and the Secretary of State to promote American interests and values around the globe.” To read the full letter, see below or click here. Dear Deputy Secretary Sullivan: We share a goal of improving the Department’s efficiency and effectiveness, and stand ready to work together where possible.  In that vein, we have significant concerns regarding the effect of the “redesign” effort on our country’s diplomatic capacity and national security.  Based on those concerns, we write to request that the Department of State reassess the assumptions guiding the reform effort, end its counter-productive hiring freeze, and strengthen its transparency with Congress.  Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Department is critical to our national security given the myriad challenges our nation faces. Reforms to information technology, human resources, and procurement systems are long overdue, and we support your efforts to streamline Special Envoy and Special Representative positions. We hope that you consider Congress as a partner in these endeavors, as well as broader efforts to strengthen America’s diplomatic capabilities.   At the same time, we are deeply concerned about recent developments at the Department of State that are adversely affecting America’s Foreign Service and Civil Service professionals and putting our nation’s ability to carry out diplomacy at risk, including the impact of the Department’s ongoing hiring freeze, proposed budget cuts, and reorganization efforts. We noted with interest Secretary Tillerson’s response to some of these concerns last week at the Wilson Center. Based on his comments, we offer two observations. First, in suggesting that success in some conflict areas will reduce the overall need for America’s diplomatic resources, he said, “part of this bringing the budget numbers back down is reflective of an expectation that we’re going to have success in some of these conflict areas of getting these conflicts resolved and moving to a different place in terms of the kind of support that we have to give them.”  There is no doubt our Department of State professionals have been working diligently to achieve progress.  However, we see no evidence that there will be a decline in the need for our nation’s diplomatic capabilities. On the contrary—in virtually every region of the world—we see the need for capable and effective American leadership and diplomacy increasing. If history teaches us anything, it should humble us in our confidence to predict what new challenges or crises will lie ahead for our nation. However, we can say with confidence that these challenges and crises will require America to employ optimized and well-resourced defense, development, and diplomacy tools. Even if the many conflicts we confront today will subside or conclude soon—which we do not believe—it is important to remember the essential role of our diplomats before, during, and after conflicts. Effective diplomacy can prevent and shorten conflict, reduce American sacrifices during conflict, and consolidate gains after a conflict concludes. Indeed, reductions in our nation’s diplomatic capabilities will tragically and predictably increase the frequency, duration, and severity of America’s conflicts.  We also see no reduction in the need for the essential role our diplomats play in facilitating trade and investment opportunities for American businesses abroad, promoting human rights, addressing new security concerns, and strengthening America’s alliances that serve as an indispensable foundation for our national security and prosperity. If anything, the challenges of the twenty-first century make these capabilities even more important. It is for these reasons that we are concerned that the administration’s April 2017 decision related to hiring freezes did not extend to the Department of State. We are seeing a dramatic reduction in the intake of new State Department personnel and a limit on transfers, promotions, and moves that enable these professionals to further their careers. We worry about the short and long-term consequences of these developments, and we urge you to immediately rescind the hiring freeze. Second, at the Wilson Center, Secretary Tillerson also said he wanted to ensure that discussions related to the administration’s “redesign” are rooted in facts.  We share that desire.  That is one of the reasons why the administration must enhance its transparency with Congress regarding Department of State and USAID reform and reorganization efforts.  The few briefings that have occurred have provided little additional insight into the “redesign” efforts and raised more questions than they have answered.  Optimal and durable reform is best achieved when the executive and legislative branches work together in a transparent manner.  We understand that working with Congress can be slow and frustrating, but historic reforms will not be achieved fully without the Constitution’s Article I branch of government.  Reforms conducted without Congress, or in opposition to the will of Congress, will be small-scale, temporary, or both.  For these reasons, we respectfully request that the Department of State reassess the assumptions guiding the “redesign” effort, end the hiring freeze, and improve its transparency with Congress.  More specifically, we request that the Department provide as soon as possible a detailed member-level update on the reform and reorganization effort. We look forward to hearing from you and want to work in full partnership with you and the Secretary of State to promote American interests and values around the globe. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/joining-hundreds-of-thousands-of-advocates-and-patients-van-hollen-senate-democrats-demand-trump-administration-reinstate-birth-control-coverage-for-millions-of-women,"Joining Hundreds of Thousands of Advocates and Patients, Van Hollen, Senate Democrats Demand Trump Administration Reinstate Birth Control Coverage for Millions of Women",2017-12-05,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Chris Van Hollen,V000128,www.vanhollen.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 05, 2017 Joining Hundreds of Thousands of Advocates and Patients, Van Hollen, Senate Democrats Demand Trump Administration Reinstate Birth Control Coverage for Millions of Women Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined a letter led by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), calling on Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services Eric Hargan to rescind President Trump's interim final rules (IFRs) issued on October 13, 2017 which enables employers and universities to interfere with their employees' and students' access to preventive health care by allowing them to choose not to cover birth control for religious or moral reasons. In the letter, senators highlighted the enormous economic benefit of requiring health plans to cover preventive services, including birth control for women, without out-of-pocket costs. ""This requirement has helped 62.4 million women have coverage for birth control. As a result, they have been able to make decisions about their reproductive health care that strengthen their economic standing and allow them to decide if and when to start families,"" wrote the senators. ""These IFRs also allow employers and insurance companies to once again discriminate against women by requiring them to pay more for the health care they need compared to their male counterparts."" The senators also noted that repealing the birth control mandate goes against the original intentions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which created explicit provisions to guarantee women access to preventive services. ""Congress specifically included the Women's Health Amendment in the ACA to ensure that the legislation would end the ""punitive practices of insurances companies that charge women more and give [them] less in a benefit"" by guaranteeing women access to preventive services,"" said senators. ""The IFRs fail to recognize this clear congressional intent to place medical experts' recommendations over political ideology."" In addition to Senators Murray and Van Hollen, the letter was signed by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Christopher S. Murphy (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jack Reed (D-RI), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Al Franken (D-MN), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Cory A. Booker (D-NJ), Gary C. Peters (D-MI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Michael F. Bennet (D-CO), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Jon Tester (D-MT), Jeff A. Merkley (D-OR), and Robert P. Casey Jr. (D-PA). Full text of letter below and PDF can be found HERE: December 5, 2017 The Honorable Eric D. Hargan Acting Secretary U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20201 Dear Acting Secretary Hargan, We write to strongly oppose the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury's interim final rules (IFRs) published on Friday October 13, 2017.[1] The IFRs allow employers and universities to interfere with their employees' and students' access to necessary, preventive health care and to roll back policies that have protected women's health and rights, as well as saved women billions of dollars over the past five years.Instead of reversing this significant progress for women - which it did without appropriate input from the public -the Trump Administration should reinstate the protections that allow women to control their own health care and economic security. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health plans are required to cover preventive services, including birth control for women, without out-of-pocket costs. This requirement has helped 62.4 million women have coverage for birth control.[2] As a result, they have been able to make decisions about their reproductive health care that strengthen their economic standing and allow them to decide if and when to start families. Contrary to claims in the background section of the IFRs, Congress was abundantly clear that to fulfill the goals of ensuring comprehensive coverage of preventive care, better health for women, equality for women, and ending discrimination against women in health care, it intended to increase access to preventive care, including contraception, for women. Congress specifically included the Women's Health Amendment in the ACA to ensure that the legislation would end the ""punitive practices of insurances companies that charge women more and give [them] less in a benefit"" by guaranteeing women access to preventive services.[3] In including this provision in the law, Congress sought to advance women's access to health care, promote equality for women in health care, and advance women's social and economic status.[4] Ensuring access to cost-free preventive services for women, including screening for cancer and HIV, helps to remove barriers that can prevent women from getting the care they need. Additionally, Congress understood that cost-free preventive health care services for women, including contraception, would decrease maternal mortality, reduce unintended pregnancies and pregnancy related complications, and also protect children's health and well-being by ensuring that women become pregnant when they are healthy and able to care for a child.[5] Congress made the specific decision to rely on the expertise of the federal regulatory agencies in implementing the ACA. When the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) ultimately recommended coverage of birth control and related services, it effectuated Congress's intent. Congress's reliance on HRSA and the use of expert committees to determine the specific services and contraceptive methods to be covered does not detract from Congress's clear intent to provide for contraceptive coverage. To the contrary, this process ensured that medical experts determined the necessary benefits and services that would appropriately implement Congress's goals. The IFRs fail to recognize this clear congressional intent to place medical experts' recommendations over political ideology. The IFRs offer justification for their sweeping exemptions by pointing to other statutory exemptions passed by Congress, as well as the ACA's ""grandfathering"" provision. However, the majority of the statutory exemptions cited are not pertinent to insurance coverage, contraception, or the ACA.The Departments misconstrue these statutes to imply that Congress not only intended this broad exemption to the ACA's contraceptive coverage requirement, but also that the Departments have authority to create such a sweeping exemption.Neither is true. Moreover, the grandfathering provision of the ACA is a temporary means for transitioning employers to full compliance, not an exemption. By creating far-reaching exemptions to the requirement to include cost-free coverage for contraceptives, the IFRs are taking a huge step back in guaranteeing women have access to important preventive services. Ultimately, the IFRs allow employers - including large, for-profit entities - to claim a religious or moral objection to their employees having coverage for birth control and allow employers to deny individual employees coverage for necessary health care otherwise guaranteed by law. The rules also permit universities to deny access to birth control coverage for their students and insurance companies to refuse to cover birth control at all. The result of these changes is to allow employers and universities to apply their own religious or moral beliefs to deprive women of a benefit that is both central to women's equity and guaranteed to them by law. These drastic changes to women's access to health care are part of a troubling history of women being denied ownership of their own health care decisions - a history that has had a disastrous resurgence under the Trump Administration. These IFRs also allow employers and insurance companies to once again discriminate against women by requiring them to pay more for the health care they need compared to their male counterparts. In creating these sweeping exemptions that block birth control coverage for women and discriminate against them - without authority and in violation of clear Congressional intent and regulatory requirements - the IFRs violate constitutional and statutory provisions, including the Establishment Clause and equal protection and due process guarantees of the U.S. Constitution, and the non-discrimination provision of the Affordable Care Act. By publishing these as Interim Final Rules, which went into effect immediately, the Departments failed to give the public an opportunity to weigh in on a policy which will impact millions of women and families, in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act. The IFRs claim that, despite the significant restrictions they impose, birth control is still readily accessible and that other federal government programs cover costs for low-income women. The IFRs fail to acknowledge that the Trump Administration has been actively working to undermine and dismantle a number of programs, including Medicaid and Title X, that assist low-income women in accessing birth control. For example, each Trumpcare bill this year has proposed a dramatic restructuring of the Medicaid program that would result in significant coverage losses for low-income women.President Trump has also signed legislation that undermines provider protections in the Title X family planning program and threatens to reduce the number of providers in the program.[6] The Trump Administration cannot claim these programs will cover the costs of contraception coverage for women who will lose coverage because of the IFRs while simultaneously working to undermine them. By instituting broad exemptions and no guarantee that women have another way to get coverage, these IFRs would undermine access to comprehensive birth control coverage. Rather than taking yet another destructive action to undermine health care, the Trump Administration should rescind these IFRs in their entirety. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-urges-epa-to-protect-strong-fuel-economy-standards,Van Hollen Urges EPA to Protect Strong Fuel Economy Standards,2017-12-05,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,Chris Van Hollen,V000128,www.vanhollen.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 05, 2017 Van Hollen Urges EPA to Protect Strong Fuel Economy Standards Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), in calling on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt to not weaken light-duty vehicle emissions standards for model 2022 through 2025 and strenuously object to revisiting emissions standards for model year 2021, which were never supposed to be part of the EPA's midterm evaluation. Since reaching an historic agreement with the Obama administration and state leaders, the auto industry has gone from the brink of economic disaster to record auto sales in 2015 and 2016, including adding 700,000 U.S. jobs. The average fuel efficiency of vehicles has already gone up five miles per gallon, saving drivers nearly $35 billion. The EPA has found that the net benefits of the fuel economy standards are nearly $100 billion and would reduce oil consumption by 1.2 billion barrels. ""We urge you not to weaken these vehicle emissions standards, and allow the auto industry to ensure its continued success and further its innovation while maintaining a standard that brings clear public health, climate, and consumer benefits,"" write the Senators in their letter to the EPA. ""As you move to reevaluate the sound technical conclusions your agency reached last year in the mid-term evaluation, we expect you will consider the facts, the science, and the law, which all lead to the single conclusion that the standards are achievable."" A copy of the letter can be found HERE. Other Senators signing the letter include Al Franken (D-Minn.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash,), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.). ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delaney.house.gov/news/blogs/on-the-house-floor-this-week-12417,On the House Floor This Week - 12/4/17,2017-12-04,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,MD,John Delaney,D000620,delaney.house.gov,,,legacy,"The House of Representatives is in session this week. The legislative schedule, including which bills are brought to the floor for a vote, is set by Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy. To contact my office about the legislation we’re considering this week, please contact my office at 202-225-2721 or by clicking here.   MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017 On Monday, the House will meet at 6:00 p.m. for legislative business, with first votes postponed until 6:30 p.m. **Members are advised that an additional vote series is expected to occur on Monday at approximately 8:00 p.m. Motion to go to Conference on H.R. 1 – GOP Tax bill, and Democratic Motion to Instruct Conferees TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017 On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for Morning Hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. Suspensions (7 bills) H.R. 3731 – Secret Service Recruitment and Retention Act of 2017, as amended (Rep. Katko – Judiciary) H.R. 3317 – SAFE Act (Rep. Trott – Judiciary) S. 1266 – Enhancing Veteran Care Act (Sen. Inhofe – Veterans’ Affairs) H.Res. 259 – Expressing concern and condemnation over the political, economic, social, and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela (Rep. DeSantis – Foreign Affairs) H.R. 2658 – Venezuela Humanitarian Assistance and Defense of Democratic Governance Act of 2017, as amended (Rep. Engel – Foreign Affairs) H.Con.Res. 90 – Condemning ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya and calling for an end to the attacks in and an immediate restoration of humanitarian access to the state of Rakhine in Burma (Rep. Crowley – Foreign Affairs) H.R. 1164 – Taylor Force Act (Rep. Lamborn – Foreign Affairs) WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK   On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for Morning Hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business.   H.R. 38 – Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 (Rep. Hudson – Judiciary) (Subject to a Rule)   H.R. 3971 – Community Institution Mortgage Relief Act of 2017 (Rep. Tenney – Financial Services) (Subject to a Rule)   H.R. 477 – Small Business Mergers, Acquisitions, Sales, and Brokerage Simplification Act of 2017 (Rep. Huizenga – Financial Services) (Subject to a Rule)   Consideration of Legislation Making Further Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2018",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://harris.house.gov/media/in-the-news/sf-talk-andy-harris-about-tax-bill-shush-fund-hill-steinle-verdict-flynn-plea,"S&F Talk With Andy Harris About the Tax Bill, Shush Fund on the Hill, Steinle Verdict & the Flynn Plea",2017-12-04,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,MD,Andy Harris,H001052,harris.house.gov,,,legacy,"15 East Churchville Road Suite 102B Bel Air, MD 21014 By Appointment Only Phone: 410-588-5670 Fax: 410-588-5673",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z