A Message From Congressman Sarbanes
I am proud to be leading the charge in Congress to limit the influence of Big Money on politics and government and amplify the voices of everyday Americans. Whether it’s the economy, energy and the environment, health care or any other critical issue, special interests and well-connected insiders are calling the shots in Washington. We need to return to a government of, by and for the people. That’s why I authored H.R. 1, the For the People Act, an historic reform bill that passed the U.S. House of Representatives on March 8th, 2019.
Updates
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The Sierra Club Maryland Chapter Endorses Sarbanes
February 11, 2020
I’m proud to earn the endorsement of the Sierra Club Maryland Chapter. In Congress, I remain committed to bold policies that #ActOnClimate and deliver environmental justice so that we can protect our environment — including treasures like the Chesapeake Bay — for our kids and grandkids. We have so much at stake and no time to waste.
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Sarbanes on Senate Acquittal of Trump
February 6, 2020
Yesterday, the corrupt jury that is the Republican-led Senate acquitted President Trump in a sham trial — a trial rushed along without witnesses, documents or impartial justice.
Despite their acknowledgement of President Trump’s reckless misconduct, all but one Republican Senator chose to put the President’s personal and political interests ahead of our country’s interests.
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In the News: Lawmakers: The US cannot afford another 10 years of Citizens United
January 21, 2020
Lawmakers: The US cannot afford another 10 years of Citizens United
Tom Udall and John Sarbanes, CNN (Op-Ed)Ten years ago, the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission unleashed a torrent of outside spending by corporations and wealthy donors who seized the opportunity to buy unlimited influence in Washington. The decision exponentially increased the amount of money in our politics and emboldened foreign actors to corrupt our elections. Our democracy has paid a heavy price.
Since the Citizens United decision, just 10 individuals have injected more than $1.2 billion into our elections, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Secret money groups have poured $963 million into ads without telling voters who paid for them. And Americans have no way of knowing how much foreign money has infiltrated our elections.
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In the News: Citizens United decision weathers 10 years of controversy
January 21, 2020
Citizens United decision weathers 10 years of controversy
Alex Gangitano, The HillA decade after the Supreme Court's landmark Citizens United decision, which ushered in the era of super PACs and unlimited donations, the fight over the contentious ruling shows no signs of easing.
The case upended the campaign finance system, after the justices in a 5-4 ruling authored by Justice Anthony Kennedy on Jan. 21, 2010 found that restrictions on corporate campaign spending violated free speech.
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Sarbanes, Matsui, Fortenberry Lead Bipartisan Effort to Help Homeowners Plant More Trees and Reduce Energy Costs
January 19, 2020
Today, Reps. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), John Sarbanes (D-Md.) and Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) introduced The Residential Energy and Economic Savings (TREES) Act, a bill to help homeowners lower energy costs, reduce stormwater runoff and mitigate the effects of climate change by planting more trees.
The bill creates a new Department of Energy (DOE) grant program that offers homeowners free or reduced-cost tree planting services to help shade homes, reduce energy use and tackle the climate crisis.