News

Senate Republicans blocked an effort by U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) to pass S. 949, the For the People Act, a historic reform package to clean up corruption in Washington, expose secret foreign money in our politics, crack down on lobbyists, strengthen election security, protect the right to vote and return power back to the American people with clean, citizen-owned elections.

I want to extend my best wishes to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists in Maryland, across America and all over the world as we celebrate Diwali. This joyous and uplifting festival of lights reinforces our enduring conviction that good always triumphs over evil. It also reminds us that the light of knowledge will always drive out the darkness of ignorance. May the year ahead be filled with peace and prosperity. Saal Mubarak.

Mike Miller’s leadership of the Maryland Senate for more than thirty years has provided tremendous benefits for our state. He put hardworking families first by building up Maryland's transportation system, safeguarding our Chesapeake Bay, and standing up for our children's public education. Even as his time as Senate President comes to an end, I know that Senator Miller will continue to guide Maryland forward as he works with his Senate colleagues to make life better for all Maryland residents.

Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) and former Senator Paul Sarbanes released the following statement today on the passing of Mayor Thomas D’Alesandro III: 

“We are tremendously saddened by the passing of Mayor Tommy D’Alesandro, a man whose fundamental decency earned the respect and admiration of all who knew him. He brought grace and dignity to public service, drawing on his faith, his family and a deep belief in the power of community.   

Yesterday, Congressman John Sarbanes joined U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, along with Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger and Jamie Raskin (all D-Md.), to host senior officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State of Maryland for a wide-ranging conversation about improving the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

Congressmen John Sarbanes (D-Md.) Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) and Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.), members of the Hellenic Caucus, introduced a resolution today expressing support for the designation of October 28 as “Oxi Day” to commemorate the Greeks’ refusal to surrender to Axis forces in the Second World War, stymieing the march of fascism across Europe.

Remembering Elijah Cummings

Please listen to Elijah tell this amazing story about his Dad on the day Elijah was sworn into Congress. I loved listening to Elijah's stories and was lucky to hear a lot of them over the years. But this was one of my favorites - and that's why I recorded it with my iPhone at a community event.

The end of his story gets me every time. It is a challenge to all of us that we should never let lack of educational opportunity deprive an individual of his or her full potential: "Ladies and gentlemen, we cannot afford to have anybody grow up to be almost seventy years old talking about what they could have been!"

Click here to continue watching.

Congressmen John Sarbanes (D-Md.) and Rob Wittman (R-Va.) today introduced the Federal Firefighter Flexibility and Fairness Act, a bipartisan bill to provide federal firefighters across the country with better workplace flexibility and improved work-life balance.

Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Chair of the House Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) in releasing a statement in support of H.R. 3, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act, in advance of the Committee’s markup of the bill:

“Today, we are announcing our endorsement of H.R. 3, a pillar of the Democratic Caucus’ For the People agenda and a bill that will significantly lower drug prices for patients who need them to survive.