Updates
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Sarbanes Joins Effort Urging EPA to Enforce Pollution Reduction Targets and Improve the Health of the Chesapeake Bay
January 14, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) in urging U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler to clarify his agency’s position on enforcing the Chesapeake Bay Agreement Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) pollution reduction targets.
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Sarbanes Votes to Protect American Families and Communities from Toxic Chemicals
January 14, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today voted to pass the PFAS Action Act (H.R. 535), a bill to help protect drinking water, air and soil from highly toxic and long-lasting per- and poly-fluoroalkyl (PFAS) chemicals.
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In the News: Maryland lawmakers call for more protection for places of worship
January 13, 2020
LIVE: Maryland lawmakers call for more protection for places of worship
Tiffany Watson, WBFF-TV (Online)On Monday at 10:30 am, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, Senator Ben Cardin and Congressman John Sarbanes will be joined by leaders of the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian communities in Baltimore to stand united against religious intolerance, hate, and antisemitism.
The Senators will announce their support for a new proposal to quadruple funding for the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which provides security assistance to religious and community nonprofit institutions that are at high risk of terrorist attack.
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In the News: Maryland legislators, faith leaders back funding increase in wake of religious hate crimes
January 13, 2020
Maryland legislators, faith leaders back funding increase in wake of religious hate crimes
Jonathan Pitts, The Baltimore SunGovernment funding for the protection of synagogues, mosques and churches has been on the rise in Maryland and across the United States in the past half-decade and more, but legislators and faith leaders are calling for a vast increase in such funding as threats against religious institutions persist.
Maryland’s U.S. senators, Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes, and Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders were among those who gathered Monday at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation in Pikesville to back a proposal calling for a quadrupling of funding provided by the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program, to $360 million in fiscal year 2021.
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Sarbanes Votes to Prevent War with Iran
January 13, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) released the following statement today after voting to pass H.Con.Res. 83, a War Powers Resolution to limit President Trump’s ability to engage in a military conflict with Iran:
“After nearly two decades of endless war, the American people are wary of additional military entanglements in the Middle East. In spite of this, the President’s impulse is to heighten brinkmanship with Iran, and to do so without appropriate Congressional authorization and in violation of established protocols for consulting Congressional leaders.
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Sarbanes Raises the Alarm Over Efforts to Discourage People from Participating in the 2020 Census
January 13, 2020
During a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing today, Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) raised concerns over insidious disinformation efforts to discourage people from participating in the 2020 Census and to undermine the U.S. Census Bureau’s work to ensure an accurate count.
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Sarbanes Bill to Modernize America’s Electric Grid Passes Favorably Out of Subcommittee
January 13, 2020
The House Subcommittee on Energy today passed the 21st Century Power Grid Act, a bill authored by Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) to modernize America’s electric grid, improve its resiliency to withstand cyberattacks and extreme weather events and enable it to integrate clean technologies.
During the markup, Congressman Sarbanes underscored the urgent need to upgrade and strengthen America’s electric grid.
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Sarbanes, Haaland, Rouda Lead Effort to Prevent Trump EPA from Weakening Water Quality Standards
January 10, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined U.S. Representatives Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) and Harley Rouda (D-Calif.) in leading an effort to prevent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from undermining the ability of states and tribal communities to set strong water quality standards that protect drinking water and improve the health of local rivers, streams and aquatic wildlife.
This letter enjoys strong support from the leaders of the House Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition (SEEC).
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In the News: Only about 30% surveyed agree workplace harassment issues at Maryland legislature resolved fairly, quickly
January 10, 2020
Only about 30% surveyed agree workplace harassment issues at Maryland legislature resolved fairly, quickly
Brian Witte, The Baltimore SunA first-of-its kind workplace climate survey in Maryland’s legislature found a high level of awareness about policies regarding harassment and discrimination and how to report it, but less confidence in how complaints are resolved and whether they result in fair outcomes, the survey released Friday said.
The survey included lawmakers in both the House and Senate, as well as staff members, employees at the Department of Legislative Services and lobbyists.
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In the News: Howard residents voice concern over rising costs at first forum for Prescription Drug Affordability Board
January 6, 2020
Howard residents voice concern over rising costs at first forum for Prescription Drug Affordability Board
Ana Faguy, The Baltimore SunHoward County hosted a forum Monday afternoon to get community input on the rising cost of prescription drugs.
It was the first in a series of listening forums planned across Maryland to bring personal stories to the state Prescription Drug Affordability Board. The Prescription Drug Affordability Board Act was signed into law last May, creating a five-person board to look into what can be done at the local and state level to reduce drug costs.
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Sarbanes Statement on Vote for New NAFTA Agreement
December 23, 2019
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) released the following statement today after voting for the re-negotiated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA):
“The new NAFTA agreement I supported today makes several improvements to both the original NAFTA agreement signed in 1994 and the preliminary agreement put forward by the Trump Administration last year.
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Maryland Congressional Delegation Calls on MDOT to Provide More Details on Highway Expansion Plans and Integration of Transit
December 23, 2019
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined the full Maryland Congressional Delegation in calling on the incoming Maryland Secretary of Transportation to provide the public with more information about widening I-270, widening the Capital Beltway and replacing the American Legion Bridge.
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Sarbanes, Baltimore Congressional Delegation Announce Nearly $750,000 for Veterans’ Housing
December 22, 2019
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, along with Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger (all D-Md.), to announce $748,976 in federal funding for homeless veterans in Baltimore City and Baltimore County.
Funding comes from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program, which combines rental assistance for homeless veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
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Sarbanes Votes for Bipartisan Federal Funding Bills That Support Key Maryland Priorities
December 21, 2019
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today voted to pass two federal funding bills that will support several important Maryland priorities through Fiscal Year 2020.
The funding bills include the domestic priorities and international assistance minibus (H.R. 1865) and the national security appropriations minibus (H.R. 1158).
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Sarbanes Announces More Than $448,000 in Federal Funding to Expand Environmental Education in Baltimore City Public Schools
December 21, 2019
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today announced $448,345 in federal funding to improve environmental education opportunities for Baltimore students.
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Sarbanes, Cardin, Van Hollen Announce $3.3 Million for BWI Airport
December 20, 2019
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) to announce $3,393,750 in new federal funding for the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).
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Sarbanes, Team Maryland Announce $120 Million for the Maryland Purple Line
December 20, 2019
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, along with Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.), to announce $120,000,000 in federal funding for Maryland’s Purple Line project.
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Sarbanes, Baltimore Congressional Delegation Announce More Than $4.6 Million in Federal Funding for Public Safety Initiatives
December 20, 2019
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, along with Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger (all D-Md.), to announce $4,608,210 in federal funding to boost safety initiatives in Baltimore City and Baltimore County.
The funding, provided through the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), includes:
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In the News: ‘We did all we could, Elijah’: After Trump impeachment, Pelosi references late Rep. Cummings
December 19, 2019
‘We did all we could, Elijah’: After Trump impeachment, Pelosi references late Rep. Cummings
Jeff Barker, The Baltimore SunMaryland lawmakers in Washington described as “sobering” a historic day that began with a House clerk solemnly reading a resolution urging that “Donald John Trump, president of the United States” be impeached.
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In the News: Maryland Politicians React to Trump Impeachment
December 19, 2019
Maryland Politicians React to Trump Impeachment
Evan Greenberg, Baltimore MagazineRep. John Sarbanes said Wednesday that Democrats are largely united behind the two articles of impeachment announced Tuesday.
In one of the more poignant moments of the final day of the House of Representatives’ impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump, Baltimore was front and center.