Updates

Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined the Maryland Congressional Delegation in urging swift approval of the state’s request for a disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to help local businesses affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, along with Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie Raskin and David Trone, to announce $10.2 million in federal funding for Maryland’s response to the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

We’re heading into a difficult period in our country -- and our world.  In the coming days, I’ll make sure to keep you updated on the steps we’re taking in Congress to address the coronavirus outbreak, as well as linking you to trusted sources of information.  

For now, I recommend the following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined Members of Maryland’s Congressional Delegation to hear from Maryland Secretary of Health Robert Neall and Deputy Secretary of Public Health Services Frances B. Phillips, R.N. for an update on Maryland’s preparedness and response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The discussion also focused on how the federal government can best assist Maryland and other states during this public health emergency.

Democracy Reform Task Force Chair Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today marked the one-year anniversary of passing H.R. 1, the For the People Act, in the U.S. House of Representatives by calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Republicans to end their year-long obstruction campaign and finally vote on this historic anti-corruption and clean elections bill.

Fighting corruption starts with reducing big donor influence
John Sarbanes, The Baltimore Sun (LTE)

The Baltimore Sun editorial board is right on the money about our city’s brand new Fair Elections Fund (“Here’s how $2.5M can help protect Baltimore residents against public corruption,” March 9). To bolster confidence in our political system, small donors must be empowered to compete with deep-pocketed special interests. Baltimore’s groundbreaking effort to institute a citizen-owned clean elections system can get us there.

The Baltimore City Fair Elections Fund will create a multiple match system for small donations, leveraging the influence of average citizens and giving them a greater voice in the political process. The fund will also enable a more diverse group of candidates to run and compete in campaigns because merit, not money, will determine the viability of their campaigns. Once elected, their allegiance will be to the people, ensuring that they make policy for the public interest, not the special interests.

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Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined House Government Operations Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Gerry Connolly and Representative Jennifer Wexton (both D-Va.) to introduce the Telework Metrics and Cost Savings Act, a bill to protect and expand federal telework.

Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, along with Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer and David Trone (all D-Md.), for a roundtable discussion about public education with the presidents of Maryland’s four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

At a House Subcommittee on Health hearing today, Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) raised concerns about shortages in the substance use disorder workforce and offered several solutions to fill employment gaps and increase opioid addiction treatment services across the country.