Updates

Yesterday, I voted to impeach President Trump for abusing the power of the Presidency and for waging an unprecedented campaign of obstruction against Congress. 

As elected officials who serve in a position of public trust, we come to Congress to make life better for the American people — to reduce prescription drug prices, to raise wages, to clean up corruption in Washington. We come to serve the public interest, not to advance our own personal or political interests. And importantly, we swear an oath to protect the Constitution and defend our democracy for the people.

Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today voted to pass H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, a bill to reduce prescription drug prices by empowering Medicare to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies and making those negotiated prices available to Medicare beneficiaries and individuals with private insurance. H.R. 3 will also set a new $2,000 out-of-pocket limit on prescription drug costs for seniors and will expand Medicare benefits to cover dental, hearing and vision for the first time in the program’s history.

Feds give Baltimore area $4.6M for public safety initiatives
The Associated Press

The city of Baltimore got a needed boost in federal funding to fight crime when Maryland's congressional delegation announced a $4.6 million package Monday of grants for public safety initiatives for the region.

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$4.6 million in grant funds will go to fight crime in Baltimore City and Baltimore County
Jessica Anderson, The Baltimore Sun

Baltimore City and Baltimore County will receive $4.6 million in federal funding that is designed to help identify owners of guns used in violent crimes, provide services to children affected by the opioid crisis, fund body-worn cameras for police and serve other criminal justice needs.

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During a House Subcommittee on Health hearing today, Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) voiced strong support for universal health coverage and refuted false Republican claims about Medicare For All.

This is the silent political revolution of 2020
Lawrence Lessig, CNN (Opinion)

As the Democratic Primary kicks into high gear, it is increasingly clear that 2020 could give America a choice that it has not had since Richard Nixon resigned: An election that promises critical change to our political system. At least 7 of the remaining candidates in the Democratic primary have committed to making fundamental government reform their first priority in office. We have not been this close to real change of America's politics since the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It is therefore time that the candidates' plans -- and how they differ --become the focus of more media attention.

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House Passes Pelosi Drug-Pricing Bill
Jack O'Brien, HealthLeaders Media

The House of Representatives passed the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act Thursday afternoon.

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Democracy Reform Task Force Chair Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today voted to pass H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act, a bill that would restore and protect voting rights across the country.

Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.), House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Government Operations Chairman Gerald E. Connolly (D-Va.) and Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Don Beyer (D-Va.), Anthony Brown (D-Md.), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), David Trone (D-Md.) and Jennifer Wexton (D-Va.) in sending a letter to the Chairs of the Armed Services Committees, who are leading the conference committee working to reconcile the House- and Senate-passed versions of the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).