Updates
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Sarbanes Releases Public Service Announcement for 2020 Census
March 6, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) released the following public service announcement to share important information about the 2020 Census, which begins on April 1.
“Every 10 years, the U.S. Census Bureau counts everyone living in the United States.
This critical tally helps us allocate programs and services – including community health clinics, schools, affordable housing, roads and other vital services – that help Maryland communities thrive.
The census is important. It's easy. It's safe.
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In the News: More Addiction Treatment Docs Needed for Opioid Crisis, House Panel Told
March 4, 2020
More Addiction Treatment Docs Needed for Opioid Crisis, House Panel Told
Joyce Frieden, MedPage TodayThe opioid crisis and growing addiction to methamphetamine and other stimulants won't be abated until the country trains more addiction medicine physicians, witnesses said at a House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing.
"One of the things the opioid epidemic has laid bare is the lack of trained professionals we have to provide treatment, so we can put out all the funding dollars we want" but it won't do any good without a trained workforce, said Michael Botticelli, executive director of the Grayken Center for Addiction at Boston Medical Center. "I think it's really important for us to ensure that while we're doing other activities such as integrating addiction treatment into residency training, that having a trained workforce of addiction medicine and addiction psychiatrists is critical."
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In the News: Bill Would Boost Funding For Chesapeake Bay Cleanup
March 4, 2020
Bill Would Boost Funding For Chesapeake Bay Cleanup
Pat Warren, WJZ-TV (Online)Maryland’s greatest natural resource is getting attention in Congress.
The Chesapeake Bay Funding Reauthorization Act provides $90.5 million a year for five years. According to the Choose Clean Water Coalition, more than two-thirds of the program’s funds are passed through to the states and local communities for on-the-ground restoration work.
Click here to continue reading.
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Sarbanes Votes for Comprehensive Bill to Reduce Youth Tobacco Use
March 3, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today voted to pass the Protecting American Lungs and Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act (H.R. 2339), a bill to address the explosion of youth vaping and tobacco use in America.
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Resources on Coronavirus
March 3, 2020
Just a quick note about COVID-19, or the Coronavirus. As we are learning more about how the virus is impacting communities across the country, I wanted to share useful information that's available from the Maryland Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Sarbanes Assails Trump Administration’s Crusade Against LGBTQ Americans
March 2, 2020
At a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing today, Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) criticized the Trump Administration’s ongoing efforts to discriminate against the LGBTQ community and slammed a new Trump Administration proposal that would allow heath care providers to deny treatment to LGBTQ Americans.
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Sarbanes Blasts GOP Voter Suppression Tactics and Calls for Action on Critical Reforms to Protect and Expand the Right to Vote
March 1, 2020
At a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing on voting rights today, Democracy Reform Task Force Chair Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) criticized well-documented voter suppression tactics in states across the country and demanded that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) hold a vote on H.R. 1, the For the People Act and H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act, two House-passed bills that would protect and expand the right to vote.
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Sarbanes Slams Trump Administration’s Failure to Address the Youth Tobacco Crisis and Questions HHS Secretary Azar about Bizarre Plan to Remove the FDA’s Tobacco Oversight Authority
March 1, 2020
At a House Subcommittee on Health Hearing today, Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) questioned U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar about the Trump Administration’s failure to rein in Big Tobacco, reduce youth vaping and prevent another generation from becoming addicted to nicotine.
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House Passes Sarbanes Bill to Increase Public Access to the Chesapeake Bay
March 1, 2020
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force Co-Chair Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today announced the passage of the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Reauthorization Act (H.R. 2427), a bipartisan bill authored by Congressman Sarbanes to help enhance public access to the Chesapeake Bay.
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In the News: Senate must act on 2020 election security
February 25, 2020
Senate must act on 2020 election security
John Sarbanes, The Baltimore Sun (LTE)Recent reporting underscores the alarming vulnerabilities that exist in voting systems across the country (“Voting machines face new criticism,” Feb. 24). As the 2020 election rapidly approaches, we must act urgently to protect our elections and guard against foreign interference.
In Congress, the Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives has made election security a top priority. As our first order of business, we passed H.R. 1, the For the People Act, the most sweeping anti-corruption bill in a generation which included significant election security reforms and resources. Soon after, we passed H.R. 2722, the Securing America’s Federal Elections (SAFE) Act, a comprehensive effort to modernize election systems in every state by increasing the adoption of paper ballots and ensuring the accuracy of vote tallies. We also passed H.R. 4617, the Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy (SHIELD) Act, a bipartisan bill to counter foreign interference in our democracy.
Click here to continue reading.
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In the News: Lawmakers: U.S. Rep. Sarbanes: Senate must act on 2020 election security
February 25, 2020
U.S. Rep. Sarbanes: Senate must act on 2020 election security
John Sarbanes, The Baltimore Sun (Op-Ed)Recent reporting underscores the alarming vulnerabilities that exist in voting systems across the country (“Voting machines face new criticism,” Feb. 24). As the 2020 election rapidly approaches, we must act urgently to protect our elections and guard against foreign interference.
In Congress, the Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives has made election security a top priority. As our first order of business, we passed H.R. 1, the For the People Act, the most sweeping anti-corruption bill in a generation which included significant election security reforms and resources. Soon after, we passed H.R. 2722, the Securing America’s Federal Elections (SAFE) Act, a comprehensive effort to modernize election systems in every state by increasing the adoption of paper ballots and ensuring the accuracy of vote tallies. We also passed H.R. 4617, the Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy (SHIELD) Act, a bipartisan bill to counter foreign interference in our democracy.
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Sarbanes, Maryland Congressional Delegation Announce More Than $13 Million to Combat Homelessness in Montgomery County and Prince George’s County
February 24, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, along with Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie Raskin and David Trone, (all D-Md.) in announcing $13,187,737 for 32 projects to counter homelessness in Montgomery County and Prince George’s County.
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In the News: Olszewski discusses Prescription Drug Affordability Initiative with board members
February 24, 2020
Olszewski discusses Prescription Drug Affordability Initiative with board members
Charlene Mayo, The Dundalk EagleBaltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski joined a panel of lawmakers and Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board members at Oak Crest Senior Living Community on Feb. 18 to hear from the public about the burden of paying for their prescription medications.
U.S. Representative John Sarbanes, D-3, AARP representative Jim Gutman, Maryland’s Citizens’ Health Initiative President Vincent DeMarco and Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board member Dr. Ebere Onukwugha, along with Olszewski, led the second public forum in a series of events around the state.
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Sarbanes, Maryland Congressional Delegation Announce Nearly $30 Million in Funding to Combat Homelessness in Central Maryland
February 24, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, along with Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, Anthony G. Brown and Jamie Raskin, (all D-Md.) in announcing $29,859,429 in federal funding for 83 projects to counter homelessness in central Maryland.
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In the News: An inclusive democracy Demands DC statehood
February 24, 2020
An inclusive democracy Demands DC statehood
Eleanor Holmes Norton and John Sarbanes, The Hill (Op-Ed)Every student learns that the American Revolution was born, at least in part, out of the conviction that there can be “no taxation without representation.” More than just a slogan, this rallying cry represents the essence of self-determination – the fundamental right of all people to be ruled by their own hand and to choose their own government.
Over two centuries, we have built upon that core principle, with painstaking and persistent work, to make our democracy more representative and inclusive. But today, we face significant structural challenges that threaten the state of our democracy and undermine our right to self-rule.
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In the News: John Sarbanes and Brian Frosh: Working to Reduce Youth Vaping and Tobacco Use
February 21, 2020
Working to Reduce Youth Vaping and Tobacco Use
John Sarbanes and Brian Frosh, Maryland Matters (Op-Ed)With the alarming rise in vaping among teenagers and adolescents, a new public health crisis is unfolding right before our eyes. At the state and federal level, we must move swiftly to protect our children from the harmful, and sometimes deadly, effects of vaping.
The number of middle and high school students using e-cigarettes rose from 3.6 million in 2018 to 5.4 million in 2019 – a 50% increase in a single year. This spike in e-cigarette use has coincided with a significant surge in vaping-related illnesses nationwide. In 2019 alone, the Centers for Disease Control reported 2,506 vaping-related illnesses, including 54 deaths, with nearly 200 new cases reported each week.
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In the News: Oak Crest Hosts Government Forum on Prescription Drugs
February 20, 2020
Oak Crest Hosts Government Forum on Prescription Drugs
Jeff Getek, PatchOak Crest was proud to serve as the Baltimore County host for the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board (MPDA) listening session on the evening of February 18. More than 75 residents welcomed the opportunity to attend the forum and provide input on the cost of prescription drugs and related issues.
The panelists for the event were Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski, MPDA Board Member Ebere Onukwugha, Maryland AARP Advocate Jim Gutman and Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative President Vincent DeMarco. Congressman John Sarbanes, whose district includes Oak Crest, attended the forum and provided remarks.
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Sarbanes Joins Democratic Oversight Committee Members in Objecting to Secretary DeVos’ Proposed Rule Harming Student Survivors of Sexual Abuse
February 18, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.), Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and all Democratic Members of the Committee in sending a letter to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos requesting information about a proposed rule that would encourage schools to pursue fewer investigations of sexual harassment and assault.
The Department is poised to finalize the rule soon.
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Sarbanes Votes to Advance the Equal Rights Amendment
February 17, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) released the following statement today after voting to remove the ratification deadline for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and pave the way for the ERA to become the 28th Amendment:
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Sarbanes Statement on Black History Month
February 15, 2020
“Hi, everybody. This is Congressman John Sarbanes.
“During Black History Month, we pay tribute – as always – to icons like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and my colleague in the House of Representatives, John Lewis. In Maryland, we take special pride in the achievements of Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Justice Thurgood Marshall and the late Elijah Cummings, a friend and mentor who I had the privilege of serving with for 14 years.