Updates
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In the News: Md. Congressional Dems Make Honor Roll in Green Group’s Annual Report Card
March 12, 2020
Md. Congressional Dems Make Honor Roll in Green Group’s Annual Report Card
Josh Kurtz, Maryland MattersThe nine Democrats in Maryland’s congressional delegation scored perfect or near-perfect scores from a leading national environmental group in 2019, according to a just-released scorecard of House and Senate votes.
The state’s lone congressional Republican, U.S. Rep. Andrew P. Harris, scored zero on the report card from the League of Conservation Voters.
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Sarbanes Votes to Expand Workers’ Rights for TSA Officers
March 9, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today voted to pass the Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act (H.R. 1140), a bill to ensure that Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) receive the same rights, protections and benefits in the workplace as other federal employees.
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Sarbanes, Maryland Congressional Delegation Announce $500,000 in Federal Funding to Support State-Level Coronavirus Response
March 9, 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, Andy Harris, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie Raskin and David Trone, to announce $500,000 in federal funding to support Maryland’s response to the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Funding comes from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These resources will help public health officials in Maryland monitor and assess possible coronavirus cases across the state.
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Sarbanes, Connolly, Wexton Introduce Bill to Protect and Expand Telework for Federal Employees
March 9, 2020
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.
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Sarbanes, Maryland Congressional Delegation Discuss Public Education with Maryland’s HBCU Presidents
March 8, 2020
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).
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In the News: The Coronavirus Aid Package signed
March 8, 2020
The Coronavirus Aid Package signed
Jason Newton, WBAL-TV (Online)
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Sarbanes Urges Congressional Action to Address Shortages in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Workforce
March 7, 2020
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.
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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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Sarbanes, Nadler, Scanlon, Kennedy, Introduce Bill to Improve Equality and Fairness in America’s Civil Justice System
March 6, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), House Judiciary Committee Vice Chair Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Penn.) and Access to Counsel Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.) to introduce the Fair Access to Legal Counsel Act (FALCA), a bill to help more Americans secure representation in civil court.
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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.
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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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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 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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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 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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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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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.
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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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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.