Updates
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In the News: Update On Impeachment With Rep. John Sarbanes
September 26, 2019
Update On Impeachment With Rep. John Sarbanes
Tom Hall, Cianna B. Greaves and Kathleen CahillIt’s been quite a week in the nation’s capital, even by standards of the chaotic Trump Administration.
On Tuesday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that Congress would begin an impeachment inquiry. On Wednesday, the White House released what they described as an “unclassified memorandum” that summarizes a call between President Trump and President Zelensky of Ukraine on July 25, 2019. The memorandum was prepared by note takers who were listening to the call in the White House Situation room. And this morning, just before acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire testified in open session to the House Intelligence Committee, the Whistle Blower report that set an impeachment inquiry in motion was released. Admiral Maguire began his testimony shortly after 9:00 this morning. That testimony will continue in closed session later today.
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Sarbanes, Cardin, Van Hollen Announce More Than $238,000 for Odenton Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment and Retention
September 24, 2019
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (all D-Md.) to announce more than $238,400 in federal funds for the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant.
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My Statement on the Ukraine Whistleblower Scandal
September 24, 2019
President Trump admitted that he illegally attempted to coerce a foreign government to interfere in the 2020 election. This is a gross abuse of power — impeachable conduct.
My colleagues and I in the House of Representatives will vigorously investigate the White House and gather all relevant facts through an impeachment inquiry. -
In the News: Maryland Lawmakers React To Call For Impeachment Inquiry Into President Trump
September 24, 2019
Maryland Lawmakers React To Call For Impeachment Inquiry Into President Trump
Ava-joye Burnett, WJZ-TV (CBS)A growing number of Maryland lawmakers are coming out in support of official impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump.
Tuesday evening, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced an official impeachment inquiry into the president, CBS News reported.
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Sarbanes Statement on House Committee Action to Advance the Chesapeake Bay Program Reauthorization Act
September 23, 2019
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force Co-Chair Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) issued the following statement today after the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee successfully advanced the Chesapeake Bay Program Reauthorization Act (H.R. 1620), a bipartisan bill that would increase investments in the successful Chesapeake Bay Program for the next five years:
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Sarbanes Offers Full Support for D.C. Statehood
September 23, 2019
During a momentous House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing today on the Washington, D.C. Admission Act (H.R. 51), Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) offered his full support for D.C. statehood and the people of the District of Columbia.
“This is a historic day and I want to congratulate the District of Columbia,” said Congressman Sarbanes. “I want to thank all the advocates and city officials who’ve come here today and have stayed for the entire hearing to demonstrate their support for D.C. statehood.”
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Pelosi, Lowey, Lofgren, Sarbanes Issue Joint Statement on Majority Leader McConnell’s Ongoing Failure to Protect America from Foreign Attacks and Secure American Elections
September 23, 2019
Speaker Nancy Pelosi; Chairwoman Nita Lowey, House Appropriations Committee; Chairperson Zoe Lofgren, House Administration Committee; and Democracy Reform Task Force Chair John Sarbanes released the following statement today after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) caved to Democratic pressure to support an appropriations amendment that would provide $250 million in election security grant funding to state and local governments, well below the $600 million in grant funding passed by the House and far less than the amount independent experts say we need:
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Sarbanes Calls on Trump Education Department and Secretary DeVos to Fix PSLF Management Errors and Fulfill Promises to America’s Public Servants
September 23, 2019
During a House Education and Labor Committee hearing today about the Trump Administration’s failure to administer the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program, Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) submitted a statement for the record, calling on the Trump Education Department and Secretary Devos to fix management errors and deliver student loan debt relief to America’s teachers, military members, community health care workers, public defenders, social workers and other public servants who rely on the PSLF program.
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Pelosi, Lowey, Lofgren, Sarbanes Issue Joint Statement on Majority Leader McConnell’s Ongoing Failure to Protect America from Foreign Attacks and Secure American Elections
September 23, 2019
Speaker Nancy Pelosi; Chairwoman Nita Lowey, House Appropriations Committee; Chairperson Zoe Lofgren, House Administration Committee; and Democracy Reform Task Force Chair John Sarbanes released the following statement today after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) caved to Democratic pressure to support an appropriations amendment that would provide $250 million in election security grant funding to state and local governments, well below the $600 million in grant funding passed by the House and far less than the amount independent experts say we need:
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Sarbanes Calls on Trump Education Department and Secretary DeVos to Fix PSLF Management Errors and Fulfill Promises to America’s Public Servants
September 23, 2019
During a House Education and Labor Committee hearing today about the Trump Administration’s failure to administer the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program, Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) submitted a statement for the record, calling on the Trump Education Department and Secretary Devos to fix management errors and deliver student loan debt relief to America’s teachers, military members, community health care workers, public defenders, social workers and other public servants who rely on the PSLF program.
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Sarbanes Demands Action from Senate Republicans to Reduce Gun Violence in America
September 22, 2019
During a House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force forum about the impact of gun violence on children, Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) demanded that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Republicans immediately hold a vote on two House-passed bills to address the gun violence epidemic in America, including H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, and H.R. 1112, the Enhanced Background Checks Act.
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Sarbanes, Maryland Congressional Delegation Urge USDA to Reconsider Food and Nutrition Benefit Changes
September 21, 2019
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, along with Representatives Steny Hoyer, Elijah E. Cummings, Dutch Ruppersberger, Anthony Brown, Jamie Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.), in urging U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue to reconsider a recently proposed change to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that would hurt Maryland families.
Under the proposed Trump Administration rule, an estimated 50,000 Marylanders could lose their SNAP benefits.
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In the News: House Holds Hearing On DC Statehood For First Time More Than 25 Years
September 19, 2019
House Holds Hearing On DC Statehood For First Time More Than 25 Years
WJZ-TV (CBS)The House Oversight Committee held a hearing Thursday on a bill that would pave the way for the District of Columbia to become the country’s 51st state.
The hearing on H.R. 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, was the first hearing of its kind in more than 25 years, the Oversight Committee’s Democratic press office said.
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In the News: Lawmakers Demand Answers about Nevada Telemarketer and His Clients
September 19, 2019
Lawmakers Demand Answers about Nevada Telemarketer and His Clients
Sarah Kleiner and Chris Zubak-Skees, The Center for Public IntegrityA Nevada congresswoman called on federal authorities to investigate political action committees that raise funds for a cause — but plow most of what they raise back into their own paychecks and committee fundraising efforts.
The Justice Department should hold those who run such PACs “accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” and the Federal Election Commission should have increased authority to “punish bad actors,” said Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev.
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Sarbanes, Cardin, Van Hollen, Cummings, Ruppersberger Announce More Than $207,000 for the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue
September 17, 2019
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, along with Representatives Elijah E. Cummings and Dutch Ruppersberger (all D-Md.), to announce $207,054 in federal funding for the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue.
The funding, awarded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, will be used to implement a firefighting training course that provides instruction to 375 personnel for more than 2,900 total hours.
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In the News: Democrats press for action on election security
September 17, 2019
Democrats press for action on election security
Maggie Miller, The HillCongressional Democrats renewed their call for election security legislation during a national day of action on Tuesday, as a Senate Appropriations subcommittee left out funding for it in its annual spending bill.
Democrats including Sens. Richard Blumenthal (Conn.) and Ron Wyden (Ore.) argued on Tuesday that time is running out to implement election security upgrades such as replacing outdated voting machines with just over a year left prior to the 2020 elections.
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Sarbanes, Baltimore Congressional Delegation Announce Almost $300,000 for the Baltimore City Fire Department
September 16, 2019
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, along with Representatives Elijah E. Cummings and Dutch Ruppersberger (all D-Md.), in announcing a $298,345 grant for the Baltimore City Fire Department (BCFD).
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Sarbanes, Cummings, Ruppersberger Demand ICE Cease Predatory Bait and Switch Practices
September 16, 2019
Congressmen John Sarbanes, Elijah E. Cummings and Dutch Ruppersberger (all D-Md.) today sent a letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Acting Director Matthew T. Albence, requesting that ICE immediately cease the predatory bait and switch tactics to arrest immigrants that are attending interviews as part of their lawful immigration process related to their marriage to a U.S. citizen at the Baltimore U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office.
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Sarbanes, Cardin, Van Hollen, Raskin, Trone Announce $50,000 for Montgomery County MLK Day of Service
September 15, 2019
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, along with Congressmen Jamie Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.), to announce a $50,000 grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to Montgomery County’s Volunteer Center.
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Sarbanes Votes to Protect Maryland’s Coastline from Offshore Drilling
September 15, 2019
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today voted to pass three bills in the U.S. House of Representatives that would protect coastlines in Maryland and across the country, along with the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, from oil and gas drilling.