Press Releases

Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined more than 170 House Democrats in demanding that Secretary Betsy DeVos prohibit the use of federal education funding to buy guns for teachers and school staff. The letter comes in the wake of a New York Times report that revealed the administration’s plan to allow schools to redirect federal education funding intended for services like mental health counseling in order to purchase firearms or firearms training.

Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) announced that the Howard County Department of Fire Rescue Service and the City of Annapolis Fire Department will receive a total of more than $100,000 in grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to improve fire prevention and safety efforts in Maryland communities.

With the recent one-year anniversary of the white nationalist march in Charlottesville those same hateful elements tried to rally again. In the face of this, we must stand in solidarity for a different vision of America. The vile ideology embraced by white nationalists and neo-Nazis will not win the day as long as people of good will work together to build a more caring, tolerant and just society. That must be our relentless pursuit.

Tuesday marked an end to Maryland’s primary election season! Thank you so much to all the voters of Maryland’s Third Congressional District for your support. I’m excited to advance to the general election as the Democratic nominee. Onto November!

A month ago today, Americans watched in horror as another deadly school shooting unfolded before us, this time, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Seventeen people lost their life that day, the majority of whom were high school students.

Once again, the Republicans are full of thoughts and prayers, but don’t have anything to say when it comes to real reform. Thankfully, the students at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida have other ideas. They are turning their grief into anger and their anger into a cause.

It's been a very busy October here in Maryland's Third District. Here are a few photos from just a handful of events I've attended in a terrific first month of fall:

I want to send my sincere condolences to the victims of the violent acts perpetrated by white nationalists in Charlottesville this past weekend. Like many Americans, I am deeply disturbed by the events that took place. They are an ugly reminder of the racism, anti-Semitism and bigotry that continue to exist in American society. As a response to these dark and hateful forces, we must recommit ourselves to preserving our core American values and to fighting the hatred and extremism of white nationalist groups.

Today, 216 House Republicans voted to torpedo the Affordable Care Act and throw 24 million Americans off their health insurance.

Make no mistake, the bill that passed today is structured to harm women, the poor, older Americans and those with pre-existing conditions. It is full of fundamental flaws that will raise premiums and reduce benefits.

As of 10:30 this morning, my colleagues and I on the House Energy and Commerce committee had spent 24 hours reviewing the disastrous Affordable Care Act repeal bill introduced by Republicans on Monday. We had to stay up all night because House Republicans crafted this bill in secret and forced a committee vote on it earlier today.

Republicans rushed this bill through our committee hearings because their bill to repeal and “replace” the ACA is bad for the American people, and they know it won’t stand up to scrutiny.