Press Releases
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Sarbanes, Maryland Congressional Delegation Announce More Than $46 Million in Additional Funding for Maryland Colleges, Including $44 Million for Historically Black Colleges and Universities
May 9, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) and the Maryland Congressional Delegation today announced $46,702,104 for Maryland’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and colleges serving large populations of low-income students.
Funding comes from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This new federal funding comes in addition to the $170 million in initial support that the Delegation announced for Maryland institutions of Higher Education.
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Sarbanes Joins Effort to Support USPS and Protect Postal Service Workers During COVID-19 Crisis
May 8, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today co-sponsored the Protect Our Post Offices Act (H.R. 6425), an important effort led by Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) to ensure the continued delivery of vital goods and services to Americans across the country by providing $25 billion in emergency funding for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).
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Sarbanes Receives Scorecards from Defenders of Wildlife and League of Conservation Voters
May 6, 2020
With the reality of the climate crisis, we must stand up to special-interest polluters and protect the air we breathe, the water we drink, our wildlife, our public lands, and most importantly, the Chesapeake Bay, our national environmental treasure.
I will continue to fight alongside Marylanders to safeguard our environment. I’m proud to receive a 100 percent rating from Defenders of Wildlife and a 97 percent rating from League of Conservation Voters.
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Sarbanes, Blumenthal, Warren, Jayapal Unveil Oversight, Accountability and Anti-Corruption Provisions for Next Congressional COVID-19 Response Package
May 5, 2020
Democracy Reform Task Force Chair Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.), U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) today urged Congressional leaders to include strong oversight, accountability and anti-corruption provisions in the next federal COVID-19 response package.
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Sarbanes, Maryland Congressional Delegation Announce New COVID-19 Relief Funding for Maryland’s Mental Health Services
May 5, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) and the Maryland Congressional Delegation today announced the approval of new federal funding for Maryland to provide community-based outreach, counseling and other mental health services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Funding comes from the the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP). Maryland became eligible for this federal assistance after the Congressional Delegation successfully urged the Trump Administration to approve a major disaster declaration for the state of Maryland.
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Sarbanes, Maryland Congressional Delegation Discuss Status of COVID-19 Testing with State Health and Emergency Management Leaders
May 4, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) and the Maryland Congressional Delegation today discussed the status of Maryland’s ability to test for COVID-19 with Maryland Secretary of Health Robert Neall, Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services Fran Phillips and Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Director Russell Strickland. During the conversation, the delegation also highlighted the potential ways that it can help expand Maryland’s testing capacity.
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Sarbanes, Maryland Congressional Delegation Announce New COVID-19 Emergency Nutrition Assistance Program for Maryland Students
May 3, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) and the Maryland Congressional Delegation today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved Maryland’s plan to provide new Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) nutrition assistance to Maryland students who receive free- or reduced-price school lunches.
With schools closed through May 15, the Maryland Department of Human Resources estimates that approximately 427,000 children will benefit from this new assistance. Maryland is one of 12 states whose plans have already been approved.
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Sarbanes, Cardin, Van Hollen, Ruppersberger Announce $200,000 for Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Tracker
May 3, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, along with Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger (all D-Md.), to announce $200,000 in federal funding for Johns Hopkins University (JHU) through the National Science Foundation (NSF) Rapid Response Research (RAPID) grant program to support the management and development of JHU’s COVID-19 interactive online dashboard.
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Sarbanes, Maryland Congressional Delegation Request National Capital Region Designation As Federally Supported COVID-19 Testing Site
May 2, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) and the Maryland Congressional Delegation today asked the Trump Administration to designate the National Capital Region as a federally supported COVID-19 testing site.
The designation would make federal facilities available to Maryland to expand the state’s testing capacity. Ramping up testing will help the state safely reopen businesses and protect public health.
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Sarbanes, Maryland Congressional Delegation Urge Trump Administration to Release COVID-19 Funds for Nursing Homes
April 28, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) and the Maryland Congressional Delegation today urged the Trump Administration and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma to immediately distribute funds included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in nursing homes.
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Sarbanes, Maryland Congressional Delegation Announce More Than $664,000 to Help Anne Arundel Medical Center Expand Telehealth Capabilities and Fight COVID-19
April 28, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, along with Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer and Anthony G. Brown (all D-Md.), to announce that Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) will receive $664,606 from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to invest in video telehealth services as part of AAMC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Sarbanes, Maryland Congressional Delegation Announce More Than $200 Million in COVID-19 Relief for State School Districts
April 28, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) and the Maryland Congressional Delegation today announced $207,834,058 in federal funding for Maryland school districts.
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Sarbanes, Maryland Congressional Delegation Call on Trump Administration to Increase Federal Support for Firefighters
April 27, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) and the Maryland Congressional Delegation today urged the Trump Administration and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Peter T. Gaynor to waive all state and local cost-share requirements for federal firefighting assistance through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) and Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG).
Local firefighters – together with emergency health personnel – are on the frontlines in every Maryland community, responding to COVID-19 patients and keeping our cities and towns safe.
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Sarbanes Votes to Pass Interim COVID-19 Relief Package
April 27, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today voted to pass the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, a bill to provide additional economic relief for small businesses, extend critical funding to hospitals, health care providers and frontline health care workers and expand COVID-19 testing capabilities across America.
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Sarbanes, Maryland Congressional Delegation Express Concern Over Recent Reports of Veterans’ Mortgage Forbearance Issues and Retaliation
April 27, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) and the Maryland Congressional Delegation today expressed concern about recent reports that loan servicers are not allowing veterans with VA Home Loans to access the loan forbearance provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
The bill included protection for borrowers with federally backed mortgage loans who are experiencing financial hardships and are unable to make payments due to this COVID-19 crisis. VA Home Loans are covered under this provision.
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Sarbanes, Maryland Congressional Delegation Announce More Than $422,000 in COVID-19 Relief Funding for Legal Aid Services
April 27, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) and the Maryland Congressional Delegation today announced $422,690 in federal funding for Maryland Legal Aid (MLA) to provide legal services to low-income Marylanders.
Funding comes from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which authorized $50 million nationwide to the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), an independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974 to support civil legal aid services for low-income Americans.
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Sarbanes, Maryland Congressional Delegation Hold Call with State Labor Secretary to Discuss Skyrocketing Demand for Unemployment Assistance
April 26, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) and the Maryland Congressional Delegation today held a phone call with Maryland Secretary of Labor Tiffany P. Robinson to discuss the unprecedented challenges faced by Marylanders trying to access Unemployment Insurance and to learn about the state agency’s plans to improve the claims process.
The conversation came after the Delegation’s letter to Secretary Robinson last week, offering support and assistance in ensuring that Marylanders are able to receive Unemployment Insurance in a timely manner.
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Sarbanes, Maryland Congressional Delegation Urge State and Retailers to Ensure SNAP Recipients Can Access Grocery Delivery and Pick-Up Services Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
April 25, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) and the Maryland Congressional Delegation today urged Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Lourdes R. Padilla and Maryland Retailers Association (MRA) President Cailey Locklair to ensure that Maryland Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients can access grocery delivery and pick-up services in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Sarbanes, Maryland Congressional Delegation Urge President Trump and General Motors to Reopen White Marsh Plant to Manufacture Ventilators
April 25, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) and the Maryland Congressional Delegation today urged President Donald Trump and General Motors (GM) Chairman and CEO Mary Barra to reopen the GM plant in White Marsh, Maryland to help fulfill the company's recent contract to produce thousands of ventilators under the Defense Production Act and to supply the region with critical medical supplies as the number of local COVID-19 cases continues to grow.
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Sarbanes, Maryland Congressional Delegation Announce More Than $1.6 Million to Create Jobs for Dislocated Workers in Maryland
April 24, 2020
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) and the Maryland Congressional Delegation today announced $1,665,000 in federal funding to help create disaster relief jobs for laid-off workers in Maryland. Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Dislocated Worker Grants (DWGs).