Click here to learn about Rebeccah Ballo’s work documenting the history of Montgomery County's LGBTQ+ community as Supervisor for the Historic Preservation Program in the Montgomery Planning Department.

Click here to hear from Judy Gaver, a lifelong Carroll County resident who advocates for LGBTQ+ kids and families through Westminster-Carroll County’s PFLAG chapter. 

Delivering Federal Funding to Maryland

I was proud to vote for the American Rescue Plan, which continues to deliver much-needed relief to Maryland. This past month, I joined my Maryland Congressional delegation colleagues in announcing American Rescue Plan funding for two critical projects in our state: vaccine rollout and airport relief.

To bolster regional vaccine efforts, Maryland will receive $7,787,892 in federal funding for locally targeted programs. Using trusted messengers, these programs will reduce disparities in inoculation rates and build local trust in vaccines. To read more, click here.

Maryland will also receive $98,263,281 to help airports across our state better manage the expected influx of travelers and help propel our economy forward. This initiative will not only invest in our airport infrastructure, but will support tens of thousands of local jobs. To read more about this funding, click here.

We also announced $27,943,554 in federal funding for public health initiatives in our state to help alleviate COVID-19 hardship in underserved communities. Whether it comes to healthcare access, economic inequality, or job security, we know that rural communities and communities of color have disproportionately borne the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to read more about this funding.

Recognizing Juneteenth

This past month, Congress passed legislation officially recognizing Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Celebrated on June 19th, Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 that word finally reached enslaved Americans in Galveston, Texas that they were free from bondage—a day celebrated by the African American community as the end of slavery in the United States. Though we have much more to do to fulfill the true promise of equality of the Emancipation Proclamation, this holiday is an important step in actualizing our commitment to racial justice.

To commemorate this federal holiday, I spoke with historian and author John Franklin for our Local Heroes Video series. The grandson of a Tulsa Massacre survivor, he brings to life African American History through his work with the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture, and the current 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre initiative. To watch our full discussion, click here.

Connecting Constituents with the Child Tax Credit

This past month, the IRS launched a new online tool (available here) to help families that don’t normally file tax returns register for monthly child tax credit payments. Did you know that 110,500 children in our District may benefit from this monthly payment? Families can anticipate receiving benefits as soon as July 15th to help with the costs of food, child care, diapers, healthcare, clothing and more. Constituents can also check to see if they are enrolled to receive advance payments, update bank account information or unenroll here.

Click here to learn more about the Child Tax Credit.

Standing Up for Maryland Taxpayers

This past month, I joined my colleagues in the bipartisan SALT Caucus at a press conference to once again call for a repeal of the $10,000 cap on the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction. Half of all taxpayers in the 8th District benefit from the SALT deduction, with deductions averaging $19,000. The $10,000 deduction cap imposed by the 2017 tax law has short-changed hardworking middle-class families.

Click here to read more about our efforts to repeal the cap.

Removing Symbols of Hate From Our Nation's Capitol

Last week, I proudly voted to replace a bust of Roger Taney with one of the great Justice Thurgood Marshall. Symbols of sedition, slavery and segregation should hold no place in the halls of government, and Maryland history should be represented by the man who put the Supreme Court on the side of justice, not on the side of oppression. Watch my House Floor remarks here.

Confronting Domestic Terrorism and White Supremacy

As Chair of the Oversight Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Subcommittee, I have repeatedly engaged the FBI, DOJ and DHS about the urgent need to take the existential threat of domestic terrorism seriously. After years of malign neglect and winking encouragement by his predecessor, I was heartened to see President Biden release a comprehensive, whole-of-government strategy, the first of its kind, to tackle this crisis head-on. I encourage you to read more about the plan here.

Supporting 211 Maryland’s New Mental Health Initiative

This past month, I hosted a press conference with Governor Larry Hogan, State Senators Craig Zucker and Malcolm Augustine, Delegate Bonnie Cullison and 211 Maryland President and CEO Quinton Askew to announce that the 211 Health Check Program is launching in July. You can watch my remarks here.

The Thomas Bloom Raskin Act established 211 Maryland’s Health Check Program, a proactive phone support program that connects residents with specialists trained in suicide prevention and mental health support. COVID-19 took a huge toll on our people, with increasing numbers of Americans reporting mental health struggles, and this program responds to our growing national crisis. 

Marylanders can text HealthCheck to 211-MD1 to sign up for text alerts about the program or to register for the program early. 211 Maryland will send supportive text messages leading up to the launch of 211 Health Check later this summer. When the program launches, those who have signed up for text alerts will be invited to schedule their first call.

I thank Senator Zucker, Senator Augustine, and Delegate Bonnie Cullison for shepherding the legislation to unanimous passage in the State Legislature. I also thank Governor Hogan for making this the first bill he signed into law the day after the Maryland State Legislature adjourned its legislative session. 

My family is honored to be associated with this important program. Click here to learn about the program.

Introducing Election Reform Legislation

This past month, I was proud to join Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) in reintroducing the Fair Representation Act, legislation that would establish multi-member Congressional districts drawn by independent redistricting commissions, with Members elected through ranked choice voting (and Senators too). Read more about this legislation here.

Passing Legislation

I’m thrilled that the Federal Bar Association Charter Amendment Act, legislation I co-led with Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH), passed the House this past month! The Federal Bar Association is the primary volunteer bar association for attorneys in the private and public sector who practice in the federal courts. Our legislation will update the organization's charter, giving it increased flexibility to expand its membership and promote federal jurisprudence. You can watch my full remarks on the House Floor here.

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