Protecting Our Right to Vote

This past month, I was proud to vote for the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives on August 24. This legislation will restore much of Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by requiring states and localities with a recent history of voter discrimination to seek approval from the U.S. Department of Justice before making changes to their election laws. This law is sorely needed—after the Supreme Court struck down certain provisions of the Voting Rights Act in the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision, bills proliferated at the state level restricting access to the ballot. The Brennan Center for Justice noted 18 states enacted such laws between January and July 2021 alone. A law that protects voting rights and confronts racial discrimination is a fitting tribute to Congressman John Lewis, a civil rights giant who dedicated his life to making ‘good trouble’ and serving the people of Georgia. I was proud to vote for this essential legislation, and I look forward to its full passage through the U.S. Senate. To read more about the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, click here.

Advocating for Americans, Afghan Allies and Partners through the U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan

At the close of August, the last U.S. military planes left Afghanistan, ending a war of over two decades. My district staff have been hard at work connecting community members with family in Afghanistan with the U.S. State Department in efforts to evacuate their loved ones safely. In Congress, I’ve advocated to evacuate our Afghan partners and allies, called to raise the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program cap, supported legislation to resettle Afghan refugees in the United States, called for the expedited evacuation of at-risk Afghan women, asked for further information on the plan to evacuate Afghan partners and allies, requested funding to strengthen the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa program and more. I will continue to advocate for the safety and security of Americans and Afghan allies evacuating Afghanistan.

Delivering Federal Funding to Maryland

My Maryland Congressional delegation colleagues and I continue to advocate for robust federal investment in our state. This past month, I was proud to announce several federal funding initiatives that will help communities across our district: funding to help our state fight climate change, funding to launch a transit workforce center in Silver Spring, funding to support the state’s COVID-19 response and funding to support mental health and substance use treatment in Montgomery County.

This past month, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis, a report which affirmed the urgent need for immediate action to address the civilizational threat of climate change. Maryland is already experiencing the effects of climate change, and I’m glad that our state will receive over $93 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to strengthen our ability to prevent and respond to climate change-related natural disasters. To learn more, click here.

Throughout the pandemic, our frontline transit workers have worked tirelessly to keep our country moving. A $5 million grant to establish and run the Federal Transit Administration’s first Transit Workforce Center in Silver Spring represents a critical investment in our essential transit workforce and in our community. Click here to read more about this project.

Additionally, our state received over $29 million in emergency federal funding to reimburse MedStar Health and Montgomery County Emergency Management for costs incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. To learn more, click here.

The pandemic has taken a toll on communities across our state, especially with regard to mental health. I am delighted that our state will receive $1.9 million from the American Rescue Plan to bolster mental health and substance use treatment services in Montgomery County. You can read more here.

Confronting Racial Discrimination

I was disturbed to read this report from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) alleging an emerging pattern of racial profiling from Michigan Customs and Border Patrol agents this past month. In response Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and I wrote a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, requesting a briefing and information about the ACLU’s findings. No matter their race, gender, creed or zip code, every American is guaranteed due process under the law. Click here to read our full letter. 

Demanding Election Integrity

As I shared in last month’s newsletter, I sent a letter with Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform to Douglas Logan, the chief executive officer of Cyber Ninjas, requesting documents that will help us understand the role this private company played in an “audit” of the 2020 election in Maricopa County, Arizona. Although the documents were originally due on July 28, 2021, Cyber Ninjas requested an extension until August 9, 2021, only to provide already publicly available material and lodge objections to the Committee’s requests. This past month, Chairwoman Maloney and I sent a second letter warning that we won’t rest until we have real transparency and accountability from this organization. You can read more about our efforts here. We will unceasingly defend voting rights and the integrity of our election process.

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