Blog Post

Any Marylander who travels across a bridge on their way to work or school as I do was no doubt disturbed by the collapse of an interstate highway bridge in Minneapolis last week that claimed the lives of at least five people and injured dozens more. In the aftermath of this great tragedy, our primary focus should be to understand why this happened and to take measures to ensure an incident like this is not repeated in the future.________________________________________________________________________

From making historic investments in the Chesapeake Bay to ensuring that more children in Maryland receive the high-quality education they deserve, the 110th Congress has been working non-stop over the past seven months making progress for the American people on the toughest challenges we face.________________________________________________________________________

On Tuesday, July 24, millions of Americans nationwide will receive a long-overdue pay raise when the first phase of the federal minimum wage increase takes effect. Workers currently receiving the $5.15 an hour rate will see their hourly wage increase by 14 percent to $5.85. The 70 cent raise this July will be followed by two more 70 cent increases in July 2008 and July 2009 to reach the new federal minimum wage of $7.25.________________________________________________________________________

In 1944, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the GI Bill into law, launching the greatest government led initiative in our nations history to invest in higher or continuing education. The original law enabled 7.8 million veterans of World War II to participate in education or job training programs and is credited for its redeeming impact on the post-war national economy and in building a sustained American middle-class.________________________________________________________________________

Across the State of Maryland, residents can be found spending their summers backpacking along the Appalachian Trail, fishing at Point Lookout State Park, biking on the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, taking in the view of wild horses galloping across the beach at Assateague State Park, or partaking in a number of other exciting outdoor activities.________________________________________________________________________

On July 4, we celebrate the anniversary of the day our nation claimed its independence and a new era of democracy and freedom began. Two-hundred and thirty one years later, we find ourselves engaged in a new battle for independence energy independence that holds serious consequences for the future economic, environmental, and national security of our nation.________________________________________________________________________

Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) today announced the inclusion of $57.7 million for the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) consolidation project at White Oak, Maryland in the FY08 Financial Services Appropriations bill which passed the House of Representatives today.________________________________________________________________________

In January of this year, new rules went into effect requiring United States airline passengers traveling to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda to show a passport upon their re-entry into the country.________________________________________________________________________