Newsroom

Last Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) updated their COVID-19 guidance. Fully vaccinated Marylanders, meaning individuals who are two weeks past their final COVID-19 vaccine dose, can resume activities that they did prior to the pandemic and do not need to wear masks in most situations.

This week, the Federal Communications Commission launched the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB). This program will work to address the worsening digital divide in our communities that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Established through bipartisan emergency COVID-19 relief passed by Congress last December, this program will help eligible families in the Fifth District pay their monthly broadband bills.

Last week I introduced legislation to remove the bust of Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney from the U.S. Capitol building and replace it with a bust of Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall. H.R. 3005 would also remove statues or busts of those that served voluntarily in the Confederate States of America from public display in the U.S. Capitol. This bill, which I introduced with Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, would take important steps to ensure that the legacy of slavery and racism is not celebrated in the halls of our government.

Today’s announcement that Maryland will receive over $6 billion in funding for state and local governments through the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, established by the American Rescue Plan, will go a long way in helping our state recover from the economic damage done by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) introduced legislation to remove the bust of Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney from the U.S. Capitol building and replace it with a bust of Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall. Justice Taney was a Maryland native and served on the Supreme Court from 1836-1864 where he wrote the majority opinion in the infamous Dred Scott v. Sanfordcase. This ruling authored by Chief Justice Taney declared that Black Americans could not be citizens in the United States or awarded the same constitutional rights. His decision continues to be a stain on our nation’s history.

The American Rescue Plan is already helping accelerate vaccination efforts in our state and ensure restaurants in the Fifth District can keep their doors open and employees on the payroll.