Crossover!

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the week after “crossover.” This past Monday was the day when bills from one house must pass to the other with a guarantee of a hearing, without going through the Rules Committee. With fewer than 20 days left in session, there is an added urgency to the legislative process. Please see below for an update on the status of my legislative agenda, as well as updates on the eligibility for COVID19 vaccinations and important federal assistance.

Tragedies over the past week in Atlanta, Georgia and Boulder, Colorado remind us of the need for strong federal gun safety legislation and how much our language matters as anti-Asian hate crimes continue to rise. A few of my Asian-American colleagues shared their thoughts about these horrific incidents and their own experiences – even in our own General Assembly – about what it is like to face anti-Asian discrimination.

After many, many years and a long, drawn-out lawsuit, the General Assembly passed, and the Governor signed into law, a significant bill to bring equity to the world of higher education for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s). This is one of a series of important bills to address historic inequities.

As we celebrate this Maryland Day, recalling the day on which European settlers arrived on the shores of our great state, we hope you will let us know if we can be of any assistance to you.

Wishing you a lovely spring holiday season in celebration of Passover and Easter in the days ahead.

Stay safe & healthy!

Sincerely,