Dear Neighbors,

I hope this message finds you healthy and ready to tackle the challenges of 2022. We are seeing an unprecedented rise in COVID cases around the country. With its high vaccination rates, Montgomery County is faring better than others in the state however, our case rate is 2137 per 100,000 residents (that's up from 55 per 100,000 in early December) due to the highly contagious nature of the Omicron variant.

While many cases are asymptomatic or mild, your best protection is to be vaccinated and boosted. 74% of those hospitalized with COVID in Maryland are unvaccinated. Those who are vaccinated and boosted represent only 2% of those needing critical care. For your own health, your loved ones and to help our healthcare heroes, please do your part and get vaccinated. To find a clinic visit this website or call 1-855-634-6829.

The state is ramping up testing capacity and increasing the availability of home tests. Visit here for more information on testing. You can find specific information about testing options in Montgomery County here.

In addition, the County Health Department will be distributing at-home rapid test kits for free at public libraries across the County including Davis Library (11-2), Little Falls (11-2), and Connie Morella Library-Bethesda (4-7). Visit this website for information on distribution policies and sites.

Emerging research indicates the Omicron variant may show up later (possibly 3 days later) on rapid antigen tests than other Covid variants. While these tests are an extremely useful tool, if you are demonstrating Covid symptoms, please still self-isolate and re-test in a few days. I have heard from a number of constituents that their initial rapid test was negative, but after a few days changed to positive.

The fundraising deadline is TOMORROW. Can you please support my re-election by contributing to my campaign TODAY? Your support is greatly appreciated!

2022 is an election year, and elected officials are unable to fundraise during legislative session- which starts Wednesday! So in order to raise the money I need for my campaign I really need your support today!

Our pandemic response will continue to dominate policy decisions and debates during the upcoming session. Significant federal investments coming to the state will leave us with a sizable budget surplus. After we restore our rainy day fund, we will look at the best way to invest in transportation, education, healthcare, and the environment.

I have three main priorities for this session:

• Addressing the healthcare workforce crisis. After nearly two years of Covid, our healthcare workforce is exhausted, overworked and feeling under-appreciated. A recent Maryland survey found 60% of nurses have considered leaving the profession in recent months. Our hospitals and long-term care facilities are struggling to maintain their workforces which impacts patient care. We must take action to address the immediate crisis and look at ways to bolster this workforce in the future.

• Expanding access to safe and affordable reproductive healthcare. With the Supreme Court expected to severely limit or overturn Roe v. Wade this spring, we must act now to ensure Maryland remains a state where the full range of reproductive health care services are available and accessible to all. 26 states are poised to ban or severely limit abortion- which puts significant pressure on providers in pro-choice states like Maryland where we already face provider shortages and affordability issues. 2 in 3 Maryland counties have no abortion provider. The Abortion Care and Access Act of 2022 will address provider shortages and gaps in insurance coverage so the legal right to reproductive healthcare in Maryland does not become an empty promise.

• Oversight and Communications about Covid in Maryland. My role as Chair of the Health Occupations and Long Term Care Subcommittee and as a member of the Health and Government Operations Committee leadership team give me responsibility for continued oversight of the state's pandemic response. I have heard from many of you that my regular newsletters on Covid during the 2021 legislative session were extremely helpful. In this session, I will continue to publish regular newsletters to ensure the community stays up to date on Covid in Maryland.

I will also continue my work on behalf of children with disabilities, expanding access to mental health services, and protecting our seniors. I will also introduce legislation to expand student voter registration, and serve as lead co-sponsor on the Time To Care Act, Maryland's long-awaited Paid Family Leave legislation.