Dear Sharon,

I hope everyone is staying dry and warm as we head into Fall. I'm sure you also watched in sad disbelief and worry as Hurricane Ian made landfall across Florida and the Carolinas. Seeing the devastation caused by this storm made me grateful for the aggressive legislative action we've taken in Maryland to mitigate the climate crisis - but also extremely aware of the work that still needs to be done on the state, federal and international levels to build a greener, more sustainable future. I look forward to working with my colleagues towards that goal in the 2023 legislative session.

To help those in need after this disaster, you can donate to the Red Cross here or to the World Central Kitchen. Founded and led by D16 resident Chef Jose Andres, World Central Kitchen provides meals on the front lines of disasters and other humanitarian crisis situations worldwide.

REPRO UPDATE

Last month, we celebrated World Contraception Day on September 26 and International Safe Abortion Day on the 28th. Both days were created to improve awareness of all contraceptive methods that are currently available, advocate for safe, legal, and accessible options to prevent unwanted pregnancies, and empower young people to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health care.

I am proud of the work we’ve done in Maryland to advance these goals: In addition to the Abortion Care Access Act, of 2022, the Contraception Equity Act, which I passed in 2016 also with Senator Delores Kelley, requires health insurance to provide all forms of birth control (including vasectomies) with no cost sharing or deductibles. The bill also requires coverage of over-the-counter birth control which we are hopeful will soon become available if the FDA approves one pharmaceutical company's application for the first OTC birth control pill. Once the FDA acts, I hope other states will follow Maryland's lead and provide coverage to make this medication as accessible as possible, particularly those in states with decreased access to contraception following the Dobbs decision.

I continue to work with my colleagues in Annapolis and around the country to safeguard abortion & reproductive health care access. In September I joined a stakeholder meeting at the White House to discuss state legislative efforts to promote access in states where reproductive care remains legal; just last week I convened a strategy meting to discuss legislation for the 2023 Maryland General Assembly session to protect providers and patients. (This will most likely be accomplished through shield laws, as Baltimore Fishbowl reported.) I also had the honor of joining OBGYN Grand Rounds at the University of Maryland School of Medicine to discuss the impact of the Dobbs decision on providers. We are lucky to have such accomplished doctors with full freedom to practice reproductive and family medicine!

This Saturday, I will join Maryland AG candidate Rep. Anthony Brown, Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins (D20), and abortion providers and advocates in Rockville for a community discussion on abortion access.

State Attorneys General are key protectors of reproductive rights in this post Dobbs era so I am particularly grateful that our Democratic nominee has such a strong pro-choice record. Details are below and I hope you can join us for this great conversation. Please RSVP now!

THIS SATURDAY!

Community Discussion with

Maryland Attorney General Candidate Representative Anthony Brown

RSVP

PRESCRIPTION DRUG AFFORDABILITY

I had the good fortune to attend a Rose Garden ceremony last week to celebrate federal provisions that will lower healthcare costs for seniors. The Inflation Reduction Act included provisions to cap Medicare drug costs at $2000 and provide savings on insulin. The Biden Administration has also established free Shingles vaccines for seniors and over-the-counter access to hearing aids. As President Biden said at the event, “A little breathing room goes a long way for people on fixed incomes, " and I am thrilled we've taken these steps to reign in healthcare costs.

In my role as Vice Chair of the Health & Government Operations Committee, I also recently attended a briefing with Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board. Created in 2019, the Board is one of only six in the nation. I am so excited about the work they are doing and expect to see their first significant report on the prescription drug supply chain in late November. I am hopeful that Marylanders will start to see the results of their work very soon.

PUBLIC HEALTH UPDATE

Covid-19

Experts currently debate whether the pandemic is over but we are seeing hopeful signs. Deaths and hospitalizations from COVID worldwide are at their lowest levels since the beginning of the pandemic. What we do know is that vaccines and boosters are the most effective way to avoid serious illness. This NY times article explains who should get boosters and when and also who is dying most frequently. To schedule your vaccine or booster visit: covidlink.maryland.gov.

Monkeypox

So far there have been approximately 26,000 known cases of monkeypox in the US with 662 reported in Maryland. Almost 6500 Marylanders have received the monkeypox vaccine and the state recently expanded the eligibility criteria for receiving the vaccine. This CDC website is a good source for current information and news and for state specific information visit here.

Routine Care Reminder

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and I know that many of us fell behind on routine care during the pandemic. Consider this your friendly reminder to schedule a physical and any screening exams such as mammograms and colonoscopies that you may have missed.

Healthcare Workforce Crisis

The Healthcare Workforce Commission continues its series of meetings and recently explored the shortages of health professionals in our schools. The Commission will issue an interim report in the coming months, and I anticipate several pieces of legislation to be introduced as a result of the Commission's initial work.

In August, the Maryland Hospital Association released this report detailing the workforce shortages across the state and we will be reviewing their recommendations. In good news, last session I passed legislation to facilitate the transition of several thousand temporary nurse assistants hired during the pandemic to become certified nursing assistants and therefore, become eligible for long term employment. The Board of Nursing recently approved the pathway for this transition which will help our nursing homes with staffing challenges and provide a career pathway for these individuals.

November Elections

Election Day will be here before we know it and it's time to make your plans to vote!

Get Involved

Register to vote - It's easy to get registered in Maryland - check out this website for information on how to register online, in person or by mail.
Make a plan to vote - Whether in person during early voting, in person on Election Day or by mail, make a plan now and check out your options here. To request a mail-in ballot click here.
Volunteer- If you want to volunteer for the D16 team and the terrific slate of statewide Democratic candidates on the ballot this fall, send me an email. We'll be staffing the polls at early voting and on Election Day to go #AllBluein22. There is also a significant need for official workers. Click this link to learn about the positions and pay. Students over 16 can earn money or SSL hours.
Donate -- Campaigns costs money. Even when you run unopposed or are up by multiple digits in the polls! You can donate to our Democratic candidates here or to my campaign here.

On the Ballot

There will be many choices to make when casting your vote this year.

On the ballot are all state elected offices including Governor, Lt. Governor, Comptroller, Attorney General, all members of the Maryland General Assembly, circuit court judges, one of our US Senate seats and your federal Representative.

I'm so excited about all the Democratic nominees. We have an amazing lineup this year. You can listen to me sing their praises in this recent episode of the MD Dems Podcast.

Montgomery County residents will also be voting for county council and school board members. The League of Women Voters in Montgomery County has put together a terrific resource at vote411.org. Enter your address to be directed to information specific to your locale.

The D16 slate is running together as team - we hope we have earned your vote.

Also on the ballot in November are five proposed amendments to Maryland's constitution. Unlike the US Constitution, the Maryland constitution is long and detailed and we often make changes.

Here are the Constitutional questions on the ballot in 2022:

Question 1 - Renames the Courts - changes the name of the State’s Court of Special Appeals to the “Maryland Appellate Court and the Court of Appeals would become “the Supreme Court of Maryland."
Question 2 - Changes residency requirements for state legislators - requires that candidates must reside in their districts for at least six months prior to election day.
Question 3 - Increases threshold for Jury Trials - raises the threshold for a jury trial from $15,000 to $25,000. Proponents argue the higher threshold will increase judicial efficiency allowing lower cost cases to be decided more quickly by a judge. Opponents argue it limits access to the courts.
Question 4 - Legalizes cannabis– considers whether adult recreational use should be legal in Maryland as it is in 18 other states and the District of Columbia.
Question 5 - Howard County Judges - amends the state constitution to require that Howard County Circuit Court judges also serve as Orphans' Court court judges. Currently, only Montgomery and Hartford County judges serve as judges on the Orphans' Court. (In case you were wondering, the Orphans' Court administers the estates of the deceased.)

You can find additional information on the ballot questions here.

Where/When Can I Vote?

Early voting is October 27 through November 3 and is available from 7 am until 8 pm. You can vote at any of the early voting locations in Montgomery County and here are the locations in D16:

Jane E. Lawton Community Center - 4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase
Potomac Community Recreation Center -11315 Falls Road, Potomac

Mail-in ballots can be requested until November 1 at iwillvote.com and secure drop off boxes can be found at many locations around the County You can also text "BOX" and your zip code to 77788 to be directed to the closest drop box.

If you prefer to cast your vote in person, elections take place on November 8 and this handy link will help you find your polling place.

Montgomery County Delegation

Each fall, the Montgomery County Delegation holds a series of meetings to discuss our priorities for the coming session. You can participate in these meetings and help shape our work. Find details and dates on this website Montgomerycountydelegation.com under the calendar section.

UPCOMING EVENTS

October 8 - 10 am - Community Discussion on Abortion Access
October 11 - 7 pm - MDOT Presentation on CTP
October 22 - 10 am - Potomac Day Parade
October 27 - Early Voting Begins
November 1 - Deadline to request a mail-in ballot
November 3- - Early Voting Ends
November 8 - Election Day
November 15 - Joint Committee on Children Youth and Families Fall Meeting
November 15 - Montgomery County Priorities Hearing
December 8 and 15 - Local and Bi-County Bill Hearings

I hope to see you out and about this fall. If you'd like to march with us in the Potomac Day parade, please reach out. It's a short route perfect for children and seniors and tons of fun!

As always, please don't hesitate to reach out to my office if you need help with a state agency or want to share a policy concern. During the interim, the best way to reach my office is via email at [email protected].

Best,