In the midst of the craziness, I am thankful for the moments that remind me why legislators do what we do. On Wednesday, we honored three former Maryland Senators with First Citizen awards, celebrating their legacies of public service. The service of U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin, former Senator Shirley Nathan-Pulliam, and former Senator David Craig to the State of Maryland exemplify what it means to be a public servant. All of our residents are better off for their efforts and commitment to improving the lives of all Marylanders.
I was also lucky to have a new intern for one day only, my son Caleb. As I reflected on the paths that former legislators carved out and looked ahead to the work that still lies ahead of us this Session, I felt tremendously thankful that he was with me at that moment, witnessing democracy in action.
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FY22 Budget Clears the Senate |
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Yesterday, the Senate unanimously passed a balanced State budget for FY22. The $50.96 billion budget invests $7.5 billion in our K-12 education system to ensure every Maryland student has the tools necessary to succeed, funding to clean the environment, protect our communities, take care of our most vulnerable residents, and ensure Marylanders have easy access to health care. In addition, the budget ensures over $2.5 billion in reserves for long-term fiscal sustainability.
I am thankful for the hard work of Chair Guzzone and the Budget and Taxation Committee, who thoughtfully shaped the budget to integrate our forthcoming support from the federal government, make targeted investments, and promote Maryland’s long-term fiscal health.
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"Blueprint 2.0" Advancing |
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Last week, I wrote about the emergency bill that Speaker Jones and I have introduced to supplement the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future with measures specifically addressing the gaps left in Maryland’s school systems because of the pandemic. I am thankful for the hard work of the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs and Budget and Taxation Committees for their tireless work to advance the bill this week. The Committees added amendments to strengthen accountability measures and provide targeted student support. The bill has passed second reader on the floor and will pass the Senate early next week.
Underscoring the immediate and urgent need for the “Blueprint 2.0” bill, new data released shows dramatically rising failure rates in students’ course grades. Even with the tremendous efforts that teachers and school leaders are putting into supporting their students, both in-person and virtually, it is clear that additional structural supports are needed. This emergency bill will provide these vital resources to serve Maryland’s students’ short-term needs while taking vital steps to bridge the digital divide into the future.
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Police Reform Remains a Top Priority |
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As we head into the last few weeks of this year’s Legislative Session, passing a strong package of police reform bills remains a top priority. We cannot wait another session to bring trust, accountability, transparency to Maryland’s police system. Marylanders - community members and police alike - deserve a system of policing that will keep every person safe. I am continually thankful for the hard work of the Judicial Proceedings Committee, as they work with the House to pass a finalized and cohesive package of bills that can be sent to the Governor’s desk in the coming days.
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This week, Maryland moved into Phase 2A of vaccine eligibility, with all residents over the age of 60 now eligible for their shot. We are slowly making progress. The statewide vaccination rate is increasing, with about 13% of Marylanders being fully vaccinated and nearly a quarter of the population having received at least one dose of a vaccine. The State is also anticipating a massive increase in doses in the coming weeks and six new mass vaccination sites opening next month.
The Senate Vaccine Oversight Workgroup continues to advocate for greater accessibility on behalf of our most vulnerable Marylanders. During this week’s meeting, multiple Senators expressed concerns around ensuring our older population is vaccinated - less than 40% of residents 70-80 years old have been vaccinated and about 45% of those over 80 have received doses. As additional individuals are becoming eligible for vaccination appointments, we must ensure that no one is left behind and targeted solutions are implemented to broaden access to vaccine appointments for all eligible Marylanders.
Additionally, our State’s key COVID-19 metrics including daily cases, hospitalizations, and positivity rate have been inching upwards. Yesterday, Maryland reported 1,382 new cases, the most daily infections since early February and today's numbers are similarly above 1,300 new cases with an increasing positivity rate. For all Marylanders, even those who have been vaccinated, we need to continue doing our part with mask-wearing, social distancing, and minimizing gatherings. These more transmissible coronavirus variants are increasingly circulating, likely driving these numbers up.
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BCCC Bard Building to Become Green Space |
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While not a perfect or permanent solution,, I am thankful that the necessary funding will be set aside as the future of the site continues to be considered. Green space is invaluable in such a key location in the downtown area, not only for promoting residents’ health and well-being, but also for positively contributing to environmental factors such as minimizing air, water, and noise pollution.
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The Senate Vaccine Oversight Workgroup flagged three proposed contracts multiple times, questioning why emergency contracts were needed as a response to issues that the Department of Health had known about for months. As a result, the Maryland Board of Public Works delayed approving those contracts, with board members citing a lack of transparency around the details and value of the contracts.
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If there is anything we can do to help, please do not hesitate to contact my office via email, bill.ferguson@senate.state.md.us, or by phone, 410-841-3600.
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