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Recent News
CONGRESSWOMAN DONNA F. EDWARDS TO HOST HER
4TH ANNUAL NONPROFIT FAIR
This one-day nonprofit forum will bring together nonprofit, government, and foundation leaders with diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds, to develop winning strategies to strengthen lives and communities. This event will offer twenty distinct training sessions with recognized subject matter experts on four separate tracks: Build It!, Grow It!, Fund It!, and Sustain It!
Hopefully you can attend the whole event, but if you can only come for a session, below is a draft agenda with times and session topics to help plan your day.
Please share this with your family, friends, and colleagues and look forward to seeing you on Monday, June 10, 2013, at Anne Arundel Community College.
Your Nonprofit: Build It! Grow It! Fund It! Sustain It!
Monday, June 10, 2013
8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Anne Arundel Community College
CADE CENTER FOR FINE ARTS - ROOM 219
101 College Parkway, Arnold, Maryland 21012
Map It!
RSVP to 4mddistrictrsvp@mail.house.gov with NONPROFIT FORUM in the subject line.
For more information, please call (301) 516-7601.
Schedule of Events
If you would like to view a PDF of the agenda online, click here. |
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Grant Spotlight
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Homeless Female Veterans' and Veterans with Families Reintegration Program
Description: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) has announced a grant competition for the Homeless Veterans Registration Program. The program is authorized to provide job training, counseling, and placement services (including job readiness, literacy, and skills training) to expedite the reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force. The funds available in this competition are focused on homeless female veterans and homeless veterans with families.
Synopsis:
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Funding Opportunity Number: SGA-13-02
Current Closing Date for Applications: Jun 14, 2013
Award Ceiling: $300,000
CFDA Number(s): 17.805 -- Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No
Link for additional information: click here
If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:
Cassandra Mitchell
Grants Management Specialist
Phone 202-693-4570 mitchell.cassandra@dol.gov |
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For more grants, please click here.
Fighting on Behalf of America’s Working Families
Earlier this month, I voted against H.R. 1406, the deceptively titled “Working Families Flexibility Act”. The legislation passed the House by a vote of 223-204.
Thankfully, this bill, which has been considered several times before in previous Congresses, will meet the same fate as before. It will not become law. This legislation would in fact reduce employees’ flexibility and wages, to the detriment of women and working families.
We should be focusing on policies that actually help American families: equal pay for equal work, college affordability, paid sick leave, and affordable child care. But the truth is that this bill is really about providing flexibility to employers to get more work for less pay from their employees – workings families aren’t buying it, and House Republicans should stop trying to sell it.
Why I Voted Against Making College More Expensive
This month I also voted against the Republican sponsored student loan bill, H.R. 1911. On July 1st, student loan rates will double from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent if Congress fails to act. However, rather than work with Democrats to prevent this increase, the House Republican Majority introduced legislation which, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, would in fact make college more expensive for students and parents than if Congress did nothing. The bill would set variable interest rates for student loans tied to 10-year Treasury notes +2.5 percent for Stafford and +4.5 percent for PLUS loans. Under this legislation, students who borrow the maximum amount of subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans over five years would pay nearly $2,000 more in interest costs than if interest rates doubled. The bill passed the House by a vote of 221-198.
America’s families simply cannot afford making student loan more expensive. That is why I proposed two amendments to reduce the cap for Stafford and PLUS loans, and further reduce the cap for Stafford loans for students pursuing the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. Our economy requires that we curtail unaffordable student loan debt while incentivizing students to join a workforce that will ensure the United States’ competitiveness in the 21st century. I urge Congress to work towards a long-term higher education bill.
My decision to attend Wake Forest University then law school came at a cost of $100,000 - a quarter of that was a result of interest and service fees. I understand personally that we need a short- and long-term solution to college affordability, but it is irresponsible to, at a time when a college education is more important and expensive than ever, to place more of a burden on our students and parents.
Women’s Caucus Honoring Memorial Day and Fighting Sexual Assault in the Military
I and fellow members of the Women’s Caucus took part in the 16th Annual Women in the Military Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery. This event honored our nation’s servicewomen and women veterans for their courage and achievements, and remembered women who have died while on duty serving the United States. It was an honor to meet and spend time with incredible women who are serving our nation.
A few days before Memorial Day, as a Co-Chair of the Women’s Caucus, I also joined with Women’s Policy, Inc. to organize a briefing for other women Members on sexual assault in the military. Representatives from the military and advocates were present to discuss steps they are taking to address this critical issue. My colleagues and I are dedicated to ensuring that sexual assault is not tolerated and those responsible are held accountable.
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| Rep. Edwards speaks with co-owner Adam Ashley, Chief Technology Officer of M-Edge in Odenton, during a recent small business listening tour. |
Small Business Listening Tours in Anne Arundel County
This month I had the great opportunity to go on two small business listening tours, visiting businesses in Gambrills, Crofton, and Odenton in Anne Arundel County. Accompanied by Claire Louder, President & CEO of the West County Chamber of Commerce in Odenton, I met and talked with over a dozen small business owners to learn about their businesses, what is working, and challenges they are facing. I was also joined by Jerry Walker, Councilman for Crofton, at several businesses and we found it inspiring to see the passion and dedication these owners have to building successful businesses, helping their employees, and strengthening their communities. I look forward to continuing my visits to small businesses throughout the 4th Congressional District.
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Teach For America
I visited recently Fairmont Heights High School in Prince George’s County where I taught an algebra lesson to ninth graders in Teach For America teacher Brett Stidham’s classroom. The visit was part of Teach For America Week, a national event that brings prominent local leaders into schools and classrooms to support educational excellence for all children.
I applaud the work of Teach For America in Prince George’s County and the D.C. metro region to help improve educational outcomes and reduce achievement gaps. I was encouraged to see a classroom filled with students excited about math and equipped with the tools necessary to succeed. Preparing our students in the STEM fields is critical to competing in a 21st-century global economy, which begins with a world-class education system. As part of National Teacher Appreciation Week, I want to say thank you to all the teachers in Maryland’s 4th District who dedicate themselves every day to educating our young people.
“We were honored to host Congresswoman Edwards’ classroom experience during Teach For America Week,” said Ahnna Smith, executive director of Teach For America-D.C. Region. “She serves as a strong role model and leader, helping create the conditions for excellent education in every classroom.”
This year in the D.C. region, more than 300 Teach For America corps members are reaching some 16,000 students in underserved schools, while 1,800 alumni are working from every sector to level the playing field for students and families in low-income communities.
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Heritage Harbour Visit
I had an enjoyable time meeting with residents of the Heritage Harbour Civic Association just outside Annapolis. We discussed a variety of issues, including Social Security, Medicare, and the future of retirement investments. Thank you to Frank Gould, president of the association, for the opportunity to meet with homeowners and I look forward to visiting again soon.
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Below is information regarding several events I will be hosting in the upcoming weeks and months. If you have any questions, please call Selena Singleton at (301) 516-7601 or visit www.donnaedwards.house.gov for more future events.
| What: |
Coffee Conversation – Prince George’s County |
| When: |
June 8, 2013
10:00 am – 11:00 am
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| Where: |
La Chapina Bakery
1400 University Boulevard East
La Union Hall
Hyattsville, MD 20783
Map It! |
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| What: |
Coffee Conversation – Anne Arundel County |
| When: |
July 13, 2013
9:00 am – 10:00 am
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| Where: |
Bean Rush Café
1015 Generals Highway
Crownsville, MD 21032
Map It! |
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| What: |
Rep. Edwards to Host Job Fair |
| When: |
Thursday, August 29, 2013
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
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| Where: |
Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex
8001 Sherriff Road,
Hyattsville, MD 20785
Map It! |
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Please feel free to forward this information to your family and friends. To learn more about these efforts, to express your views, or to sign up for email updates, please visit my website. You can also connect with me on Facebook and Twitter.
Sincerely,
Donna
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Washington, D.C. Office
2445 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-8699 main
202-225-8714 fax
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Prince George's County Office
5001 Silver Hill Road
Suite 106
Suitland, Maryland 20746
301-516-7601 main
301-516-7608 fax
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