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Recent News
Community Meeting to Discuss the Affordable Care Act and Helping Marylanders Save Money on Their Health Care Premiums
Earlier this week, I hosted a community meeting with civic, community, non-profit, and faith-based organizations to discuss the enrollment process that will go into effect under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Representatives from the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, known as Maryland Health Connection, were on-hand to provide up-to-date information on the implementation of the ACA in Maryland and the health insurance options that will soon be available. Consumers will be able to sign up for health care plans beginning October 1, 2013, with coverage beginning January 1, 2014.
I am also particularly glad a provision I authored in this law to address price gouging has been used by the Maryland Health Insurance Commissioner to reduce unjustifiable premium rate increases. Thanks to the authority given in that provision, Commissioner Goldsmith approved premiums for Maryland’s new health benefit exchange program at levels as much as 33 percent below what had been requested by the insurance companies. As a result, Maryland’s rates are among the lowest in the nation so far. This will save consumers millions of dollars, and is just one way health care reform continues to benefit our state as we prepare for October 1st.
According to the Maryland Insurance Administration, key features of these new healthcare plans will include:
- Comprehensive care, including coverage of essential health benefits. Essential health benefits include outpatient and inpatient care, mental health and substance abuse treatment, laboratory testing and radiology, and prescription drug coverage;
- Recommended preventive services, available free of charge;
- A cap on out-of-pocket expenses;
- No lifetime or yearly dollar limits on coverage;
- For the first time in the individual market, no Marylander can be rejected for coverage on the basis of his or her health status (elimintating discrimination of those with pre-exsiting conditions).
Please visit Maryland Health Connection for more information.
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Grants For Transportation Of Veterans In Highly Rural Areas
Description:
Pursuant to section 307 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, VA “shall establish a grant program to provide innovative transportation options to veterans in highly rural areas.” To comply with section 307, VA will award grants to eligible recipients to assist veterans in highly rural areas through innovative transportation services to travel to VA medical centers and to other VA and non-VA facilities in connection with the provision of VA medical care. Please refer to the Final Rule, published in the Federal Register (78 FR 19586) on April 2, 2013, which is codified in 38 CFR 17.700 through 17.730, for detailed information and requirements for the Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas Program.
Synopsis:
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Document Type: Modification to Previous Grants Notice
Funding Opportunity Number: VA-HRTG-2014
Opportunity Category: Discretionary
Posted Date: Jul 09, 2013
Creation Date: Jul 12, 2013
Original Closing Date for Applications: Sep 09, 2013
Current Closing Date for Applications: Sep 09, 2013
Funding Instrument Type: Grant
Category of Funding Activity: Transportation
Expected Number of Awards: 55
Estimated Total Program Funding: $3,000,000
Award Ceiling: $50,000
CFDA Number(s): 64.035 -- Veterans Transportation Program
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No
Link for additional information: Recorded Informational Webinar
If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:
Darren Wallace,
National Coordinator Highly Rural Transportation Grants
Phone: 404-828-5380
Point of Contact |
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For more grants, please click here.
Joined Leader Pelosi and Other House Democratic Women to Launch Economic Agenda for America's Women & Families: ‘When Women Succeed, America Succeeds'
This month I joined Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA), and other House Democratic women to announce: When Women Succeed, America Succeeds: An Economic Agenda for Women and Families. This agenda incorporates policies to address real economic needs facing women and their families: ensuring equal pay for equal work, promoting work and family balance, and providing access to quality, affordable child care.
 We know women today are concerned about securing a work-life balance that allows them to meet their career and family responsibilities, and that includes paid sick leave. The United States remains the only developed nation that does not offer paid family and medical leave – a unfair policy that must be addressed. As leaders in this Congress, we are engaging women where they are to build our foundation by extending the Family and Medical Leave Act and continuing to lay pathways to economic security for all women.
“This agenda is about the future of America’s families and the growth of America’s economy,” said Leader Pelosi. “When women earn equal pay, we know America’s economy will prosper. When women can have fairness and balance between work and family, we know American society will thrive. It is about unleashing the power of our nation’s women and, in doing so, strengthening the middle class – the backbone of our democracy. And when all women succeed, we know America succeeds.”
For additional information, please click here.
The GOP's Latest Farm Bill Is a Disgrace
In June, the House rejected the GOP’s first attempt to pass a farm bill, not because it cut over $20 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), but because it didn’t cut enough according to House Republicans. So as a result, the bill that passed the House without a single Democratic vote, eliminated provisions funding SNAP entirely. SNAP is a critical program that feeds millions of hungry children and families across the United States.
Below is the statement I released after that disgraceful vote:
“In June, the House failed to pass a farm bill when my Republican colleagues decided to place partisan policies ahead of America’s farmers and families. Last night, House Republicans decided stunningly to double down on those policies by eliminating SNAP provisions to feed hungry families, including 200,000 in Maryland, in the hopes that this would garner more Republican support. This is an unbelievable statement about the current nature of the farm bill and the make-up of the House Republican Conference, which is divided over whether it even wants this bill to go to conference on the off chance that the Congress might enact a law. Yet, while Republicans continue to play politics with a historically nonpartisan bill, they threaten the nation’s farmers, ranchers, food safety, and the 16 million American jobs linked directly to the agriculture industry.
“There is a bipartisan solution that supports America’s farmers, maintains our nutrition programs, advances real reform to crop insurance, and provides strong investments in renewable energies. Unfortunately, the American people have once again played spectator to a Republican sideshow that has no chance of becoming law. That’s a shame.”
Letter to the Editor Published in the Washington Post
Helping hungry families
Published: July 12
The July 7 front-page article “Driving away hunger” highlighted the need to aggressively defend food programs for families and children. Through soup kitchens, free and reduced-price lunch programs and free snack and backpack programs, some children have reliable food resources. Tragically, many of the nation’s children are still hungry.
The version of the farm bill recently passed by the House threatens to exacerbate this tragedy by excluding, for the first time in 40 years, funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for millions of low-income individuals and families. Republicans severed agriculture from nutrition to garner even more support from their conference after failing previously to pass a bill with more than $20 billion in SNAP cuts. The passage of this bill deals a harmful blow to the more than 47 million Americans and more than 766,000 Marylanders who rely on SNAP benefits.
American families and children deserve programs that offer healthy, nutritional meals critical to development and learning. I urge Congress to pass legislation that supports nutrition programs for families and children.
Donna F. Edwards, Washington
Introduced Legislation to Authorize NASA and Return Agency to Path of Greatness
As the Ranking Member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee’s Subcommittee on Space, I introduced H.R. 2616, the NASA Authorization Act of 2013. NASA is critical to the Nation and its economic strength. This Authorization bill is a vitally important opportunity to set the policy direction and authorize the funding needed to ensure America’s global leadership in space. Unfortunately, in the past few years, NASA has been asked to do more despite being provided with fewer resources. This is intolerable as NASA is the nation’s crown jewel for spurring innovation, highly-skilled and good paying jobs, and inspiring the next generation of scientists. This fiscally responsible bill puts NASA back on track to greatness and provides flexibility in how the agency is to implement engineering and scientific details.
Important provisions in the bill include:
- Preserving NASA’s purchasing power relative to Fiscal Year 2012 enacted levels by authorizing $18.1 billion;
- Providing a clear goal of a crewed mission to the surface of Mars and requiring a roadmap that identifies intermediate destinations and activities which contribute to enabling achievement of that goal;
- Recognizing the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion crew vehicle as the highest priorities for carrying out the Mars goal;
- Providing robust funding for commercial crew system development of $700 million per year;
- Maintaining U.S. commitment to International Space Station (ISS) operations through 2020 and initiating a process for determining if and how long the ISS should operate beyond 2020;
- Restoring Planetary Science to $1.5 billion in annual funding following recent cuts to the program;
- Maintaining a sound Earth Science program that ensures observing systems development, and advances research, knowledge, and applied data uses that benefit society;
- Sustaining a stable aeronautics research program, consistent with FY 2012 enacted levels, that supports research priorities, strategic initiatives, and flight demonstrations;
- Investing in space technology to enable future missions, spur innovation, and contribute to economic growth and job-creation; and
- Sustaining NASA’s STEM education activities and continuing agency education and outreach activities supported by scientists and engineers.
Encouraging Students to Embrace the STEM Fields at Science Camp
I enjoyed the opportunity to attend the Harris Summer Science Camp, held at Bowie State University. Founded by former astronaut Dr. Bernard Harris Jr., it has impacted over 7,000 students since 2006. The camps encourage our next generation of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) students; motivate youth to stay in school; foster leadership and citizenship; and instill responsibility, fairness and respect. It was wonderful to see so many children excited about STEM fields.
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Attended Health Care Informational Town Hall
In addition to the community meeting I hosted regarding Maryland Health Connection sign-up beginning October 1, I also attended recently an informational town hall at Mt. Nebo Church. Organized by the Afro American Newspaper, the presenters offered useful information about the sign-up process, what plans will cover, and the resources that will be available to answer questions and help people get signed up. This is part of an ongoing effort among numerous stakeholders to help spread the word ahead of October 1st.
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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: |
Anne Arundel County District Office Open House
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| When: |
August 24, 2013
9:00 am – 11:00 am
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| Where: |
877 Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard
Ritchie Court Office Building, Unit 101
Severna Park, MD 21146
Map It!
RSVP by August 14, 2013 to
4MDDistrictRSVP@mail.house.gov |
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| What: |
Job Fair
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| When: |
August 29, 2013
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
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| Where: |
Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex
8001 Sheriff Road
Landover, MD 20785
Map It!
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| What: |
Coffee Conversation
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| When: |
September 7, 2013
9:00 am to 10:00 am
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| Where: |
Einstein Bagels
595 Governor Ritchie Hwy
Severna Park, MD 21146
Map It!
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| What: |
5th Annual College and Career Fair
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| When: |
Saturday, October 19, 2013
8:30 am - 1:00 pm
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| Where: |
Oxon Hill High School
6701 Leyte Drive
Oxon Hill, MD, 20745
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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