Dutch's Blog
Remember Fallen Officers with "Blue Alert"
May 15, 2013 11:48 AMToday, flags around the country are being flown at half-staff in recognition of National Peace Officers Memorial Day, which pays tribute to federal, state and local police officers who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty. Yesterday, the House of Representatives marked the occasion a day early by passing new legislation establishing a Blue Alert to notify the public when a suspect is being sought for seriously injuring or killing a law enforcement officer in the line...Continue Reading
New Dundalk center offers free services for local veterans
May 14, 2013 11:55 AMMany elected officials will tell you that taking care of our veterans and their families is one of their highest priorities. I see it not only as a priority, but an obligation.When I am overseas, I meet with the men and women on the frontlines, living in remote places far from home and putting their lives on the line to protect our country and our way of life. Unfortunately, for those lucky enough to return home, actions that seem basic...Continue Reading
New Super Computing Center Underway at NSA
May 6, 2013 4:24 PMToday, I had the privilege of breaking ground on a new super-computing center at the National Security Agency at Fort Meade. The center will help the dedicated workers of NSA better detect incoming cyber attacks against the computer networks that keep our troops safe on the frontlines and guard our national security secrets.I was joined by Senator Barbara Mikulski, who worked with me to secure the federal funding necessary to build this state-of-the-art facility, which is set to open in...Continue Reading
Remembering Yeardley Love
May 3, 2013 12:47 PMToday marks the third anniversary of the heartbreaking loss of Yeardley Love, a Cockeysville native and student of the University of Virginia whose life was cut short by an abusive boyfriend. I had the privilege of meeting with Yeardley’s mother, Sharon, last week and was impressed with her courageous work to end relationship violence in her daughter’s memory. I was floored to learn just how pervasive this challenge is. More than 2 million people are physically assaulted by an intimate partner...Continue Reading
Constituent Success Story: The Green Family
April 22, 2013 1:01 PMThis week, I was honored to have the opportunity to serve a new Second District constituent from Jessup. Mrs. C.I. Green, an Army veteran and mother of an autistic child, contacted our office for help expediting a benefits claim with the Veterans Administration.Mrs. Green was deployed in the 101st Airborne Air Assault at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. Her husband, also an Army veteran, served tours in Italy, Germany and Bosnia. Several months behind on their mortgage and facing foreclosure, the...Continue Reading
Golf: More Jobs, Lower Healthcare Costs?
April 16, 2013 3:36 PMI’ve always loved sports – especially lacrosse, football and baseball – and, on occasion, golf. Now that I’m in public office, I’ve come to realize that the golf course isn’t just a place to broker deals or enjoy a few hours in the sun. Here in Maryland, golf generates more than 14,000 jobs and has a $1.3 billion economic impact.More golf by the numbers:2 million: Jobs supported by golf in America. $176.8 billion: Golf’s total impact on the American economy.2,000:...Continue Reading
Supporting Medical Research and Maryland Jobs
April 8, 2013 3:59 PMToday, dozens of doctors, scientists, and students from the University of Maryland School of Medicine rallied in downtown Baltimore in support of medical research funding. The event was part of a national “Day of Action” drawing attention to the work the National Institutes of Health does to save lives and inspire hope. Medical research is our best hope for finding cures, improving treatments and gaining a better understanding of the complex causes of diseases that affect millions of Americans. But here...Continue Reading
Healthcare Reform Working for Marylanders
March 22, 2013 1:26 PMIt’s hard to believe that tomorrow marks the third anniversary of the landmark Affordable Care Act, which is already benefitting thousands of Marylanders and reducing healthcare costs for Americans. I supported this law three years ago and I support it today. Nationwide, this law is already preventing insurance companies from dropping you if you get sick, banning lifetime coverage limits and ending discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions. Maryland has received $157.5 million in grants to establish a marketplace of...Continue Reading
New Center to Help APG Workers With Commute
March 13, 2013 2:40 PMYesterday, I helped launch of a new transportation center at Aberdeen Proving Ground in our district. This new center will encourage APG’s workers to get out of their cars and take advantage of federal incentives for using commuter rail, busses and even van pools – alternatives that can save time, money and our planet.Ever since we got the news in 2005 that tens of thousands of new jobs will be heading to Maryland as part of the base realignment process...Continue Reading
Supporting "real" protection for all women
February 28, 2013 12:11 PMToday, I proudly voted to support what I am calling the “real” Violence Against Women Act – a traditionally noncontroversial bill that improves the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women. The Act works: We’ve seen a 60 percent decrease in domestic violence since it first passed in 1994. The Senate recently passed its version of this bill in an overwhelming, bipartisan vote. Today, a few members of the House tried to pass a different version that rolls back protections...Continue Reading
