Message to Constituents
U.S. Congressman Elijah E. Cummings
July 27, 2005
Dear Constituent:
It is both a privilege and an honor to represent you in the United States Congress. While serving you, I will continue my outreach efforts to inform you of legislative action. I welcome your advice. Government “by the people” is the cornerstone of my legislative philosophy.
To better serve you closer to home, I invite you to visit or contact one of my district offices, listed on the following pages. In Howard County, my staff and I make regular outreach visits at various community centers. We look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Elijah E. Cummings
Member of Congress
Contents:
I. Announcements
II. Representing the 7th Congressional District in Washington
III. Addressing Key National Issues
IV. Grants to the 7th Congressional District
V. Office Hours and Locations
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I. Announcements
Congressman Cummings to Host Seminar for Minority Business Owners
Congressman Cummings invites minority and women entrepreneurs to join him for a seminar to discuss business opportunities associated with the East Baltimore Development /Biotechnology Park Initiative. The meeting will take place on Wednesday, August 10, 2005, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at Sojourner-Douglass College, located at 200 North Central Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland, 21202.
The purpose of this meeting is to provide up-to-date information regarding the East Baltimore Development Project - including the most recent procurement opportunities related to the redevelopment and a schedule of momentum building activities associated with Phase One of the project. The first phase of the project includes the development of a new Life Sciences and Technology Park, new housing, retail businesses, and parking for the initial 31 acres of the revitalization area.
During this meeting, business owners will have the opportunity to dialogue with the master development team for Phase One (Forest City-New East Baltimore Partnership, LLC, a joint venture between Forest City Enterprises and the minority-owned Presidential Partners, LLC), and the general contracting team under subcontract to Forest City, chosen to coordinate construction of the first building of the Life Sciences and Technology Park (Hensel Phelps Construction Company).
"One of the key initiatives of the East Baltimore Biotech Project is the Minority Inclusion Agreement, which ensures that minority-owned firms have a significant financial stake in the outcome of the redevelopment project and participate at all levels of development," Congressman Cummings said. "This meeting is one of a series of forums I will continue to host throughout the East Baltimore Development process to help facilitate the adherence to the terms of the Agreement.”
II. Representing Maryland's 7th Congressional District in Washington
Congressman Cummings Votes Against Reauthorization of the PATRIOT Act
On Thursday, July 21, Congressman Cummings was joined by 170 of his colleagues in voting against the passage of the USA PATRIOT Act and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2005 ( H.R. 3199).
The bill extends and modifies the original USA PATRIOT Act that was passed in 2001 in an effort to help law enforcement agencies fight terrorism. Congressman Cummings voted against both the original and reauthorization bills because they grant broad police powers with significantly weakened constitutional protections.
Specifically, Congressman Cummings opposed several provisions included in
both the PATRIOT Act and its reathorization that would allow law enforcement to:
• Access a person’s bookstore and library records;
• Conduct roving wiretaps;
• Authorize Internet service providers to disclose customer communications in
emergency situations; and
• Monitor activities of law-abiding groups.
“Since the original law was passed in October 2001, there have been several instances of abuse of the law, where innocent citizens and citizen groups have been marked as terrorists and had their civil liberties violated,” Congressman Cummings said.
For example, he noted the FBI has thousands of pages of records in its files relating to the monitoring of civil rights, environmental and similar advocacy groups. The organizations include the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Greenpeace.
“These groups believe they are being targeted for opposing President Bush’s policies regarding the environment, the war in Iraq and other issues,” Congressman Cummings said. “This has nothing to do with terrorism, nevertheless, the PATRIOT Act has allows law enforcement to monitor groups who have the right to peacefully assemble without government intrusion.”
The legislation will now go to the Senate, which has been working on its own version of the bill. As Congress considers a final bill, Congressman Cummings said that he would work with his colleagues to push for an alternative that provides a balance between fighting terrorism and preserving civil liberties and freedoms.
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Comment Period on Baltimore Bus Initiative Closes; Maryland Transit Administration Announces Changes to the Bus Initiative
Congressman Cummings has continued to push for changes in the Maryland Transit Administration’s (MTA) Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative (GBBI). The GBBI is a plan developed by the MTA that would make extensive changes to the existing schedule and routes of the MTA’s core bus service in Baltimore City and the commuter bus lines that serve surrounding communities.
In advance of the July 21 close of the legal comment period on the GBBI, Congressmen Cummings, joined by his colleagues Reps. Benjamin L. Cardin, and C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger, again called on the Ehrlich Administration to issue data comparing the existing MTA schedule with the schedule that would result from the implementation of the GBBI on such measures as total number of buses in service, and the total miles and hours of bus service.
While the Ehrlich Administration declined to extend the public comment period and has not publicly issued the data requested by the Congressmen, the MTA announced that it will not implement all of the changes originally planned under the GBBI. Instead, the MTA will implement what is described as a limited program of changes in October and will continue to evaluate routes and schedules and subsequently implement additional changes in a phased-in approach.
In an interview with the Baltimore Sun, Congressman Cummings said, “To (Maryland Secretary of Transportation Robert) Flanagan’s credit, he saw what was happening and I thought he listened.
The Congressman added, “I don’t think this is some gift from the administration. We’ve got to remain vigilant.”
Congressman Cummings also urged the MTA to respond to the thousands of public comments that have already been submitted on the GBBI.
“I truly hope that the MTA will listen to riders’ concerns - including the special concerns of students, the elderly, and the disabled - and revise proposed route changes so that the schedule implemented in the fall will more effectively serve their transportation needs.”
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Rep. Cummings Comments on President Bush's Visit to the Baltimore Port
Congressman Cummings, who serves as a Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, commented on President Bush’s visit to the Port of Baltimore on July 20 to discuss port security and other issues.
"I am pleased that President Bush visited the Port of Baltimore, which is essential to the economy of our city, our state and indeed, our nation. The President's visit brings much-warranted attention to the many accomplishments our Port has achieved,” Congressman Cummings said.
He noted that the Port provides nearly 16,000 direct jobs and its public terminals handle approximately 7 million short tons of cargo volume annually. A recent survey found that the Port of Baltimore ranked eighth among all U.S. ports in dollar value of cargo handled.
Congressman Cummings said, "Despite its critical role in our nation's transportation infrastructure, since the September 11th terrorist attacks, the Port has been awarded only $11 million in federal port security grant funds - an amount that lags far behind what is needed to provide adequate security against potential threats.”
Recent news reports have highlighted some of the disturbing shortcomings that still exist in securing the Port of Baltimore and other ports around the nation. This reflects the continued underfunding of port security. In 2003, for example, U.S. ports requested nearly $997 million in federal port security grant funding -- while only $245 million was awarded.
Further, there is a growing gap between federal funding for U.S. port security and aviation security. While aviation security received $4.6 billion in appropriations for the fiscal year 2006 budget, the nation's ports have received only $650 million in federal port security funding since 2001.
"It is imperative that we adequately fund the security systems in place at our nation’s 300 ports and develop the systems and technology necessary to identify dangerous cargo in containers without impeding the flow of commerce,” Congressman Cummings said.
Right now, less than 5 percent of the 9 million containers arriving at our nation's ports are physically inspected.
“I urge the Bush Administration to begin showing support for port security -- and to transit and railroad security -- which deserve the same type of attention that has thus far been reserved for aviation security."
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Congressman Cummings Remarks Upon the Nomination of Judge John Roberts to the U.S. Supreme Court
When President Bush nominated Circuit Court Judge John G. Roberts, Jr. to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, Congressman Cummings expressed concern about Judge Roberts' judicial experience and some of the controversial positions he argued as an attorney.
“Although I am still reviewing Judge Roberts' record, there do appear to be reasons for concern. Supreme Court Justices serve for life. They have the power to dramatically influence the questions that are central to the lives of all Americans - questions about free speech, religious liberty and privacy, as well as economic issues like workers rights, opportunities for Americans who are struggling to overcome disabilities and affirmative action."
Although Judge Roberts does not demonstrate a heavily controversial record, legal groups have expressed concern about his position on women’s rights, environmental protection, civil rights, the separation of church and state, as well as his modest judicial experience.
Congressman Cummings then urged the Senate to give Judge Roberts' nomination a probing, fair, and deliberate review that will fulfill its constitutional role.
“The Senate must review Judge Roberts’ record to determine if he has a demonstrated commitment to the core American values of freedom, equality and fairness,” Congressman Cummings said.
III. Addressing Key National Issues
Recently, Congressman Cummings signed on as an original co-sponsor of the following pieces of legislation. For more information on the status of these bills, please log on to http://thomas.loc.gov.
1. H.Con.Res. 197: This resolution declares that it is the policy of the United States not to enter into any base agreement with the Government of Iraq that would lead to a permanent United States military presence in Iraq.
2. H.Con.Res. 209: This resolution supports the goals and ideals of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and expressing the sense that Congress should raise awareness of domestic violence in the United States and its devastating effects on families.
3. H.R. 3171: Reauthorization of Violence Against Women Act: The bill enhances judicial and law enforcement tools to combat violence against women.
IV. Federal Grants and Contracts to the 7th Congressional District
V. Office Hours and Locations
Baltimore Office
1010 Park Avenue, Suite 105
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 685-9199 and (410) 685-9399 fax
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Catonsville Office
754 Frederick Road
Catonsville, Maryland 21228
(410) 719-8777 and (410) 455-0110 fax
8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Howard County Outreach Centers
First Monday of the Month:
Glenwood Library, 2350 Route 97
Cooksville, MD 21723
Hours: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM or by appointment
Second Monday of the Month:
Howard County Central Library
10375 Little Patuxent Pkwy.
Columbia, MD 21044
Hours: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM or by appointment
Second Wednesday of the Month:
Savage Library, 9525 Durness Lane
Laurel, MD 20723
Hours: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM or by appointment
Third Monday of the Month:
Florence Bain Senior Center
5470 Ruth Keeton Way
Columbia, MD 21044
Hours: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM or by appointment
Fourth Monday of the Month:
Miller Branch Library, 9421 Frederick Road
Ellicott City, MD 21042
Hours: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM or by appointment