Issues
Crime
Cities throughout the country are witnessing an increase in criminal activity, a trend that is destroying our communities. The FBI released a report in September showing the most significant increase in crime in more than a decade. Additionally, the report showed an increase in violent crime for the second time in two years, indicating the first steady increase in violent crime since 1993. These numbers are staggering.
Baltimore City is by no means immune to this crime epidemic, having already surpassed the number of homicides at this time last year by double digits. This is not only a problem for the communities in Baltimore City; it also affects surrounding communities who experience spillover effects.
There is no quick fix to this problem, and we cannot focus on just one isolated contributing factor to save our communities from crime. We must tackle this crisis from all aspects, and that means everyone coming together at all levels—law enforcement, the federal, state, and local governments, schools, clergy, local neighborhoods, and families...Read more
Economy
We are in the midst of a serious national crisis in the housing market—particularly where subprime mortgages, which are geared toward borrowers with low credit scores, are concerned. There has been an explosion in the subprime industry over the past five years, with the number of subprime mortgages jumping from 8 percent of the total mortgage market to approximately 20 percent of the market today...Read more
Education
Access to a quality education is not a luxury; it is every child’s right. I believe that we must provide every child with opportunities to be the best that he or she can be, regardless of background, socio-economic status, or geographic location. Providing a strong education to our children is essential for us to maintain our competitive edge in today’s global marketplace, and I will continue my never-ending fight to ensure that the schools in the 7th District are provided with the resources they need to raise the next generation of leaders...Read more
Healthcare
Our health care system is broken. Nearly 47 million Americans do not have any health insurance, including more than 9 million children. The number of the uninsured has grown steadily each year for the past decade, and—despite an improving economy between 2004 and 2006—it increased by an additional 3.4 million last year. Having health insurance improves overall health and could reduce mortality rates for the uninsured by 10%-25%—more than 18,000 Americans die as a direct consequence of being uninsured.
America is the only industrialized nation that does not guarantee health care to all of its citizens. As the wealthiest country in the world, we should be boasting a happy, healthy society; there is no reason for the U.S. to suffer from such deficiencies in our health care system. I am committed to fixing this problem at the federal level through such measures as the United States National Health Insurance Act, H.R. 676. I co-sponsored this legislation to ensure that all citizens have access to quality, affordable health coverage...Read more
Veterans
Veterans have kept their promises to serve our nation, and we must keep our promises to protect our veterans. The men and women who are risking their lives for us should not be given first-class weapons in battle only to receive third-class benefits when they return home from war. While we may be divided on the war in Iraq, we must be united in seeing that every single member of the armed forces is welcomed back with benefits that are first-rate and uncompromised...Read more
