A Constituent on a Mission
November 20, 2012
Dutch's Blog
A Constituent on a Mission
November 20, 2012 4:44 PMLast year, I was approached by a constituent who told me about a program that enables American citizens to donate money to help retire the soaring public debt. Though still a relatively little-known program, those Americans aware of it have donated millions of dollars since President John F. Kennedy signed the law creating it in 1961.Even though private citizens are hardly to blame for our country’s financial problems, many patriotic Americans are still willing to give their hard-earned dollars to...Continue Reading
Local Family Recognized During National Adoption Month
November 16, 2012 10:28 AMDid you know that there are 719 children in foster care in Maryland waiting to be adopted?While that statistic is troubling, it would be a lot higher if not for people like Rosedale resident Sandy Weizer. Sandy has been a foster mom to nine children in the past four years. She still clearly recalls the day social workers brought 9-month-old Breanna to her home. Weighing only 10 pounds, she looked more like a 3-month-old. Sandy says she felt an immediate...Continue Reading
Evaluating Hurricane Sandy's Impact
October 31, 2012 4:12 PMYesterday, I was able to tour the district to evaluate damage from Hurricane Sandy first-hand with Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz and Baltimore County Councilman John Olszewski. We spent time in communities prone to flooding, including Millers Island, Watersedge and Havre de Grace. I also touched base with Harford County Executive David Craig and Havre de Grace Mayor Wayne Dougherty. I want to thank all our first responders, utility crews and workers at the local, state and federal levels, some...Continue Reading
From unemployment rolls to payrolls
October 26, 2012 10:40 AMYesterday, I joined other elected officials in Randallstown as we launched a new program to train Maryland job-seekers who need extra help with basic skills like reading, writing and math. The $12 million program, funded by the federal government, will help thousands of Marylanders move off the unemployment rolls and onto payrolls.At the event, I was privileged to meet Terrance Brown, who dropped out of high school at the age of 18 after learning he was going to become a...Continue Reading
New Jobs Coming to Sparrows Point
October 19, 2012 10:54 AMYesterday, I was joined by some of our state and county elected officials on the docks of Sparrows Point to celebrate a local company’s recent growth. BB Metals specializes in dismantling retired ships and recycling the steel. My office recently helped them navigate the federal contracting process and, as a result, they are currently disassembling the Range Sentinel under their first government contract.As a Congressman, that’s my job – to assist our local businesses in any way I can. Businesses...Continue Reading
Cooler weather presents greater risk of house fires
October 11, 2012 12:31 PMFall is one of my favorite times of year – the leaves start to turn, the holidays are on the horizon and football is on TV. But it’s also a time for caution. Holiday decorations, wind gusts that knock out the electricity and alternative heating sources all contribute to an increased risk of house fires during the fall and winter.There were more than 362,100 house fires in the U.S. alone in 2010, killing 67 people right here in Maryland. As...Continue Reading
Finding a cure for atrial fibrillation
October 4, 2012 10:49 AMToday’s guest blogger is Congressman Ruppersberger’s Capitol Hill intern, Molly McKee.As a member of the House of Representatives, Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger frequently meets with members of the medical community advocating on behalf of those suffering from various diseases, illnesses and conditions. He says that one group has always stuck out to him: those urging lawmakers to support research funding for a heart condition called atrial fibrillation.Already, 2.5 million Americans are suffering from atrial fibrillation, but this number could soar to...Continue Reading
Efforts to help Maryland small businesses start exporting underway
September 26, 2012 3:30 PMI just received great news that Maryland small businesses will be on the receiving end of federal funds to help them start exporting their products around the world. Maryland will be getting more than $650,000 in the second round of U.S. Small Business Administration grant funding. The first round proved to be a huge success and the administration expects to report a ten-to-one return on this investment. The funding will be available to help small business owners take overseas sales...Continue Reading
Celebrating National Voter Registration Day
September 25, 2012 2:11 PMDuring the last Presidential election, a staggering 6 million Americans did not vote simply because they didn’t know how to register or missed their state’s deadline to register. Today, volunteers, celebrities, and civic groups from all over the country will “hit the streets” for National Voter Registration Day, encouraging people to take advantage of their Constitutional right to have a say. You may see them at the bus stop, on your way to a class, or even on Twitter!This effort...Continue Reading
Demanding an even playing field for U.S. auto parts industry
September 18, 2012 5:15 PMFor too long, the Chinese government’s unfair trade practices have hurt American businesses. In particular, their deception and manipulation are costing us countless jobs and productivity in the U.S. auto parts industry. The Chinese are using every tool at their disposal to give their own auto parts companies a leg up, from limiting our exports to their market to subsidizing their exports to us. They even block the export of key raw materials needed for the production of some auto...Continue Reading
