End Of Session: An Open Letter

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Dear neighbor,

It is an amazing privilege to represent Maryland’s District 30A in the legislature, and this year, we have accomplished so much for the district and our state. As I serve you in the General Assembly, my promise to you continues to be driven by my steadfast commitment to promoting, fighting and advocating for the needs of our community.

I’m proud to say that the speaker’s office and my fellow colleagues have entrusted me with several new leadership positions. This session, I was appointed to the Appropriations Committee, and to vice chair the subcommittee on Health and Social Services. Additionally, my colleagues in Anne Arundel County voted me vice chair of the county delegation, my fellow women legislatures elected me first vice president of the women’s caucus, and the speaker appointed me to the joint committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review. These positions will allow me to continue to serve the district more effectively, as you will see in the report below on this 445th legislative session.

I want to review this session’s highlights and accomplishments — including the eight of 14 bills I sponsored that passed the House, and some of the 60 bills I co-sponsored. In addition, I will break down the $27 million in funding that I and our senator, in coordination with the governor, have secured for projects to better the infrastructure and economy of this district.

This session was a huge step in safeguarding rights, our safety and economic security. I was proud to partner and co-sponsor the following 10 critical pieces of legislation with Governor Wes Moore to deliver for our state:

  • The SERVE Act will create a first-in-the-nation service year option to boost volunteering among young people to give back to our communities.
  • The Family Prosperity Act tackles child poverty by permanently extending the Earned Income Tax Credit.
  • With the Fair Wage Act, Maryland will raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, benefiting 160,000 workers.
  • The Innovation Economy Infrastructure Act will provide grants to entrepreneurs to break into new modern industries to help boost the economy.
  • Through the Maryland Educator Shortage Act of 2023, Maryland will help train, recruit and retain highly trained educators for our schools and child care facilities as well as help provide better behavioral health services to students
  • Office of Statewide Broadband — Study of Broadband Expansion Incentives will be essential to developing data-driven policies to ensure that we close the digital divide in all communities.
  • The Access to Banking Act will expand access to capital and financial services for individuals and small businesses in low-income communities across the state.
  • The Clean Transportation and Energy Act takes on one of the largest contributors to climate change and transportation-related emissions that have a disproportionate impact on our most vulnerable residents.
  • The Healthcare for Heroes Act and Keep our Heroes Home Act provide veterans under 55 with the largest state tax cut in a generation and will cut health care costs for members of the Maryland National Guard.

We crafted and passed a balanced budget that includes $122 million to aid local police departments; $40 million will go toward state support for crime victim services of domestic violence, rape and other crimes; $160 million toward supporting state parks and forests; $60 million toward Chesapeake Bay restoration; and almost $200 million reserved for tax relief including funding for the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit and new tax cuts for veterans.

Looking Forward

With the 445th legislative session behind us, I am looking forward to spending time again engaging directly with you in our community. As I have said many times, I don’t take this responsibility lightly or casually. As I carry out my work for you every day, my motivation and mission are always the same - how can we continue to strengthen the amazing community we all live in. I pledge to continue working in the best interests of the entire district, as I have for the last three years.

I will be attending community events throughout the interim, and I hope to see you around the district soon. You can see our ever-changing schedule of events by going to www.danajones30a.com or my social media (that you can find via my website) where I will be adding events regularly.

To stay up to date on the happenings here in the district, sign up for my newsletter via my website and please stay in touch with me throughout the year. If you need constituent assistance, call or email the office at 410-841-3211 or dana.jones@house.state.md.us.

Stay safe and healthy.

More than half of this column was removed because of space limitations. Find the full letter by visiting the online sources listed above.

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