It is both a privilege and an honor to represent you in Congress. Below is an update on my work in Washington and at home.  Government “by the people" is the cornerstone of my legislative philosophy, and I highly value your input. Please visit my website for regularly updated news, and do not hesitate to contact any of my offices with any inquiries or opinions you would like to share.

Elijah E. Cummings

 

  

 

Congressman Cummings joined Baltimore City State's Attorney Patricia Jessamy at a press conference on witness protection in July. The Congressman has introduced legislation that would provide federal assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service to assist cities like Baltimore in protecting witnesses from intimidation.

The “How to Pay for College" Seminar is a free event I will be hosting for students and their families to learn about the financial aid process to pay for higher education. College and scholarship organization representatives will be present to provide information about their institutions and programs, and an expert panel will discuss important issues related to college, including state scholarship and grant programs, the college admissions process, and how to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. For more information, please contact Ms. Philisha Lane at 410-685-9199.

 

My Work in Washington, DC

Protecting our Children
Just before breaking for August recess, the House passed H.R. 3162, the Children’s Health and Medicare Protection Act (CHAMP Act). This vital piece of legislation is intended to protect the health of two of our most vulnerable populations—children and seniors. The Senate also passed a version of CHIP, and the House will meet with them when we return from recess to come up with a final bill to send to the President.

Part of the CHAMP Act includes the re-authorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which will prevent 6 million children, including 136,000 right here in Maryland, from losing their health coverage. We also improved CHIP, expanding access to an additional 5 million children nationally who were previously eligible but not receiving coverage. 

We made another very important improvement to CHIP in the CHAMP Act: the inclusion of dental benefits—including some provisions that I authored—for children covered by the program. We can never forget the story of Deamonte Driver, the young Maryland boy who died after a tooth infection spread to his brain. Deamonte did not have access to dental care, and I made it my personal mission to ensure that we bring life out of Deamonte’s tragic death.

 

Securing dental benefits in CHIP was just one part of the multi-faceted approach I’ve launched to find a solution to the dental care crisis for children both here in Maryland and around the country. I have been working with state officials in Maryland to address the problem, as well as with health organizations.

 

My efforts helped lead to an agreement last week that will help us fix the shortage of pediatric dentists here in the Baltimore area. UnitedHealth Group will be providing the University of Maryland Baltimore Dental School with $170,000 annually to enact new programs to help increase children’s access to pediatric dentists. This is a landmark investment in our children, and I hope it will serve as a model to be followed in other parts of our state and country.

Last week, Congresman Cummings attended a town hall forum for seniors to discuss healthcare. The House of Representatives recently passed legislation to help protect Medicare from privatization.

Protecting our Seniors 

The CHAMP Act also took important steps to protect the healthcare of our seniors. In voting for the CHAMP Act, we voted to help prevent the privatization of Medicare by curbing billions of dollars in overpayments to private health organizations like HMOs. The CHAMP Act also strengthens Medicare by stopping a scheduled payment cut to physicians that would result in many seniors losing access to their doctors, as well as by making a series of preventative screenings free for Medicare beneficiaries. More than 230,000 seniors in Maryland will be helped by additional improvements to the Medicare Savings Program and Low Income Subsidy Program.

  

Three years after the independent, bipartisan 9/11 Commission made its recommendations to protect our country from future terrorist attacks, the House was finally able to pass H.R. 1, legislation to enact the Commission’s common sense suggestions. Among the many homeland security protections in the 9/11 bill is a provision requiring the screening of all cargo bound for the U.S. Currently, less than 5 percent of the 11 million containers delivered to U.S. ports are inspected upon arrival. Importantly, the new procedure will be gradually implemented over a period of three years to protect the business of our merchants and ensure there is no disruption in the flow of commerce.

 

Out and About in the 7^th District

Baltimore City Public High School
Summer Research Program
The program was created following a meeting I had with UMB President David Ramsay in which I expressed concern that our students needed more opportunities to explore careers in health and science. It makes me proud to represent an area with colleges and universities that are willing to develop opportunities to help and encourage our children to reach their fullest potential. I thank the University of Maryland Baltimore for creating this extremely valuable program.

Sharon Snow, a representative from the Community College of Baltimore County, discusses alternative options for continuing education at the Alternative Pathways to Success Fair. The fair offered information on job training resources and educational opportunities.

Alternative Pathways to Success Fair
On July 28, I held the “Alternative Pathways to Success" Fair at the University of Baltimore to inform people about job training resources and GED and other educational opportunities. While it is unfortunate that many people choose to drop out of high school, it is critical that we offer them the help and resources they need to prevent them from dropping out of society as well. We had such a great collection of representatives from colleges and job training centers gather to help the many people who came for information. The event was a tremendous success.

Seniors Town Hall Meeting
Last Thursday I went to Basilica Place for a town hall meeting to update senior citizens on my promise to improve access to senior services and programs, attract more people to work in senior care, eliminate Medicaid roadblocks, and reduce paperwork for caregivers and seniors.  The event was sponsored by the Lifespan Network, a non-profit group asking public officials to "Honor the Promise" to care for seniors.  Our seniors have enriched our lives and are our most vital link to the past. They deserve easy access to quality health care, not be cast aside as the "Throwaway Generation."

This past Wednesday, I had the opportunity to meet an amazing group of Baltimore City students who are participating in the University of Maryland Baltimore’s "Baltimore City Public High School Summer Research Program." This is a group of young people with Big Dreams, and in meeting and listening to each of them describe the work they are doing through this program, I was truly amazed and inspired.