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 my legislative actions. 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 any of my three district offices, conveniently located in Baltimore City, Catonsville and Ellicott City.

Please feel free to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.

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Job Fair, Monday, May 1, 2006:  Congressman Cummings will host his annual job fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  at the 5^th Regiment Armory, 29^th Division Street, in Baltimore.  The job fair is free and open to the public. Nearly 30 employers have already signed up to participate in the Job Fair. Some of the industries include retailers, academia, healthcare providers, transportation firms, and government agencies.

Congressional Black Caucus Spouses’ Scholarship application deadline,  Monday, May 1, 2006:  Congressman Cummings is currently accepting applications for scholarship programs coordinated by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF). Interested students may download the application and program guidelines from the CBCF website,  http//:www.cbcfinc.org, or contact Ms. Philisha Lane at (410) 685­9199 to obtain an application package.

HIV/AIDS Symposium, Tuesday, May 2, 2006: The “Saving Your Life Starts with You: HIV/AIDS Symposium,” hosted by Congressman Cummings, will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Coppin State University, 2500 West North Avenue in Baltimore. The event will consist of two 1-hour panel sessions to heighten community awareness about the devastating pandemic in the Baltimore community. There will also be a mini health fair and free HIV testing available at the event.

Medicare Part D Information Session, Saturday, May 6, 2006:  To help seniors better understand the Medicare Part D program, Congressman Cummings’ office continues to hold informational presentations.  The next presentation will be on May 6^th from 10 a.m. to 12 Noon at the Johnston Square Community Development Corporation, (CDC) located at 841 East Chase Street in Baltimore.

East Baltimore Development Project meeting, Tuesday, May 9, 2006: The meeting will provide local minority business owners the opportunity to learn more about the $800 million revitalization project for East Baltimore which will be anchored by a Biotechnology Park. The meeting will take place from 8 to 10 a.m. at Sojourner Douglass College, 500 North Caroline Street, Baltimore.

Cummings Launches Countdown to Medicare Part D

Congressman Cummings joined Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Joshua Sharfstein on April 13 to launch a 30-day countdown to Medicare Part D.  The purpose of the event was to increase awareness of the May 15th deadline to register for the federal prescription drug program, Medicare Part D.  Those who sign up after May 15th will face a lifetime penalty that increases each month after the deadline.

At the event, Congressman Cummings and Dr. Sharfstein unveiled billboards that were placed throughout Baltimore.  The billboards urge people to sign up for the program before the May 15th deadline.  Clear Channel Outdoor donated ten billboards for this outreach campaign.

Congressman Cummings said, “It is important to make the public fully aware of the May 15^th deadline. If eligible beneficiaries enroll in the program after this date, they will have to pay an additional premium that will apply for the rest of their lives.  For every month after the May 15th deadline, a person’s premium will increase by 1 percent. As the enrollment period will not be open again until November 15, 2006, if people do not enroll by May 15th, the premium will be 7 percent higher than if they had enrolled by May 15th.”     

There are approximately 47,000 eligible seniors in the City of Baltimore ­ and more than 276,000 eligible seniors throughout the State of Maryland ­ who have not yet enrolled in Medicare Part D.  Statistics estimate that about 33,000 of the seniors in Baltimore City ­ and about 193,000 of the seniors in the State ­ who have not yet enrolled might benefit from Medicare Part D. 

“I urge everyone who has not yet enrolled to study the program and determine if it offers a prescription drug program that would meet their prescription drug needs,” Congressman Cummings said.  “People should also encourage their friends and family members who are eligible for the program to sign up before the deadline.”

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Cummings Urges Governor, BGE to Create Opt-Out Program for BGE Customers

In order to address constituents’ concerns that Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) bills would likely surge by 72 percent beginning this summer, Congressman Cummings wrote to Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich and BGE President Kenneth W. DeFontes on April 19 urging them to adopt a rate relief program that allows ratepayers to “opt out” of the program rather than requiring them to elect to “opt in” to the program. 

He wrote this letter in response to a BGE proposal to ease the rate hikes gradually.  If BGE’s program is approved by the Public Service Commission, customers who “opt in” to the rate relief plan will see their electricity bill slowly work up to market rates, beginning with an increase of more than 19% in rates this July and subsequent increases in June 2007 and again in January 2008. Customers will also be assessed a monthly fee to offset the deferment in the rate increase.  Specific details of the enrollment program are still being resolved but it is expected that the enrollment period will begin in mid May.

“An ‘opt out’ program would offer the best opportunity to provide the greatest rate relief for the largest number of customers because it would ensure that customers are automatically enrolled to receive the relief.  I regret that this type of program was not the first choice of BGE and the state of Maryland,” Congressman Cummings said. 

He noted that any ‘opt in’ program should be accompanied by a massive public relations effort. 

“The greater Baltimore community is home to many low-income and senior residents who may have only limited access to newspapers and other media outlets – but who are most in need of relief from the anticipated rate increases.  The State of Maryland and BGE must commit to undertaking an outreach program that will specifically target these residents,” Congressman Cummings said.

Congressman Cummings also expressed his disappointment to Paul Allen, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs of Constellation Energy, the parent company of BGE over the failure of BGE and the State of Maryland to create an “opt out” consumer rate relief program.

“Nevertheless, if the plan is approved by the Public Service Commission, I was assured that BGE would undertake an aggressive outreach program to make customers aware of how they can ‘opt in’ to the program.  Certainly, I will be watching to see the nature and scope of BGE’s effort and particularly how the company targets its outreach to low-income and elderly residents.”

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House Transportation Committee Adopts Cummings’ Amendment on Port Security

On April 5, Congressman Cummings, who is a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, won adoption by the Committee of an amendment authorizing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to review port terminal operating agreements.

Congressman Cummings’ measure amends the Marine Terminal Security Enhancement Act of 2006, H.R. 4880, which was adopted by the Committee on a voice vote. The bill as amended will now be sent to the full House of Representatives for its consideration.

The amendment authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to examine all port terminal ownership and operating agreements that pertain to cargo terminals. Previously, the Department of Homeland Security did not have this explicit authority.

“With this authority, the Department of Homeland Security can now assess port terminal operating agreements to determine if the agreements –– or the ownership or business relationships of the parties to such agreements –– pose a particular security risk to the operation of a port," Congressman Cummings said.

The recent sale of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) –– which serves as the terminal operator at several major East Coast ports, including the Port of Baltimore –– was analyzed by the Department of Homeland Security only because the deal was subjected to the scrutiny of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.

“Under normal circumstances, no federal entity assesses the security implications of terminal operating agreements. As these agreements are central to port operations, I believe it is imperative that the Department of Homeland Security be authorized to examine them and to ensure that port facility security plans address any unique security risks created by an agreement," Congressman Cummings said. “My amendment would also require the Secretary of Homeland Security to report annually to Congress on the extent of foreign ownership among port terminal operators –– and to identify the security risks, if any, that such foreign ownership may pose. Such information was not widely available during the discussion of the P&O deal because it is not collected by any federal entity.”

He added, “Our maritime transportation networks are truly global and all aspects of this transportation have significant foreign involvement. The amendment I offered will help us to refine our policies and procedures for ensuring security at our ports to respond to this reality.”

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National Minority Health Month Foundation to Award Rep. Cummings Lifetime Achievement Award

Congressman Cummings received the Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding leadership on healthcare from the National Minority Health Month Foundation on Wednesday, April 12.

The Foundation assists healthcare providers, administrators, policymakers, and community and faith­based organizations deliver precise health care services to high­risk communities by analyzing current information, organizing health care networks and managing minority health care resources.

"Congressman Cummings is an accomplished public servant on many levels, but his commitment to closing the healthcare gap stands out as testimony to his dedication to improving the quality of life for every American," said Gary A. Puckrein, Ph.D., executive director of the National Minority Health Month Foundation. "It was a treat for us to have the opportunity to recognize the outstanding role he has played in Congress and in the community."

Health issues have been at the top of Congressman Cummings' agenda since he entered public service more than 20 years ago.  As a Maryland House Delegate, he addressed HIV/AIDS before the virus was widely discussed by the public.  After being sworn in as a Member of the U.S. House, Congressman Cummings continued addressing HIV/AIDS, along with issues such as health care access, health disparities, and preventing medical errors. In addition, he continues to host health screenings and informational seminars on issues involving federal health programs.

"Health care must be recognized as a basic civil right in this country," Congressman Cummings said. "I am deeply honored to have been selected to receive this award – but the fight to ensure that all Americans have access to high quality health care will continue until we choose to provide the universal health care our nation so desperately needs."

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$76 million Navy contract: Motorola in Columbia, MD, has won the competitive bid on this contract to make Integrated Intra Squad Radios (specialty radio equipment) for the U.S. Navy.

$36 million for HIV/AIDS programs: The State of Maryland will receive these funds as part of the Ryan White Care Act from the U.S. Department of Health and Human (HHS) services.

$1.1 million Cancer grant: This National Cancer Institute grant will help Johns Hopkins University conduct research on cancer.

$350,000 to prevent under-age drinking: This Department of Justice (DOJ) grant will be given to the Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention to enforce laws prohibiting alcohol consumption by minors.

$225,000 for the Historic East Baltimore Community Action Coalition, Inc.: This DOJ grant will help the Coalition in its efforts to build collaborations between citizens and police to fight against drug abuse.