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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Congressman Cummings will visit senior centers throughout the 7^th Congressional District to give senior citizens an overview of the new Medicare prescription drug program. At the visits, Congressman Cummings will be joined by experts who will answer questions on how to navigate through the new federally based program. Entitled "Medicare Part D," the program is intended to help Medicare recipients lower their prescription drug costs. Details of the visits are as follows:

January 24 - 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Catonsville Senior Center
501 N. Rolling Road
Catonsville, MD

January 30 - 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Lanvale Towers
1300 E. Lanvale Street
Baltimore, MD

February 27 - 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Parkview at Woodlawn
2020 Featherbed Lane
Baltimore, MD

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Congressman Cummings recently joined the Greater Chesapeake and Potomac (GC & P) Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross to highlight the critical blood shortage that has developed in the Baltimore region during the past few weeks. The inventory of blood has dropped to levels far below ideal, with less than a one-day supply of Type O blood (which is the universal blood type that can be transfused into any other blood type recipient) currently in stock. The ideal level is 3 to 5 days.

As a result of this shortage, the region has been forced to limit distribution of blood products to some local hospitals. Blood donors are needed immediately to replenish the community blood supply and help ensure that blood is available for local patients in need.

"It is vitally important that the number of donors is increased so that this essential service can continue to run as usual," Congressman Cummings said. "We are looking to the people of the Baltimore region to rise to the challenge today and help the American Red Cross with this life-saving initiative to increase blood supply at our area hospitals."

African Americans are particularly at risk during this shortage. African Americans are more likely to be Type B than any other blood type. And currently, the Type B blood supply is at one and a half days in the Baltimore region.

African Americans comprise 26% of Maryland’s population but only 8% of African Americans in Maryland give blood.

"If we could decrease this disparity by increasing the number of African Americans who give blood to just 16%, then we would virtually eliminate the blood shortage in this state," Congressman Cummings said.

Appointments at American Red Cross Blood Donor Centers can be made by calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.

Donors must be at least 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health.

On Jan. 23, Congressman Cummings and Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) joined U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein to announce $2 million in federal funding to fight gang activity in Maryland.

The funding will help the U.S. Attorney to:

• Coordinate all local, state and federal resources in a comprehensive strategy to reduce gang violence;
• Increase police presence in gang areas;
• Support local or federal prosecutors; and
• Fund after-school, job training and other gang prevention programs in local communities.

"No one is immune from the impact that gangs can have on a community. Gang violence is widespread, dangerous and even deadly," Congressman Cummings said. "This is not simply an inner-city problem. Gangs reach every corner of every county in this state."

According to several law enforcement agencies, gangs draw young people from all walks of life, from all races, and from all economic backgrounds. A recent National Youth Gang Survey has found that there are now between 750,000 and 850,000 gang members in our nation –– about a third of these members are younger than the age of 18. In Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia there are approximately 3,600 gang members, with numbers growing daily.

"People who join gangs often establish a lifelong pattern of involvement with the criminal justice system," Congressman Cummings said. "To prevent the devastation of crime and violence caused by gang activity, and to save the human potential of our young people, we must respond together, on the federal, state and local levels. The $2 million in federal funds will help the brave men and women who are on the battlefield every day putting their lives on the line to fight the gang epidemic in our state."

Congressman Cummings joined House and Senate Democrats on Jan. 18 to unveil the Honest Leadership, Open Government Act, an aggressive reform initiative to reverse Republican excesses and protect the public trust.

The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act will focus reforms on four key areas:

"The political climate in Washington under the Republican-controlled Congress has put special interest priorities above the people’s priorities. This has allowed corporations to profit while Maryland families struggle to pay for rising college tuition, increased healthcare costs and higher heating bills," Congressman Cummings said. "The legislation we introduced will take power away from special interests and put power back into the hands of people."

On Jan. 9, Congressman Cummings commented on President Bush’s visit to the North Glen Elementary School in Glen Burnie, Maryland. The President visited the school to mark the fourth anniversary of the No Child Left Behind Act. In December 2001, Congressman Cummings voted for this landmark education bill, which is intended to close the achievement gaps in our nation’s public schools.

"I applaud President Bush for his attention to closing education achievement gaps and his dedication to ensuring that all children receive a quality education regardless of their family income, race, ethnicity, or place of residence," Congressman Cummings said. "However, attention and dedication are not enough for a President in his second term."

Congressman Cummings pointed out that while North Glen Elementary School has shown remarkable progress in reducing achievement gaps, most schools in this nation continue to fall behind in student progress.

"These schools largely struggle to meet the requirements of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) because of underfunding of the program," he said.

Since NCLB became law in 2002, Republicans in Congress have appropriated $40 billion less than the amount needed to fully benefit all of the nation’s public school students. Recent analysis from the House Education and Workforce Committee Democrats shows that full funding of NCLB would have provided an additional $83 million for 60,275 low income children in Maryland to improve their academic achievement, $10 million more for after school programs around the state, $5 million for teacher training, $18 million for special education, and classes for 19,816 additional students with limited English skills.

"President Bush must now take the opportunity to synchronize his words with his actions. As he prepares to submit his annual budget proposal to Congress in the next few weeks, I will urge President Bush to outline a plan to fund all the critical provisions of NCLB," Congressman Cummings said. "Then, he should refuse to sign any federal spending bill that fails to fully fund the law that will benefit our children and nation’s future."

Congressman Cummings continued, "I look forward to reviewing the President’s budget and working with him to ensure the promise of No Child Left Behind."

For more than 10 years, an elderly neighbor has received medicine for a heart condition that once could have taken her life. Now age 77, the wonders of modern medicine have allowed her to enjoy seeing her five grandchildren grow into adulthood.

Because my retired neighbor (whom I'll call "Mrs. Wilson") lives on a modest fixed income, she has not had to pay for her prescription drugs in the past. Medicaid, a state-federal partnership, covered those costs. Now, however, all of that has changed.

When Mrs. Wilson went to her local pharmacy to have her prescriptions refilled earlier this month, she was confronted with a $60 charge. Not having the money to spare, she was forced to go without her life-preserving medicine for two weeks.

No one can believe that this is right. Yet, along with Mrs. Wilson, millions of other elderly Americans have been forced into a maze of competing benefits, costs and choices in their struggle to survive.

On December 31, more than 6.4 million Medicare-Medicaid eligible seniors were automatically transferred into the new Medicare prescription drug plan called "Part D," the new prescription drug benefit available to everyone enrolled in Medicare. The next important deadline will be May 15 and this deadline will apply to all of our senior citizens who rely on Medicare to pay for their health care.

Failure to enroll by May 15 could leave a senior citizen without coverage when she or he is in desperate need. In addition, current Medicare beneficiaries who delay will be subjected to higher monthly premiums when they do decide to participate.

Out of necessity, seniors like Mrs. Wilson should sign up by May 15. It is also important to note, however, that there are other "down sides" to this new "privatized" prescription drug strategy.

First, like other health insurance, beneficiaries under the new Medicare Part D plans are expected to cover some of the cost (monthly premiums, deductibles and co-pays, all of which can vary depending upon the plan in which a senior citizen enrolls). That is why Mrs. Wilson was confronted with a $60 charge.

Many senior citizens are confused about which of the many competing plans is best for them. Marketed under the slogan of "choice," insurance companies have created a wide array of premiums and coverage. All of this complexity is confusing for many (and makes it more difficult for seniors to utilize their market power to bring their pharmacy costs down).

Many seniors are asking me: "How did all of this complexity come to be?" Well, private insurance companies wanted to participate in this huge prescription drug market that the government was creating, but the companies didn't want to risk losing any money.

Their allies in the Congress were eager to help the companies achieve both objectives and designed the new prescription drug law so that the companies could achieve maximum profits with minimum risk.

As a result, there are at least 70 plans here in Maryland for senior citizens to consider with monthly premiums that range from $6.44 to $68.91. Deductibles, co-payments, covered drugs and pharmacy access also vary widely from plan to plan. Additionally, it is significant to note that not every plan covers every single drug.

It is also important for seniors to understand that former Medicaid recipients can be cut off and switched to a new plan without their prior knowledge or consent. That is how Mrs. Wilson came to be enrolled in a plan that did not cover her heart medication.

Fortunately, Mrs. Wilson's immediate problem has been solved but the hardship that she was forced to endure illustrates an important reality. Many elements of this new privatized drug strategy are dangerous, as well as unfair.

Access to lifesaving medicine should be every American's right. That is why I have joined my Democratic colleagues in co-sponsoring and pushing for the passage of the Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choices Act (H.R. 752).

We are determined to reform the current prescription drug maze by requiring Medicare to negotiate with drug companies for lower drug prices and by giving seniors the option of choosing to receive their prescription drug insurance directly through Medicare.

Realistically, a change in national leadership may be required for our reform initiative to succeed.

That is why it is so important for seniors to come to terms with the benefits and costs of plans that are available to them today.

My office is holding a series of seminars in senior centers throughout our region.

We are doing all that we can to help people negotiate this maze that the Republicans in Washington have created.

Seniors like Mrs. Wilson are learning some helpful insights. First, they should make a list of all of the prescription drugs that they are currently taking so that when they choose a plan, they would be able to select one that covers all the medications they need. Once they decide on a plan, seniors living on limited incomes should call the Social Security Administration (1-800-772-1213) in order to find out whether they would be eligible for help with the cost of premiums.

We will continue the fight in Washington to reform Medicare through the addition of simple, comprehensive and cost-effective drug coverage. For the time being, however, every eligible senior citizen has an important decision to make by May 15.

Modern medicine has made major breakthroughs, allowing seniors more time to enjoy the miracle of life. Now, we must make sure that seniors stay informed about their healthcare choices and are able to navigate through this maze called Medicare Part D.

Congressman Cummings has helped secure the following grants and contracts that will benefit the residents of the 7^th Congressional district:

• $10 million federal contract awarded to Earth Resources Technology, Inc. in Jessup, MD., to fund projects for the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.
• $1,335,094 for the Baltimore-based non-profit organization Health Care for the Homeless. The grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will help the organization provide medical services to their clients.
• $600,000 for the World Relief Corporation in Baltimore, to enable the organization to respond to victims of criminal trafficking. The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Justice.