Message to Constituents
U.S. Congressman Elijah E. Cummings

Representing the 7th U.S. Congressional District of Maryland
http://www.mail.house.gov/cummings
2235 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-4741 (tel.) (202) 225-3178 (fax)

December 22, 2005

Dear Constituent:

Sincerely,

Elijah E. Cummings
Member of Congress

Military Service Academy Interviews: Interviews to nominate students interested in attending the Military Service Academies will be held on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 from 5-8:30 p.m. in Room 100 of the Instructional Laboratory Building,  Howard Community College, and on Saturday, January 7, 2006 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon in Room 768 of the Albin O. Kuhn Library at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Throughout 2005, several students in the 7^th Congressional District have completed the rigorous procedures required to compete for a nomination to attend one of the five U.S. Service Academies.  The interviews are the final step before Congressman Cummings nominates students to attend the Academies. Those who are interested in attending a Service Academy may still apply, but must inform the Academies by December 31, 2005, and must inform Congressman Cummings’ office by January 7, 2006. To see the requirements for a nomination, students should visit http://www.house.gov/cummings/pdf/academy1.pdf, or call (410) 719-8777.

Energy Saving Tips: With heating prices expected to rise by 30 to 50 percent this winter, the Office of Congressman Cummings is providing a free brochure on energy assistance programs and energy saving tips.  To get a copy, please e-mail newslettercummings@mail.house.gov or call (410) 685-9199.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announces program guidelines for the 2006 competition cycle of the DHS Scholarship and Fellowship Program.  The 2006 competition cycle will provide financial support beginning in fall 2006 for approximately 100 Scholars and Fellows. All applicants are expected to apply using an online application.  The deadline for submitting an application is January 31, 2006. Complete information is available online at http://www.orau.gov/dhsed/.  Questions regarding the DHS Scholarship and Fellowship Program can be sent via e­mail to dhsed@orau.gov. 

The Women's Technology Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a 4­week summer residence program that introduces high school girls to electrical engineering and computer science. Interested applicants are encouraged to visit http://www.mit.edu http://www.mit.edu/ for more information.  The application deadline is Feb. 3, 2006. Classes are taught in a supportive environment by a staff of women MIT PhD candidates and undergraduates. The full­time academic program includes hands­on experiments and team­based projects in computer science, electrical engineering, and mathematics. No prior experience in computer programming, physics, or electrical engineering is expected, but applicants typically have strong academic records, especially in math and science.

Free Tuition at Harvard University for Low-Income Families:  Harvard University, the nation’s prestigious Ivy-League institution, is offering free tuition for students with a family income below $40,000.  For more information, please visit Harvard's financial aid web site at:  http://adm­is.fas.harvard.edu/FAO/index.htm or call the school's financial aid office at (617) 495­1581.      

II. Representing Maryland's 7th Congressional District in Washington

House Passes Cummings’ Legislation Naming Druid Station Post Office for State Delegate Lena K. Lee

The House recently passed H.R. 4107, a bill that would designate the U.S. Post Office located at 1826 Pennsylvania Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland, as the "Maryland State Delegate Lena K. Lee Post Office Building."  The bill passed by voice vote on December 13.

Delegate Lee served as a distinguished legislator in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1967 to 1982.  Her outstanding career also included many years of distinguished public service as a teacher, union leader and lawyer.

“As an individual whose intellect, generous spirit, and rare devotion aided her in making momentous contributions to the State of Maryland, the Honorable Lena K. Lee is worthy of this exceptional distinction,” Congressman Cummings said.

Delegate Lee received her B.S. from Morgan State College in 1939 and her M.A. from New York University in 1947.  Before entering the political arena, Delegate Lee served as a teacher and elementary school principal in the Baltimore City Public School System.  In 1952, she became just the third woman to receive her law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law. In 1967, she became the first African­American female lawyer in the House of Delegates.  During her tenure, she dedicated her energy and talents toward eradicating social inequalities and advocating for women's rights.

Congressman Cummings said, “Like the great Rosa Parks, Delegate Lee was a woman who demonstrated the power of one.  She was a champion of justice and a dynamic legislator who used her skills to selflessly better the world around her.”

Among her many accomplishments, she succeeded in assisting Morgan State College achieve university status and saving the Orchard Street Church, a site of the Underground Railroad.  She also successfully fought for the construction of a new Provident Hospital (now Liberty Medical Center) and the creation of a no­fault divorce in the State of Maryland.  Because of her tireless efforts, she has been the recipient of numerous honors, including the Presidential Citation from the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, as well as membership into the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame.

“Though Delegate Lee is now in the winter of her years at the age of 99, her legacy will live on in the lives of those she touched.  She cleared the path to opportunities previously inaccessible to many bright and talented African Americans,” Congressman Cummings said.

In 1982, Delegate Lee encouraged Congressman Cummings, who was then working as a lawyer, to enter public service.  He succeeded her in the Maryland House of Delegates, before moving on to the U.S. Congress in 1996.

“Delegate Lee often said ‘The question is not whether opportunities will come in life.  The question is whether you are prepared to take advantage of them,’” Congressman Cummings noted.  “While her eloquent words resonated in my heart, the way she lived her life was her most compelling lesson to us all.  In no uncertain terms, Lena K. Lee was my first and best teacher in public life, and for that, I am forever grateful.”

The postal facility named in honor of the distinguished Delegate Lee will serve to signify to the citizens of Maryland and generations yet unborn that the leadership and noteworthy achievements of even one committed citizen can enrich and empower communities and the nation.

* * *

Congressman Cummings Introduces The Kendell Frederick Citizenship Assistance Act

On December 14, Congressman Cummings introduced The Kendell Frederick Citizenship Assistance Act of 2005 (H.R. 4533) that would expedite the path to American citizenship for immigrants serving on active duty.

The bill is named in honor of Army Specialist Kendell Frederick, a soldier from Randallstown, MD, who died on October 19, 2005 while serving in Iraq.   A Trinidad native, Specialist Frederick was a permanent U.S. resident, but was in the process of becoming a naturalized citizen at the time of his death.

“During the days and months leading up to Kendell Frederick’s ultimate sacrifice, he was struggling to meet the requirements for U.S. citizenship amidst gunfire, car bombs, and insurgent attacks,” Congressman Cummings said.  “Back home in Randallstown, Maryland, his mother, Mrs. Michelle Murphy, was helping by filling out the required documents and e-mailing regular updates to her son. The only hurdle that remained was to meet a requirement to have his fingerprints taken, although the military already had these prints on file.”

So on October 19, Specialist Frederick took a journey to have his fingerprints taken. Tragically, Kendell Frederick was killed during this final journey outside Tikrit when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle.  Specialist  Frederick did become an American citizen three weeks after his death.  When his body was returned to his family, they were given a simple, one-page citizenship application that took only five minutes to complete.

“Specialist Frederick never had the chance to participate in a naturalization ceremony or vote in a U.S. election,” Congressman Cummings said.  “For their sacrifice, our non-citizen troops should not have to die in order to have their citizenship granted immediately.  The five-minute, one-page form that Specialist Frederick’s mother was given should be handed to all non-citizen soldiers at the time of enlistment - not to grieving family members at their grave sites.”

Today, approximately 40,000 non-citizens are serving on active duty in the U.S. military, including 3,200 brave men and women who are serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. As permanent residents, and as military members, they are fully screened for potential ties to terrorists or other foreign entities that may pose a threat to national security.

The federal government recognizes their service by granting immigrant soldiers expedited citizenship. Expedited citizenship involves one year of active service in the military (previously, this requirement was for three years) and waived application fees (for non-military applicants, this fee is $400). 

Nevertheless the process involves at least 16 pages of paperwork and requires that soldiers submit fingerprints, even though the military already has a set of their fingerprints on file.

“Many of these immigrant soldiers originally came to America for better opportunities.  They could have devoted themselves to academia, business, or information technology - all of which could have led to citizenship,” Congressman Cummings said.  “Instead, these immigrants took an oath to protect, serve, and defend this country, knowing that they could lose their arms, their legs, or even their lives in the U.S. military. Those who are prepared to sacrifice and die for this country have earned the affirmation and respect that American citizenship conveys.”

For that reason, Congressman Cummings has introduced H.R. 4533, which would do the following:

•       Require the Secretary of Homeland Security to use the fingerprints provided by soldiers at the time they enlist in the armed forces to satisfy the fingerprinting requirements associated with their applications for citizenship;

•       Establish the position of Citizenship Advocate at each military entry processing station to provide information on the naturalization process to members of the armed forces; 

•       Require new soldiers to be notified in writing about how to obtain citizenship;

•       Update the appropriate application, guidebook, and website maintained by the Department of Homeland Security within 30 days of a change to law or regulation regarding the naturalization process;

•       Require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study the implementation of this act, including an evaluation of how technology may be used to improve the efficiency of the naturalization process for members of the armed forces.  The GAO would then report to Congress its findings and recommendations.

 
“Facing their life-or-death struggles on foreign soil, soldiers like Spc. Kendell Frederick should not have to fight red tape at home as well. They have earned their right to be Americans – and it is only just that we acknowledge that right while there is time,” Congressman Cummings said.

* * *

Congressman Cummings Joins Meeting with Acting FEMA Director R. David Paulison

On December 15, Congressman Cummings joined his colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) for an emergency meeting with R. David Paulison, Acting Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to guarantee housing and other FEMA benefits to Hurricane Katrina survivors.  Temporary housing benefits are currently scheduled to terminate on February 7, 2006.  In the aftermath of the storm, Congressman Cummings, who is the immediate past CBC Chairman, took a lead role in addressing the needs of the evacuees, some of whom are rebuilding their lives in Maryland's 7th Congressional District. 

"After witnessing horrific television images of fellow Americans begging for food and crying for rescue from their rooftops, my colleagues and I have been doing everything within our power to help those who have been displaced as a result of one of the nation's worst natural disasters,” Congressman Cummings said.  “The slow response to Hurricane Katrina revealed FEMA’s lack of preparedness to handle mass emergencies.  We must address this before another major disaster occurs.”

Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast region in August 2005.  The storm destroyed more than 300,000 homes and took more than 1,300 lives. Millions of Americans were displaced from their homes and hundreds of thousands have not been able to return and may never be able to do so.  Having lost their homes, their communities, their jobs and other support systems, most have required emergency food, clothing, shelter, medical, or monetary assistance. According to FEMA reports, an estimated 2.1 million Americans have already applied for federal aid.

“Many families remain homeless, despite a promise from FEMA and the Bush Administration that these families would receive temporary housing, trailers and assistance to meet their basic needs,” Congressman Cummings said.

For instance, more than 120,000 trailers have been requested by Hurricane Katrina survivors, but less than 40,000 are occupied.   In addition, evacuees continue to be misinformed about the conditions for and continuation of federal assistance. 

Upon the CBC’s  recommendation, FEMA has agreed to create a list of guidelines that can be consistently applied to help constituents.  Congressman Cummings emphasized to Acting Director Paulison that FEMA needs to implement concrete goals and deadlines to identify when those without homes will receive housing assistance.  He also urged Mr. Paulison to develop a stronger communication system in order to provide evacuees with consistent and accurate information regarding federal assistance that is available to them.

Mr. Paulison made a commitment that if FEMA has not processed evacuees as of yet, they will not be kicked out of hotels.  Further, once evacuees receive rental assistance, they will be allowed to stay in the hotel for two more weeks to allow them to find alternative housing.  Mr. Paulison also confirmed that FEMA would pay for travel accommodations home for any Hurricane Katrina evacuee who desired to return.

Congressman Cummings said, “I am determined to work to make sure FEMA and the Bush Administration keep their promises to the citizens of the Gulf Coast region who have lost so much. The CBC will meet with FEMA again in early January to evaluate the progress being made.”

* * *

Congressman Cummings Votes Against PATRIOT Act Reauthorization

As a strong supporter of a balance between security and liberty, Congressman Cummings voted against the Reauthorization of the USA-PATRIOT Act, H.R. 3199.

Originally passed in the aftermath of September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the PATRIOT Act was intended to assure that U.S. law enforcement  agencies would possess the legal tools that they said they needed to protect the nation from acts of terrorism.  From the time of its initial passage, however, there has been serious concern that the wider police powers and other assertions of executive powers violate civil liberties guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution. Congressman Cummings was among the 79 House members who voted against the original bill, which contained several provisions that are scheduled to sunset this year.

Under H.R. 3199, the act continues to contain troublesome provisions including one by which the government can compel the production of business and library records by merely showing that the records are "relevant" to a terrorism investigation.  The government is not required to show that the records have some connection to a suspected terrorist or spy.

Although the bill passed the House, it was rejected by the Senate, when the Senate refused to end the filibuster of the vote.  Then, on Dec. 21, the Senate voted to extend the Act for another six months.

* * *

Congressman Cummings Appointed to Board of Visitors to the U. S. Naval Academy

Congressman Cummings has been appointed to the Board of Visitors (BOV) to the United States Naval Academy by U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives Dennis Hastert.  The U.S. Naval Academy is one of the five distinguished service academies that develop and inspire America’s future military leaders.

As a member of the BOV, Congressman Cummings will play a key role in examining the curriculum and instructional methods, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, and other matters relating to the Naval Academy.

“I am honored to have been named to the BOV,” Congressman Cummings said.  “I look forward to helping to ensure that the Naval Academy is fulfilling its mission of preparing young Americans to serve as leaders in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps.”

He added, “The U.S. Naval Academy is one of our nation’s most prestigious institutions and those who are selected to attend the Academy are among our country’s most talented young men and women,” Congressman Cummings continued. “Particularly now, when America is at war, it is imperative that we ensure that the Academy has all the resources it needs to train these individuals to succeed as Navy and Marine officers.”

The Naval Academy BOV consists of nine Members of Congress and six Presidential appointees. 

The Naval Academy was founded in 1845 by the Secretary of the Navy, George Bancroft, in Annapolis, Maryland.  Since its founding, more than 60,000 young men and women have successfully completed the Academy’s rigorous training program and taken their hard­earned places in America's Naval service.

^{_____________}

III. Addressing key national issues

Congressman Cummings recently joined his colleague in co-sponsoring of the following pieces of legislation.  For more information on the status of these bills, please log on to http://thomas.loc.gov.

1. Resolution honoring the memory of U.S. Armed Forces members who have given their lives in service to the nation in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, H.Con.Res. 287.
    
2. Hurricane Katrina Accountability and Contracting Reform Act, H.R. 3838, which would establish an independent commission to prevent abuse and fraud that may be occurring in the reconstruction projects related to Hurricane Katrina.
3. A bill to direct the Architect of the Capitol to obtain a statue of Rosa Parks and to place the statue in the U.S. Capitol and the National Statuary Hall, H.R. 4145.  This was signed into law on December 1, 2005.
4. To provide for the recovery, reclamation, restoration, and reconstruction of lives and communities and for the reunion of families devastated by Hurricane Katrina and to address the issues of poverty exposed by Hurricane Katrina, H.R. 4197.

^{______________}

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

$2,422,086 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the Parkwest Health Systems in Baltimore to provide healthcare services.

$1,197,651 from the Nation Institutes of Health for the University of Maryland at Baltimore to help the University’s Center for Arthritis and Traditional Chinese Medicine study acupuncture and herbs for the treatment of arthritis.

^{V. District Office Hours and Locations}

Baltimore Office
^{1010 Park Avenue, Suite 105
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 685-9199 and (410) 685-9399 fax
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.}

Catonsville Office
754 Frederick Road
Catonsville, Maryland 21228
(410) 719-8777 and (410) 455-0110 fax
8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Howard County Office - Now Open
8267 Main Street, Room 102
Ellicott Mills Post Office
Ellicott City, MD 21043-8267
(410) 465-8259 and (410) 465-8740
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To be removed from this list, please e-mail newslettercummings@mail.house.gov, with “remove” on the subject line.