E-Newsletter

  • E-Newsletter

     

    *By submitting, you are subscribing to my newsletter.

Contact Rep. Edwards

Office Locations

  • Office Location

    Prince George's County Office
    5001 Silver Hill Road
    Suite 106
    Suitland, Maryland 20746
    301-516-7601 main
    301-516-7608 fax

    Montgomery County Office
    8730 Georgia Avenue
    Suite 209
    Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
    301-562-7960 main
    301-562-7964 fax

    Washington, D.C. Office
    318 Cannon House Office Building
    Washington, DC 20515
    202-225-8699 main
    202-225-8714 fax

Search A Bill

Kids Corner

AddThisButton

  • AddThisButton

Latest News

  • Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards Reiterates Support for a Strong Public Health Insurance Option

    “Despite the trial balloons floated by White House officials suggesting abandoning the public option, I stand steadfast in support of a robust public option to expand coverage, bring down costs, and hold private insurers accountable.  I support the President's statement made as recently as August 7, indicating his support for a public health insurance option as the most effective way to lower costs for all Americans and to hold insurers accountable.

     

    “My progressive colleagues and I and millions of Americans were disappointed when single-payer was taken off the table during the beginning of the health care reform debate.  Now a strong public health insurance option is the ONLY option for real and meaningful health care reform.”

     

    Health insurance premiums for Maryland families have sky-rocketed, increasing 64 percent from 2000 to 2007, three times faster than Maryland families’ median earnings.  The full cost of employer-sponsored insurance in Maryland is now 18 percent of median family income. 

     

    “American families and small businesses are being crippled by escalating health care costs,” added Rep. Edwards.  “The status quo is unsustainable. We have this chance to achieve meaningful health care reform, and we must ensure that we establish the strongest infrastructure possible to give this reform every opportunity for success.” 

    Health Care Reform Bills

    If you want to learn more about Health Care Reform, read for yourself. 

     

     

    Ways and Means Committee

     

    Education and Labor Committee

     

    Energy and Commerce Committee

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Maryland Awarded Over $23 Million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to Hire and Retain Law Enforcement Officers

     

    Rep. Donna F. Edwards Pleased that Prince George’s County Will Receive Over $11 Million in Funding

     

    Vice President Joseph Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder announced $1 billion in grants to fund the hiring and rehiring of 4,699 law enforcement officers across the country under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  The state of Maryland was awarded over $23 million to hire and retain 112 police career law enforcement officers.  The grants will be administered by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) through the federal agency’s COPS Hiring Recovery Program.  

     

    “I am pleased with today’s announcement that 112 law enforcement officers will either be hired or remain on duty in the state of Maryland because of funding provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed by Congress,” said Rep. Donna F. Edwards (D-MD).  “Specifically, this funding will provide jobs to 50 police officers for the Prince George’s County Police Department.  As state and local governments across the country continue to suffer budget shortfalls, this critical funding will keep police on the streets and make our communities safer.”  

     

    For additional information, click here.

     

    Congresswoman Edwards Introduces Legislation to Require New Federal Safety Standards for Heavy Rail Systems

    Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards introduced the House companion to the National Metro Safety Act, introduced by Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) earlier this week.  In the aftermath of the Metro collision that tragically killed nine and injured many more, it became obvious that federal safety standards for heavy rail systems are imperative. 

    “The recent Red-Line Metro collision that claimed the lives of nine people was a tragic reminder of the urgent need to establish federal safety standards,” said Rep. Edwards.  “Thousands of my constituents, and millions more across the country, rely on heavy rail transit systems to get to work safely.  This legislation will establish federal safety standards for heavy rail systems that are already in place for other forms of public transportation.  I thank Sen. Mikulski for her leadership on this issue, and I am proud to join her in this effort.”

    For additional information, click here.

     

    Congresswoman Edwards' Op-Ed Published in the Washington Informer

     

     

    A Robust Public Option is the only Option for Real Healthcare Reform  
    Opinion / Editorial

    BY CONGRESSWOMAN DONNA F. EDWARDS   
    THURSDAY, 16 JULY 2009

     

     

    The U.S. healthcare system is one of the most expensive systems in the world. We spend $2.2 trillion per year on healthcare services and products, and yet approximately 46 million Americans are uninsured, 80 percent of whom are from working families.


    Almost half of all personal bankruptcies are attributed to medical debt. And, for the 80 percent of Americans who have health insurance, premiums, deductibles, and co-payments are skyrocketing; and we all pay for the flaws that leave millions uninsured and seeking care in expensive hospital emergency rooms. In fact, premiums rose 114 percent from 1999 to 2007, greatly outpacing incomes.

     

     To read the rest of the article, click here.

     

     

     

    Congresswoman Edwards' Article Published in the Washington Post

     

     

    Do We Need Another Stimulus?

     

    DONNA F. EDWARDS

    Democratic representative from Maryland

     

    After President Obama took office, inheriting the worst economy since the Depression, Congress moved quickly to pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a $787 billion stimulus package of project funding and tax cuts that extended unemployment and provided health-care, job training and other relief for millions of Americans hit by the recession. There was great debate about the size, scope and character of the package. In Maryland and other states, we are getting contracts out, and jobs are being created. Only five months in, with the bulk of funding still to be disbursed, it is disingenuous for critics to call the package a failure. This bill has helped pull the economy out of free fall.

    Now it's time to stabilize and create more jobs. The fact is we may need to do more. We must leave all options on the table, including the possibility of legislation that focuses entirely on job creation by funding many more shovel-ready transportation, water and sewer infrastructure projects -- sure-fire job creators. After decades of disinvestment, there is no such thing as too much investment in our nation's ailing infrastructure. In Maryland, Recovery Act funding supports 220 transportation and 95 water infrastructure projects that are employing more than 13,000 workers. More projects are ready to go if additional money becomes available, here and in other states.

    Even in the absence of a second stimulus package, the goals of immediate job creation and infrastructure investment could be achieved through the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2009. This important legislation should not be delayed further.

    If unemployment continues to rise even as more Recovery Act funds are distributed, we have an obligation to our constituents to take more aggressive action, explain why, and be measured and smart about what is needed.

     

     

    Click here to read all of the other submissions.

     

    Congresswoman Edwards Named to Politico's "50 Politicos to Watch" List

    Rookies of the Year
    by Patrick O'Connor
    7/9/09

     

     

    Maryland Rep. Donna Edwards harnessed the liberal left last year to crush eight-term incumbent Al Wynn, her former boss, in the Democratic primary — then won a special election for the seat when Wynn resigned rather than finish his term.

     

     

    Click here to read the entire article.

     

     

    Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards Announces New Program to Make College More Affordable

    New benefits are in effect making federal student loans more affordable to repay by allowing borrowers to cap their monthly loan payments at a reasonable percentage of their income. Certain eligible low- and moderate-income students taking out new federal student loans will also see lower interest rates and higher Pell Grant scholarships.

     

     

    “An affordable college education is essential if our children are to be successful in a 21st Century economy,” said Rep. Edwards. “This new program gives our students the help they need to get a quality college education, and is a worthwhile investment in the future success of our students and this country.  I urge our young people to take advantage of this remarkable opportunity.”

     

     

    For more information, please click here.

     

    Congresswoman Edwards Introduces the WAGES Act

    Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (D-MD) continued her commitment to working people by introducing the Working for Adequate Gains for Employment in Services (WAGES) Act, H.R. 2570.
    The legislation would increase incrementally the minimum wage for tipped employees over the next three years.

    For more information, please visit Congresswoman's Edwards' blog post about the WAGES Act by clicking here.

     

    2010 Appropriations

    Click here to view.

     

     

Press Releases & Statements

Show all items

Photo Gallery

Rep. Edwards with Martin Sheen and Bradley Whitford

Rep. Edwards with Martin Sheen and Bradley Whitford

Rep. Edwards at a Coffee Conversation

Rep. Edwards at a Coffee Conversation

Rep. Edwards Holds Coffee Conversation with Constituents

Rep. Edwards Holds Coffee Conversation with Constituents

Rep. Edwards with faculty at Seat Pleasant Elementary School

Rep. Edwards with faculty at Seat Pleasant Elementary School

Rep. Edwards with other members of Congress at Darfur rally in front of Sudanese Embassy

Rep. Edwards with other members of Congress at Darfur rally in front of Sudanese Embassy

Rep. Edwards speaks on crisis in Darfur in front of Sudanese Embassy

Rep. Edwards speaks on crisis in Darfur in front of Sudanese Embassy

Rep. Edwards with Vice President Biden, Gov. O'Malley, and Sen. Cardin at a Press Conference

Rep. Edwards with Vice President Biden, Gov. O'Malley, and Sen. Cardin at a Press Conference

Rep. Edwards with the NASA flight crew of STS-119 to the International Space Station

Rep. Edwards with the NASA flight crew of STS-119 to the International Space Station

Group photo at a recent press conference announcing $300 million from the American Recovery Act for the

Group photo at a recent press conference announcing $300 million from the American Recovery Act for the "Clean Cities Project"

Group photo with Sen. Mikulski at Prince George's Community Hospital

Group photo with Sen. Mikulski at Prince George's Community Hospital

Congresswoman Edwards with Col. Shepro and others from Joint Base Andrews

Congresswoman Edwards with Col. Shepro and others from Joint Base Andrews