Cooler weather presents greater risk of house fires
October 11, 2012
Dutch's Blog
Cooler weather presents greater risk of house fires
October 11, 2012 12:31 PMFall is one of my favorite times of year – the leaves start to turn, the holidays are on the horizon and football is on TV. But it’s also a time for caution. Holiday decorations, wind gusts that knock out the electricity and alternative heating sources all contribute to an increased risk of house fires during the fall and winter.There were more than 362,100 house fires in the U.S. alone in 2010, killing 67 people right here in Maryland. As...Continue Reading
Finding a cure for atrial fibrillation
October 4, 2012 10:49 AMToday’s guest blogger is Congressman Ruppersberger’s Capitol Hill intern, Molly McKee.As a member of the House of Representatives, Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger frequently meets with members of the medical community advocating on behalf of those suffering from various diseases, illnesses and conditions. He says that one group has always stuck out to him: those urging lawmakers to support research funding for a heart condition called atrial fibrillation.Already, 2.5 million Americans are suffering from atrial fibrillation, but this number could soar to...Continue Reading
Efforts to help Maryland small businesses start exporting underway
September 26, 2012 3:30 PMI just received great news that Maryland small businesses will be on the receiving end of federal funds to help them start exporting their products around the world. Maryland will be getting more than $650,000 in the second round of U.S. Small Business Administration grant funding. The first round proved to be a huge success and the administration expects to report a ten-to-one return on this investment. The funding will be available to help small business owners take overseas sales...Continue Reading
Celebrating National Voter Registration Day
September 25, 2012 2:11 PMDuring the last Presidential election, a staggering 6 million Americans did not vote simply because they didn’t know how to register or missed their state’s deadline to register. Today, volunteers, celebrities, and civic groups from all over the country will “hit the streets” for National Voter Registration Day, encouraging people to take advantage of their Constitutional right to have a say. You may see them at the bus stop, on your way to a class, or even on Twitter!This effort...Continue Reading
Demanding an even playing field for U.S. auto parts industry
September 18, 2012 5:15 PMFor too long, the Chinese government’s unfair trade practices have hurt American businesses. In particular, their deception and manipulation are costing us countless jobs and productivity in the U.S. auto parts industry. The Chinese are using every tool at their disposal to give their own auto parts companies a leg up, from limiting our exports to their market to subsidizing their exports to us. They even block the export of key raw materials needed for the production of some auto...Continue Reading
Happy 77th Anniversary, Social Security
August 16, 2012 2:46 PMWhen President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law in 1935, he called it a “law that will take care of human needs and at the same time provide for the United States an economic structure of vastly greater soundness.” Now, 77 years later, the lives of hard-working Americans and their families continue to be immeasurably improved because of the protections they have earned through Social Security.Nearly 15 percent of Marylanders receive Social Security benefits worth $11.4...Continue Reading
New tools available to help navigate financial aid process
August 14, 2012 11:47 AMThe federal government has launched a new website and social media tools to help students and families navigate the financial aid process.The launch of the new website, StudentAid.gov, is the first step in a multi-phase project to provide consumers with a one-stop website where they can access federal student aid information, apply for federal aid, repay student loans and navigate the college decision-making process. The site combines content from several U.S. Department of Education websites and presents the information in...Continue Reading
Remembering the SEALs of August 6
August 7, 2012 12:16 PMYesterday, we celebrated American success in many ways, from the Olympic Games in London to landing an unmanned rover on Mars. But we also marked a more solemn occasion: the first anniversary of the death of 38 brave men and women in a military helicopter that was shot down in Afghanistan August 6, 2011. The troops were part of a quick reaction team heading to reinforce an engaged unit of Army Rangers. The resulting crash killed 25 American special operations...Continue Reading
Seeing Mars through the eyes of Curiosity
August 6, 2012 1:47 PMAfter nearly nine months cruising through space, NASA’s unmanned rover Curiosity touched down in Mars’ Gale Crater this morning. The historic landing of this SUV-sized rover is a technological breakthrough that gives our country huge bragging rights in the space race.Over the next few months, Curiosity will be touring Mars with the goal of assessing whether the planet has ever had (or still has) the environmental conditions capable of sustaining life. We can learn so much about our own planet...Continue Reading
Congress Restricts Protests at Military Funerals
August 3, 2012 11:40 AMLast year, I introduced new legislation to prevent protests during military funerals. The bill, called the “Safe Haven for Heroes Act,” responded to offensive anti-gay protests at the funerals of fallen troops, including Maryland native Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder. Matthew was killed in a vehicle accident in Iraq when he was just 20 years old.I have great news. This week, with the help of my vote, Congress passed legislation remarkably similar to the “Safe Haven for Heroes Act.” Once this...Continue Reading
