May 12, 2025

On Thursday, I joined Attorney General Brown, community partners, and fellow lawmakers at the Digital Harbor Foundation to speak out against the Trump Administration’s abrupt decision to slash AmeriCorps funding and put out a call to action. These cuts strike at the heart of who we are as Americans. They jeopardize organizations like Elev8 Baltimore and the Digital Harbor Foundation, the livelihoods and futures of the corps members serving often overlooked communities, and the neighborhoods in which that work is happening. 

Recognizing the vital nature of the work that these nonprofits engage in, organizations like BGE and the South Baltimore Gateway Partnership immediately stepped up with $80,000 in stopgap funding so Elev8 and the Digital Harbor Foundation can weather the storm until related lawsuits progress. My hope is this bold commitment will motivate all of us–individuals, foundations, and corporations–to be part of the solution in the short-term. This is more than a funding issue. It’s about whether we still believe in service, leadership, and building community from the ground up.

My own journey in public service began with AmeriCorps through Teach For America. That experience shaped my values and set me on the path to represent the 46th Legislative District and lead the Senate. I can tell you firsthand that by standing up for programs like AmeriCorps, we’re investing in the people and principles that hold our communities together like compassion, purpose, and a shared commitment to one another.

If you are interested in supporting corps members whose positions were eliminated, you can do so through the Emergency Funding in Support of AmeriCorps Members campaign by America’s Service Commissions. Once on the donation page, people can select Maryland from the dropdown in the “Additional Requested Information” box to direct their donation directly to Maryland corps members. 

Last week, I joined Governor Moore and Speaker Jones for the third bill signing ceremony following the 2025 Legislative Session. Standing alongside colleagues from both chambers, we marked the passage of legislation that speaks to Maryland’s core commitments–strengthening public education, honoring our veterans, and preparing for the fiscal realities ahead.

This latest slate of bills signed into law advances critical work in several areas: expanding veteran benefits and recognition, protecting reproductive health access, strengthening trauma-informed education practices, supporting students with disabilities and food insecurity on college campuses, and improving access to the ballot box for multilingual communities. I was proud to add my signature to these and other key measures from the last Session.

Among the bills signed last week were the following important initiatives:

• Senate Bill 309, which expands outreach and support services for military service members and their families;

• Senate Bill 276 to ensure all uniformed service members receive equal recognition under Maryland education laws and benefit provisions; 

• Senate Bill 674, which establishes a statewide collaborative to assess and improve access to over-the-counter birth control;

• Senate Bill 359 to require continued annual funding of $3.7 million for the therapeutic child care programs serving children with intensive needs;

• Senate Bill 68, which directs the development of a statewide plan to implement restorative practices in schools, promoting a more supportive and community-based school culture;

• Senate Bill 603 to authorize funding to support college access and employment pathways for students with intellectual disabilities through a new TerpsEXCEED program at the University of Maryland, College Park; and

• Senate Bill 685 which creates a program requiring local election boards to offer multilingual assistance when needed to ensure equitable voter access.

Last week, I had the honor of joining Mayor Scott, Congressman Sarbanes, Congressman Mfume, Congressman Olszewski, Council President Cohen, Councilwoman Porter, and Director Moore to break ground on the new Elijah Cummings Recreation Center in Curtis Bay. Recreation centers play a vital role in building strong neighborhoods by offering space for connection, wellness, and community pride. 

Curtis Bay and Brooklyn have long powered Baltimore’s economy, but haven’t always seen the reinvestment they deserve. This new investment represents a shift in that story: a tangible commitment to environmental justice, civic infrastructure, and equity for all families in South Baltimore.

There’s more work ahead, but the groundbreaking ceremony served as a meaningful reminder that real progress is underway. I look forward to returning for the ribbon cutting.

The Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act (House Bill 504), signed last week, marks a meaningful step forward in the ongoing work to strengthen the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. This bill reflects months of tough conversations, including sharp disagreements over how to navigate our State’s fiscal challenges without compromising world-class educational opportunity and results for all Maryland students. In the end, we protected investments for students with the highest needs and preserved the Blueprint’s foundation while taking steps to adapt to the realities we face today.

From expanding mental health services to improving literacy and better supporting our educators, we know the next phase of this work will require deeper collaboration, honest assessment, and strategic investment. The Blueprint remains our boldest vision for what public education should look like in Maryland so every child can achieve their potential. It’s our shared responsibility to make sure the promise of that vision becomes real in every classroom across the State.

Marylanders continue to feel the fallout of federal policies that prioritize politics over people. A Maryland family who recently moved to Oklahoma was wrongfully raided by federal immigration agents; the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) shut down basic services, cutting surviving family members off from the benefits their deceased loved ones earned; and EPA officials are refusing to release court-ordered environmental justice grants meant for communities battling pollution. These decisions disrupt paychecks, delay healthcare, and block access to clean air and water. The impact is personal, immediate, and deeply unjust.

Here in Maryland, over $230 million in school funding is still at risk after federal officials rolled back extensions that allowed more time to spend COVID relief dollars allocated by Congress. These funds were designated for student mental health services, teacher training, and support for children experiencing homelessness. As vital public agencies are stripped of their resources, local communities are left to stretch already limited budgets.

Rest assured, Maryland is paying attention and taking action, including through more than a dozen lawsuits led or joined by Attorney General Brown. We will keep pressing forward with every legal, legislative, and community-based tool available to protect the people of our State.

Starting this month, millions of Americans–including thousands of Marylanders–could see their student loans referred to collections. After years of pandemic-related relief, the federal government is resuming wage garnishment and other involuntary collection efforts for borrowers in default. For many, especially working-class professionals and first-generation graduates, the consequences will be devastating. Far too many borrowers, despite best efforts, are unable to reach staff at the U.S. Department of Education to enroll in relevant income-based repayment plans or correct miscalculations. 

The gutting of our federal agencies creates real consequences, especially for those attempting to do the right thing as loan payments resume in earnest. This is a crisis born not of irresponsibility, but of a flawed system that burdens people unnecessarily. Policy is only as effective as its implementation and the system must work for borrowers, especially those facing hardship. 

For those in default, there are options to get back on track, including loan rehabilitation programs. Borrowers should visit studentaid.gov to review their loan status, update contact information, and explore available repayment options.

Congratulations to The Baltimore Banner for earning a Pulitzer Prize for its groundbreaking coverage of the deadly opioid epidemic in Baltimore. The prize committee called their work “a compassionate investigative series that captured the breathtaking dimensions of Baltimore’s fentanyl crisis and its disproportionate impact on older Black men.” This important award highlights how powerful and important local journalism is to communities, especially when attacks on news organizations continue to erode public trust and access to accurate and reliable information. 

The Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council recently announced a two-year grant initiative designed to support 100 businesses within a 5–10-mile radius of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Through structured training and valuable resources, The Key Bridge Business Recovery Program will empower companies with the tools and knowledge to strengthen and expand their operations. If your business is interested in learning more, please call (301) 593-5860 or click here for the client intake form.

On May 5, former-Senator Barbara Mikulski was honored with The William Donald Schaefer Award for her tireless work for over 40 years in the U.S. Congress. Senator Mikulski sat on the powerful Appropriations Committee throughout her 30 years in the U.S. Senate, and she became the first woman and first Marylander to serve as chair of the committee in 2012. 

The Maryland Transportation Authority, in partnership with the Turner Station Conservation Teams, is hosting a community job fair on May 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. at  Sollers Point Multi-Purpose Center, 323 Sollers Point Road in Dundalk.  This is a great opportunity for organizations to connect with job seekers looking for new career avenues.  Click  here to learn more about the event.

This Saturday, the  150th Preakness Stakes will shine a light on Baltimore’s iconic Pimlico Race Track as it hosts the middle jewel of the iconic Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing. It will be the final race at Pimlico before the course is demolished for a much-needed restoration project. Racing, including the Preakness, will move next year to Laurel Park and return to Pimlico in 2027. The centralization of racing operations at Pimlico will serve to revitalize Maryland's racing industry that supports 28,000 jobs and generates roughly $3 billion in economic activity.

A Co-location Internship Program sponsored by Salisbury University and the National Network of Child Psychiatry Access places social work graduate students in pediatric offices in rural areas of Maryland.  The interns perform behavioral health screenings, brief six-week interventions, and coordination of resources and referrals. Interventions primarily consist of cognitive behavioral therapy and parent management training. Since the program began in 2012, its interns have conducted 12,160 visits with families.

If there is anything we can do to help, please do not hesitate to contact my office via email, bill.ferguson@senate.state.md.us, or by phone, 410-841-3600.

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