Dear Friends,

Happy Halloween, everyone! I hope you all enjoy the day tomorrow and practice safe habits. Below I have a Halloween safety message for parents from the ATCC, please give it a read. It has been another busy week at the Maryland General Assembly, and we are not stopping anytime soon. 

To all of the federal workers in D32 and across the State, we stand with you. Please see below for resources that you may find helpful in this turbulent time.

• State-wide Resources from Governor Wes Moore’s Office: Maryland Workers Impacted by the Federal Government Shutdown

• Energy Bill Payments: BGE is providing enhanced bill payment support for federal employees and contractors amidst the shutdown. View the Assistance Finder for more information, or call them at 1-800-685-0123.

• Unsure if you will be impacted? Check out these FAQ and resource pages from Congresswomen Sarah Elfreth and Angela Alsobrook’s Offices regarding the government shutdown and its impacts on Marylanders.

• Unemployment insurance information and application: Click here.

• Food, Baby Supplies, and more: visit the Anne Arundel County Food Bank’s resource page here, or call the Warm Line at 410-222-FOOD(3663). 

• Financial Resources:

  • Bank of America: Furloughed Federal employees, call the priority assistance line at 844.219.0690.

  • Chase Bank: Chase announced efforts to help its customers who are U.S. government employees affected by the U.S. government shutdown. Here’s the special line they set up, 1-888-356-0023.

  • Congressional Federal Credit Union: For more information on their Relief Line of Credit or any other assistance programs, contact their Member Service Representatives at 800-491-2328 or stop by one of their branch locations.

  • Fed Choice: For various assistance options, click here.

  • Interior Federal Credit Union: They’re offering a special loan for both member and non-member furloughed Federal workers. Net paycheck up to $15,000, interest-free up to 30 days. Members may apply for a limit up to the equivalent of 2 net paychecks. For more information, click here or call 800-914-8619.

  • Navy Federal Credit Union: Offering a special loan program. Click here or call 1-888-842-6328 for more information. 

  • PayPal: PayPal has allocated funds to interest-free cash advances for furloughed Federal workers who need assistance right now. This is for both new and existing PayPal Credit customers. Minimum loan is $250 with a maximum cash advance of $500. Your account does need to be in good standing if you’re an existing PayPal Credit customer. Existing customers call 1-877-689-1975. For new accounts, apply first, then after approval, call 1-877-689-1975.

  • U.S. Bank: Will waive all late fees if you miss a mortgage payment due to the shutdown. They will also be deferring first payment dates for new mortgages.

  • U.S. Employees Credit Union: USECU is offering shutdown loans, but only until Tuesday, January 15th. Call (312) 922.5310 to get help.

  • Union Plus: Call them at 800-472-2005 to ask about these offers: $300 Furlough Grant for eligible Union Plus credit card holders, Mortgage Assistance Loan & $300 Grant: payment grace period for your Union Plus Life and Accident Insurance, payment grace period for Union Plus Auto Insurance, and payment grace period for Union Plus Life and Accident Insurance.

  • Wells Fargo: There are a few different options to help, depending on the services you have with their bank. Click here for more information.

• Furlough Grants

  • FEEA-NARFE: They are offering $100 grants to active federal employee members who are not receiving a paycheck during the current shutdown due to being furloughed or working in excepted status. To apply, click here.

• Thrift Savings Plan

  • TSP Plan News and Announcements: TSP allows for the suspension of loan payments when you go into non-pay status. Log in to your account to check your status or simply call the Thrift Line at 1-877-968-3778.

• Automotive

  • Toyota Financial Services & Lexus Financial Services: Affected lease and finance customers in good standing with their accounts may be eligible to take advantage of up to two months of finance contract payment extensions or lease deferred payments. Toyota Financial Services call 800-874-8822 and Lexus Financial Services call 800-874-7050.

  • Hyundai Capital: Hyundai will extend all Hyundai Capital auto loans and lease payments for 30 days for current Hyundai owners who are federal government employees furloughed during the shutdown. Impacted consumers should contact Hyundai Motor Finance at 1-800-523-4030.

  • Kia Motors Finance: Kia has announced it’s offering deferred payments of 30 days. If you’ve been affected by the current Government Shutdown and need assistance from Kia Finance, please contact them at 1-866-331-5632.

• Mobile Telephone Service Providers

  • AT&T: Will assist with adjusting late fees, providing extensions, and revising payment schedules.

  • Sprint: Will provide short-term payment solutions. Call 1-888-211-4747

  • T-Mobile: Offering short-term assistance and can spread out service payments over time. Call 1-877-746-0909 or 611 from a T-Mobile device.

  • Verizon: Offering flexible payment options and has a Promise to Pay program to set payments for a future date. Call 1-866-266-1445.

• Rental Home Assistance

  • National Rental Home Council: Represents many of the nation’s largest operators of single-family rental homes. They’re offering deferred rent payment options with no late fees to any renter who has been furloughed.

  • OPM Sample Letters for Creditors and Mortgage Companies: OPM created sample letters for Federal workers to contact their landlords, mortgage lenders, and utilities, to request help during the shutdown. Click here for more information. 

• National Food Resources & Advice

  • Local School District: To ensure your child receives free breakfast and/or lunch, notify the district of your furlough. No income is an emergency and typically qualifies you for a free meal program.

• Home, Auto & Life Insurance Relief

  • MetLife: For those not receiving a paycheck from the federal government because of the current shutdown, MetLife Auto & Home may grant a one-time, 30-day grace period on your payment of premium on a MetLife Auto & Home policy. Members must request this one-time allowance by calling 1-800-GET-MET8. Certain restrictions apply, and the premium remains due after the delay expires.

  • Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Company: To help the nearly 27,000 AFGE members who currently have a policy with the company during this government shutdown, the company “will keep the policy-in-force by waving the cost of insurance charges for the next 30 days.”. Policies beginning with the letter "Y" call: 844-800-9146, all other policies call: 888-513-8797

• Other Notable Mentions for Relief & Assistance.

  • USAA is offering deferments for all loans and credit card payments.USAA is also offering 0% loans equal to your pay.
  • Tower Federal Credit Union: Offering a paycheck assistance program for members. Click here for more information. 

  • Rent-A-Center (Benefits Plus Membership): If your account was up to date at the time of furlough and you are a part of Benefits Plus, you may be eligible for a payment waiver based on your state: “Involuntary Unemployment Payment Waiver: Losing a job is hard, and making payments while unemployed is even harder. Fortunately, your Membership waives your payments when you are involuntarily unemployed. Whether you were fired, laid off, suspended, or are out of work due to a labor dispute or strike, your payments are covered for up to four (4) months, up to $1,000, or when you’re able to return to work.”

* Bullets “Financial” through “Tower Federal Credit Union” are sourced from the VFW *

Here are resources provided by the Maryland Department of Emergency Management for constituents facing food insecurity:

• DoIT's statewide food insecurity map for the FSRC has food pantries included, but you have to zoom in and click on individual locations to see food pantry names and hours of operation. This map is still a work in progress.

• The DHS website has links to the Maryland Food Bank and Capital Area Food Bank websites, where Marylanders can enter their zip code to locate a food pantry.

• I would recommend taking a look at the MSA's list of food pantries, which covers all jurisdictions (not sure how up to date), or using Maryland 211's "Free Food Near Me" tool.

• This recent news story on CAFB's free groceries for federal workers initiative also has a list of upcoming federal worker-specific food access opportunities (scroll to the bottom of the article).

Anne Arundel County-Specific Resources Via AACDOH:

• Anne Arundel County Food Bank has an electronic map and a PDF Pantry listing that can be printed

• Maryland Food Bank offers an electronic find food map

• The County page has Food Resources.

Maryland-Wide Information from the Maryland Food Bank:

"The Maryland Food Bank has over 750 partners located throughout the state - operating food pantries, holding pop-up food distribution events, and inviting our Mobile Market trucks to act as a “grocery store on wheels” to more rural communities where transportation and food access are challenges. We provide over 1 million Marylanders annually with healthy food options and fresh produce – much of it locally grown, and strive to tailor our food response to the needs of the families and communities we serve."

Our priority is ensuring that Marylanders facing food insecurity know that we can help in times of need. To that end, you may contact the Maryland Food Bank by:

• Phone: (410) 737-8282
• Website: www.mdfoodbank.org/find-food/
• If SNAP assistance is needed, call 1-888-808-7327 or email snapteam@mdfoodbank.org

On October 23rd, I had the pleasure of joining BWI Business Partnership in celebrating their 40th anniversary! I was delighted to present them with a Senate Citation and say a few words about the amazing work they have done here in Anne Arundel County. Congratulations, BWI Business Partnership, on 40 years of amazing work!

Last week, I was honored to speak at Maryland Auto Insurance’s Annual Women’s Conference. It is always so inspiring to enter a room filled with women in the insurance industry, as they remain a minority in the field. We had an enlightening conversation about women in business, setting goals, mentoring one another, and, of course, insurance legislation. Thank you, Maryland Auto Insurance, for having me!

Please view this message from the Maryland Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission:

The ATCC wishes everyone a Happy Halloween! The ATCC wants to alert parents and guardians of certain illicit and unregulated products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that may appear similar to consumer goods or otherwise appeal to children. The ATCC, in the course of our enforcement activity, has confiscated illicit products containing THC that may mimic or appear similar to other commercially available consumer goods.

What to watch for:

• Misspelled brand names or off-color packaging

• Edibles or gummies labeled with cannabis terms such as THC, CBD, or infused

• Unfamiliar candies or snacks that seem “too adult” for kids

For more information, please visit the ATCC’s webpage.

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (SHA) has initiated the MD 3 Business (Crain Highway) project as part of the Pedestrian Safety Action Plan (PSAP). The PSAP program was established after the publication of the PSAP document, an actionable strategic framework for improving safety for Vulnerable Road Users on SHA roadways.

The PSAP program prioritizes safety enhancements along corridors, like MD 3 Business. Implementation decisions are made using factors such as equity, destinations and connections, crash data, and density.

To make travel safer for all road users, this project will make Context Driven improvements along 1.63 miles from Stevenson Road to Oak Manor Drive in Anne Arundel County. Please visit the PSAP website for more information regarding the PSAP program and other associated initiatives.

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending two amazing events. 

Bishops Ball:

I began the evening with Faith Legacy's Inaugural Statewide Bishop's Ball! I was delighted to award all of the honorees with citations from the District 32 team. It was a beautiful event. Congratulations to all of the honorees!

MSEPS Annual Banquet:

The Maryland Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons hosted their annual banquet. I had the honor of being recognized as the recipient of the 2025 Legislative Award. As Chair of the Finance Committee, it is my honor to work with our doctors and healthcare providers in Maryland. Thank you, MSEPS, for this wonderful award! 

As a member of the Senate, I am responsible for making appointments to certain committees.  At present, I am looking for volunteers for two committees:

• The Citizens Committee for the Enhancement of Communities Surrounding Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport

The Community Enhancement Committee reviews and evaluates grant applications from eligible communities.  To apply, a committee member must live inside the 1998 certified Airport Noise Zone. Typical projects reviewed include speed humps, streetscapes, bus shelters, and sidewalks. Projects need to be transportation-related. (Projects must also be in the 1998 Noise Zone.) You can find a detailed description of the grant program on the MAA website.

• DC Metroplex BWI Community Roundtable

The Roundtable was formed at the request of the Federal Aviation Administration and monitors the implementation of air traffic procedures established by the FAA and makes recommendations to the FAA for alternative routing, noise, and environmental effects. To apply, you must be a resident of District 32. You can find a detailed description at the MAA website.

To be considered for either of these appointments, please send your resume and letter of interest to me at pamela.beidle@senate.maryland.gov. Please include the committee name in the subject line. I look forward to hearing from you!

My office remains open year-round to help you with issues and answer your questions. During the interim, my Chief of Staff, Nancy Lipin Crawford, and our new Legislative Aide, Abigail Bento, will be in the office on Tuesday and Wednesday and working remotely on Monday, Thursday, and Friday.

The interim is busy, there are community events, meetings, committee site visits, task force studies, and oversight committee meetings to attend.

Thank you, District 32, for allowing me to serve as your State Senator. I am looking forward to seeing you out and about in the community.

Sincerely,

Pamela Beidle

Senator, District 32, Maryland General Assembly

Click here to be directed to our Unemployment Insurance Assistance Form. 

From Amazon’s Newsletter “Working on it!”: Amazon is creating 250,000 seasonal positions nationwide for the upcoming holiday season, including 6,500 jobs here in Maryland, over 3,000 of which will be in the Baltimore area. These roles offer flexible scheduling options with an average wage of more than $19 per hour. Interested candidates can visit http://amazon.com/localjobs for weekly job postings through December. 

Note: Open roles are posted throughout the holiday season and fill quickly, so candidates should check back often. 

The Anne Arundel Libraries have an abundance of exciting upcoming events. There are events for all ages, ranging from infants to adults. With it being National Deaf Awareness and Hispanic Heritage months, there are special events! Please see the link below to help you find your local library and events near you: https://www.aacpl.net/

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