District Updates

Honoring our Veterans:

On Veterans Day, I had the privilege of attending the American Legion Ceremony in Cambridge, Maryland to honor the brave men and women who served and scarified so much to defend our great nation. Our Veterans are heroes and deserve our respect and gratitude. As a Veteran myself, it was a pleasure to meet with so many fellow Veterans and thank them for all they have done to protect our country. 

Proposed Bay Bridge Plans Public Comment Period:

Picture provided by Sky News

On November 12, the Maryland Transportation Authority announced they will hold three meetings in December, one virtual and two in-person, about plans to expand the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. One meeting will be held virtually while the remaining hearings will be help in Annapolis and Queen Anne's County. 

Maryland will be proposing six alternative plans for the bridge and is welcoming public feedback on these proposals. My office will provide updates on when and where these public meetings will be hosted. 

2025 Inauguration Tickets: 

Our office is receiving a high level of requests for inauguration tickets. On our website, in the “Tours and Tickets” section, you may now find a link where constituents can request their tickets.

Please Read Below for Frequently Asked Questions: 

When and where are the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies?

The 60th Inaugural Ceremonies take place on January 20, 2025. During its organizational meeting on May 22, 2024, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) voted to conduct the Swearing-In Ceremonies for the President-elect and Vice President-elect on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol.

Who plans the Inaugural Ceremonies at the U.S. Capitol?

Since 1901, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) has been responsible for the planning and execution of the Inaugural Ceremonies of the President-elect and Vice President-elect of the United States at the U.S. Capitol.

Which Members serve on the JCCIC?

The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) is comprised of the Chairwoman and the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, the Senate Majority Leader, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Majority and Minority leaders of the House of Representatives. Traditionally, the JCCIC elects the Rules Committee Chairwoman to chair the JCCIC.

What is the Presidential Inaugural Committee and what is its role?

The Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) is a non-profit organization representing the President-elect and is organized following the November election. It is currently in the process of becoming established. The PIC is responsible for official Inaugural events other than those held at the U.S. Capitol. This includes organizing the Inaugural Parade and any official Inaugural balls and galas.

Where can I send constituents interested in being part of the Inaugural Parade?

All applications are collected and organized by the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region (JTF-NCR) Inaugural Parade Coordinator Office. The PIC is the only entity authorized to decide who will participate in the Inaugural Parade. This selection process normally occurs in mid-December. Applications will be accepted until December 4, 2024. The 2025 Inaugural Parade Application Website is: https://inauguralparade.smapply.net/

For any questions regarding the application process, please contact the JTF-NCR Inaugural Parade Coordinator Office. Email at [email protected] or call (202) 902-4133

In The News

H.R. 82; Social Security Fairness Act & H.R 5342; Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act:

Last week, the House of Representatives voted on two bills, H.R. 82; Social Security Fairness Act and H.R. 5342; Equal treatment of Public Servants Act, addressing the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). There has been a lot of misinformation about my position on these issues and I would like to address this matter.

• The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that H.R. 82 would cost the American taxpayer $200 billion.
• H.R. 82 would authorize payments to workers (as well as their spouses) who already receive other pensions outside of Social Security or who at one point in their career, opted out of paying into the Social Security program.
• H.R. 82 would shorten the window for the Social Security’s Trust Fund’s insolvency.

Because of these concerns, I voted against H.R. 82. However, I voted in favor of the Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act.

• The Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act would address current concerns with the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) by providing increased benefits to retired teachers, firefighters, and police officers, not covered by Social Security by replacing WEP with a new formula.
• The CBO estimates this bill would cost the American taxpayer roughly $30 billion--a significant decrease from the $200 billion price tag of H.R. 82. 

To be clear, I voted in favor of the Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act, a bill that address longstanding issues with the Windfall Elimination Provision in a fiscally responsible way. However, I could not support the fiscally irresponsible H.R. 82 which will cost the American taxpayer $200 billion and expedite the insolvency of the Social Security trust fund.

I hope this information has been helpful to you and please do not hesitate to reach out to my office with any questions or concern.

How We Can Help

If you have ever had any issue with a Federal agency, like the IRS, the VA, Social Security, Medicare, or passports, please don’t hesitate to contact my office. My office teams are ready to assist you. If you are interested in purchasing a flag that has been flown over the U.S. Capitol, for a special person or special occasion, please visit my website or call my office at 202-225-5311. Below are links to services my office offers and we hope to hear from you. 

• Flag Requests
• Small Businesses
• Help with a Federal Agency
• D.C. Tours
• Grants
• Military Academy Nominations