Dear Friend,

I wanted to provide an update on the work I am doing in the House of Representatives to represent the great people of Maryland's First Congressional District and to advance commonsense, conservative legislation in Washington, D.C.

Fighting to Protect Ocean City’s Coastline and Community

This week, the House passed the SPEED Act which is structured to streamline the permitting process for new energy projects. Just as importantly, this bill included my amendment which  ensures the ongoing fight against offshore wind isn’t undermined by new permitting rules, and prevents developers from gaining new legal advantages mid-battle that could be used to push these projects onto our community. For eight years, I’ve heard from countless residents, local leaders, small business owners, and watermen across the Eastern Shore who have fought these offshore wind proposals and felt ignored by the Biden Administration throughout the process. This fight is not over, and I will continue fighting for the Eastern Shore to protect our communities, our coastline, and the hardworking men and women who depend on it.

Delivering Lower Health Care Costs for Maryland and the Eastern Shore

The House advanced the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, which focused on cutting waste, fraud, and abuse in our health care system and bringing costs down for Maryland families. Democrats’ health care policies have left Marylanders paying more every year while big insurance companies post record profits all while fraud in the Obamacare marketplace continues unchecked. This bill takes a better approach by increasing transparency in prescription drug pricing, giving families greater control over their health care dollars, and helping local small businesses access more affordable coverage options. It is expected to lower premiums by up to 11%, delivering real relief and making quality health coverage more affordable across Maryland and the Eastern Shore.

Protecting Children's Physical and Mental Health

This week, I proudly voted in support of the Protect Children’s Innocence Act, which makes it a federal crime to perform genital or body mutilation or chemical castration on a minor, with narrow exceptions for intersex conditions and for treating medical complications. Children cannot be arrested or prosecuted under this law, and penalties of up to 10 years in prison apply only to adults. This bill will protect Maryland’s children from harmful and irreversible medical procedures that have devastating, lifelong impacts on their physical and mental health.

Protecting Kids and Restoring Common Sense in Health Care

I voted in strong support of the Do No Harm in Medicaid Act, to ensure taxpayer-funded Medicaid dollars are not used for gender transition procedures on minors. This bill prohibits federal Medicaid payments for irreversible, life-altering surgeries and medical interventions on children under 18, reaffirming that these procedures should not be encouraged or funded by the federal government. My priority is protecting Maryland’s children, being responsible with taxpayer dollars, and making sure federal health policy puts families first.

Protecting Maryland Families with Stronger Migrant Placement Standards

The House passed the Kayla Hamilton Act, which tightens federal placement rules for unaccompanied migrant children by requiring stronger safety checks and clearer standards. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to consider public safety risks, mandates secure placement for minors age 13 and older with documented gang ties, expands background checks by fully vetting all adults living in a sponsor’s household, and prevents children from being released to sponsors who are unlawfully present in the United States. As you are aware, Kayla Hamilton was a 20-year-old Harford County woman who was tragically murdered by a 16-year-old illegal alien with MS-13 ties. I was proud to vote in favor of this legislation which will reduce the risk of unsafe placements with unvetted or unlawfully present sponsors and strengthen public safety across Maryland communities.