Senate Update: Rebuilding the Bridge, Supporting Communities, and Honoring a Maryland Hero

It’s an understatement to say that this has been a challenging time at home and abroad. Overseas we are confronting the continued rise of authoritarianism, the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, China’s aggressive actions, and serious conflicts ranging from Haiti to Sudan. At home, we also face threats to our democracy and freedom. The recent decisions by the Supreme Court have been especially alarming. By striking down the Chevron deference doctrine and conferring unprecedented, king-like immunity on the office of the president, this Court has made dangerous power grabs and endangered democracy itself. These are just a few examples of the many outrageous decisions this far-right Court has delivered, which have ranged from the despicable Dobbs decision two years ago, to their more recent rulings striking down common-sense gun protection measures and stripping away critical environmental protections. Many of these decisions have also shined a light on the troubling influence of outside right-wing donors and groups on our Supreme Court Justices – yet another reason we need to pass legislation I have cosponsored to establish a binding, enforceable code of ethics at the Supreme Court. Simply put, our highest court in the land should not have the lowest ethical standards. I will keep fighting back against these dangerous decisions by the Supreme Court while working to protect our institutions, our democracy, and our rule of law. As we confront these threats to democracy and freedom at home and abroad, we must also press ahead on our domestic agenda. In the last three years, we've made enormous progress in modernizing our infrastructure, deploying more clean energy, caring for our veterans, and much, much more. At the same time, we must continue our work to cut costs for American families, increase affordable housing, and make health care and child care more accessible and affordable. 

Throughout this politically turbulent period, I have never taken my eye off Maryland – and our critical work to support our local communities. In the past few months alone, we have delivered key investments for important initiatives across the state, stood united to secure critical resources in the wake of the Key Bridge collapse, and announced the awarding of the Distinguished Service Cross to a Maryland and national hero, Waverly Woodson, in honor of his service during World War II. As we prepare to celebrate our independence, I want to share some of these successes with you. They remind us of what we can accomplish when we work together.

Honoring Waverly Woodson

A few days before the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy on D-Day, I was proud to announce that World War II veteran Waverly B. Woodson Jr. is posthumously receiving a long-overdue honor. Woodson, a 21-year-old Black medic and a staff sergeant in the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, spent over 30 hours on Omaha Beach treating his fellow soldiers amid intense combat and saving an estimated 200 lives. He did this all despite being wounded before he even reached the shore. Mr. Woodson was born and raised in Pennsylvania, but following the war he settled in Clarksburg, Maryland, where his widow, Joann, and members of his family still live today.

Even during one of America’s finest hours, Waverly Woodson’s valor stood out. His contemporaries, including his commander, wanted to recommend him for the Medal of Honor. But the award never came; he was overlooked because of the color of his skin. Not a single Black World War II soldier received a Medal of Honor until 1997.

Mr. Woodson’s family has spent years working with my office, the First Army, World War II historians, and others to secure the recognition he deserves. I have been proud to work alongside them in this effort.

That’s why on June 3rd, I was especially pleased to announce that the Army has posthumously awarded Waverly Woodson the Distinguished Service Cross – the second-highest U.S. military honor and the highest award the Army can bestow on its own authority. This award recognizes Mr. Woodson’s bravery and selflessness and marks a major step forward in our efforts to right a historic wrong. While we have more work to do to fully honor Mr. Woodson’s service, this is a momentous recognition.

Rebuilding the Key Bridge

On March 26th, the container ship Dali collided with the Key Bridge outside Baltimore City. The tragic accident killed six construction workers, destroyed a vital piece of regional infrastructure, and shut down Baltimore’s port. The impact of the collapse has been felt across the city, our state, and our nation.

In response to this terrible tragedy, we came together. Without the spirit of unity that has prevailed since the collapse, it wouldn’t have been possible to clear the debris and reopen the Port of Baltimore’s deep federal navigation channel in less than three months.

I am grateful for law enforcement at the scene who stopped traffic before the bridge collapsed and saved lives, the first responders and emergency crews who rushed to the scene, and our federal, state, and local partners who have stepped up to support the Marylanders affected by this disaster and reopen the Port. 

Partner agencies swiftly formed a Unified Command to manage the multi-pronged effort. Thanks to the tireless work of their dive teams, all of the victims’ bodies were recovered. On June 12th, 11 weeks after the collision, the federal navigation channel was completely reopened, allowing the Port of Baltimore to resume full operations. As ships resume their calls, more longshoremen and other workers will be back on the job and the entire state and local economy will benefit.

While we have taken great strides to recover from this accident, my heart remains with the family and loved ones of those we lost.

We are also still at the beginning of a long process to rebuild the bridge itself. The collapse was a national disaster and merits a national response. That’s why federal team Maryland immediately worked – and succeeded – to include the bridge replacement project in the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program for Disaster-Damaged Highways and Bridges, which guarantees that the federal government will fund 90% of the replacement efforts. Then, I joined with Senator Cardin, Congressman Mfume, and the entire delegation to introduce the bipartisan Baltimore BRIDGE Relief Act, which would ensure 100% federal funding. Since the beginning, President Biden has pledged to work with us to deliver those resources. On June 28th, the White House recommitted to this effort by laying out an emergency funding package that honors our commitment that the federal government will cover the cost of rebuilding the Key Bridge and provides the money Maryland and other states need to address this and other disasters.

As we continue these efforts, the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash in order to collect the facts, prevent future disasters, and hold all responsible parties accountable. The federal government will receive funds that may be recovered from third parties and litigation to help offset the costs of the rebuilding. 

Just as we came together when the bridge first fell, we will continue working together until it has been rebuilt.

Supporting Maryland Communities

Earlier this year, Congress finally was able to move forward on a bipartisan basis to pass a full funding bill for the 2024 fiscal year. While not perfect, the legislation put to bed MAGA Republicans’ threat of a shameful shutdown – and it includes over $200 million in direct funding we fought to secure for community projects throughout Maryland.

Recently, I’ve had the chance to celebrate some of these wins across our counties, cities, and towns. 

I visited Prince George’s County with Senator Cardin and Congressman Ivey, where we delivered over $3.4 million for water infrastructure. These investments, in communities including Bladensburg, Cottage City, Cheverly, and Bowie, will improve the health of the Anacostia River, upgrade stormwater infrastructure, and mitigate flooding. Protecting water quality and shoring up our communities’ defenses against flooding are critical to the health and safety of our residents.

I also recently spent time in West Baltimore, where we are making transformative investments and reversing decades of disinvestment. Senator Cardin, Congressman Mfume, and I joined community leaders to visit the Y in Druid Hill, a century-old institution that has long anchored neighborhoods like Upton, Sandtown-Winchester, Harlem Park, and Druid Heights. During Jim Crow and segregation, the Y provided a pool to Black Baltimoreans – including a young Thurgood Marshall – who were unjustly barred from other indoor swimming facilities. Today, it provides health and fitness resources, early education and summer programs, and transitional housing for young women with children. So much has changed in Baltimore over the years, but the Druid Hill Y has been a constant. I was proud to help secure $1.2 million to preserve the Y and refurbish it for future generations.

In Northwest Baltimore, I visited Park West, a Federally Qualified Health Center that provides care for everyone – regardless of their ability to pay. Over the course of two fiscal years, we have delivered $2.5 million to help Park West renovate their facilities, expand their services, and integrate new disciplines like youth mental health.

In addition to these visits, I spent a day on the Eastern Shore with local business leaders, farmers, and others in Dorchester, Queen Anne’s and Talbot Counties. In Cambridge, I held a roundtable with the men and women who power our local seafood industry at the J.M. Clayton Seafood Company. During our discussion, we spoke about the challenges these businesses face due to our broken H-2B visa program. Maryland’s seafood businesses, most of which are small and family-owned, have long relied on seasonal workers. If workers are not available to process crabs when harvest occurs, businesses face closure – either for the season or permanently. I have repeatedly worked with the Department of Homeland Security to issue extra visas, but we need a sustainable solution. That’s why I introduced the bipartisan Save our Seafood Act to fix the H-2B program for the seafood industry. While we push to improve worker protections and strengthen our immigration system across the board, this legislation is a vital piece of the puzzle for our seafood industry.

In Queenstown, I hosted local family farmers, members of Maryland agricultural associations, and Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks to discuss the upcoming Farm Bill and how we can include provisions that boost Maryland agriculture. We depend on farmers to put food on our tables, expand our economy, and create jobs. As farmers face supply chain issues, rising costs, and fluctuating prices, progress on the Farm Bill has been delayed for too long. I am committed to working towards its passage and preventing members of Congress from playing politics with critical programs. I am also fighting to strengthen protections like crop insurance, dairy margin coverage, and bird flu compensation for farmers who face unexpected calamities. Finally, the next Farm Bill must continue to provide strong support for the voluntary programs Maryland farmers use to help preserve the Chesapeake Bay.

In Talbot County, I visited Tilghman Island Seafood, the only USDA-certified blue catfish processing facility on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Blue catfish are an invasive species that menace the Chesapeake Bay and rivers throughout Maryland, devouring native species like rockfish, shad, and blue crabs. Fortunately, there’s always a bigger fish: us. To get blue catfish out of our waters and onto our dinner tables, I worked with Senator Cardin and Congressman Harris to include $4.5 million in the Fiscal Year 2024 funding bill to help small food processors like Tilghman Island Seafood. There’s more to do to address this challenge, but we’re committed to working with our local watermen to tackle it head-on.

In late June, Senator Cardin and I visited Frederick and Howard Counties to highlight $2.8 million of support for three vital community projects. In the Village of Burkittsville, which has repeatedly experienced flooding, we secured $385,000 to upgrade stormwater infrastructure and better protect local homes and businesses. In Frederick, we joined County Executive Fitzwater and other local leaders to highlight a $1.2 million investment in a solar-powered microgrid for the County’s emergency response systems. When disaster strikes and Frederick County falls dark, our emergency facilities and personnel – powered by this microgrid – will be able to keep our communities safe. Finally, we and Congressman John Sarbanes visited the Columbia headquarters of the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO), where we recently secured $1.1 million for their Federal Lab Leveraging Innovation to Projects Pilot Program. In a roundtable with local small business owners, we discussed how this funding will empower entrepreneurs in tech and health to partner with Maryland’s 70 federal labs to develop new products and improve the quality of life for everyone.

These visits – and the investments they highlight – represent just a sampling of what we’re doing in our communities and the funds we’ve delivered. Within the Fiscal Year 2024 funding bill, I was proud that we secured investments for local projects in all 23 of Maryland’s counties and Baltimore City. And don’t worry – we’re not stopping at just these. Next up, I’ll be headed to St. Mary’s and Charles Counties. 

Celebrating our Democracy on Independence Day

This Independence Day, as we celebrate the American Revolution and the spirit of 1776, let us rededicate ourselves to building a more perfect union with liberty and justice for all. Our democracy depends on our participation. I am grateful to all Americans who take seriously their duties of citizenship to make our great experiment in self-government a success.

James McHenry, Maryland’s delegate to the Constitutional Convention, wrote in his diaries about a famous exchange between Elizabeth Willing Powell and Benjamin Franklin. He wrote, “A lady asked Dr. Franklin: ‘Well Doctor what have we, what have we got a monarchy or a republic?’ ‘A republic,’ replied the Doctor, ‘if you can keep it.’”

This was a prescient warning – we must work together to keep it.

Many thanks for being a partner in this progress, and Happy Independence Day! 

Chris Van Hollen