My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this tragedy that occurred on Tuesday morning. I want to express my deep gratitude to the brave first responders for their efforts during this difficult time. I know the past few days have been difficult for our state and I want to thank our leaders at the local, state, and federal levels for their leadership.
Governor Moore declared a State of Emergency on Tuesday to ensure the necessary resources were deployed swiftly. Currently, vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore is suspended until further notice. The National Transportation Safety Board is conducting an investigation as to what exactly happened.
Here are a few updates that we have received from the Maryland Department of Emergency Management:
The Maryland Department of Labor has established a dedicated phone number for individuals who need help applying for unemployment insurance, 667-930-5989. The Maryland Department of Labor website also has written instructions on how to start and file a claim. A helpful video to get started is here.
Today, the Senate introduced SB1188: Maryland Protecting Opportunities and Regional Trade (PORT) Act, to establish temporary relief programs to assist individuals impacted by the closure.
On Monday, there will be 8 days left in the 2024 legislative session! Sine Die is in sight! We have been working diligently to finish the legislative session strong.
On Thursday, I was pleased to present SB0614 So Everybody Can Move Act in the House Health and Government Operations Committee. This bill addresses a equity issue for the disabilities community. It provides coverage for additional prostheses for physical activity. We have worked hard on this bill to ensure its passage.
As always, you can view all of the legislation that we are working on the General Assembly website.
The District 32 Constituent Night was Monday, at the historic Banneker-Douglass Museum in Annapolis. Delegate Bartlett, Delegate Chang, Delegate Rogers, and I had a wonderful time connecting with the community.
It was great to see one of the new Sysco electric trucks on Wednesday. The company has purchased 4. This is truly an investment for our environment and future.