Weekly Update: Metro Funding

​Ever since I first ran, oversight of--and investment in--our regional Metro system (the Washington Metropolitan Transit Administration or WMATA) has been a major priority. So I was thrilled that last week the House of Delegates passed Maryland's part of a regional Metro funding agreement on a bipartisan basis. The legislation now awaits action in the State Senate. 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 
A few of my other bills are working their way through the legislative process. The Maryland Transit Administration Reform Act has been voted out of subcommittee and will be before the full House Environment & Transportation Committee this week. And the Senate version of the Franchise Reform Act was voted out of committee on a bipartisan basis. Finally, my late legislation to reform the Village of Drummond's charter has passed out of the local Montgomery County committee and will be before the full Montgomery County Delegation on Friday. Because the bill was late, it also needed to be voted out of the House Rules Committee which occurred earlier this week.
 
BUDGET UPDATE
The Governor has released his first supplemental budget. The good news is that he corrected some issues in his original budget, specifically those related to behavioral health. Unfortunately, it compounded an issue with a phonics reading program I worked with a constituent to create. I am advocating with my colleagues in the General Assembly to fund the program.
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One of the biggest issues we are trying to address in the Governor's budget is funding for some of our most vulnerable Marylanders through the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA). The budget analysis for DDA is now available and can be found here.
 
DELEGATION UPDATE
On most Fridays during the legislative session, the Montgomery County Delegation meets to go over local legislation. This past Friday, we were joined by Montgomery County Public Schools. You can watch the meeting here.
 
POTOMAC INTERCEPTOR NEWS
As a reminder, we send out a Potomac Interceptor-specific email multiple times a week. If you would like to be added, please just reply here. One good piece of news this past week is that DC Water added two testing sites in response to community advocacy (and advocacy from elected officials) at Sycamore Island and the Feeder Channel at Lock 6.

 COMMUNITY NEWS
 
Congratulations to District 16's Susie Turnbull on being named to the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame.
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Congratulations to Jack Deutsch and Bobby Pestronk on their volunteer recognition from the Little Falls Watershed Alliance.
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Save the date! The Nesfield Performance Foundation is hosting its Metro Move Fest on Sunday, May 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School. Come out for a day of family-friendly fitness activities brought to you by local vendors and nonprofit organizations. Please direct questions to Tiffany Nesfield ([email protected]). 
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This summer, the Red Line will be shut down between North Bethesda and Friendship Heights stations for significant maintenance and Purple Line work at Bethesda. Metro is working with state and local officials to create a bus bridge between the stations and the County held a briefing on the plan which you can read about here.
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The next Purple Line Community Action Team Meeting for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase area will be on Thursday, April 23rd at 6:00pm and will be held virtually. 

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
March is Women's History Month and I want to recognize the incredible women leaders who have represented District 16.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
 
Each week this legislative session, I am profiling non-Montgomery County legislators. This week, in honor of Women's History Month, I am highlighting Delegate Dana Jones. Dana is chair of our legislative Women's Caucus and represents Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. She joined the General Assembly during the height of COVID. We also have a shared love of books and libraries.