Floor Statements

I vote no--

Mr. President, while this may not be my maiden floor speech, I think it of vital importance that Marylanders hear from their elected leaders in this moment of chaos.

One of my greatest inspirations growing up was my grandmother, Sarah Daisy Alsobrooks. She was my father's mother. She raised my father and his siblings in a one-bedroom apartment in Northeast Washington, DC. My grandmother wanted for her family what all Americans want for their families--an affordable home to live in, a job that allowed her to support her family, and a safe community to raise her kids in.

My grandmother dreamed of civil service. She dreamed of working in the Federal Government, and she was determined to do so. Many in this Chamber will recall that you had to pass the civil service exam in order to be hired. And to pass, you had to take a typing test. At the time, my grandmother was a housekeeper. She worked day and night to provide for my father and his siblings. Every dollar she made went to her family. So she couldn't afford a typewriter to practice typing on. But that didn't stop her from pursuing her dream.

She took a white piece of paper and hand drew a keyboard on it. She taped that white piece of paper up on the refrigerator, and every night, after my dad and his siblings went to bed, she stood in front of that refrigerator and practiced on that white piece of paper. She taught herself to type every keystroke.

It was with fierce determination--the same determination that I have seen in so many mothers and fathers who just wanted their kids to have more opportunities than they did--that she learned to type. She took the test, and she passed. She got the job she dreamed of, working in the Federal Government.

And she was so proud of herself. She worked for the Pentagon. I can still remember she would come home and tell me: I saw General This Person and General That Person in the hallway that day. She knew that the work she did mattered. For her, working in the Federal Government wasn't just a job. Working on behalf of the people of the United States was her American dream.

It is that kind of pride that makes our Federal workforce so special--the thousands of men and women who show up every single day to work on behalf of the people of this great Nation. They are public servants in the truest sense of the word.

At the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD, they are researching cures for cancer, trying to make sure that when a family gets that devastating news of a loved one who has been diagnosed with cancer, they have options. At the Food and Drug Administration in Silver Spring, MD, they are working tirelessly to make sure our food is safe to eat. At the Social Security Administration in Woodlawn, MD, they are working to make sure that our seniors have access to their hard-earned benefits.

These civil servants are patriots just like my grandmother. They love their country. They work for Democratic Presidents and for Republican Presidents. Their focus isn't on the politics of the day. It is on the mission of the Federal Government to serve the people of the United States of America.

So you can imagine my deep frustration with this current administration that has decided to target these hard-working Americans in what I can only describe as a witch hunt. When I think of the people being pushed out, I think about people like my grandmother--hard- working folks who wanted to make a difference in this country.

The calls that I am getting are equally heartbreaking as they are infuriating. I spoke with a woman just this morning who worked at the Department of Health and Human Services for over 35 years. She has been put on leave as a part of one of the President's Executive orders.

I spoke to another woman who spent over 37 years at the Department of Agriculture, and believe it or not, she was placed in a position under this current President's first administration, but now she has been let go.

These are people who have worked under President George H. W. Bush, a Republican; President Bill Clinton, a Democrat; President George W. Bush, a Republican; President Barack Obama, a Democrat; President Donald Trump, a Republican; and President Joe Biden, a Democrat-- because, for these women

and countless other Marylanders, it is not about which party is in power or which President won the election; it is about the work. It is about doing their part to make sure that our government functions.

I represent the highest number of Federal workers per capita in the country. No State has more Federal workers per capita than the great State of Maryland. These are our friends, our neighbors, our mothers, our fathers, and, yes, our grandmothers. The fact that this administration has decided to disparage and demean these civil servants is infuriating. The bullying, the scare tactics, and the smoke and mirrors are unacceptable. These hard-working Marylanders deserve better.

I want every Federal worker in Maryland who sees this to know that, when they see me in these halls, they must also see you.

And what we know now is that this administration isn't stopping at our civil servants, which brings to us the last 48 hours. Let's recap.

The administration issued a cruel and callous directive. No longer was the target just Federal workers. Suddenly, it was the entirety of the American people, because what this directive did was freeze Federal funds--a move intended to sow chaos and confusion, to instill fear. You don't have to take my word for it. Talk to the countless Marylanders who called my office--veterans who were scared that their benefits wouldn't go through, seniors who didn't know if they would still have Medicare, families who rely on SNAP benefits who didn't know if they would be able to feed their kids. These were the calls my office was getting yesterday--all because the President decided to freeze Federal funds.

I don't know how to make this more plain. This has impacted so many people--people who voted for this President, people who did not vote for this President, and people who didn't vote at all.

We are talking about law enforcement officers who rely on Federal funds to protect victims of domestic violence--women and children. I was a full-time domestic violence prosecutor--the first in my county. So, when I hear that the President of the United States is making it harder for these victims, you can imagine my deep frustration. Know this: We are not going to accept this.

So I would like to take a few moments to paint a picture of exactly the kinds of Americans this administration is targeting: seniors and people with disabilities. Maryland is home to 1 million seniors and nearly 670,000 people living with disabilities. At the Department of Health and Human Services, the Administration for Community Living covers all the programs and services that help older adults and people with disabilities. Their work is essential, and it connects seniors with employment opportunities and provides support for caregivers like my father. It supports States in providing nutrition services for seniors, just to name a few.

Services for seniors--on the chopping block.

The Nutrition Services Incentive Program, in the Division of Administration for Community Living, is responsible for delivering nutritious meals to older adults. They work to make sure that older adults who can't leave their homes have an opportunity to access food.

Helping hungry seniors--on the chopping block.

The Alzheimer's Disease Demonstration Grants to States expand the availability of diagnostic and support services for those with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. Anyone who has watched a loved one suffer with Alzheimer's knows exactly how painful this is. So we should be doing everything in our power to find a cure for this disease and support those suffering from it--a disease that is the seventh leading cause of death among older residents in Maryland.

Supporting those with Alzheimer's--on the chopping block.

The National Family Caregiver Support Program provides grants to caregivers. I am a member of the sandwich generation. I am raising my 19-year-old daughter, who is just amazing--her name is Alex--while caring for two wonderful, aging parents. The work of caregivers across our country is so selfless, valuable, and necessary to ensure those who raised us get the care and support they deserve and have earned. I know I wouldn't be here today without my incredible parents. More than 700,000 caregivers receive services through this program.

Supporting our caregivers--on the chopping block.

The Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services supports emergency shelters and related assistance for victims of domestic violence and their children. I have sat with these women and their children in the courtroom, prosecuting the cases against their abusers, and I know how hard it is for them to get out of an abusive relationship and seek help at an emergency shelter.

These shelters literally save lives, providing emergency shelter to victims of domestic violence. You guessed it. It is on the chopping block.

Now, I could go on and on, but I think what has been made clear is that these political stunts are going to have a devastating and long- lasting impact on Marylanders--and, yes, it bears repeating--on Marylanders who voted for this President, Marylanders who didn't vote for this President, and Marylanders who did not vote at all.

My job in the Senate is to advocate for my people, and my people are Marylanders. They are the Federal workers who have spent their lives working on behalf of the American people, no matter who the President is. They are the parents who rely on SNAP benefits to make sure their children don't go hungry. They are the teachers who prepare our kids to be leaders. They are the watermen who harvest blue crab from the Chesapeake Bay. They are the caregivers who make life easier for our loved ones. They are the scientists who are researching a cure for cancer. They are the veterans who serve our country honorably. They are the police officers who keep our communities safe. They are the Democrats. They are the Republicans. They are the Independents. And each and every one of them deserves better than this administration.

I am willing to work with anyone--Democrat, Republican, Independent, whoever--to deliver for Marylanders. My door is always open. What I have come to learn from my time in public service is that the people of this great country all want the same things: a roof over their heads, a good-paying job so they can provide for their families, great schools, good healthcare, safe communities, a lower cost of goods. These are the things each and every one of us should be fighting for. This is what the administration should be focused on. So, when they return to that mission, I will be here. But if this President continues to threaten Marylanders, I will be here, too, fighting back.

As I end, you know, many of my constituents know that I am a woman of faith and that, in the midst of chaos, I turn to the Word. So I would like to close by sharing Scriptures of encouragement, words that speak to us in tumultuous times and remind us to love one another.

II Timothy 1:7 says:

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power,

and of love, and of a sound mind.

Romans 12:12 says:

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in

prayer.

Joshua 1:9 says:

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be

discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever

you go.

James 1:2-4 says:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of

various kinds, for you know the testing of your faith

produces steadfastness.

Psalm 34:17 says:

The righteous cry, and the Lord hears, and delivers them

out of all their troubles.

I Corinthians 14:33 says:

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in

all churches of the saints.

John 16:33 says:

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might

have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of

good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Romans 8:28:

And we know that all things work together for good to them

that love God, to them who are the called according to His

purpose.

II Corinthians 4:17:

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment,

worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of

glory.

Proverbs 25:28:

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city

that is broken down, and without walls.

Proverbs 11:14:

Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude

of counsellors there is safety.

II Thessalonians 3:16:

Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all

means. The Lord be with you all.

I yield the floor.