April 15 ,2011

Dear Constituent and Friend:

The 428^th convening of the Maryland General Assembly was, despite tough economic challenges, a successful session focused on cutting the State’s structural deficit, stimulating job creation in Maryland, and strengthening public safety laws and access to health care. During my public service to the citizens of Prince George’s County over the past 20 years in the House of Delegates, experience has given me the opportunity to affect real momentum and change throughout Maryland. A few of the leadership roles that I have played this year and the results I produced in those positions include:

Assistant Majority Leader of the Maryland House of Delegates promoting and representing the needs of Prince George’s County with fellow leaders of the State Legislature. This year an increase in funding for individuals with developmental disabilities (House Bill 1213) was achieved under a 3% increase in the State’s alcohol tax. $15M in State dollars will be matched by $13M in federal funding in order to take 500 of the highest need people off of the developmental disabilities waiting list. Additionally, four jurisdictions will receive increased operating funds for K-12 education programs, including Prince George’s County.

Senior Member of the House Health and Government Operations Committee and House Floor Leader with access and insight to committee workgroups and priority in decision-making and influence with fellow colleagues.  Chair of the Public Health and Long-Term Care Sub-committee ensuring the protection and enhancement of the public health of Maryland’s vulnerable populations by sponsoring and passing:

House Bill 4, a bill that prohibits the State from purchasing infant formula in containers with any significant trace of a dangerous neural-toxin, bisphenol-A (BPA). According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), BPA can leak from the linings of cans and baby bottles, resulting in serious health risks to infants and young children. House Bill 145 prohibits any children’s jewelry containing cadmium to be manufactured or sold in Maryland.  According to the US Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, cadmium is a known human carcinogen that causes cardiovascular, developmental, renal, gastrointestinal, neurological, reproductive, and respiratory harm. House Bill 1150 relates to the separation of sexes in State mental health facilities. The bill also establishes training and reporting requirements related to sexual abuse and sexual harassment.

Maryland Delegate Chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commission defending the environmental quality of one of Maryland’s greatest treasures, the Chesapeake Bay, through activism and the sponsorship of two important pieces of environmental legislation this year. House Bill 573 limits the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus in turf fertilizer used in the State, sets application restrictions, and establishes labeling requirements. House Bill 53 extends the prohibition on phosphorus in dishwasher detergents to include commercial dishwasher detergents.

Member of the Maryland Health Care Reform Coordinating Council conforming and aligning Maryland law with the consumer protections in the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  House Bill 170 includes reforms barring insurers from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions, eliminating lifetime limits on essential benefits, requiring insurance companies to cover certain preventive services like mammograms and flu shots, and allowing young adults to stay on their parents’ policies until age 26. 

This year while working on the Maryland Budget (House Bill 70), the House of Delegates focused on addressing the State’s structural deficit, ensuring the long-term viability of the retiree benefit system and funding education programs to ensure a strong future for the State’s knowledge-based economy. These critical services were protected while crafting a conservative spending plan that:

·         As a result of our work, the State’s structural deficit – projected to be $2 billion at the beginning of session – has been reduced by over 42% moving forward.

·         Leaves the State with over $730M in cash reserves, including the Rainy Day Fund. Maryland is one of only 4 states in the country that has not dipped into its Rainy Day Fund during the recession.

·         Eliminates over $6.5B in long-term retiree healthcare liability over the next 10 years.

·         Restores $58.5M in K-12 education spending, to bring per pupil funding back to FY11 levels. We worked to ensure that the restoration of this funding was fair and equitable – benefitting every county in the State. The State has committed a total of $5.8B to school systems across Maryland next year.

·         Provides an additional $13M to counties and municipalities for road maintenance and transportation funding.

·         Ensures long-term sustainability of the State’s pension system, including preserving a defined benefit system and relieving some burden on retirees without imposing furloughs for the first time in three years.

The Fiscal Year 2012 Capital Budget (House Bill 170) includes several district specific and state-wide funding initiatives:

·         $80K for the construction of the Whitemarsh Turf Field in Bowie

·         $120K for the acquisition and construction of community safety surveillance systems in 6 communities in the 23^rd District

·         $250M in school construction funding across the State

·         $267M for environmental projects, including nutrient removal technologies at the State’s 67 largest wastewater treatment plants

·         $39M for hospitals and health facilities across the State

Thank you for taking a few minutes out of your day to read over the work I and my colleagues accomplished while in Annapolis this year. If you are interested in further information on one or more of these legislative efforts, please peruse the General Assembly website at www.mlis.state.md.us. Please feel free to contact me regarding any matter of interest or concern to you at 301-858-3103 or james.hubbard@house.state.md.us.

It remains a pleasure for me to serve you as a State Delegate representing Bowie, Laurel, Lanham, Glenn Dale and the rest of 23-A; and, I look forward to continuing to represent you. See you this summer!