The following was emailed from 5th District Congressman Steny Hoyer. Because it contains so much important information, it is shown here in its entirety (with link tracking removed since it came to my personal email). -Linda

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New Vaccine Eligibility
Timeline in Maryland

A MESSAGE FROM CONGRESSMAN STENY H. HOYER     

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the lives of all Maryland families. For more than a year, we’ve sacrificed a lot to get this virus under control. But hope is on the horizon. With the increased availability of COVID-19 vaccines, more Marylanders will be able to receive the vaccine in the coming months.

Last week, the state of Maryland announced a new vaccine eligibility timeline beginning tomorrow, March 23. Starting tomorrow, Maryland will enter Phase 2A of its three-phase vaccine eligibility plan. During Phase 2A, Marylanders 60 years of age and older will be able to register for a vaccine appointment. Click here to pre-register or call 1-855-MD-GOVAX.

Over the next several weeks, more Marylanders will be able to register and receive the vaccines. On March 30, the state will enter Phase 2B and individuals 16 years of age and older with an underlying medical condition will be eligible to receive the vaccine. On April 13, Maryland will enter Phase 2C, and individuals 55 years of age and older, as well as essential workers, will be eligible to receive the vaccine. Finally, on April 27, the state will enter Phase 3, and all Marylanders 16 years of age and older will be eligible to receive the vaccine.

Getting vaccinated remains the single most important tool we have to stop the spread of the coronavirus and ensure the health of ourselves, friends, family, and neighbors in the Fifth District. I encourage you to get the first vaccine you are eligible for. Each of the three vaccines are extremely effective and will help curb the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. While we continue to fight this virus, it remains critically important that all Marylanders follow the most recent guidelines from the CDC, and continue to wear a mask while also social distancing.

Click here for more information about who is currently eligible to receive the vaccine and to register for a vaccine appointment. 

Fifth District residents can contact their local health departments to register for a vaccine appointment near them. Below is a list of contact information for each of the health departments in the Fifth District:

Anne Arundel County

Click here to register in Anne Arundel County. If you need assistance, call the Anne Arundel County Department of Health at 410-222-7256 or email covid19info@aacounty.org. 

Calvert County

Click here to register in Calvert County. If you need assistance, call the Calvert County Department of Health at 410-535-0218. 

Charles County

Click here to register in Charles County. If you need assistance, call the Charles County Department of Health at 301-609-6717. 

Prince George's County

Click here to register in Prince George's County. If you need assistance, call the Prince George's County Department of Health at 301-883-7879. 

St. Mary's County

Click here to register in St. Mary's County. New appointments are added on Fridays. If you need assistance, call the St. Mary's Department of Health at 301-475-4330, ext. 1049. 

As always, I encourage all Fifth District residents to continue to share their concerns and insights with me by contacting my office or connecting with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. If you are experiencing a personal difficulty such as issues accessing veterans benefits or another problem regarding a federal agency and you wish for my office to place an inquiry on your behalf, please complete the casework request form by clicking here.      

Sincerely Yours,   
 

Steny H. Hoyer 

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End of shared email.

The following information is passed along from Jacquelyn Culver, a Community Resources Specialist with the Calvert County government. Please share it with anyone who may be interested.

Good Afternoon,

Attached please find an infographic and updated English and Spanish rental assistance flyers.

Rental Mortgage Assistance Infographic_final.jpg (as shown above)

CR_Rent and Mortgage Assistance Flyer_8.5x11.pdf

CR_Rent and Mortgage Assistance Flyer_Spanish_8.5x11.pdf

Please feel free to include these flyers in newsletters, share with peers, and post on social media. We would like to encourage those who need rental assistance to apply this month, especially if they are behind on 2020 rent as well as 2021 rent. Please encourage households in need of assistance to apply at one of the agencies listed on the flyer. With the funds available, we should be able to catch most eligible households up on all, if not most, past-due rent from 2020 and 2021 (eligibility rule apply). This program is for Calvert County residents only.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Sincerely,

Jacquelyn (Hannan) Culver

Community Resources Specialist

Calvert County Government

Community Resources Department

P: 410.535.1600 ext 8802

E: Jacquelyn.Culver@calvertcountymd.gov

www.calvertcountymd.gov

In case you were unaware (as I was), current Maryland law has a spousal defense for sexual assault. Luckily, the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA) has been active in getting this section of the law repealed. SB250 will do just that. When you read the text of the bill: the part of Maryland law to be repealed is the text encased in [ ].

The bill has passed the Maryland House and is currently in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, of which Senator Michael Jackson is a member. His is a pivotal vote on this bill. Thankfully, Sen. Jackson supports this bill without watering it down.

Please express thanks to Senator Jackson for his support of this important bill. Here is suggested text for an email, but feel free to express your thoughts in your own words:

Dear Sen. Jackson,

I am writing to thank you for your full support for SB 250, which repeals the spousal defense to charges of sexual assault.  This is an important bill for all married women in Maryland.  It confirms that Maryland law no longer views us as our husbands’ property, and it ensures that all men can be held accountable for sexual assault regardless of their relationship with the victim.  We thank you for your support of the bill as written and for standing for the principle that “Love is no Defense to a Sexual Crime.”

For more on this and other issues, visit the MCASA web site.

The CCDCC (Central Committee) previously had a vacancy for one gender-balanced (male) slot. Before that slot could be filled, a female member resigned, which has changed the dynamics of voting. There are now two Central Committee slots to be filled.

Interested parties are encouraged to apply for these volunteer positions.

Read the details here on the Calvert Democrats' web site.

Yesterday, Governor Larry Hogan announced his choice of Rachel Jones for Delegate to Maryland District 27B. Ms. Jones was the candidate recommended by the Calvert County Democratic Central Committee, but she will be working hard for residents of Prince George's County as well. She is filling the vacancy that opened up when our previous Delegate, Michael Jackson, was chosen to fill Mike Miller's vacated seat on the Maryland State Senate.

Ms. Jones previously worked as Southern Maryland Field Representative for U.S. Senator Ben Cardin. Here is his press release announcing her appointment.

The CCDWC is excited to work with Ms. Jones to help make Maryland an even better place for all of us.

A message From CCDWC President Cindy Yoe:

Three days ago, the Senate voted to override the Governor’s Veto of the Gender-Responsive Prerelease Act.  Yesterday, the House of Delegates did the same.  Maryland will now be required to provide equitable prerelease facilities and services to its returning women.  

Thank you so much for allowing our group to offer testimony and support for this law and for keeping up the pressure on your lawmakers to override Hogan's veto.  From what I understand, just prior to the Senate vote, the Senate President had a meeting with the Chiefs of Staffs and asked what they were hearing about from constituents.  Many of them indicated that they were hearing a lot on the veto override.  Proof positive that all our work paid off.  Thank you so much.

We are at the end of the road on this work.  But there is more work to do.  Stay tuned.

Cindy

This post is adapted from an email from Margaret Dunkle, Chair of the Harriet Elizabeth Brown Commemoration Task Force. (It's edited for clarity in adapting to a news post.)

Per Ms. Dunkle, citizen support is needed to build a permanent Harriet Elizabeth Brown Community Center and Park in Prince Frederick, just across the road from Calvert High School, to replace the current inadequate interim HEB Community Center in the old SMECO Building.

Both adults and children are asked to weigh in on the survey portion of this.

Here is a short description of the need for this new Community Center and Park and what it will mean for our County (PDF document).

Per Ms. Dunkle,

"Building a permanent HEB CC&P will mark completion of all recommendations of the legislatively created Harriet Elizabeth Brown Commemoration Task Force.  In 1937, represented by then-29-year-old NAACP attorney Thurgood Marshall, Ms. Brown successfully challenged unequal pay for African-American teachers in Calvert County.*  

Please help by doing three things:

First, complete the County Survey to add your two cents about what’s important for this new Community Center and Park – from meeting rooms and outdoor facilities to including a small museum to honor Ms. Brown.  Just go to this website before April 30 and complete the Adult or Youth survey:  https://www.calvertcountymd.gov/2828/HEB-Community-Center-Survey.  

Second, add your name – and your organization’s name, as appropriate – to the list of Supporters on page 3 of the attached.  All you need to do is email HEBTaskForce@aol.com, saying “Please add ___________ as a HEB CC&P Supporter!”

Third, share this information with friends, family and neighbors – and urge them to complete the Survey and to add their names as Supporters."

[Here is the link to this news item on the CCDWC web site: https://calvertdemwomen.com/news/10070173 ]

"We need your help to keep progress on track, with planning starting this July and construction beginning in July of 2023.  Please take a couple minutes to make your voice heard, add your name as a Supporter, and spread the word."

With thanks and all best wishes,

Margaret Dunkle

Chair, Harriet Elizabeth Brown Commemoration Task Force

*See the HEB Task Force report at http://dlslibrary.state.md.us/publications/counties/calvert/HB354Ch242_2015.pdf

Thank you to Ms. Dunkle for sharing this information with us.

The CCDWC financial books need to be audited for the years 2019-2020 (the previous 2 year administration). The club is seeking member volunteers to serve on the Audit Committee and carry out this task. Financial or bookkeeping experience is helpful but not an absolute necessity (as our books are not complicated).

The task would involve matching transactions on the Treasurer's Reports with bank statements, cancelled checks, invoices, and the like. Ideally we would like to have 2 to 3 people work on this task.

Please contact club Treasurer Fran Inacio or President Cindy Yoe if you would like to help!

Congratulations to Rachel Jones, the Calvert County Democratic Central Committee's selection to be forwarded to Governor Hogan to be appointed to the vacant 27B legislative seat. 

Read more on the Calvert Democrats web site 

This was shared from our friends at National Organization for Women (NOW). They are trying to get more signatures on their ERA petition, which will be shared with President Biden and Vice President Harris.

Here's the link to sign the petition:

https://tinyurl.com/ERApetition

Here are some links to other actions you can take:

https://tinyurl.com/ERApostcards

https://tinyurl.com/ERAfacemasks

https://www.zoenicholson.com/era-yes-masks.html

https://www.facebook.com/NOW28th

Twitter - @NOW28th