Here’s what’s in today’s memo:

• Women's History
• Legislative Updates
• Issue Campaign Updates
• Events from Allies
• State & National News
• PM Job Openings

Women Who Won’t Back Down: Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha

Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha is a force for public health and justice. A pediatrician, professor, Arab American, first-generation immigrant, and mother, she became a national hero when she exposed the Flint water crisis, proving that lead contamination was poisoning children despite government denials. Her relentless advocacy forced action, helping to secure clean water and healthcare support for Flint’s families.

Now, she continues her fight for at-risk communities by leading a growing cash assistance program in Michigan, providing direct support to moms and babies in need. Through her work, she champions the right to health, dignity, and economic security, proving that real change starts with those who refuse to back down.

Credit: Kimberly P. Mitchell/Detroit Free Press 

2025 Legislative Session: 

For an overview of all the bills Progressive Maryland is supporting, check it out on our website.

Take Action: Tell Senator Feldman to bring RREA to a vote

The bill is currently stalled, and we need Senator Feldman to bring it to a vote.RREA would redirect ratepayer subsidies toward real clean renewable energy sources instead of polluting industries. Use our easy tool to send a quick email urging his office to act.

We’re at a crucial point in the Legislative Session—here’s the latest:

Healthcare

We’re continuing the fight for a better healthcare system for patients and healthcare workers. make healthcare more affordable and accessible.

• Safe Staffing (Hospitals) Act of 2025 (SB720): Had its hearing in the Senate on 3/04. We’re now pushing the Senate Finance Committee to move the bill forward. We’re hosting Call-In Days on 3/13 and 3/19 to urge them to take action. Look out for an email for more details!
• Prescription Drug Affordability Board Expansion (HB424/SB357): Passed out of the Senate Finance Committee with a 7-3 vote! Despite opposition efforts, we successfully ensured the bill will head to the Senate floor without amendments that would weaken the Board’s authority or exclude certain prescription drugs.
• Hospital Debt Prevention (HB268/SB981): Great news! The bill passed the House last Thursday 111-24 and passed the Senate Finance Committee unanimously. Now, we’re waiting for it to be brought to a floor vote in the Senate—we’re almost at the finish line!

Environmental Justice

• Reclaim Renewable Energy Act (RREA) (HB0220/SB0010): This bill is stalling and needs to be brought to a vote. Use our action tool to send a quick email to Senator Feldman's office urging him to schedule a vote so the bill can pass out of the Senate!
• Cumulative Harm to Environmental Restoration for Improved Shared Health (CHERISH) Act (HB1484): The bill’s House hearing is tomorrow, 3/11.

Housing Justice

• Good Cause Eviction (HB0477/SB0651): Some legislators are trying to add an amendment that would gut renter protections by undermining rent stabilization. If this amendment passes, landlords could exploit loopholes, displacing renters and driving up housing costs—undoing hard-fought wins in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. We’re fighting hard to stop this from happening.

Economic Justice

• Fair Share for Maryland Act (SB859): Had its Senate hearing last Wednesday. We’re still pushing for this bill to move forward in the Senate. This bill ensures that the ultra-wealthy contribute their fair share to Maryland’s economy.

Task Forces & Issue Campaigns Updates: 

Healthcare Task Force: Stop the Cuts to Medicaid, Save Our Healthcare!

We’ll be back in D.C. this week to rally and march against the Trump/Musk/MAGA budget. They plan to gut Medicaid coverage for millions of kids, seniors, people with disabilities and other vulnerable community members. They’re making moves to cut veterans’ services and to steal funding from ACA insurance plans as well as public health programs. We know that their nominee to head the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Dr. Oz, owns significant stock shares in UnitedHealth Group and wants to hand over our Medicare to private Medicare Advantage plans. 

We say not on our watch. No one elected Elon Musk! Americans don’t want these healthcare cuts! 

➣ Join us this Wednesday at noon to fight back:  Mobilize to Save Health Care!  

What’s behind their totally corrupt budget plan? It’s how they will pay for more Trump tax cuts, at least $800 billion, to go to wealthy corporations, billionaires, multi-millionaires and other supporters of their despicable agenda. 

Contact Patty if you have any questions.

EVENTS FROM ALLIES:

PGCEA’s Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools – Introductory Meeting

Join the Prince George’s County Educators’ Association for a virtual meeting on March 19 at 7 PM to learn about the PG Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools and how you can get involved in the fight for stronger public schools. Click here to sign up

The Baltimore Migrant Collective

Click here to sign up.

News You Can Use: Maryland, other states find new ways to frustrate TrumpWorld and Musk

Struggle on two fronts goes on here in Maryland. We have one of the biggest populations of federal workers, per capita, as many states, so we get hit hardest by the Trump/Musk purge. At the same time, these struggles are worsening our already-imposing state budget deficit, giving the General Assembly desperate problems as the legislative session draws to a close (and as the GOP-led Congress aims to stick working families with the downside of a new spending and tax plan that would make the rich richer).

That's a lot on the peoples' plate. As we see, the Democratic state attorneys general are in the forefront of taking Trump, Musk and the rest of the MAGA gangsters to court, where they have to come up with better answers than "I just felt like it." Meanwhile the lower prices, lower inflation and other benefits promised by Trump before the election are turning out to be their opposites. We've seen Trump's movie before and are not surprised, alas.

So the struggle goes on. News You Can Use tries to keep you up on significant stuff happening here, in other states and at the national level. Usually, the news requires action on our part to keep the bad people from gaining. No excuses, lets get to work and keep on working.

PM Careers

Chapter/Membership Organizer

District 8 Community Organizer

Social Media Coordinator

Racial and Economic Justice Organizer

Progressive Maryland BlogSpace:

We value creating space for our members to express their thoughts on any issues related to our campaigns. Have an idea for a blog post? You can submit writing, film, graphic design, etc. to be published on our website to the blog moderator Woody.

• NEW TODAY –  News You Can Use: Maryland, other states find new ways to frustrate TrumpWorld and Musk
• Progressive Maryland Named a Top 100 Liberal Political Blog by FeedSpot!
• The Incinerator Pollution Is In My Bones
• News You Can Use: Pushback at state level takes more shape, gets organized
• All I Want Is a Home I Can Count On
• The Baltimore Trash Incinerator Gave Me Cancer 
  

>>Read more on the homepage of progressivemaryland.org

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Largo, MD 20792