#EMind: Edwards: Supreme Court's Decision to Uphold Citizens United Reaffirms Need for Constitutional Amendment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 25, 2012

Contact:

Dan Weber/Benjamin Gerdes - (202) 225-8699

Edwards: Supreme Court's Decision to Uphold Citizens United Reaffirms Need for Constitutional Amendment

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (MD-4) released a statement today following the Supreme Court's decision to strike down Montana's state law to limit corporate campaign spending. The case, American Tradition Partnership v. Bullock, was a 5-4 decision that reaffirmed the ruling the court reached in Citizens United just two years ago.

"Today's Supreme Court ruling overturning Montana's limits on corporate campaign spending makes clear that a constitutional amendment is the only way to ensure that the American people, not corporations, are in charge of our elections and our democracy," said Congresswoman Edwards. "Since the disastrous Citizens United decision, we have seen an unprecedented amount of money from corporations and the super-wealthy flow into our political system, with experts estimating that $8 billion will be spent on the 2012 elections alone. This is unfair to ordinary citizens and unsustainable for a healthy democracy. We must act with speed and deliberation to stop this backdoor, anonymous corporate spending on our elections. The Supreme Court has closed the door to reasonable laws to regulate campaign financing--the constitutional amendment door is open and we owe it to the American people to walk through it."

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#EMind: Edwards' Statement On Supreme Court's Decision Regarding Arizona Immigration Law

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 25, 2012

Contact: Dan Weber/Ben Gerdes

(202) 225-8699

Edwards' Statement On Supreme Court's Decision Regarding Arizona Immigration Law

Washington, D.C. –Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (MD-4) today released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court's ruling in Arizona v. United States.  In a 5-3 ruling, the Court rejected 3 of the 4 major provisions contained in the law, but upheld the provision known as the "check your papers" portion of the law.  This controversial provision requires state and local police to check the immigration status of people they stop or detain if there is "reasonable suspicion" that they are illegal immigrants.

"I am encouraged by today's Supreme Court decision that struck down the majority of Arizona's immigration law as unconstitutional," said Congresswoman Edwards.  "The Court's decision to uphold the "check your papers" provision places an important hurdle for law enforcement to avoid racial profiling. Indeed, the Court indicated that this portion of the law could face additional legal challenges once the implications of this policy are realized fully.

"The clearest lesson from today's ruling is that changes to our immigration system cannot be done in a patchwork approach with 20, 30, or 50 individual state laws.  The only real solution to immigration reform is a comprehensive federal law.  President Obama has taken administrative action; the Court has ruled on the Constitutional questions. Now, it's time for my Republican colleagues to stop standing in the way of common sense reforms that prioritize the interests of families and our economy."

The Supreme Court rejected the three provisions of the law that:

·         Make it a state crime for illegal immigrants not to have their federal registration cards;
·         Make it a crime for illegal immigrants to work, apply for work or solicit work, and;
·         Allow state and local police to arrest illegal immigrants without a warrant when probable cause exists that they committed "any public offense that makes the person removable from the United States.

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Dan Weber

Communications Director

Office of Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (MD-4)

318 Cannon House Office Building

Office: (202) 225-8699

Cell: (202) 297-6060

#EMind: Edwards Highlights $10 Million Tiger Grant to Complete Anacostia Riverwalk Trail System

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 22, 2012

Contact:

Dan Weber/Benjamin Gerdes - (202) 225-8699

Edwards Highlights $10 Million Tiger Grant to Complete Anacostia Riverwalk Trail System

Washington, D.C. – Representative Donna F. Edwards (MD-4) highlighted today a $10 million grant from the Department of Transportation's TIGER 2012 discretionary grant program, to be matched by $5 million from the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia, to complete the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail System.  In March of 2012, Rep. Edwards sent a letter of support to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood outlining the importance of the project to connect several communities to National Park lands and several popular destinations along the river.

"Today's announcement is great news for numerous communities in the 4^th Congressional District and throughout our region," said Rep. Edwards.  "The $10 million in federal funding complete the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail System and will provide transportation alternatives for area commuters, support the revitalization of the Anacostia waterfront, and connect recreational and employment centers across the region.  I thank Secretary LaHood, the Department of Transportation, the Maryland Department of Transportation, and the District of Columbia Department of Transportation for their support and efforts to complete this important project."

Click here to read the letter Congresswoman Edwards sent to Secretary LaHood.

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#EMind: Grant Workshop - July 18 - 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Grant Writing Workshop

Wednesday, July 18, 2012 from 6:30pm - 8:30pm

How to Get Prepared to Seek Grants 

(see bio on workshop presenter attached)

Location: CEO Business Cafe, 6305 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD 

Please RSVP to sandy@npdatabase.com if you will be attending.

The cost will be free for members and $35 for non-members.  Non-members please fill out our online survey and pay online.  If you are interested in joining please view our list of members and member benefits.

July 1, 2012 starts the new fiscal year for Prince George's County.  What that means is that you can begin applying for grants for the fiscal year 2013 on July 1st.  You can apply directly to the County Executive's office and also with the County Council.

Attached is a list of who received funding from the County Executive's office for fiscal year 2012.  

Thank you.

Sandy Pruitt

Founder/Executive Director

People for Change Coalition Inc. 

President, Strategic Technology Solutions

www.npdatabase.com

301-808-1492

#EMind: Women-Owned Businesses on the Rise

With daily headlines highlighting the importance of creating more jobs and getting Americans back to work, it is timely to discuss the importance of women-owned businesses. This was the topic of a report and a series of nationwide roundtables with women entrepreneurs sponsored by the Office of Advocacy.

The Office of Advocacy, the independent voice of small business in government for 30 years, has a mission of encouraging policies that support small business start-up, growth and development. The office is headed by Dr. Winslow Sargeant, a former small business owner.

Click here to read more...

#EMind: Edwards' Statement on Surface Transportation Conference Agreement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 29, 2012

Contact:

Dan Weber/Benjamin Gerdes

(202) 225-8699

Edwards' Statement on Surface Transportation Conference Agreement

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (MD-4), a Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, released this statement today following passage of the conference agreement on H.R. 4348, the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012. The agreement authorizes highway and transit programs for 27 months, includes necessary, national transit safety requirements, a 5-year reauthorization of the flood insurance program,  and a one-year extension of the current student loan rates.

"I am pleased that 100 days after the Senate passed a transportation bill with 74 votes, House Republicans have yielded on their partisan approach to repairing our nation's roads, railways, and bridges. This is not an ideal transportation bill – but, it's past time to get people to work. This bill will create or save over 2 million jobs and help rebuild our nation's infrastructure without the unnecessary, partisan policy riders involving coal ash and the Keystone Pipeline – provisions that have no place in a highway bill."

"Today is also a last minute victory for our nation's students and their parents who could not afford to see loan rates double at a time of record high unemployment for our young people. Without action, the loan rates would have doubled for 7.4 million students, costing each student borrower $1,000 in additional repayment costs. That would have been unacceptable.

"I do not agree with all of the provisions included in today's conference agreement, particularly involving the environmental review process and the elimination of transit operating assistance, necessary for our metro system. Nonetheless, I could not allow those objections to stand in the way of an agreement critical to our nation's students, transportation workers, and economic recovery. Republicans attempted that approach with almost disastrous consequences – our country deserves much better."

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#EMind: Beyond the Struggle: Brooklyn Library Finds a Way to Finance Small Business Owners

Omar Forrester, 26, of Gotham City Motorsports, a high-performance automotive parts and accessories store in Brooklyn, won one of the top three prizes at the Eighth Annual PowerUP! Competition on January 10, 2012. “I’m still waiting to receive the cash prize of $5,000. I am thankful for the opportunity and look forward to opening up the shop!” Forrester says.  

Click here to read more...