Special Edition Newsletter - Update Coronavirus
Greetings Friends,
This is the week leading up to Monday, March 16th, which is “crossover day." This is the date that bills cross from the House to the Senate. This week we had multiple floor sessions on some days, and a floor session is even scheduled for this Saturday. Bills are working their way through the process, and I will have more to report next week.
IMPORTANT CHANGE: Due to coronavirus, the House has adopted a "no receptions" rule effective this Friday, March 13th AND a “sponsor only” public hearing rule beginning next week. Citizens wishing to submit testimony may email written testimony to our office and we can upload it for them in advance of the committee hearing.
With the coronavirus in the news, I thought I would send a special newsletter with information that I have received and links to websites where you can get more information.
On Wednesday, I participated with my staff in an audio conference call by the White House for state and local elected officials. For over an hour we listened with 5000 others from around the country to public health experts, including representatives from Centers for Disease Control, Small Business Administration, and Departments of Education, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, and Transportation.
Each of us have a role to play in helping to contain this public health threat. The primary goal of the White House briefing call was to share information across agencies about the threat and mitigation of the virus. It was enlightening to hear about the coordination taking place between federal departments. One of the main goals is to slow the transmission of the virus so that our health care system can keep up and is not overwhelmed. To that end, avoiding crowds, maintaining a social distance, and staying home (for people who are most at risk) will help contain the virus. While the virus is easier on the young, children can carry and transmit the disease to adults.
Particularly if you have any symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath), health officials are imploring you to stay home for fourteen days to avoid possibly transmitting the virus to others.
It’s incredibly important to understand how you can help #flattenthecurve. Please help others understand by sharing this knowledge.
We are providing you with the following links that have specialized information. The situation is changing daily, and these resources will be updated.
Stay on top of the latest updates with these resources for coronavirus information.
LOCAL LINKS:
STATE LINKS:
FEDERAL LINKS:
OTHER LINKS:
PLEASE continue to give blood - there is an urgent need due to the coronavirus outbreak.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Applications are now available at courtneywatson9b.com/scholarship for legislative scholarships for students planning to attend a Maryland community college, college, university, technical or career school. The deadline for submission is April 3, 2020. Send an email to our office to the attention of Cindy Scruggs if you have any questions regarding the scholarship.
HOW TO CONTACT MY OFFICE
Your thoughts are always welcome. Please contact me by phone or email (see the link at the top of the page) with your comments on bills we are reviewing in Annapolis. When requesting help for constituent matters, please include "constituent" in the subject line.
Delegate Courtney Watson Howard County District 9B Member, Economic Matters Committee Vice Chair, Democratic Caucus
Maryland House of Delegates 6 Bladen Street, Room 350 Annapolis, MD 21401 410-841-3077 / 301-858-3077 Email: Courtney.Watson@house.state.md.us Web: mlis.state.md.us
