1. United States
2. Md.
3. Letter

I am writing in strong support of The Protect Our Federal Workers Act, sponsored by Delegate Lewis, and to express concern about recent comments from Minority Leader Jason Buckel. Support for The Protect Our Federal Workers Act This bill is crucial for Maryland residents who worked for the federal government and were impacted by the Trump administration’s mass firings. It would create the Federal Government Employee Assistance Loan Fund to provide six months of no-interest loans to those affected by full or partial government shutdowns or layoffs. It would also assist those who left their jobs due to voluntary incentive programs or relocations. Denouncing Jason Buckel’s Comments I strongly disagree with Minority Leader Jason Buckel’s statements: Maryland's economy is not comparable to states like Ohio, Oklahoma, or Oregon for several reasons. Our proximity to Washington, D.C., our highly educated workforce, and our thriving industries make us unique and competitive. Amendment Supporting Attorney General Anthony Brown I also support the amendment that allows Attorney General Anthony Brown to sue the Trump administration on behalf of terminated federal employees. The additional $1.5 million in the state budget for this effort is a necessary step to hold the federal government accountable.