WASHINGTON, DC – As Congressman John Sarbanes wraps his final term as one of Maryland’s members of Congress – a tenure that began in 2007 – he continues to inform his constituents about the fruits of his labors and his staffs. His most recent letter follows:
“Dear Friend, Since my first term in Congress, I have made improving access to education a top policy priority and have fought to deliver robust federal resources for Maryland schools, expand access to early learning programs, make college more affordable and bolster career and technical education initiatives.

As learners of all ages in Maryland’s Third Congressional District and across the country begin a new school year, I wanted to provide you with an update on educational opportunities available through federal programs:

Early Childhood Education

• Expanding Access to Child Care. The Child Care and Development Block Grant helps states assist working families with access to child care and prepare children to succeed in school through healthy learning and development. I consistently advocate for increased funding for this program, which received $8.7 billion in Fiscal Year 2024.
• Supporting Children’s Growth. Since 1965, the Head Start Program has reached more than 30 million children and their families, including approximately 9,200 Maryland students in 2024. The Fiscal Year 2024 federal budget bill increased funding for Head Start, enabling the program to provide more early learning, development and well-being services that help children succeed in school and life.
K-12 Education
• Improving the Quality of K-12 Education. All students, regardless of background, should have the opportunity to learn, grow and achieve their full potential in a safe and inclusive setting. I continue to advocate for policies that support our educators and ensure K-12 programs are able to offer a quality, equitable education for every child.
• Enhancing School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs). SBHCs provide students with crucial primary, preventive, mental and behavioral health care services in convenient and trusted settings. I have long championed SBHCs and was proud to again help secure record funding for them in last year’s bipartisan federal budget bill, as well as an additional $174 million specifically for school-based mental health services and professionals.
• Promoting Outdoor Learning Opportunities. Research shows that meaningful outdoor and environmental education has a positive impact on student achievement and health, which is why I am proud to author the No Child Left Inside Act. I have continued working to expand resources for educators in the Chesapeake region and across the country to integrate environmental education and field experiences into their core academic programs.
Higher Education
• Nominating Candidates to the U.S. Service Academies. Each year, I am honored to nominate qualified candidates from Maryland’s Third Congressional District to the U.S. service academies, including the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
• Increasing Access to Student Loan Relief. Too many Americans are burdened by significant student loan debt long after they enter the workforce. I applaud President Biden and Vice President Harris’ actions to help alleviate the financial burden of education by approving $51 billion in relief for more than 1 million borrowers and improving repayment processes for borrowers.
• Repaying Our Public Servants. In 2007, I authored the law creating the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program to help relieve the significant financial burden of federal student loan debt for teachers, first responders and other individuals who dedicate at least 10 years of their careers to public service. As a result of the Biden-Harris Administration’s work to address implementation challenges, 946,000 borrowers have been approved for forgiveness and thousands more now qualify for relief.
• Strengthening Financial Aid Programs. Last year’s federal budget bill maintained critical funding for federal financial aid programs and the Pell Grant. I remain committed to further strengthening the Pell Grant Program to empower millions of eligible students to achieve their dreams.
• Boosting Career and Technical Education. As our country faces worker shortages and transitions to a clean energy economy, workforce development and training programs are essential. The Inflation Reduction Act is providing expanded opportunities for registered apprenticeships through its historic energy efficiency initiatives, while the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is deploying $95 million to train workers in specific industries.

As always, I encourage all residents of the Third District to share their questions, concerns and feedback by contacting my office or connecting with me on Facebook or X.

Wishing students, teachers and staff all the best in the year ahead!
Sincerely, Congressman John Sarbanes

Maryland’s Third Congressional District.”