Kweisi Mfume

Mfume, Van Hollen, Olszewski Highlight Nearly $1.2 Million in Federal Funding to Support Gun Violence Reduction in Baltimore

WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Kweisi Mfume, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, and Congressman Johnny Olszewski (All D-MD), joined by Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott, highlighted $1,184,000 in Fiscal Year 2026 Congressionally Directed Spending that they, along with U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), fought to deliver to help reduce gun violence across Baltimore. The federal funding will support the expansion of the City’s Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS), a program that engages individuals most directly involved in and affected by violence and brings together law enforcement, social services, and community partners to provide resources and reduce crime. Image

Congressman Mfume Statement on Supreme Court's Decision to Eviscerate the Voting Rights Act

Position: Congressman Mfume opposes the Supreme Court's decision in Louisiana v. Callais that weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, and advocates for passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore voting rights protections for Black and Latino voters.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) issued the following statement regarding the Supreme Court of the United States' decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which will fundamentally eviscerate the elements of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that were still in effect: "Last year, we marked the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and paid tribute to the generations of civil rights leaders who marched, bled, and sacrificed for the freedom to vote," said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. "Today, the Supreme Court of the United States made the bigoted, shameful, and destructive decision to gut what elements of the law that were still in effect." "For decades, Section 2 of that act has been the essential tool that allowed minorities voters to challenge discrimination and bad practices. By gutting it, the Court has made it easier for bad actors to discriminate." "This ruling is offensively disrespectful to millions of Black Americans and their ancestorial history and will only further reduce the credibility of the Supreme Court in the eyes of most Americans. In fact, this is no longer the Roberts Court, it is, instead, the Trump Court, fully engaged in political activism." "Now, more than ever, we must work to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to stop this ongoing assault to disenfranchise Black and Latino voters across the country. John and I came to Congress together as classmates, and like him, I will not stop fighting for the voting rights of all Americans. We refuse to return to those dark and difficult days of racial repression and voter suppression.” ###

Mfume, Maryland Delegation Members Statement on Key Bridge Construction

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Kweisi Mfume, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all D-MD) released the following statement on the termination of the contract for the reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore: “The Key Bridge was a gateway to the Port of Baltimore and a vital artery for commerce in the Mid-Atlantic. Its collapse impacted not only our region but our entire nation. Replacing the Key Bridge is an economic imperative, which is why Federal Team Maryland fought to deliver a 100 percent federal cost match for the reconstruction – giving our state the certainty it needed to move forward. This is a critical infrastructure project requiring significant resources, and responsible stewardship of those resources is essential. As a matter of national significance, it must move forward efficiently so we are encouraged that the early stages of reconstruction work will continue while the state seeks a more cost-effective contract. We will continue to do all we can to support the construction of a stronger and safer bridge over the Patapsco.” ###

Mfume, Van Hollen, Alsobrooks Lead Maryland Delegation Members in Pressing Trump Administration for Answers on Proposed Closure of U.S. Forest Service Baltimore Urban Field Station

Position: The Maryland delegation opposes the Trump administration's proposed closure of the U.S. Forest Service Baltimore Urban Field Station, arguing that the facility provides essential forestry research, urban ecology work, and regional partnerships that benefit the Chesapeake Bay watershed and local communities.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Kweisi Mfume and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks were joined by Representatives Steny Hoyer, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all D-MD) in pressing United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden and United States Forest Service (USFS) Chief Tom Schultz on the justification for and expected impact of the Administration’s proposed closure of the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Station. This local USFS office leads forestry-related projects that benefit the local Baltimore community and conducts important forestry and urban ecology research that informs land use decision-making throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed and beyond. The USFS Baltimore Urban Field Station is also a key partner in the Chesapeake Bay Program. In their letter, the lawmakers stressed that shuttering this longstanding field station will abruptly end decades of carefully cultivated partnerships and result in the loss of region-specific expertise that cannot be replicated elsewhere – assets that underpin vital initiatives for the health of our environment and economy in Maryland and across the country. The lawmakers asked for answers to a series of questions on the proposed closure, including whether a cost-benefit analysis was conducted, plans for continuing the field station’s work, and the expected impact on USFS employees. “We are writing to express serious concerns about the proposed closure of the United States Forest Service (USFS) Baltimore Urban Field Station. This field station is essential to maintaining the important USFS work that has been taking place in Baltimore for nearly 30 years – work that benefits communities and forests in Maryland and across the entire country. Closing the Baltimore Urban Field Station is unnecessary and misguided; it will stymie highly effective and productive forestry and urban ecology work that Congress has directed the Forest Service to pursue,” the lawmakers began. “The USFS Baltimore Urban Field Station has operated from the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County since 1998, which has allowed the field station to develop important academic and Baltimore-area community partnerships. This longstanding Baltimore location has enabled the place-based relationships and collaborations that underpin the impactful, high-quality work that this field station has produced,” they continued. The USFS Baltimore Field Station’s proven record of successful research, partnerships, and projects demonstrates its incredible value to the American people. Agency and program office relocations invariably result in the loss of talented staff, institutional knowledge, and partnerships, undermining the agency’s mission, performance, and effectiveness; this is exactly what happened when the Trump administration relocated the Bureau of Land Management, the Economic Research Service, and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture in 2019,” the lawmakers wrote, going on to list numerous examples of the work that the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Station does to inform Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts, provide workforce development opportunities, and more. “For nearly 30 years, the USFS Baltimore Urban Field Station has generated exceptional applied research with an impact reaching far beyond Baltimore city limits. The USFS Baltimore Urban Field Station has shown itself to be an incredible asset to the community, region, and to the nation. It should not be closed,” they concluded. Text of the letter, including the questions posed to Deputy Secretary Vaden and Chief Schultz, can be viewed here. ###

Mfume, Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Announce Nearly $40 Million to Expand Freight Capacity at Tradepoint Atlantic

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Kweisi Mfume, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, and U.S. Representatives Sarah Elfreth, and Johnny Olszewski (all D-MD) announced $39,662,903 in federal funding for the Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO) to expand freight handling capacity at the Tradepoint Atlantic terminal within the Port of Baltimore. The investment supports the development of the new Sparrows Point Container Terminal at Tradepoint Atlantic. The new terminal will further the continued revitalization of the former Sparrows Point steel mill and expand container cargo capacity within Baltimore by 70%. The project is also estimated to create 1,100 new International Longshoremen Association jobs and support an additional 7,000 jobs connected to the Port. This announcement comes after the lawmakers wrote to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in September in support of MEDCO’s application for the funding. “The new Tradepoint Atlantic Terminal being constructed at Sparrows Point represents a tremendous opportunity for the people of my district and the State of Maryland as a whole," said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. "The new well-paying jobs for the people of Dundalk and Turner Station, and the additional marine traffic in the Port of Baltimore will be an economic boon for our State and will cement our Port as one of the nation's busiest and most prominent commercial gateways. This federal investment recognizes the Port of Baltimore's importance to America's supply-chains and economy at large, and I am proud to be a part of a Maryland Delegation that will not cease working to bring important investments like these back home to our communities." “Tradepoint Atlantic and the greater Port of Baltimore are economic engines for Maryland and the entire country. This federal funding comes as a direct result of our passage of the infrastructure modernization bill and underscores the importance of investing in the foundations of economic growth and opportunity. This effort to modernize the Sparrows Point Container Terminal will support good-paying union jobs and increase the Port’s capacity, efficiency, and reliability,” said Senator Chris Van Hollen. “The Port of Baltimore is an economic engine not just for Maryland, but well beyond. I am thrilled to join my colleagues in announcing federal investment to develop the new Sparrows Point Container Terminal at Tradepoint Atlantic, at the Port of Baltimore, increasing capacity for an additional 25,000 containers. I will always stay committed to ensuring the Port of Baltimore can continue fueling our local, national, and global economy,” said Senator Angela Alsobrooks. “I am thrilled to see Team Maryland deliver this $39 million federal investment for the Port of Baltimore, a critical supply chain artery for our state and the country. This container yard expansion will increase capacity of the Sparrows Point Container Terminal at Tradepoint Atlantic to allow for more cargo throughput and moving equipment. Especially as our nation faces economic uncertainty and affordability challenges ahead, this federal funding is a critical investment in our economy,” said Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth. “These federal funds for the new Sparrows Point container terminal is an investment in Maryland’s future: it supports more ships, more jobs and more business growth,” said Congressman Johnny Olszewski. “It reinforces Tradepoint Atlantic's position as a critical hub for trade around the world and is exactly the type of investment our taxpayers expect and deserve— delivering real results for our workers, our businesses, and our communities.” “We are thrilled to have a meaningful federal investment in this important project that enhances our nation’s supply chain resiliency, creates high paying jobs and helps grow Baltimore’s port economy,” said Kerry Doyle, Managing Director of Tradepoint Atlantic. “We are grateful to the Administration and our Congressional delegation for their continued partnership in helping catalyze the ongoing transformation of Sparrows Point.” “We welcome this important federal investment, which reflects a shared commitment to strengthening America’s supply chains, supporting well-paying jobs, and expanding the economic role of Baltimore,” said Ammar Kanaan, Chief Executive Officer of Terminal Investment Limited (TiL). “We are grateful for the strong partnership with Maryland’s Congressional delegation and the Administration as we continue transforming Sparrows Point into a modern, high capacity terminal that will serve the community for decades to come.” The federal investment comes from the U.S. Maritime Administration’s FY25 Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), a program that Federal Team Maryland fought to fund at $2.25 billion over five years through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The FY25 PIDP funding included dollars from the FY24 PIDP awards that were rescinded or canceled by the Trump Administration in August of 2025, including the $47.3 million for the Sparrows Point Steel Marshalling Port Project. While the lawmakers opposed the Administration’s backward decision to revoke these initial funds, they continued fighting to secure these federal dollars for investment in Tradepoint Atlantic and the greater Port of Baltimore. “This federal investment is an important step forward for the Port of Baltimore and a clear win for our state,” said Governor Wes Moore. “By expanding capacity at Tradepoint Atlantic, we are fueling our economy, creating good-paying jobs, and amplifying the State’s ongoing investments to ensure Maryland remains a competitive, premier hub for global commerce. I want to extend my gratitude to our entire congressional delegation for their work in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Maritime Administration to secure this critical funding.” “Creating jobs, supporting communities, and strengthening our economy are priorities for Baltimore County, and I’m proud to continue working with our federal partners to ensure that our residents can be successful,” said Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier. “The addition of nearly $40 million in federal funding is a significant boost for the Sparrows Point Container Terminal Project, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue investing in our residents, our region, and our future.” “The Port of Baltimore is an economic hub for the entire country—chances are, if you've purchased a car, it came through Charm City—which means investments here have national and global impact,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “Each and every day, we see the benefits of this port's growth for workers, businesses, and communities both in Charm City and beyond. I want to thank Senator Van Hollen and the entire Maryland delegation for securing funding for this project, and their continued advocacy on behalf of our city.” ###

Reps. Mfume, Smith Advocate for Passing the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Reauthorization Act

Position: Representatives Mfume and Smith advocate for passage of the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act, which would reauthorize and strengthen anti-human trafficking programs through 2030, including grants for school-based trafficking identification, survivor support services, international anti-trafficking efforts, and safeguards on foreign assistance.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07) and Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ-04) spoke at a press conference alongside human trafficking prevention advocates to urge Speaker of the House Mike Johnson to bring their Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act up for a vote on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill passed through the House Foreign Affairs Committee in July, 2025, with unanimous support. The bill would reauthorize and strengthen anti-human trafficking programs through 2030. It would provide grants to help schools identify child trafficking, support services for survivors of trafficking, and boost international efforts to combat forced labor and sexual exploitation. It would also extend safeguards to ensure that U.S. foreign assistance does not inadvertently contribute to trafficking, and continues a program requiring convicted sex offenders to be flagged as such when traveling abroad. Image

Reps. Mfume, Tonko Introduce Power for the People Act to Shield Consumers from Rising Energy Costs

Position: Representatives Mfume and Tonko introduced legislation requiring data centers to bear responsibility for the increased electricity costs their operations impose on the grid, preventing those costs from being passed to residential consumers.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) and Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) introduced the Power for the People Act in the House of Representatives, legislation that ensures data centers are held responsible for the high costs of their electricity demand. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) has introduced the companion legislation in the Senate. The rise of artificial intelligence models has resulted in data center development exploding in recent years. With data centers critical to national security, economic development, and job growth, their need will only increase. However, data centers are huge energy consumers, and their rapid growth and energy demand is placing increased strain on the electric grid. Recent reports have indicated that 55% of new energy demand in the US comes solely from data centers, and if load forecasts are correct, data centers will represent 15% of our national electricity consumption by 2030. Without proper backstops in place, new energy demand from data centers will continue to increase prices, resulting in big profits for energy companies and big bills for electricity customers. "Under President Trump, families in Baltimore City and Baltimore County are facing higher costs on groceries, housing, healthcare, and utilities. They shouldn't have to also foot the bill for the most profitable corporations in the world to build data centers," said Rep. Mfume. "I am proud that the Power for the People Act will ensure that companies building data centers and driving up demand on the grid pay their fair share." “Families are already paying higher prices for everything from groceries to healthcare, to gas, to utilities — they shouldn’t be forced to also shoulder the costs for companies building data centers,” said Rep. Tonko. “Our Power for the People Act balances the need for data center development without pushing those costs onto consumers. I thank my colleagues for supporting this commonsense legislation that protects consumers and grid reliability while holding big technology companies accountable.” Additional House Cosponsors include: Kathy Castor, Steve Cohen, Maxine Dexter, Sarah Elfreth, Valerie Foushee, John Garamendi, Dan Goldman, Eleanor Holmes-Norton, Glenn Ivey, Stephen Lynch, April McClain Delaney, Jennifer McClellan, Johnny Olszewski, Mike Quigley, Jan Schakowsky. Additional Senate Cosponsors include: Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CN), Cory Booker (D-NJ) Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tina Smith (D-MN), Peter Welch (D-VT). Supporting organizations include: NRDC, Union of Concerned Scientists, Sierra Club, Evergreen, Consumer Federation of America, National Consumer Law Center, Public Citizen, Maryland People’s Counsel, Illinois Citizens Utility Board, New Jersey Division of the Rate Counsel, Oregon Citizens Utility Board, and Delaware Division of the Public Advocate. Click HERE to read the bill's full text. Click HERE for a section-by-section breakdown. Click HERE for a fact sheet on the bill. The Power for the People Act would: Direct the Federal Energy Regulation Commission (FERC) to issue a rule to ensure data centers are paying for the local transmission upgrades they require; Direct FERC to issue a rule requiring electric grid operators to create a data center load queue; Create a system to manage data center interconnection to the grid that would prioritize data centers that bring their own new power generation and battery storage systems to the grid, mitigate pollution, and create well-paying jobs; Support efforts to improve accurate data center load forecasting ###

Congressman Mfume Statement on Trump's Iran Threats

Position: Congressman Mfume opposes President Trump's threatening rhetoric toward Iran, characterizing it as dangerous, escalatory, and potentially constituting war crimes.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) issued the following statement regarding President Trump's dangerous and escalatory rhetoric towards Iran posted on Truth Social today: "The President's obscenity laden threat to destroy Iranian civilization as we know it is a brazen, illegal threat against innocent civilians and it would clearly constitute grounds for war crimes charges against the President," said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. "Donald Trump needs to immediately lower the temperature on his inflammatory cowboy rhetoric." ###

Congressman Mfume, Maryland Delegation Members Issue Statement on Two-Year Anniversary of Key Bridge Collapse

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Kweisi Mfume, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (All D-MD) issued the following statement in advance of tomorrow's two-year anniversary of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge: “The collapse of Baltimore’s Key Bridge was a tragedy bigger than Baltimore. This disaster took the lives of six members of our community and resulted in harmful aftershocks that reverberated throughout the Port of Baltimore, our state, and our nation. Working hand-in-hand with our state and local partners, Federal Team Maryland acted quickly to deliver federal funding to address the immediate priorities: recovering those we lost, clearing the shipping channel, and getting Port workers back on the job. We then took the fight to Congress, pushing relentlessly for months to ultimately pass our Baltimore BRIDGE Relief Act into law – a unified, bipartisan effort to ensure the federal government provides the full resources necessary to build a safer and stronger bridge for the future." “But out of this tragedy, Maryland came together. Since the day the Key Bridge came down, our communities in Baltimore and throughout Maryland have demonstrated remarkable grit and resilience. Two years later, the Port of Baltimore is making a strong comeback while our state continues to make headway in the reconstruction process. As this work proceeds, our delegation will keep fighting every step of the way to ensure the federal government delivers on its legal commitment to fund 100 percent of the reconstruction until the new bridge is complete.” ###

Reps. Mfume, Palmer Introduce Legislation to Increase Transparency in Federal Agency Settlement Agreements

WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), along with Representative Gary Palmer (AL-06), introduced H.R. 7394, the Settlement Agreement Information Database (SAID) Act of 2026. The bipartisan legislation would provide overdue transparency and accountability standards for federal settlement agreements. The SAID Act will promote greater transparency in the federal government by bringing long-needed visibility to federal settlement agreements and consent decrees. The legislation would require federal agencies to submit information about these agreements to a publicly accessible electronic database. "Americans of all walks of life deserve to know how their tax dollars are spent. When a federal agency enters into a binding settlement, taxpayers have a right to know the terms of that agreement," said Rep. Mfume. "Without that fundamental transparency, we cannot truly claim to have the informed consent of the people. This bill will establish true accountability by creating a publicly accessible database, where Americans can track the terms of these settlement agreements and consent decrees. If an agency wants to keep those terms confidential, they will have to give a public explanation of why, rather than simply declaring it classified without explanation. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation along with Representative Palmer, and I urge our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join us in strengthening Congressional oversight over every federal dollar spent." “Transparency and accountability are essential to maintaining the American people’s trust in their government,” said Rep. Palmer. “Too often, federal agencies negotiate settlement agreements and consent decrees behind closed doors and only release hand-picked information about these deals to the public through press releases. The SAID Act will bring much-needed transparency to these agreements by ensuring they are publicly available in a centralized database. By shining a light on these deals, Congress and the public will be able to better understand how federal agencies are exercising their authority and hold them accountable when those actions impose burdens outside the normal legislative or regulatory process. I am honored to introduce this bipartisan transparency bill along with Representative Mfume.” Click HERE to read the bill's full text. The Settlement Agreement Information Database (SAID) Act would: Improve transparency by requiring federal agencies to report information on settlement agreements and consent decrees to a centralized, searchable public database; Strengthen oversight by having the database administered under the guidance of the Office of Management and Budget and ensuring that the information disclosed includes key details such as agreement dates, payment amounts, attorney fee awards, and the state and local governments affected; Enhance accountability by requiring the agency head to notify Congress if they determine that certain information must remain confidential and provide a public explanation of why that information cannot be disclosed. ###