Legislative Priorities

Legislative Priorities presented at the Minority Legislative Breakfast, published December 2010:

We promote social justice, equal employment opportunity, fair treatment and full participation for all members of Montgomery County’s minority communities as it grows and develops. We further seek to create a supportive environment for strengthening our diverse communities.

We are cognizant of a changing economic and demographic landscape, and the strains these have on our community and our perceived future quality of life. Over the past 10 years the immigrant population is thriving, significantly contributing to the growing diverse racial and ethnic mix in the County. These demographic shifts will continue to enrich all of our experiences and present new challenges, requiring the creation of more appropriate social models.

Gainful employment for our people is a top priority. To support this, we require better access to opportunities and entrepreneurial options, affordable education and the enactment of policies similar to the proposed DREAM act, family friendly communities, affordable healthcare and housing, and low cost, broad reaching public transportation. We ask that you take action on the following priorities that represent our combined legislative agenda:

•   Sustainability of minority and woman-owned businesses is of paramount importance to our communities. Support incentives for investments in small business, provisions to cap or limit taxes, fees, and penalties levied on small  businesses, provide small business exemptions for burdensome and costly compliance reporting processes, and the establish small business support programs that provide access to affordable legal assistance, business development resources, and financial management consulting. Support the continuation and promotion of existing programs for minority and woman owned small businesses, such as the WSSC SLMBE program and the State of Maryland MBE program.

•   The achievement gap in education needs to be eliminated and should be considered in legislation that impacts the education system and programs targeting youth and families. Support after-school programs that address the economically disadvantaged populations and that foster parental involvement in the lives of their children. Continue supporting access to work-study opportunities and ensure inclusion of open spaces for community and family recreation in neighborhoods. Enhance the network and affordable access to public transportation.

•   Access to affordable housing in the County is important to our communities. Foreclosures are still a challenge, and assistance through education, incentives to financial institutions for refinancing, and alternative affordable housing are required to provide family stability and community well being. There is a continued need to improve and expand emergency assistance programs for families in need of housing.

•   Eliminate disparities in health care access; this is often exacerbated by artificial barriers related to aging, economic circumstances, language and cultural issues. Maintain budget levels and establish authorities in law for the operations of minority health initiatives in the County. Support the availability of healthcare and dental clinics in the under-served areas of the County, including the funding for temporary clinics, health fairs, and Mobile Med Vans.

•   Maintain an increase of funding, administrative and technical support to non-profit organizations that serve the diverse racial and ethnic communities in the County in education, health care and housing. These critical services are often provided by trusted community-based organizations often operating on a shoe-string budget. Simplify grant processes including evaluation, award, funding and monitoring, emphasizing the partnership nature. Streamline or lighten the compliance reporting burden and penalty-focused monitoring requirements.

We appreciate the dedication of our legislators in ensuring a County that is deserving of its people: passionate, compassionate, and thriving. We acknowledge the County’s investments in foreclosure education and assistance, the progress in education, and investments in bridging the gap in access to healthcare, as well as the County’s investment in the youth programs. We appreciate your attention to the special needs of our diverse communities.

We must continue to seek cultural, educational and economic enrichment for all members of our community. We recognize and applaud the efforts of our elected officials and ask for everyone’s continued support.