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Congresswoman outlines broadband, agriculture and workforce priorities during visit to Maryland House of Delegates
Summary
Congresswoman April Delaney visited the Maryland House of Delegates in Annapolis and urged collaboration on rural broadband, the farm bill, SNAP protections and support for the federal workforce while describing confusion around a recent federal mandate.
Congresswoman April Delaney urged Maryland lawmakers to work together on broadband access, agriculture policy and protecting federal workforce expertise during a visit to the Maryland House of Delegates in Annapolis.
Delaney, who said she represents Maryland’s Sixth Congressional District, told delegates she has been focused on rural broadband, community project funding and farm policy after taking office earlier this month. "We just need to breathe," she said, urging lawmakers and staff to pause amid what she called a period of uncertainty.
She described coordination within Maryland’s congressional delegation and said she is pressing to secure community project funding and infrastructure investments that include rural broadband. "Whether it's getting community project funding grants from FY '25 ... whether it's thinking about how we invest in infrastructure and making sure that we have rural broadband ... that we are making sure there's connectivity for things from farming to telehealth," Delaney said.
Delaney said she was named to the House Agriculture Committee and to the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. She emphasized federal research institutions and agencies in her district — citing NIST and NIH and local research institutions — as reasons she will focus on protecting federal research dollars.
She raised concern about recent presidential executive orders and an Office of Management and Budget directive that she said created confusion for agencies and local partners. "It did cause a lot of confusion and chaos and uncertainty... It's currently under a stay because of a federal judge," she said, describing uncertainty about which programs the directive would affect.
Delaney said her office in Frederick is open and that she expects additional regional offices, and she invited state delegates to use her staff as a resource. "I have an open door, in my office in Frederick," she said, adding, "I will not be a stranger."
The remarks came during a brief recognition on the House floor; Delaney said she planned meetings later in Annapolis with state officials.
