“If we don't educate our children, we won't have to worry about our future, because there won't be one!”

Greetings Constituents and Friends:

With pleasure I welcome you to the 24th Legislative District website. I am pleased to be your Senator as we continue to “raise the bar” of prosperity.

Our goal is to keep you informed regarding those issues which impact our community and state. If you wish to share your thoughts, please don’t hesitate to let us know. In addition, I am available to visit your meetings to provide information or assist with any problems you may have.

You may contact my office at 301-858-3148 or by emailing me at joanne.benson@senate.state.md.us. Thanks for your unwavering support and attention.

Yours truly,

Joanne C. Benson

Emergency Broadband Benefit

The Emergency Broadband Benefit is an FCC program to help families and households struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. This new benefit will connect eligible households to jobs, critical healthcare services, virtual classrooms, and so much more.

The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.

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Food Pantries in Prince George’s Maryland

Food pantries and distribution centers in Prince George’s County Maryland administer several assistance programs. The locations may have meals, free food, gift baskets and items such as clothing available to the low income seniors and disabled in the community. Resources offered by these centers can range from groceries and boxes of food up through limited amounts of financial help for bills, housing, or basic needs such as diapers or baby formula.

Download List Food Pantries

Residential Eviction In Maryland Information For Tenants

Eviction is a complicated process, and the COVID pandemic has made it even more difficult to understand the eviction process, your rights, and your responsibilities. This information is designed to help you, the tenant, understand some basic information about residential evictions in Maryland:

Can I be evicted?
Yes, evictions may take place. The statewide pause on evictions was lifted on July 25, 2020. There are some limitations listed on the reverse side of this flier.

Are the courts holding hearings on new eviction cases?
Yes, Starting April 26, 2021, the Maryland Courts moved to Phase V of the reopening plan. During Phase V, courts will continue holding hearings in eviction cases. Cases which were pending may proceed to a hearing. The court will set hearings on newly filed cases.

What happens in cases that already had a hearing?
Cases where a hearing has already been held and judgment entered in favor of the landlord can proceed to eviction. The landlord may file a Warrant of Restitution. The court will consider Warrants of Restitution on a case by case basis.

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The Selective Service System (SSS) has launched a campaign to inform and remind young men of the requirement to register for the Selective Service. Thousands of men each year fail to register because they remain unaware of the requirement and are therefore at risk of not receiving key benefits.

"We want to educate young men so that they are aware, exercise their civic duty and register and most important, protect their benefits," said Selective Service Director Donald M. Benton. "Forty-five seconds online at sss.gov can potentially save you 45 years of headaches due to lost opportunities."
For more information, please click here.

Homeless Veterans Reintegration Programs

Easterseals Homeless Veterans Reintegration Programs (HVRP) help homeless veterans build a foundation for finding and keeping long-term employment.
Our Services: - Job training
- Counseling and placement services
- Assistance with Veterans Administration benefits, health issues, and housing

Our Services:
Ensures that homeless veterans receive the support and services they need to address the more complex needs they often face. HVRP also connects incarcerated veterans with appropriate employment and life skills support as they transition from correctional facilities into the community.

For additional information, please contact: veterans@eseal.org

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Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Announces Launch of Emergency Rental Assistance Data Dashboard

Carrollton, Md. (August 17, 2021) — The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development today announced the launch of the Emergency Rental Assistance Data Dashboard to track the progress local jurisdictions are making in distributing relief funds for tenants and landlords affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The dashboard focuses on the first round of funding through the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which launched statewide in Maryland in mid-May 2021. Statewide, more than $58 million has been provided through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program to nearly 10,000 renters, and an additional $34 million in payments are in process as of July 31, 2021.

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Black History Month

‘A triumph of hope’: Maryland leaders welcome home man sentence at age 15 - The Washington Post

Rachel Chason - Monday, July 8th 2019

Curtis Brooks had been out of prison in Colorado for one week when he arrived at a church in suburban Maryland on Monday, doling out hugs and posing for pictures with U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and state Sen. Joanne C. Benson (D-Prince George’s).

He’d spent the past 24 years behind bars, after being sentenced to life without parole for his involvement at age 15 in a carjacking that led to a fatal shooting in Aurora, Colo. Another boy pulled the trigger.

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