La Plata High School visited the General Assembly today.  One of my favorite duties is to talk to students about their state government and encourage them to get involved and be good citizens for themselves, their families, and their neighborhoods.

The Visitors Guides do an excellent job in explaining the different elements of the state government and the roles of each chamber.  Students also get a chance to see the Maryland General Assembly Video, “The Legislative Process.”

Today the Assembly was honoring The Cat in the Hat who sponsors along with the Maryland State Education Association the annual “Read Across America.”

The 29^th Annual Black History Month Recognition Breakfast sponsored by the Fifth Congressional District was held on Saturday at Middleton Hall.  Steny Hoyer, Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives announced that this breakfast is the longest running Black History Breakfast in the country.

The breakfast was well attended by more than 300 people representing all the counties in the Fifth District.  Greetings were offered by Senator Benjamin Cardin and the Keynote Address was given by Valerie B. Jarrett, Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement.

This breakfast is an excellent wrap up to the other events that are throughout the month of February honoring Black History and keeps in our minds the accomplishments and achievements that Blacks have made to our nation.

Last night was the annual Southern Maryland Reception at the Loews Hotel in Annapolis Maryland.  I would like to thank both Delegate Sally Jameson and the Tri-County Council for their efforts to make this event memorable.

I had a chance to talk with many of the business leaders, government officials, and Southern Maryland residents last night.  Everyone was enjoying the music, food, and opportunity to mingle and catch up with their friends and neighbors.

As you know every ten years, the Federal Government counts the number of people who live in the United States by conducting a census.  This is required by the U. S. Constitution.

Census data are used to determine the number of representatives your state receives in the U.S. Congress, as well as your community’s representation in the state legislature.  The data are also used to distribute more than $400 Billion in federal funds each year to communities for establishing and improving schools, hospitals, roads and senior services.  Our state government and in some instances, county government and businesses also uses the census the same way to allocate services based on headcount or to verify how many people live in a given area.

Children have been undercounted in every census since the first one in 1790.  Please remember to include all your children – even babies when you complete the 2010 Census form.   All infants, children and adults who live in a household should be counted, regardless of nationality, citizenship status, race, age or gender.

The new Comptroller’s branch office opened in Waldorf today.

Before the ribbon cutting, Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot warmly greeted the many Charles County officials and business owners who came to participate in the festivities. He emphasized the importance of this branch office to assist Charles County residents in completing their tax duty on time.  Any Maryland resident can bring in their federal tax forms for assistance and also have the branch office complete their state tax forms at no charge. He encouraged all those who qualify to take the Earned Income Tax credit that is available for 2010. Franchot has been a proponent for financial literacy among all citizens and is interested in financial literacy becoming part of the Maryland high school curriculum.

In attendance were Charles County Commissioners Wayne Cooper, Sam Graves, Rueben Collins, and Gary Hodge; as well as Sheriff Rex W. Coffey; Director of Administrative Services at the Sheriff’s Office Jack Hurd; Clerk of the Circuit Court Sharon Hancock; Stanley Trice of the Maryland Comptroller’s Office, and Orphan’s Court Judge Frank Lancaster.  Julie Vanderslice represented my office since I was in Annapolis.

This office is conveniently located at 1036 Saint Nicholas Dr., Suite 202, in Waldorf. It shares the same building as Avant-Garde Carpet and Floors behind the Charles Towne Plaza and across from the Saint Charles Towne Center Mall.