Issues

On October 1, we joined with members of the Maryland General Assembly from both the House and the Senate to call for the dismissal of Juvenile Services Secretary Vincent Schiraldi.

Read the letter to Governor Moore here: Joint Republican Caucus Letter to Governor Moore Re Secretary Schiraldi

Comments due by October 9th regarding the Climate Solutions Now Act.  Read more here: CSNA Implementation FAQ.

I strongly oppose the proposed massive expansion of high-voltage power lines through much of our region’s rural areas. You can read more about the proposal here.

However, there is a simple solution – to keep Brandon Shores OPEN!

It’s time to demand that energy in Maryland be a diversified portfolio of RELIABLE options.

We must ensure that the Maryland Public Service Commission receives substantial opposition from Marylanders to this project.  You, your family, your friends, and other citizens need to contact the PSC and state your opposition. The PSC is accepting comments via email at this address: piedmontcomments.psc@maryland.gov. Your stated opposition is extremely important and impactful. Please email the PSC today and make your opposition clear.

Also, you can submit public comments on the Public Service Commission’s website here regarding Case No. 9748. Also, the PSC hearings are slated for June/July 2025 which can be found here.  

Sign the petition below to:

  1. Stop your electric bill from increasing
  2. Stop this unnecessary high-voltage power line project
  3. Protect the environment – our precious farmlands and forestry
  4. Keep the lights on by stopping the closure of Brandon Shores

War on Drivers

The House Republican Caucus has rolled out the gloomy news of the total amount of increased taxes and fees laid upon Marylanders: 338 new or increased taxes and fees as of today. You can view the breakdown at this link.  38 of these new or increased fees and taxes were the product of the 2024 Legislative Session.  We both voted against each one of these bills.  While the Governor did not propose them, he did not veto them either.  We also voted against his overall operating budget. 

We continue to demand that spending be curtailed and cuts made to the budget, which has doubled in ten years. The Moore Administration has made a significant shift in spending.  From 2007-2014, the O’Malley Administration raised 84 taxes, tolls, and fees. We are only halfway through the Moore Administration’s second year, and they have already raised nearly four times as many taxes and fees. 

The vast majority of these 338 tax and fee increases came through regulation at the Moore Administration’s request through various government agencies.  With the way the AELR process is set up, the vast majority of Marylanders will not know a fee has been increased in regulation until they have to pay it. 

MOORE_TAXES_amp_MOORE_FEES_6.10.24

Immigration Concerns – June 2024

We firmly believe that public safety is not something that should be subject to any potential political maneuvering. When a violent offender or sex offender is released after being detained without cooperating with ICE, there is the potential to not only endanger the public but also create violent interactions with law enforcement that will be forced to find these individuals in potentially more violent situations.  Read our letter to the County Executive below:

Olszewski – Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Dangerous Baltimore County and State Housing Bills

Governor Moore testified before the Environment and Transportation Committee last week to support his bill – The Housing Expansion and Affordability Act.  During the controversial hearing, the Governor and other proponents of the legislation faced difficult questions and challenges from bipartisan committee members.  Delegate Nawrocki asked pertinent questions about the removal of the guardrails that accompany an Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance, especially when that is something that the delegates and the Baltimore County Council have been requesting for years.  In fact, the delegates penned a letter regarding this issue to County Executive Johnny Olszewski and former Council Chairman Julian Jones in February 2023 and never received a response.  

2.8.2023 LTR Olszewski-SzeligaNawrocki

SAY NO to removing the flying mission of the MD Air National Guard

The Maryland citizen airmen and airwomen at the Maryland Air National Guard have been in active flying missions since 1921. The Maryland Air National Guard has participated in dozens of deployments throughout the world since September 11, 2001. The Warfield Air Base is the home of 545 pilots and maintainers and has won numerous Air Force awards for its readiness. The loss of a flight mission in Maryland could mean ending the direct careers of 545 highly qualified military personnel and thousands of indirect careers.

Last month, the National Park Service announced that Baltimore County, Maryland, would be added to the American World War II Heritage Cities Program which honors the contributions of local towns, cities, counties, and their citizens who stepped into the workforce to support America’s war effort. This base in Middle River, in particular, is an essential part of our country’s aviation history and was critical in supplying aircraft during the Second World War. If the flight mission is taken away from the Maryland Air National Guard, Martin State Airport and the State of Maryland will suffer a substantial negative economic impact of tens of millions of dollars.

Furthermore, Maryland would be the only state in the nation without a National Guard flying wing. During a recent briefing from the Maryland Air National Guard regarding the potential removal of the flight mission, the leadership emphasized that Maryland’s mission is the only location in the nation with a joint force of fighter operations and offensive and defensive full-spectrum intelligence operations. The long-term training and exquisite skill set necessary to maintain this joint force is only found right here in Maryland. This potential removal would hurt our national security because of the importance of swift decision-making in modern warfare. This is a strategic advantage that we cannot lose.  

Sign the petition to say NO to removing the flying wing of the mighty 175th Maryland Air National Guard. Support the Maryland Air National Guard Flying Mission (anedot.com)

Read the unanimous letter from the Baltimore County House Delegation to the Secretary of the Air Force:

2.9.24Air-National-Guard-BaltCoV2.pdf (electkathy.com)

Eastern Avenue Traffic Issues

I am deeply concerned about the dangerous traffic on Eastern Avenue. Last month, I released a statement with Kathy Szeliga, Baltimore County Councilman David Marks, and Senator Jennings to update the public on our work addressing this issue. Yet another accident has happened again in the corridor.
 
We are urging State Highways to immediately install plastic lane markers and take other traffic slowing measures. We also are monitoring SHA’s work on a traffic study of the corridor.
 
Read our Press Statement Here:
 

We’re excited to announce our new morning show!
 
Every Monday, myself and Del. Kathy Szeliga will join Kim Klacik on her radio program on WCBM 680 AM! Beginning at 9:30 AM, we’ll join Kim to discuss the 2024 legislative session as it unfolds.
 
 

November 17, 2023

Delegates Nawrocki attends Rocket Lab Space Ribbon Cutting 

New Complex in Middle River to Supply Advanced Composite Products Internally and to Broader Space Industry 

 The delegate was honored to attend the announcement and ribbon cutting for the new Space Structures Complex in Middle River in District 7A.  The event included many local and state representatives, including U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger, County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr., Senator JB Jennings, Delegate Kathy Szeliga, and Councilman David Marks. This expansion of the space systems business with a dedicated production and development complex is a great continuation of the manufacturing history of Eastern Baltimore County.  The complex will support the development and manufacturing of space rockets.  The site will also play a role in the development and long-term supply of parts for Rocket Lab’s new medium-lift launch vehicle, Neutron. 

Rocket Lab’s new Space Structures Complex will be established in the former 113,000-square-foot Lockheed Martin Vertical Launch Building in Middle River, which has been home to aerospace manufacturing since 1929.  Rocket Lab expects to employ up to 65 people at the facility by the end of 2025.  While the equipment and infrastructure are not in place yet, the delegate enjoyed today’s tour of the facility.

Delegate Nawrocki stated, “As a resident and representative of Middle River, today’s announcement was personally gratifying as it continues the long history of manufacturing in the area that my family has been a part of, dating back to aircraft building at these facilities in World War II. It’s a great day for Eastern Baltimore County.”

November 10, 2023

As someone who has family that lived through the atrocities of Nazi Germany, I’m horrified to watch the Israel-Hamas War unfold. Just like during World War II, we as Americans cannot and should not stand for this evil.

I am horrified and disgusted to see the Hamas attacks upon innocent life, including the beheading of dead children and babies, the horrific rape of women, the murder of grandmothers, and the kidnapping of innocent civilians, have all been recorded and live-streamed by Hamas for the world to see. Hamas, an anti-Israel terrorist organization, credits its namesake to the Hebrew word for violence. These acts and others perpetrated by these terrorists showcase the darkest of evils in this world.

The planned attack during a Jewish holiday with the sole purpose of murdering innocent Jews is a continuation of the Nazi regime in modern times. I firmly condemn in the strongest terms possible the terrorist states of Hamas and any and all forms of antisemitism. I implore the world to stand with Israel.

I extend my deepest condolences to the family members of all of the victims of these attacks. I pray for the renewed strength and resolve of the Jewish people as they stare in the face of evil and defend their citizens and country.

Read the entire statement from myself and my District 7 colleagues below:

10.12.23 Israel-Hamas War

I also join my House Republican colleagues across the Maryland General Assembly in denouncing the antisemitic comments of the Executive Director of CASA. Read the Caucus statement below:

Statement on CASA de Maryland Antisemitic Statements

June 30, 2023

The automatic gas tax increases must end!  Read our full statement here: 6.29.2023gastax

June 16, 2023

Baltimore County Middle School Redistricting has come to a halt.  Act Now!

I have been closely following the Northeast and Central Middle School Redistricting process over the past months.  This contentious decision will impact the lives 30,000+ students potentially attending 10 schools.  Former superintendent Darryl Williams initiated the boundary study in spring 2022 to alleviate overcrowding and determine who will attend the new $100 million Northeast school to open in the Fall of 2024 on King Avenue in Rosedale. However, he chose not to seek renewal of his contract and will not see it through to the end himself.  While we assumed the newly appointed superintendent would be the one to implement the approved boundary study, instead, the Baltimore County Board of Education did not finalize the redistricting plan on Tuesday night. 

After months of work facilitated by an outside consultant, the Board of Education has had the chance to review the data from various map options, community input meetings, boundary committee discussions, and thousands of messages on a public comment forum.  However, in the eleventh hour, a school board member made a motion to amend the proposed final map by moving students from Halstead Academy to go to Dumbarton Middle School instead of Loch Raven Academy.  I am very disappointed that the board did not vote to approve or deny the final option.

I encourage you to email the Board of Education members, asking them to review the impact study that is being prepared by BCPS as a result of Tuesday night’s amendment and to vote to move Option E forward during their June 27th Public Administrative Function Meeting.

For months, families have been on edge wondering where their children will go to school, and many in the community have already requested and been granted special permission transfers for incoming middle schoolers based on the study recommendations, and now at the 11th hour, even though there was no opposition at the public meeting, the whole process is on hold and children and families are in limbo.

Baltimore County students, parents, teachers, and community members deserve better. 

Read the entire statement here: 6.14.2023MiddleSchools

March 28, 2023 

Kathy Szeliga and I thank Baltimore City for taking swift action and stopping the toxic waste from the railroad disaster in East Palestine, Ohio from being discharged into our state.

The health of the citizens of the Baltimore region, and the Chesapeake Bay, are the priority for all elected officials.

We will still be working with Senator Mary Washington and other colleagues to pass legislation for a long-term plan to avoid this issue in the future.

Read the entire statement here: March 28th Press Statement

March 27, 2023

SAY NO TO TOXIC WASTE IN THE BAY! We stand firmly against letting this TOXIC water get into the Chesapeake Bay!  If you agree, sign our petition: Sign the Petition – Oppose Toxic Waste! (anedot.com)

March 15, 2023

Kingsville Water Tank Approved! 

February 27, 2023

Minimum Wage Statement“No longer will a vacation to Ocean City be affordable, or dining out at a locally owned restaurant.  These are important career building jobs that are typically staffed by young people as a supplement to their educational and professional pursuits,” commented Delegate Nawrocki.  Maryland’s minimum wage will be more than double the federal minimum wage and 50% or more higher than neighboring states. Delaware, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia range between $7.24 (the federal minimum wage) to $12 an hour.  This legislation will make Maryland businesses hire fewer people as they compete with neighboring states. Maryland consumers can get to another state within a mere one hour drive of anywhere.   Ultimately, this decision costs the consumer in a time when inflation is hurting every Marylander’s pocket.  For these reasons and others, Delegates Nawrocki and Szeliga find this proposal to be a bad economic policy with far reaching, negative consequences for all Marylanders.

February 23, 2023

LaFarge Press Release 

Over 100 community members were turned away last night because the facility had reached maximum capacity.  The developer and his attorney, a representative from LaFarge, as well as County officials were present.  The community is LOUDLY in opposition to this proposal.  In fact, citizens brought samples from the ground to showcase how potentially hazardous the former quarry may to be the environment – let alone a potential school site.   My office is working diligently to oppose this development.  See my remarks from the evening here.

My office can be reached at:

ryan.nawrocki@house.state.md.us

410-841-3289