Issues

Current & Past Priorities

How UULM-MD Supports Issues and Legislation

We have revised the terminology we use to describe our work, including how we define issue areas, issues, and the groups of members that advocate on them. We are now using the term "Advocacy Team" instead of "Task Force" to designate the groups of members who support or oppose specific legislation (bills) aimed at implementing specific policy goals (issues) that fall within an Issue Area. For a more detailed description of these changes, see the chart available here. Issue Areas that UULM-MD has supported so far are displayed below, although some of them no longer have an active Advocacy Team and/or are not expected to be actively supporting legislation in the 2022 General Assembly session.

We now differentiate among three levels of advocacy commitment for each session:

"Priority Issues" are Issue Areas for which we have an Issue Lead and Advocacy Team, and one or more issues they and our coalition partners have decided to advocate for (or against) in 2022.
"Possible Priority Issues" are those Issue Areas for which we have an Issue Lead and Advocacy Team, but no issues have been chosen for our advocacy in 2022.
"Issues Being Monitored" are those which do not have an active Issue Lead and Advocacy Team, but nevertheless our past commitments compel us to pay attention.

Climate Change

Priority for 2023: One of UULM-MD's priorities since its founding in 2005, measures to combat and deal with the effects of Climate Change remain an important part of our efforts every year, and we are increasingly focused on environmental justice.

Criminal Justice

Priority for 2023: Reform of the criminal justice is a key requirement for achieving economic and racial justice. It includes measures to reform the courts and correctional system as well as holding police accountable to the communities they serve.

UUA General Assembly 2012 Tent City Vigi

Immigration

Priority for 2023: Although immigration is primarily a federal issue, states can pass measure to protect its residents from abuses at the hands of businesses and local govenment agents.

Medical Aid in Dying

Priority for 2023: After years of advocacy, the End-of-Life Options Act passed one chamber in 2019 but failed on a tie vote in the other chamber. This year the Governor- Elect Wes Moore stated in a public forum that he is supportive and the Lt. Governor-Elect Aruna Miller who was a cosponsor of the bill, we feel this may be the best chance to pass the bill. The legislation would provide an option for terminally ill adults who maybe suffering to peacefully end their lives . This option is available in 10 states and Washington DC.

Health Care and Reproductive Rights

Priority for 2023: Maryland continues its efforts to support the Affordable Care Act at the national level while passing innovative measures to increase coverage and deal with prescription drug prices.

Gun Violence

Priority in 2023: We supported sucessful gun legislation that passed in 2013 (after Sandy Hook) and in 2019, but there is still much to do.

Economic Justice

Monitoring (no Advocacy Team): Having supported successful efforts to guarantee sick leave for workers and to increase the minimum wage (twice), our efforts most recently focused on making family and medical leave affordable.

Education

Monitoring (no Advocacy Team): At the request of General Assembly leadership and many UUs, UULM-MD provided support for implementation of the recommendations of the Kirwan Commission.

LGBTQ Rights

Monitoring (no Advocacy Team): Having led the fight for anti-discrimination laws, transgender rights, and marriage equality, UULM-MD remains vigilant to protect the rights of this community.

How Priorities are Chosen