SALUTE TO AMERICA'S FINEST: May 11-17 marks National Police Week. I want to express my pride and gratitude to the officers who risk their lives daily to protect Marylanders and all Americans. In honor of this week, I recently joined my Senate colleagues in unanimously passing a resolution "commemorating and acknowledging the dedication and sacrifice made by the men and women who have lost their lives while serving as law enforcement officers" (S. RES. 537). As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I look forward to our hearing on Tuesday on the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program, which we hope to improve on Thursday by passage of legislation (S. 2511) to make it easier for states to qualify for grants under this program. Detective David Azur, an ATF agent from Baltimore, Maryland, will testify how, in 2000 while working as part of the Regional Auto Theft Task Force, he was shot in the line of duty, and survived only because of his bullet proof vest. He was subsequently awarded the Medal of Valor for his actions that day.

I recognize that strong partnerships between first responders and the cities and states they serve are vital to public safety. I firmly believe that all of our nation's first responders deserve the right to be treated with respect. But far too many first responders across the country do not have basic workplace protections. I plan to be active in the upcoming debate of the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act that will ensure all first responders receive that respect by receiving the same protections enjoyed by so many other workers across the country. I have co-sponsored this important bill. Similar legislation, H.R. 980, passed the House of Representatives earlier this year, 314 to 97.

GROWING SMALL BUSINESS: Early in the week I plan to join Congressman John Sarbanes (MD-03), Baltimore City Mayor Sheila Dixon, and officials from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to announce a new initiative that will identify and provide resources to 20 Baltimore inner-city businesses that exhibit a high potential for growth. The SBA has targeted Baltimore and 10 other cities to participate in the Emerging 200 Initiative. The goal of the program is to identify 200 inner-city businesses across the nation that could benefit from strategies to help build a sustainable business in an inner-city location. The Initiative will focus on providing selected businesses with organization management, growth strategies and management, market development, and strategic planning. I am a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

ONLINE HATE CRIMES: This Thursday, in my role as co-chair of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission), I will have the opportunity to learn more about the challenges posed by the Internet and other technology in combating hate crimes and hate propaganda. We will hold a briefing that examines the role of the Internet and other technologies in the training, recruiting, and funding of hate groups. Issues of Internet governance (e.g., liability of Internet providers, free speech concerns, and content control responsibility) also will be discussed. This briefing will be webcast from the U.S. Helsinki Commission website at www.csce.gov beginning at 3:00PM on Thursday, May 15.

UPCOMING MEDIA: If you are in the Washington, DC Metro Area on Tuesday morning, May 13, tune to WTOP (103.5FM) at 7:50AM for my live interview with Mike Moss and Bruce Alan. West Virginians go to the polls on Tuesday, so we'll be discussing the latest news on the presidential primary race. For those of you on the Eastern Shore, listen to my conversation with Bill Reddish on Thursday morning, May 15, at about 7:35AM on WICO (1320AM/Delmarva Broadcasting).