LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

WHAT IS COPE?

GUIDE TO ELECTED OFFICIALS

​CANDIDATE 
questionnaires

​Endorsements

CANDIDATE 
questionnaires

News Archive

Meetings
The DC COPE meets every 2nd Tuesday of the month (except for July and August) at 
IATSE Local 22 (1810 Hamlin St, NE, Washington, DC 20018).
2pm to 4pm

Montgomery County & Prince George's County COPE meeting meets every 2nd Thursday of every month (except for July and August)
UFCW 400
8400 Corporate Dr #200, Landover, MD 20785
​10am to 12noon

TriCounty COPE meets the last Tuesday of every month at
American Legion
6330 Crain Hwy,
La Plata, MD 20646
​7pm to 9pm

Get Involved
For more information about DC COPE, Maryland COPE in Charles, St. Mary's Calvert and Montgomery and Prince George's counties, contact the email address below. 

Staff

David Stephen, Political and Legislative Director
[email protected]
(202) 974-8222

MAKE YOUR PLAN TO VOTE

Metropolitan Washington Council continues to strongly encourage voting by mail, early voting, and voting at off-peak times to ensure a safe and efficient election.
Make sure that you are registered to vote and that your voter information is up to date. Whether you intend to vote by mail or in person, the deadline to register in Maryland and the District of Columbia is Tuesday, October 13. 
Maryland: Click here to register to vote or check your registration status.
Washington D.C.: Click here to register to vote or check your registration status.

No matter how you choose to cast your ballot, now is the time to make a plan to vote. We encourage every eligible voter to make their voice heard, in this election and in every facet of our democracy.
METRO-AREA LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS TAKEN TO PROTECT/SUPPORT WORKERS AFFECTED BY THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

Federal: Families First Coronavirus Response Act
  • Free testing for coronavirus for all, including the uninsured.
  • Emergency paid leave for employees taking unpaid leave due to the coronavirus outbreak.
  • Paid leave for those who take leave to quarantine or who are sick.
  • Food assistance for low-income pregnant women and mothers with young children and meals to seniors. It also protects students’ access to school meals in the event of school closures.
  • Unemployment benefits for laid-off and furloughed workers, and those who have exhausted paid leave.

District of Columbia
  • No evictions or disconnection of electricity, gas, or water
  • Unemployment definition expanded to include those who are temporarily unemployed due to this public health emergency
  • Expansion of paid medical leave to anyone under quarantine
  • Tax deadline extened to July 15, 2020

Maryland
  • Unemployment benefits extended to workers quarantined, who leave their jobs due to the risk of exposure, whose employers temporarily close, or to care for an infected family member.
  • No disconnections or late fees for electric, gas, water, sewer, phone, cable TV and Internet service provider companies.
  • All housing evictions prohibited. The Federal Government has placed a pause on all foreclosures for 60 days insured by the Federal Housing Administration or backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
  • Maryland schools can now provide up to three free meals a day for students across the state during the school closure.
  • Maryland Health Connections has opened a special open enrollment period through April 15 for Marylanders without health insurance.
  • Community Legal Services staff are working remotely to continue to assist with civil legal questions including family law, landlord & tenant, and domestic violence. Their services are available online at www.clspgc.org or via their hotline at 240-391-6370. 

Virginia
  • One-week waiting period waived for unemployment benefits.
  • Unemployment eligibility if the employer needs to slow or cease operations due to COVID-19 temporarily, if the worker has been issued a notice to self-quarantine or if they must stay home to care for an ill family member and are not receiving paid family medical leave from their employer.
  • No disconnections for electric, natural gas, and water companies for 60 days.
  • Suspension of all non-essential, non-emergency court proceedings from Monday, March 16 through Monday, April 6, including eviction.
 
 
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