Committee for Montgomery

04/06/2026

The Committee for Montgomery wants to extend its gratitude and appreciation to Montgomery County Council President Natali Fani-González for joining our April meeting.

03/07/2026

Many thanks to everybody who supported our Committee for Montgomery Advocacy Day in Annapolis!

03/07/2026

2026 Advocacy Day: Building a Stronger Montgomery County

As the home to nearly 1.1 million residents and the generator of over 20% of Maryland’s state tax revenue, Montgomery County is a critical driver of the state's success.

The Committee for Montgomery Inc. has identified key legislative priorities for the 2026 session of the Maryland General Assembly to ensure continued growth and equity.

Investing in Education and the Future Workforce

Our top priority is ensuring robust infrastructure for our students. We strongly support SB 934 / HB 1329, which focuses on essential Public School Construction Funding. Additionally, to foster innovation and support those who have served our country, we advocate for HB 960, establishing the Federal Employee-to-Entrepreneur Program.

Strengthening Economic Opportunity and Family Stability

Economic security is the bedrock of our community. CfM supports a multi-pronged approach to financial empowerment:

Tax Relief: We advocate for the Local Child Tax Credit Authorization (SB 468 / HB 363) and the Small Business Tenant Tax Credit (SB 767 / HB 840) to provide direct relief to families and local entrepreneurs.

Long-term Strategy: We support HB 1142 to create a Revenue Structures Task Force to evaluate and improve our fiscal framework.

Empowerment: To assist families in navigating their financial futures, we support the Financial Empowerment Center Network (SB 518 / HB 676) and prioritizing Child Care Scholarships (SB 664).

Expanding Housing Equity and Modernizing Transit. Quality housing and reliable transportation are essential for a thriving economy.

Housing: We are championing SB 657 / HB 919, which provides Appraisal Equity (PAREA) Grants to address disparities in property valuations.

Transit: To keep our region moving, we support the Metro Funding Modification Act (HB 386 / SB 281) and the Transit & Housing Opportunity Act (HB 894 / SB 389), ensuring that transportation investments are closely linked with housing availability.

The Committee for Montgomery remains committed to working with the Maryland General Assembly in Annapolis to move these vital pieces of legislation forward.

03/03/2026

The Committee from Montgomery, Inc. wishes to express its sincere appreciation to Maryland State delegate Lily Qi for joining our March 2026 meeting and briefing us on the important matters before the Maryland General Assembly. We share her commitment to economic development and improving the business climate in Montgomery County and throughout the State.

02/03/2026

Committee for Montgomery was proud to welcome Brooke Lierman, Comptroller of Maryland, to our February meeting.

12/08/2025

Committee for Montgomery’s 37th annual legislative breakfast also featured county executive candidate forum

12/06/2025

🤝 Unified Front: Committee for Montgomery Kicks Off 2026 Legislative Session at Strathmore

​The Committee for Montgomery (CFM) held its 37th Annual Legislative Breakfast on December 5, 2025, at the Music Center at Strathmore, drawing hundreds of leaders from across the county. This premier event served as the critical kick-off for uniting the county's business, labor, and civic community around a forceful legislative agenda for the upcoming 2026 Maryland General Assembly session in Annapolis.

​CFM Chair, Silver Spring attorney Alan Bowser, opened the breakfast by welcoming the diverse and engaged crowd, which included the newly appointed County Council leadership, President Natali Fani-González and Vice President Marilyn Balcombe. Bowser emphasized the CFM's vital role as the county's "shared conscience," highlighting its unique ability to bring together business, labor, non-profits, and civic groups to advocate with a unified voice for the general welfare of all residents.

​CFM's Four Critical Legislative Pillars
​Mr. Bowser’s address clearly outlined four critical legislative pillars the CFM coalition will fight for during the 2026 session:

​Education: A central focus remains securing increased State funding for school construction to address the county's extensive facility needs and enrollment growth. Equally important is ensuring the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is implemented successfully and transparently to truly serve students and educators.

​Transportation: A reliable network is vital for a thriving economy. The CFM will be fighting for necessary, sustainable WMATA funding to keep the Metro and transit systems safe and reliable. The coalition also continues to prioritize Vision Zero initiatives to make streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

​Economic Development and Housing: The CFM is committed to policies that foster economic growth and job creation, which must go hand-in-hand with housing stability. This includes supporting efforts to aggressively address the crippling housing shortage and protect vulnerable residents to prevent the further exodus of young families.

​Social Safety Net: The final pillar focuses on continuing to advocate for the health and human services that support the well-being of every resident, ensuring that the county remains a place where everyone can thrive, regardless of income or background.

​Federal and Local Leadership Address Crises and Call for Accountability

​The event featured remarks from federal and local leaders. U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, along with U.S. Representative April McLaine Delaney, addressed the crowd, focusing their concerns on the local impact of federal government firings and cutbacks in social programs, stressing the need for strong federal-state collaboration to protect critical services.

​A highly anticipated panel of County Executive candidates—Councilmembers Andrew Friedson, Evan Glass, and Will Jawando, and challenger Mithun Banerjee—concurred that the county is at a "crisis moment" requiring bold action. Key areas of agreement included the urgency of the housing crisis and the need for greater transparency and accountability in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) funding and facility management. While all agreed on the problems, their solutions varied, with candidates offering different approaches ranging from aggressive regulatory reform to structural government spending cuts.

​In her closing remarks, new Council President Natali Fani-González championed her Trust Act to protect immigrant communities and reiterated the council's commitment to tackling both public safety and housing affordability. The consensus of the day was a unified demand for decisive action and accountability from all levels of government to address the county's pressing challenges in the 2026 legislative session.

​To learn more about the Committee for Montgomery's mission and legislative agenda, visit their official website:

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12/06/2025

Montgomery County executive candidates debate housing, school funding, childcare and economic growth at the 37th Legislative Breakfast in Bethesda.

12/05/2025

Committee for Montgomery – 2026 Legislative Priorities

The Committee for Montgomery (CfM) advances a unified, nonpartisan agenda that strengthens economic mobility, educational excellence, housing affordability, transportation reliability, federal workforce stability, climate resilience, and cultural vitality across Montgomery County and the State of Maryland. These priorities reinforce statewide competitiveness, protect vulnerable communities, and support Maryland’s long-term economic health.

FEDERAL STABILITY ACTIONS – A Top Statewide Priority
Montgomery County has one of the largest concentrations of federal workers, agencies, and contractors in the United States. Federal funding decisions directly influence Maryland’s economy. CfM urges the General Assembly to:
ADVOCATE FOR IMMEDIATE FEDERAL FUNDING RESTORATION and protections for Maryland’s federal workforce.
HIGHLIGHT MONTGOMERY COUNTY’S ROLE AS A STABILIZING FORCE during periods of federal uncertainty.
PROMOTE POLICIES THAT SAFEGUARD SMALL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS dependent on federal contracts.
Stabilizing federal operations protects Maryland families, strengthens state and local tax bases, and secures the region’s innovation ecosystem.

EDUCATION – Protect the Blueprint & Modernize Schools
Sustain Blueprint for Maryland’s Future investments.
Expand childcare capacity.
Prioritize school construction to relieve overcrowding and upgrade aging facilities.
Strong schools fuel Maryland’s talent pipeline, economic competitiveness, and long-term workforce strength.

HOUSING – Preserve Local Authority & Expand Affordability
Increase state affordability investments.
Defend local zoning authority to ensure thoughtful, community-specific planning.
Maryland needs more affordable homes for teachers, first responders, seniors, and young families. Stable zoning prevents displacement and supports workforce retention.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & FEDERAL WORKFORCE STABILITY
Strengthen biotech and life sciences partnerships.
Support skills-based workforce pipelines.
Protect federal workforce stability and contracting activities.
Urge the State of Maryland to strengthen small business programs
Biotech advancement and federal employment are Montgomery County’s dual economic engines—driving research, small-business growth, and statewide revenue.

TRANSPORTATION – Modernize Funding & Stabilize WMATA
Update Maryland’s transportation revenue formulas.
Secure a long-term multi-state WMATA funding agreement.
Invest in safer, more reliable transit and pedestrian infrastructure.
Transportation access determines economic mobility, workforce reliability, and climate progress.

CLIMATE & RESILIENCE – Protect Vulnerable Communities
Expand equitable clean-energy upgrades.
Invest in resilience strategies to reduce heat, flooding, and pollution.
Climate impacts hit vulnerable communities hardest. Preventing damage reduces long-term state costs and improves community health.

ARTS & CULTURE – Strengthen an Economic Engine
According to the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, the county’s arts sector generates approximately $183 million in economic activity, supports nearly 4,000 jobs, and contributes over $5 million in local tax revenue. State support is needed to:
Stabilize nonprofit arts organizations.
Expand cultural access statewide.
Support capital needs and operating recovery.
Arts organizations fuel local economies, education, community vitality, and tourism.

12/05/2025

At two breakfasts, Montgomery County and state leaders pledged to counter the Trump administration.

12/05/2025

Thank you Senator Alsobrooks, Senator Van Hollen and Rep. April McClain Delaney!

12/02/2025

The Committee for Montgomery, Inc. is excited to welcome you to our 2025 Annual Legislative Breakfast, this year at the Music Center at Strathmore. Friday, December 5, 3025. Registration begins at 6:45 a.m.!

Our 2025 program features two valuable panel discussions:

Montgomery County and the Federal Impact. We are proud to welcome United States Senator Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and United States Representative April McLain Delaney to discuss developments in Washington and how they have and will impact our County.

Our second panel discussion will feature the announced candidates for Montgomery County Executive.

Registration begins at 6:45 am! and our program begins at 8 am in the Concert Hall of the Music Center.

We hope to see you there.