Ehrlich on Washington column, December 6, 1999

MEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1407 York Road, Suite 304 Lutherville, Maryland 2 1 093 315 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 EHRLICH ON WASHINGTON Week of December 6, 1 999 By Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. THANKS TO THOSE WHO HELP This holiday season, I am counting the blessings that have been bestowed on me personally and as a citizen of the United States. On July 24, my wife, Kendel, and I became the proud parents of a healthy baby boy, Drew Robert. In addition, I am gratefiil for the precious time spent with my family and for the good people in the Second Congressional District — from my neighbors here in Mays Chapel to the people of Dundalk, Bel Air, Aberdeen and Pasadena. I am thankful for the prosperity our country enjoys and the opportunities that prosperity gives every one of us. This is the year my colleagues and I in the Congress balanced the federal budget and, for the first time in a generation, actually ran a surplus. And we did it without raiding the nation’s Social Security Trust Fund. Economic growth and low unemployment give most Americans a reason to celebrate their holidays with appreciation. However, it is important to remember those who have not been as fortunate and struggle under difficult circumstances and financial hardship. Today, about 3,000 people in the Baltimore region are homeless, many battling the biggest problem facing society today — drug abuse. Recently, I had an opportunity to visit a 1 1 5-year- old, nonprofit, faith-based mission in Baltimore, The Helping Up Mission. The Mission’s Executive Director, Bob Gehman, and its residents and staff greeted me to discuss this successful program dedicated to meeting the physical, psychological, and spiritual needs of the poor and homeless in Baltimore. The Helping Up Mission helps more than 100 resident members and 60 homeless guests with 500 meals every day, clothes, shelter, counseling, job training, GED certification and job placement. The results speak for themselves: 65% of the "graduates" stay drug free and reverse the decline that had taken over their lives. I heard story after story of persons recovered from C