On February 3rd, Governor Hogan gave his State of the State address, detailing several aspects of the pandemic response and how they will be handled going forward. Among the top concerns, the securing of vaccines was listed, as the Governor acknowledged the difficulty in ensuring adequate vaccine supply and rollout, as well as how much has changed since his last State of the State address (during which coronavirus was first emerging as a concern). Governor Hogan explained that a significant effort must be made to ensure that a vaccine would be made available to every Marylander who wants one, emphasizing that
“These vaccines are safe and effective, and they are the result of groundbreaking cooperation between America’s leading medical experts and pharmaceutical companies and a transparent and rigorous review process led by the FDA. Getting vaccinated will help keep you, your family, and your community healthy and safe. We urge every Marylander to get a vaccine when one becomes available to you. It will prevent more illness, hospitalizations, and deaths, and it is the best hope for bringing this pandemic to an end.”
The Governor also urged the passing of the RELIEF Act of 2021, a coronavirus recovery package currently under review in the Maryland legislature. The measure contains a variety of grants and other assistance, including direct payments to low-income Marylanders, as well as tax breaks for businesses and those receiving unemployment. Governor Hogan described the measure as the top legislative priority of the session, saying it would
“provide more than a billion dollars in immediate tax relief and economic stimulus for struggling Maryland families, small businesses, and those who have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tonight, I am once again calling on the legislature to pass this bill and get it to my desk as soon as possible so that I can sign it into law.”
Additionally, the speech contained renewed calls for public school systems to resume in-person classes in the coming weeks. The Governor contended that keeping lessons online is hindering the ability for children to learn, and that
“It is critical that we give our students the chance to get safely back into the classrooms. During this entire crisis, we have always followed the science, and the science is clear. … I want to commend all the teachers, administrators, parents, and students who have adapted under difficult and trying circumstances and have already shown this is possible. It’s time to get our students back into the classrooms where they belong.”
