U.S. pledged to fight disease on a global scale

As the impeachment inquiry highlight the deep partisan divide in our country, very few people know that Democrats and Republicans are working together to help save millions of lives from infectious diseases. That’s right. On Oct. 9, a bipartisan group from Congress addressed world leaders in France, announcing that the U.S. isn’t backing down in the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria (“What’s next in the Trump impeachment inquiry? With testimony over, work begins on key report,” Nov. 25).

They committed $4.68 billion from the U.S. to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria over the next three years — a third of the $14 billion needed to save 16 million lives and hopefully ending these epidemics by 2030. The next day, world leaders committed the rest of the money to the Global Fund making that goal a reality. Since its inception in 2002, the Global Fund has helped to save more than 27 million lives across the world in the countries where it invests. Thank you to all of the Maryland congressmen who have supported the Global Fund.

Climate change deserves bipartisan support

Jonah Goldberg makes the point that it’s better for a policy to have support in both parties “because that is the best way to ensure that your preferred policy can survive an election disaster. If your party loses its majority in Washington, your cause isn’t automatically in jeopardy (“Goldberg: Louisiana governor win a victory for conservatives,” Nov. 22).

This is why it’s so important to find bipartisan support for climate change legislation. And we’re starting to see it. There are four bipartisan carbon pricing bills in Congress right now. One of these, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (H.R. 763), has 73 co-sponsors, including Reps. Ruppersberger, Trone and Raskin from Maryland.

Columbia University recently published a study of this bill, concluding that it would substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions, drastically cut air pollution from power plants and shift electricity generation to cleaner sources.

Climate change is damaging red, blue and purple states alike. We need politicians from red, blue and purple states to come together to address it.

During the holiday season, a reminder that Meals on Wheels will help people in need get food

We were so pleased to see the coverage of Lyft’s program of $5 rides to the grocery store for people who live in food deserts (“Baltimore residents who live in food deserts can now take a subsidized Lyft ride to grocery store,” Nov. 18). This effort to address food insecurity will make a significant impact on a vulnerable population and should be applauded.

With the holiday season underway, we also thought it would be appropriate to remind the community that Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland provides services just like Lyft’s program, and many others to meet critical needs throughout the Baltimore metro region.

What began in 1960 with two heroic women deciding they should help feed their neighbors in need has grown into one of the largest Meals on Wheels organizations in the country. With the selfless effort of nearly 2,000 dedicated volunteers, we have delivered more than 1.3 million meals each of the last two years. Our volunteers also shop for groceries, deliver free pet food and check on our clients’ well-being every time they bring a meal to their home with a smile and a friendly hello. Our professional staff offers case management, care coordination, home repairs and transportation to medical appointments, physical therapy and, yes, the grocery store.

Demographic trends predict a certain increase in our senior population, so as we gear up to meet the increasing demand for our services, we hope the community will continue to respond as generously as our founders did 60 years ago, particularly for those most vulnerable — home bound aging adults.

Alan Peljovich The writer is president of the board of directors for Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland.