Dear Neighbor,

I wanted to take a moment to share an update about how my staff and I have been working for the people of Maryland’s Eighth District. It remains a surpassing honor to serve as your Representative in Congress.

As always, I encourage all of my constituents across the Eighth District to connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. If you need help with a federal agency and want to request my assistance, please complete the online request form here, and my District Office will be in touch.

All Best,

Jamie Raskin

Conducting Strong and Effective Oversight for the American People

In the 118th Congress, I proudly lead Democrats on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. This past month, we: 

1. Highlighted the importance of free speech, good government and the privacy and security of federal employees and opposed legislation that would curtail free speech and weaken our ability to respond to foreign disinformation campaigns.
2. Called on Committee Republicans to denounce white supremacy in all its forms, including the racist “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory.
3. Pressed rail company Norfolk Southern for information on the February train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio and demanded action to support victims.
4. Celebrated “Sunshine Week” to highlight open and accountable government.
5. Spoke out against book banning and academic censorship and raised concerns about a Republican bill aiming to exert federal control over our schools.
6. Defended the District of Columbia’s autonomy, and the voices of hard-working, tax-paying D.C. residents, and called for the Committee to explore commonsense gun policies to keep Americans safe.

Remember that you can always stay updated with our work on the Oversight Committee at the Democratic website and on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Confronting the Gun Violence Epidemic

In March, we were once again confronted with mass gun violence catastrophe. In Nashville, Tennessee, a former student armed with an AR-15 military-style rifle and other firearms killed six people, including three children, at the Christian Covenant School. Communities across America grieve alongside Nashville, with our own experiences with gun violence bringing us together in shared trauma and mourning. I join Americans across the political spectrum in calling for reasonable gun safety legislation that saves lives. As your Member of Congress, I am going to keep fighting for measures such as universal background checks and a ban on military-style assault weapons to keep our children and communities safe. 

Reforming Our Civil Asset Forfeiture Laws

Did you know that it has become standard operating procedure for the federal government to seize private citizens’ property without ever charging them for a crime? In March, Rep. Tim Walberg of Michigan and I reintroduced the Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration Act (FAIR Act), a comprehensive reform to our nation's civil asset forfeiture laws. The bipartisan FAIR Act would raise the level of proof necessary for the federal government to seize property, reform the IRS structuring statute to protect innocent small business owners, and increase transparency and congressional oversight. You can read more about the FAIR Act on my website.

Pushing for Cyclist and Transportation Safety in Maryland and Beyond

Last year, our community mourned the painful loss of Sarah Debbink Langenkamp, a devoted mother, wife, daughter, and friend and accomplished State Department diplomat. Having returned from official duties in Ukraine and Poland only weeks prior, Sarah was struck by a flatbed truck while riding her bike home from her child’s school, in a devastating accident all too common across America. This March, Congressman Earl Blumenauer of Oregon and I introduced legislation to promote better cyclist and pedestrian safety. The Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act would support state and local government efforts to build safer, more complete networks for bicycling and walking in Maryland and across our country. You can read more about the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act here.

Sharing Tax and IRS Resources

With tax season underway, I hosted a virtual information session with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) this past month on the 2023 filing season. Veronica Tubman, senior stakeholder liaison at the IRS, and Wendy Figueroa, Maryland’s Acting Local Taxpayer Advocate, provided updates, information and resources and answered questions from constituents. Missed this session? You can watch a virtual recording of the event on my website here.

Did you know that those making $60,000 annually or less can benefit from VITA, or Volunteer Income Tax Assistance from the IRS? In March, I featured VITA providers in Montgomery County as Local Heroes, and in our discussion, they demonstrated the vital support they provide to our community throughout tax season.

Don’t forget to file your taxes by April 18th, and if possible, file online to ensure timely processing of your return!

Defending Civil Liberties and Free Speech Abroad

In March, I, along with Congresswoman Nancy Mace of South Carolina, sent a letter to Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman calling for the immediate release of numerous Saudi citizens incarcerated merely for sending tweets critical of the Saudi government. Jailing people for their expression, including criticism of their nation’s political rulers, is an intolerable violation of human rights and freedom of speech. You can read more about our bipartisan letter requesting release of these political prisoners here.

Honoring the Local Heroes of Maryland’s Eighth District

Our first Local Heroes of March are Montgomery County's 2023-2024 finalists for Teacher of the Year! Megan Anderson, Shannon McKenzie and April Moon uplift students and their broader campus communities with compassion, innovation and ingenuity.

Maryland State Delegate Aaron Kaufman has built an impressive career championing the rights of people with disabilities. A MoCo native, this Local Hero offers poignant reflections and insights during National Disabilities Awareness Month.

Shattering glass ceilings at every turn, trailblazing local journalist Pat Lawson Muse has kept our community informed and engaged for over four decades on the airwaves. I’m saluting her monumental career and congratulating her on a well-deserved retirement!

In last year's appropriations package, we proudly secured $100k in community project funding for local non-profit Arts on the Block, which is investing in and helping to develop the next generation of young artists across Montgomery County. It was a treat to hear from Executive Director Chris Barclay how this local treasure fosters youth imagination and helps our kids find and thrive in creative careers.

Fighting for an FBI in Maryland

Over a decade ago, Congress began investigating and exploring the dilapidated infrastructure and security limitations of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters in Washington, D.C., and in 2013, the General Services Administration (GSA) selected three acceptable locations for a new facility: two potential sites in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and one in Fairfax County, Virginia. As the selection process progresses, my Maryland Congressional delegation colleagues and I have been earnestly making the case to the GSA and the American people that our nation would most benefit from headquartering the FBI in Maryland. It is my sincerest belief that placing the new home for the consolidated FBI HQ in Maryland would provide the best value to the American taxpayer, ensure a diverse workforce, provide easy transportation access and fulfill the mission of the FBI. You can read my full statement on the new, consolidated FBI headquarters here.

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