   
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,
Rep. Raskin’s May in Photos
Promoting Pedestrian and Cycling Safety
Did you know that nearly all vehicles sold today earn four or five-star safety ratings from our federal traffic safety agency, even those most likely to harm pedestrians? In May, I wrote the Department of Transportation urging them to consider a more holistic view of road safety by prioritizing both pedestrian protection and visibility from the driver’s seat in new federal vehicle safety ratings. These recalibrations would reflect our government’s commitment to pedestrian, cyclist and car safety and incentivize car manufacturers to incorporate quality safety features.
Unveiling the MD-08 2023 Congressional Art Competition Winner
Congratulations to Albert Einstein student Olivia Ensign, who takes home first place in my 2023 Congressional Art Competition! Olivia’s spellbinding piece, The Memory Quilt: Pieces of Myself, pictured above, will hang in the U.S. Capitol for the next year alongside artwork from across the nation.
Be sure to check out all entries received at my virtual gallery below!
Averting a Debt Default Financial Crisis
At the close of May, Congress passed H.R. 3746 to prevent the United States from defaulting on its debt. I joined Democrats and Republicans in voting to lift the debt ceiling, avoiding a calamitous national default and financial crisis. But I believe we must also make sure that this is the last time that the government of the United States is ever held hostage by an extremist faction in Congress which threatens to force a devastating fiscal default on American society. You can read my full statement here.
Leading Democrats On the House Oversight Committee
In May I was proud to lead vigorous efforts by Democrats on the Oversight Committee to:
Defending Human Rights and Freedoms Abroad
In a moment when autocratic regimes are joining forces around the globe, it is critical that democracies and democratic movements stand united against resurgent authoritarianism.
Through my work on the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, I advocate for prisoners of conscience around the world. This past month, I announced my sponsorship of Mubarak Bala, the President of the Humanist Association of Nigeria and a self-identified atheist who was sentenced to 25 years in prison for posting messages on social media stating that he did not believe in an afterlife. When President Muhammadu Buhari refused my initial request that he pardon Bala, I organized a letter with 11 of my House colleagues urging the president to issue a pardon before his term in office expired. Unfortunately Bala has not yet been released, but I will continue to advocate for his freedom in the weeks ahead.
Recognizing the Local Heroes of the Eighth District
Local Heroes Cathy Morales and Fern Stone run the Children's Inn at NIH alongside a team of staff and volunteers. Thanks to their dedication, the inn can provide wraparound services and support to children and their families as they go through clinical trials for rare diagnoses.
In May, Cris Bombaugh of the Montgomery County Humane Society helped us ring in National Pet Week. This Local Hero shared humanitarian insights with us about how she and her team support pets and people.
To celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month this May, I featured Maryland State Delegate Lily Qi as a Local Hero. An accomplished legislator, public servant and advocate for AAPI communities, Delegate Qi's leadership is rooted in a remarkable personal story.
This Memorial Day weekend, I thought of Gold Star families across America: family members with loved ones who died on active duty service. It was an honor and a privilege to honor Patsy Jackson as our Memorial Day Local Hero, a Navy Gold Star Program leader who helps Gold Star families across Maryland, DC and Virginia find community all year-round.
Observing a National Day of Reason
This past month, I reintroduced a resolution to establish May 4th as a National Day of Reason to celebrate science, common sense and logic as essential preconditions for progress in our government and society. This day will oppose the culture of surging political extremism and a new digital landscape rife with propaganda and disinformation.
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