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 and singular 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/X, Facebook, Instagram and Threads. 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 team will be in touch.

All Best,

Jamie Raskin

Rep. Raskin's June in Photos

Increasing College Access and Addressing Delays with the FAFSA 

I’m grateful that my constituents brought to my attention processing delays with the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is the central vehicle students use to request financial assistance for higher education. I recruited Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02) and Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) to join me in leading a letter to the Department of Education (DoEd) urging the agency to quickly take additional measures to resolve the remaining barriers some students have faced in completing the FAFSA to ensure applicants—especially those from vulnerable groups—can get the aid they need for college.  I’m glad that the DoEd and the Biden Administration are committed to streamlining this process, and my staff and I will continue to closely monitor the situation.

Investing in Communities Across Maryland’s Eighth District

In June, I submitted federal funding requests for 15 community projects across Maryland’s Eighth District. From fighting climate change and investing in public safety to improving our infrastructure and lowering costs for working families, each of these projects represents a powerful commitment to strengthening our quality of life in MD-08. During the last appropriations cycle in Congress, I was proud to secure more than $12.7 million in funding for community projects, and I’m closely monitoring the appropriations process to ensure that my fiscal year 2025 projects receive the funding they need and deserve.

Protecting our Civil Servants and Government Institutions as Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee

As Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee, I led Oversight Democrats in continuing our important work to protect our democratic institutions, the ethics, integrity and accountability of the Supreme Court and stand up against conservative attacks on our civil servants and regulatory agencies.

I teamed up with Oversight Committee Vice Ranking Member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) to host a roundtable sounding the alarm on the ethics crisis at the Supreme Court with expert panelists, including Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island. We examined how public officials beholden to right-wing dark money networks and unencumbered by any binding code of ethics undermine American democracy, deprive Americans of basic civil rights and gut environmental protections.

After the roundtable, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez and I wrote a letter to U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts asking him to make clear what steps, if any, he is taking to investigate allegations of serious ethical misconduct by the justices raised at our event and in public reporting. 
 
Also last month, before an Oversight subcommittee, Republicans questioned Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former chief medical advisor to the president and longtime leader of the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, to further investigate our nation’s response to the pandemic. Dr. Fauci’s decades of government service makes him a national hero, and I was disappointed to see him subjected to hours of questioning from Oversight Republicans. I was honored to thank Dr. Fauci for his work and remind the public about his role saving lives by educating millions during the pandemic. 
 
Last month, Oversight Republicans also considered a resolution to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for what they allege is a failure to cooperate with their impeachment investigation into President Biden. But unlike some right-wing extremists who skirted subpoenas in the aftermath of the January 6 insurrection of our Capitol, AG Garland demonstrated overwhelming cooperation with House Republican investigators.  I thanked Attorney General Garland for appearing before our committee and defended his ongoing public service, and I spoke about the GOP’s contempt vote in the House Rules Committee. 

Improving Vehicle Safety Standards to Protect Pedestrians and Cyclists

I was thrilled to learn that Congress’s independent watchdog, the US Government Accountability Office (GAO), accepted my request to conduct a review of U.S. vehicle safety design standards and their effects on the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. This review will evaluate vehicle design related to pedestrian and cyclist safety; options Congress and regulators should consider to reduce the risks of fatalities related to vehicle design; and actions taken by transportation safety regulators in other countries to reduce traffic fatalities.   

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has called traffic fatalities in America a “crisis” on our roadways. Drivers struck and killed an estimated 7,522 pedestrians and 1,105 cyclists in 2022, according to the most recent data available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This deadly trend on our roadways has made the United States an appalling exception among developed countries, which have made substantial progress in advancing road safety for their citizens through robust vehicle safety standards and smart street design. GAO’s review will help me tackle this crisis on our roads and ensure cars, pedestrians, motorcyclists and drivers can travel safely. Check out these pieces in StreetsBlog and Vox to learn more about my efforts to improve traffic safety and the upcoming GAO review. 

Blocking Bad-Apple Gun Dealers From Federal Contracts 

This month, I introduced new legislation—the Clean Hands Firearm Procurement Act—to prevent the federal government from awarding lucrative federal contracts to gun dealers with a history of selling guns that frequently end up being used in violent crimes. 

My legislation will use data collected by the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms’ Demand 2 Program, which already monitors federally licensed firearms dealers, to ensure taxpayer dollars aren’t enriching the tiny group of irresponsible dealers who help fuel America’s gun violence epidemic. You can learn more about the Clean Hands Firearm Procurement Act in this piece in the Hill. 

I agree with the U.S. surgeon general’s newly issued warning: gun violence is a national public health crisis. My legislation joins many other efforts by lawmakers, activists, and experts working at the intersection of policy and health to build on our historic Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and end gun violence.  

Expanding Access to Taxpayer Services for Low-Income Americans

I introduced bipartisan legislation to expand access to Low Income Tax Clinics (LITCs), which are nonprofit clinics that help low-income taxpayers resolve complicated tax issues with the IRS. LITCs also engage in community outreach and provide educational resources to taxpayers. Our bipartisan bill makes a much-needed update to the current per-clinic cap on federal funding which has not been updated since the program’s creation more than 25 years ago. 

This bipartisan bill will empower LITCs across the country to reach and serve even more taxpayers in our communities. I am honored to co-lead this effort alongside Representatives Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), Danny Davis (D-IL), and Carol Miller (R-WV) that will make a positive difference in taxpayers’ lives. Click here to learn more about LITCs. 

Restoring Integrity to a Broken Supreme Court 

With Rep. Ocasio-Cortez after our roundtable examining Supreme Court ethics

The latest alleged revelations of the complete lack of ethics of conservative Supreme Court justices continues to shake the integrity of—and corresponding public confidence in—the highest court in the land. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and I unveiled new legislation to prohibit federal judges and Supreme Court justices from accepting gifts valued at more than $50, bringing them in line with Members of Congress and other federal officials. Our High Court Gift Ban Act is an essential first step in bringing accountability to, and restoring the integrity and reputation of, the Supreme Court.

Listening to Young Israeli and Palestinian Leaders 

Alumni of New Story Leadership (NSL), a leadership training and advocacy program for young Israeli and Palestinian leaders have unveiled their framework for a post-war future in their homeland.  Last month, Representative Brad Schneider and I welcomed them to Capitol Hill, where they reminded us that security is either going to be shared by all or by none. 

Throughout the years, I've proudly hosted many Israeli and Palestinian NSL interns in my office. Though war has prevented a new cohort of interns from interning in D.C. this summer, the NSL alumni community has come together to try to forge a plan for peace. I am inspired by their willingness to bridge divides and chart a path to a better future even in the most devastating circumstances. 

Advocating for Stateless Individuals in America 

Did you know that there are more than 200,000 people living in the United States who are 'stateless’ or at risk of becoming stateless? Statelessness—where a person has no nationality or citizenship in any country of the world—can be a bureaucratic, economic and emotional nightmare, and it can arise from events well outside an individual’s control, like wars, discrimination or the collapse of a failed state. In June, Maryland Senator Cardin and I wrote the Department of Homeland Security urging the agency to take further action to protect stateless people in America. Senator Cardin and I previously introduced the Stateless Protection Act to federally codify protections for stateless people living in America today, but our letter outlines the actions the Administration can take right now to protect these vulnerable “citizens of nowhere.”

Recognizing the Local Heroes of the Eighth District

As a child in Ethiopia, Sam Alemayehu dreamed of turning garbage into energy. After coming to America, this MD08 Local Hero took advantage of all Maryland has to offer, including getting involved with the mission of the KID Museum in Bethesda and making scientific and environmental career strides. 

LaTisha Gasaway-Paul is an inspiring fifth-generation advocate for the Scotland Community in Montgomery County, one of the last remaining historically Black communities in our state. Thank you, LaTisha, for helping us commemorate Juneteenth with reflections on our local history. 

Our community will dearly miss the leadership of Gigi Godwin, as she prepares to retire after 17 years as CEO of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce. This MD-08 Local Hero has made a huge difference for businesses of all sizes in Maryland while opening great opportunities for veterans and young people. Thank you, Gigi! 

Rev. Ali K.C. Bell is a passionate, dedicated faith leader at Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Bethesda. This MD-08 Local Hero is an important voice inspiring our neighbors, especially LGBTQIA youth, to live authentically and treat others with kindness. 

Constituent Corner: Travel Tips and Casework Resources Available in New Languages

Travelling internationally? Check your passports! Before making any non-refundable travel plans, check your passport expiration date and consider processing times for passport renewal. Check travel.state.gov/passport for more information.

Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at step.state.gov to receive important safety and security updates. Notably, this allows the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to contact you in an emergency. 

Also, I’m excited to share that critical casework information is now available on my website in Amharic, Chinese, French, Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese. You can navigate to the new “Language Options” tab on my website to access these new translations.

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