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 great and singular honor to serve as your Representative in Congress.

I will start by saying that every day I’m hearing from people—including federal workers, federal contractors, refugees and immigrants, and the LGBTQ+ community—who are sharing with me and my staff the direct harm they are facing right now by various elements of the Trump-Vance policy agenda.

In response, my team and I put together a new page on my website, which is dedicated to supporting all my constituents in MD-08 during this time of profound uncertainty and chaos. I also recently wrote a letter to constituents sharing my thoughts about our path forward together.

I also wanted to let you know that I have launched a series of webinars dedicated to sharing up-to-date information and resources with experts to help our community navigate the current moment. You can access my federal worker webinar here, my webinar for immigrant families here and my webinar for LGBTQIA+ Americans here.

Please know that my team and I are in constant communication not only with constituents but with my House and Senate colleagues, state and local partners, and organizations on the ground to work on your behalf and to share as much information as possible with you.

As always, I encourage all of my constituents across the Eighth District to connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter/X and Bluesky. 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

Recognizing the Life and Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr in the Community

Speaking to community members about Dr. King’s legacy at the KID Museum

I was delighted to spend the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday with constituents in our community, at events like the Alpha Phi Alpha MLK Jr. Scholarship Breakfast. I was at once humbled and uplifted to be the keynote speaker and to enjoy the company of both Maryland Senators, Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, and hundreds of awesome MoCo activists.

I also joined forces with Manna Food Center’s Advocacy Task Force and Bethesda’s KID Museum for a wonderful program where families used the museum’s maker space to create cardboard models, posters, and stories inspired by Dr. King’s vision of a ‘Beloved Community.’ It was a day of peace that uplifted Dr. King’s beautiful legacy and celebrated our children’s dreams for the future.

Beginning a New Congress and Protecting the Peaceful Transfer of Power

On the House Floor with my colleagues

In January, America swore in a new Congress – the 119th in our nation’s history – and inaugurated a new presidential administration. Since then, I have heard every day from people across our community sharing their anxieties about the effects on their families and lives of the Executive Orders and policy actions of the new administration. Because I also took my solemn oath of office in January to defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic, I have been focused on explaining with as much clarity as much as possible what is happening and opposing any lawlessness and corruption in government. Count me in to protect our shared constitutional values and free democratic future.

You can read my full statement on the January 6, 2021 anniversary and certification of the 2024 presidential election at my website.

Protecting the Integrity of NIH and Medical Research

Last month, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (both D-MD) and I demanded that President Trump and Elon Musk halt their unconstitutional decimation of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda. In a brazen executive order, President Trump forced the agency to cease external communications, hiring and other critical functions, putting the public health of our communities at sharp risk. Research supported by NIH is essential to discovering lifesaving new treatments for everything from cancer and cystic fibrosis to heart disease and the flu. It is imperative that NIH have the resources and assurances it needs to continue its work on behalf of our people.

Leading House Democrats on the Judiciary Committee

I am honored by the trust my colleagues placed in me to become the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee in the new Congress. Under my leadership, Democrats will be united this Congress in defending American constitutional freedom, democratic institutions and the rule of law. I am reaching across the aisle whenever possible to our colleagues to form bipartisan consensus and progress.

Promoting Public Safety and Rejecting Gun Violence

Most Americans support gun licensing laws, which substantially reduce firearm homicides. In January, after the Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to Maryland’s handgun licensing law, I introduced legislation with Senator Chris Van Hollen to incentivize states to follow in Maryland’s footsteps by requiring a license to purchase a handgun. You can read more about our legislation at my website.

Last month, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Representative Madeleine Dean (PA-04) and I also led an amicus brief in the Supreme Court in the ongoing Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. et al., v. Estados Unidos Mexicanos case.  We urged the Court to hold gun manufacturers accountable for their role in the illegal trafficking of firearms to Mexico. You can read more about the brief, the case and our efforts to reduce gun trafficking at Senator Blumenthal’s website.

Recognizing the Local Heroes of the Eighth District

Our first Local Hero of the year was none other than the former Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Denis McDonough. With a lifetime of public service, the secretary spoke with us in the final days of the Biden-Harris Administration about the many achievements of his tenure, including the implementation of the PACT Act—the largest expansion in veterans benefits ever—and the honor he experienced serving our nation’s veterans. You can learn more about the PACT Act, file a VA disability claim and apply for VA health care here.

Next, we featured the leader of the U.S. Capitol Police, Chief Tom Manger. A MD-08 resident and former Chief of the Montgomery County Department of Police, Chief Manger reflected on his career and discussed his enduring commitment to the safety of his officers and our entire community.

In honor of MLK Day, we recognized Dr. Daryl Davis as our Local Hero. You may know Dr. Davis from his sensational blues piano and jazz music acclaim, written works, or his work to fight racism across the country through mutual understanding and connection.

HIAS began when Jews coming to America were refugees from pogroms. Today it’s a Jewish charity helping to resettle other refugees fleeing political and religious violence around the world. We honored MD-08 Local Hero Mark Hetfield and his team at HIAS which call on Americans to remember that nearly all our families were once strangers in the land.

Finally, teachers Krishni Patrick at Piney Branch Elementary and Joan Shane at Sligo Middle were among the winners of Presidential Awards for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching in President Biden’s final days in office. We honored these MD-08 Local Heroes for their dedication to math and science learning and for their devotion to our students.

Constituent Corner – Save During this Tax Season with IRS Direct File

This year, millions of Americans, including many Marylanders, are now eligible to file their taxes by using the IRS’s Direct File program. This free and easy program, created in the last Congress, means that Marylanders can skip the exorbitant filing fees from giant tax software corporations. It remains operational during the 2025 tax season. Learn more and determine your eligibility to participate by visiting directfile.irs.gov.

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