WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) announced today he will invite Maryland Secretary of State Susan Lee, Maryland’s first Asian American Secretary of State, as his guest to President Biden’s 2023 State of the Union. The daughter of a World War II veteran of the US Navy and a retired Washington Post artist, and a proud product of Montgomery County public schools, Secretary Lee brings decades of public service and experience at the state, local and national level to Governor Wes Moore’s new administration. 

“Susan Lee is a fiercely dedicated advocate for children, families and underserved communities, a model public servant, and a cherished friend,” said Congressman Raskin. “In the Maryland State Senate, her many accomplishments include seeing to passage more bills than any other State Senator from Montgomery County and championing efforts to improve consumer privacy, end gun violence, strengthen victim services, and combat identity theft. I am humbled to have worked with Susan on an effort to highlight the persecution of Chinese American scientists that resulted in a congressional investigation. Susan’s appointment to serve as Maryland’s next Secretary of State is not just historic but perfectly suited to her talents. She has always been a powerful champion of our great state, promoting local businesses and attracting national and international commerce to Maryland. I could not be more thrilled to have her as my guest at this year’s State of the Union address.”

Prior to her appointment as Secretary of State, Lee was a leader in the General Assembly on cyber security and innovation, consumer protection, pay equity, and gun safety and laws to fight domestic violence, sexual assault, human and labor trafficking, child and senior abuse, and hate crimes. She also led efforts to promote bioscience, nanobiotechnology, telehealth, IT, and emerging technologies. Lee served in many important roles including Senate Majority Whip, Member of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, Member of the Senate Executive Nominations Committee, Legislative Policy Committee, and the Joint Committee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology and Biotechnology. Lee was the first and past Chairman of the Maryland Legislative Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus and past President of the Women Legislators of Maryland (Women’s Legislative Caucus). She also was a Member of the National Conference of State Legislatures Task Force on Immigration and Task Force on Cybersecurity, Member of the Communications, Technology & Interstate Commerce Committee, Member of the Maryland Council for New Americans, and a Presidential Elector.

Lee was the lead senate sponsor of the Maryland Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, True Freedom Act, and Anti-Exploitation Act and laws to ban ghost guns, require background checks on long gun sales, and to empower women, children, families, and all hardworking individuals. 

Lee, an attorney, is the first Asian American elected to the Maryland Senate and Chinese American to the General Assembly. She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park and the University of San Francisco School of Law. Having served in both the public and private sectors, Lee was an attorney with the US Commission on Civil Rights and the US Patent and Trademark Office and Of Counsel with Gebhardt & Associates. She was appointed to serve on the United States Patent and Trademark Advisory Board during the Clinton Administration. Lee has held multiple leadership roles in the community including President of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Greater Washington Area, and Board Member of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies. She and her husband Earl Ing live in Bethesda.

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