Rockville, MD — Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) released the following statement underscoring the importance of protecting historic cemeteries and burial sites in Maryland and across America. 

“Protecting historic cemeteries and burial sites of enslaved people is an important public priority. I will continue pursuing comprehensive legislative solutions to properly protect the gravesites of enslaved persons across the country, including the numerous historic African American burial sites in Maryland.  

“Although strict rules in the House of Representatives prohibit my involvement in cases related to specific ongoing litigation, I have been proud to work with my colleagues to achieve significant progress in the fight to protect historic Black burial sites. This includes passing the African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act, essential legislation signed into law in December 2022, which established a program at the National Park Service to provide grant opportunities and technical assistance to local partners to research, identify, survey and preserve these historic sites. Now I'm working with my colleagues to secure funding for the programs created by this law, which represents a step at the federal level toward achieving our shared mission to ensure that historic cemeteries and burial sites are protected, honored and respected.” 

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