Dear Neighbor:

I wanted to take a moment to share a brief update about how my staff and I have been working for the people of the 8th District. It remains a surpassing honor to continue serving as your Representative in Congress.

As always, I encourage all 8th District residents 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,

Jamie Raskin

Reflecting on the January 6, 2021 Insurrection One Year Later

The anniversary of January 6, 2021 revived the attack in our national memory. We recalled a mob descending on Congress, leaving 150 law enforcement officers injured, wounded, traumatized or dead, and interrupting the certification of Electoral College votes for the first time in American history. We are still reckoning with the fallout one year later. In response, Congress must fortify our electoral institutions against election subversion and domestic violent extremism. To read my full statement on the anniversary, click here.

Remembering January 6 in detail is a civic commitment that motivates me each day on the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. My colleagues and I on the select committee are diligently reviewing information from more than 500 witnesses, scheduling interviews and depositions, analyzing more than 60,000 documents, and preparing to present you with our findings.

Protecting Our Community Against COVID-19

I hope you and your family have stayed safe and healthy amidst surges in COVID-19 cases. As we continue to navigate this pandemic, it’s important to utilize the tools available to our community to combat the virus, remembering that vaccination (including booster shots) dramatically reduces the incidence of severe illness and wearing masks helps prevent transmission of the virus.

This month I was pleased to announce that President Biden is sending free COVID-19 tests to families across the country. Each U.S. household is entitled to four free rapid tests. You can place your order at covidtests.gov. Please also know that your health insurance may be able to reimburse you for up to eight at-home tests per month—contact your insurer for more information on how to access these additional tests for free. You can read more about the testing program here. 

Delivering Federal Funding to Maryland

Robust federal investment in our state gives our local and state partners the resources they need to best serve Marylanders. In January, I was thrilled to join my Maryland congressional delegation colleagues in announcing over $143 million in federal relief to Maryland families to help cover their energy costs for fiscal year 2022. This funding from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Congress’ American Rescue Plan will help Maryland families in need cover their utility costs.

Working for You in Committee

Have you seen your grocery bills go up recently? This past month, my colleagues and I on the Antitrust Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing examining the effects of corporate concentration in our food systems. It’s an open secret that a handful of food suppliers dominate the American supply chain, but did you know that only four companies produce over 80% of our nation's beef? Congress must revitalize antitrust policy, foster healthy market competition and ensure farmers receive fair pay.

In addition to my work on the House Judiciary Committee, I am proud to serve on several other committees, including the Committee on Oversight and Reform, the Committee on House Administration, the House Rules Committee, the Coronavirus Select Subcommittee and the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. I also chair the Oversight Committee’s Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. I’m proud to advance your legislative priorities in committee.

Mobilizing for Voting Rights

The future of our democracy depends upon our ability to protect the fundamental right to vote. I was proud to vote for the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act in January when it passed the House, and I urge the Senate to seize the courage required to amend their rules and pass this legislation. I took to the House Floor and spoke in committee about the urgent need to protect the right to vote. You can watch my remarks here and here.

There is no Local Hero better than Spencer Overton of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies and George Washington University Law School to ground us in the historic importance of voting rights this past month. In our conversation, he called for decisive federal action to protect our democracy. You can watch that episode of Local Hero here.

Legislative Update

In addition to passing H.R. 5746, the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, the House also moved forward on GI Bill equity and veteran health care enrollment in January. I was proud to vote for H.R. 1836, the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act, which will ensure that Guardsmen and Reservists have the same access to GI Bill benefits as their Active Duty counterparts. These individuals serve our country in noble and varied capacities—whether they are responding to COVID-19 or defending our Capitol from insurrection last year, they deserve equal access to GI Bill benefits. I also voted in favor of H.R. 4673, the EVEST Act, which would close one of the most glaring gaps in accessing VA health services: the enrollment process. This legislation would ensure veterans are supported as they transition out of the military. It would automatically enroll eligible service members into VA healthcare during the transition process (unless they choose to opt-out). Both bipartisan bills ensure our nation better serves veterans and military personnel across the country. To read more about the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act, click here, and to read more about the EVEST Act, click here.

Honoring the Local Heroes of Maryland’s Eighth

Each week, I look forward to recognizing a member of our MD-08 community as a Local Hero. What began as a series recognizing the efforts of Marylanders protecting Marylanders during the COVID-19 pandemic has expanded to feature a wide range of MD-08 heroes who strengthen our district in myriad ways.

You may have heard that on January 6, 2021, law enforcement officers from the U.S. Capitol Police and the DC Metropolitan Police Department helped protect our Congress from rioters, but did you know that they were joined by Maryland officers? Local Hero Sergeant Kevin Ream and 50 fellow Montgomery County Police officers responded in support on that day and defended our Capitol from insurrection. You can watch my full conversation with Sgt. Ream here.

In January, I also honored Claudia Tolson, a victim witness coordinator with the Takoma Park Police Department. In her work, Claudia guides victims of crime through the justice system with steadfast support, specializing in cases of domestic violence. Claudia works overtime to help her clients, and I’m glad that domestic violence survivors and victims of crime receive comfort and support from coordinators across the state like Claudia. To watch our full conversation, click here.

Our final local hero of January was the Department of Labor’s Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Thea Lee. Thea has over thirty years of experience advocating for workers’ rights, and in this role deploys her expertise at home and abroad. You can watch our full conversation here.