Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth

Earlier this week, the bipartisan MAWS Act that I introduced with @RobWittman passed out of the House on a suspension vote. But you may be asking…what the heck is a suspension vote? In today’s edition of Sarah Explains It All, I’ll be breaking down everything you need to know about suspension votes and how it’s one tool we have to tackle bipartisan problems – including invasive blue catfish in the Chesapeake!

As the President continues to denigrate our NATO allies, I used my time in Committee this week with leaders of European Command to highlight the misalignment between the White House’s trade policy and our shared goals of standing with Ukraine and deterring Putin.

✈️ 🚇 From airport towers to passenger rail, I am committed to working with MDOT to ensure that Maryland continues to lead the way in effective, sustainable transportation. I met with the new Acting MDOT Secretary, Katie Thomson, to see how we can best collaborate with MDOT as they continue providing safe, reliable transportation for all Marylanders.

Eid Mubarak! To all those who celebrate in #MD03 and across the country, I wish you and your loved ones a blessed Eid full of happiness and good health.

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I joined the Reagan Institute’s National Security Innovation Base Summit last week to provide an update on our cybersecurity work on Committee. We covered a range of topics from the future U.S. Cyber Command, which is headquartered here in Maryland, to our work to address the unique educational and mental health needs of our cyber force. It was an incredible panel of experts – including former Armed Services Chairman Mac Thornberry – on the preparation and collaboration necessary to address ever-evolving cybersecurity threats.

Representing more than 45,000 federal workers, any government shutdown is not something I take lightly. House Republicans have refused to negotiate in good faith and ensure our hardworking civil servants at agencies like TSA, Coast Guard, and FEMA are paid. That’s why I’ve joined House Democrats in signing @RepJeffries’ discharge petition to force a vote on @rosadelauro’s bill to fund these agencies without sending another penny to CBP or ICE.

Ever wonder what my week looks like as your Congresswoman in #MD03? Here’s a quick look at our week back in the District:  ✅ Lots of stops in Annapolis to announce federal FEMA funding for City Dock, host a town hall with @AACoExec and hundreds of neighbors, visit two outstanding employers, and walk in one of the best Annapolis traditions: the St. Patrick’s Day parade! ☪️ Joined two wonderful Iftar dinners with our neighbors in Anne Arundel and Howard County. 🏛️ Drove back to Washington for the @IAFFofficial’s legislative conference and the Reagan Institute’s National Summit. 🌎 Convened a roundtable with our local environmental leaders to ensure we’re thinking bigger, bolder, and faster about our restoration efforts.

Absolutely horrific. This type of racism and hate – just blocks away from our district office in Columbia – has no place in our communities and must be condemned. baltimoresun.com/2026/03/18/hat…

@LuminisHealth cares for 1.8 million of our neighbors from Anne Arundel and Prince George’s Counties to the Eastern Shore and beyond. On the tour of their AAMC facilities in Annapolis, we discussed restoring Medicaid funding,  reducing ER wait times, and the dire need to expand long-term mental and behavioural health treatment for Maryland’s young people. This was the final stop in my tour of every hospital in #MD03, and while I’ve learned so much from our medical experts, one thing is abundantly clear: delivering proper care on the ground starts with fully funding Medicaid, Medicare, and other crucial federal programs. I’m committed to using every means possible to secure that funding here in Congress so our health care professionals can continue supporting our neighbors on their hardest days.

Out of 361 roll call votes last year, I didn’t miss a single one.  Representing you is the honor of my life – and I don’t take the trust you have placed in me lightly.  I came to Congress to deliver for our neighbors in #MD03 regardless of the chaos coming from the White House, and I will continue to take every opportunity possible to be a voice and a vote for you here in Washington. rollcall.com/2026/03/11/vot…

Right here in Annapolis, @HASI_Inc is leading the nation in climate-responsive investments for the future – specializing in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects to create a sustainable future. I had a chance to visit the HASI facility and meet with their team to discuss climate resilience efforts at our military installations, reforms to the permitting process, and plans to advance clean energy policies. As this Administration continues to cancel clean energy projects and attack bedrock science, I’m grateful to have dedicated partners to ensure our state continues leading on sustainable energy solutions for the future.

Behind the scenes of passing a bill on the House floor. After lots of collaboration and deliberation, the bipartisan MAWS Act is now headed to the Senate — and we are one step closer to getting invasive blue catfish out of the Bay!

Do you remember the SAVE Act? This week, it’s back in the Senate because the President is threatening to block every other piece of legislation coming out of Congress until the SAVE Act is passed. Despite non-citizen voting already being illegal, the President’s top priority is to make it harder for American citizens – especially married women who’ve changed their last name – to vote in our elections. I already voted NO on the bill twice. My colleagues and I remain united in the fight to ensure all our neighbors have the fundamental right to vote. cnbc.com/amp/2026/03/15…

A bit of good news: the MAWS Act @RobWittman and I led has officially passed the House! This bill is just one small piece of what my team and I are working on here in Washington, but it brings us one step closer to creating new opportunities in a growing market for invasive blue catfish – which pose a direct ecological and economic threat to the Chesapeake Bay – and mitigating invasive species across the country. As we navigate these difficult times, I’m grateful to have colleagues who are willing to work towards bipartisan, innovative solutions, like the MAWS Act, to protect our natural resources. Stay tuned as this bill heads to the Senate!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to those celebrating in #MD03 🍀Wishing you all a day full of festivities, community, and good luck!

The American people have been clear: we don’t want to commit American servicemembers and American resources to undefined regime change wars. Yet the President - just yesterday - threatened to “take” Cuba if he wanted. Today I used my time in Committee to try to get answers for the American people.

During even the most chaotic days in Washington, my favorite part is sitting down with our bright young Marylanders! I sat down with Helen, a Marylander and volunteer with @DucksUnlimited, who wrote a paper on the MAWS Act – a bill we are actually debating on the House floor today to get invasive blue catfish out of the Bay! It’s young leaders like Helen who keep me hopeful that our nation’s crown jewels will be preserved for generations to come.

Immoral and unconstitutional: that’s what I had to say in response to a question on President Trump’s reckless attacks on Iran at our town hall this week. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I’ve been part of many classified briefings and closed-door conversations, and I’m still no more confident in the President’s plan for the region, plan to keep our servicemembers safe, and strategy to not enter another endless war in the Middle East. I already voted in favor of a bipartisan war powers resolution to halt hostilities in Iran and force President Trump to go to Congress for authorization. I’ll continue working with my colleagues to hold the Administration accountable for the good of Americans at home and abroad.

🚨 Attention Marylanders: the National Weather Service has issued a severe weather warning for Anne Arundel, Howard, and Caroll Counties – so please make sure you’re taking the proper precautions.   ➡️ Remove items from your yard that may become projectiles.  ➡️ Charge mobile devices and have flashlights and extra batteries at the ready. ➡️ Prepare for potential power outages by having extra water and blankets on hand. ➡️ During severe storms, stay inside and away from windows.  ➡️ Use caution on roadways due to high winds and potential for flooding. ➡️ Know the location of warming centers and other local emergency centers as temperatures may drop.   Stay updated on changing weather forecasts by following local guidance. Stay safe Marylanders!   Anne Arundel County: aacounty.org/emergency-mana… Carroll County: carrollcountymd.gov/government/dir… Howard County: howardcountymd.gov/health/emergen… thebanner.com/community/clim…

ICYMI: Team Maryland celebrated a major win right here in #MD03 – more than $35 million dollars in FEMA funding to improve stormwater management and flooding resilience for City Dock here in Annapolis! Having lived in downtown Annapolis for over a decade, I’ve seen flood after flood wreak havoc on small businesses and the City’s infrastructure, and the urgency of now has never been clearer. Rising tides do not wait for bureaucracy. This crucial funding is not only an investment in climate resilience, but it also protects the deep history of the region, its small businesses, and Naval Academy operations.