Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth

I took a moment after votes this week to call back Abigail, a lovely sixth grader who reached out to  my office about a school project! Especially during these busy weeks in Congress, I’m so grateful to speak with young people who continue to lean in and participate in their government, just as our Founders envisioned. Thank you again for calling my office, Abigail – I can’t wait to meet in person where she’ll become the first young constituent to help me cast my vote on the House Floor!

As your member of Congress, my job isn’t just to represent your voice with the votes I take in Washington, but to be a resource and conduit on the issues you’re facing – big or small. That’s why I’m excited to announce that my team and I will be hosting our first Constituent Resource Fair! On Thursday, May 28 at 5:30 PM, you can join us in Howard County to learn more about casework, grants, academy nominations, and all the other things #TeamElfreth and our partners can deliver for you. To RSVP and learn more about our resource fair, check out the link below:  📩 RSVP: eventbrite.com/e/md-03-consti…

Our first Service Academy Nomination Forum is happening TOMORROW May 5th at 6:00 PM right here in Howard County! If you’re a rising junior – or even an interested sophomore or freshman – who wants to serve our nation, be sure to RSVP at the link below. Last year, more than 100 neighbors came to our forums and 27 of our talented nominees were accepted to the academies. Hope to see you there! RSVP for Howard County: eventbrite.com/e/howard-count…  RSVP for Anne Arundel County: eventbrite.com/e/anne-arundel…

On International Firefighters Day, we recognize the brave and tireless dedication of those on the front lines helping our neighbors on their hardest days. Over the past year and a half, our firefighters faced unprecedented attacks from DOGE’s sledgehammer and more – yet they continue showing up day in and day out to serve our communities. Whether it’s fighting cuts to NIOSH or working to pass the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, I’m proud to have the backs of the selfless first responders who are the backbones of our communities.

I wouldn’t be in Congress if not for my incredible public school teachers. So many outstanding educators go above and beyond to inspire young minds and support the next generation of leaders, so as we kick off this Teacher Appreciation Week, make sure to take some time to thank the mentors in your life! A special thank you to all the teachers in @AACountySchools, Howard County Public Schools, and @CCPSk12 whose incredible dedication supports tens of thousands of students in #MD03 each and every day 🍎

Protecting our students from unlawful terminations of TPS and the weaponization of ICE, ensuring the next generation has the right to vote in the face of attacks on the Voting Rights Act, and stopping funding cuts for the Department of Education: these issues are top of mind for so many in our communities right now, but particularly our educators. That’s why I took a moment in between back-to-back votes  to speak to the @NEAToday Directors about how we can work towards tangible solutions to meet the needs of our students. In these uncertain times, I’m grateful for the leadership of the NEA and teachers across Maryland as they fight for our students.

This week on the House Floor, I had the honor of recognizing one of Maryland’s best and bravest: Alfred Frank Bucci, a World War II veteran who passed just months before his 103rd birthday. In World War II, Mr. Bucci served with the 99th Infantry Division during the Battle of the Bulge, and following the victory, Mr. Bucci and his division liberated three POW camps and one Jewish Holocaust concentration camp.   Mr. Bucci continued his lifetime of service, working to improve veterans’ quality of life at @VFWHQ Post 7472 in Ellicott City and sharing his story with the next generation of students. His historic legacy and dedication to our nation are truly immeasurable – it was an honor to meet him last and recognize his incredible service.

The week is Public Service Recognition Week: a time to honor the hardworking civil servants who keep our communities and our country running every day. Representing over 45,000 federal workers, I know just how challenging the past year and a half has been for our neighbors in particular. As this Administration continues to undermine and play politics with the lives of our civil servants, I will keep fighting for not only the recognition but the rights our federal workers and our entire civil service have earned and deserve.

Happy #SaveTheBayDay! As Vice Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, I work every day to protect and expand access to our natural treasures – including the Chesapeake Bay – for generations to come! But whether it’s ordering blue catfish or participating in a community clean-up, we all can do our part to protect the Bay!

Happy Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Every May, we honor and celebrate the rich history and vibrant culture of our AANHPI communities. As we celebrate their many contributions, we must also continue to lean in and work together to combat discrimination in all forms and uplift the diverse voices that make our nation special.

Meet Pacific 🦎 Protecting rare lizards like Pacific is just a small part of the crucial work the @zoos_aquariums does — leading on a variety of animal welfare, conservation, and education initiatives. This week, I saw AZA’s work up close, reconnected with some old friends from the @NatlAquarium, @marylandzoo, and celebrated the amazing work of our incredible zoos and aquariums across the country. In Congress, I will continue to fight for our endangered species and our planet every chance I get.

Today, on International Workers' Day, we recognize the contribution of our union workers and the progress that has been made thanks to decades of labor organizing. May 1st marks the culmination of the years-long fight for the eight-hour workday. If not for the sacrifice of our brave workers, we wouldn’t have child labor laws, sick leave, or even weekends. As the daughter of a union household and a member of the @Labor_Caucus, I’m proud to not only honor their legacy today but continue the fight for the rights of working Americans every day.

Happy May Day! 💐 Every year on May 1st, homes and businesses around Annapolis are decorated with floral arrangements to usher in the celebration of spring. This tradition started back in the 1950s and has grown citywide and is still going strong 70 years later. My team brought the spirit of Annapolis to Washington this year by making our own May Day basket with flowers representing each county in #MD03. If you’re in Annapolis, make sure you take a moment to check out the lovely baskets.

We’re less than one week away from our first Service Academy Nomination Forum! If you or any young person you know is interested in serving our nation, check out one of our events where I’ll be joined by representatives from our military academies and a panel of experts to answer all your questions. We have two forums coming up  – May 5th in Howard County and May 21st in Anne Arundel County – so make sure to RSVP at the links below: 🔗RSVP for Howard County: eventbrite.com/e/howard-count…  🔗RSVP for Anne Arundel County: eventbrite.com/e/anne-arundel…

I didn’t come to Congress to bicker with Cabinet secretaries - I came to get answers and deliver for my District. Amidst this Administration’s threats against our NATO allies, I questioned the Secretary and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs on the specific requests the United States has made to our NATO allies and European partners to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and bring an end to this unsustainable war. It is clear that the President didn't account for the closure of the Strait, the reverberating impacts on global markets, or gas prices skyrocketing – let alone coordinate with our NATO allies.

After 76 days of keeping the Department of Homeland Security closed, House Republicans just reopened it without even holding a recorded vote. This shutdown risked our national security, played politics with the livelihoods of our civil servants, and halted critical work at FEMA, TSA, and the Coast Guard. The Senate and House Democrats had a solution weeks ago that would have funded these agencies without giving another penny to ICE. Today’s vote was long overdue, and  I’m grateful the hardworking men and women who keep our country safe will get the pay they deserve. cbsnews.com/news/dhs-shutd…

Because of Maryland’s world-class trauma system and public investment, 97% of patients who come to R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center survive. This Saturday, for the 35th year, more than 700 neighbors came together to honor our outstanding health care workers, trauma professionals, and first responders – including 51 workers who saved the life of sixteen-year-old innocent bystander, Chase Lancaster, after he was critically injured. It’s my privilege to serve on the Shock Trauma Board and help bring federal resources to this critical work. A special thank you and congratulations to the entire team for your tireless efforts to help patients and Maryland families on their hardest days.

Big News: At the House Armed Services Committee hearing, I used my time to ensure Secretary Hegseth committed to finally releasing the $400 million for Ukraine that Congress bipartisanly authorized. This is a critical step forward in our nation’s support for our democratic ally and the security of Europe.

Today, I voted no on the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. See below for my full statement: