Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth

🇺🇸 250 years ago, our nation was founded on the radical idea of self-determination, giving the people the power to freely decide who governs them. Our Founders envisioned a country where everyone could participate in their government in some form, and generations of Americans have not only lived up to that vision but expanded who could participate over time.

That’s why, in honor of the 250th anniversary of our nation, Team Elfreth wants to hear from our young people: how do you participate in this great democratic experiment? If you’re a resident of Maryland’s Third District under the age of 18, then consider applying to the Maryland Third Congressional District America 250 Video Contest! Hearing from our civically engaged young people is one of my favorite parts of my work – by uplifting their voices and encouraging them to continue leaning in as our Founders envisioned, we can ensure this great experiment continues for another 250 years. For more details about the contest and how to apply, check out the link below. Best of luck!

➡️ Find More Information HERE: https://elfreth.house.gov/services/america-250-video-contest
➡️ Apply HERE: https://forms.gle/qH54vuzAnaEULusp6

It’s never too early to be civically engaged, and the incredible high schoolers in Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon’s Congressional Youth Cabinet are perfect examples of that. Last week, I had a chance to meet with 30 students and share my path to Congress and how important it is for them to continue leaning in and participating. They asked some creative questions – covering everything from conservation efforts for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to the Naval Academy – and I hope they stay involved because it's young people like them that give me hope for our future.

ICYMI: I used my time on the House Armed Services Committee to push Secretary Hegseth to commit to releasing $400 million in funding that Congress bipartisanly allocated to support Ukraine. Despite the President’s belittling of President Zelenskyy, Ukraine has continued to support American servicemembers in the Middle East by any means possible. This funding is critical to our partnership and the security of Europe.

We just wrapped the first of our Maryland Third District Service Academy Nomination Forums right here in Howard County! During this particularly challenging time, I’m so grateful for all the young people who are interested in serving our nation – including one of our 30 appointees from last year, Shalisa, who was appointed to the Naval Academy. A special thank you to all the panelists, service academy representatives, and representatives from Senator Alsobrooks and Senator Van Hollen offices for bringing your decades of expertise to this event.

As the daughter and granddaughter of Army, Navy, and Air Force veterans, and a member of the House Armed Services Committee, it’s an absolute privilege to host these events and support our next generation of servicemembers. If you weren’t able to join, we still have another forum happening in Anne Arundel County on Thursday, May 21 at 6:00 PM. Be sure to RSVP at the link below and come ready with your questions!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/anne-arundel-county-service-academy-nomination-forum-tickets-1987854711955

Founded in 1913, The Traffic Club of Baltimore has fostered partnerships among the region’s transportation, shipping, commercial, and industrial organizations. At the Traffic Club’s 111th Annual Dinner, we honored the International Longshoremen's Association and ILA local 333 President Scotty Cowan of the Port of Baltimore. As the granddaughter of a Seafarers International Union of North America, AFL-CIO member, I’m always grateful to the ILA for their fight on behalf of the safety of our workers and the security of our ports. Generations of skilled dockworkers and maritime professionals whose dedication to their craft has preserved Baltimore’s culture and strengthened Maryland’s maritime industry. Congratulations!

As a follow-up to my line of questioning at the Readiness Subcommittee hearing, I sat down with Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy, and Environment, Jordan Gillis, to discuss how infrastructure investment and energy resiliency are critical to the mission of our military installations — particularly for Fort Meade, as they continue lead the way in cyber operations. We also discussed the Army's investment in energy resilience across the country, from solar farms and storage systems to small modular reactors. Ensuring our installations have energy resilience plans to continue their mission-critical work is essential to our national security, and I’m committed to getting answers for our military personnel and the American people on these key issues.

For more than 25 years, the FDA has repeatedly and consistently proven that mifepristone is not only safe, but lifesaving, especially for patients with limited access to reproductive health care. Yet, rather than deferring to the FDA's expertise, the Fifth Circuit ruled to reinstate nationwide restrictions that would only allow patients to access mifepristone in person. I’ve joined more than 250 of my Democratic colleagues in urging the Supreme Court to overturn this harmful decision that will only exacerbate the ongoing reproductive health care crisis too many women in our country are experiencing.

Some fun facts I shared with the young leaders of Annapolis Elementary School: theirs is the oldest continuously operating school in Maryland, older than the internet, Sesame Street, television, Old Bay, and even the telephone. I joined Annapolis Elementary’s staff, students, alumni, and local partners to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the school’s building and commitment to our community. For over a century, neighbors have been able to receive a high-quality, free education in downtown Annapolis thanks to the dedication of passionate educators and volunteers. As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation, their legacy reminds us that by learning from and preserving our past, we can build a better future for our students. Go Gators! 🐊

Take a look at all of the talented young artists we have here in Maryland’s Third Congressional District! 🎨 Last week, my team and I had a chance to highlight the incredible pieces submitted by high schoolers to our Congressional Art Competition. A big congratulations to the winners – Jena from Reservoir High School, Mia from Annapolis High School, and Sandra from Glenelg High School – whose pieces will be hung in the Capitol, our DC, and District Offices for the next year! A special thank you to our judges for lending their time and artistic perspective to make this competition possible – and Maryland Hall for hosting our showcase!

is more than just our federal partners – we work together at every level to deliver for our neighbors. If you want to learn about everything our state partners accomplished in the 2026 Legislative Session, join Courtney Watson - State Delegate, Katie Fry Hester, Maryland Senate D9, Delegate Chao Wu, and Natalie Ziegler- State Delegate District 9A for their annual End of Session Community Meeting happening TONIGHT at 7:00 PM at the new Capitoline Center: https://tinyurl.com/5dbwtefh

Please join me, Delegate Watson, Delegate Wu, and Delegate Ziegler, for our annual End of Session Community Meeting: Tuesday, May 5 at 7pm at the new Capitoline Center!

We will provide a post-session debrief on the big issues from the 2026 Legislative Session, including: housing, energy, education, affordability, public safety, economic growth, agriculture & environment, the budget and much more! Please RSVP and let us know the specific topics/questions you'd like to have addressed.

📍Location: Capitoline Center (The refurbished court house!) 8360 Court Ave, Ellicott City, MD 21043

Please RSVP here: https://tinyurl.com/5dbwtefh

Courtney Watson - State DelegateDelegate Chao WuNatalie Ziegler- State Delegate District 9A