🇺🇸 Our nation was founded on the radical idea that we could democratically elect our leaders – but for this great experiment to continue for another 250 years, we need our young people to continue leaning in and voting. Last week, I spoke with over 100 incredible high schoolers from across the nation who joined @newvotersorg, @CivicNation, and the @JHUBloombergCtr to share the importance of making their voices heard and answer their thoughtful questions about getting involved and ending the divisiveness that plagues our politics.

In this edition of the Maryland Minute, I took to the House floor to celebrate some of our incredible #MD03 high schoolers: the Severn School Sailing Team! ⛵This spring, these students overcame tough competition to become the first team in Severn School history to ever win two national championships in the same season. Congratulations, Admirals!

Happy National Parks and Recreation Month from Ollie and me! Whether it’s introducing legislation to take partisanship out of our parks or fighting cuts to the park service on the House Natural Resources Committee, I’ll continue fighting to protect our public lands for generations to come.

It might only be Tuesday evening, but Republicans have sent us home early because they are fighting to make a bad bill even worse. Here’s what happened:

☀️As temperatures soar above 100 degrees here in Maryland, please take the proper precautions to stay cool! Across #MD03, there are free, public cooling centers and other great local resources to help you beat the heat during these warmer days. Take a look: ➡️ Anne Arundel County: aacounty.org/cooling-relief-… ➡️ Howard County: howardcountymd.gov/community… ➡️ Carroll County: health.maryland.gov/carroll/…

Yesterday, #TeamMaryland celebrated a massive victory right here in Annapolis — delivering more than $6 million in federal funding to four incredible agencies to combat invasive species, improve public safety, expand community re-entry and rehabilitation resources, and more! This work is only possible because of the support and dedication of the entire Maryland Delegation — not just on the federal level — but our state and local partners as well. With this funding, we can deliver tangible results for Maryland families back home and make a real difference in the lives of everyone who calls Annapolis home. Stay tuned for the work ahead!

Birthright citizenship is a fundamental Constitutional right. It is not a privilege. Despite President Trump’s best efforts to nullify birthright citizenship, the Supreme Court stood firm and upheld the 14th Amendment. This is a big sigh of relief for families in Maryland’s Third Congressional District and across the country, but this is not the end. Just days away from the 250th anniversary of our nation, I am reminded of the work ahead to build a more perfect union for all where everyone – regardless of the color of their skin or country of origin – can participate fully and without fear in our great democratic experiment. reuters.com/legal/government…

The last time Congress passed online safety legislation, I was 10 years old. In the decades since, Big Tech and social media companies have grown exponentially as they put their bottom lines ahead of the safety of our kids. Families deserve better; they deserve laws that keep pace with this ever-evolving technology. Today, I voted to take long overdue action to protect kids online from manipulation, sexual exploitation, and the harmful practices of Big Tech. To be clear, this is not a perfect bill. There is much more to be done to keep kids safe online, which is why the KIDS Act is the floor – not the ceiling – of our work. That’s why I’m committed to strengthening the legislation with input from parents as it moves forward to the Senate. politico.com/news/2026/06/29…

My team and I are here for you on your hardest days. Every day, we serve members of our community, like Andrew, who need help with federal agencies – whether it’s an issue with Social Security, immigration, or even tax returns. Whatever the issue, you can always call (410) 832-8890 to speak to a member of #TeamElfreth or check out the link below for more information on casework assistance from our team. elfreth.house.gov/casework-a…

Finally, some good news out of the Supreme Court! States can continue to count ballots after Election Day as long as they are deemed cast or postmarked by Election Day. This is how our Democratic process should work to make sure we count every vote – even the President's mail-in vote in Florida. thehill.com/regulation/court…

The very real consequences of the inaction of Republicans in Congress are impacting Marylanders. By refusing to extend the ACA tax credits and prioritize health care affordability, our neighbors are already paying the price through their premiums - and further inaction will cause a further 13.7% increase next year. Whether it’s health care, child care, or gas at the pump, House Democrats will continue to fight against this inaction to lower your costs. marylandmatters.org/2026/06/…

After the Women at the Service Academies roundtable, I spoke with Dr. Jeannette Gaudry – a proud @NavalAcademy Class of ‘98 graduate – about her takeaways from the conversation and how to keep this momentum for our future servicewomen. Here’s what she had to say:

On June 28th, 2018, a gunman tragically killed five members of our hometown newspaper, the Capital Gazette. Yet, eight years later, I – and so many in our community – am still asking a simple question: what progress have we made in preventing this tragedy from happening again? Congress has a responsibility to rise above thoughts and prayers, which is why I urged my colleagues to return to our collective responsibility to bring about action and commonsense solutions so Annapolis and every community is safe from the epidemic of gun violence.

One of the perks of being so close to D.C. is bringing young people to our nation’s capitol! This week, Sophie, an incredible PhD student and Howard County native, joined us in Washington to talk about her environmental research and how she can continue advocating for her passions – she even got to see some of the work of the House Natural Resources Committee firsthand!

It’s never too early to be civically engaged, and the incredible Howard County high schoolers interning with my friend @katiefryhester are perfect examples of that! I sat down with these students to hear about everything they're working on, including AI regulation policy, and how I can support that work in Washington. There’s no one better to hear from on challenges of the future than the next generation leaders.

11 years ago today, the Supreme Court made a landmark ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges – legalizing same-sex marriage and forever changing the direction of our nation. When James Obergefell and John Arthur flew from Ohio to Maryland to get legally married, they paved the way for the future of equality in our country. As a proud member of the @EqualityCaucus, I will continue fighting for LGBTQ+ rights and the acceptance that all our neighbors deserve.

Committee hearings aren’t about getting your viral clip – they’re about getting things done. After confronting Secretary Burgum in the House Natural Resources Committee about the Administration’s partisan park passes and inefficient grants process, we saw real change: a number of grants were released the very next day! When we keep up the pressure and hold this Administration accountable, we can deliver results.

50 years ago, for the first time in our country’s history, women were allowed to enroll in our military academies. Despite facing sexism, harassment, and prejudice, the first class of women cadets demonstrated unwavering bravery and courage – ultimately proving that women belong in the military. I was proud to recognize this milestone at @RepHoulahan’s roundtable, where we celebrated the achievements of our servicewomen and looked ahead to the next 50 years of building just and equitable academies for all of our servicemembers.

Since President Trump’s Big Ugly Law enacted the largest cut to SNAP in history, over 4 million people have lost access to SNAP, including more than 800,000 children. President Trump promised to lower costs day one, yet his economic policies have only raised costs across the board and stripped our neighbors of the crucial benefits they need to make ends meet. The American people deserve better – and if the Trump Administration won’t act, Congress must.

Sending your political opponents to prison is something authoritarians do – not democratically elected officials. My friend and colleague @RepLaMonica is now facing 17 years in prison after conducting oversight and demanding accountability for the Trump Administration’s reckless weaponization of ICE. We cannot stand back and let lawmakers be punished for simply doing their jobs on behalf of the American people.