Jamie Raskin

Raskin, Van Hollen and Alsobrooks to Trump Administration: Save the World’s Largest Workplace Giving Program

Today, Representative Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) are rallying 40 of their colleagues to save the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), the world's largest workplace giving program. The CFC, which was formally established by President Reagan in 1982, connects federal public-spirited employees with charities in need of donations. In a letter to Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Scott Kupor, the lawmakers called on him to preserve the CFC as its sudden termination would have disastrous consequences for the hospitals, disaster relief providers, food banks and other charitable organizations it serves across the country. "For decades, the CFC has provided tremendous value to our nation's charities and vulnerable populations ranging from sick children to families on the brink of poverty," the lawmakers wrote. "By supporting the needs of such populations through voluntary employee contributions as opposed to traditional federal spending, the program has also saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars." The CFC supports more than 4,400 charitable organizations and has saved the federal government an estimated $400 million over the past five years. Since its inception under the Reagan Administration, the CFC has raised more than $9 billion for thousands of nonprofits. Notably, participating charitable organizations are charged fees for participating in the CFC, passing no operational burden onto American taxpayers. The CFC has in fact saved the federal government hundreds of millions of dollars by directing voluntary contributions to community needs that might typically require federal spending. In August, OPM issued a stop-work order halting all preparations for the CFC's 2025 funding cycle, alarming organizations that depend on charitable giving from federal workers. In the months since, OPM has decommissioned the program's charity portal and issued a warning that the program's website 'may be taken offline at any moment.' "By harnessing the generosity of federal employees, the Combined Federal Campaign has strengthened charities' capacity to address local, regional and national needs that might have otherwise necessitated the use of taxpayer resources," the lawmakers wrote. "...Ending the program will disrupt and destabilize the valuable work of charitable organizations — and cause substantial harm to students with disabilities, hungry families and other populations that depend on their work." Charitable organizations that benefit from the CFC include some of the nation's largest nonprofits such as the Ronald McDonald House, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Red Cross. Local and regional charities, such as the North Texas Food Bank and United Way of the National Capital Area, also receive critical support through the CFC. The letter was also signed by Senators Mark Warner (D-VA), Chris Coons (D-DE) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Don Beyer (VA-08), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Steny Hoyer (MD-05), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Adam Smith (WA-09), Eugene Vindman (VA-07), Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Andriano Epsaillat (NY-13), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Mark Pocan (WI-02), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Analilia Mejia (NJ-11) James Walkinshaw (VA-11), Danny Davis (IL-07), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Bobby Scott (VA-03), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Ed Case (HI-01), Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Andre Carson (IN-07), Gabe Evans (CO-08) and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07). The lawmakers' letter is endorsed by the Nonprofit Alliance, a national coalition of nonprofits that has played a leading role in advocacy on behalf of the CFC. Read the full letter to Director Kupor here and below. Office of Personnel Management We write with grave concern about the potential termination of the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), the largest workplace giving program in the world. For decades, the CFC has provided tremendous value to our nation's charities and vulnerable populations ranging from sick children to families on the brink of poverty. By supporting the needs of such populations through voluntary employee contributions as opposed to traditional federal spending, the program has also saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Yet the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has taken several actions to undermine the CFC. The recent decommissioning of online portals for participating charities and donors represents a significant threat to their work, and we are concerned that the program now faces imminent closure. In light of the strong return on investments delivered by the CFC and the lifeline it represents for charities across the nation, we urge you to preserve this vital program. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan issued an executive order establishing the modern-day CFC. Writing to federal agencies, he reaffirmed the program's role in upholding American traditions of social responsibility and in his own words, "individual giving for good causes." Today, over 4,400 charitable organizations participate in the CFC, and to date, the program has raised nearly $9 billion for food banks, veteran support, disaster relief and other important causes. The CFC has also saved the federal government an estimated $400 million over the past five years. Such savings are the result of empowering federal workers to donate to community needs that would otherwise require taxpayer dollars. Given the wide reach of the CFC, we are worried that its sudden termination would impose broad human costs. The program benefits rural nonprofits, faith-based charities, and other service-oriented organizations in regions across the country. Ronald McDonald House, for example, serves critically ill children in states as diverse as California, Alabama, and Maine. At Ronald McDonald Houses, children and their families benefit from home-cooked meals, supportive staff and crucially, proximity to the hospitals where they can access the lifesaving care they need. Donations generated through the CFC contribute to these services, enabling children to undergo vital medical treatment and ensuring they can remain with their families as they do so. CFC contributions benefit nonprofit hospitals directly as well. In one story shared by a children's cancer research hospital, a Marine Corps staff sergeant in Florida had been a consistent donor through the CFC. Little did he know that one day, his five-year-old daughter would be diagnosed with a kidney tumor and in need of care at the same hospital to which he had been donating for years. According to the North Texas Food Bank, which fills kitchen pantries throughout the region, every dollar it receives through the CFC enables it to provide access to three nutritious meals. For families who do not know where their next meal may come from, this food assistance represents a critical form of relief. The Maryland Food Bank, a major supplier for hundreds of the state's soup kitchens, shelters and faith-based organizations, has similarly highlighted the significance of the funding it receives from the CFC. Especially in the face of recent cuts to federal grants, the organization has warned that the termination of the CFC may introduce new budgetary challenges. Despite the CFC's proven track record of success, OPM issued a stop-work order halting all preparations for the launch of the 2025 cycle on August 26, 2025. The directive came mere days before the website for the 2025 CFC was set to be activated on September 2, 2025, and charities participating in the drive had already paid the requisite application and listing fees. In the midst of the uncertainty, organizations across the country mobilized and obtained assurances that OPM would proceed with the 2025 CFC. Yet in a memo issued to federal agencies on September 10, 2025, you clarified that OPM continued to assess the future of the CFC, including a possible end to the program altogether. Not to be discouraged by this looming threat, charities displayed remarkable resilience throughout the 2025 CFC cycle, overcoming federal layoffs and a government shutdown to raise an estimated $40 million for disaster survivors, people facing housing insecurity and other individuals in need of assistance. On February 20, 2026, OPM notified participating charities that the website portal they used to apply for the CFC and track donations would be decommissioned on March 4, 2026. A similar message was posted on the public-facing CFC website, with language indicating that the portal for federal employee donors would also be decommissioned in March. At present, only the charity portal appears to have been taken offline, but the public-facing website now warns donors to download their tax receipts since their portal — and the website itself — "may be taken offline at any moment." Additionally, the website specifies that "the decommissioning process began on March 4." According to your September 2025 memo, your concerns about the value of the CFC are due to "excessive administrative costs." This statement, however, omits crucial facts about the structure and long-term benefits of the CFC. For one, charities are charged various fees throughout their participation in the program. The funds collected are then used for operating costs, and taxpayers are left unburdened. Moreover, far from requiring a significant infusion of taxpayer resources, the CFC has saved the federal government hundreds of millions of dollars by directing voluntary contributions to community needs that might typically require federal spending. If there are changes OPM can make to further increase the efficiency of the CFC, we encourage you to explore them in consultation with longstanding charity partners. But a unilateral decision to dismantle the program altogether is not the solution. Many charities rely upon the funds they raise through the CFC to operate. The loss of such resources would force them to scale back their programming, making it exceedingly difficult for them to meet the needs of the disadvantaged communities they serve. As a result, the federal government would likely have to devote additional resources toward addressing the needs of these communities. By harnessing the generosity of federal employees, the Combined Federal Campaign has strengthened charities' capacity to address local, regional and national needs that might have otherwise necessitated the use of taxpayer resources. In addition to considering the taxpayer savings associated with the CFC, we urge you to take seriously the human toll of moving forward with its termination. Ending the program will disrupt and destabilize the valuable work of charitable organizations — and cause substantial harm to students with disabilities, hungry families and other populations that depend on their work. For the sake of the charitable community and the vulnerable populations they serve, we urge you to preserve the CFC. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we look forward to your response. Permalink: https://raskin.house.gov/2026/5/raskin-van-hollen-and-alsobrooks-to-trump-administration-save-the-world-s-largest-workplace-giving-program

Raskin Statement on GOP’s Dangerous ICE Boondoggle

Position: Representative Raskin opposes increased federal funding for ICE and CBP, arguing that such spending diverts resources from other priorities and enables what he characterizes as unlawful immigration enforcement actions. He supports a DHS funding approach that would restore funding to most agencies while excluding ICE and Border Patrol.

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Representative Jamie Raskin (MD-08) released the following statement after House Republicans passed S.Con.Res. 33, legislation that initiates the process to provide billions more taxpayer dollars for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP): "I voted 'hell no' on House Republicans' latest scheme to funnel billions of taxpayer funding toward Donald Trump and Stephen Miller's reign of ICE lawlessness. Kristi Noem was ejected from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), but masked federal agents are still conducting indiscriminate raids and harassing our neighbors. "Today is the 75th day of House Republicans' DHS shutdown. It didn't have to be this way. An overwhelming majority of Congress—House Democrats, Senate Democrats and Senate Republicans—supports a DHS funding bill that would restore funding to all of DHS except ICE and Border Patrol. Under this legislation, TSA officers, Secret Service agents and other public servants could continue their work without fear of missing a paycheck while we work on reining in ICE and Border Patrol, which are super well-funded for the foreseeable future. Speaker Mike Johnson made the ridiculous and unpopular decision not to pass this bill more than a month ago, instead prolonging the longest government shutdown in our country's history. "Free-spending MAGA Republicans already wrote ICE and CBP a $170 billion check for their lawless and lethal crusade, paid for by the American people. Now they want to spend at least $70 billion more on destabilizing our communities—all while many of our people can't afford groceries or health care! Instead of lowering costs or restoring Americans' health care, the GOP is bankrolling Trump's violent Gangster State. "I stand with the millions of Americans across the political spectrum who are outraged by the GOP's quest to criminalize, deport, detain and disappear immigrants. Together we will defend our Constitution and hold Donald Trump and his cronies accountable for the chaos they've unleashed against our people, including immigrants." Permalink: https://raskin.house.gov/2026/4/raskin-statement-on-gop-s-dangerous-ice-boondoggle

Raskin, Colleagues to Hegseth: Keep Stars and Stripes, Pentagon Press Corps Free and Independent

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and 38 of his colleagues demanded that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth protect the editorial independence of Stars and Stripes—a nonpartisan military news publication housed within the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)—and reverse unconstitutional restrictions on the Pentagon press corps. "A free and independent press is indispensable to the functioning of our democracy," Raskin and his colleagues wrote. "From the Civil War through today's military conflicts, Stars and Stripes has served as a trusted, nonpartisan source of news for servicemembers and their families around the world." "The Pentagon press corps plays a vital role in ensuring transparency and accountability within the Department of Defense," the lawmakers continued. "Limitations on press access, retaliation against journalists, and the imposition of viewpoint-based restrictions all undermine public trust and erode the principles of civilian oversight and democratic governance." Stars and Stripes is a nonpartisan news organization that is operated by the Pentagon but has remained editorially independent from the Department throughout its history. The outlet has provided reliable reporting on defense and military news since the Civil War. In 1991, Congress created an ombudsman position which reports directly to the House and Senate, a measure designed to protect the publication's independent reporting. Secretary Hegseth has targeted Stars and Stripes' editorial independence through policy changes disguised as "modernization" efforts and implemented draconian measures to restrict access to the Pentagon only to media outlets that sign onto a policy that prohibits them from collecting information unless DOD explicitly grants them access to it. This rule violates the First Amendment to the Constitution and has displaced many nonpartisan journalists in favor of right-wing propaganda outlets and content creators more willing to act as mouthpieces for the Trump Administration. "The First Amendment does not stop at the doors of the Pentagon," the lawmakers wrote. "While operational security and the safety of our troops must always be safeguarded, these imperatives cannot be used as a pretext for suppressing lawful journalism or discouraging critical reporting, especially during a time of war." On March 20 and again on April 9, a federal judge affirmed that the Department's restrictions on the Pentagon press corps were unlawful. In their letter, the lawmakers demanded Hegseth take immediate action to comply with this court order. Read the full letter to Secretary Hegseth here and below. We write to express our great alarm about recent reports of political interference with the editorial independence of Stars and Stripes and restrictions placed on members of the Pentagon press corps. A free and independent press is primary and indispensable to the functioning of our democracy. From the Civil War through today's military conflicts, Stars and Stripes has served as a trusted, nonpartisan source of news for servicemembers and their families around the world. Its huge reservoir of credibility rests on its editorial independence, protected by statute and longstanding Department of Defense policy. Congress created the position of Stars and Stripes ombudsman in the National Defense Authorization Act of 1991. The ombudsman is charged with safeguarding the editorial independence of the newspaper and reports directly to Congress, specifically to prevent interference from the Department. The current ombudsman has forcefully denounced your Department's plans for Stars and Stripes in multiple interviews, raising the alarm about your announced changes and their consequences for the news organization. Any effort to censor, influence, control, or suppress the paper's reporting raises profound constitutional and institutional problems. Similarly, the Pentagon press corps plays a vital role in ensuring transparency and accountability within the Department of Defense. Limitations on press access, retaliation against journalists, and the imposition of viewpoint-based restrictions all undermine public trust and erode the principles of civilian oversight and democratic governance. These basic tenets of our democracy were reaffirmed by a federal judge who, on two separate occasions, found that your Department's draconian restrictions on the Pentagon press corps were unlawful. Your subsequent decision to defy the spirit of the court's rulings displays tremendous contempt for the rule of law and further raises doubts about this Administration's commitment to the basic Constitutional principles that Americans live by. The First Amendment does not stop at the doors of the Pentagon. While operational security and the safety of our troops must always be safeguarded, these imperatives cannot be used as a pretext for suppressing lawful journalism or discouraging critical reporting, especially during a time of war. Accordingly, we ask that you provide clear and complete responses to the following questions and requests: What is the process by which specific articles are altered, suppressed, or delayed by Stars and Stripes? Please provide documentation for every instance where articles have been altered, suppressed, or delayed. What measures is the Department taking to come into full compliance with the court rulings affecting the Pentagon press corps, if any? Please provide Congress with a copy of the March 9 memo that was issued by the Department regarding editorial oversight and content restrictions for Stars and Stripes. Congress has a solemn responsibility to conduct oversight of the Department of Defense, and a free press is an essential partner in that effort. We urge you to reaffirm your commitment to transparency, accountability, and the free speech and free press principles that guide our nation. We request a written response to these questions no later than May 11, 2026, and we are prepared to pursue further oversight measures as is necessary. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Permalink: https://raskin.house.gov/2026/4/raskin-colleagues-to-hegseth-keep-stars-and-stripes-pentagon-press-corps-free-and-independent

Ranking Member Raskin Introduces Legislation Establishing Independent Commission on Presidential Capacity

Position: Rep. Raskin introduces legislation to establish a permanent independent commission on presidential capacity as authorized by Section 4 of the 25th Amendment, enabling Congress to declare presidential incapacity in coordination with the Vice President.

Washington, D.C.—Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, introduced legislation establishing a Commission on Presidential Capacity to Discharge the Powers and Duties of Office, the body and process called for in Section 4 of the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to enable Congress to ensure effective and uninterrupted leadership in the presidency. This body is the legislative counterpart to the Cabinet and would have the power to work with the Vice President. Essentially, the 25th Amendment gives us a constitutional answer to any medical crisis that might occur. Section 4 of the 25th Amendment empowers Congress to establish a permanent "body" that, with the concurrence of the Vice President, can declare that the President is "unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office." Although the 25th Amendment was adopted more than 50 years ago, Congress never set up this body called for in Section 4. Ranking Member Raskin's bill establishes this independent nonpartisan body: The Commission on Presidential Capacity to Discharge the Powers and Duties of Office. This means the Vice President could act either with a majority of the Cabinet or a majority of this body in the event of a 25th Amendment crisis. In emergency situations, Congress could pass a concurrent resolution requiring the Commission to examine the President, determine his/her ability to execute the powers and duties of the office, and report its findings to Congress. If presidential incapacity exists according to the Vice President and a majority of the Commission, the Vice President would immediately assume the role of Acting President. "The Constitution explicitly vests Congress with the authority to create a body that will guarantee the successful continuity of government by responding to presidential incapacity to discharge the powers and duties of office. We have a solemn duty to play our defined role under the 25th Amendment by setting up this body to act alongside the Vice President and the Cabinet. This body should have been set up by Congress when the 25th Amendment was added to the Constitution in 1967. We have 535 Members of Congress but just one President and this body is a necessary element of successful continuity of government. Congress should act now to establish a permanent and standing Commission on Presidential Capacity to Discharge the Powers and Duties of Office. "Public trust in Donald Trump's ability to meet the duties of his office has dropped to unprecedented lows as he threatens to destroy entire civilizations, unleashes chaos in the Middle East while violating Congressional war powers, aggressively insults the Pope of the Catholic Church and sends out artistic renderings online likening himself to Jesus Christ. We are at a dangerous precipice, and it is now a matter of national security for Congress to fulfill its responsibilities under the 25th Amendment to protect the American people from an increasingly volatile and unstable situation," said Ranking Member Raskin. Under the legislation, which is scrupulously bipartisan, the Speaker of the House, House Minority Leader, Senate Majority Leader, and Senate Minority Leader will each select four retired statespersons from the Executive Branch (such as former Presidents, Vice Presidents, Attorneys General and Surgeons General, Secretaries of State, Defense, and Treasury) to serve on the Commission. Additionally, the Democratic and Republican leaders of each chamber will select four physicians and four psychiatrists to serve on the Commission. The 16 appointed members then select a 17th member to act as the Chair of the Commission. In order to avoid conflicts of interest and both civilian and military chain of command issues, none of the members can be current elected officials, federal employees, or members of the active or reserve military. Ranking Member Raskin's reintroduction of this legislation follows a series of increasingly volatile, incoherent, and alarming public statements by the President regarding the ongoing conflict with Iran, which have raised urgent concerns across the political spectrum about his cognitive fitness. These concerns prompted Ranking Member Raskin to write to White House Physician Captain Sean Barbabella last week, demanding an immediate and comprehensive cognitive and neurological evaluation of President Trump, along with full public disclosure of the findings. Bill text is available here. An overview of the legislation and background on the 25th Amendment is available here. FAQs are available here. 50 House Democrats are original cosponsors of the legislation. Permalink: https://raskin.house.gov/2026/4/ranking-member-raskin-introduces-legislation-establishing-independent-commission-on-presidential-capacity

Raskin Introduces Slate of Bipartisan Legislation to Tackle America’s Mental Health Crisis

Position: Representative Raskin introduced two bipartisan bills to expand federal funding and services for mental health crisis intervention, including a grant program for suicide stabilization services and support for the 9-8-8 suicide and crisis lifeline.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Jamie Raskin (MD-08) introduced two pieces of bipartisan legislation to invest in critically needed initiatives that help Americans experiencing mental health crises. As a rising number of Americans struggle with their mental health, the Stabilization to Prevent (STOP) Suicide Act and the 9-8-8 Connect Act would provide federal funding to organizations in our communities that are already working to support people in crisis and in recovery. "Tens of millions of Americans have either suffered a mental health crisis or know a close loved one who has," said Rep. Raskin. "For too many, seeking help can feel frightening or out of reach. Our bipartisan bills will help mental health care providers do their jobs and expand access to care for the many Americans who need it." The STOP Suicide Act, led by Rep. Raskin and Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02), expands access to evidence-based stabilization care for individuals with serious thoughts of suicide. Stabilization services can help patients reduce or eliminate imminent suicide risk and manage dangerous impulses, keeping them safe while relieving pressure on law enforcement and emergency rooms. This legislation will create a new grant program at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to expand access to effective and timely outpatient and virtual stabilization care and treatment. "People experiencing serious thoughts of suicide often find themselves without support and timely treatment," said Rep. Bacon. "The STOP Suicide Act will provide an important tool that will help create needed programs to deliver outpatient or telehealth stabilization services. I'm pleased to join Rep. Raskin on this legislation that will help community health centers, rural health clinics, and others create and manage these programs." "In 2023, 49,316 people died by suicide and 12.8 million adults experienced serious thoughts of suicide in the United States. Research shows that even brief evidence-based suicide interventions can help people manage suicidal thoughts and increase connection to follow-up care," said Laurel Stine, J.D., M.A., Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. "AFSP is proud to support the Stabilization to Prevent (STOP) Suicide Act, which supports suicide-specific stabilization services for individuals experiencing serious thoughts of suicide, helping people access interventions in the least restrictive setting possible, while relieving pressure on emergency departments and law enforcement. AFSP thanks Representative Raskin and Representative Bacon for their bipartisan leadership in advancing this important legislation. This legislation is endorsed by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, National Alliance on Mental Illness, and the American Psychological Association. The 9-8-8 Connect Act, led by Rep. Raskin and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), connects individuals experiencing a behavioral or mental health crisis with follow-up services and expands access to the 988 National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Follow-up services may include check-ins to assess well-being and level of risk, and outreach to engage at-risk individuals in services. "A serious crisis response cannot end with the first point of contact. It must be strong enough to help carry people from a moment of danger toward stability, support, and care. The 9-8-8 Connect Act takes a smart, targeted step in that direction by strengthening follow-up support, improving access to 9-8-8, and helping direct resources where service gaps are most acute. Through my work as Co-chair of Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force and partnership with our incredible PA-1 advocates, I have seen firsthand how important that continuity can be. This is the kind of practical, life-saving reform that can close dangerous gaps and help build a better crisis response system for the people who depend on it," said Rep. Fitzpatrick. This legislation is endorsed by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the National Alliance on Mental Illness. If you need immediate mental-health support at any time of day, dial 988 to be connected to the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Counselors can also be reached by text message or online chat. You may also dial 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. Read the full text of the Stop Suicide Act here and the 9-8-8 Connect Act here. Permalink: https://raskin.house.gov/2026/3/raskin-introduces-slate-of-bipartisan-legislation-to-tackle-america-s-mental-health-crisis

Raskin, Merkley Legislation Would Ban Prediction Market Gambling on Elections, Sports, War and Government Activity

Position: Rep. Raskin and Sen. Merkley introduced legislation to ban prediction market betting on elections, government actions, sports, and military activities, arguing that such markets enable corruption, insider trading, and undermine democratic institutions.

Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced new legislation to crack down on often-times corrupt prediction markets. Raskin and Merkley's STOP Corrupt Bets Act responds to the recent explosion of prediction markets, which now offer event contracts on everything from elections to sports and acts of war. The bicameral bill would ban prediction market betting on elections, government actions, sports and military actions. These areas are not commodities and have little-to-no value in helping business investments. Initially, event contracts were created to be financial instruments for industries, particularly farmers, to use to hedge against potential losses. "The oligarchs and opportunists are using prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket to enrich themselves. But democracy isn't about insider gambling on our common future, it's about everyone making our common future together. Placing bets on public policy and political events informed by insider knowledge and insider manipulation spreads civic cynicism and distrust in our democratic institutions," said Rep. Raskin. "By banning bets on elections, legislation, acts of war and other government actions, we can oppose corrupt attempts to rig our democracy and profit from the fix, and we can redeem public faith in the idea that government is an instrument for the common good and not a casino." "When anyone can use prediction markets to make a well-timed bet on Congress passing a bill, government decisions, or a military strike, it's ripe for corruption and erodes public trust," said Sen. Merkley. "The STOP Corrupt Bets Act restores the original intent of prediction markets and prevents these markets from further eroding our democratic institutions and turning them into a casino. I'm ready to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to crack down on this bad bet for democracy and restore our vision of government 'of, by, and for the people,' not government 'of, by, and for the powerful.'" Prior to 2024, event contracts on elections, sports, and government actions did not exist in the United States. A lawsuit brought by Wall Street firm Kalshi paved the way for election betting just months before that year's presidential election, and the 2026 midterm elections will be the first full election cycle that allows election gambling. This is happening at the same time as reports of individuals using prediction markets to place suspiciously timed bets and earn massive payouts following the fall of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, ouster of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and military actions against Iran. The STOP Corrupt Bets Act would: This legislation also returns the power of regulating gambling to the states by ensuring they can choose to allow gambling and regulate it under state jurisdiction or prohibit it. Notably, this legislation does not prohibit state-regulated gambling, including traditional sports gambling. At least 20 federal suits have been filed against platforms offering prediction markets for their products that are akin to gambling, in direct violation of state law. The STOP Corrupt Bets Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). Raskin and Merkley's bill is supported by Public Citizen, Americans for Financial Reform (AFR), Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Project On Government Oversight (POGO) and Democracy Defenders Action. "The prediction market industry has become nothing more than a gambling business by any other name. Recent bets on prediction market platforms on, say, the killing of a national leader or the price of oil that were placed moments before the federal government took actions causing those bets to become reality, suggests those bettors may have had insider information. The federal government should not be in the business of trying to run casinos. The 'STOP Corrupt Bets Act of 2026' by Sen. Merkley and Rep. Raskin would prevent prediction markets from operating as casinos and is heartily endorsed by Public Citizen," said Craig Holman, Ph.D., Public Citizen. "Recent high-profile instances of bets on war, elections and other political actions underscore the need for better regulation of prediction markets," said Donald Sherman, President and CEO of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). "These types of event contracts present clear ethical concerns. The STOP Corrupt Bets Act clarifies and extends the law to the most dangerous types of bets in order to combat the risk of bad actors circumventing existing state and federal laws and attempting to manipulate government actions to their own advantage." "Prediction market platforms must be clear and consistent on what event contracts are allowed and prohibited. Allowing bets on political events, government actions, and military matters undermines public trust and invites corruption. POGO is proud to endorse Sen. Merkley and Rep. Raskin's legislation as a crucial step toward meaningful oversight," said Janice Luong, Policy Associate, Project On Government Oversight. Full text of the STOP Corrupt Bets Act can be found here. Permalink: https://raskin.house.gov/2026/3/raskin-merkley-legislation-would-ban-prediction-market-gambling-on-elections-sports-war-and-government-activity

Raskin Statement on Trump’s Unconstitutional Military Strike on Iran

Position: Representative Raskin opposes President Trump's military strikes against Iran without Congressional authorization, arguing that the Constitution requires a formal declaration of war by Congress before military action. He calls for an immediate House vote on a bipartisan War Powers Resolution to reassert Congressional authority over military decisions.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Jamie Raskin (MD-08) released the following statement after President Trump launched a military campaign in Iran without Congressional approval, violating the Constitution and putting the lives of American servicemembers and civilians across the Middle East at risk in an undeclared "regime change" war: "The Framers provided in our Constitution that Congress must declare any war that our nation enters. They knew that Kings plunged their nations into wars of arrogance, deceit, distraction, plunder and intrigue without regard to the consequences for our soldiers, our people or anyone else. Our Framers insisted that the decision to put the lives of the people at risk be put in the hands of the representatives of the people who must carefully analyze and deliberate the staggering implications of going to war. "Desperate to distract from the spectacular failure of his discredited and illegal tariffs, spiraling inflation in groceries and housing, the accelerating and shocking disclosures from the Epstein files and his collapsing poll numbers, the president who campaigned on keeping us out of regime-change 'forever wars' in the Middle East, like the savage Iraq and Afghanistan wars, just launched military strikes against Iran without any congressional declaration of war. "The Iranian regime is, of course, a vicious theocratic tyranny like the brutal government in Saudi Arabia. The world must hold these antidemocratic and illiberal regimes accountable for their documented human rights violations against their own populations, their oppression of the rights of women and their malicious support for terrorism. We must also restore and reinvigorate the international instruments of nuclear nonproliferation and arms control that have been decimated by the Trump administration's war on international law and the rules-based international order. "To Speaker Johnson I say what every constitutional patriot in America is saying: bring the House back into session immediately so that we can vote on Reps. Thomas Massie (KY-04) and Ro Khanna's (CA-17) bipartisan War Powers Resolution. Defenders of the Constitution on both sides of the aisle must come together to rein in the reckless and lawless actions of the would-be king. American lives and security depend on our Constitution being respected." Permalink: https://raskin.house.gov/2026/2/raskin-statement-on-trump-s-unconstitutional-military-strike-on-iran

Raskin, Subramanyam to Bring Family of Epstein Survivor, the Late Virginia Roberts Giuffre, as Guests to Trump’s State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) announced Sky and Amanda Roberts as their guests to President Donald Trump's February 24 State of the Union Address. Sky and Amanda are the brother and sister-in-law, respectively, of the late Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein's international trafficking ring. Ms. Roberts Giuffre was instrumental in bringing Epstein's crimes to light and inspiring fellow survivors to speak out. Sky and Amanda Roberts will watch from the gallery above the House Floor as the president delivers his speech. "Virginia Roberts Giuffre bravely pursued justice for the victims and accountability for the perpetrators of the horrific crimes committed against girls and young women by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, and other upper-class abusers who took part in the pair's vicious trafficking ring," said Rep. Raskin. "I'm grateful Sky and Amanda Roberts accepted our offer to honor Virginia's memory and lead a chorus of voices from across America and the world demanding truth and justice, the opposite of what Donald Trump and Pam Bondi have been working for in their shocking coverup." "Well before this Congressional investigation, Virginia Roberts Giuffre stood up against the rich and powerful, and gave a voice to the thousands of Epstein victims. Our investigation is about getting justice for the victims and ensuring something like this never happens again," said Rep. Subramanyam. "The Trump administration is fighting our push for justice at every step with a cover up. It is an honor to bring Virginia Roberts Giuffre's family as our guests for the State of the Union to be a visible reminder to Trump that we're not giving in or giving up." On November 18, the House passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Rep. Raskin led debate on the bill for House Democrats and he and Rep. Subramanyam voted in support of its passage. Since the legislation's unanimous passage, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has remained uncooperative, failing to release the entire Epstein File. However, portions of the Epstein File the DOJ has released suggest deep ties between the president and Epstein. Since 2019, Rep. Raskin has pursued justice for survivors of Epstein's crimes. On February 11, Rep. Raskin, as the Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee, led House Democrats in forcefully questioning Attorney General Pam Bondi about her role in covering up the president's involvement in Epstein's crimes. Permalink: https://raskin.house.gov/2026/2/raskin-subramanyam-to-bring-family-of-epstein-survivor-the-late-virginia-roberts-giuffre-as-guests-to-trump-s-state-of-the-union-address

Raskin Conducts Unannounced Oversight Visit to Baltimore ICE Facility, Exposes Overcrowded, Inhumane Conditions

Position: Rep. Raskin opposes current ICE detention practices and calls for the removal of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, citing severe overcrowding and inhumane conditions at the Baltimore ICE facility.

Baltimore, MD – Yesterday, Representative Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, conducted an unannounced congressional oversight visit to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Field Office in Baltimore, Maryland. There, he saw severe overcrowding and heard detainees shout that they had been held for days in inhumane conditions. "In Baltimore today, I witnessed people suffering in extremely inhumane conditions. In this facility, originally meant to hold people for no more than 12 hours, ICE is keeping people for days in overcrowded rooms with one toilet and no showers. No one should be forced to endure this brutal treatment for days on end," said Rep. Raskin. "I am convinced even further that unless Secretary Kristi Noem resigns or is fired, Chairman Jim Jordan should immediately commence House Judiciary Committee impeachment proceedings to remove her from office. Her reign of terror must come to an end." Rep. Raskin visited the ICE facility pursuant to a federal court order he and 12 other Members of Congress secured as part of a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for blocking Members of Congress' legal right to conduct unannounced oversight visits of ICE facilities. Since last year, DHS Secretary Noem has tried three times, in contravention of the law, to impose a policy requiring Members of Congress to provide seven days' notice before being granted access to federal immigration detention facilities. On February 2, a federal judge ruled in favor of Rep. Raskin and the other plaintiffs, temporarily blocking Noem from obstructing their oversight capabilities. Watch Rep. Raskin's video message above Permalink: https://raskin.house.gov/2026/2/raskin-conducts-unannounced-oversight-visit-to-baltimore-ice-facility-exposes-overcrowded-inhumane-conditions