Together We Are Stronger
- asherlotke5
- 23 hours ago
- 3 min read
Dear Friend,
Once again, President Trump has taken a tragedy and used it to demonize and spew hate against immigrants. This week he is targeting Afghan refugees.
We have many people from Afghanistan who now call our community home. Over the last few years, I have been honored to get to know quite a few of them. They have a long history with repressive and corrupt governments. In choosing America, they felt they had arrived in a country that respects individual freedoms and the rule of law. Now, they are being targeted by the repressive regime in the United States.
Let’s show that Marylanders will continue to welcome and cherish Afghan refugees—and all our immigrant neighbors.
Right now I am working with my colleagues on several pieces of legislation to ensure Maryland can use every tool in our toolbox to protect and fight for immigrants and everyone who is unfairly targeted by this cruel administration. Many organizations and mutual aid groups are doing grassroots work to protect those who are targeted. If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out to my office.
Fundraiser: This Sunday!
Help me keep up the good fight. I am running for re-election and would be honored to have your vote and financial support. Come hear U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, who will be my special guest. The fundraiser will be held on Sunday, December 7th, from 4:00–5:30 p.m., at the Takoma Park VFW Post 350.
Checks can be made payable to:
Friends of Lorig Charkoudian
P.O. Box 11281
Takoma Park, MD 20913
With your support, I can continue my work and promise never to stop fighting for a more just and inclusive Maryland.
Electricity Rates, Data Centers, and Ratepayer Protection
I continue my advocacy on a variety of energy issues. I am currently drafting legislation to make sure data centers and the multi-national corporations that own them pay their fair share of their impact on the electric grid. Without explicit policies in place, the increased load from data centers will continue to increase costs for residential rate-payers. Plus, it puts grid reliability at risk. For a deeper dive into the legislation I and other lawmakers are pursuing, check out this article from the Maryland Daily Record.
I am also carefully tracking our regional grid operator, PJM, and its decision-making process on how it plans to meet rising electricity demands, while protecting residential rate-payers. Watch this brief report on that process.
I am deeply committed to not only making sure we get this issue right in Maryland, but supporting other states to do the same. I recently went to Atlanta at the invitation of The States Forum to help develop model legislation for energy affordability, including addressing load growth from data centers.
At the same time, I continue to work to make sure those who struggle most to pay their electricity bills have assistance. I recently hosted an event at the Enclave Apartments to enroll tenants in energy assistance. If you or anyone you know needs help paying your energy bills, you can find help here or reach out to my office.
Alternative Gift Fair: This Saturday, December 6th
More joy! Less stuff!! Buy gifts that make a meaningful difference. The Alternative Gift Fair showcases dozens of nonprofits doing good works in our community and around the world. Your donations help support these organizations. It all happens this Saturday, December 6th, from noon-4:00 pm at 310 Tulip Avenue (Takoma Park Presbyterian Church Gym) in Takoma Park.
Correction: In our last newsletter, we forgot to include a link to the Montgomery County Volunteer Center’s website listing places to donate food, where to volunteer, and even how to host a local food drive. If you are able to, we hope you are inspired to lend a hand to our neighbors in need.
Need Help on a State Issue?If you need help with a state issue, please contact my office at Lorig.Charkoudian@house.maryland.gov or leave us a message at (410)-841-3423.
Onward,
Lorig Charkoudian
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