Tenure

First elected to the Maryland House of Delegates, 2002. Member of the House since 2003.

Current Assignments

2007- Appropriations Committee

2015 Vice Chair, Public Safety and Administration of the Appropriations Committee

2015 Capital Budget Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee

2007- Oversight Committee on Pensions of the Appropriations Committee

2007- Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families

2011- House Chair, Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds

2003 Women Legislators of Maryland

2015 Co-Chair, Legislative Committee, Maryland Legislative Latino Caucus

2016 Maryland Veterans Caucus

Past House Service

Health and Human Resources Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee, 2007-2014; Judiciary Committee, 2003-2006; Juvenile Law Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee, 2003-2006; Joint Committee on Welfare Reform, 2007-2014.

Public Service

Superintendent's Council of Advisors on Diversity and Inclusion, 2012-; Bi-County Agency Committee, Montgomery County Delegation, 2011-2013; Girls’ Services Strategic Plan Task Force, Dept. of Juvenile Services, 2010; County Affairs Committee, Montgomery County Delegation, 2003-2010; Delinquency Prevention and Diversion Services Task Force, 2006-2009; Task Force to Study Driver Licensing Documentation, 2003-2004; Women Legislators of Maryland (Executive Board 2009-12; Treasurer 2012-13; Secretary 2013-14; 2nd Vice-President, 2014-15), 2003-; Women Legislators of Maryland (First Vice President, 2015-2016), 2003-; Board of Education, Montgomery County, 1990-1998; Co-Chair, Latino Oversight Committee, Smithsonian Institution, 1993-1997; President, Board of Education, Montgomery County, 1995-1996; Vice President, Board of Education, Montgomery County, 1994-1995; Governor's Commission on Hispanic Affairs, 1992-1994, 1989-1991; Human Services and Welfare Committee, National Conference of State Legislatures.

Memberships

Co-Chair, Maryland Democratic Hispanic Caucus, 2004-; Montgomery County Chapter, American Civil Liberties Union, 2002-; Board of Directors, Clinica del Pueblo, 2000; President, Board of Directors, CASA de Maryland, Inc., 1996-1999; Regional Vice President, National Hispanic Caucus, National School Boards Association, 1996-1998, 1990-1992; Board of Directors, United Way of Montgomery County, 1991-1998; National School Boards Association, 1990-1998; Board of Trustees, Capitol College, 1996-; National Council of La Raza, 1992-1994; National Management Association, Chapter President, 1990-1992; Co-Founder and First Vice President, Salvadorians United for Better Education, 1990-1992; Board of Directors and Founder, Montgomery County Hispanic Alliance, 1990; Takoma Park Chapter, League of Latin American Citizens, 1986-1990; Montgomery County Chapter, National Organization for Women, 1986-; Washington, DC Chapter, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers; Association for Computing Machinery.

Awards

Maryland's Top 100 Women, The Daily Record , 2010, 2006; Legislative Award, The Arc of Maryland , 2009; Political Leadership Award, Hispanic Democratic Club , 2002; Outstanding Achievement in Education and Politics Award, Maryland State Teachers Association , 1999; Participation with Honor and Distinction Award, Leadership Maryland , 1999; Award, Outstanding Contributions to Hispanic Community, Maryland Hispanic Bar Association , 1997; Featured in “100 Most Influential Hispanics in USA,” Hispanic Business Magazine , 1996, 1991; Hispanic Achievement Award in Science, Apple Computers and Hispanic Magazine , 1993.

Biographical Information

Born in Santa Ana El Salvador, 1942; Pennsylvania State University, B.S., Chemistry; American University, B.S., M.S., Technology of Management, Scientific and Technical Information Systems; George Washington University, post graduate studies, Applied Engineering; University of Geneva, Switzerland, Arts and Letters Diploma; Senior Consulting Engineer, Strategic Information Technology Consulting, Computer Sciences Corporation, 1992-94; Deputy Administrator, Research and Special Programs Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1994-96; President and CEO, Sol Quality Systems, Inc., 1996-99; Director, Strategic Information Technology Consulting, Computer Sciences Corporation, 1999-; Trilingual in English, Spanish, and French; Three sons.