Tenure

First elected to the Maryland House of Delegates, 1994. Member of the House since 1992: appointed and sworn in October 29, 1992.

Current Assignments

2007- Assistant Majority Leader

2003- Health and Government Operations Committee

2005- Chair, Public Health and Long Term Care Subcommittee of the Health and Government Operations Committee

2005- Minority Health Disparities Subcommittee of the Health and Government Operations Committee

2003- Joint Committee on Federal Relations

Past House Service

Co-Chair, Task Force to Study Financial Matters Relating to Long-Term Care Facilities, 2008-2012; Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families, 2003-2011; Chair, House Workgroup to Study Maryland Law Regarding Access to Firearms and Sharing of Health Information, 2007; House Chair, Joint Legislative Task Force on Universal Access to Quality and Affordable Health Care, 2005-2007; Minority Health Disparities Subcommittee of the Health and Government Operations Committee, 2005; Chair, Public Health Subcommittee of the Health and Government Operations Committee, 2004-2005; Public Health Subcommittee of the Health and Government Operations Committee, 2003-2005; Health Occupations Subcommittee of the Health and Government Operations Committee, 2003-2005; Government Operations Subcommittee of the Health and Government Operations Committee, 2003-2004; Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources Subcommittee of the Environmental Matters Committee, 2002-2003; Health Subcommittee of the Environmental Matters Committee, 1999-2003; Environmental Matters Committee, 1992-2003; Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review, 1995-2003; Public Utilities Subcommittee of the Environmental Matters Committee, 1999-2002; Health and Public Utilities Subcommittee of the Environmental Matters Committee, 1995-1999; Investigation Committee, 1994.

Public Service

Joint Committee on Health Benefit Exchange Financing, 2012-; Vice Chair, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission Committee, Prince George's County Delegation, 2011-; Health Committee, National Conference of State Legislatures, 2011-; Maryland Health Care Reform Coordinating Council, 2011-, 2010; Vice Chair, Chesapeake Bay Commission, 2011; Co-Chair, Public Health, Safety Net and Special Populations Workgroup, Maryland Health Care Reform Coordinating Council, 2010; Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission Committee, Prince George's County Delegation, 2008-2010; Agriculture and Energy Committee, National Conference of State Legislatures, 2008-; Environment Committee, National Conference of State Legislatures, 2008-; Agriculture, Environment and Energy Committee, National Conference of State Legislatures, 2007-2008; County Affairs Committee, Prince George's County Delegation, 1999-2008; Chair, Chesapeake Bay Commission, 2007; Chair, Environment and Natural Resources Committee, National Conference of State Legislatures, 2005-2007; Chesapeake Bay Watershed Blue Ribbon Panel, Chesapeake Executive Council, 2004; Chesapeake Bay Commission, 2002-; Commission on Funding and Services for Gifted and Talented Student Education in Maryland, 2000-2001; Children's Environmental Health and Protection Advisory Council, 2000-; Task Force on the Privatization of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, 1998-1999; Advisory Council on Environmental Justice, 1997-1999; Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, 1995-; Task Force on Employment and Vocational Opportunities for Disabled Youth and Adults of Prince George's County Council, 1984-1987; Maryland Commission for Women, 1984-1987; Child Support Enforcement Advisory Council, 1983-1985; Executive Committee, Board of Directors, Prince George's Private Industry Council, 1984-; Chair, Commission for Women, Prince George's County, 1981-1982; Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, Prince George's County; Domestic Violence Task Force, Prince George's County.

Memberships

Maryland Veterans Caucus, 2005-; Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Caucus, 2005-; Co-Founder, Maryland Green Caucus, 1996-; Co-Founder and Chair, National Caucus of Environmental Legislators; Alumni and Program Committee, Leadership Washington Class of 1986-87; University of Maryland Alumni Association.

Awards

Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative Courageous Leadership Award, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Awards Committee, 2010; Dean's Medal, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, 2010; Municipal Super Star, Maryland Municipal League, 2010; Legislator of the Year, Maryland Nurses Association, 2009; Certificate of Appreciation, Maryland Municipal League, 2008, 2007; Citation, Maryland Healthy Air Act Coalition, 2006; Legislator Recognition Award, Maryland Association of Counties, 2003; Distinguished Legislator Award, University of Maryland University College, 1999; Legislator of the Year, Office of Child Support Enforcement, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, 1996; Named Washingtonian of the Year, Washingtonian Magazine, 1984.

Biographical Information

Born, Washington, DC, March 20, 1948; Lifelong resident of Prince George’s County; University of Maryland, B.A., 1986; Former Assistant Sheriff (Lt. Colonel), Prince George's County Sheriff’s Department; Life Director & Founder, Family Crisis Center of Prince George's County; Executive Assistant to Deputy Director, Dept. of Corrections, Prince George's County, 2003-; Married, One child.