Tenure

First elected to the Senate in 2010. Member of the Senate since 2011.

Current Assignments

2014 Senate Chair, Spending Affordability Committee

2015 Senate Chair, Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review (AELR) Committee

2011- Budget and Taxation Committee

2013- Pensions Subcommittee of the Budget and Taxation Committee

2011- Health and Human Services Subcommittee of the Budget and Taxation Committee

2013- Joint Committee on Pensions

2011- Joint Committee on Federal Relations

2014 Vice-Chair, Montgomery County Delegation

Past Senate Service

Joint Committee on Health Care Delivery and Financing, 2011-2014.

Past House Service 2007-2011

Economic Matters Committee, 2007-2011; Business Regulation Subcommittee of the Economic Matters Committee, 2007-2011; Property and Casualty Insurance Subcommittee of the Economic Matters Committee, 2007-2011; Consumer Protection and Commercial Law Subcommittee of the Economic Matters Committee, 2007-2011.

Public Service

Maryland Pesticide Reporting and Information Workgroup (Senate Chair), 2013-; Senate Co-Chair, Task Force to Study Financial Matters Relating to Long-Term Care Facilities, 2011-; Co-Chair, Maryland Youth Advisory Council, 2011-; Vice Chair, County Affairs Committee, Montgomery County Delegation, 2007-2011; White House Task Force of State Legislators for Health Reform, 2009-; National Steering Committee, Leadership Conference on Guaranteed Health Care, 2009-; State Advisory Council on Hereditary and Congenital Disorders, 2009-2015; Original Signatory, State Legislators for Single-Payer (HR 676), 2009; Task Force to Implement Holocaust, Genocide, Human Rights and Tolerance Education, 2007-2008; Blue Ribbon Task Force on Gun Violence (convened by U.S. Representative Albert R. Wynn), 2007-2008; Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission, Montgomery County, 2005-2006; Area Coordinator, Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee, 2003-2006.

Memberships

Board of Directors, Montgomery Hospice, 2011-2013; Honorary Member, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW Local 26, AFL-CIO), 2012; Board of Directors, B'nai B'rith Chesapeake Bay Region, 2008-; President, B'nai B'rith Capital Region Council, 2005-2008; Maryland BioTech Caucus, 2007-; Maryland Educators Caucus, 2007-; Maryland Veterans Caucus, 2007-; Board of Directors, Reaching Out to Others Together (ROOT), 2007; Community Service Chair, Congressional Jewish Staff Association, 2005-2007; Board of Directors, District 19 Democratic Club, 2002-2007; Board of Directors, Committee for Montgomery, 2005-2006; Board Member, Democratic Policy Network, 2002-2005; Board of Directors, AGWG (Allanwood, Gayfields, Willson Hills, Gaywood Estates) Civic Association; Former Director and Vice President, Kemp Mill Civic Association; Rossmoor Kiwanis Club; Maryland Bar; District of Columbia Bar.

Awards

Legislator of the Year, Maryland Society of Anesthesiologists, 2014-; Distinguished Legislative Service Award, National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, 2014-; Shofar Award, Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy, 2013-; Adrian Theophilus Westney Religious Freedom Award, Columbia Union Conference, 2012; Legislator of the Year, Washington, D.C. Building and Construction Trades Council (AFL-CIO), 2012; Consumer Rights Hall of Fame, Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition, 2010; Legislator of the Year, Washington, DC, Building and Construction Trades Council (AFL-CIO), 2008; Champion of Working Families, Progressive Maryland Education Fund, 2008.

Biographical Information

Born April 26, 1966; Hunter College, B.A., Political Science, magna cum laude (Member, College Senate); Franklin Pierce Law Center, M.I.P., J.D., Intellectual Property Law; Attorney; Staff and Legal Extern, U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler of New York, 2001; Senior Counsel to U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, 2001-02; Staff/Organizer, Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference, 2001-06; Former Legislative Director to U.S. Representative Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. of Georgia, 2002-07; Former Staff, U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Task Force; Former Intern, The White House, Clinton Administration; Former Of Counsel, Karp, Frosh, Lapidus, Wigodsky & Norwind, P.A.; Former Classroom Para-Educator; Temple Emanuel, Kensington; Married.