Tenure

First elected to the Senate in 2006. Member of the Senate since 2007.

Current Assignments

2015 Majority Leader

2007- Finance Committee

2013- Chair, Health Subcommittee of the Finance Committee

2013- Executive Nominations Committee

2007- Chair, Senate Special Committee on Substance Abuse

2007- Joint Audit Committee

2014 Joint Oversight Committee on the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange

2014 Task Force to Study Methods to Reduce the Rate of Uninsured Drivers

2015 Joint Committee on Behavioral Health and Opioid Use Disorders

2015 Chair, Senate Select Committee No. 11, Baltimore City Delegation (Vice-Chair 2011-2015)

2013 Chair Emeritus, Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, Inc. (Member, 2005-)

2005 Member, Women Legislators of Maryland

Past Senate Service

Deputy Majority Leader, 2011-2014; Deputy Majority Whip, 2008-2011; Assistant Deputy Majority Whip, 2007-2008; Chair, Transportation Subcommittee of the Finance Committee, 2008-2014; Vice Chair, Standing Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting, 2011-2012; Co-Chair, Joint Committee on Fair Practices and State Personnel Oversight, 2009-2011; Joint Committee on Welfare Reform, 2008-2011; Joint Committee on Health Care Delivery and Financing, 2007-2014; Senate Chair, Joint Committee on Fair Practices, 2007-2009; Joint Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP) Workgroup, 2012-2014; Clean Energy Program Task Force, 2013-2014; Joint Committee on the Selection of the State Treasurer, 2015.

Past House Service 2005-2007

Housing and Real Property Subcommittee of the Environmental Matters Committee, 2006-2007; Land Use and Ethics Subcommittee of the Environmental Matters Committee, 2006-2007; Local Government and Bi-county Agencies Subcommittee of the Environmental Matters Committee, 2006; Environmental Matters Committee, 2005-2007.

Public Service

Co-chair, Maryland Cybersecurity Council, 2015-; Task Force to Study Exemptions from Higher Education Ethics Requirements and Procurement Rules to Facilitate Technology Transfer, 2015-; Maryland Economic Development and Business Climate Commission, 2014-; Clean Energy Program Task Force, 2013-2014; Chair, Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, Inc., 2012; President, Women Legislators of Maryland (Member, 2005-), 2011-2012; First Vice President, Women Legislators of Maryland, 2012; Task Force to Study the Impact of Adjunct Faculty on Graduation Rates at Historically Black Institutions, 2011-; Task Force to Study High-School Dropout Rates of Persons in the Criminal Justice System, 2011-; Chair, Endorsement Committee, Women Legislators of Maryland, 2011-; Second Vice President, Women Legislators of Maryland, 2010-2011, 2008-2009; Task Force to Study the Procurement of Health, Education, and Social Services by State Agencies, 2010-; Task Force on the Minority Business Enterprise Program and Equity Investment Capital, 2010-, 2008-2009; Co-Chair, Task Force to Study the Procurement of Health and Social Services by State Agencies, 2009-2010; President-Elect, Women Legislators of Maryland, 2009-2010; First Vice Chair, Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, Inc., 2008-2010; Task Force to Study Motor-Vehicle Towing Practices, 2008-2009; Maryland State Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council, 2008-; Pimlico Community Development Authority, 2008-; Human Services and Public Safety Committee, Southern Legislative Conference, 2008-; Treasurer, Women Legislators of Maryland, 2007-2008; Delegate, Democratic Party National Convention, 2000-2008; Governor's Wellmobile Program Advisory Board, 2007-; Communications, Financial Services and Interstate Commerce Committee, Conference of State Legislatures, 2007-; Maryland Home-Ownership Preservation Task Force, 2007; Maryland Aviation Administration Small and Minority Business Council, 2005-; Baltimore City Council, Representing District 4, 1999-2004; Chair, Taxation Subcommittee on Economic Development, Baltimore City Council, 1999-2004; Vice Chair, Land Use and Planning Committee, Baltimore City Council, 1999-2004; Urban Affairs Committee, Baltimore City Council, 1999-2004; Former Member, Baltimore Metropolitan Council Advisory Committee.

Memberships

Chair, Democratic Caucus, 2011-; Chair of Development, Associated Black Charities, 2005-; Chair, Board of Directors, Maryland Center for Arts and Technology, 2005-; Moveable Feast, 2003-; Hampden Family Center, 2002-; Baltimore Reads, 2002-; Board of Directors, University of Maryland Medical System Corporation, 2001-; Ashburton Community Association, 1990-.

Awards

Maryland's Top 100 Women, Daily Record, 2005-2010; Legislator of the Year, Baltimore Police Department, 2003; Benjamin L. Hooks Keeper of the Flame Award, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), 2000; Minority Business Advocate of the Year, U.S. Small Business Administration, 1994; Notable Black Woman of Maryland Award, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 1990.

Biographical Information

Born, Norristown, Pennsylvania; Morgan State University, B.S., Business Administration, 1973, M.B.A., 1977; President and CEO, C. E. Pugh & Company (a public relations consulting firm), 1988-; Former Dean and Director, Strayer Business College.