Tenure

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

Current Assignments

2020 Vice Chair, Budget and Taxation Committee (Member, 2019)

2020 Health and Human Services Subcommittee of the Budget and Taxation Committee

2020 Pensions Subcommittee of the Budget and Taxation Committee

2019 Executive Nominations Committee

2021 Chair, Spending Affordability Committee (Member, 2019)

2014 Joint Committee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, & Biotechnology (Chair, 2019)

2021 Joint Committee on Pensions

2021 Senate Vaccine Oversight Workgroup

2015 Maryland Legislative Latino Caucus, Associate Member

2015 Maryland Veterans Caucus

2019 Maryland Legislative Latino Caucus, Associate Member

Past Senate Service

Deputy Majority Whip, 2017-2019, 2008-2016; Public Safety, Transportation, and Environment Subcommittee of the Budget and Taxation Committee, 2019; Finance Committee, 2017-2019; Joint Audit Committee (Senate Chair, 2015), 2011-2019; Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee, 2007-2017; Co-Chair, Environment Subcommittee of the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, 2015-2017; Education Subcommittee of the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, 2007-2017; Comptroller Issues Subcommittee of the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, 2015-2017; Joint Covid-19 Response Workgroup, 2020; Financial Consumer Protection Commission, 2017-2019; Commission on Maryland Retirement Security and Savings, 2015-2016; Senate Chair, Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds, 2015-2016; Senate Chair, Joint Information Technology and Biotechnology Committee, 2009-2014; Task Force on the Establishment of a Statewide Spay/Neuter Fund, 2011-2012; Joint Committee on Base Realignment and Closure, 2008-2011; Chair, Joint Technology Oversight Committee, 2007-2009; Joint Advisory Committee on Legislative Data Systems, 2011-2014; Ethics and Election Law Subcommittee of the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, 2007-2015; Joint Committee on Federal Relations, 2007-2015; Senate Chair, Joint Committee on the Selection of the State Treasurer, 2015; Chair, Select Committee No. 7, Prince George's County Senate Delegation, 2016-2018.

Past House Service 1987-1997

Vice Chair, Ways and Means Committee, 1995-1997.

Public Service

Workgroup to Study the Transformation in Maryland's Emerging Digital Economy, 2021-; Prince George's CountySchool Construction Master Plan Workgroup, 2018-2019; Prince George's County-Utility Services-Use of Master Meters and Task Force, 2018-2020; Educational Development Specifications Workgroup, 2018-2019; Prince George's County Surcharge Exemptions for Projects Near Transit Properties Workgroup, 2017-2018; Task Force to Study a Promise Scholarship Program in Prince George's County, 2016-2017; Maryland Small Business Retirement Savings Board, 2016-; Commission to Modernize State Procurement, 2016; Governor's Task Force to Ensure Retirement Security for All Marylanders, 2014-2015; Maryland Advisory Council for Virtual Learning, 2012-2015; Climate, Energy and Environment Policy Committee, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, 2011-; Chair, Task Force on Solar Hot Water Systems in Prince George's County, 2010-2011; Task Force on the Preservation of Heritage Language Skills in Maryland, 2008-2009; Task Force to Improve Child Support Compliance in Prince George's County, 2007-2008; National Conference of State Legislatures (10) Communications, Financial Services & Interstate Commerce Cmte; (2010) Education Subcmte, 2007-.

Memberships

Board of Regents, University System of Maryland , 2001-2006; Board of Trustees, Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs .

Awards

Certificate of Appreciation, Maryland Municipal League, 2008.

Biographical Information

Born, Rome, Italy, May 20, 1951; U.S. Ambassador to Romania, 1998-2001; Co-Author, Dracula Is Dead: How Romanians Survived Communism, Ended It, and Emerged since 1989 as the New Italy (2009); Married.