My Priorities & Track Record
> Read My 2022 Legislative Session Update <
I'm currently finishing my second term in office representing Greater Silver Spring & Takoma Park in the Maryland House of Delegates. The past few years, I've had the honor of co-sponsoring & voting for numerous bills to advance justice, including impactful bills to:
- Provide Paid Family Leave, Sick Days & $15 Minimum Wage
- Restrain Health Costs & Expand Care for Underinsured Residents
- Distribute Millions in Aid & Protect Renters During COVID-19
- Ban Fracking, Curb Carbon Emissions & Promote Clean Energy
- Protect Reproductive Choice & Expand Access to Services
- Shore Up Our Child Care, School & Health Care Workforces
- Reduce Incarceration, Legalize Marijuana & Expand Expungements
- Ban Ghost Guns & Remove Firearms from Residents at Risk
- Lockbox Casino Funds for Education & Expand Pre-K
- Advance Alternatives to Police Violence & Promote Accountability
- Implement Election Day & Automatic Voter Registration
- Ban Toxic Pesticides & Styrofoam Products
- Provide Community College Tuition Assistance
MY LEGISLATIVE SUCCESSES: I'm proud to serve on the House Judiciary Committee, where I chair the Criminal Law Subcommittee. But I've got a wide variety of legislative interests, and I've served as lead sponsor on dozens of bills. I'm very excited that forty-four of my legislative proposals have been passed by the Maryland General Assembly, thus far. Here are my policy wins:
- Fight Trump's Efforts to Repeal Obamacare in Maryland (HJ 9)
- Ban Bump Stocks & Tools To Mimic Assault Weapons (HB 888)
- Substantially Fairer Compensation for Those Harmed by Police (HB 721 added to HB 670)
- Stop Landlords From Seizing Homes of Small Business Owners for Late Rent During COVID-19 (HB 719) - VETOED BY GOV. HOGAN BUT WE WERE ABLE TO OVERRIDE THE VETO
- Allow Expungement of Petty Marijuana Possession & Automatic Shielding on Case Search (HB 379 & HB 83)
- Stop Convicted Animal Abusers from Owning Animals (HB 212)
- Eliminate the Crime of Attempted Suicide (HB 77)
- Repeal Sodomy Laws Used to Harass LGBT Residents (HB 81)
- Rein In Property Tax Breaks Given to Country Clubs (2020 BRFA)
- Enact Special Elections & Vacancy Reforms for US Senate, Attorney General & Comptroller (HB 260)
- Stop Jailing for Suspended Drivers Licenses (HB 76 & HB 115)
- Resist Government Obstruction to Public Records (HB 383)
- Provide Foster Youths Savings Accounts & Protect Services for Foster Youths w/ Developmental Disabilities (HB 524 & HB 279)
- Lower Cost of Building Child Care in Montgomery County (HB 335)
- Warn MoCo Homebuyers About School Boundaries (HB 541)
- Require Bodycams to Save More Footage Leading Up to Incidents (HB 727 added to SB 178)
- Speed Limit Options for Montgomery County & Cities (HB 562)
- Prevent Child Abuse By Parents With Terminated Rights (HB 454)
- Decriminalize Petty Gambling Offenses (HB 113)
- Require Police to Disclose Their Military Equipment (HB 138)
- Help Homeless Residents Get IDs (HB 280)
- Push Counties to Stop Charging Pretrial Fees (HB 126)
- Syringe Exchange Harm Reduction - w/ Sen. Jill Carter's SB 420 - VETOED BY GOV. HOGAN
- Mandate Warrants for Police "Stingray" Surveillance (HB 499)
- Respect Medical Privacy for Transgender Residents (HB 862)
- Create Standards for Police SWAT Teams (HB 739)
- Curb Defacto "Debtors Prisons" in Maryland (HB 844)
- End Counterproductive Penalties on the Poor (HB 1047)
- Push Courts to Charge Animal Abusers for Cost of Care (HB 135)
- Modernize How Businesses File Tax Returns (HB 648)
- Expand Jury Duty for Ex-Offenders - w/ Sen. Jill Carter's SB 236
- Reduce Immigrant Deportations Over Minor Offenses (HB 891) - VETOED BY GOV. HOGAN
- Allow Expungement of Minor Boating Offenses (HB 259)
- Clarify Montgomery County Arson Investigation Process (HB 460)
NOTE: For further detail, you can read coverage of my bills [HERE].
MY BROAD PRIORITIES: Here are a few issues areas where I'd like to continue making progress:
- Tackle Historic Economic Inequality & Build a Fairer Tax Code
- Boost Clean Energy Production Within Maryland & End Subsidies for Unsustainable Choices
- Ensure Access To Affordable, Quality, Nearby Child Care
- Promote Housing Affordability & Renters' Protections
- Reduce Student-Teacher Ratios & Make College Affordable
- Achieve Universal, Affordable Health Care (Including Dental, Vision, Mental Health & Drugs)
- Expand Metro/RideOn/MARC Service & Walking/Biking Options
- Defend Reproductive Rights & Access to Local Services
- Rein In Mass Incarceration & The Failed "Drug War" in Maryland
- Reduce Special Interest Influence On Policy
- Implement Common-Sense Gun Safety Measures
- Protect Civil Rights & Our Immigrant Population
WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN WORKING ON: Read my email newsletters discussing policy & legislative updates below. To receive regular updates about my work [ CLICK HERE ].
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