Thank you to Governor Martin O'Malley for nominating me and thank you to the Maryland Democratic Party for voting to return me to the Democratic National Committee for another four year term. I am humbled and honored to represent the great Free State of Maryland. Now we need to join together to elect a Congress that will work with President Obama to continue to move our country forward. Election day is November 6, 2012 and it is fast approaching.

March 15, 2012 President Obama came to Prince George's County Community College to discuss energy policy and lay out a plan for the future on how we can reduce our dependcy on fossil fuels.  He explained that there is no silver bullet to solve the problem and he challeged us not to be like the folks back in Christopher Columbus' time that told him not to sail off to prove the world was round because as far as they could tell the world was flat! 

I don't know about you, but I trust President Obama's judgment more than anyone else out there that has thrown their hat in the ring.  You may listen to President Obama's speech here: President Obama speaks at Prince George's County Community College

2011 Fall DNC Meeting - Chicago

We arrived in Chicago after the President's incredible speech Thursday night, then we were able to visit the 2012 Campaign Headquarters in the morning.  All of the meetings and caucuses and councils were packed with information from the DNC, the Campaign and the Convention.  A highlight was Charlotte's wonderful reception Friday night. At Saturday morning's General Meeting Chair, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz' remarks brought everyone to their feet and Senator Richard Durbin's outstanding speech reminded us of the Democratic party's perseverence, Iris Martinez' welcome gave witness to our Party's diversity and its future, and then we also looked back to honor the past with a Tribute to Chuck Manatt.  Finally we were briefed by Jim Messina and the polling data at the Member's only lunch, it was amazing.

I think we are all invigorated, informed, ready to pass the American Jobs Act, and truly fired up and ready to go! I want to be sure you know about the new Web Site: www.Americanjobsact.com . It has a wealth of information, the full plan, special sections for several constituencies -- and more to come. I trust this will be helpful as we fight for jobs for the American people. The President asks us to contact our elected officials, Democrats and Republicans, both in Congress and in our states, to talk with our friends and neighbors and co-workers and tell them to contact their officials, and to help him build support for the Jobs Plan.

President Obama on the Green Fleet Initiative

President Obama visits the UPS offices in Prince George's County

President Obama visited Landover, Maryland on Friday April 1, 2011- it was no joke - he had great news the unemployment rate was down to 8.8% new private sector jobs are increasing. The POTUS praised UPS and other companies for being an example to Congress of how to stimulate the economy and keep the country on track to a full recovery. Cut back where necessary but be innovative and create opportunities to grow.

UPS, Fritolay and AT&T were singled out because they have started using hybrid vehicles in their fleets to cut costs and reliance on fossil fuels.

2011 DNC Meeting and White House Reception

Four More Years! At the Democratic National Committee winter meeting Chairman Tim Kaine reminded us that yes, President Obama and the Democartic Party do care about healthcare for all, jobs and the future of our country. We are going to aggressively defend our record over the last two years and return to the White House victorious.

Once again we will need everyone working hard for the campaign, star by making sure that everyone you know is registered to vote and make sure they plan to vote for OBAMA!

I remain humbled and grateful to represent Maryland on the DNC and am ready to roll up my sleeves and work to re-elect our President, I hope you will join me.

Highlights from the DNC Summer Meeting in St. Louis, Missouri

I attended the summer meeting and came back ready to elect DEMOCRATS! Remember, we must vote in the Primary election in September and again in the General election in November.

MARYLAND GENERAL AND LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY ACT

Maryland Legislation Helps Families



On May 20, 2010, Governor Martin O’Malley signed SB309 and HB659 popularly known as Loretta’s Law http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/top/2008/02/21-38/Making-it-harder-to-steal-from-family.html?ne=1 the new law is entitled the Maryland General and Limited Power of Attorney Act. The new law repeals some portions of our current law and adds new language modeled after the Uniform Power of Attorney Act. Applying the African proverb, “It Takes A Village” to this law’s journey through the Maryland General Assembly gives new meaning to the saying because it is not being used to describe raising children, instead it is being used to describe the process used to pass a law that helps to protect the elderly and disabled from abuse.

Each year that Loretta’s Law was introduced and defeated in the General Assembly, the “village” grew and worked together to come back in the next legislative session. The “village” learned the value of building coalitions, listening to opposing views and most importantly of compromising. So in the end, the law that was passed was not the pristine law that was originally proposed but does reflects the desire to hold agents accountable for their actions; provide a statutory form power of attorney and allow principles and interested persons access to the Maryland court system.

Led by Senator Delores Kelley and Delegate Kathleen Dumais, groups as diverse as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, United Seniors of Maryland, AARP, the Maryland Bankers Association, and the Prince George’s County Aging Advisory Committee joined with distinquished law professors, the National Conference of Commissioners of Uniform State Laws, the ABA Commission on Law and Aging, and the Elder Law and Estates and Trusts sections of the Maryland State Bar Association to provide written and oral testimony as well as expert testimony. Perhaps the proverb, “it takes a village” is not turned on its head when applied to Loretta’s Law. Instead, it demonstrates that adult children raised by a village will make every effort to care for the elderly in the village.