As a leader in child abuse and family violence issues, I used my experience and practical knowledge to fight for and win passage of laws that reduce crime and protect our citizens. When I was a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, Public Safety and Administration Subcommittee (1995-99), I oversaw Corrections, State Police and Judiciary budgets.

As former director of the domestic violence /sexual assault program we know as Heartly House and former president of the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence (MNADV), I am a nationally-recognized expert on abuse issues.

I was also a member of the Lt. Governor/Attorney General’s Task Force on Family Violence and worked for the successful passage of a law call the “24/7 Law.” This amendment to the Maryland Constitution authorizes District Court Commissions to issue temporary restraining orders for victims of domestic violence when the regular court is closed, thereby allowing victims of domestic violence access to legal relief and related protection any time of day or night, any day of the week.

In the wake of the murder and sexual assault of 9-year-old Christopher Ausherman in 2000, I fought for and won passage of “Christopher’s Laws,” which allows judges to send repeat violent sexual offenders to life in prison.

I also sponsored legislation to reform diminution of confinement credits. These “credits” allowed inmates to be released early from prison for “good” behavior. My legislation requires that if an inmate is sentenced to imprisonment for a violent crime committed while on early release, the inmate will automatically lose all “credits” previously earned. My legislation keeps repeat offenders in jail much longer than the previous law allowed.

To protect nursing home residents, I introduced “Vera’s Law”, designed to help nursing home residents and their families who want to monitor care of loved ones in long-term care facilities. My legislation is a national model that was highlighted on ABC Television’s Good Morning America and National Public Radio.

I led the successful fight to increase funds for nursing home caregivers, to expand respite care, and in-home care opportunities.

My efforts on the Appropriations Committee resulted in more funding for nursing homes to recruit and retain staff and to establish minimum staffing levels.

I fought to protect children by strengthening handgun safety. I co-sponsored nationally-recognized legislation requiring gun safety classes, gun locks for new handguns, and criminal background checks for new gun purchasers while preserving the rights of sportsmen to own and use firearms.

In 1996, I put together State funding to partner with Frederick County in bringing the state-of-the-art law enforcement “Law Mall” to Frederick County. Frederick Sheriff Jim Hagy and then-Maryland State Police Superintendent David Mitchell wanted to incorporate county and state police departments and communications operations in one facility to improve communication and achieve other public safety efficiencies. My service on the Public Safety Sub-Committee of the powerful Appropriations Committee enabled me to work with state and local officials to plan and budget the $17.78 million project.

In response to the need for additional funding for the Emergency Medical Systems Operation Fund, I worked for passage of legislation to maintain critical emergency services. Without this legislation, fire and rescue companies in Frederick County would have experienced devastating reductions in state support for volunteer training, trauma centers, and MedVac helicopters.