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Joseline Pena-Melnyk

D

Won the General, 2022 Maryland House of Delegates District 21

Maryland State House, District 21 (2006 - Present)

Quick Facts
  • Full Name:
    Joseline A. Pena-Melnyk
  • Gender:
    Female
  • Birth Date:
    06/27/1966
  • Birth Place:
    Dominican Republic
  • Home City:
    College Park, MD
  • Religion:
    Catholic
  • Family:
    Married; 3 Children: Camilo, Alejandra, Katerina
Personal Details

Joseline A. Pena-Melnyk is a Democratic member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing District 21. She was first elected to the chamber in 2006. Pena-Melnyk is running for re-election in the primary on June 26, 2018. The general election will take place on November 6, 2018.

Pena-Melnyk served on the College Park City Council from 2003-2006.

Pena-Melnyk was a 2016 Democratic candidate who sought election to the U.S. House to represent the 4th Congressional District of Maryland. Pena-Melnyk was defeated by Anthony Brown in the primary.

Pena-Melnyk's professional experience includes working as ssistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Columbia, and an Attorney with the Defender Association of Philadelphia.

Education

  • JD, School of Law at The State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo), 1991
  • BS, Criminal Justice, Buffalo State College, 1987

Professional Experience

  • JD, School of Law at The State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo), 1991
  • BS, Criminal Justice, Buffalo State College, 1987
  • Assistant United States Attorney, Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, United States Department of Justice, 1997-1999
  • Attorney, Defender Association of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1991-1992

Political Experience

  • JD, School of Law at The State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo), 1991
  • BS, Criminal Justice, Buffalo State College, 1987
  • Assistant United States Attorney, Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, United States Department of Justice, 1997-1999
  • Attorney, Defender Association of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1991-1992
  • Delegate, Maryland State House of Delegates, District 21, 2006-present
  • Candidate, United States House of Representatives, Maryland, District 4, 2016
  • Council Member, College Park City Council, 2003-2006

Former Committees/Caucuses

Member, Virginia L. Jones Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Council, 2013-present

Chair, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission Committee (WSCC), Prince George’s County Delegation, 2011-present

House Co-Chair, Task Force to Study the Procurement of Health, Education, and Social Services by State Agencies, 2010-present

Member, Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, 2007-present

Member, Women Legislators of Maryland, 2007-present

Member, Governor's Wellmobile Program Advisory Board, 2011-present

Former Member, Oversight Committee on the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, Maryland State House of Delegates

Former Member, Regional Revitalization Work Group, Maryland State House of Delegates

Vice-Chair, County Affairs Committee, Prince George’s County Delegation, 2008-2010

House Co-Chair, Task Force to study the Procurement of Health and Social Services by State Agencies, 2009-2010

Member, Task Force on the Preservation of Heritage Language Skills in Maryland, 2008-2009

Vice-Chair, Law Enforcement and State Appoint Board Committee, Prince George’s County Delegation, 2007-2008

Member, Task Force on Health Care Access and Reimbursement, 2007-2008

Current Legislative Committees

Member, Behavioral Health and Opioid Use Disorders

Vice Chair, Health and Government Operations

Member, Legislative Policy

Co-Chair, Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission

Member, Rules and Executive Nominations

Member, Subcommittee on Government Operations and Estates and Trusts

Chair, Subcommittee on Public Health and Minority Health Disparities

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • JD, School of Law at The State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo), 1991
  • BS, Criminal Justice, Buffalo State College, 1987
  • Assistant United States Attorney, Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, United States Department of Justice, 1997-1999
  • Attorney, Defender Association of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1991-1992
  • Delegate, Maryland State House of Delegates, District 21, 2006-present
  • Candidate, United States House of Representatives, Maryland, District 4, 2016
  • Council Member, College Park City Council, 2003-2006
  • Member, Maryland Medicaid Advisory Committee, 2015-present
  • Co-Chair, Latino Leadership Council, Maryland Democratic Party, 2010-present
  • Former Member, CASA de Maryland Incorporated
  • Former Member, College Park Recreation Board
  • Member, College Park Rotary Club
  • Member, Eastern Region Board of Directors, Women in Government
  • Member, North College Park Civic Association
  • Member, West College Park Civic Association
  • Member, Governor's Commission to Reform Maryland's Pretrial System, 2014

Other Info

— Awards:

  • Municipal Super Star, Maryland Municipal League, 2008
  • Legislator of the Year, Prince George's Young Democrats, 2014
  • Legislator of the Year, Maryland Association of Resources for Family and Youth
  • Legislator of the Year, Mid-Atlantic Behavioral Health Conference
  • Trail Blazer Exceptional Service Award, Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee

Policy Positions
Pro-choice Abortion: Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?

Vote Smart's Research

  • “She fought for equal pay for equal work and she’ll protect Planned Parenthood and women’s health from right-wing Republican attacks” http://joselinepenamelnyk.com/ (joselinepenamelnyk.com)
Yes Budget: In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?

Vote Smart's Research

  • “Corporations and the rich with fancy tax strategies should not escape paying their fair share of the costs of government. I support progressive taxation and using combined reporting to close corporate tax loopholes.” http://joselinepenamelnyk.com/?page_id=124 (joselinepenamelnyk.com)
No Crime: Do you support mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders?

Vote Smart's Research

  • @pwoodreporter “Del @PenaMelnykforMD wants the penalty for pot use in public to be civil fine, not criminal offense as written. #mdga16” https://twitter.com/pwoodreporter/status/710617767192502273 (twitter.com)
Yes Economy: Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?

Vote Smart's Research

  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
Unknown Position Economy: Do you support lowering taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?

Vote Smart's Research

  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
Unknown Position Education: Do you support requiring states to implement education reforms in order to be eligible for competitive federal grants?

Vote Smart's Research

  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
Unknown Position Energy: Do you support building the Keystone XL pipeline?

Vote Smart's Research

  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
Yes Energy: Do you support funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?

Vote Smart's Research

  • “On the environment: I support wind and solar energy.” https://twitter.com/PenaMelnykforMD (twitter.com)
Yes Environment: Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?

Vote Smart's Research

  • “It is just common sense to protect our environment against pollution, the pressures of over-development, and commercial excesses. […] I will continue to fight for our environment, and to protect important environmental laws from Republican efforts to weaken them in Congress.” http://joselinepenamelnyk.com/?page_id=116 (joselinepenamelnyk.com)
Yes Guns: Do you generally support gun-control legislation?

Vote Smart's Research

  • “I will continue this fight in the U.S. House of Representatives & push back against the NRA.” https://twitter.com/PenaMelnykforMD (twitter.com)
  • “She took on the NRA and led the fight to pass historic gun control legislation” http://joselinepenamelnyk.com/ (joselinepenamelnyk.com)
No Health Care: Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?

Vote Smart's Research

  • “I will protect Obamacare .” https://twitter.com/PenaMelnykforMD (twitter.com)
  • “President Obama’s Affordable Care Act helped us reduce the number of uninsured Marylanders by tens of thousands. I will protect his achievement from Republican attacks.” http://joselinepenamelnyk.com/?page_id=114 (joselinepenamelnyk.com)
No Immigration: Do you support requiring illegal immigrants to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?

Vote Smart's Research

  • “[...] I support President Obama’s plan for a path for them to earn a green card and eventually citizenship. The path would include passing a background check, paying taxes, paying a penalty, learning English, and getting in line behind those that are trying to come here legally.” http://joselinepenamelnyk.com/?page_id=261 (joselinepenamelnyk.com)
Yes Marriage: Do you support same-sex marriage?

Vote Smart's Research

  • “That’s why I was proud to sponsor Maryland’s marriage equality law and also fought hard for years for legislation to prevent discrimination against transgender Marylanders.” http://joselinepenamelnyk.com/?page_id=120 (joselinepenamelnyk.com)
Unknown Position National Security: Do you support targeting suspected terrorists outside of official theaters of conflict?

Vote Smart's Research

  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
No Social Security: Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts?

Vote Smart's Research

  • “On Social Security: I will make sure that it is not privatized. That is a mistake. I will also lift the cap.'” https://twitter.com/PenaMelnykforMD (twitter.com)
Events

2020

Jun. 24
Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Town Hall

Wed 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM EDT

Jun. 17
Maryland Health Care Town Hall

Wed 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM EDT

Nov. 13
HBCU Call to Action Rally

Wed EST

6 Bladen Street, Annapolis MD

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