MONTGOMERY DELEGATION NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lisa Hershiser, 301-858-3018
Brian Feldman, 301-517-5719
Montgomery County House Delegation Restructures Committees
ANNAPOLIS, MD, July 17, 2007 -- The Montgomery County House Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly has restructured two of its three committees to provide for more efficient use of its resources and to streamline the legislative process regarding “bi-county” bills – legislation that requires approval of the Montgomery and Prince George’s counties delegations.
Montgomery House Delegation chair, Delegate Brian Feldman (D-District 15, Potomac), today announced that the Bi-County Committee, which previously had jurisdiction over both the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) and Maryland - National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) bills has been split into two distinct committees.
A new WSSC Matters Committee addresses legislation pertaining to the WSSC. Bi-County Committee chair, Delegate Kathleen Dumais (D-District 15, Rockville ), chairs the newly renamed WSSC Matters Committee. Delegate Dumais, who was elected to the House in 2002, is the House Parliamentarian and she serves on the House Judiciary Committee, on which she chairs the Family Law Subcommittee.
The Transportation Committee has been renamed the Land Use and Transportation Committee. This committee’s new purview is the M-NCPPC and transportation related bills. Transportation Committee chair, Delegate William Bronrott (D-16, Bethesda ), now chairs the Land Use and Transportation Committee. Delegate Bronrott, who was elected to the House in 1998, is a Deputy Majority Whip, and he serves on the House Appropriations Committee and its Transportation and Environment Subcommittee. Delegate Bronrott has been very active on issues related to Smart Growth land use and transit-oriented walkable communities.
Lastly, the County Affairs Committee had no changes made to either its name or area of jurisdiction. It will continue to consider local bills affecting issues specific to Montgomery County . Delegate Anne Kaiser (D-14, Burtonsville) will continue to chair the County Affairs Committee. Delegate Kaiser, who was elected to the House in 2002, is a Deputy Majority Whip, and she serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and chairs the Joint Committee on Federal Relations.
The Montgomery County Delegation can be reached via the Internet at: www.montgomerycountydelegation.com. The fall schedule of the House Delegation’s public hearings and meetings will soon be posted on the web site.