Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk

Daily Record Staff//February 28, 2023

//February 28, 2023

Chair of the House Health and Government Operations, Maryland House of Delegates

Del. Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk, D-Anne Arundel and Prince George’s is a leader in health policy in the state, leading on important issues such as opioid use disorders, health care access, housing protections, the regulation of cannabis and minority health disparities.

Peña-Melnyk chairs the Health and Government Operations Committee and has a Juris Doctor. A native of the Dominican Republic, she has served in the House of Delegates since 2007.

What is the most difficult lesson you have learned?

I’ve learned that just because the policy is right, the law doesn’t always follow. The timing must be right, and a coalition of supporters needs to be on board before we can get policy adopted into law. So it takes patience to educate and listen to all parties and build momentum for needed change. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon.

What’s the biggest challenge facing leaders in Maryland?

I’m focused every day on the challenge of providing health insurance for every Marylander. It is so important because surprise medical bills can bankrupt families. Another major challenge is fully funding the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future which is a decade-long plan to improve education in our state. Finally, we are in the midst of a government and private sector workforce shortage. We need to create a pipeline from our schools to the jobs we need to fill throughout our economy.

This profile is part of The Daily Record's Power Government & Lobbyist list for 2023. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. See the full list at thedailyrecord.com>.

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