Committee Assignments

The interconnectivity of my committee assignments allows me broad opportunities to promote policies, legislation and programs that help grow Maryland’s and our national economies; create job opportunities; support small businesses; protect our middle class and most vulnerable citizens; maintain clean air and water; expand opportunities for public transit and energy independence; promote transparency, good governance and the protection of universal civil and human rights; and so much more.

Foreign Relations

Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have worked across party lines to ensure that anti-corruption, transparency and respect for human rights are integrated into American foreign policy efforts – this includes gender equity for women and LGBTQ rights. In the Senate, through the Sergei Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and the Global Magnitsky Human Rights and Accountability Act, which I authored, Congress has fundamentally shifted the way our nation deals with human rights abusers and corrupt actors who are not held accountable by their own country by denying travel and banking privileges in the U.S. to individuals.

Small Business and Entrepreneurship

I asked to be on the Small Business Committee when I first arrived in the Senate because small businesses are the heartbeat of the American economy. I have made it my priority to support small businesses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and find better ways to provide access to credit for qualified small businesses and entrepreneurs, particularly minority-owned, women-owned and veteran-owned businesses.

Environment and Public Works

I believe in everyone’s right to a safe and healthy environment, regardless of their zip code, and I am strong advocate for policies to protect our clean air, water, and land and improve environmental quality in communities that have been disproportionately burdened by the impacts of pollution. In addition to investing in improvements to aging U.S. drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems, I am committed to expanding economic opportunity through investments in our transportation infrastructure that provide better options for access and connectivity while taking on the urgent/global challenge of climate change. One of my highest priorities is conserving and restoring the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its local rivers and streams–the economic, historical, and cultural heart of Maryland.

Finance

I believe that the federal government has an obligation to improve the lives of all Americans. The Senate Finance Committee provides a unique position to reach every Marylander and every American through its work on the tax code, trade, health care – including Medicare, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families and more. I have worked throughout my career to ensure more Americans can reach a secure and dignified retirement. I was proud to lead the fight for guaranteed pediatric dental care and later pass the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which transformed our health care system and now provides affordable, quality coverage for millions.

Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, is an independent federal commission that advances comprehensive security through promotion of human rights, democracy, and economic, environmental, and military cooperation in the 57-nation OSCE region. Since 2015, I also have served as the Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism, and Intolerance for the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, which helps raise awareness of the persistent problem of prejudice and discrimination in the region.