Joseline Peña-Melnyk is an American politician who represents District 21 in the Maryland House of Delegates

Maryland House of Delegates

The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...

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Background

Born in the Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...

, Joseline Peña (maiden name) attended John F. Kennedy High School (Bronx, New York) and graduated from Buffalo State College

Buffalo State College

The State University of New York College at Buffalo, referred to as Buffalo State College, often referred to colloquially as Buff State, is a public, liberal arts college in Buffalo, New York, United States and is part of the State University of New York. Buffalo State was founded in 1871 as the...

 with a B.S. in Criminal Justice. She later attended the State University of New York at Buffalo, where she earned her J.D.

Juris Doctor

Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...

 (Campaign website).

In the legislature

Delegate Peña-Melnyk is a member of the House Health and Government Operations Committee and its Government Operations and Public Health & Long-Term Care subcommittees. She is also a member of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland

Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland

The Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland is an American political organization composed of African Americans elected to the Maryland General Assembly...

 and the Women Legislators of Maryland.

Legislative notes

• Voted for the Clean Indoor Air Act of 2007 (HB359)Maryland Clean Indoor Act (2007)
• Voted in favor of the Tax Reform Act of 2007 (HB2)
• Sponsored House Bill 30 in 2007, allowing the state to confiscate unused portions of gift certificates after four (4) years

Democratic party activist

During the 2008 democratic presidential campaign, Pena-Melnyk endorsed the candidacy of Barack Obama

Barack Obama

Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...

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