[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 142 (Thursday, September 12, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E894-E895]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CELEBRATING CHAIR JHEANELLE WILKINS, THE PEOPLE'S POLICYMAKER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KWEISI MFUME

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 12, 2024

  Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a Maryland leader who 
is a visionary when it comes to policymaking and the epitome of Black 
excellence. Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins is a commanding trailblazer in 
our state who is currently serving as the Chair of the Legislative 
Black Caucus of Maryland.
  Delegate Wilkins was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and moved to the 
United States at just five years old. She was raised in neighboring 
Delaware and attended the University of Delaware before concluding her 
studies with a master's degree from American University.
  Chair Wilkins has always been steadfast in her lifelong mission of 
enacting policy change that makes a substantial difference in people's 
lives. Before she ever held public office, Wilkins began her 
professional career as an intern at the Leadership Conference on Civil 
and Human Rights. She would impressively develop within the 
organization from her position as an intern all the way to her current 
full-time role as the Director of State and Local Government Affairs 
working fiercely in the realms of immigration reform, education equity, 
and civil rights legislation.
  Wilkins' first steps into the political arena were through her 
positions on the board of the Montgomery County Association of Black 
Democrats and the Montgomery County Young Democrats. In 2014, she was 
elected to the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee.
  Then, in 2016, she was appointed to fill the vacant state delegate 
seat in the Maryland House of Delegates 20th District--becoming the 
first African American woman to assume this position. From the moment 
she took office, Delegate Wilkins has been a passionate and powerful 
voice in the House of Delegates on behalf of all of her constituents in 
Montgomery County, Maryland. She is respected by so many of her peers 
for being unapologetic in her fight for what is right.

[[Page E895]]

  Delegate Wilkins masterfully embraces the spirit of legislating and 
swiftly transforms her legislative ideas into law. As the Vice Chair of 
the House Ways and Means Committee, she has used her standing within 
the legislature boldly to lead the passage of election policy and 
expanding voter access--including the passage of Maryland's permanent 
mail-in ballot list, voting access for incarcerated individuals, and 
expansion of early voting sites.
  Her other legislative pursuits have encompassed other consequential 
policy areas including the passage of legislation pertaining to racial 
profiling and justice reform, maternal health, and increasing 
educational outcomes for all students. Wilkins' monumental record in 
the House of Delegates resulted in her being elected Chair of the 
Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland in 2022.
  Without question, Chair Wilkins displays steadfast resoluteness with 
the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland as she paves the path forward 
for Maryland's diverse communities at the helm of the nation's largest 
state Black Caucus. Her tenure as the Caucus Chair has been forward 
thinking, dedicated, and triumphant fighting every day to improve the 
quality of life for Marylanders everywhere.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pen these words to commend Chair 
Jheanelle Wilkins for her pride, determination, and spirit. I am eager 
and enthusiastic for her future, and Maryland's future, with Chair 
Wilkins at the forefront of our historic State House.

                          ____________________