[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 213 (Wednesday, December 17, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8830-S8831]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO ADRIENNE A. JONES

 Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 
Honorable Adrienne A. Jones, who concluded her historic tenure as 
speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates on December 4, 2025.
  A native of Baltimore County, Speaker Jones has dedicated her life to

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serving both the county and our entire State. Her passion for public 
service was evident early on. After graduating from the University of 
Maryland, Baltimore County, she performed a variety of public roles and 
quickly became a well-known, dynamic advocate. Notably, she served as 
director of the Baltimore County Office of Minority Affairs, opened the 
Baltimore County Office of Fair Practices and Community Affairs as its 
inaugural executive director, and founded the Baltimore County African 
American Cultural Festival.
  In 1997, Speaker Jones was appointed to fill a vacancy in the House 
of Delegates, and she won election to her first full term the following 
year. She has served on numerous committees, including appropriations, 
rules, and executive nominations, spending affordability, and ways and 
means. Never one for ideological grandstanding, Speaker Jones 
maintained a rapt focus on the issues affecting the day-to-day lives of 
her constituents. She worked tirelessly to direct State dollars to 
county and community projects, including much-needed school 
modernizations.
  In 2003, after just 5 years as a delegate, Speaker Jones' colleagues 
recognized her integrity, leadership ability, and inexhaustible work 
ethic by electing her speaker pro tempore. She served faithfully in 
this role for 16 years before becoming acting speaker following the 
death of her predecessor. On May 1, 2019, after a brief and lively 
campaign, she shattered barriers and made history by being unanimously 
elected as the first woman and first African-American speaker of the 
Maryland House of Delegates.
  Speaker Jones' tenure was defined by her courage, vision, and 
steadfast commitment to those she was elected to serve. During the 
chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic early in her speakership, she met the 
moment and ensured Marylanders received the State support they needed 
to stay safe and informed. Speaker Jones presided over the passage of 
consequential legislation, including the Blueprint for Maryland's 
Future, the largest education investment in Maryland's history, steered 
resources to historically underfunded Black colleges and universities, 
staunchly pursued commonsense police and education reform, and 
spearheaded the successful campaign to enshrine a woman's right to 
choose in the Maryland Constitution.
  In recognition of her many achievements, Speaker Jones was named 
Outstanding Alumna of the Year by her alma mater in 2003, was given the 
Casper R. Taylor, Jr. Founder's Award--the highest honor the speaker 
may grant to a sitting member of the House of Delegates--by her 
predecessor in 2019, and was inducted into the Maryland Women's Hall of 
Fame in 2024. She has also received honorary doctoral degrees from 
Goucher College and Morgan State University.
  Throughout her time in public service, even in moments of intense 
personal tragedy, Speaker Jones has remained unshakably dedicated to 
improving the lives of all Marylanders. I am very glad that she will 
continue to serve as a delegate and that our State will retain the 
benefit of her great wisdom and experience. I ask my colleagues to join 
me in thanking Speaker Jones for her many years of transformative 
service to the State of Maryland, the impact of which will be felt for 
generations to come.

                          ____________________