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(BALTIMORE – July 2025) — Delegate Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk is no stranger to fighting the tough battles in Annapolis. As Chair of the Maryland House Health and Government Operations Committee, she’s spent her career advocating for those too often left out of the conversation — the working poor, the undocumented, the sick, the voiceless.
On April 1, 2025, Peña-Melnyk again showed that resolve as she fiercely defended an amendment to Senate Bill 587, the Maryland Reparations Commission legislation. Her leadership helped the bill pass its second reader on the House floor — a vital step toward historical accountability and repair. “This is a critical step toward justice,” she said. “We cannot ignore the disparities and traumas that Black communities continue to face.”
But this fire for equity was sparked long before she entered politics. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in the Bronx, Peña-Melnyk learned early what it meant to serve. As a child, she translated at New York social service offices for her Spanish-speaking mother and others. “My mom used to call me la abogadita — the little lawyer,” she recalled in an interview. “That experience grounded my commitment to justice.”
Peña-Melnyk made good on that nickname, becoming a public defender, then an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the Department of Justice. She later brought that experience to local government, serving on the College Park City Council before winning her House seat in 2006.
Today, Delegate Peña-Melnyk represents District 21, which includes parts of Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties. She has been a force in healthcare legislation, prescription drug affordability, and COVID-19 response, especially for the Black and Brown communities hardest hit.
Her legislative wins are extensive:
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Lead sponsor of the first-in-the-nation Prescription Drug Affordability Board
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Vocal advocate for reproductive rights, especially after the rollbacks seen in other states
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Chair of the Public Health & Minority Health Disparities Subcommittee for 7 years
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Past Vice Chair of the Cannabis Legalization Workgroup, where she helped shape Maryland’s new marijuana policies with an eye on equity
Most recently, Peña-Melnyk was named one of Latina Republic’s Top 100 Most Influential Women in Maryland. In 2023 alone, she received a slew of recognitions including:
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Legislator of the Year from the Maryland Hospital Association, Maryland State Medical Society, and others
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Care Champion Award from the Caring Across Maryland Coalition
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Corazón Comunitario Award from VineCorps
Whether it’s protecting vulnerable families during a pandemic, fighting for fair drug pricing, or championing Black reparations, Joseline Peña-Melnyk is a name to remember.
As Maryland debates its past and defines its future, Delegate Peña-Melnyk is making sure justice isn’t just promised — it’s delivered.
For More on Delegate Peña-Melnyk:
📍 Official Bio & Contact
📧 joseline.pena.melnyk@house.maryland.gov
📞 410-841-3502
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