Welcome to the new year and to Council Period 23!
We ended 2018 strong, passing several of my bills: the Economic Development Return on Investment Accountability Act, the Performing Arts Promotion Act, the LGBTQ Health Data Collection Act, and the Housing Rehabilitation Incentives Regulation Act. I also fought hard to make sure that
women-, and minority-owned businesses would be able to play a major role as the city legalized sports betting
.
I was nominated to a top regional post as Chair of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) Board of Directors. COG is comprised of elected officials from the 24 jurisdictions of the Metropolitan Washington region. With the support of over 300 very bright and dedicated members, I will work with COG and regional officials to push our affordable housing needs and to continue to improve regional cooperation.
Another piece of exciting news is that I now serve as Chair of the Committee on Facilities and Procurement. As Chair, I will prioritize strong oversight and focus on government accountability, transparency, efficiency, and equity for District residents. This committee includes the DC Department of General Services (DGS), which oversees government construction, maintenance of government buildings, purchasing and disposing of property, and office space for most of the District government’s 35,000 employees.
The committee also includes the Office of Contracting and Procurement, which manages the purchase of $5.6 billion in goods, services, and construction annually for 76 District agencies; the Contract Appeals Board, which adjudicates contractual disputes and protests involving District agencies; the Office on Returning Citizen Affairs, which I have significantly expanded since joining the Council, the Commission on Re-Entry and Returning Citizen Affairs, and the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions.
In addition to chairing the Committee on Facilities and Procurement during Council Period 23, I sit on the committees on Education, Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization, Human Services, and Labor and Workforce Development.
I see a lot of room to collaborate with the administration, my Council colleagues, and our hard-working Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners over the next two years. I'm looking forward to making significant progress for our District residents.