74 /Legislature

HOUSE OF DELEGATES
STANDING COMMITTEES

Following the practice of the English House of
Commons, the Lower House of Maryland's Gen-
eral Assembly began to use standing (or continu-
ing) committees in the seventeenth century. These
committees were responsible for considering all
proposed laws on a given subject. Any bills relating
to their assigned subject matter received committee
review before any final action on the floor. In 1692,
the Lower House formed four standing committees
on accounts; aggrievances; elections and privileges;
and laws.
To review proposed legislation today, the House
of Delegates has six standing committees: Appro-
priations; Commerce and Government Matters;
Economic Matters; Environmental Matters; Judici-
ary; and Ways and Means. Two additional standing
committees are Rules and Executive Nominations,
and Consent Calendars.

APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
Howard P. Rawlings, Chairperson
James E. McClellan, Vice-Chairperson

Lowe House Office Building, Room 131
6 Governor Bladen Blvd.
Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 841-3407

The Appropriations Committee originated in
1692 as the Committee on Accounts. By the time
of the Revolutionary War, it had become the Com-
mittee on Claims (upon the Treasury). The Claims
Committee functioned from 1776 to 1968 when its
responsibilities were shifted briefly to the Economic
Matters Committee. In 1971, budgetary and other
duties were assigned to the Appropriations Com-
mittee created in that year.
The Appropriations Committee considers legis-
lation relating to budget; bonds and loans; collec-
tive bargaining; fiscal procedures; higher
education; local government; Medicaid and other
medical assistance; personnel matters; procure-
ment; social services (Aid to Families with Depend-
ent Children; welfare); special funds and grants;
State government (legislative, executive, and judi-
cial; sunset review); and transportation. Twenty-
seven delegates serve on this committee.
Under the Committee are four subcommittees:
Capital Budget; Education and Transportation;
Health and the Environment; and Human Resources
and Public Safety. The Committee also is aided by three
oversight committees: Pensions; Personnel; and Pro-
gram Open Space and Agricultural Land Preservation.

Maryland Manual 1994-1995

COMMERCE & GOVERNMENT MATTERS
COMMITTEE
Gerald J. Curran, Chairperson
John F. Wood, Jr., Vice-Chairperson

Lowe House Office Building, Room 141
6 Governor Bladen Blvd.
Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 841-3502

The Commerce and Government Matters Com-
mittee was created in January 1994. The Commit-
tee considers legislation relating to banking, credit
unions, and savings and loans; election laws; ethics;
local government; procurement; transportation;
and vehicle laws. Twenty-two delegates serve on
this committee.

ECONOMIC MATTERS COMMITTEE
Michael E. Busch, Chairperson
Elijah E. Cummings, Vice-Chairperson

Lowe House Office Building, Room 151
6 Governor Bladen Blvd.
Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 841-3519

The Economic Matters Committee was formed
in 1968. The Committee considers legislation relat-
ing to licensing and regulation; liquor laws; pro-
curement; real estate and real property;
unemployment insurance; vehicle laws; and work-
ers' compensation. Twenty-four delegates serve on
this committee.

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS COMMITTEE
Ronald A. Guns, Chairperson
Virginia M. Thomas, Vice-Chairperson

Lowe House Office Building, Room 161
6 Governor Bladen Blvd.
Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 841-3534

In 1969, the Environmental Matters Committee
was established. Yet, earlier the House of Delegates
had formed standing committees concerned with
the environment. The Committee on Chesapeake
Bay and its Tributaries, for example, had functioned
from 1872 to 1968. Created in 1947, the Agricul-
ture and Natural Resources Committee also had
continued until 1968, when the Natural Resources
Committee briefly was established. In the following
year, the Environmental Matters Committee as-
sumed responsibilities of that committee.
The Environmental Matters Committee consid-
ers legislation relating to agriculture; business oc-
cupations; environment; fire and public safety;
health—general (communicable diseases; develop-
mental disabilities; family and child daycare; mental
health; vital records); health—occupations; natural
resources; Public Service Commission; and State
government (commissions and task forces). This
committee is composed of twenty-three delegates.