Society of Senates Past
Roster

STENY H. HOYER
U.S. Representative (Democrat), 5th Congressional District (Calvert, Charles & St. Mary's counties, & parts of Anne Arundel & Prince George's counties), Maryland.

Born in New York, NY, June 14, 1939.  Attended Suitland High School; University of Maryland, B.S., magna cum laude, 1963; Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1966.  Admitted to Maryland Bar, 1966.  Widower; three children; one grandchild.

General Assembly:
Member of  Senate, 1967-79.  Senate President, 1975-79.  Chair, Maryland Commission on Intergovernmental Cooperation, 1971-74; Legislative Council, 1975-76; Rules Committee. Co-Chair, Legislative Policy Committee, 1976-79.  Member, Joint Budget and Audit Committee.

Private Career and Other Public Service:
Private law practice.  Delegate, Democratic National Conventions, 1968, 1974, 1976, 1984.  Member, State House Trust, 1975-79; Maryland Historical Trust, 1975-79; Maryland Veterans Home Commission, 1975-79.  Vice-Chair, Commission to Revise the Annotated Code of Maryland, 1975-79.  Chair, Task Force on Crime, 1976-79.  Member, Maryland State Board for Higher Education, 1978-81.  Legislator of the Year, Maryland State's Attorneys' Association, 1977.  Member of U.S. House of Representatives, 1981-. Member, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, 1985- (Helsinki Commission).  Member, Appropriations Committee (Labor, Health & Human Services, & Education Subcommittee; Military Construction Subcommittee; Treasury, Postal Service & General Government Subcommittee). Co-Chair, Federal Government Service Task Force. Chair, House Democratic Caucus, 1989-94. Co-Chair, Steering Committee, House Democratic Caucus, 1995-.  Congressman of the Year, National Multiple Sclerosis Association.  Congressional Advocate of the Year, Child Welfare League, 1986.  Policy Maker of the Year, National Association of Homebuilders, 1988.  Washingtonian of the Year, Washingtonian magazine, 1988.  Named Rising Star in Congress, National Journal, 1990.  Champion of Pediatric Research, Children's National Medical Center, 1995.  Board of Regents, University System of Maryland, 1999-.  Board of Visitors, College of Public Affairs, University of Maryland; Baltimore Council of Foreign Relations.  Congressional Recognition Award, International Association of Fire Fighters, 1999.  Member, Omicron Delta Kappa; Sigma Chi Fraternity; Kalegathos Society.

Personal Comments and Observations:
    "The construction of the Baltimore subway system stands out in my mind as the most controversial statewide issue I encountered during my service in the State Senate.  At the time, I was serving as the Senate President and this issue presented a complex situation which required hours of intense debate and an unprecedented Sunday session.  It occurred in April 1976, when a group of 22 Senators opposed to the legislation successfully filibustered the Senate for eight days and a total of 176 hours.   The opponents came to the floor prepared with massive amounts of materials, newspapers articles and budget analyses to gridlock Senate proceedings.  One Senator spent hours reading from a book on the history of transportation, illustrating the fact that man had 'previously conquered land, space and sea...not underground.'
    "At the center of the issue was the $121 million sought for the first portion of the Baltimore subway project.  It was crucial that these funds be appropriated and the project be approved at that time, because $570 million in federal funds were at stake.  The filibuster ended after countless hours of negotiations.  Many times we thought we had reached agreement, only to see it crumble once the details were put on paper.  The filibuster culminated in a compromise which allowed the legislation to move forward and the budget to be passed by the Senate.  The compromise legislation was greeted with more controversy in the House of Delegates, but in the end, supporters of the Baltimore subway prevailed.
    "In reflecting on my twelve very enjoyable years in the State Senate, a number of things come to mind as significant accomplishments.  The designation of the Youghiogheny River as a Wild and Scenic River, the preservation of the dunes at Ocean City, joining with others to ensure the State's partnership in mass transit in the Washington/Baltimore regions, and other local and state-wide issues on which I worked.  However, from a legislative standpoint, I believe my leadership during my term as President in reforming the sexual offense statutes in Maryland stands out as one of my most significant accomplishments.  The reforms were designed to protect victims from abuse by the system subsequent to their being a victim of the criminal, assuring that the degree of danger and injury to the victim was a significant part in determining the seriousness of the crime, and making prosecution easier and more precise.  I believe we accomplished those objectives and put Maryland in the forefront of states that treated the victims of sexual offenses appropriately and enhanced the ability of prosecutors to bring criminals to justice.
    "[My] most memorable and/or humorous moment from [my] days in office [was] March 25, 1976.  [It] was a cold and rainy day.  I remember that because it was the kind of cold which chilled you straight to the bone.  But on that day, members of the Maryland State Senate left the confines of Annapolis, and boarded a bus bound for St. Mary's City, for a once in a lifetime event.  I was serving as the State Senate President and I suggested that we celebrate that Maryland Day by holding a ceremonial session of the Senate in the first capital of the Maryland colony.  The session was held in a replica of Maryland's first statehouse which was renovated for historical accuracy.  During the session, a resolution was passed recognizing the historical significance of St. Mary's City.
    "The session was filled with pomp and circumstance.  It had an air of Old England, thanks mainly to the attendance of Lord Earl Mountbatten, Governor of the Isle of Wight, from which the first European settlers set sail in 1633 to arrive in Maryland on March 25, 1634.  Lord Mountbatten's legendary background brought an added sense of history to the occasion.  He was the great grandson of Queen Victoria, the second cousin of Queen Elizabeth, and an uncle of her husband Prince Philip.  Lord Mountbatten rose through the ranks of the Royal Navy and led the Allies to victory against the Japanese in Burma during World War II.  He was the last British Viceroy of India and its first governor general, handing independence to the people.
    "In addressing the Maryland State Senate, Lord Mountbatten showed a sharp sense of humor, much to the surprise of many in the audience.  He spoke briefly on the close cooperation between Britain and the U.S., and their service as leaders of the free world.   Those in attendance remarked that the Lord was the embodiment of a British nobleman.  Sadly, just a few years after his appearance, Lord Mountbatten was killed by an IRA bomb while fishing on his yacht off the Irish coast in August 1979.  The Maryland State Senate was fortunate to be addressed by the Lord prior to his untimely and tragic death.  I consider this event to be one of my most memorable days in the Senate because it allowed us for one day to peek into the past and catch a glimpse of Maryland when accents like that of Lord Mountbatten were heard throughout the streets."

Compiled March 16, 2000  from the biographical files of the Maryland Manual, ©Maryland State Archives and from materials submitted by Congressman Hoyer dated March 1, 2000 and from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congreess online:  http://bioguide.congress.gov/biosearch/biosearch.asp.