Clarence Lam
Member of the Maryland Senate
from the 12th district
Assumed office
January 9, 2019
Preceded byEdward J. Kasemeyer
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 12th district
In office
January 14, 2015 – January 9, 2019
Preceded bySteven J. DeBoy Sr. (12A)
James E. Malone Jr. (12A)
Elizabeth Bobo (12B)
Succeeded byJessica M. Feldmark
Personal details
Born (1980-11-26) November 26, 1980
Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationCase Western Reserve University (BA)
University of Maryland, Baltimore (MD)
Johns Hopkins University (MPH)
Signature
WebsiteOfficial website

Clarence K. Lam (born November 26, 1980) is an American politician and physician who has served in the Maryland Senate representing the 12th district since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously represented the district in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2015 to 2019.

Early life and education

Lam was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he graduated from Emmaus High School. He later attended Case Western Reserve University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and biology in 2003; the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where he earned a Doctor of Medicine degree in 2008; and Johns Hopkins University, where he earned a Masters of Public Health degree in 2011.[1]

While at UMB, Lam was the president of the campus student body and worked as a research analyst for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health from 2005 to 2006.[1]

Lam has worked as a preventive medicine physician at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health since 2009. He has also served on the board of directors of Healthy Howard since 2011.[1] During the COVID-19 pandemic and following the 2020 legislative session, Lam worked as the interim director of the Johns Hopkins Occupational Health Services, in which he coordinated the screening of health care workers and treatment of COVID-19 patients.[2]

Political career

From 2009 to 2013, Lam worked as a legislative aide to state delegate Dan K. Morhaim. He also served as the executive director of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Leadership Council of the Maryland Democratic Party and as a member of the Howard County Spending Affordability Advisory Committee from 2011 to 2014. From 2012 to 2015, he was a member of the Governor's Commission on Asian-Pacific American Affairs.[1]

Lam was elected to the Howard County Democratic Central Committee and became the chapter president of the local Young Democrats club in 2010. He was elected to the board of directors of the village of Harper's Choice in 2011, serving until 2015.[1] In 2012, Lam served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, pledged to President Barack Obama.[1]

In the legislature

Lam in the Senate Finance Committee, 2023

Lam was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2014,[3] during which he ran on a slate with state senator Edward J. Kasemeyer and candidates Eric Ebersole and Terri L. Hill.[4] He was sworn in on January 14, 2015. He was a member of the Environment and Transportation Committee from 2015 to 2017, afterwards serving in the Appropriations Committee until 2019.[1]

On February 13, 2018, Lam announced that he would run for the Maryland Senate in District 12, seeking to succeed Kasemeyer, who had announced his retirement. His candidacy was backed by the district's other two state delegates, Ebersole and Hill.[5] The district was targeted by the Maryland Republican Party in their "Fight for Five" campaign in 2018.[6][7] Lam won the Democratic primary on June 26, 2018, defeating Howard County councilmember Mary Katy Sigaty with 72.6 percent of the vote,[8] faced Republican Joseph Hooe in the general election, who he defeated with 33.8 percent of the vote.[9] He was re-elected in 2022.[10]

Lam was sworn into the Maryland Senate on January 9, 2019. He was a member of the Health and Environmental Affairs Committee until 2023, afterwards serving as a member of the Finance Committee. He has also served on the Executive Nominations Committee since 2019[1] and became the committee's vice chair in October 2023, making him the first Asian American to serve as chair or vice chair of a Senate committee.[11] Lam is the only physician in the Maryland Senate.[12]

In 2020, Senate President Bill Ferguson appointed Lam to chair the Joint Committee on Fair Practices alongside Erek Barron.[1] In this capacity, he became a frequent critic of Larry Hogan and his administration,[13][14] and investigated the circumstances surrounding the $238,250 severance package paid to Roy McGrath, the former director of the Maryland Environmental Service and Hogan's chief of staff.[15][16] He also criticized the University of Maryland Medical System following the Healthy Holly scandal.[17][18]

On November 30, 2023, Lam announced that he would run for Congress in Maryland's 3rd congressional district, seeking to succeed retiring U.S. Representative John Sarbanes. If elected, he would be the first Asian American to represent Maryland in Congress.[19]

Political positions

Lam and other members of the Asian-American and Pacific-Islander Caucus with Governor Wes Moore, 2023

Education

During the 2020 legislative session, Lam introduced a bill to ban lunch shaming in public schools.[20]

In 2023, Lam introduced legislation to create two appointed positions on the county board of education.[21] The bill died after Lam and Courtney Watson, a cosponsor, decided against bringing it up for a vote on the final work day of the Howard County Delegation.[22]

Electoral reform

During the 2020 legislative session, Lam introduced legislation that would require special elections to fill vacancies in the Maryland General Assembly.[23] He also introduced the Student Voter Empowerment Act, which would require higher education institutions to encourage students to vote in elections.[24]

Environment

During the 2019 legislative session, Lam introduced a bill to ban deliberate balloon releases.[25] The bill was reintroduced by state delegate Wayne A. Hartman in 2021, during which he amended the bill to set penalties for mass balloon releases.[26]

In March 2023, during debate on a bill establishing the framework for the state's recreational cannabis industry, Lam introduced an amendment requiring "on-site consumption" establishments to follow the state's Clean Indoor Air Act. The amendment was adopted.[27]

Health care

Lam opposes efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act.[28] During his 2018 Senate candidacy, he ran on a platform that included expanding health care access, especially coverage for pregnant women, and taking steps toward universal health coverage.[8][29] Lam frequently criticized the Hogan administration's decision-making during the COVID-19 pandemic,[30][31] including the distribution and contracting of the COVID-19 vaccine.[12][32][33] In April 2021, he was one of two state senators to vote against confirming Dennis Schrader as Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health, citing criticism of his COVID-19 vaccine rollout.[34][35]

During the 2015 legislative session, Lam introduced a bill to make it easier for physicians to screen patients for HIV. The bill passed and was signed into law by Governor Larry Hogan.[36] In 2019, he introduced a bill that would allow medical professionals to prescribe pre-exposure prophylaxis, a HIV-prevent drug, to minors, which passed and became law.[37]

During the 2020 legislative session, Lam introduced legislation to extend temporary unemployment benefits to workers who lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill passed and became law.[38]

In March 2022, Lam said he supported legislation to prevent state health officers from being fired without reason.[39]

During the 2023 legislative session, Lam introduced the Access to Care Act, which would allow undocumented immigrants to buy into the state's health exchange.[40][41]

Immigration

In 2017, Lam supported the Maryland Trust Act, which would prevent the use of state and local funding for federal immigration enforcement.[42]

During the 2021 legislative session, Lam introduced the Maryland Driver Privacy Act, which would prohibit federal agencies from accessing state databases unless it had a warrant and blocked the state from providing agencies with photos of individuals for immigration investigations.[43] The bill passed, but was vetoed by Governor Larry Hogan.[44] The Maryland General Assembly overrode Hogan's veto during the special legislative session later that year.[45]

Social issues

During the 2016 legislative session, Lam introduced legislation to ban dogfighting paraphernalia.[46]

In 2017, Lam introduced legislation to provide immunity to first responders to provide aid to animals during emergencies.[47]

In 2020, Lam introduced legislation to make daylight savings time permanent in Maryland.[48]

In 2021, Lam introduced legislation to ban the use of gay panic defense in criminal court proceedings.[49] The bill passed and went into effect without Governor Larry Hogan's signature.[50]

During the 2022 legislative session and following reports that Governor Larry Hogan and his administration was using the messaging app Wickr, which automatically deletes messages, in official state communications, Lam introduced legislation that would revise the Maryland Public Information Act to include messages sent in the app.[51][52]

In March 2022, Lam spoke in support of a bill to provide $3.5 million toward training doctors on abortion care.[53]

During the 2023 legislative session, Lam spoke against a proposed amendment that would require minors to get parental consent to receive gender-affirming care. The amendment was rejected in a 14-29 vote.[54] He also introduced legislation to repeal sodomy as a criminal offense, which passed and became law without Governor Wes Moore's signature,[55] and another bill that would cut state funding from school systems that refuse to instruct state-approved curriculum.[56]

Taxes

In March 2014, Lam said he would only support "progressive" tax increases.[57]

Electoral history

Maryland House of Delegates District 12 Democratic primary election, 2014[58]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Clarence K. Lam 6,307 21.3
Democratic Terri L. Hill 6,059 20.5
Democratic Eric Ebersole 4,427 14.9
Democratic Rebecca P. Dongarra 3,782 12.8
Democratic Nick Stewart 2,991 10.1
Democratic Renee McGuirk-Spence 1,908 6.4
Democratic Brian S. Bailey 1,576 5.3
Democratic Michael Gisriel 1,246 4.2
Democratic Adam Sachs 747 2.5
Democratic Jay Fred Cohen 580 2.0
Maryland House of Delegates District 12 election, 2014[59]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Eric Ebersole 19,274 18.9
Democratic Terri L. Hill 19,236 18.9
Democratic Clarence K. Lam 18,568 18.2
Republican Joseph D."Joe" Hooe 16,171 15.9
Republican Rick Martel 14,290 14.0
Republican Gordon Bull 14,146 13.9
Write-in 110 0.1
Maryland Senate District 12 Democratic primary election, 2018[60]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Clarence K. Lam 9,658 72.6
Democratic Mary Kay Sigaty 3,651 27.4
Maryland Senate District 12 election, 2018[61]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Clarence K. Lam 32,730 66.1
Republican Joseph D. "Joe" Hooe 16,747 33.8
Write-in 46 0.1
Maryland Senate District 12 election, 2022[62]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Clarence K. Lam (incumbent) 30,570 70.0
Republican Bob Cockey 13,078 29.9
Write-in 44 0.1

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Clarence K. Lam, Maryland State Senator". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. November 1, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  2. ↑ DeVille, Taylor (April 10, 2020). "Two legislators who represent Howard and Baltimore counties return to health care work amid coronavirus". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  3. ↑ Loricchio, Lauren (November 18, 2014). "District 12's new delegates prepare for debut in Annapolis on Jan. 14". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  4. ↑ Broadwater, Luke (September 20, 2014). "Baltimore Co. Republicans face Howard Co. Democrats in redrawn District 12". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  5. ↑ Solomon, Libby (February 13, 2018). "State Del. Lam to run for Senate seat". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  6. ↑ Broadwater, Luke (October 26, 2018). "Maryland GOP wages 'Fight for Five' campaign to end Democrats' supermajority in state Senate". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  7. ↑ Kurtz, Josh (November 7, 2018). "GOP's 'Drive for Five' Stalls". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  8. 1 2 Boteler, Cody (June 27, 2018). "Lam beats Sigaty in wide victory for District 12 Democratic candidate for state Senate". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  9. ↑ Boteler, Cody (November 7, 2018). "Election Day 2018 in Maryland: District 12 stays in Democratic hands". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  10. ↑ Munro, Dana (November 12, 2022). "Incumbent General Assembly candidates in Anne Arundel County lead after first day of mail-in ballot counting". The Capital. Capital Gazette. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  11. ↑ Sears, Bryan P. (October 10, 2023). "With committee chair's resignation, Ferguson makes changes to Senate leadership". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  12. 1 2 DeVille, Taylor (January 5, 2022). "State Senate's only physician questions Maryland health secretary over delay alerting patients of possibly spoiled vaccines". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  13. ↑ Hogan, Jack (May 12, 2023). "MD audit finds delays, lack of oversight in state procurement upgrades under Hogan". Maryland Daily Record. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  14. ↑ Gaskill, Hannah; Roberts, Angela (October 24, 2023). "Audit: Maryland Dept. of Health unable to provide documentation it received $1.4B in owed federal funding". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  15. ↑ Kurtz, Josh (August 15, 2020). "Lawmakers Vow Review of Payout to Hogan's Chief of Staff". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  16. ↑ Gaskill, Hannah; Mann, Alex; Sanderlin, Lee O. (June 7, 2023). "Affidavit sheds new light on when and what ex-Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan knew about Roy McGrath's severance before it was public". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  17. ↑ Broadwater, Luke; Rector, Kevin (March 15, 2020). "Citing coronavirus spread, Maryland Senate committee approves UMMS board nominees despite negative audit". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  18. ↑ Cohn, Meredith; Richman, Talia (July 2, 2020). "After 'Healthy Holly' scandal involving no-bid deals, University of Maryland Medical System sticks with company it knows". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  19. ↑ Kurtz, Josh (November 30, 2023). "Sen. Lam joins congressional race to replace Sarbanes". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  20. ↑ Gaskill, Hannah (February 19, 2020). "Bill Would Ban 'Lunch Shaming' of Poor Children". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  21. ↑ Ehrenhaft, Ethan (November 17, 2022). "Howard County lawmakers Clarence Lam and Courtney Watson propose appointing, instead of electing, two school board members". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  22. ↑ Ehrenhaft, Ethan (February 8, 2023). "Proposal to end Howard County school board's all-elected model fails; public campaign financing bill advances". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  23. ↑ Richman, Talia (January 20, 2020). "Maryland legislators target process for filling General Assembly vacancies, say it needs to be more democratic". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  24. ↑ Gaskill, Hannah (February 7, 2020). "Lawmakers Look to Colleges to Engage Young Voters". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  25. ↑ Johnson, Teresa (November 22, 2019). "Maryland bill may follow Queen Anne's balloon release law". The Baltimore Sun. Capital News Service. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  26. ↑ Bergel, Tori (April 9, 2021). "Away with up, up and away? Maryland bill would end balloon releases, which can endanger animals and foul environment". The Baltimore Sun. Capital News Service. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  27. ↑ Janesch, Sam (March 27, 2023). "Cannabis legalization plan passes Maryland Senate committee; amended bill heads toward final steps". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  28. ↑ Bleiweis, Jon (January 11, 2017). "In Annapolis, local projects will be championed by legislators". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  29. ↑ Boteler, Cody (June 14, 2018). "Two Democrats face off for state Senate District 12 seat". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  30. ↑ Cohn, Meredith; Wood, Pamela (June 5, 2020). "Questions about South Korean coronavirus tests linger in Maryland". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  31. ↑ Wood, Pamela (April 9, 2021). "Following problematic deals for test kits and PPE, Maryland lawmakers tighten rules on emergency contracts". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  32. ↑ Condon, Christine; Mann, Alex (February 8, 2021). "Maryland hopes adding pharmacies to COVID vaccine rollout will expand its reach". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  33. ↑ Mann, Alex; Miller, Hallie (January 21, 2021). "Maryland seniors, others eligible for coronavirus vaccine frustrated by communication void, wait". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  34. ↑ Wood, Pamela (April 2, 2021). "Maryland Senate OK's Gov. Hogan's pick for health secretary". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  35. ↑ Kurtz, Josh (April 2, 2021). "Schrader Wins Senate Confirmation to be Health Secretary, 45-2". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  36. ↑ Yeager, Amanda (April 14, 2015). "Session wrap: Q&A with District 12's delegates". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  37. ↑ Gaines, Danielle E. (March 26, 2019). "Lawmakers Pass Bill Giving Youth Access to HIV-Prevention Drug Without Parental Consent". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  38. ↑ Broadwater, Luke (March 16, 2020). "Maryland Senate passes emergency legislation to extend temporary unemployment benefits during coronavirus pandemic". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  39. ↑ Cohn, Meredith (March 2, 2022). "Threats and retaliation against Maryland public health workers are aired during hearing in Annapolis". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  40. ↑ Roberts, Angela (January 31, 2023). "Advocates, Maryland lawmakers pitch Health Care for All 2023 legislative agenda". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  41. ↑ Ford, William J. (March 14, 2023). "Advocates rally for bills that would expand access to health care". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  42. ↑ Turque, Bill (May 24, 2023). "These first-generation Chinese Americans are vigorously opposing sanctuary laws". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  43. ↑ Harwell, Drew; Cox, Erin (February 27, 2020). "ICE has run facial-recognition searches on millions of Maryland drivers". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  44. ↑ Wood, Pamela (May 26, 2021). "Maryland Gov. Hogan vetoes bills that would limit state's aid to federal immigration enforcement". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  45. ↑ Gaskill, Hannah (December 5, 2021). "Legislature Prepares to Override Hogan's Vetoes During Special Session". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  46. ↑ Pacella, Rachael (January 12, 2016). "Delegates Lam, Ebersole, Hill talk about priorities for District 12 in 2016". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  47. ↑ Bleiweis, Jon (April 24, 2017). "Maryland bill gives first responders protections when aiding pets". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  48. ↑ Barnes, Jeff (March 5, 2020). "Bill could make Daylight Saving Time permanent in Maryland". The Baltimore Sun. Capital News Service. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  49. ↑ Slooten, Philip Van (January 22, 2021). "Bill Would Eliminate 'Panic' Defense for Attacks on LGBTQ Individuals". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  50. ↑ "LGBTQ panic defense, Maryland bill to be law without Governor's signature". Washington Blade. June 1, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  51. ↑ Wood, Pamela (February 15, 2022). "Maryland lawmakers target disappearing text messages used by governor". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  52. ↑ DePuyt, Bruce (January 7, 2022). "Lawmakers Craft Measures to Rein in Hogan's Use of Text-Destroying App". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  53. ↑ Stole, Bryn (March 30, 2022). "Bill to expand Maryland abortion access heads to Gov. Larry Hogan's desk". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  54. ↑ Gaskill, Hannah; Janesch, Sam (March 20, 2023). "On busy 'crossover day,' legislature advances abortion records protections, Senate introduces budget bill". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  55. ↑ Gaskill, Hannah (May 19, 2023). "Maryland Gov. Wes Moore vetoes 3 bills, lets repeal of sexual acts statute and others go into effect without his signature". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  56. ↑ Wiggins, Ovetta; Asbury, Nicole (March 11, 2023). "A financial penalty for not teaching gender identity? Md. bill would impose one". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  57. ↑ Loricchio, Lauren (March 7, 2014). "District 12 candidates talk taxes at Thursday night forum". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  58. ↑ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. July 16, 2014.
  59. ↑ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. December 2, 2014.
  60. ↑ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for State Senator". Maryland State Board of Elections. July 31, 2018.
  61. ↑ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for State Senator". Maryland State Board of Elections. December 11, 2018.
  62. ↑ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election results for State Senator". Maryland State Board of Elections. December 7, 2022.
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