Barve is the longest serving Indian American elected official in the US.
By Raif Karerat
WASHINGTON, DC: Del. Kumar Barve, the longest serving Indian American elected official ever, has a new leadership role, as the chairman of the newly designated Maryland House Environment and Transportation Committee.
“Delegate Barve has demonstrated time and time again his command of complex issues and he is a natural choice of someone to guide State environment and transportation policy,” Speaker Michael E. Busch said in a recent press release, announcing the appointment.
“It’s quite an honor to be elevated to this position, and I hope to be able to help protect Maryland’s environment and improve our transportation system,” Barve told Global India Newswire.
In 1991, the Democrat was the first Indian American to be elected to a state legislature in the United States and he has served as Maryland’s House majority leader for over a decade.
The 56-year-old represents Montgomery County District 17. He was elected to his 7th four-year term last month.
The committee, which was known as the Environmental Matters Committee, aims to address both environmental and transportation issues.
Barve’s past work as a legislator has been varied and focused on a broad range of issues. In 1995, he successfully sponsored the first state bill in the nation to regulate HMOs, and he later co-sponsored a law that stops insurance companies in Maryland from using pre-existing conditions to deny coverage. He has also worked extensively to promote legislation in favor of high tech businesses. (GIN)