Clarence Lam

Last updated

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. [20] During the Democratic primary, which largely developed into a three-way race between Lam, Sarah Elfreth, and Harry Dunn, [21] [22] Lam campaigned on health-related issues. [2]

Political positions

Lam and other members of the Asian-American and Pacific-Islander Caucus with Governor Wes Moore, 2023 Legislative AAPI Caucus Evening Reception (52707480307).jpg
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. [23]

In 2023, Lam introduced legislation to create two appointed positions on the county board of education. [24] 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. [25]

Electoral reform

During the 2020 legislative session, Lam introduced legislation that would require special elections to fill vacancies in the Maryland General Assembly. [26] He also introduced the Student Voter Empowerment Act, which would require higher education institutions to encourage students to vote in elections. [27]

Environment

During the 2019 legislative session, Lam introduced a bill to ban deliberate balloon releases. [28] 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. [29]

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. [30]

Health care

Lam opposes efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. [31] 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. [9] [32] Lam frequently criticized the Hogan administration's decision-making during the COVID-19 pandemic, [33] [34] including the distribution and contracting of the COVID-19 vaccine. [13] [35] [36] 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. [37] [38]

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. [39] 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. [40]

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. [41]

In March 2022, Lam said he supported legislation to prevent state health officers from being fired without reason. [42]

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. [43] [44] The bill was reintroduced during the 2024 legislative session. [45]

Immigration

In 2017, Lam supported the Maryland Trust Act, which would prevent the use of state and local funding for federal immigration enforcement. [46]

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. [47] The bill passed, but was vetoed by Governor Larry Hogan. [48] The Maryland General Assembly overrode Hogan's veto during the special legislative session later that year. [49]

Social issues

During the 2016 legislative session, Lam introduced legislation to ban dogfighting paraphernalia. [50]

In 2017, Lam introduced legislation to provide immunity to first responders to provide aid to animals during emergencies. [51]

In 2020, Lam introduced legislation to make daylight savings time permanent in Maryland. [52]

In 2021, Lam introduced legislation to ban the use of gay panic defense in criminal court proceedings. [53] The bill passed and went into effect without Governor Larry Hogan's signature. [54]

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. [55] [56]

In March 2022, Lam spoke in support of a bill to provide $3.5 million toward training doctors on abortion care. [57]

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. [58] He also introduced legislation to repeal sodomy as a criminal offense, which passed and became law without Governor Wes Moore's signature, [59] and another bill that would cut state funding from school systems that refuse to instruct state-approved curriculum. [60] During the 2024 legislative session, Lam introduced a bill to protect health care providers from liability if they provide gender-affirming care to out-of-state patients. [61]

Taxes

In March 2014, Lam said he would only support "progressive" tax increases. [62]

Personal life

Lam has a daughter. [2]

Electoral history

Clarence Lam
Clarence Lam.jpg
Member of the Maryland Senate
from the 12th district
Assumed office
January 9, 2019
Maryland House of Delegates District 12 Democratic primary election, 2014 [63]
PartyCandidateVotes%
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. Dongarra3,78212.8
Democratic Nick Stewart2,99110.1
Democratic Renee McGuirk-Spence1,9086.4
Democratic Brian S. Bailey1,5765.3
Democratic Michael Gisriel1,2464.2
Democratic Adam Sachs7472.5
Democratic Jay Fred Cohen5802.0
Maryland House of Delegates District 12 election, 2014 [64]
PartyCandidateVotes%
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" Hooe16,17115.9
Republican Rick Martel14,29014.0
Republican Gordon Bull14,14613.9
Write-in 1100.1
Maryland Senate District 12 Democratic primary election, 2018 [65]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Clarence K. Lam 9,658 72.6
Democratic Mary Kay Sigaty3,65127.4
Maryland Senate District 12 election, 2018 [66]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Clarence K. Lam 32,730 66.1
Republican Joseph D. "Joe" Hooe16,74733.8
Write-in 460.1
Maryland Senate District 12 election, 2022 [67]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Clarence K. Lam (incumbent) 30,570 70.0
Republican Bob Cockey13,07829.9
Write-in 440.1

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