Current Office: Senator
First Elected: 1999
Next Election:
Party: Democratic

General

Gender: Female
Family: 3 Children: Lisa, Theresa, Jeffery (deceased)
Birth date: 01/22/1944
Birthplace: Portsmouth, VA
Home City: Portsmouth VA
Religion: African Methodist Episcopal

Education

MA, Urban Affairs, Norfolk State University, 1982 BS, Vocational-Industrial Education, Norfolk State University, 1971

Profession

Assistant Professor, Department of Academic Affairs/Special Assistant, Norfolk State University, 1994-1998 Congressional Liaison, Old Dominion University, 1992-1994 Interim Executive/Executive Director, Southeastern Tidewater Opportunity Project (STOP), 1985-1992 Shipfitter, Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY), 1967-1971 President/CEO, The Lucas Professional Center Charter Member, Martin Luther King Leadership Steering Committee Member, National Political Congress of Black Women Deaconess, New Mount Olivet Baptist Church Assistant Professor, Academic Affairs, Norfolk State University Congressional Liaison, Old Dominion University

Committees

Courts of Justice
Education and Health
Finance
Local Government
Rules
Subcommittee on Capital Outlay
Subcommittee on Civil Justice
Subcommittee on Claims
Subcommittee on Economic Development/Natural Resources
Subcommittee on Health Licensing
Subcommittee on Mental Health
Subcommittee on Public Safety

HB 1301 2012-2014 Budget
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Nay

Saslaw Amdt Requires Reimbursement of the Full Cost of Ultrasounds Required Prior to Abortions
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Yea

HB 1228 Increases salary for state legislators
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

HB 462 Requires an ultrasound prior to an abortion
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

HB 9 Voter Identification Requirements
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

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HB 1301 2012-2014 Budget
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Nay

Saslaw Amdt Requires Reimbursement of the Full Cost of Ultrasounds Required Prior to Abortions
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Yea

HB 1228 Increases salary for state legislators
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

HB 462 Requires an ultrasound prior to an abortion
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

HB 9 Voter Identification Requirements
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

HB 1112 Repeals HPV Vaccine Requirement
Stage: Motion Vote
Vote: Yea

HB 9 Voter Identification Requirements
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

HB 1112 Repeals HPV Vaccine Requirement
Stage: Motion Vote
Vote: Yea

SB 30 2012-2014 Biennium Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: -

HB 189 Authorizes Adoption Agencies to Refuse Adoptions for Religious Reasons
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HB 48 Authorizing Physical Force Against Intruders
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 131 Establishes Tax Deductions for Corporations
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 6 Requires drug testing for certain welfare recipients
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 438 Amends Teacher Contracts
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 6 Requires drug testing for certain welfare recipients
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HB 940 Repeals Purchase Limit for Handguns
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 349 Authorizing Private Adoption Agencies to Refuse Certain Placements
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 1 Voter Identification Requirements
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 323 Repeals Purchase Limit for Handguns
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 484 Requires Ultrasound Imaging Before an Abortion
Stage: Passage
Vote: -

SB 464 Permits hunting on Sundays
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 251 Redistricting
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HB 5001 Legislative Redistricting
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

HB 2434 Health Benefits Exchange
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

SB 1446 Transportation Budget
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

HB 2527 Virginia Transportation Infrastructure Fund and Bank
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

SB 1062 Health Insurance Coverage of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

HB 2527 Virginia Transportation Infrastructure Fund and Bank
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

SB 1351 Wireless Telecommunication Devices
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 831 Amending the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 747 Prohibits Discrimination in State Employment Based on Sexual Orientation
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 949 Allowing Absentee Voting For Any Reason
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

Amdt 91 Limiting State Funding of Abortion
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Nay

HB 30 2010-2012 Biennium Budget
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

HB 505 Authorizing Concealed Firearms in Establishments that Serve Alcohol
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

HB 885 Authorizing Concealed Firearms in Vehicles
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 737 Requiring Department of Education Review of Charter School Applications
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 283
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

HB 756 Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 660 Internet Sales Tax
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 334 Authorizing Concealed Handguns in Establishments that Serve Alcohol
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 464 Requiring Insurance Coverage of Autism Disorder
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 660 Internet Sales Tax
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 464 Requiring Insurance Coverage of Autism Disorder
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 334 Authorizing Concealed Handguns in Establishments that Serve Alcohol
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 408 Gun Regulation Modifications
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 464 Requiring Insurance Coverage of Autism Disorder
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 660 Internet Sales Tax
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 102 Starting Biennial Budgets in Odd-Numbered Years
Stage: Motion Vote
Vote: Yea

SB 601 Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties
Stage: Motion Vote
Vote: Yea

SB 239 Unemployment Benefit Amendments
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 66 Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 239 Unemployment Benefit Amendments
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 66 Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 283 Prohibiting Federal Individual Health Insurance Mandate
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 9 Enforcing Seat Belt Violations as Primary Offenses
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 83 Authorizing No-Excuse, In-Person Absentee Voting
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 1035 Allowing Guns in Alcohol-Serving Establishments
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

HB 1826 Driver's License Suspension for Unexcused School Absences
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 1671 "Derelict Building" Plan Requirements
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 1826 Driver's License Suspension for Unexcused School Absences
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 1105 Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

SJ 354 Civil Rights for Nonviolent Felons
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SJ 273 Legislative Restoration of Voting Rights for Nonviolent Felons
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SJ 354 Civil Rights for Nonviolent Felons
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SJ 273 Legislative Restoration of Voting Rights for Nonviolent Felons
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 1161 Classifying a Seat Belt Violation as a Primary Offense
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 1473 Department of Forestry Land Use Permits
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 1257 Background Checks for Gun Show Purchases
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 1105 Prohibiting Smoking in Bars and Restaurants
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 961 Expanding Death Penalty Eligibility to Accomplices
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 810 Authorizing No-Excuse, In-Person Absentee Voting
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 6009 Transportation Taxes
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

HB 12 Payday Lending Restrictions
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

HB 11 Property Tax Exemptions
Stage: Motion Vote
Vote: Nay

HB 933 "Triggerman Rule" in Capital Murder Cases
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

HB 11 Property Tax Exemptions
Stage: Motion Vote
Vote: Nay

HB 933 "Triggerman Rule" in Capital Murder Cases
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 476 Prohibiting Drinking with a Concealed Weapon
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 436 Concealed Weapons in Vehicles
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 202 Local Regulation of Smoking in Restaurants
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 298 Banning Smoking Public Places
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 501 Restaurant and Bar Smoking Ban
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 202 Local Regulation of Smoking in Restaurants
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 298 Banning Smoking Public Places
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 501 Restaurant and Bar Smoking Ban
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 202 Local Regulation of Smoking in Restaurants
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 298 Banning Smoking Public Places
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 501 Restaurant and Bar Smoking Ban
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 2347 Capital Murder of a Witness
Stage: Override of Veto
Vote: Nay

Sub HB 2348 Extension of "Triggerman Rule"
Stage: Override of Veto
Vote: Nay

Sub HB 2750 Capital Murder of a Judge
Stage: Override of Veto
Vote: Nay

HB 2347 Capital Murder of a Witness
Stage: Override of Veto
Vote: Nay

Sub HB 2348 Extension of "Triggerman Rule"
Stage: Override of Veto
Vote: Nay

HB 2347 Capital Murder of a Witness
Stage: Override of Veto
Vote: Nay

Sub HB 2348 Extension of "Triggerman Rule"
Stage: Override of Veto
Vote: Nay

Sub HB 2750 Capital Murder of a Judge
Stage: Override of Veto
Vote: Nay

Sub HB 1778 Traffic Light Cameras
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S Sub Funding for Statewide Transportation Projects
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

Sub SB 1327 Minimum Wage Increase
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 1161 Virginia Smoke-Free Air Act
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

Sub SB 1327 Minimum Wage Increase
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 1161 Virginia Smoke-Free Air Act
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

Sub SB 905 Refusal of Medical Treatment for Children
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 920 Requirements For Absentee Voting
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 1014 Payday Lending Restrictions
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SJ 307 Voting Rights of Nonviolent Felons
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SJ 352 Creation of a Bipartisan Redistricting Commission
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

Sub SB 1116 Capital Murder of a Judge or Witness
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 1204 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 5002 2006-2008 Biennium Budget
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: -

SB 5013 Transportation Funding
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

Governor's Recommendation: DMV Voter Registration Requirements
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Yea

HB 568 Flat Tax on Communication Services
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 968 Membership of the Board of Correctional Education
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

Sub SB 677 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 648 Smoking Ban
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 648 Smoking Ban
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

Sub SB 313 DMV Reporting Requirements for Non-citizens
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 253 Mandatory Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 362 Death Penalty Age Restrictions
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 526 Defining Marriage
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

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