SENATE

FORMER SENATORS

[photo, John C. Astle, Maryland State Senator] JOHN C. ASTLE
Democrat, District 30, Anne Arundel County


Member of Senate, January 11, 1995 to January 9, 2019. Vice-Chair, Finance Committee, 2003-19 (member, 1995-2019; welfare reform subcommittee, 1995-99; home builders registration work group, 1999; division of labor & industry sunset evaluation work group, 2003; health subcommittee, 2003-19; transportation subcommittee, 2012-19; chair, unemployment insurance benefits-adjustment work group, 1999-2000). Member, Joint Committee on Federal Relations, 1995-96; Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics, 1995-2003. Deputy Majority Whip, 1998. Assistant Deputy Majority Whip, 1999. Member, Joint Audit Committee, 1999-2015; Joint Technology Oversight Committee, 2000-09; Task Force to Study Possible Benefits of Owner-Controlled Insurance Programs, 2002. Senate Chair, Department of Natural Resources Special Funds Work Group, 2002-03. Member, Joint Committee on the Selection of the State Treasurer, 2003, 2007; Legislative Policy Committee, 2003-19; Senate Special Commission on Electric Utility Deregulation Implementation, 2005-06; Joint Legislative Task Force on Small-Group Market Health Insurance, 2005-07; Joint Information Technology and Biotechnology Committee, 2009-14; Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review, 2011-17; Joint Committee on the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area, 2014-15; Joint Committee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Biotechnology, 2014-17; Rules Committee, 2015-19. Senate Chair, Anne Arundel County Delegation, 1998-2001, 2004-19. Senate Chair, Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus, 2001-19. Member, Maryland Veterans Caucus, 2004-19 (vice-chair, 2015). Senate Chair, Maryland Military Installation Legislative Caucus, 2017-19. President, National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses, 2004-19. Member, National Conference of State Legislatures (agriculture, environment & energy committee, 2007-08; agriculture & energy committee, 2008-19; environment committee, 2008-19; energy & electric utilities committee); Southern Legislative Conference (energy & environment committee, 2008-19).

Member, Task Force on Dual Office-Holding by Public Employees, 1995; Maryland Occupational Safety and Health Task Force, 1995; Task Force to Examine Liability Insurance on Rental Vehicles, 1996; Task Force to Study Patient and Provider Appeal and Grievance Mechanisms, 1996; Advisory Committee to Study Funding Mechanisms for the Maryland Insurance Administration, 1997-98. Co-Chair, Task Force to Examine the Mortgage Lending Business, 1997. Co-Chair, Task Force to Study Modernization of Credit Union Law, 1999-2001. Member, State Commission on the Capital City, 1999-2007; Environmental Noise Advisory Council, 2000-05; Task Force to Study the Economic Development of the Maryland Seafood and Aquaculture Industries, 2002-04 (executive committee; aquaculture industry work group); Governor's Commission on the Structure and Efficiency of State Government, 2003 (law enforcement agencies subcommittee); Maryland Military Installations Strategic Planning Council, 2003-06. Board of Trustees, Chesapeake Bay Trust, 2003-19. Member, Governor's Commission for Protecting the Chesapeake Bay through Sustainable Forestry, 2004-06; Maryland Tourism Development Board, 2004-19; Task Force on Assistance to Disabled Veterans Establishing Small Businesses, 2005; Task Force on Traffic Capacity Across the Chesapeake Bay, 2005-06; Maryland Military Installation Council, 2006-19 (member, base realignment & closure (brac) advisory group, 2016-19). Chair, Task Force to Study the Boating Industry in Maryland, 2007-08. Member, Blue Ribbon Commission to Study Retiree Health-Care Funding Options, 2007-09; Task Force on Educational Issues Affecting Military Children, 2008-09; Maryland State Council on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, 2010-19; Task Force to Study a Post-Labor Day Start Date for Maryland Public Schools, 2013-14.

Member, House of Delegates, representing District 30, Anne Arundel County, January 1983 to January 11, 1995. Member, Economic Matters Committee, 1983-85; Appropriations Committee, 1986-93 (vice-chair, capital budget subcommittee; vice-chair, budget subcommittee on law enforcement & transportation); Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics, 1987-94; Special Joint Committee on Energy Pricing, 1990-91; Joint Expenditure Study Group on Law Enforcement and Transportation, 1991; Commerce and Government Matters Committee, 1994. Chair, Anne Arundel County Delegation, 1986-91.

Born in Charles Town, West Virginia, March 31, 1943. Attended Barboursville High School, Barboursville, West Virginia; Marshall University, B.A. (sociology), 1966; Catholic University of America, graduate studies, 1972-74. Served in U.S. Marine Corps, captain, 1966-75 (31 air medals, 2 purple hearts, presidential service badge); assigned to White House support staff (Presidential helicopter pilot), 1971-74. Served in U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 1975-96 (retired as colonel). Medical evacuation helicopter pilot, Washington Hospital Center, 1985-2005. Member, Marine Corps Reserve Officers Association; American Legion; Veterans of Foreign Wars; Disabled American Veterans; National Rifle Association; Safari Club International. Board of Directors, Maryland Patient Safety Center, 2007- (advisory board, 2004-07). State Legislator of the Year, Safari Club International, 2005. Married; two children; three grandchildren.

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