THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

CONNECTING MARYLANDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT, THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE".

JUST AHEAD ON THIS WEEK'S PROGRAM CAN A NEW STATE AGENCY HELP TO CUT YOUR PRESCRIPTION COSTS?

AND WE'LL MEET A WOMAN WHO IS DEDICATING HER RETIREMENT TO HELPING VETERANS IN NEED.

FIRST THIS WEEK A DOUBLE-HEADER OF BIG NEWS AT ORAL PARK AT CAMDEN YARDS AS THE O'S WERE CLINCHING THE AMERICAN LEAGUE TITLE LAST NIGHT THE SCOREBOARD ANNOUNCED THE TEAM AND A STATE REACHED AN AGREEMENT ON A NEW LEASE.

GOVERNOR MOORE APPEARED ON 1067 TODAY.

THIS IS BIGGER THAN SPORTS IS THIS ABOUT HOW WE ARE CREATING ECONOMIC ENERGY AND ECONOMIC MOMENTUM THAT BENEFITS EVERYBODY AND NOT JUST THE SPORTS TEAMS BUT THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE COMMUNITY AND THE SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE ENTREPRENEURS.

AND I THINK WITH THIS DEAL, WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THREE MEASURES WERE TICKED OFF WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING.

>> Jeff: MORE ON THE NEW LEASE AND THE ORIOLES PLAYOFF CHANCE ON "DIRECT CONNECTION" MONDAY NIGHT.

>> >> NOW, TO THE STRUGGLES THAT MANY MARYLANDERS FACE PAYING FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE STATE CREATED THE MARYLAND PRESCRIPTION DRUG AFFORDABILITY BOARD INTENDED TO BE ABLE TO CAP PRICES IN SOME CASES.

OUR NEWSMAKER THIS WEEK IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ANDREW YORK.

>> THE MARYLAND PRESCRIPTION DRUG AFFORDABILITY BOARD IS ACTUALLY THE FIRST IN THE NATION PRESCRIPTION AFFORDABILITY BOARD AND IT WAS CREATED IN 2019 WE ARE AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY DEDICATED TO MAKING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS MORE AFFORDABLE FOR MARYLANDERS.

>> Jeff: HOW IS THE PROCESS SUPPOSED TO WORK?

>> THE BREAD AND BUTTER OF OUR WORK IS THROUGH SOMETHING CALLED COST REVIEWS AND UPPER PAYMENT LIMITS.

OUR COST REVIEWS ALLOW US TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD AND UNDERSTAND WHY SPECIFIC DRUGS ARE CAUSING AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGES.

AND THEN IF WE DEEM TO DO A DRUG AS UNAFFORDABLE WE HAVE THE OPTION OF SETTING UPPER PAYMENT LIMITS.

THIS IS A NOVEL CONCEPT, AND WE'RE DEVELOPING THAT PROCESS THROUGH THE ACTION PLAN WHICH SAYS WHAT DRUGS CAN BE SUBJECT TO UPPER PAYMENT LIMITS AND HOW YOU CALCULATE THE UPPER PAYMENT LIMIT AND IMPORTANTLY, THE SUPPLY CHAIN IS SO COMPLEX YOU NEED TO THINK THROUGH HOW YOU MAKE THAT PAYMENT WORK.

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING THAT NOW.

>> Jeff: AND THIS WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY BENEFIT ALL MARYLANDERS, THE POWER IS LIMITED TO PLANS THAT ARE FUNDED BY STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THE ORIGINAL SCOPE OF AUTHORITY IS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE FOR MY STATE OR LOCAL COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

ALSO FOR ANY DIRECT PURCHASES BY THE STATE OR STATE ENTITIES AND ALSO THE MEDICAID PROGRAM.

BUT THAT IS A GOOD PLACE TO START.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS WAS KIND OF YOU WANT TO TEST THE CONCEPT FIRST AND THAT GROUP AND THEN GO FROM THERE.

IN 2026 WE OWE A REPORT WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE IF WE WERE TO EXPAND THE SCOPE TO THE ENTIRE STATE.

>> Jeff: AND I UNDERSTAND THAT HEALTHCARE ADVOCATES ARE HOPING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT STARTS IN JANUARY.

ARE YOU SAYING THAT WOULD BE TOO SOON?

>> THE BOARD DOESN'T HAVE AN OPINION ON THIS AT THIS POINT.

WE WILL BE DOING A DEEP DIVE BY 2026.

BUT WE WOULD CERTAINLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANY CHANGES THAT COME.

THE BOARD DOESN'T HAVE A POSITION AT THIS TIME.

BUT YOU KNOW, IT WOULDN'T CHANGE OUR PROCESS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

BUT AS SOON AS THAT PROCESS IS PROVEN TO BE EFFECTIVE I THINK WE WOULD LOOK AT OTHER POPULATIONS AS WELL.

>> Jeff: DO YOU HAVE A SENSE AT THIS POINT OF WHAT DRUGS YOU WOULD TARGET FIRST?

WHERE'S THE BIGGEST PROBLEM HERE?

IS IT THE NOVEL LIFE EXTENDING FANCY NEW CANCER DRUG THAT'S $100,000 A DOSE OR SOMETHING?

OR MORE PEDESTRIAN SORT OF GENERICS THAT ARE SEEING A LOT OF INFLATION?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

OUR BOARD SPENT A LOT OF TIME THINKING THROUGH THIS.

AND THEIR ULTIMATE DECISION THEY WANT TO KEEP IT ALL ON THE TABLE.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF MARKET DISTORTIONS FOR DIFFERENT DRUGS.

YOU CAN HAVE A LOT OF DRUGS THAT ARE THE ONLY DRUG IN CLASS THERE'S NO ABILITY FOR INSURERS AND ENTITIES TO NEGOTIATE A LOWER PRICE THEN YOU HAVE DISTORTIONS WITH NAME-BRAND DRUGS THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE MARKET FOR A LONGTIME AND HAVE THROUGH A NUMBER OF WAYS EXTENDED THEIR GOVERNMENT GRANT MONOPOLY.

THOSE MIGHT BE ONES TO LOOK AT.

TO YOUR POINT THERE'S GENERICS HAVE NATURAL MONOPOLIES AND TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THAT TO BOOST PRICE TO HIGH RATES.

IT'S ALL ON THE TABLE.

THE BOARD CREATED A PROCESS TO ADDRESS ALL THE ISSUES.

>> Jeff: GAME THEORY WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT... AT SOME POINT IS THE BOARD GOING TO TAKE ACTION AND SET AN UPPER PRICE LIMIT FOR A CERTAIN DRUG, AND THEN THE DRUG COMPANY IS EITHER GOING TO TAKE YOU TO COURT OR DECLINE TO SELL AT THAT PRICE AND YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE THEM TO COURT?

HOW IS IT GOING TO PLAY OUT?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

WE'RE HOPING TO ADDRESS THAT WITH THE UPPER PAYMENT LIMIT WE'RE WORKING ON THE.

THE PURPOSE OF THE WORK IS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO PATIENTS AND MAKE DRUGS MORE AFFORDABLE.

WHEN YOU HEAR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT LOSING ACCESS TO DRUGS THE BOARD TAKES THAT SERIOUSLY AND THAT IS NOT THE INTENT.

THE GOAL IS MORE MARYLANDERS CAN AFFORD THE DRUGS.

A LOT OF WORK IS WORKING THROUGH THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES AND UNDERSTANDING HOW THE POLICIES WOULD WORK.

I ALSO SAY WE HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR MANUFACTURE PART NERTS THAT THEY POINT TO OTHER DISTORTIONS WITHIN THE SUPPLY CHAIN.

THEY WILL SAY THAT PAYERS OR PBM'S DERIVING REBATES WHEN THE ACTUAL PRICE THAT THE MANUFACTURERS ARE RECEIVING DOESN'T CHANGE-OVER TIME.

THEY MAY SEE OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS OTHER DISTORTIONS WITHIN THE SPACE.

IT CAN BE A PLACE WHERE IT'S NOT WIN-WIN BUT EVERYONE GETS TO A PLACE OF AGREEMENT.

>> Jeff: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO START NEGOTIATING ON 10 POPULAR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

TWO-PART QUESTION DOES IT MAKE MORE SENSE TO DO THIS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL INSTEAD OF STATE BY STATE?

AND THE SECOND THING IS WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO COME OUT OF THIS FEDERAL EFFORT.

>> .

>> THERE'S A DIFFERENT SCOPE AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL.

WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS DOING, IS SPECIFICALLY FOR MEDICARE.

YOUR PATIENTS 65 AND OVER AND DISABLED POPULATIONS.

AND THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A NUMBER OF MARYLANDERS THAT ARE ON MEDICARE.

AT THE STATE LEVEL WE REGULAE COMMERCIAL PLANS, SPECIFIC GROUP OF COMMERCIAL PLANS AND WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS DOING WOULD NOT AFFECT THEM AT THIS POINT.

THEY CERTAINLY COULD REGULATE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

BUT WE ARE ABLE TO LEARN FROM THE WORK AT THE FEDERAL SPACE AND TAKE CARE OF THE PLANS NOT REGULATED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND VICE VERSA.

IF WE WERE DOING WE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR MEDICARE AND WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS ARE MOVING IN THE SPACE.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT FOR BOTH THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.

THE STATES ARE LABORATORIES OF DEMOCRACY AND HEALTH POLICY.

I THINK THERE IS A LOT THE STATES CAN TRY AND SHARE WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS AND VICE VERSA.

>> Jeff: PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION REPRESENTS THE BIG DRUG COMPANIES THEY SAY IN OTHER COUNTRIES RESORTED TO GOVERNMENT PRICE SETTING PATIENTS HAVE ACCESS TO FEWER NEW MEDICINES AND WAIT LONGER TO GET THE MEDICINES THEY NEED.

IS THERE A TRADE-OFF HERE THAT REINING IN THE PRICING OFFERED BY THE DRUG COMPANIES IS GOING TO REDUCE ACCESS?

OR REDUCE INNOVATION?

>> YEAH.

I THINK IT'S IN EVERYONE'S INTEREST THAT WE CONTINUE TO INNOVATE.

AND I TALKED TO THE BOARD MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC WE WANT NEW CUTTING EDGE DRUGS.

I THINK WHERE A LOT OF THE INTEREST IN THIS SPACE HAS COME FROM IS THE FACT A LOT OF THE WORK UP TO THIS POINT IS KIND OF EXTENDING GOVERNMENT GRANT MONOPOLIES FOR DRUGS ALREADY ON THE MARKET.

A LOT OF EVERGREENING THAT SAME CONCEPT OF MAINTAINING YOUR MONOPOLY AS LONG AS YOU CAN SO YOU CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE THAT MONEY.

A LOT OF WORK IN THE SAME SPACE, THE ME TOO, ME AGAIN DRUGS.

THEORETICALLY, HOPEFULLY THIS WILL DRIVE-IN VACCINATION TO NEW THERAPIES RATHER THAN KIND OF GOING AFTER THE SAME TARGETS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

>> Jeff: IS IT POSSIBLE THAT INSTEAD OF DICTATING A PRICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HOLD-UP IN COURT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD SORT OF COMPRESS THE RANGE.

IN OTHER WORDS IF THE DRUG COMPANY IS GOING TO SELL IN ANOTHER COUNTRY OR INSURANCE COMPANY AT THIS PRICE, THEY CAN'T CHARGE EVERYBODY ELSE FIVE TIMES THAT AMOUNT.

YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO KEEP EVERYTHING WITHIN 100% SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN I THINK THAT IS CERTAINLY A REASONABLE PROPOSAL.

THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION CREATED THE MOST FAVORED NATION MODEL TARGETED TOWARDS BENCHMARKING A PRESCRIPTION DRUG TO INTERNATIONAL PRICES.

AND A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION WAS LIKE YES, THE U.S. WILL PAY LESS BUT SOME OF THE INTENTION WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE ELSE IS PAYING MORE.

>> Jeff: THANKS TO ANDREW YORK OF THE MARYLAND PRESCRIPTION DRUG AFFORDABILITY BOARD.

>> Jeff: JOINING US FOR THE POLITICAL ROUNDTABLE ARE THE LEADER OF MARYLAND'S LEGISLATIVE LATINO CAUCUS, DELEGATE DAVID FRASER-HILDAGO IS THE CHAIRS AND DELEGATE JOSS YOS IS JOSELINE PENA-MELNYK.

TELL US ABOUT THE CAUCUS YOU HAVE BEEN GROWING IN NUMBERS FOR SURE.

>> FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU FOR HAVING US ON THE SHOW.

SO WE STARTED THE CAUCUS IN 2014 AND SLOWLY GROWN THE NUMBERS EVER SINCE 2014 THE IDEA OF REALLY OPENING OUR ARMS AND OPENING OUR HEARTS TO ALL THE MEMBERS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND BASICALLY SAYING HEY, IF YOU REPRESENT LATINOS IN YOUR DISTRICT AND WE KNOW YOU DO IN EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE, RIGHT, LET'S WORK TOGETHER.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER.

LET'S JOIN HAND IN HAND AND MAKE SURE WE GET GOOD POLICY DONE AND LOOK AFTER THE FOLKS THAT AREN'T LOOKED AFTER AS MUCH AS THEY SHOULD BE.

AS TIME WENT ON THE CAUCUS GREW FROM FIVE MEMBERS OR FOUR MEMBERS TO SEVEN TO 10, TO 20, 30, 40, NOW WE'RE 83 MEMBERS IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND THAT IS JUST BECAUSE THE CHAIR AND I DECIDED WE MADE A CONSCIOUS DECISION ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, THAT WE WERE GOING TO OPEN THE CAUCUS UP TO ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY THAT IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT WANTED TO JOIN.

BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF FOLKS THAT WANT TO DO GREAT WORK.

SO THAT REALLY PUT US ON A TRAJECTORY WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF MEMBERS AND WE CAN DO A LOT OF GOOD AND THERE'S INFLUENCE WITH ALL THOSE MEMBERS REPRESENTING ALL OVER THE STATE.

>> Jeff: DELEGATE JOSELINE PENA-MELNYK YOUR OPINION ON GROWTH OF THE CAUCUS.

>> THANK YOU FOR CARING ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

IT IS A PLEASURE TO SERVE WITH MY BROTHER FROM ANOTHER MOTHER DELEGATE FRASER HILDAGO.

HE IS THE REASON THE CAUCUS IS SO STRONG.

LEADERSHIP MATTERS.

SO WE HAVE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND OUR POPULATION IT'S ABOUT 12% PERHAPS EVEN MORE BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS THAT DID NOT GO RIGHT WITH THE CENSUS THE LAST TIME IT WAS PERFORMED.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE BREAKDOWN IN MARYLAND WE HAVE 23 COUNTIES IN BALTIMORE CITY.

24 JURISDICTIONS A LITTLE OVER SIX MILLION PEOPLE.

LATINOS ARE ALL OVER THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

AND FOR EXAMPLE, IN PRINCE GEORGE'S LATINOS ARE 24% OF THE POPULATION.

CONTINUE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY AS WELL.

AND THERE ARE AREAS LIKE THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE DISTRICT 46 YOU KNOW THAT HAS A LOT OF LATINOS THAT IS GROWING.

AND THERE'S DISTRICT 24, SENATOR BENSON WHO IS THE LATINO POPULATION THERE IS AT LEAST 15%.

THE 47TH DISTRICT AS WELL.

THEY ARE ALL OVER MARYLAND.

AND THEY NEED A VOICE, RIGHT?

THEY NEED A STRONG VOICE THAT LOOKS OUT FOR THEIR INTERESTS AS WELL.

BECAUSE THEY ARE OFTEN IN THE SHADOW.

AND AN AFTER THOUGHT.

SO THE CAUCUS NEEDS TO BE STRONG TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT THEM.

>> Jeff: ARE THERE ANY HOUSE DISTRICTS PERHAPS SUBDISTRICTS THAT ARE MAJORITY LATINO OR HISPANIC OR SHOULD THERE BE?

>> WE HAVE DISTRIT 47 IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND WHICH IS.

AND THE MAJORITY ARE LATINOS IN THAT AREA.

THAT IS THE LANGLEY PARK HEIGHTSVILLE AREA.

>> Jeff: WOW.

TOP ISSUES WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CONCERNS FOR IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS FOR PEOPLE WHOSE ORIGINS GO TO HISPANIC AND LATINO ARAS?

AND MAYBE IN ADDITION TO WHAT ARE THE CURRENT CONCERNS, ARE THERE ANY AREAS WHERE YOU FEEL THE CAUCUS HAS BEEN ABLE TO HAVE A BIG INFLUENCE ON LEGISLATION?

>> SO BASICALLY, THE TOP ISSUES ARE THE SAME AS ANY OTHER FAMILY IN MARYLAND.

THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY LATINO COMMUNITY CARES ABOUT THEIR KIDS GETTING AN EDUCATION, RIGHT?

WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT.

YOU KNOW AS OF 2022, THE LATINOS HAVE THE LOWEST GRADUATION RATE IN THE STATE AS 72%.

AND THIS IS 14% POINTS UNDER THE STATE AVERAGE OF 86%.

12 PERCENTAGE POINTS UNDER THE GRADUATION RATE FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS OF 84% AND 22 POINTS UNDER THE GRADUATION OF WHITE STUDENTS THAT 94%.

SO THE FAMILIES WORRY ABOUT THEIR KIDS GETTING A GOOD EDUCATION.

LATINO FAMILIES ALSO WORRY ABOUT BEING ABLE TO MAKE A LIVING, TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE FOR THE KIDS.

JUST LIKE ANY OTHER AMERICAN FAMILY AS WELL.

YOU KNOW LATINOS HAVE THEY ARE A BIG PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SMALL BUSINESSES AS WELL.

SO THEY WORRY ABOUT ECONOMIC INVESTMENTS.

AS OF 2021, LATINOS MADE UP 10.1% OF WORKERS AND OWN 8.1% OF BUSINESSES IN MARYLAND.

AMERICAN TAXPAYERS PAID $130 MILLION ONLY IN STATE AND LOCAL TAXES LAST YEAR AND MORE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

AND THEY WORRY ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WHICH IS AN ISSUE FOR EVERYONE ELSE.

AND UNIQUE TO US ALSO IS THE LANGUAGE ACCESS BEING ABLE TO ACCESS GOVERNMENT WHICH A LOT OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES DO NOT TRANSLATE THEIR WEBSITE OR THEY USE GOOGLE WHICH IS NOT APPROPRIATE OR DO NOT HAVE THE FORMS YOU KNOW TRANSLATED.

AND WE WORRY ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AS WELL.

BECAUSE MANY LIVE IN VERY POOR AREAS WITH POOR AIR QUALITY.

SO WE WORRY ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE THAT YOU CARE ABOUT AS WELL.

>> THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD I THINK THAT ALL OF THE BIG PIECES IS THAT I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DELEGATE AND I ARE WORKING ON NOW AND I REFER TO HER AS DELEGATE AND SISTER AND ALL KINDS OF WAYS IS BECAUSE WE REALLY DO RUN THIS CAUCUS TOGETHER AND SHE ALSO HAPPENS TO BE THE CHAIR OF HGO, HEALTH AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS.

ONE OF THE THINGS I DO ENVIRONMENTAL WORK AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE WORKING ON IS TRYING TO ILLUMINATE AND DRAW ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE OF HEALTHCARE AND CLIMATE CHANGE AND WITH ARE THEY INTERSECT.

WITH AIR POLLUTION, WATER POLLUTION, THE HEAT THAT IS COMING AND HOTTER AND HOTTER DAYS.

THERE IS A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN THESE THINGS FOR EVERYBODY.

BUT IN PARTICULAR WITH THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

AND SO THAT'S JUST ONE ASPECT OF ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WORK ON.

>> Jeff: TELL ME, IF YOU WOULD, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL PATHS YOUR JOURNEYS TO THE STATE POLITICAL WORLD?

DELEGATE FRASER HILDAGO YOU ARE THE SON OF AN IMMIGRANT EN DELEGATE PENA YOU ARE AN IMMIGRANT.

CAME TO THE UNITED STATES AROUND AGE 8.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

I ARRIVED TO THE U.S. WITH MY MOTHER WHO WAS BORN IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AS I WAS AND MY SISTER.

WE CAME HERE TO TRY TO MAKE A LIVING AND HAVE A BETTER LIFE.

SHE WANTED HER KIDS TO GET AN EDUCATION.

AND SHE I DON'T THINK, JEFF, THAT SHE STUDIED TO THE THIRD GRADE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

BUT EDUCATION WAS IMPORTANT TO HER.

AND SHE WOULD WORK SO HARD AND SO MANY DIFFERENT FACTORIES AND WOULD SEND MONEY BACK HOME TO HER SIBLINGS AND HER PARENTS.

AND DIDN'T KNOW THE LANGUAGE.

BUT SHE WILL ALWAYS SAY TO ME WHEN I DIE I'M NOT GOING TO LEAVE YOU ANYTHING BUT YOU HAVE TO GET AN EDUCATION.

SO I WAS THE FIRST WITH MANY STRUGGLES LIKE MANY IMMIGRANTS TO GO TO COLLEGE AND TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL.

I NEVER THOUGHT IN MY LIFETIME THAT I WOULD BE IN THE POSITION I AM WHICH I'M SO GRATEFUL AND HUMBLE AND HONORED TO BE TRUSTED BY MY CONSTITUENTS.

BUT I LEGISLATE.

BY THAT EXPERIENCE OF COMING TO THIS COUNTRY, JEFF, WHERE WE WERE ON SOCIAL SERVICES WHERE I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE NOT TO HAVE A MEAL.

I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO GO TO BED HUNGRY.

I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TO WALK TO SCHOOL FOR AN HOUR AND COME HOME AGAIN FOR AN HOUR.

I CAN LEGISLATE FROM LIVED EXPERIENCES AND THAT IS THE STORY OF SO MANY PEOPLE.

IMMIGRANTS OR NOT I AM GRANTS THEY LACK THE RESOURCES.

SO I BRING THAT EXPERIENCE TO THE TABLE WHEN I LEGISLATE WHEN I LOOK AT ACCESS TO CARE.

WHEN I LOOK AT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM HAVING BEEN A PUBLIC DEFENDER AND PROSECUTOR KNOWING THOSE ISSUES WELL.

I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD RUN FOR OFFICE.

I RAN FOR OFFICE SOMEONE ENCOURAGED ME AND SAID YOU NEED TO RUN.

YOU NEED TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY.

AND I DID.

AND IT'S BEEN REALLY A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE.

AND HOW BLESSED ARE WE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT IMPACT OVER SIX MILLION PEOPLE.

VERY SERIOUS WORK IN RESPONSIBILITY.

>> Jeff: WOW WHAT.

A STORY.

WHAT AN AMERICAN STORY, RIGHT?

DELEGATE FRASER HILDAGO YOUR BACKGROUND YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> MINE IS SIMILAR IN SOME WAYS AND DIFFERENT IN OTHER WAYS.

BUT I WILL SAY ON TOP OF EVERYTHING THAT DELEGATE TOLD YOU, THE ONE THING SHE DIDN'T SAY BECAUSE SHE CAN'T SAY IT BUT I WILL SAY IT SHE IS THE ART OF HARDEST WORKING DELEGATE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THERE IS NOBODY THAT WORKS HARDER THAN HER.

WITH ME, SO YES MY MOM -- >> I DIDN'T PAY HIM FOR THAT.

NOT AT ALL.

>> I CALL HER AT 11:00 P.M. OR 7:00 A.M., SHE IS ALWAYS WE'RE ALWAYS TALKING.

FOR ME MY MOTHER WAS ECUADORIAN AND AND MY DAD WAS FROM PHILADELPHIA AND THEY MET BECAUSE MY MOTHER HAPPENED TO BE VISITING THE UNITED STATES TO VISIT HER BROTHER AND THAT'S HOW THEY MET.

I WAS BORN IN ECUADOR WHERE MY MOTHER WAS FROM.

AND THEN CAME TO THE UNITED STATES WHEN I WAS VERY, VERY YOUNG.

I DON'T HAVE ANY MEMORIES OF ECUADOR.

AND I GREW UP IN FOR THE MOST PART MONTGOMERY COUNTY BOUNCED AROUND A LITTLE BIT AND MY DAD BECAME A FEDERAL EMPLOYEE AND WE MOVED FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK TO MARYLAND.

I GREW UP IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND I WENT TO ST.MARY'S COLLEGE IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND.

GOT A DEGREE IN HISTORY.

DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WANTED TO DO SO I WENT INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE A LOT OF KIDS THINK.

WHEN YOU ARE 18 OR 21, NOT EVERYBODY'S GOT THE WELL WORLD FIGURED OUT.

SO I DID THAT FOR A WHILE WHICH A VERY GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR ME WORKING IN MNTGOMERY COUNTY AS A POLICE OFFICER HELPED ME TO FORMULATE CERTAIN PERSPECTIVES THE SAME AS JOSS LEAN HAS HAD HERS AND EDUCATION ALONG THE WAY.

BOTH OF MY PARENTS WORKED.

THEY WORKED VERY HARD.

WE WERE I WAS A LATCH-KEY KID.

JUST CAME HOME AND MADE MY WAY PO INTO THE HOUSE AND THREE HOURS LATER MY PARENTS SHOWED UP.

THE SUMMERS WERE VERY, VERY WILD.

WE WERE OFF ON OUR OWN FOR THE SUMMERS.

AND AS TIME WENT ON, GOT A DEGREE.

WENT TO BECAME A POLICE OFFICER, DID THAT FOR A WHILE.

AND TO TRY TO REGAIN SANITY FROM A TOUGH JOB, I QUIT THAT JOB AND BACKPACKED THROUGH SOUTHEAST ASIA FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND CAME BACK AND WORKED FOR A NONPROFIT AND RAN A WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT FIRM WITH A FEW FOLKS.

AND THEN IN 2010, SAME AS THE DELEGATE I WAS ENCOURAGED BY ANOTHER DELEGATE AND SAID DAVID YOU SHOULD RUN.

ARE YOU TESTIFYING ON BILLS YOU SHOULD RUN.

AND MY FIRST RESPONSE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOT.

AND THEN, AFTER A FEW WEEKS AND CONVINCING, I RAN AND THEN I RAN IN 2010, LOST AND CAME BACK IN 2013 AND GOT APPOINTED AND RAN IN 14, 18, AND HERE WE GO.

AND THAT'S WHERE I AM.

AND I WILL TELL YOU, TOO, I LOVE WHAT I DO.

IT'S THE BEST JOB I'VE EVER HAD.

I LOVE IT.

>> Jeff: THAT IS A GREAT PLACE TO END IT.

>> HE IS GOOD AT IT.

>> Jeff: DELEGATES WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE SUCCESS OF THE LATINO CAUCUS.

>> GNAW, JEFF.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, JEFF.

>> NOW, WITH TONIGHT'S SALUTE TO VETERANS HERE'S NANCY AMATTA.

>> I'M CYNTHIA AND I WILL BE YOUR UBER DRIVER FOR THE DAY.

AND WE'RE GOING TO GOING BY WAY OF THE HORSESHOE CASINO.

>> CYNTHIA DAVIS GREETS EVERY PATIENT AT THE BALTIMORE MEDICAL CENTER WITH HUMOR AND VOLUNTEER FOR VETERANS WHO NEED TO GO FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER.

SHE MAKES IT A POINT TO BE LIGHT HEARTED BUT TAKES HER JOB SERIOUSLY.

MY THING IS I LIKE TO SERVE THE VETERANS THAT SERVED US.

BECAUSE I HAD TWO BROTHERS THAT SERVED IN THE ARMY AND ONE WAS IN VIETNAM AND HE CAME BACK WITH AGENT ORANGE.

AND THEN THINGS TURN A TURN FOR THE WORSE THEN MY BROTHER BECAME A DRUG ADD VEHICLE.

>> THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION TOOK GOOD CARE OF HER BROTHER AND IT INSPIRED HER TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER.

AFTER 10 YEARS, THE 74-YEAR-OLD RETIREE WAS NAMED THE V.A.

'S FEMALE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF HER JOB?

>> LISTENING.

AND LET THEM TALK.

AND YOU FIND AMAZING STORIES OF THE TIMES THEY HAD AND THE SERVICE AND YOU KNOW UP UNTIL NOW, AND THEN YOU HAVE SOME VETERANS THAT DON'T HAVE ANY FAMILY.

AND SO IT'S JUST A COMFORT OF BEING THERE FOR THOSE THAT DON'T HAVE ANY FAMILY AT ALL.

>> FOR PATIENTS?

>> IT HELPS US A LOT TO SEE A SMILING FACE AND SOMEONE TO MAKE YOU FEEL AT EASE.

>> VOLUNTEERS HAVE A WAY OF REACHING THE MOST HARDENED HEARTS.

>> SOMETIMES WE GET ONE THAT IS A LITTLE CRUMBPY BUT IF YOU KEEP SMILING YOU CAN WORK IT AROUND.

AND THEN THEY START SMILING THEN THEY FEEL LIKE YOU KNOW, HEY SHE IS LISTENING AND CARES.

>> SHE DOES.

>> HE IS GOING TO X-RAY AND HE IS GOING BY WHEELCHAIR.

>> IN ADDITION TO ANSWERING PHONES AND ESCORTING PATIENTS TO THEIR ROOMS OVER THE YEARS DAVIS HAS SAT WITH DYING VETERANS IN HOSPICE AT THE V.A.

MEDICAL CENTER.

>> AND MAKE THE FAMILY FEEL LIKE THEIR LOVED ONE WAS LOVED.

SOMEBODY CARED.

>> AND OVER COVID DAVIS CHECKED IN ON VETERANS TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE NOT ALONE.

>> WE WERE FREE BECAUSE OF THE THINGS THEY DID.

AND NONE OF US KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING TO FALL IN LIFE.

YOU WOULD WANT SOMEONE TO TAKE CARE AND GIVE YOU THAT KIND OF RESPECT.

>> FOR THOSE WHO FEEL INSPIRED TO JOIN DAVIS.

>> WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS AND WE HAVE POSITIONS ALL THROUGH THE HOSPITAL.

FROM DRIVING VETERANS AROUND TO WORKING AS A GREETER.

I LIKE TO DO PLACEMENTS WHERE YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING YOU ENJOY AND HELPING OUR VETERANS BECAUSE IT IS A WIN-WIN THAT WAY.

>> I'M NANCY AMATTA FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: WE'RE BACK MONDAY WITH "DIRECT CONNECTION" MONDAY LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

AND WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE MONDAY.

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