SENATOR JANET HOWELL - MEMBER OF THE VIRGINIA STATE SENATE
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About.

Senator Janet Howell has proudly served the Northern Virginia Community since 1992.  She is a champion of families, education and health care.  She is the longest-serving female legislator in Virginia and the first woman appointed to the powerful Senate Finance Committee, where she currently serves as the Chair of the Finance and Appropriations Committee. 

Leadership Since 1992

Janet Howell has been a community leader for more than four decades, proudly serving parts of Fairfax and Arlington Counties.  Janet takes seriously the trust the voters have placed in her. She works full-time to make state government responsible and responsive.

Janet has used her leadership position in the Senate to benefit the residents of Virginia. She currently has many important responsibilities and is using them to champion change in Richmond.
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In her capacity as the first woman to chair the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, Janet has focused on education, transportation, human services and public safety. She is a leader in streamlining and downsizing state government, as well as instituting cost-reduction measures.

She is ranking member of the Public Safety Subcommittee which oversees over $3 billion yearly in programs including State Police and local police, juvenile justice, prisons and jails.   She is engaged in a multi-year effort to provide appropriate services for persons with mental illness who too often tragically end up in our jails and prisons.

Janet served on the Virginia Crime Commission which reviews all matters dealing with crime and punishment. Over the years, she has been nationally recognized for reforming Virginia's domestic violence laws and establishing the Sex Offender Registry. Janet also was chief patron of the Omnibus Mental Health Law Reform Legislation. 
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Janet was a community leader for more than 15 years prior to her election to the Senate. As a former PTA president and head of the Reston Council of PTAs, Janet worked hard to increase the quality of local schools and Virginia's fine colleges and universities. She was president of the Reston Community Association for three years, expanding the association's activities and accomplishments in land use, transportation and healthcare. She served five years on the State Board of Social Services, including a term as its chairman.
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Legislation and Committees 


Legislation 
Chief Patron
Chief Co-Patron
Co-Patron


Committees
Finance and Appropriations (Chair)
Education and Health
Local Government
Privileges and Elections
Rules
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Awards and ​Recognition 

Janet community leadership has been recognized by many organizations. She was named National Child Advocate of the Year by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Senator of the Year by Virginia Sheriffs Association, Distinguished Leadership Awardee by the Coalition for Mentally Disabled Citizens, Legislative Champion by the League of Conservation Voters, and Legislator of the Year by the Alzheimer's Association.
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Called the "Technology Senator" because of her work in that area, Janet was presented the first Lifetime Achievement Award by the Northern Virginia Technology Council. She was also named "Woman of the Year" by the Network of Entrepreneurial Women; “Tech 10” winner by Tech Tenure; and received a Leadership Award from the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance.  

Washingtonian Magazine has named Janet Howell one of their  "Most Powerful Women in Washington" in 
2011, 2013, and 2015. 


Community Activities and Positions 
  • JLARC - Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee
  • Joint Subcommittee to Study Mental Health Services in the 21st Century
  • Jamestown/Yorktown Foundation
  • Medicaid Innovation and Reform Commission (MIRC)

Education
  • President, Forest Edge PTA
  • Secretary, Forest Edge PTA
  • Co-chair, Citizens for School Bonds (Hunter Mill)
  • President, Reston Council of PTA’s and PTO’s
  • Vice President, Langston Hughes PTA
  • Board Member, South Lakes PTA
  • Board Member, Herndon Intermediate PTA
  • South Lakes Pyramid Coordinator
  • Human Relations Advisory Committee
  • Board Member, County Council of PTAs
  • Board Member, Jobs for Virginia Graduates

Transportation and Land Use
  • Co-Chair Reston Transportation Committee
  • Vice-Chair, Citizens Committee for Land Use and Transportation Planning
  • Chair, Land Use Committee, Fairfax County Federation of Citizens Associations
  • Board Member, TYTRAN

Civic
  • President, Reston Community Association
  • Secretary, Reston Community Association
  • Co-Chair, Hunter Mill Council
  • League of Women Voters
  • American Association of University Women
  • Program Co-Chair, Fairfax County Committee of 100

Human Services
  • Chair, Virginia State Board of Social Services
  • Chair, Fairfax County Advisory Social Services Board
  • Board Member, Reston Interfaith
  • Co-Chair, Laurel Learning Center Board
  • Chair, Embry Rucker Shelter Community Advisory Board
  • Board Member, CHILDHELP
  • Board Member, AHOME
  • Meals on Wheels Volunteer

Other
  • Board Member, GRACE (Greater Reston Arts Center)
  • Membership Chair, GRACE
  • Steering Committee, Reston Hospital Center
  • Board Member, Boy Scouts of the National Metropolitan Area
  • Den Mother (twice)
  • Board Member, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy
CONTACT US

P.O. Box 2608
Reston,  VA 20195
Distr
ict32@Senate.Virginia.Gov
Tel:  (703) 709-8283
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Friends of Janet Howell
Authorized by Janet Howell
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