Sen. Maria Collett Of Montgomery County Is Being Honored During Women's History Month

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — A local state lawmaker has been honored for her work during Women's History Month.

State Sen. Maria Collett, a Democrat representing the 12th Senatorial District in Montgomery County, was recognized during a recent award ceremony hosted by City & State PA, which unveiled its first-ever "Above & Beyond" list, which recognizes 40 Pennsylvania women who have gone above and beyond to make a difference in their respective fields.

The ceremony was held on March 22 in Philadelphia, according to Collett's office.

"I'm honored to be included among such an impressive group of women on City & State PA's Above & Beyond list," Collett said in a statement. "It's my privilege to advocate on behalf of my constituents — whether it's introducing legislation, lobbying for funding for district projects, or putting my nursing skills to use at vaccination clinics."

In addition to being a state legislator, Collett is also a Registered Nurse by trade.

City & State PA said that whether it's her work as a lawmaker or nurse, Collett has always used her talents to "help people in need."

"As a state senator, Collett has championed legislation designed to ensure Pennsylvanians have access to clean water, while also leading efforts to modernize health care, child care and caregiver laws," the organization wrote on its website. "Collett leveraged her background in health care throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, introducing legislation to create a COVID-19 vaccine registry, as well as a bill to make sure COVID-19 vaccines were distributed equitably."

Collett, who before becoming a state senator spent time working as both a nurse and a lawyer — she was an assistant prosecutor in Camden County, New Jersey for a time — said her multidisciplinary past has helped make her a more effective public servant.

"Throughout my career as a lawyer, nurse and nurse educator, advocacy was the common thread," she said in a statement. "I just saw how impactful our representatives in Harrisburg were in shaping policies that dictate victims' rights, health care access, medication costs, and more. As a state senator, I knew I could bring a fresh perspective and advocate for my community on a much broader scale."

According to a bio on the organization, City & State PA is a multi-media news firm that dedicates coverage to Pennsylvania's state and local government.