Jocelyn I. Collins

Senior Governmental Affairs Associate

Biography

Jocelyn I. Collins, Senior Governmental Affairs Associate: Jocelyn has worked in government relations, legislative, communications, and campaign capacities on the local, state, and federal levels and for the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Prior to joining Public Policy Partners, Jocelyn served as the Associate Director of Legislative Affairs at Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and Planned Parenthood Action Fund (PPAF) – where she led their federal domestic health finance and appropriations, workforce, privacy, maternal health, and health equity policy advocacy efforts. Before then, she served as the Delaware, Maryland, and Washington D.C. Government Relations Director at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN).

Jocelyn has led significant state and local health legislative campaigns to victory, including:

Maryland

Stopped a special exception for a cigar bar at MGM National Harbor Hotel and Casino in National Harbor, MD (2019)
Raised the sales age of all tobacco products to 21 years of age and banned minors from using tanning beds (2019)
Increased the state tobacco tax by $1.75 per pack and earmarked $18.25 million towards tobacco prevention and cessation program funding (2020); and overrode MD Governor Hogan’s veto on the tobacco tax (2021); and
Teamed up with partner organizations to successfully advocate for the Maryland Cancer Moonshot (2022)

District of Columbia

Ended the sale of menthol cigarettes, flavored cigars, and select flavored tobacco products (2021 and 2022 funding campaign)

Delaware

Removed barriers to copay assistance by requiring all payments made by patients – directly or on their behalf to be counted towards their overall out-of-pocket maximum payment or deductible (2022)

She has also been a part of several significant federal legislative campaigns and administrative policy wins, including:

Raising the federal sales age of tobacco products to 21 (signed into law in 2019 as part of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020)
Henrietta Lacks Enhancing Research Act of 2019 (116th Congress 2019 – 2020; and signed into law 2021)
The DEA and SAMHSA’s Temporary Rule entitled ‘Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications,’ which extends the flexibilities that providers and patients have benefited from during the COVID-19 public health emergency to prescribe schedule II-V controlled substances, including testosterone for gender affirming hormone therapy, via telemedicine (May 2023)

Jocelyn attained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and International Studies from McDaniel College, and is a proud active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Recent Honors and Affiliations

Member, Maryland Advisory Council on Health and Physical Education, 2022

Advisory Board Member, New Leaders Council Maryland, 2021 – Present

National Black Caucus Co-Chair, New Leaders Council, 2020 – 2021

Very Important Professionals Successful by 40 Awardee (VIP List), Maryland Daily Record, 2020

Co-Chair, Maryland Tobacco Free Coalition, 2018 – 2022

Maryland State Council on Cancer Control Policy and Advocacy Subcommittee, 2018 – 2022

Co-Director, New Leaders Council Maryland, 2018 – 2021

Cohort Member, New Leaders Council Maryland, 2018

Forty Under 40 Award, Prince George’s County Social Innovation Fund, 2018

President, Greater Bowie Democratic Club (Now the Team 23 Democratic Club), 2018

Secretary and Membership Chair, Greater Bowie Democratic Club (Now the Team 23 Democratic Club), 2017- 2018

Prince George’s County Democratic Central Committeewoman – District 23B (Now District 23), 2017 – 2018

Member, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., 2016 – Present

Co-Founder, Culture Caucus, 2015 – Present

Recent Panels/Presentations/Publications

Presentation on “Conducting a Hill Meeting 101,” Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund Organizing and Patient Summit, January 2023

Speaker at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network “Moving the Needle: S. 1873 Medicare Multicancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act Virtual Forum,” November 2022

Panelist for the “BREAKOUT SESSION: Marijuana / Blunts / Wraps / Little Cigars,” African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council 3^rd Annual Menthol Conference, September 2022

Contributor to the “2021-2025 Maryland Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan,” Maryland Department of Health, 2021 – 2025

Speaker at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network “Maryland Biomarkers 101 Educational Forum,” October 2021

Speaker at the 2021 ACS CAN MD Virtual Policy Forum on Colorectal Cancer, September 2021

Speaker at the ACS CAN MD Policy Forum: “Health Equity through the Cancer Lens, ”2020

Speaker during the “Legal Centers and Cross-Sectional Collaboration to Drive Policy Change” Webinar, Action on Smoking and Health Webinar Series, 2020

Speaker at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network 2020 Tri-State Forum on “Healthy Habits: Why Prevention and Access Matter,” 2020

Speaker at the 2020 Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference on the New Leaders Council Black Caucus: “Run Me My Money: 40 Acres and a Mule in Today’s Black America” Panel, September 2019

Speaker at the 2019 Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland Priorities Press Conference, Annapolis, MD, January 2019

Recent Media Mentions

“Political Notes: Prince George’s primary results final, New Dems back Mizeur, top Hogan staffer moves to treasurer’s office,” August 29, 2022. Maryland Matters. https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/08/29/political-notes-prince-georges-primary-results-final-new-dems-back-mizeur-top-hogan-staffer-defects-to-treasurer/

“Top 20 House Primaries to Watch,” June 1, 2022. Maryland Matters. https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/06/01/top-20-house-primaries-to-watch/

“Candidates and Slates Reshuffling in Changing Prince George’s County District after Senator’s Departure.” November 9, 2021. Maryland Matters. https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/11/09/candidates-and-slates-reshuffling-in-changing-prince-georges-county-district-after-senators-departure/

“Tobacco Tax Increase Will Help Protect Marylanders from Rising Toll of Big Tobacco, Says Nation’s Leading Cancer Advocacy Organization,” February 12, 2021. American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Press Room. https://www.fightcancer.org/releases/tobacco-tax-increase-will-help-protect-marylanders-rising-toll-big-tobacco-says-nation%E2%80%99s-0

“Jocelyn Collins: Maryland lawmakers should overturn Hogan’s veto of new tobacco tax | COMMENTARY,” December 1, 2020. Capital Gazette. https://www.capitalgazette.com/opinion/columns/ac-ce-column-jocelyn-collins-20201202-20201201-pklqjjh3avhp7c3yutl2lki76e-story.html

“Cancer-Fighting Advocates Mark Great American Smokeout by Calling for Override of Governor Hogan’s Tobacco Tax Veto,” November 19, 2020. American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Press Room. https://www.fightcancer.org/releases/cancer-fighting-advocates-mark-great-american-smokeout-calling-override-governor-hogan%E2%80%99s

“Jocelyn Collins| Maryland Daily Record,” September 16, 2020. Maryland Daily Record. https://thedailyrecord.com/2020/09/16/jocelyn-collins/

“The Daily Record names Jocelyn Collins ’16 to VIP Successful by 40 list,” September 16, 2020. McDaniel College News. https://www.mcdaniel.edu/news/daily-record-names-jocelyn-collins-16-vip-successful-40-list

“Comptroller’s E-cigarette Report Misses the Mark on Protecting Marylanders,” February 19, 2020. American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Press Room. https://www.fightcancer.org/releases/comptroller%E2%80%99s-e-cigarette-report-misses-mark-protecting-marylanders

“State Regulators to Target Flavored Vaping Devices,” February 11, 2020. Maryland Matters. https://www.marylandmatters.org/2020/02/11/state-regulators-to-target-flavored-vaping-devices/

“Maryland Comptroller E-cigarette Action: Won’t Do Enough to Protect Kids, But HB3/SB233 Would,” February 20, 2020. American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Press Room. https://www.fightcancer.org/releases/maryland-comptroller-e-cigarette-action-won%E2%80%99t-do-enough-protect-kids-hb3sb233-would

Frosh Emphasizes His Support For Legislation to Ban Flavored Tobacco Products. February 6, 2020. Maryland Reporter. https://marylandreporter.com/2020/02/06/frosh-emphasizes-his-support-for-legislation-to-ban-flavored-tobacco-products/

“Measure would ban flavored tobacco in Maryland,” February 6, 2020. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/f9e8d67803d0dff4262cf6665dcef55b

“Measure would ban flavored tobacco, including menthol cigarettes, in Maryland,” February 6, 2020. Baltimore Sun. www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-ga-flavored-tobacco-ban-bill-20200207-bwshink3hfgutkh6zjwuhppvue-story.html

“D.C. Council hears concerns over e-cigarette access,” January 2, 2020, Washington Times. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/jan/2/dc-council-hears-concerns-over-e-cigarette-access/

“21 and up: Maryland General Assembly passes bill banning young adults from buying tobacco, nicotine products,” April 3, 2019. Baltimore Sun. https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-tobacco-21-ban-20190403-story.html

“Report: DC, Maryland make strides in cancer prevention policies,” August 1, 2019. WTOP News. https://wtop.com/health-fitness/2019/08/report-dc-maryland-make-strides-in-cancer-prevention-policies/

“UPDATED Roundup: Bill Targeting Franchot Moves Forward, House Eyes Statute on Child Sex Crimes,” March 15, 2019. Maryland Matters. https://www.marylandmatters.org/2019/03/15/legislative-roundup-bill-targeting-franchot-moves-forward/

“Leading Health Organizations Respond to Maryland E-Cigarette Taskforce: Address the Tobacco Epidemic Through Proven Policy Solutions: JOINT STATEMENT FROM ACS CAN, AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION, AND CAMPAIGN FOR TOBACCO-FREE KIDS,” October 23, 2019. American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Press Room. https://www.fightcancer.org/releases/leading-health-organizations-respond-maryland-e-cigarette-taskforce-address-tobacco

“MGM National Harbor proposes to open cigar lounge,” October 30, 2018. Washington Business Journal. https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2018/10/30/maryland-may-be-smoke-free-but-mgm-national-harbor.html