Merle A. Berman

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1946, Berman earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Pennsylvania State University.“Merle A. Berman,” in “Nevada Legislature,” Legislative Counsel Bureau.“Merle A. Berman,” in Legislative Manual: State of Nevada: Seventy-first Session of the Nevada Legislature, 2001, Legislative Counsel Bureau.

She has worked in real estate and development.“Merle A. Berman,” in “Nevada Legislature,” Legislative Counsel Bureau.“Merle A. Berman,” in Legislative Manual: State of Nevada: Seventy-first Session of the Nevada Legislature, 2001, Legislative Counsel Bureau.“Democrats aim to increase majority in Assembly,” Las Vegas Sun, October 22, 1998.

She has one son, Ryan Hoffman.“Merle A. Berman,” in “Nevada Legislature,” Legislative Counsel Bureau.“Merle A. Berman,” in Legislative Manual: State of Nevada: Seventy-first Session of the Nevada Legislature, 2001, Legislative Counsel Bureau. Her sister, Constance E. (Berman) Brooks, died from cancer in Pennsylvania on August 24, 1997.“[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/178062824/ Brooks, Constance E.]” (obituary). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Inquirer, August 26, 1997, p. 5 (subscription required).

A member of the Republican Party, Berman represented District 2 in the Nevada Assembly, and was initially elected to her seat in 1996.“Democrats aim to increase majority in Assembly,” Las Vegas Sun, October 22, 1998.“The ’97 Legislature,” Reno Gazette-Journal, January 22, 1997, p. 5. She served in three regular sessions."Former legislator announces run for secretary of state," Nevada Appeal, February 6, 2005.

In 1999, she was a member of the following Assembly committees: Commerce and Labor, Government Affairs, and Health and Human Services.“Merle A. Berman,” in “Nevada Legislature,” Legislative Counsel Bureau.“Merle A. Berman,” in Legislative Manual: State of Nevada: Seventy-first Session of the Nevada Legislature, 2001, Legislative Counsel Bureau.“Merle Berman,” in “[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/70th1999/Minutes/AM-CMRC-990210-Meeting%202.html Minutes of the Assembly Committee on Commerce and Labor, February 10, 1999].” Carson City, Nevada: Nevada Assembly, retrieved online June 13, 2021.

On February 14 and April 12, 2001, she participated in the Field Hearing Before the Committee on Environment and Public Works, which was held by the U.S. Senate in Fallon, Nevada to investigate childhood leukemia clusters in that community. According to the minutes of that hearing, Berman pressed for answers to ascertain why certain individuals, but not others were selected for the panel of experts chosen to investigate the leukemia clusters and “why the Federal Government was not involved in the testing.” And on April 12, 2001:Minutes of the [https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-107shrg78069/html/CHRG-107shrg78069.htm Field Hearing Before the Committee on Environment and Public Works], in “Senate Hearing 107 – 318.” Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2002 (retrieved online June 13, 2021).

“Berman cited an upcoming bill dealing with the comprehensive cancer plan in Nevada. She specifically inquired whether her bill should be amended to address the need for expeditious identification and response to cancer clusters. [Dr. Randall Todd, state epidemiologist, Nevada State Health Division] replied that this would require additional thought and that his written response would follow after consultation with his colleagues.”

Berman also succeeded in obtaining this testimony from one of the medical experts in attendance:Minutes of the Field Hearing Before the Committee on Environment and Public Works, in “Senate Hearing 107 – 318.”

“[Dr. Thomas Sinks, the associate director for science at the National Center for Environmental Health at the Centers for Disease Control] clarified that nobody ever developed cancer because of chances. There was always a cause, and the challenge in Fallon would be to discover the common denominator among the 11 children. The unifying cause was not yet known, but eventually science would identify the commonality. The probability of the Fallon cluster being a chance event was described by Dr. Sinks as being unlikely.”

Berman then spoke on a different matter at a Nevada Legislature meeting later that same month. Stating that a number of groups claiming to be charitable organizations were misleading potential donors because they were actually for-profit businesses engaged in the exploitation of young children, she urged members of the Nevada Senate to support passage of Assembly Bill 74 during an April 25, 2001 meeting of the Nevada Senate Committee on Labor and Commerce. The proposed bill was designed to prohibit the employment of children under the age of sixteen in door-to-door sales of magazines, candy, and other products. As the debate continued, Berman noted that section 2, subsection 2, paragraph (d) of the proposed legislation would exempt farm workers from restrictions imposed by A.B. 74.“Assembly Bill 74,” in “[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/71st2001/Minutes/Senate/CL/Final/1107.html Minutes of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor: April 25, 2001].” Carson City, Nevada: Nevada Senate, retrieved online June 13, 2021.

In 2003, she served on the Nevada Assembly’s Legislative Committee on Health Care, as well as on the non-legislative Advisory Council for Community Notification. Upon completion of her Assembly term, she was appointed to the Nevada Commission on Ethics.“Merle A. Berman,” in Legislative Manual: State of Nevada: 2003 Session, Legislative Counsel Bureau.

In 2005, she announced that she would run for the office of secretary of state in Nevada in the 2006 election."Former legislator announces run for secretary of state," Nevada Appeal, February 6, 2005.

Berman has also been involved with the following civic or social organizations:Merle A. Berman,” in “Nevada Legislature,” Legislative Counsel Bureau.“Merle A. Berman,” in Legislative Manual: State of Nevada: Seventy-first Session of the Nevada Legislature, 2001, Legislative Counsel Bureau.

• Active Republican Women’s Club of Las Vegas/National Federation
• American Legislative Exchange Council
• National Foundation for Women Legislators, Inc.
• Nevada Dance Theatre, board of directors
• Nevada Housing and Neighborhood Development (HAND)
• Women’s Development Center, advisory board

{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Berman, Merle A.}}

Category:1946 births

Category:21st-century American women politicians

Category:20th-century American women politicians

Category:Politicians from Philadelphia

Category:Pennsylvania Republicans

Category:Nevada Republicans

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century Nevada politicians

Category:20th-century members of the Nevada Legislature