ative ▁voc ational ▁training ▁program ▁for ▁ 1 3 ▁towns ▁in ▁the ▁Met row est ▁area . ▁She ▁is ▁also ▁a ▁former ▁elementary ▁school ▁teacher . ▁ ▁H ark ins ▁serves ▁in ▁the ▁Massachusetts ▁House ▁of ▁Representatives ▁as ▁the ▁Represent ative ▁from ▁the ▁ 1 3 th ▁Nor folk ▁District . ▁This ▁district ▁compr ises ▁the ▁towns ▁Need ham , ▁D over ▁and ▁Med field . ▁H ark ins ▁was ▁first ▁elected ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 9 , ▁and ▁has ▁been ▁the ▁House ▁Major ity ▁Wh ip ▁since ▁ 2 0 0 1 . ▁Her ▁prior ities ▁include ▁public ▁education , ▁impro ving ▁health ▁care ▁access , ▁and ▁generating ▁economic ▁development . ▁ ▁H ark ins ▁was ▁appointed ▁House ▁Major ity ▁Wh ip ▁by ▁former ▁Spe aker ▁of ▁the ▁House ▁Thomas ▁F inner an ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 1 . ▁Before ▁her ▁appointment , ▁she ▁served ▁as ▁the ▁Ass istant ▁Major ity ▁Wh ip ▁and ▁the ▁House ▁Chair man ▁of ▁the ▁J oint ▁Committee ▁on ▁Education ▁Arts ▁and ▁Human ities . ▁H ark ins ▁has ▁also ▁served ▁as ▁the ▁Chair man ▁of ▁the ▁House ▁Committee ▁on ▁Science ▁and ▁Technology , ▁the ▁House ▁Chair man ▁of ▁the ▁J oint ▁Committee ▁on ▁H ous ing ▁and ▁Urban ▁Development , ▁Vice - Ch air man ▁of ▁the ▁Committee ▁on ▁Com merce ▁and ▁Labor , ▁Co - Ch air man ▁of ▁the ▁bi - part isan ▁Women ’ s ▁C au cus ▁and ▁as ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Committee ▁on ▁W ays ▁and ▁Me ans