Congressional Advisory Board

Sen. Mary Landrieu

Mary L. Landrieu has been referred to as "one of the Senate's foremost leaders on education" by her colleagues in the Senate. One Louisiana publication dubbed her "Military Mary" for her dedication to our armed services and her knowledge of defense issues. She has become a national voice on the importance of strengthening families through foster care and adoption. She is the state's senior senator, and a fiscal leader for the nation as a member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. She is a working mother, each day balancing the joys of family life with the responsibilities of being a U.S. Senator.

Rep. Shelley Berkley

As dynamic as the community she serves, Congresswoman Shelley Berkley has represented the families of Nevada's First Congressional District since 1999 and is currently in her fifth term as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives. After completing junior high and high school in Las Vegas, Shelley became the first member of her family to attend college when she enrolled as an undergraduate at the University of Nevada - Las Vegas (UNLV). Elected as Student Body President her senior year, Shelley graduated with honors in 1972, earning a B.A. in Political Science. After obtaining her law degree in 1976 from the University of San Diego School of Law, Shelley returned to Las Vegas and began her professional career.

 

Rep. Joseph Cao

Anh "Joseph" Cao was born on March 13, 1967 in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam.  He is the first Vietnamese-American congressman. Cao lost both his home and law office to Katrina. With his wife and two daughters, he moved temporarily to Westwego and began rebuilding. On December 6, 2008, Cao was elected as Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District Representative making him the first Vietnamese-American elected to United States Congress where he serves on the Committees on Homeland Security, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Oversight and Government Reform. He currently resides in New Orleans, LA with his wife, Kate, and 2 daughters, Sophia and Betsy.

Rep. Michael Capuano

Michael Everett Capuano is currently serving his fifth term as a Representative in Congress for Massachusetts' historic Eighth District. The Eighth Congressional District includes Cambridge, Somerville, Chelsea and approximately 70% of Boston. Congressman Capuano is a member of the Committee on House Administration, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Committee on Financial Services. He also serves on the House Democratic Leadership team as a member of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. In June of 2006 Mike was appointed Chair of the Committee on Organization, Study and Review to analyze the rules of the House Democratic Caucus and recommend changes.

Rep. André Carson

At the age of thirty- three, Congressman André Carson won the special election on March 11th, 2008 to serve the Seventh Congressional District of Indiana. Representative Carson followed in the footsteps of the woman who raised him, his grandmother, Congresswomen Julia Carson. He prides himself on the lessons he has learned from her and from being raised in a tough section of Indianapolis. He saw that many can lead down the wrong path of gangs and drugs without community support, which has shaped Congressman Carson’s commitment to improving schools, educational opportunities and neighborhood safety. Prior to being elected, Representative Carson protected the community as a Local Board Investigative Officer for the Indiana State Excise Police. In 2006, Congressman Carson worked with the Indiana Department of Homeland Security’s Intelligence Fusion Center in an anti-terrorism unit to keep his home state free from harm. Representative Carson also serves his home as a board member for the Citizens Neighborhood Coalition. As Congressman, he serves on the Financial Services Committee, which is responsible for watching over all of the nation’s housing and financial sectors. Representative André Carson wants to use his new role as Congressman to advocate affordable healthcare legislation and to reasonably end the Iraq war.

Rep. Jim Clyburn

On November 16th, 2006, the House Democratic Caucus unanimously elected Congressman James E. Clyburn of South Carolina Majority Whip for the 110th Congress. Representative Clyburn is the first South Carolinian and the second African American to ascend to the third ranking position in the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressman Clyburn began his steady climb on Capitol Hill winning election as co-President of his freshman class. Six years later, he was unanimously elected Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and to a seat on the coveted Appropriations Committee. In 2002, he was elected in a three-way race to serve as Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, and in January 2006, his peers unanimously elevated him to Chair of the Caucus.

Rep. Joseph Crowley

Congressman Joseph Crowley was elected to the United States House of Representatives in November 1998 to represent the Bronx- and Queens-based Seventh Congressional District. Congressman Crowley has dedicated his life to serving the people of the Bronx and Queens. After graduating from Queens College, Joseph Crowley won a seat to the New York State Assembly in 1986 at the age of 24 and served in Albany until 1998. In November of 1998, Assemblyman Joseph Crowley was elected to the 106th Congress to represent the Seventh Congressional District of New York. The district includes parts of the Bronx and Queens, including the communities of Co-op City, Soundview, Pelham Parkway, Morris Park, Van Nest, Allerton, Parkchester, Throggs Neck, City Island, and Silver Beach in the Bronx, as well as Sunnyside, Woodside, Jackson Heights, Maspeth, Elmhurst, East Elmhurst and College Point in Queens.

Rep. Bill Delahunt

William D. Delahunt represents the Tenth Congressional District of Massachusetts - which includes Cape Cod, the Islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, as well as Boston's economically diverse South Shore. He came to Congress in 1997 with a distinguished career in public service and law enforcement and has since been reelected five times He serves as a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and as Chairman of the Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight. A 1963 graduate of Middlebury College in Vermont, Mr. Delahunt later went on to earn a law degree from Boston College in 1967. He served from 1963 to 1971 in the Coast Guard Reserve. The Congressman is the son of the late Ruth and Bill Delahunt Sr., a sales manager. He is a lifelong resident of Quincy, and the exceedingly proud father of Kirstin and Kara.

Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva

Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva is proudly serving his Fourth term for the Seventh Congressional District of Arizona. His strong public service commitment to the seventh district started when he served on the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board. There he pursued teacher, employee and civil rights, and fought for an improved public education. Congressman Grijalva continued to push for the advancement of public education when he was elected to the Pima County Board of Supervisors. With his new role on the board he established himself as a leader for the public health system and environmental issues. As Congressman, he is a member of the Committee on Education and Labor, where he has focused his attention on the reform and funding of No Child Left Behind. Representative Grijalva also serves the Committee on Natural Resources as Chairman of the National Parks, Forest and Public Lands Subcommittee. As Chairman he dismissed the proposition to sell public lands and is working to reform the General Mining Law of 1872. Representative Grijalva’s other priorities are the redeployment of the troops out of Iraq and back to their families, affordable health care, and promoting the use of alternative fuels.

Rep. Jim Himes

Congressman Jim Himes is in his first term serving the people of the Fourth Congressional District of Connecticut. He strives to enhance public education, tackle urban poverty, and support Hispanic advancement. Congressman Himes feels that a strong public school system is the foundation to a successful future and to become a good citizen. Representative Himes developed his belief in the public school system because of his own experiences. His public education earned him a place at Harvard and scholarship to Oxford University in England. Upon graduating Congressman Himes accepted a position at Goldman Sachs & Co., where he worked his way up to Vice President, while focusing on bringing business opportunities to Latin America. After the tragedy of 9/11 Representative Himes decided to refocus his energy and created a non-profit organization to fight urban poverty called, Enterprise Foundation. With his determination, Enterprise financed the construction of thousands of affordable houses in the greater New York metropolitan region. At home in Connecticut Congressman Himes is a chair on the Housing Authority and a member of the Fairfield County Community Foundation. As Congressman he serves on the Financial Services Committee.

Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson represents Texas's 30th Congressional District, which is entirely within Dallas County and encompasses a large portion of the city of Dallas as well as the entire cities of Desoto, Lancaster, Wilmer, Hutchins, and Balch Springs. Portions of the cities Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Glenn Heights, Ferris, and Ovilla and are also in the district. Congresswoman Johnson is widely recognized as one of the most effective legislators in Congress. She is credited with originally authoring and co-authoring more than 120 bills that were passed by the House and Senate and signed into law by the President.

Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick

Now in her sixth term serving Michigan's 13th Congressional District, Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick's hard work and thoughtful political style have earned her the confidence and respect of her peers, who have appointed her to the powerful House Appropriations Committee. She is the only Michigan Democrat on this important committee, which authorizes spending for all levels of the federal government. The Congresswoman has secured more than a half billion dollars to revitalize Michigan's 13th District. As a member of the newly created Financial Services Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee, Congresswoman Kilpatrick oversees the budgets of more than 20 governmental agencies, including the Treasury Department, National Credit Union Administration, Postal Service, and the Small Business Administration. As a member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee, she helps determine funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a federal agency aimed at ensuring the safety and security of America's families. One of the largest departments of the federal government, DHS encompasses 22 agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the U. S. Coast Guard.

Rep. Barbara Lee

Congresswoman Barbara Lee was first elected to represent California's ninth Congressional District in 1998, in a special election to fill the seat of retiring Congressman Ron Dellums. After serving on the International Relations and Financial Services Committees, in 2007 she joined the House Appropriations Committee, which controls the federal purse strings and is widely viewed as one of the most powerful committees in Congress. She serves on the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Subcommittee, the Foreign Operations Subcommittee and the Legislative Branch Subcommittee. She is the Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, First Vice-Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and a Senior Democratic Whip. She also serves as Co-Chair of the CBC Outreach Task Force.

Rep. Nita Lowey

Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey is currently serving her tenth term in Congress, representing parts of Westchester and Rockland Counties. She was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1988 and served in the Democratic Leadership in 2001 and 2002 as the first woman and the first New Yorker to chair the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Lowey has been described as "courageous" by The New York Times, "terrific" by Newsday, and one of "New York's key Members of Congress" by the New York Daily News. The Journal News called Lowey "one of the most influential Members of Congress." A member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, where she serves as Chairwoman of the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee, and the House Homeland Security Committee, Lowey is as an extremely effective, committed legislator with a substantial record. Congressional Quarterly called her one of the 50 most effective Members of Congress, saying she "maneuvers skillfully through the appropriations process," and Newsday said she "delivers for New York."

Rep. Carolyn Maloney

New York Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney is a national leader with extensive accomplishments on security, financial services, the economy and women's issues. She also has been a force representing the interests of the City of New York in Congress from the time she entered, in 1993. In the 110th Congress, Maloney became Chair of the House Financial Service Committee's Financial Institutions Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the nation's banking system. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also appointed her Vice Chair of the Joint Economic Committee, a House and Senate panel that examines and addresses the nation's most pressing economic issues. In addition, Maloney is a senior member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Rep. Betty McCollum

Betty McCollum is a Democrat serving her fourth term in Congress representing the families of Minnesota's Fourth District. In 2000 McCollum made history as only the second Minnesota woman elected to Congress since statehood in 1858. In Washington, McCollum serves the residents of Minnesota's capital city, St. Paul, as well as Ramsey County, northern Dakota County and western Washington County. Throughout her public career, Betty McCollum has been a champion for excellence in education, protecting the environment, expanding health care access and fiscal responsibility. In Congress, McCollum is also working to defend workers' rights and civil liberties at home, while ensuring human rights are protected around the world. In the 110th Congress, McCollum brings a common sense, Minnesota perspective to her two powerful committee assignments - the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Rep. Gregory Meeks

Congressman Gregory W. Meeks represents New York's Sixth Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. The Sixth District, the wealthiest African-American congressional district in the country, covers all towns and villages of Jamaica and most of southeast Queens -- and includes all of John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Now serving in his fourth full-term, Meeks was elected to the House on February 3, 1998. He is a member of the powerful House Committee on Financial Services and the much sought after Committee on International Relations. Meeks is a Member of the New Democrats Caucus and the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC), pro-business moderate Democratic organizations in the House and Senate.

Rep. Dennis Moore

Dennis Moore, a lifelong Kansan, is serving his fifth term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Moore was born in Anthony, Kansas, in 1945. He was educated in Wichita public schools. In 1967, he graduated from the University of Kansas, and received his law degree from Washburn University School of Law in 1970 After service in the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserve, Moore started his legal career as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Kansas. He entered private legal practice in Johnson County in 1973. In 1976, Moore was elected District Attorney in Johnson County and was reelected twice, serving a total of 12 years. During his tenure, Moore earned a reputation as a tough, but fair, prosecutor. Moore is a member of the House Committees on the Budget and Financial Services, and is on a leave of absence from the House Small Business Committee during the 110th Congress. Moore is also a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate to conservative Democrats committed to restoring fiscal responsibility and accountability to government. Moore serves as Co-Chair for Policy, charged with overseeing various task forces to develop the group's policy positions.

Rep. Grace Napolitano

Grace Flores Napolitano was first elected to Congress in November, 1998. She is currently serving her fifth term representing California's 38th District. Her Los Angeles County-based district covers several cities in the Southeast and San Gabriel Valley areas including Norwalk, Pomona, Santa Fe Springs, La Puente, the City of Industry, Montebello, and Pico Rivera, plus the unincorporated communities of Avocado Heights, Hacienda Heights, West Puente Valley, and parts of Whittier, East Los Angeles, Rowland Heights, South San Gabriel, and Valinda. Napolitano made her way up through the ranks of Ford Motor Company for 21 years. Following her retirement in 1992, she was elected to the California Assembly, and emerged as a recognized leader on international trade, environmental protection, transportation and immigration. She quickly earned a reputation as a hard worker and champion for small business, women, economic expansion and job creation. In 1996 she requested and received the creation of the first new California State Assembly Standing Committee in nine years, the Committee on International Trade, which she chaired until being termed out in 1998. In her six years in the Assembly, she also served as chair of the Women 's Caucus and vice-chair of the Latino caucus.

Rep. Donald Payne

Donald M. Payne, a native of Newark, New Jersey, was elected to represent the 10th Congressional District of New Jersey in 1988 as New Jersey's first African American Congressman by an overwhelming majority and has been returned by a wide margin of the vote in each subsequent election. In 2006, he won election to his tenth term to represent the 10th District in the historic 110th Congress. A past Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, he is a member of the Democratic Whip Organization and has served as a member of the House Democratic Leadership Advisory Group. He formerly served on the powerful Democratic Steering Committee, whose membership determines each individual committee assignment for Democratic members and plays an active role in shaping the legislative agenda.

Rep. Pedro Pierluisi

Pedro Pierluisi is a member of the Democratic Party and Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner. He is the sole representative in Congress of the four million American citizens who reside on the Island.He is an attorney from San Juan with 24 years of experience. He is a graduate of Tulane University and George Washington University Law School. He began his career in Washington, D.C. and spent six years as a litigation attorney in the nation’s capital.As an active Democrat, he endorsed Senator Barack Obama for President and served as Co-Chair of Obama’s campaign in Puerto Rico.Pierluisi, son of former Puerto Rico Housing Secretary Jorge Pierluisi and Doris Urrutia, has four children and is married to Maria Elena Carrión.

Rep. Laura Richardson

At the age of six, living through the civil rights movement and having picked her first profession of public service, Ms. Richardson started on that path by getting her first job at the age of 12. She graduated from UCLA, received a Masters from USC, and went on to spend fourteen years working in corporate America. In 2006, Laura Richardson won a seat in the California Assembly in the 55th District serving as Assistant Pro Tempore in the Assembly. She was recognized as the first African-American woman, South Bay representative, and freshman to hold this prestigious position. In 2007, Richardson was elected to her first term in the House of Representatives setting a record of distinction in having served all three levels of government; local, state and federal all in the span of less than a year.Since being elected to serve in the House of Representatives Richardson was assigned to serve on the influential House Committees on Transportation & Infrastructure and Homeland Security. Laura Richardson intends to focus on lobbying for the United States to withdraw from Iraq, Homeland Security, expanding access to health care services. Representative Laura Richardson is the 26th African-American female and the 239th female to serve in the U.S. Congress.

Rep. Adam Schiff

Congressman Adam B. Schiff represents California's 29th Congressional District, including the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, Glendale, Griffith Park, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena, and Temple City. During his tenure in Congress, Schiff has focused on bolstering national security, strengthening our communities, and introducing a "Kids First" agenda of initiatives to improve education, safety, and health care for our kids. Rep. Schiff has been a leader on national security efforts and has pushed for a broader strategy that emphasizes diplomacy, intelligence reform, and efforts to improve our nation's ability to stabilize countries to prevent future failed states from becoming havens for terrorists. He has pressed for the adoption of the bipartisan 9/11 Commission recommendations, cosponsoring a measure that implements the recommendations, which passed the House this year.

Rep. Albio Sires

Congressman Albio Sires represents New Jersey’s Thirteenth Congressional District and is the first Hispanic legislator to be named Assembly Speaker, as well as the first Cuban. He was born in 1951 in Bejucal, Cuba and fled with his family to West New York in 1962; where he would later go on to serve as Mayor until 1995. Congressman Sires has made his mark on New Jersey by improving the opportunities for low-income workers by raising minimum wage, broadening job training programs, and creating a state funded Section 8 program for affordable housing. Representative Sires also has a passion for educational development, which has lead him to create the STARS I and STARS II programs in New Jersey. These programs grant full county and state college scholarships and increase tuition aid to families. Congressman Sires has also created the Assembly Committee on Homeland Security and State Preparedness, and wrote the law to prevent terrorist in New Jersey from obtaining fake driver’s licenses. Congressman Sires achievements earned him the “Community That Works” award from the State of New Jersey.

Rep. Maxine Waters

Congresswoman Maxine Waters is serving her tenth term in for the Thirty-fifth District of California, which represents most of South Central Los Angeles, Westchester, Playa Del Rey, Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood, and Lawndale. Congresswomen Waters has dedicated thirty years to public service and is known as one of the most influential women in politics. She strongly supports women, children, minority rights, and the poor. Representative Waters has brought attention to the urban problems of cities across America by channeling the media and her fellow government officials. Her legislative and policy achievements on similar fronts include the nation’s first state wide Child Abuse Prevention Training, affirmative action legislation, the nation’s first plan closure law, and loan guarantees to cities for economic and infrastructure development. The congresswoman has served on the Democratic National Committee since 1980 and was a leader in five presidential campaigns. Congresswomen Waters is also the co-founder of Black Women’s Forum, a non-profit organization for African American Women in the Los Angeles area.

Rep. Diane Watson

Congresswomen Diane E. Watson proudly serves her lifetime home in California’s Thirty-Third Congressional District. She started serving the people in Los Angeles as a public school teacher and became the first African-American women in 1975 to be elected to the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education. Two years later, Congresswomen Watson was elected in 1978 to the California State Senate. As a senator she was a strong supporter for health care, women, children and consumer safety. She created the California Birth Defects Monitoring Program Act and was a powerful player in achieving legislation to enhance breast cancer research. Representative Watson was also appointed by former President Clinton in 1999 to serve as the United States Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia. After returning to her home in California she was elected to Congress in 2002, where she has served ever since. Congresswoman Watson is on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade, and the Subcommittee for Domestic Policy. She also serves on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and she is the Chairwomen of the Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization and Procurement.