Pramila Jayapal

DemocratU.S. Representative, WA-7

Age	60 (b. 1965-09-21)
Gender	Female
In office since	2017-01-03 (~9 yrs)
Race / ethnicity	South Asian / Indian American (of Malayali descent)
Education	B.A. in English and Economics, Georgetown University (1986); MBA, Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management (1990)
Prior occupation	Financial analyst at PaineWebber; medical-industry sales/marketing; immigrant-rights activist and founder/executive director of OneAmerica (formerly Hate Free Zone)
Military service	No
Birthplace	Chennai (Madras), Tamil Nadu, India (foreign-born)
Languages	English; Hindi (fluent); some Malayalam
Marital status	Married — Steven R. Williamson
Children	2
Residence	Seattle, Washington
Notable relatives	Sister Susheela Jayapal, former Multnomah County (Oregon) Commissioner; mother Maya Jayapal, writer

Wikipedia · Ballotpedia · OpenSecrets · Official site

Pending research: religion · openly lgbtq.

Career & politics

First elected	2016
Previous offices	Washington State Senate, 37th District (2015-2016)
Committees	House Committee on the Judiciary (Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement) · House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government · House Committee on Foreign Affairs · House Committee on the Budget
Caucuses	Congressional Progressive Caucus (Chair 2021-2025; co-Chair 2019-2021; Chair Emerita) · Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus · Medicare for All Caucus · Congressional Freethought Caucus · Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus (vice chair)
Leadership	Chair, Congressional Progressive Caucus (2021-2025) · Co-Chair, Congressional Progressive Caucus (2019-2021) · Senior Whip, House Democratic Caucus
Ideology	Widely characterized as one of the most progressive/left members of the U.S. House; ranked most politically left among House freshmen in 2018 (GovTrack)
Signature legislation	Medicare for All Act (lead sponsor, 2019/2021/2023) · College for All Act · Real Estate (environmental and immigration-related progressive bills)

Financial

Net worth: disclosed $-10,649,973–$-600,004 (2023) · estimate

DFA US Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio	fund · $100,001–$250,000 · 2023
Dimensional ETF Trust Dimensional US Large Cap Value ETF	fund · $100,001–$250,000 · 2023
DFA US Sustainability Core I Portfolio	fund · $100,001–$250,000 · 2023
Dimensional ETF Trust Dimensional US Small Cap Value ETF	fund · $100,001–$250,000 · 2023

Top donors: Microsoft Corp ($42,012 (2023-2024 cycle))

Scandals & crimes ledger

resolved — Arrest for Unlawful Demonstration at Hart Senate Office Building

criminal-other · 2018-06-28 · U.S. Capitol Police / DC Superior Court / House Committee on Ethics · Charge disposed of upon payment of $50 collateral forfeiture; House Ethics Committee voted against impaneling an investigative subcommittee

On June 28, 2018, Rep. Jayapal was arrested along with approximately 575 other demonstrators during a sit-in at the Hart Senate Office Building protesting the Trump administration's family-separation immigration policy. She was charged with 'crowding, obstructing, or incommoding.' She forfeited a $50 collateral payment, upon which the local court disposed of the charge. The House Ethics Committee convened on July 25, 2018, to consider the arrest and voted against impaneling an investigative subcommittee, finding no further review was necessary.

Sources: Congress.gov / House Ethics Committee · Roll Call · The Seattle Times

resolved — Late STOCK Act disclosure of Newell Brands stock sale

ethics-violation · 2023-10-31 · Jayapal sold shares of Newell Brands Inc. (valued between $1,001 and $15,000), which she had received as a gift from a family member over a decade earlier. Federal law under the STOCK Act (Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act) requires members of Congress to file a Periodic Transaction Report (PTR) disclosing any stock trade within 45 days. Jayapal did not file the required PTR within that window; the sale was noted only on her annual 2023 financial disclosure. The House Ethics Committee later flagged the missing/late PTR, and Jayapal filed it after the discrepancy was brought to her attention. The standard administrative fine for such a violation is $200. Jayapal said she was awaiting further guidance from the Ethics Committee on any additional steps, including payment of a late fee. · Standard $200 administrative late-filing fine applicable under House STOCK Act enforcement; Jayapal filed the delinquent report and stated she was awaiting Ethics Committee guidance on further steps.

Jayapal failed to timely disclose, via the required Periodic Transaction Report, a 2023 sale of Newell Brands stock as mandated by the STOCK Act; the House Ethics Committee flagged the lapse, and the standard $200 administrative fine applies.

Sources: NOTUS