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 |
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
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.
resolved — 2018 arrest at U.S. Capitol immigration protest (civil disobedience)
On June 28, 2018, Rep. Pramila Jayapal was among nearly 575 women arrested by U.S. Capitol Police during a sit-in in the Hart Senate Office Building protesting the Trump administration's family-separation immigration policy. She was cited for 'crowding, obstructing, or incommoding.' She paid a $50 fine and the charges were dismissed. The House Committee on Ethics concluded the matter required no further investigation. This was an act of intentional civil disobedience.