Foxx, Virginia

Virginia Foxx represents North Carolina's 5th congressional district and currently serves as chair of the House Rules Committee, a position she has held since 2025. The Rules Committee is one of Congress's most powerful panels, controlling which bills reach the House floor, how long debate lasts, and what amendments members can offer. As chair, Foxx sets the committee's agenda and determines the procedural framework for legislation, giving her significant influence over the legislative process. This role reflects her long tenure in Congress, where she has served since 2005 and is now the dean of North Carolina's delegation.

Foxx brings substantial experience in education and institutional leadership to her current role. She earned degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Greensboro, and spent decades working in higher education before entering politics. She served as president of Mayland Community College from 1987 to 1994 and held a position as Deputy Secretary for Management under North Carolina Governor James G. Martin. Before her congressional service, she served in the North Carolina Senate from 1994 to 2004. She and her husband also owned and operated a nursery and landscaping business, giving her private sector experience.

Prior to chairing the Rules Committee, Foxx held significant positions on education policy. She chaired the House Committee on Education and Labor from 2017 to 2019 and again from 2023 to 2025, and served as ranking member from 2019 to 2023. In these roles, she shaped debate over workforce development, labor standards, and education funding. She has sponsored legislation focused on government accountability, taxpayer protection, and labor issues, including bills on child care subsidies, unfunded mandates, and union transparency. Her legislative priorities reflect a focus on fiscal responsibility and reducing regulatory burdens.

Foxx's political career reflects her rise through Republican leadership ranks. She served as Secretary of the House Republican Conference from 2013 to 2016, a position that involved coordinating messaging and strategy for the party caucus. Her appointment to chair the Rules Committee represents recognition of her seniority and influence within the Republican Party. Throughout her tenure, she has maintained a strong presence in her rural northwestern North Carolina district, which includes parts of Greensboro.