Jayapal, Pramila

Pramila Jayapal represents Washington's 7th congressional district, which includes most of Seattle and surrounding King County areas. As the first Indian American woman to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and the first Asian American to represent Washington at the federal level, she brings a distinctive perspective to her committee work. Her role as Ranking Member on the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee positions her to lead Democratic opposition and shape the minority party's agenda on immigration enforcement, border security, and related policies. She also serves as a member of the full Judiciary Committee and the Budget Committee.

Jayapal's background directly informs her committee responsibilities. Before entering electoral politics, she spent over a decade as a civil rights activist and executive director of OneAmerica, an immigrant advocacy organization she founded after September 11, 2001. The group successfully challenged government deportation actions and advocated for immigration reform. Her work on immigration issues, combined with her experience in the Washington State Senate where she sponsored legislation on workforce development and police accountability, establishes her as a legislator focused on civil rights and economic justice.

As Ranking Member, Jayapal has advanced numerous immigration-related bills, including the ICE Out of Our Faces Act and the U.S. Farmworker Protection Act. She has also sponsored broader economic legislation such as the Ultra-Millionaire Tax Act. Her legislative profile reflects a commitment to progressive causes, including her leadership of the Congressional Progressive Caucus from 2021 to 2025. In 2018, she was arrested during a sit-in at the Hart Senate Office Building protesting the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies, demonstrating her willingness to engage in direct action alongside her legislative work.

Jayapal's political standing within the Democratic caucus is substantial, evidenced by her leadership role in the Progressive Caucus and her prominent committee assignments. Her combination of grassroots activism experience, legislative record, and focus on immigration and economic policy makes her a key voice in shaping Democratic priorities on these issues within the House Judiciary Committee.