Jacobs, Sara

Sara Jacobs represents California's 51st congressional district and serves as ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa. In this role, she leads the Democratic opposition on the subcommittee, which oversees U.S. foreign policy, diplomatic engagement, and development initiatives across Africa. As ranking member, she shapes the subcommittee's investigative priorities and legislative agenda on African affairs, though the majority party controls which bills advance. Jacobs also serves on the House Armed Services Committee and its subcommittees on Military Personnel and Intelligence and Special Operations, giving her influence over defense and national security policy.

Jacobs brings substantial international experience to her committee work. After graduating from Columbia University with degrees in political science and international affairs, she worked for the United Nations and UNICEF, gaining firsthand knowledge of global development and humanitarian challenges. She later served as a State Department contractor and as a policy advisor on Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. This background in international development and diplomacy directly informs her work on foreign affairs and defense matters.

Since entering Congress in 2021, Jacobs has focused on development, humanitarian response, and conflict prevention. She has sponsored legislation including the Locally Led Development and Humanitarian Response Act and the Conflict Prevention Act, reflecting her commitment to addressing root causes of instability. She also advanced the Justice for Hind Rajab Act and the Bipartisan IVF for Military Families Act, demonstrating a broad legislative portfolio spanning foreign policy, human rights, and military family support.

At 35 years old, Jacobs is the youngest member of California's congressional delegation and holds a position in Democratic House leadership as the caucus leadership representative. Her combination of youth, international expertise, and rising prominence within her party positions her as an influential voice on foreign affairs and defense policy.