Mfume, Kweisi

Kweisi Mfume represents Maryland's 7th congressional district and serves as Ranking Member of the Government Operations subcommittee within the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. As the minority party's leading voice on this subcommittee, he shapes the opposition's priorities on federal government operations, efficiency, and accountability—areas where Congress conducts critical oversight of executive branch activities. Though he does not chair the full committee, his ranking position allows him to direct minority staff, request hearings, and lead questioning during investigations.

Mfume brings decades of experience in civil rights advocacy and public service to this role. He first entered Congress in 1987, representing his Baltimore district for nine years before stepping down to lead the NAACP from 1996 to 2004, where he served as president and CEO. Earlier, he spent time on the Baltimore City Council beginning in 1978, where he advocated for underserved neighborhoods. He returned to the House in 2020 after the death of his predecessor, Elijah Cummings. His background in both legislative work and national civil rights leadership informs his approach to government accountability.

As Ranking Member, Mfume has focused on issues touching civil rights, government transparency, and military affairs. He has sponsored legislation including the Clarence Mitchell, Jr. Statue Act and measures establishing a National Council on African American History and Culture. He also serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, where he participates in subcommittees on the Middle East and North Africa and South and Central Asia. His legislative agenda reflects his longstanding commitment to advancing African American representation in national institutions and ensuring federal responsiveness to marginalized communities.