Meeks, Gregory W.

Gregory Meeks represents southeastern Queens in the House of Representatives and serves as ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, the chamber's primary panel for overseeing U.S. international relations, diplomatic strategy, and foreign aid. As ranking member, he leads the Democratic opposition on the committee, shaping debate on major foreign policy issues and directing minority staff investigations. His role carries significant influence over which foreign policy matters receive congressional scrutiny and how the minority party frames international affairs debates.

Meeks brings substantial legal and governmental experience to this position. Born and raised in East Harlem, he earned his law degree from Howard University School of Law and worked as an Assistant District Attorney and for the Special Narcotics Prosecutor in New York before serving as a Supervising Judge for the State Workers Compensation System. He spent five years in the New York State Assembly before entering Congress in 1998, giving him two decades of legislative experience by the time he assumed his current committee role.

Meeks previously chaired the Foreign Affairs Committee from 2021 to 2023 when Democrats held the House majority. During his tenure and continuing as ranking member, he has focused on international trade issues, national security matters, and human rights concerns. His sponsored legislation has addressed topics ranging from tariff policies to antisemitic violence and the RESTRICT Act, reflecting his committee's broad jurisdiction over foreign commerce and global security threats.

Meeks represents a diverse district encompassing much of southeastern Queens, including Jamaica, the Rockaways, and areas near JFK Airport, with constituents from African-American, West Indian, Italian-American, and Irish-American communities. He also serves as chair of the Queens County Democratic Party and is positioned to become the dean of New York's House delegation upon the retirements of senior colleagues in 2026.