Lofgren, Zoe, 1947-

Susan Ellen "Zoe" Lofgren (born December 21, 1947) is an American lawyer and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, she currently serves as a U.S. Representative from California. Her district was numbered the 16th district from 1995 to 2013; since 2013, it has been numbered the 19th district.

Born in San Mateo, California, Lofgren attended Gunn High School in Palo Alto, graduating in 1966 before attending Stanford University, where she earned a B.A. in 1970, and Santa Clara University School of Law, where she earned a J.D. in 1975. She served as a member of Congressman Don Edwards’ staff for eight years in both his San Jose and Washington DC offices. While practicing immigration law in the firm Webber & Lofgren and teaching immigration law at Santa Clara University School of Law, she was first elected to the San Jose Evergreen Community College Board in 1979. In 1980, she was elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors where she served for 14 years. Following Congressman Don Edwards’ retirement in 1994 after 32 years in Congress, Zoe was elected to the House of Representatives. She married John Collins in 1978.

Lofgren is the chair of the 46-member California Democratic Congressional Delegation. She serves on the Judiciary Committee and is the chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law. In 2007, she co-sponsored the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act, which the ACLU characterized as "legislating against thought." In April 2011, she became the first member of Congress to call for federal investigation into the Secure Communities deportation program. Beginning in 2009, Lofgren served as Chair of the House Ethics Committee. In doing so, she presided over a rare sanction of censure, against long-time member Charles B. Rangel. In the Stop Online Piracy Act House Judiciary Committee hearings, she defended the current state of the internet in opposition of the bill. In February 2013, Lofgren became one of the sponsors of the Fair Access to Science and Technology Research Act to expedite open access to taxpayer-funded research.