Lofgren, Zoe, 1947-

LOFGREN, Zoe,

a Representative from California; born in San Mateo, San Mateo County, Calif., December 21, 1947; graduated from Gunn High School, Palo Alto, Calif., 1966; B.A., Stanford University, Stanford, Calif., 1970; J.D., Santa Clara University School of Law, Santa Clara, Calif., 1975; lawyer, private practice; faculty, Santa Clara University School of Law, Santa Clara, Calif., 1978-1980; staff, United States Representative William Donlon (Don) Edwards of California, 1970-1978; Santa Clara County board of supervisors, 1980-1994; executive director, Community Housing Developers; elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Fourth and to the thirteen succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1995-present); one of the managers appointed by the House of Representatives in 2009 to conduct the impeachment proceedings of Samuel B. Kent, judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas; one of the managers appointed by the House of Representatives in 2010 to conduct the impeachment proceedings of G. Thomas Porteous, Jr., judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana; one of the managers appointed by the House of Representatives in 2020 to conduct the impeachment proceedings of Donald J. Trump, President of the United States; chair, Committee on Standards of Official Conduct (One Hundred Eleventh Congress); chair, Committee on House Administration (One Hundred Sixteenth and One Hundred Seventeenth Congresses); chair, Joint Committee on Printing (One Hundred Sixteenth Congress)

<p>Zoe Lofgren has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1995. She represents the 19th District of California, based in the “Capital of Silicon Valley,” San Jose, and the Santa Clara Valley.</p>

<p>A lifelong Bay Area resident and the daughter of a truck driver and a cafeteria cook, Zoe attended public schools and attended Stanford University on a California State Scholarship, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1970. Prior to attending Stanford, Lofgren worked the night shift at the Eastman Kodak plant in Palo Alto to save money for non-tuition college expenses not covered by her scholarship. After graduating from Stanford, she attended, with the help of a scholarship, Santa Clara University School of Law, graduating cum laude 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 and teaching immigration 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 currently serves on the House Judiciary Committee, the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, and the Committee on House Administration.</p>

<p>As the Chair of the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship, and a former immigration attorney and immigration law professor, Zoe is recognized as an established champion of top-to-bottom immigration reform and a national leader in immigration policy. During the 113th Congress she played a key role in negotiating a comprehensive reform bill in the House Representatives as part of an eight-person bipartisan working group.</p>

<p>Susan Ellen "Zoe" Lofgren (/ˈzoʊ ˈlɒfɡrɪn/ ZO LOFF-grin; born December 21, 1947) is an American lawyer and politician serving as a U.S. Representative from California. A member of the Democratic Party, Lofgren is in her 13th term in Congress, having been first elected in 1994.</p>

<p>Lofgren was the 16th district's first female U.S. Representative, before part of the district was redistricted into the 19th congressional district. The district covers much of Santa Clara County, including Gilroy, Morgan Hill, and most of San Jose. Lofgren has long served on the House Judiciary Committee and in the 116th Congress was chair of the House Administration Committee.</p>

<p>Lofgren was born in San Mateo, California, the daughter of Mary Violet, a school cafeteria employee, and Milton R. Lofgren, a beer truck driver. Her grandfather was Swedish. Lofgren attended Gunn High School (1966) in Palo Alto, and while in high school, Lofgren was a member of the Junior State of America, a student-run political debate, activism, and student governance organization. She earned her B.A. degree at Stanford University (1970) and a Juris Doctor degree at Santa Clara University School of Law (1975).</p>