Rodgers, Cathy McMorris, 1969-

Cathy Anne McMorris Rodgers (born May 22, 1969) is an American politician. A member of the Republican Party, she has served as the U.S. Representative for Washington's 5th congressional district since 2005. From 2013 to 2019, she chaired the House Republican Conference. Since 2021, she has been the Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Born Cathy Anne McMorris in Salem, Oregon and raised in Hazelton, British Columbia and Kettle Falls, Washington, she graduated from Kettle Falls High School before earning a B.A. from Pensacola Christian College; she would later earn an M.B.A. from the University of Washington. After completing her undergraduate education, McMorris was hired by State Representative Bob Morton in 1991 as his campaign manager, and later as his legislative assistant. She became a member of the state legislature when she was appointed to the Washington House of Representatives in 1994. From 2002 to 2003, she served as House Minority Leader, the top House Republican leadership post. She chaired the House Commerce and Labor Committee, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee, and the State Government Committee. She stepped down as minority leader in 2003 after announcing her candidacy for Congress.

Since being elected to Congress in 2004, McMorris Rodgers has focused on moving legislation based on the priorities she hears in conversations with the people of Eastern Washington. Her mission is to restore trust and confidence in representative government and the rule of law, and lead as a trust-builder, ability-advocate, and unifying force to get results for hardworking men and women in Eastern Washington. A longtime advocate for members of the military and their families, McMorris Rodgers co-founded the bipartisan Military Family Caucus with Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA) to provide military spouses and children a voice in Congress. As co-chair of the Northwest Energy Caucus and the founder of the Hydropower Caucus, McMorris Rodgers is a long-time champion of dams and hydropower as a source of renewable, clean, reliable, affordable energy. McMorris Rodgers is a vocal, devoted champion for the disability community. In 2014, she played an instrumental role in securing final passage of the ABLE Act, which was described as the most comprehensive piece of disability legislation since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.