Wasserman Schultz, Debbie, 1966-

Deborah Wasserman Schultz (née Wasserman; born September 27, 1966) is an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, she currently serves as the U.S. Representative from Florida's 23rd congressional district, first elected to Congress in 2004. Between 2011 and 2016, she served as Chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Born in Forest Hills, Queens, New York, she was raised on Long Island, graduating from Half Hollow Hills High School East before earning a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Florida in 1988 and 1990, respectively. She served on the staff of Florida State Representative Peter Deutsch between 1989 and 1992. After Deutsch ran for the House of Representatives, he suggested to Wasserman Schultz that she run for his vacated seat. At age 26, she became the youngest female legislator in the state's history. After leaving the Florida House due to term limits, Wasserman Schultz was elected to the Florida State Senate, serving there for four years. In 2004, she was elected to succeed her mentor, Peter Deutsch, in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Known for vigorously defending her progressive values, Wasserman Schultz has also demonstrated her ability to pass meaningful legislation in a bipartisan fashion. She teamed up with former Republican Senator Arlen Specter to write a resolution – passed unanimously by both houses of Congress and signed by President Bush – to declare May as Jewish American Heritage Month in an effort to reduce anti-Semitism, hate, and bigotry. After announcing her own battle with breast cancer in 2009, Wasserman Schultz introduced the EARLY Act, a piece of legislation designed to increase breast cancer education and awareness. A leading advocate for women and girls, Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz introduced the Rape Survivor Child Custody Act to encourage more states to allow women to terminate the parental rights of a rapist, based on clear and convincing evidence. The bill was signed into law by President Obama in 2015. On April 5, 2011, President Barack Obama chose Wasserman Schultz to succeed Tim Kaine as the 52nd Chair of the Democratic National Committee; she resigned from this position in July 2016.