Introduction
Like the Silicon Valley region she represents, Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo exemplifies innovation. She’s creative, productive, a problem solver and a consensus builder. For over two decades in Congress, Rep. Eshoo has defended consumers, promoted American competitiveness and innovation, fought for access to health care for families and children, protected the environment, and encouraged development of clean energy technology.
Rep. Eshoo’s work consistently earns the highest approval from a wide range of organizations, including the League of Conservation Voters, the Humane Society, the American Association of University Women, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans, the Biotechnology Industry Organization, the American College of Emergency Physicians, and the Science Coalition. The San Jose Mercury News named her one of the ten most powerful women in Silicon Valley “because she sits on committees that oversee the Internet and biotech—areas vital to the valley’s interests.” In 2017, Rep. Eshoo was awarded the Statesmanship Award by the bipartisan United States Association of Former Members of Congress for her distinguished Congressional service and commitment to improving the lives of others.
Record
Anna G. Eshoo was first sworn in as a Member of the United States House of Representatives in January 1993, after serving on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors for 10 years. She has served on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee since 1995, and she was the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology for six years, the first woman in the history of the Subcommittee to serve in a leadership role.
As a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and a member of the Health Subcommittee, Rep. Eshoo helped draft portions of the Affordable Care Act to provide comprehensive, affordable health insurance for all Americans, including eliminating lifetime limits in health insurance plans, and she continues to work on strengthening the law. She has written landmark bipartisan legislation to promote the development of new lifesaving cures in biologic drugs; protect patient’s genetic information from being used to discriminate against them; modernize how the Food and Drug Administration regulates and approves medical devices; and promote the development of drugs specifically for children.
Rep. Eshoo is a champion of a free and open Internet. Her accomplishments include her work as a conferee on the landmark Telecommunications Act of 1996, which removed barriers to entry in the telecommunications market; legislation signed into law to ease the nation’s growing spectrum shortage; efforts to spur the deployment of broadband in underserved areas; and legislation signed into law to permanently ban state and local taxation of Internet access.
Following the tragic losses on September 11th 2001, Rep. Eshoo led the charge in the House to create America’s first nationwide, interoperable public safety communications network and to appropriate significant funding for Next Generation 9-1-1 technology for first responders to effectively communicate in the event of an emergency. Rep. Eshoo continues to introduce and support legislation that strengthens federal efforts to help state and local governments transition to NG 9-1-1 technology by providing new federal funding, technical assistance, and training, while ensuring 9-1-1 is kept under state and local control.
Rep. Eshoo spearheaded the effort to modernize Caltrain, the spine of the Peninsula’s transportation system, and secured over $600 million in federal funding for this critical upgrade.
She has also been a tireless supporter of international religious freedom; championed efforts to encourage the next generation of clean energy technology; and promoted safe drinking water for American households. Rep. Eshoo is also a Congressional leader on campaign finance reform, particularly to increase transparency and disclosure in campaign advertisements.
Personal Story
Rep. Eshoo was born in New Britain, Connecticut, of Assyrian and Armenian heritage. She is the proud mother of two children, Karen and Paul.
Eshoo is a graduate of Cañada College and the CORO Foundation and was awarded an Honorary Degree by Menlo College. She was elected to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors in 1982 and served on the County Board for ten years before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992.
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