Pramila Jayapal (American Politician) Biography

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Real Name	Pramila Jayapal
Nickname	Not Known

School	Park Ridge, Maine East High School (1964) Maine South High School (1964–1965)
College/University	Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., United States Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States
Qualifications	B.A. from Georgetown University M.B.A. from Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University

Children	Daughter: , Son: Janak Preston

Party	Democratic Party
Political Journey	In 2014, ran for Washington's open primary In November 2014, won Washington's open primary In January 2016, declared candidacy for Congress in Washington's 7th congressional district On 9 November 2016, won the Washington Senate seat Served in Washington State Senate representing the 37th legislative district from 2015 to 2017 Elected to U.S. House of Representatives for Washington's 7th congressional district in 2016, assuming office in January 2017 Serving fifth term in U.S. Congress as of 2026 Co-chaired the Congressional Progressive Caucus from 2019 to 2021 Served as Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus from 2021 to 2025 Serves on the House Judiciary Committee and House Budget Committee Serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Serves on the House Steering and Policy Committee First immigrant to serve as Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration

Party

Democratic Party

Political Journey

In 2014, ran for Washington's open primary
In November 2014, won Washington's open primary
In January 2016, declared candidacy for Congress in Washington's 7th congressional district
On 9 November 2016, won the Washington Senate seat
Served in Washington State Senate representing the 37th legislative district from 2015 to 2017
Elected to U.S. House of Representatives for Washington's 7th congressional district in 2016, assuming office in January 2017
Serving fifth term in U.S. Congress as of 2026
Co-chaired the Congressional Progressive Caucus from 2019 to 2021
Served as Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus from 2021 to 2025
Serves on the House Judiciary Committee and House Budget Committee
Serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Serves on the House Steering and Policy Committee
First immigrant to serve as Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration

1. Pramila Jayapal was born in the Chennai district of Tamil Nadu, India.
2. She was raised in Singapore and Indonesia.
3. At the age of 16 in 1982, she came to the United States to attend college.
4. In 2000, she became a U.S. citizen.
5. In March 2000, her book "Pilgrimage: One Woman’s Return to a Changing India" was published.
6. After the 9/11 attacks in 2001, she founded Hate Free Zone, which later became OneAmerica in 2008.
7. The White House recognized her as a "Champion of Change" in 2013 for her work advocating for immigrant communities.
8. In April 1995, she returned to India after 25 years, sharing how her life was transformed.
9. On 9 November 2016, she became the first Indian-American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
10. She spent nearly a decade working on global health and development for Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH).
11. She founded and served as Executive Director of OneAmerica until 2012.
12. She is the first immigrant to serve as Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration.