Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
In November 1998, Tammy Baldwin was elected to Congress—the first woman to serve in the House of Representatives from Wisconsin. She was re-elected to her fifth term in 2006.
In the 110th Congress, Tammy serves on the Committee on Energy and Commerce and its Subcommittees on Health; Energy and Air Quality; and the Environment and Hazardous Materials. She also serves on the Judiciary Committee and its Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. She is a leading advocate for universal health care and a proponent of energy independence and renewable fuels. Tammy is also a forceful supporter of civil rights and an advocate for those in our society whose voices, too often, are not heard.
Tammy’s driving motivation in politics is to pass legislation that will guarantee health care for all in America. A pragmatist, she has brought together conservative as well as progressive thinkers to craft the Health Partnership for Creative Federalism Act (H.R. 506) to meet this goal, legislation that creates state/federal partnerships toward that end.
Besides advancing legislation for the common good, Tammy has made it a priority to assist constituents in solving problems they may have with federal agencies; help individuals, groups, and local governments secure federal grants; and ensure that her district receives a fair share of federal financial assistance. Since taking office, Tammy has secured more than $175 million in federal funds for worthwhile projects throughout her district, funds that would not have come to Wisconsin without her strong advocacy.
Tammy frequently reminds young and old alike to ignore those she calls “the naysayers, the cynics, and the keepers of the status quo,” something she has done successfully throughout her political career. At every turn in her career, she has heard that she was either too young or too liberal, or that voters weren’t ready to elect a woman or an "out" lesbian to office. Nonetheless, at the age of 37, Tammy became the first woman to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives from the state of Wisconsin and the first non-incumbent, openly gay person to be elected to Congress. Tammy also is a firm believer in the words of anthropologist Margaret Mead who said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
