Jackie Speier

Jackie Speier

US House, CA-12

  • A dedicated progressive leader
  • A committed public servant
  • A leading advocate for women

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About Jackie Speier

A special election win

Former state Sen. Jackie Speier was victorious in her April 2008 special election to fill the seat of the late Rep. Tom Lantos. An 18-year veteran of the state legislature, Speier mobilized quickly to put together a winning campaign and -- with EMILY's List members behind her -- Speier came out on top. Speier was the 70th pro-choice Democratic woman EMILY’s List helped elect to the U.S. House!

A heroic beginning

Speier began her career as an aide to the late U.S. Rep. Leo Ryan, and accompanied Ryan on a fact-finding trip to Jim Jones’s People’s Temple cult in Jonestown, Guyana. As they attempted to leave Guyana, Ryan and his traveling party were ambushed by members of Jones’s cult. Ryan and four others were killed; Speier, who was shot five times, lay on the tarmac for 22 hours awaiting aid. This experience is intrinsic to Speier’s commitment to public service.

Advocating for women

A staunch defender of reproductive freedom, Speier has earned perfect marks from pro-choice groups throughout her career. She has authored and co-sponsored numerous pieces of legislation protecting families and women’s rights. As a state assemblywoman in 1991, Jackie Speier sponsored legislation urging California to research RU-486 (the morning-after pill). Speier brings that same dedication to women's rights to her work in Washington.

August 24, 2009

Speier pushes for health care reform

The Daily Journal

Speier pushes for health care reform

More than 300 supporters and opponents of the controversial health care reform bill showed up to voice questions and opinions at a relatively peaceful Sunday town hall meeting in Montara’s Farallone View Elementary School, hosted by U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo.

The congresswoman restated her support for health care reform, saying in her 12th District, 46,000 uninsured individuals would be eligible for a public option provider, and that without the bill 580 families would go bankrupt because of health care fees.

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March 11, 2009

Speier sets up 14-member oversight panel to review requests for federal funding

Mercury News

Speier sets up 14-member oversight panel to review requests for federal funding

Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, has taken a novel approach to choosing which projects -- if any -- get the sought-after money and set up an oversight panel to review requests for her district. The panel, made up of business and community leaders, will hold several public meetings to probe 46 applications Speier's office received for federal money.

"Our process in D.C. is broken -- it is not transparent," Speier added. "I conceived of this idea as a way of changing how the process is being done."

Stanford law professor Lawrence Lessig, who will chair the panel, described Speier's project as "a flash of brilliance on her part to think about the idea of making this into a local process."

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February 26, 2009

Speier amendment to help Bay Area homeowners

ABC 7 News

Speier amendment to help Bay Area homeowners

Peninsula Congresswoman Jackie Speier is introducing an amendment to the bill that would help more struggling homeowners in the Bay Area refinance.

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