Susan A. Davis
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 53rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 3, 2001
Preceded by	Brian Bilbray
Born	April 13, 1944 (1944-04-13) (age 65) Cambridge, Massachusetts
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Steve Davis
Residence	San Diego, California
Alma mater	University of California, Berkeley, University of North Carolina
Occupation	social worker
Religion	Jewish

Susan A. Davis (born 13 April 1944), is an American politician who has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 2001, representing California's 53rd congressional district (map). The district includes just under half the city of San Diego, as well as the entire cities of Coronado, Imperial Beach and Lemon Grove.^[1]

[edit] Early life

She was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, but has spent most of her life in California. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley and earned a master's degree in social work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her husband Steve Davis was a doctor in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. After returning to California, she became a social worker in San Diego.

[edit] Political career

Davis was elected to the San Diego School Board in 1983. She served there until 1992, spending eight years of her time as president or vice president of the body. In 1994, she was elected to the California State Assembly, and was reelected in 1996 and 1998. In the Assembly, Davis chaired the Committee on Consumer Protection, Government Efficiency and Economic Development. She authored a state law giving women direct access to their OB/Gyns without getting a referral from their primary care physicians.

In 2000, she challenged three-term Republican incumbent Brian Bilbray in what was then the 49th District, winning with 50 percent of the vote. Her district was renumbered the 53rd District after the 2000 Census redistricting. She has been reelected four times without much difficulty. She is the first Democrat to represent what is now the 53rd district for more than one term in over half a century. The only other Democrat to represent this district since the Harry Truman administration, Lynn Schenk, was toppled by Bilbray in the 1994 Republican wave.

Davis serves on the House Armed Services Committee, for which she has served as the Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Military Personnel since July 1, 2007. She also serves on the House Committee on Education and Labor and the Committee on House Administration.

Susan Davis is a member of the New Democrat Coalition and portrays herself as working across party lines. She and her husband Steve have two children and two grandchildren.

Davis has introduced a federal version of the California OB/Gyn law she authored at the start of every Congress since she was elected; however, neither bill has made it out of committee.

[edit] Committee assignments

• Committee on Armed Services
  • Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
  • Subcommittee on Military Personnel (Chairwoman)
• Committee on Education and Labor
  • Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education
  • Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness
• Committee on House Administration
  • Subcommittee on Elections
• Joint Committee on Printing

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• U.S. Congresswoman Susan Davis official House site
• Susan Davis at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Federal Election Commission — Susan A Davis campaign finance reports and data
• On the Issues — Susan Davis issue positions and quotes
• OpenSecrets.org — Susan A. Davis campaign contributions
• Project Vote Smart — Representative Susan A. Davis (CA) profile
• SourceWatch Congresspedia — Susan Davis profile
• Washington Post — Congress Votes Database: Susan Davis voting record
• Susan Davis for U.S. Congress official campaign site