Suzanne Bonamici

Suzanne Bonamici
Name	Suzanne Bonamici
Caption	Official portrait, 2022
State	Oregon
District	1st
Term start	February 7, 2012
Preceded	David Wu
Party	Democratic
Spouse	Michael Simon
Alma mater	University of Oregon (BA), University of Oregon School of Law (JD)
Birth date	14 October 1954
Birth place	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.

Suzanne Bonamici is an American attorney and politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Oregon's 1st congressional district since 2012. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served in the Oregon House of Representatives and the Oregon State Senate. Bonamici is a prominent member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and serves on the influential House Committee on Education and the Workforce and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Early life and education

Born in Detroit, Michigan, she moved with her family to Oregon as a child. She attended public schools in the Portland metropolitan area before enrolling at the University of Oregon. Bonamici earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and later a Juris Doctor from the University of Oregon School of Law. During her legal studies, she served as an editor for the Oregon Law Review and worked as a law clerk for the Oregon Court of Appeals.

Early career

After law school, Bonamici practiced consumer protection law at the Federal Trade Commission in Washington, D.C., focusing on issues of fraud and deceptive advertising. She returned to Oregon to work in private practice and later served as a public policy advocate for the Oregon State Public Interest Research Group. Her early career was dedicated to consumer rights and environmental advocacy, which informed her later legislative work on issues like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Clean Air Act enforcement.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

Bonamici first won election to the United States House of Representatives in a 2012 special election triggered by the resignation of David Wu. She defeated Republican nominee Rob Cornilles and has been re-elected comfortably in subsequent elections, including the 2012, 2014, and 2020 general elections. Her district includes much of Portland's western suburbs and the Oregon Coast.

Tenure

Upon taking office, Bonamici was appointed to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. She has served as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Environment within the Science Committee. A key legislative achievement was her co-authorship of the bipartisan INVEST in America Act, which provided significant funding for National Science Foundation research. She is also a founding member of the Congressional STEAM Caucus, advocating for the integration of arts into science and technology education.

Political positions

Bonamici is a progressive Democrat with a legislative focus on education, environmental protection, and consumer rights. She is a strong supporter of the Affordable Care Act and has introduced legislation to lower prescription drug costs. On environmental issues, she is a vocal advocate for addressing climate change, supporting the Paris Agreement and sponsoring bills to promote renewable energy and protect the Pacific Ocean. She has been endorsed by organizations like the League of Conservation Voters and the National Education Association. Bonamici has also been active in oversight of the Trump administration, particularly regarding policies of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Education.

Personal life

Bonamici is married to Michael Simon, a federal magistrate judge for the United States District Court for the District of Oregon. They have two adult children and reside in Beaverton, Oregon. She is an avid supporter of the Portland Timbers and Portland Thorns FC soccer teams and enjoys hiking along the Columbia River Gorge.

Category:1954 births Category:Living people Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Oregon Category:Oregon Democrats Category:University of Oregon alumni Category:People from Beaverton, Oregon