Susan Davis (Congresswoman)

Infobox_Congressman
name =Susan Davis


date of birth= birth date and age|1944|04|14
place of birth= Cambridge, Massachusetts
alma_mater=University of California, Berkeley, University of North Carolina
occupation=social worker
state = California
district = 53rd
term_start =January 3 2001
preceded = Brian Bilbray
succeeded = Incumbent
party = Democrat
religion = Jewish
spouse = Steve Davis
residence = San Diego, California

Susan A. Davis (born April 15 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 ( [http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/ca53_109.gifmap] ). The district includes just under half the city of San Diego, as well as the entire cities of Coronado, Imperial Beach and Lemon Grove. [ [http://www.sen.ca.gov/ftp/SEN/cngplan/CD53.HTM CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 53 ] ]

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.

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 was reelected with little trouble in 2002, 2004, and 2006. She is the first Democrat to represent the district for more than one term since its creation in 1953 (it was known as the 30th District from 1953 to 1963, the 36th from 1963 to 1973, the 40th from 1973 to 1975, the 41st from 1975 to 1993 and the 49th from 1993 to 2003). The only other Democrat to ever hold this seat was Lynn Schenk from 1993 to 1995, who was defeated by Bilbray in the Republican landslide of 1994.

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.

Committee Assignments

*Committee on Armed Services
**Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Military Personnel
**Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee
*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

References

External links

* [http://www.house.gov/susandavis/ U.S. Congresswoman Susan Davis] official House site
*CongBio|d000598
* [http://herndon1.sdrdc.com/cgi-bin/can_detail/H0CA49055 Federal Election Commission — Susan A Davis] campaign finance reports and data
* [http://www.ontheissues.org/CA/Susan_Davis.htm On the Issues — Susan Davis] issue positions and quotes
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.asp?CID=N00009604 OpenSecrets.org — Susan A. Davis] campaign contributions
* [http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=BS026406 Project Vote Smart — Representative Susan A. Davis (CA)] profile
* [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Susan_Davis SourceWatch Congresspedia — Susan Davis] profile
* [http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/d000598/ Washington Post — Congress Votes Database: Susan Davis] voting record
* [http://www.susandavisforcongress.com/ Susan Davis for U.S. Congress] official campaign site