Recently elected to her fifth term in Congress, U.S. Representative Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick represents Michigan's 13th District in the 109th session of Congress.

The district includes more than half of the city of Detroit, Ecorse, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe Shores, Grosse Pointe Woods, Harper Woods, Lincoln Park, River Rouge and Wyandotte.

Kilpatrick's hard work and thoughtful political style have earned her the confidence and respect of her peers, who have appointed her to the powerful House Appropriations Committee. She is the only Michigan Democrat on this important committee, which authorizes spending for all levels of the federal government.

As a member of the Transportation Subcommittee, Congresswoman Kilpatrick plays an integral role in determining the funding important highway projects and transportation programs throughout America and agencies such as the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration.

Congresswoman Kilpatrick has also taken a special interest in leveling the playing field for minority-owned and minority-targeted media outlets and advertising firms that face discrimination from major advertisers. She has hosted highly-successful forums on trends in advertising and has convened a panel of high-profile industry experts to examine the issue. She was a leading force in the successful effort to secure a Presidential Executive Order compelling all federal agencies to increase their contractual opportunities with minority businesses. Congresswoman Kilpatrick has also brought a successful NASA Engineering and Aeronautics program to Michigan for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The program is housed at Wayne State University.

Her colleagues and other Capitol Hill observers have taken note of Congresswoman Kilpatrick's leadership skills. She has been selected to serve as the first chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus' Political Action Committee. The Capitol Hill newspaper "Roll Call" named Kilpatrick to its list of future Capitol Hill leaders.

Born and raised in Detroit, Congresswoman Kilpatrick was President of her graduating class at the city's High School of Commerce. She earned undergraduate degrees from Ferris State University and Western Michigan University and a Master's Degree in education from the University of Michigan.

Before pursuing a career in public service, Congresswoman Kilpatrick taught business education in the Detroit Public Schools. In 1978, she was elected to the Michigan State House and served there for 18 years. She was the first black woman to serve on the Michigan House Appropriations Committee.

Congresswoman Kilpatrick is the mother of two children: daughter Ayanna and son Kwame, who was elected to fill his mother's former State House seat in 1996. Kwame Kilpatrick went on to become Michigan's youngest-ever and first African American House Democratic Leader. In 2001, he was elected Mayor of the City of Detroit. Congresswoman Kilpatrick is grandmother of five grandsons.

Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick's Official Website

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Health insurance premiums increased by 13.9 percent in 2003, the largest increase since 1990. (Kaiser Family Foundation)