About Congresswoman Laura Richardson

As noted in Los Angeles Sentinel newspaper, Laura Richardson’s “meteoric rise” has been nothing short of amazing.

At the age of six, living through the civil rights movement and having picked her first profession of public service, Ms. Richardson started on that path by getting her first job at the age of 12 and later by participating in the Olympic trials at the age of 17. She graduated from UCLA, received a Masters from USC, and went on to spend fourteen years working in corporate America.

In 2006, after serving six years as a Long Beach City Councilwoman, Laura Richardson won a seat in the California Assembly in the 55th District serving as Assistant Pro Tempore in the Assembly. She was recognized as the first African-American woman, South Bay representative, and freshman to hold this prestigious position. In the nine short months she spent in the California Legislature, she succeeded in three bills signed by the Governor and was vital in the Legislatures ability to further the initiatives of expanding access to healthcare, empowering public education, and ensuring safe neighborhoods.

In 2007, Richardson succeeded 16 candidates in a special election and was elected to her first term in the House of Representatives to represent California's culturally and economically diverse 37th Congressional District setting a record of distinction in having served all three levels of government; local, state and federal all in the span of ¬less than a year.

Since being elected to serve in the House of Representatives Richardson was assigned to serve on the influential Committee on Science and Technology. Laura Richardson intends to focus on lobbying for the United States to withdraw from Iraq, Homeland Security, expanding access to health care services, and increasing funding for HIV / AIDS programs. Speaker Pelosi has referred to Representative Richardson as bright, energetic, intelligent, and an asset to the committee chairs, caucuses and her constituents.

Representative Laura Richardson is the 26th African-American female and the 239th female to serve in the U.S. Congress.