U.S. Representative, Fifth District, Connecticut

Congressman Christopher S. Murphy is currently serving his first term representing Connecticut’s Fifth District, which includes the towns of Danbury, Meriden, New Britain, and Waterbury. He serves on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform as well as the Financial Services Committee.

On the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Congressman Murphy plays a role in investigating and proposing solutions to the nation’s most pressing issues, including the management of the war in Iraq, the implementation of Medicare Part D, and the need for open government. As a member of the Financial Services Committee, Congressman Murphy plays a role in overseeing all components of the nation's housing, insurance, banking, and securities industries, which are all vital to Connecticut’s economic success.

Prior to his service in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Murphy served for eight years in the Connecticut General Assembly. He spent four years representing Southington and the 81st district in the House, and then spent four years representing the 16th Senatorial District, which includes the towns of Waterbury, Wolcott, Cheshire and Southington. While in the Senate, he served as the Chairman of the Public Health Committee.

As Chairman of the Public Health Committee, Congressman Murphy was the General Assembly’s leader on health care issues. In 2003, during his first year as Chairman, he led the passage of Connecticut’s landmark workplace smoking ban. That year, he also authored legislation that prohibits hospitals from engaging in overly aggressive collection practices against uninsured patients and a law establishing new government powers to be utilized during a bioterrorism attack.

In 2005, Congressman Murphy authored and passed Connecticut’s historic Stem Cell Investment Act, a bill that he had introduced in the previous year. The legislation, which invested $100 million over ten years into embryonic and adult stem cell research, became the nation’s first law directing state funding to life-saving stem cell research.

Congressman Murphy is also a leader on children’s rights issues. In the State Senate, he authored legislation establishing the new Office of Child Protection, and as Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Judicial and Corrections, he championed efforts to reform the state’s juvenile justice system.

Congressman Murphy grew up in Connecticut, and attended Williams College in Massachusetts, graduating with honors and a double major in history and political science. In 2002, he graduated from UConn Law School in Hartford, Connecticut. He practiced real estate and banking law from 2002-2006 with the firm of Ruben, Johnson & Morgan in Hartford. 

On August 18, 2007, Congressman Murphy married Cathy Holahan, a legal aid attorney who represents children in need in New Britain and Waterbury. He, Cathy, and their son Owen reside in Cheshire.