Recognized by her colleagues and the national media as an authoritative voice on counterterrorism, homeland security and intelligence matters, Jane Harman has represented California's 36th Congressional district in Los Angeles' South Bay since 1993.

As a member of the House Intelligence Committee for eight years – the final four as Ranking Member – Harman helped shape Congress' policy response to the 9/11 attacks and played a lead role in the creation and passage of the Intelligence Reform Act of 2004.

Now in her eighth term, Harman continues that policy focus as Chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence & Terrorism Risk Assessment.  She is also a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, where she sits on the Health and Energy & Environment Subcommittees.

Working with a new President and congressional majority in the 111th Congress, Harman continues her efforts to reverse Bush-era policies on the detention, interrogation and trial of enemy combatants, and document overclassification; regulate the control of biological agents potentially used for bioterrorism; achieve an interoperable public safety communications network for first responders; and prevent rape and sexual assault in America’s armed services.

Her role as an environmental leader was cemented with the passage of the 2007 Energy Act, which included her landmark lighting efficiency provisions to phase-out the wasteful 100-watt incandescent bulb by 2012, and require all light bulbs to be at least three times more efficient than today's by 2020.

Her life-long commitment to progressive issues is reflected in her record on a woman's right to choose, on issues of interest to the gay and lesbian community, seniors and veterans, and has earned her top ratings from advocacy groups including Planned Parenthood, the Human Rights Campaign, and the California League of Conservation Voters.

A product of Los Angeles public schools, Harman is a graduate of Smith College and Harvard Law School.  Prior to serving in Congress, she was a top aide in the United States Senate, Deputy Cabinet Secretary to President Jimmy Carter, Special Counsel to the Department of Defense, and in private law practice.  Married for almost three decades to Sidney Harman, founder and Chairman Emeritus of Harman International Industries, she has four adult children and three grandchildren.