 Anh "Joseph" Cao was born on March 13, 1967 in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam. His father, an officer with the South Vietnamese Army, was imprisoned by the Communists.
At the age of eight, Cao escaped to America with two of his siblings. He learned English, thrived in school, and earned a physics degree from Baylor University before he began studying for the priesthood.
Cao first arrived in New Orleans in 1992. He left to earn a Master's degree in philosophy from New York's Fordham University, returning to Loyola University to teach philosophy and ethics. As he prepared for priesthood, his faith was strong.
However, his confidence in government's ability to care for those in need weakened by the day. Before long, Cao ended his quest for priesthood in a personal crusade for social justice.
In Washington, DC, he became an advocate for refugees, future Americans who embody a "can-do" spirit and strong work ethic. In pursuit of justice for all, he attained a law degree from Loyola Law School. He became the in-house legal counsel for Boat People S.O.S, Inc., an organization helping poor Vietnamese and other minorities.
In 2002, he was chosen by Archbishop Alfred Hughes to become a member of the National Advisory Council of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, addressing women's rights in the Catholic Church, social justice, child abuse, and the Catholic response to Hurricane Katrina.
Cao lost both his home and law office to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. With his wife and two daughters, he moved temporarily to Westwego and began rebuilding.
Like so many others, Cao battled insurance companies and government bureaucracy to restore his home and business. He helped residents of New Orleans East stop plans for a landfill that would have devastated their community and co-led the fight to get electricity and telecommunications restored for returning residents.
In 2007, Governor Jindal appointed Cao to help ensure fair voting as a member of the Board of Elections for Orleans Parish. He was also elected to lead the Louisiana Republican Party both on the parish and state levels. Cao was elected as a delegate to the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minneapolis, MN.
On December 6, 2008, Cao was elected as Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District Representative making him the first Vietnamese-American elected to United States Congress where he serves on the Committees on Homeland Security, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Oversight and Government Reform.
He currently resides in New Orleans, LA with his wife, Kate, and 2 daughters, Sophia and Betsy.
Committees and Subcommittees
Homeland Security, Deputy Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response
Transportation and Infrastructure
Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management
Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials
Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
Oversight and Government Reform
Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service and District of Columbia.
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