Full Biography

Suzanne first moved to Oregon from Michigan in the mid-1970s. She worked her way through college in Eugene, first at Lane Community College, where she earned an Associate Degree from the Legal Assistant program, and then at the University of Oregon, where she earned a Bachelor of Science from the School of Journalism. In 1983, she received her J.D. from the University of Oregon School Of Law. During college and law school, Suzanne worked at Lane County Legal Aid Service.

After law school, Suzanne was an attorney for the Federal Trade Commission in Washington D.C., where she was in the Credit Practices Division of the Bureau of Consumer Protection. She met her husband, Michael H. Simon, in Washington, and in 1986 they settled in Portland. Suzanne joined a law firm and worked there until her children were born. In 2001, Suzanne was legislative assistant in the Oregon House of Representatives. During her career break from law to raise her children, Suzanne was an active volunteer in the community, particularly in education. Some of her accomplishments include:

• Serving on the board of directors for the Beaverton Education Foundation, where she helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for innovative classroom projects and after-school programs.

• Teaching thousands of students about law and the judicial branch of government as a volunteer court tour guide with the Classroom Law Project.

• Helping to pass crucial bond measures to build new schools as a volunteer with Citizens for Beaverton Schools/Citizens for School Support.

In 2007, Suzanne was elected to her first term in the Oregon House of Representatives, representing House District 34 in Washington County. She served as a member of the House Health Care and Judiciary Committees and as Vice-Chair of the House Consumer Protection Committee. In 2008, Suzanne was appointed to the Oregon Senate to represent District 17. In 2009, she served as chair of the Senate Consumer Protection & Public Affairs Committee and as a member of the Senate Judiciary and Education & General Government Committees. Suzanne sponsored and passed legislation protecting consumers and tenants in foreclosure, strengthening Oregon’s Lemon Law, and reducing pesticide use in schools. In 2010 she sponsored and passed the Access to Business Capital Act, which helped small businesses and entrepreneurs access loans.

 In 2011, Suzanne was elected to the position of Assistant Majority Leader. In the 2011 legislative session, in addition to her leadership role, she served as Chair of the Redistricting Committee and as a member of the Education and Workforce Development, Judiciary, and Consumer and Small Business Protection Committees.

Suzanne was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election on January 31, 2012. She represents the First Congressional District of Oregon, which comprises the Northwest portion of the state. Suzanne serves on the Committee on the Budget and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Suzanne and Michael have two grown children and a cocker spaniel named Charley.