Biography-Long

Summary

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers is Eastern Washington’s chief advocate in Congress and one of the rising stars in American politics. Since first being elected to the House in 2004, she has earned the trust of her constituents and praise on Capitol Hill for her hard work, conservative principles, bipartisan outreach, and leadership. She is currently serving her second term as Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference, where is the only woman and the youngest Member of the elected House Republican Leadership. As someone who grew up on a family farm, worked at a small business, and later became a wife and mom, Cathy McMorris Rodgers has lived the American Dream, and she sees her chief goal in Congress as preserving and expanding that Dream for our children and grandchildren.

Early Life

Cathy is the descendant of pioneers who settled in Walla Walla in 1853. Growing up, Cathy worked on the family orchard side-by-side with her parents and younger brother. She worked in the family owned and operated business, the Peachcrest Fruit Basket Orchard and Fruit Stand, in Kettle Falls, Washington for 13 years.

Cathy was the first person in her family to attend and graduate from college. She worked her way through Pensacola Christian College in Florida (Class of 1990) and later earned her Executive MBA from the University of Washington (Class of 2002).

Citizen Legislator

Cathy was first elected to the Washington House of Representatives in 1994, representing the 7th Legislative district. She was re-elected four times. From 2002-2003, she served as House Minority Leader, the top leadership post for House Republicans. She was the first woman to lead a House Caucus, and the youngest since World War II. When the legislature was not in session, Cathy worked in her parents’ small business.

Member of Congress

In 2004, Cathy was elected to the U.S. House. During her first term, she served as the Freshman Class representative on the Steering Committee and on the Republican Whip Team.

Cathy was also selected to serve as the Chairwoman of the National Task Force on Improving the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA.) She oversaw the NEPA hearings across the country, reviewing the current implementation of the Act.

She also worked – and continues to work - to protect and expand Fairchild Air Force Base. She was part of the successful team that kept Fairchild off the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) list.

During her second term, Cathy continued her commitment to working across party lines. She joined with Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) to introduce health IT legislation and led a statewide health IT task force to position Washington State for future health IT advancements. She also served as Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Women's Caucus with Representative Lois Capps (D-CA).

In November 2008, Cathy was elected by her peers as Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference. In that role, she spearheaded several important projects – expanding and improving the Conference’s use of New Media, leading the Conference’s women’s outreach, increasing government transparency, and publicizing and fighting against government waste.

During her third term (2009-2010), Cathy became a strong voice against the President’s spend, borrow, and bailout policies. She voted against the $700 billion Wall Street bailout, the $787 billion economic “stimulus” bill, and the $2.3 trillion health care bill.

In November 2010, she was re-elected by her peers as Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference. She was also appointed to the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee. About half of all legislation pertaining to the economy must pass through E&C.

During her fourth term (2011-2012), as part of the New Republican Majority, Cathy championed pro-growth economic policies to create jobs.  She supports less taxation, less regulation, less government spending, repealing the government takeover of health care, and a complete stop to government bailouts. She is the author of HR 2313 which would stop US tax dollars from being used in the $1.3 trillion European bailout fund. As a member of E&C, she is encouraging the use of American resources, including hydropower, to help us become energy independent.  Her bipartian bill to expand hydropower production, The Hydropower Regulatory Effiiciency Act, passed the House in July 2012.  Cathy is also a strong advocate for Eastern Washington's service members, veterans, and their families. 

In November 2012, Cathy was elected to serve as Chairman of the Conference, the fourth-highest-ranking position among House Republicans.  She is the highest-ranking Republican woman in Congress. 

Cathy is the Co-Chair of seven Congressional caucuses: Down Syndrome, Disability, Military Family, Lumber, Neuroscience, the Rural Health Coalition, and Republican New Media. She is Vice Chair of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus and the Hi Tech Working Group.

She served on the House Armed Services Committee for three terms.

Personal

In her personal time, Cathy enjoys playing the piano, swimming, and reading American history.

In 2006, Cathy married Brian Rodgers, a Spokane native and retired 26-year Navy Commander.

In 2007, she gave birth to Cole McMorris Rodgers. Since Cole was born with Trisomy 21, Cathy has become a leader in the disabilities community.

On Dec. 1, 2010, Cathy gave birth to her first daughter, Grace Blossom Rodgers. She is the only Member of Congress in history to give birth twice while in office.