Full Biography
Joe Kennedy III is proud to serve the Fourth District of Massachusetts in Congress. Currently in his second term, he represents a diverse district that stretches from the suburbs of Boston to the more industrial cities of Massachusetts’ South Coast.
As a member of the influential House Energy & Commerce Committee, Joe has crafted a legislative agenda driven by the needs of his constituents. With a focus on issues like mental health and addiction, energy costs, manufacturing and STEM education, he has prioritized bipartisan reforms that directly impact the families, businesses and communities he is honored to represent.
His efforts to strengthen mental health parity laws, increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for behavioral health providers, and ensure the federal government invests in the entire continuum of care have made him an emerging leader on mental health and substance use disorders issues in Congress.
Inspired by the rich manufacturing tradition of the 4th Congressional District and the modern economic challenges many of his communities face, Joe has been a vocal advocate for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, vocational schools and community colleges since he arrived in Washington. His Perkins Modernization Act and STEM Gateways Act, which focus on expanding educational opportunity to middle and working-class students, both passed the House in 2016 with broad bipartisan support.
Additionally, his Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act (RAMI) was signed into law by President Obama in 2014. The bipartisan legislation supports a network of domestic manufacturing centers aimed at fueling new technologies and educating a next-generation workforce.
Dedicated to being as accessible as possible to his constituents, Joe made a commitment to hold open constituent office hours in every city and town of the 4th District – an initiative dubbed “Tour 34.” He has also used his voice in Washington and Massachusetts to amplify both the strengths and needs of his district, from benefits for former nuclear workers to innovative economic development strategies to protections for consumers and initiatives to honor veterans.
Nationally, Joe has become a powerful voice for social justice, championing issues like transgender rights, marriage equality, pay equity and comprehensive immigration reform. A former prosecutor and legal aid volunteer, he has also helped highlight the importance of our civil justice system, establishing the first ever Congressional Access to Legal Services Caucus.
Prior to being elected to Congress, Joe served the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as an Assistant District Attorney in both the Middlesex County and Cape and Island’s District Attorneys’ Offices. Before that he served as a member of the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic where he designed and implemented an economic development project near Puerto Plata.
Born and raised in Massachusetts, Joe is fluent in Spanish and holds a bachelor’s degree in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University as well as a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
He lives with his wife, Lauren, a health policy expert, their daughter, Eleanor, and their dog, Banjo, in Newton, Mass.
Click here to download Joe's official headshot.
