Biography
Grace Meng, born on October 1, 1975, in Queens, New York, is a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives, serving New York's 6th Congressional District since 2013. Her district encompasses parts of Queens, including neighborhoods such as Bayside, Flushing, and Forest Hills. She is the first Asian American elected to Congress from New York and the first female Congressmember from Queens since Geraldine Ferraro.
In Congress, Meng serves on the House Appropriations Committee, where she is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, and also sits on the Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. She was elected Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus in 2024, succeeding Judy Chu. ,
Meng has been instrumental in passing several pieces of legislation into law, including the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which addresses the rise in hate crimes during the coronavirus pandemic. She has also championed laws supporting religious freedom, protecting public housing residents from insufficient heat, and improving broadband access for students to help close the homework gap.
Education and Political Experience
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Education:
- Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan
- Juris Doctor from Yeshiva University's Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
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Political Experience:
- Member of the New York State Assembly
- Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012; currently serving her seventh term
- Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
- Co-Chair of the House Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Antisemitism
- Vice-Chair of the LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus
Meng continues to advocate for communities of color, young people, families, small businesses, and women, focusing on expanding opportunities and addressing critical issues affecting her constituents.
