Biography
Mariannette Miller-Meeks, born on September 6, 1955, in Herlong, California, is a Republican U.S. Representative serving Iowa's 1st congressional district. Raised in a military family, she enlisted in the United States Army at 18, serving as a private, nurse, and physician over 24 years, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. After her military service, she established a private ophthalmology practice in Ottumwa, Iowa, and became the first female president of the Iowa Medical Society. In 2010, she was appointed Director of the Iowa Department of Public Health, serving until 2014. Miller-Meeks was elected to the Iowa State Senate in 2018 and to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2020. She is married to Curt Meeks and has two children, Jonathon and Taylor.
Education
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Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Texas Christian University
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Master of Science in Education from the University of Southern California
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Doctor of Medicine from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Political Experience
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U.S. House of Representatives: Elected in 2020 to represent Iowa's 2nd congressional district; following redistricting, she has represented the 1st district since 2023.
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Iowa State Senate: Served as the senator for District 41 from 2019 to 2021.
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Director of the Iowa Department of Public Health: Appointed in 2010, serving until 2014.
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Committee Assignments:
- Member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce
- Subcommittee on Health
- Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Minerals
- Member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
- Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Health
Notable Achievements
- First female president of the Iowa Medical Society.
- First woman on the faculty of the University of Iowa's Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.
- Introduced the "Know Before You Owe Federal Student Loan Act," requiring higher education institutions to counsel students before federal loans are disbursed.
- Co-sponsored the "America's CHILDREN Act," aiming to provide a pathway to permanent residency for children of long-term visa holders.
- Voted in favor of the Respect for Marriage Act, codifying the right to same-sex marriage in federal law.
Miller-Meeks continues to serve her constituents, focusing on healthcare, education, and veterans' affairs.
