Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz is a tough, skillful, and accomplished legislator with over three decades of public service. On January 4th, 2007, Schwartz was sworn into her second term in the United States House of Representatives where she represents Pennsylvania’s 13th congressional district. The district, which comprises Northeast Philadelphia and suburban Montgomery County, has a tradition of hard fought campaigns and in 2004 National Journal magazine named it one of the nation’s “most competitive.” In recent years the district has been home to some of the country’s most expensive races due to the costly Philadelphia media market and the closely divided partisan registration.

 

Congresswoman Schwartz has a well-deserved national reputation as one of America’s foremost healthcare policy experts. She led the drive to create the Pennsylvania's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), landmark legislation that served as a national model for expanding access to health insurance to children of middle-income families. Today CHIP provides 200,000 Pennsylvania children with healthcare coverage. As a member of Congress, Schwartz is one of the leaders in seeking to expand the federal-state initiative, known as SCHIP, to all eligible children, which will reach seven million American children in the next five years.

 

At the start of the 110th Congress, Schwartz was appointed to the Committee on Ways and Means. Known as the most powerful committee in Congress, it has jurisdiction over all tax and trade issues, Social Security and Medicare. Schwartz is leading several initiatives from her Committee seat addressing healthcare affordability and tax fairness for middle class families.

 

Schwartz also serves on the Budget Committee, where she is a vocal proponent for responsible and disciplined federal budgeting. She works actively to meet the goal of a balanced federal budget in which we make important and effective investments in education, veteran's healthcare, homeland security, and research and development in science and technology.

 

Congresswoman Schwartz has a lengthy record of legislative accomplishments. In addition to her prominent work in healthcare, she is actively engaged in promoting innovative solutions to global warming and the need for energy independence. Schwartz’s legislative proposals include tax deductions for energy efficient commercial buildings, an idea widely praised by industry and environmental groups. She has been instrumental in working to strengthen and grow the biotechnology industry, a vital sector in southeastern Pennsylvania.

 

The daughter of a Korean War veteran, Schwartz strongly supports America’s veterans and works to ensure that they have the healthcare and family support they deserve. Schwartz’s first Congressional bill, a plan providing tax credits to businesses hiring Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, passed Congress in 2007 with bipartisan support.

 

Congresswoman Schwartz has a deep and personal commitment to Israel, inspired in large part by the experiences of her mother, a Holocaust survivor. She has led numerous Congressional efforts to strengthen America’s relationship with Israel. She is a member of the Democratic Israel Working Group and the U.S. Israel Security Caucus. In April 2006 the National Jewish Democratic Coalition awarded Schwartz the Golda Meir Award for her political accomplishments.

 

Schwartz is a member of the centrist New Democratic Caucus (NDC). She is engaged in promoting NDC’s interest in Congressional action to strengthen our nation's economic competitiveness through pro-economic growth policies, such as innovation, support for education, and fair trade policies. Schwartz serves as recruitment chair for NDC. For her innovative ideas and effective leadership, the moderate Democratic Leadership Council named Schwartz one of the “100 New Democrats to Watch.” Schwartz has been an active member of the DLC for over 10 years.

 

Schwartz is one of the most successful female elected officials in Pennsylvania history. She has repeatedly broken new ground in the state’s political structure, starting when she became just the third women to serve in the Pennsylvania State Senate in 1991. She is currently the only woman member of the 19 member Pennsylvania congressional delegation. Impressed by her political strength, House Democratic leadership appointed Schwartz to chair a national effort, Women LEAD, to support female congressional candidates from across the country.

 

Schwartz graduated from Simmons College and received a Master's Degree from Bryn Mawr. Her husband of over 30 years, David Schwartz, is a prominent Philadelphia cardiologist. They have two sons, Daniel and Jordan. Schwartz is an active member of her synagogue.