Cathy McMorris Rodgers Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Cathy McMorris Rodgers

Official portrait, 2016

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Washington's 5th district

In office
January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2025

Preceded by

George Nethercutt

Succeeded by

Michael Baumgartner

House positions

Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
In office January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Frank Pallone
Succeeded by	Brett Guthrie
Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
In office January 3, 2021 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Greg Walden
Succeeded by	Frank Pallone
Chair of the House Republican Conference
In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2019
Leader	John Boehner Paul Ryan
Vice Chair	Lynn Jenkins Doug Collins
Preceded by	Jeb Hensarling
Succeeded by	Liz Cheney
Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference
In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2013
Leader	John Boehner
Preceded by	Kay Granger
Succeeded by	Lynn Jenkins

Minority Leader of the Washington House of Representatives

In office
January 13, 2003 – January 10, 2004

Preceded by

Clyde Ballard

Succeeded by

Richard DeBolt

Member of the Washington House of Representatives
from the 7th district

In office
January 7, 1994 – January 3, 2005

Preceded by

Bob Morton

Succeeded by

Joel Kretz

Personal details

Born

Cathy Anne McMorris

May 22, 1969 (age 56)
Salem, Oregon, U.S.

Political party

Republican

Spouse

Brian Rodgers

(m. 2006)

Children

Education

Pensacola Christian College (BA)
University of Washington (MBA)

Cathy McMorris Rodgers (born May 22, 1969) is an American politician. She served as the United States representative for Washington's 5th congressional district from 2005 to 2025. This district covers the eastern part of Washington.

A member of the Republican Party, McMorris Rodgers was previously a leader in the Washington House of Representatives. From 2013 to 2019, she was the Chair of the House Republican Conference. This made her a high-ranking Republican woman in Congress.

In February 2024, she announced she would not run for reelection. Michael Baumgartner was elected to take her place in the 119th Congress.

Early Life and Education
Political Career
- Serving in Washington State
- Joining the U.S. House of Representatives
Personal Life
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Education

Cathy Anne McMorris was born on May 22, 1969, in Salem, Oregon. Her family moved to Kettle Falls, Washington, in 1984. There, they started a fruit orchard and fruit stand called Peachcrest Fruit Basket. Cathy worked at the family business for 13 years.

In 1990, she earned a bachelor's degree from Pensacola Christian College. Later, in 2002, she received her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Washington.

Political Career

Serving in Washington State

Cathy McMorris began her political career in 1991. She worked for state representative Bob Morton as his campaign manager and then as his assistant.

In 1994, she was appointed to the Washington House of Representatives. She represented the 7th Legislative District. This district included parts of several counties in Washington. She won a special election to keep her seat that same year.

During her time in the state legislature, she worked on important issues. She helped pass a law to make sure rural hospitals were paid back for treating Medicaid patients. She also helped pass a gas tax to fund transportation improvements. From 2002 to 2003, she was the Minority Leader for the House Republicans. This was the top Republican leadership job in the state House.

Joining the U.S. House of Representatives

In 2004, McMorris Rodgers ran for the United States House of Representatives in the 5th District. She won the election and became a U.S. Representative. The seat was open because the previous representative, George Nethercutt, retired.

She was reelected several times, winning with strong support from voters.

Key Roles in Congress

In 2008, Cathy McMorris Rodgers was chosen to be the Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference. This made her the fourth-highest-ranking Republican in the House leadership. She was also the highest-ranking Republican woman in Congress at that time. She served in this role until 2012.

In 2012, she became the Chair of the House Republican Conference. This was a very important leadership position. She held this role until 2019.

In 2014, she gained national attention when she gave the Republican response to President Barack Obama's 2014 State of the Union Address. This is a speech given by the opposing party after the President's annual address to Congress.

Important Legislation and Issues

McMorris Rodgers worked on legislation to make it faster to get licenses for dams. This aimed to increase energy production. This bill passed Congress without any opposing votes.

She also focused on health care. She voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) multiple times. In 2017, she voted for the American Health Care Act of 2017, which aimed to change parts of the Affordable Care Act.

In 2023, she led a bill focused on making health care pricing more transparent. This bill aimed to help reduce medical costs and passed the House of Representatives with strong support from both parties.

In 2018, she supported the STOP (Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing) School Violence Act. This bill aimed to provide funding for training and security measures in schools to prevent gun violence.

Views on Technology

In 2021, McMorris Rodgers introduced a bill about "Big Tech" companies. This bill would allow users to sue these companies if they felt their speech was unfairly censored.

In 2024, she voted to ban TikTok in the U.S. due to concerns about its ties to China and national security. She also led a hearing where the TikTok CEO testified about the platform's privacy practices and its impact on kids.

Personal Life

Cathy McMorris married Brian Rodgers on August 5, 2006. Brian is a retired Navy commander. His father, David H. Rodgers, was the mayor of Spokane. After her marriage, she changed her name to Cathy McMorris Rodgers.

In April 2007, she became the first member of Congress in over ten years to give birth while in office. Her son was diagnosed with Down syndrome. She later had two daughters, born in 2010 and 2013.

She lives in Spokane, Washington.

Images for kids

McMorris, Michael Mullen and Sanford Bishop, 2009
112th Congress portrait, 2011
McMorris Rodgers speaking at the 2015 Conservative Political Action Conference
McMorris Rodgers speaking at a press conference with House leadership, in Washington, 2016