Cathy McMorris Rodgers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cathy McMorris Rodgers
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| Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025 |
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| 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 |
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| Preceded by | Greg Walden |
| Succeeded by | Frank Pallone |
| Chair of the House Republican Conference | |
| In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2019 |
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| 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 |
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| Leader | John Boehner |
| Preceded by | Kay Granger |
| Succeeded by | Lynn Jenkins |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Washington's 5th district |
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| In office January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | George Nethercutt |
| Succeeded by | Michael Baumgartner |
| Minority Leader of the Washington House of Representatives | |
| In office January 13, 2003 – January 10, 2004 |
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| Preceded by | Clyde Ballard |
| Succeeded by | Richard DeBolt |
| Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 7th district |
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| In office January 7, 1994 – January 3, 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Bob Morton |
| Succeeded by | Joel Kretz |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Cathy Anne McMorris
May 22, 1969 Salem, Oregon, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Brian Rodgers
(m. 2006) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Pensacola Christian College (BA) University of Washington (MBA) |
Cathy Anne McMorris Rodgers (born May 22, 1969) is an American politician. She served as a United States representative for Washington's 5th District from 2005 to 2025. This district covers the eastern part of Washington state, including the city of Spokane.
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 top-ranking Republican woman in Congress.
She was first appointed to the Washington House of Representatives in 1994. Later, she became the minority leader for her party in that state. In 2004, she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2014, she gained national attention when she gave the Republican response to President Barack Obama's annual speech.
In February 2024, she announced she would not run for reelection. This means she will leave Congress in January 2025.
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Early Life and Education
Cathy McMorris was born on May 22, 1969, in Salem, Oregon. Her parents were Corrine and Wayne McMorris. Her family moved to Hazelton, British Columbia, Canada, when she was five years old. They lived in a cabin and built a log home on their farm.
In 1984, her family settled in Kettle Falls, Washington. There, they started a fruit orchard and stand called Peachcrest Fruit Basket. Cathy worked at the family business for 13 years.
In 1990, McMorris earned a bachelor's degree in pre-law from Pensacola Christian College. She later earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Washington in 2002.
Political Career Highlights
Serving in Washington State Government (1994–2005)
After college, McMorris worked for State Representative Bob Morton. She was his campaign manager and then his assistant. In 1994, she was appointed to the Washington House of Representatives. She filled the spot left by Bob Morton when he moved to the State Senate.
She was sworn into office on January 11, 1994. She represented the 7th Legislative District, which included parts of several counties. She won a special election later that year to keep her seat.
During her time in the state legislature, she supported a bill to help rural hospitals get paid for treating patients on Medicaid. She also worked to pass a gas tax to fund transportation improvements. From 2002 to 2003, she was the House Minority Leader, which is the top Republican position in the state House. She also led several committees, including the House Commerce and Labor Committee.
She stepped down as minority leader in 2003 to run for Congress.
Representing Washington in the U.S. House (2005–2025)
In 2004, McMorris ran for the United States House of Representatives in Washington's 5th District. She won with nearly 60% of the vote. The seat was open because the previous representative, George Nethercutt, retired.
In 2008, McMorris Rodgers was elected to be the Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference. This made her the fourth-highest-ranking Republican in her party's leadership in the House. She was also the highest-ranking Republican woman at that time. She served as Vice Chair until 2012.
In 2012, she became the Chair of the House Republican Conference. This was a very important leadership role. She held this position until 2019.
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In January 2014, she was chosen to give the Republican response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address. This is a big moment for a politician, as it's broadcast nationwide.
In 2014, there were questions raised about how some of her campaign and office funds were used. McMorris Rodgers denied any wrongdoing. The House Ethics Committee looked into the matter but did not take any action.
She won reelection several times, facing different opponents. In 2018, she won against Lisa Brown. After this election, she announced she would step down from her role as conference chair.
On February 8, 2024, McMorris Rodgers announced that she would not seek reelection. Her term will end in January 2025.
Committee Assignments
- Committee on Energy and Commerce, where she serves as Chair.
Caucus Memberships
- Republican Main Street Partnership
- Republican Study Committee
- Rare Disease Caucus
Political Views
Health Care
McMorris Rodgers has been against the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare). She has voted many times to cancel it. In 2017, she voted for the American Health Care Act, which aimed to replace parts of the Affordable Care Act. This bill would have changed rules about individual mandates and Medicaid.
LGBT Rights
McMorris Rodgers has voted against same-sex marriage. In 1997, she supported a bill to ban it in Washington state. In 2004, she voted against a bill that would have stopped discrimination based on sexual orientation.
In 2015, she voted against a rule that would prevent federal contractors from discriminating against LGBT employees. In 2019 and 2021, she voted against the Equality Act. She stated that this bill did not do enough to protect religious freedom. In 2022, she voted against the Respect for Marriage Act, which protects same-sex and interracial marriages.
Foreign Policy
In 2020, McMorris Rodgers voted against a defense act that would stop the president from removing soldiers from Afghanistan without Congress's approval. In 2022, during the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, she opposed sending American soldiers to Ukraine. She was also the only representative from Washington to vote against providing $14 billion in aid to Ukraine.
School Safety
In 2018, McMorris Rodgers supported the STOP (Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing) School Violence Act. This act would create a federal program to train students, teachers, and police on how to recognize and report signs of gun violence. It would also provide money for new security measures in schools.
Donald Trump
After Donald Trump became president in 2016, McMorris Rodgers was part of his transition team. She was considered for the role of Secretary of the Interior, but another person was nominated instead.
She supported Trump's 2017 order that blocked entry to the U.S. for citizens from seven mostly Muslim countries. She said the order was needed to protect Americans.
In December 2020, she was one of many Republican House members who supported a lawsuit that challenged the results of the 2020 presidential election. The Supreme Court did not hear the case. In January 2021, she first planned to object to the election results in Congress. However, after the Capitol was stormed, she changed her mind and voted to confirm Joe Biden's win.
Creationism
McMorris Rodgers has stated her belief in the account of creation found in the Bible.
Women's Rights
In 2013, McMorris Rodgers did not support the continuation of the 1994 Violence Against Women Act. She sponsored a different bill, but her bill failed, and the House passed the Senate's version of the act.
Broadband
In 2021, McMorris Rodgers introduced a bill that would stop local governments from building their own internet networks.
Immigration
McMorris Rodgers voted against bills that would increase certain types of visas or prevent immigration agencies from working with other departments on issues related to unaccompanied children.
Big Tech
In July 2021, McMorris Rodgers proposed a law that would allow users of large technology platforms to sue companies. This would happen if users felt the companies censored speech protected by the First Amendment.
Personal Life
Cathy McMorris married Brian Rodgers on August 5, 2006, in San Diego. Brian Rodgers is a retired Navy commander and is from Spokane. His father, David H. Rodgers, was the mayor of Spokane. In February 2007, she changed her name to Cathy McMorris Rodgers.
In April 2007, McMorris Rodgers became the first member of Congress in over ten years to give birth while in office. She had a son. The couple later shared that their son was diagnosed with Down syndrome. They later had two daughters, born in December 2010 and November 2013.
She lives in Spokane, Washington. She is a member of Grace Evangelical Free Church.
See also
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
