Gwen Moore facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gwen Moore
Official portrait, 2019
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 4th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2005
Preceded by	Jerry Kleczka
Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 4th district
In office January 4, 1993 – January 3, 2005
Preceded by	Barbara Ulichny
Succeeded by	Lena Taylor
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 7th district
In office January 3, 1989 – January 4, 1993
Preceded by	Dismas Becker
Succeeded by	Peter Bock
Personal details
Born	Gwendolynne Sophia Moore (1951-04-18) April 18, 1951 (age 74) Racine, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Children	3, including Supreme
Education	Marquette University (BA)
Website

Gwendolynne Sophia Moore (born April 18, 1951) is an American politician. Since 2005, she has been the U.S. Representative for Wisconsin's 4th congressional district. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

Her district is located in and around the city of Milwaukee. Moore was the first African American person and the second woman to be elected to Congress from Wisconsin. She is currently the longest-serving member of Congress from Wisconsin.

Early Life and Education

Gwen Moore was born in Racine, Wisconsin, but grew up in Milwaukee. She was the eighth of nine children. Her father worked in a factory, and her mother was a public school teacher.

In high school, Moore was the president of the student council. She later went to Marquette University. While in college, she became a single mother and received government help to support her family. She graduated in 1973 with a degree in political science.

After college, Moore worked with AmeriCorps VISTA, a program that helps fight poverty. She helped start a credit union to give loans to low-income people so they could start businesses. For this work, she won a national award. She also worked for the city of Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin in jobs related to housing and community development.

Wisconsin Government Career

In 1988, Moore was elected to the Wisconsin Assembly, which is one part of the state's legislature. She served for two terms. During this time, she became known for asking for an investigation into a famous criminal case in Milwaukee.

In 1992, she was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate. She was the first African-American woman to serve in the state senate. She served there from 1993 until 2005.

U.S. House of Representatives

Moore during her early years in Congress.

In 2004, Gwen Moore was elected to the United States House of Representatives. The House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the U.S. Congress, where laws for the whole country are made.

Advocacy and Key Issues

Moore is known for being a strong supporter of women's rights. She has spoken about many topics, from raising awareness about domestic violence to protecting women's access to healthcare. In 2011, she became a leader in the Congressional Women's Caucus, a group that focuses on issues important to women.

In 2012, during a debate about a law called the Violence Against Women Act, Moore shared her own personal experiences with violence. She did this to explain why she felt the law was so important.

Moore is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, a group of lawmakers who support progressive ideas. This means she often believes the federal government should help solve problems like poverty.

Important Votes and Actions

Throughout her career, Moore has worked on laws to help small businesses, support community programs, and fund healthcare services like Medicaid.

• Arrest during Protest: In 2006, Moore and eight other members of Congress were peacefully arrested. They were protesting at the embassy of Sudan to bring attention to the deadly Darfur conflict happening there. Moore said it was a "peaceful act of civil disobedience" to raise awareness.
• Impeachment of Donald Trump: On December 18, 2019, Moore voted in favor of both articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.
• Foreign Policy: In 2023, she was one of several Democrats who voted for a resolution asking President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria. She has also taken positions on foreign policy related to the State of Israel.

Committee Work

A lot of the work in Congress happens in small groups called committees. Moore serves on the powerful Committee on Ways and Means. This committee deals with important issues like taxes, trade, and social programs.

She is a member of these subcommittees:

• Subcommittee on Oversight
• Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures
• Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support

Personal Life

Moore has three children. Her son, Supreme Moore Omokunde, is also a politician and serves in the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Moore has represented the United States at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, an international group that works on security and human rights.

On December 28, 2020, Moore announced she had tested positive for COVID-19. After her quarantine period ended, she returned to Washington, D.C., to vote. Moore is a Baptist.

Electoral History

Wisconsin Assembly (1988, 1990)

Wisconsin Senate (1992, 1996, 2000)

U.S. House (2004–present)

See also

• List of African-American United States representatives
• Women in the United States House of Representatives