Jackie Speier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jackie Speier
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Official portrait, 2015
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| Member-elect of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors from the 1st district |
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| Assuming office January 2025 |
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| Succeeding | Dave Pine |
| In office 1980–1986 |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California |
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| In office April 8, 2008 – January 3, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Tom Lantos |
| Succeeded by | Kevin Mullin |
| Constituency | 12th district (2008–2013) 14th district (2013–2023) |
| Member of the California Senate from the 8th district |
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| In office December 7, 1998 – November 30, 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Quentin L. Kopp |
| Succeeded by | Leland Yee |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 19th district |
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| In office December 1, 1986 – November 30, 1996 |
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| Preceded by | Lou Papan |
| Succeeded by | Lou Papan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Karen Lorraine Speier
May 14, 1950 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses |
Steve Sierra
(m. 1987; died 1994)Barry Dennis
(m. 2001) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of California, Davis (BA) University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (JD) |
Jackie Speier (born May 14, 1950) is an American lawyer and politician. She served as a U.S. Representative for California from 2008 to 2023. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Jackie Speier represented many of the same areas as her political mentor, Leo Ryan.
In 1978, while working as his assistant, Speier was part of a group investigating a community called Jonestown. During this trip, there was a violent attack where her boss, Leo Ryan, was killed. Jackie was shot five times but bravely survived. Speier also served in the California State Senate. On April 8, 2008, she won a special election to fill the U.S. House of Representatives seat left empty by the late Tom Lantos. In 2021, she announced she would not run for reelection in 2022. She was elected to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors in 2024.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jackie Speier was born in 1950 in San Francisco, California. She grew up in a family that was not very involved in politics. Her mother's family was from Armenia and lost many relatives in the Armenian genocide. Her father was an immigrant from Germany.
Speier chose Jacqueline as her confirmation name, inspired by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. She went to Mercy High School in Burlingame. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Davis. Later, she earned a law degree (called a Juris Doctor) from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1976.
Marriage and Family Life
Jackie Speier's first marriage was to Steven Sierra, an emergency-room doctor, in 1987. In 1988, they had a son named Jackson Kent. At that time, she was serving in the California State Assembly.
Sadly, Steven Sierra died in a car crash in 1994 when he was 53. At the time, Speier was two months pregnant with their second child, a daughter named Stephanie. Stephanie is now a reporter for a local TV station in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2001, Speier married Barry Dennis, who works as an investment consultant.
Surviving the Jonestown Attack
Jackie Speier began her political career as a staff member for Congressman Leo Ryan. In November 1978, she joined his trip to investigate claims of human rights problems. These claims were against Jim Jones and his followers, known as the Peoples Temple. Most of these followers were Americans who had moved to Jonestown, Guyana.
On November 18, 1978, as the investigative team was preparing to leave Jonestown, several Peoples Temple members attacked them. Five people were killed, including Congressman Ryan. Jackie Speier was shot five times while trying to protect herself. She waited 22 hours for help to arrive. Her survival of this event is a significant part of her life story.
Political Career Journey
Serving San Mateo County
Jackie Speier first tried to enter politics by running for the seat left open after Leo Ryan's death. She did not win that election. However, she won her first election in 1980. She ran for the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and defeated a person who had held the position for 20 years. At that time, she was the youngest person ever elected to the board. She was reelected in 1984 and later became the chairwoman.
In September 2023, Speier announced she would run for the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors again in 2024. This was more than 40 years after her first election to the same board.
California State Assembly Work
In 1986, while serving her second term on the Board of Supervisors, Speier ran for the California State Assembly. This assembly represents a district in northern San Mateo County. She won by a small number of votes. She was reelected four more times. The last time, she was supported by both the Democratic and Republican parties.
California State Senate Role
State law prevented Speier from running for reelection to the Assembly in 1996. But in 1998, she was elected to the California State Senate. In 2002, she won a second term with a large majority of the votes.
As a state senator, Speier helped get $127 million to start the "Baby Bullet" express service for Caltrain. This is a commuter train service. Because of her efforts, the train agency named a new locomotive (engine) after her. Speier also worked hard to protect consumer rights. She had to leave the State Senate in 2006 due to term limits. During her last term, she was an assistant president pro tempore of the State Senate.
Running for Lieutenant Governor
In 2006, Speier ran in the Democratic primary election for Lieutenant Governor of California. She ran against insurance commissioner John Garamendi and state senator Liz Figueroa. In the election on June 6, Garamendi won. Speier received 39.7% of the votes.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
Her Time in Congress
On January 13, 2008, Speier announced she would run for the 12th District in the Democratic primary. This was Leo Ryan's old district. The seat became open because Tom Lantos, who had served 14 terms, announced he would not seek reelection. Speier had spent much of 2007 gathering support to challenge Lantos.
On January 17, 2008, Lantos supported Speier as his replacement. She also received support from other members of Congress and the Mayor of San Francisco. Lantos passed away on February 11, 2008. Speier won a special primary election on April 8, 2008. This allowed her to finish the rest of his term. She won with a clear majority of votes. She was elected for a full term in November with 75% of the vote. She was reelected three more times without much opposition.
On July 11, 2008, Speier introduced her first bill. It was called the Gasoline Savings and Speed Limit Reduction Act. This bill would set a national speed limit of 60 miles per hour in cities and 65 miles per hour on less populated highways.
In a speech in January 2016, Speier announced she would propose a law. This law would require schools to share information about disciplinary actions against teachers and staff.
On August 16, 2017, Speier suggested using the Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. This amendment allows for the removal of a president from office. She believed it was needed due to concerns about the president's behavior.
Speier and Representative Bennie Thompson have worked to stop people from sleeping in United States Congress offices.
After Joe Biden was elected President of the United States in 2020, Speier was considered for a position in his team. This was because of her experience with national security issues. She said she would be willing to serve, but she was not chosen for a role.
As of October 2021, Speier had voted in line with Joe Biden's stated positions 100% of the time. On November 16, 2021, Speier announced she would not run for reelection to Congress in 2022.
What Committees Did She Serve On?
Jackie Speier was a member of several important committees in the House of Representatives:
- Committee on Armed Services
- Subcommittee on Military Personnel, where she was the Chair
- Subcommittee on Readiness
- Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
- Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence and Counterproliferation
- Subcommittee on Intelligence Modernization and Readiness
What Groups Did She Join?
She was also part of several caucuses, which are groups of members of Congress who share common interests:
- Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (Associate Member)
- Congressional Arts Caucus
- U.S.-Japan Caucus
Jackie Speier's Political Views
Defense and Military
Jackie Speier introduced the I am Vanessa Guillén Act. This act was named after Army Spc Vanessa Guillén. Speier said this law would "transform a tragedy into change."
She also introduced the Vanessa Guillén Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevent Act. This bill would change how serious crimes are handled in the military. It would move the decision to prosecute these crimes away from the military chain of command. She stated, "We're here today for the service members who have spoken out or who have suffered in silence."
Speier has criticized the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program. She believes it has too many problems. She said, "To continue pouring money into building planes that have ejector seat issues, cyber vulnerabilities, flawed aerodynamics... is borderline malfeasance."
She also helped sponsor a bill to stop F-35s from being delivered to Turkey. This was after Turkey decided to buy air defense systems from Russia.
Gun Laws
Speier supports stricter gun control laws. She believes in requiring safety locks on all guns. She also supports background checks for people buying guns. She wants to ban certain types of guns (except for hunting). She also wants to make state rules for buying and owning guns stronger. Groups that support gun rights, like the Gun Owners of America, gave her low ratings. Groups that support gun control, like the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, gave her high ratings.
Environment and Energy
Jackie Speier cares deeply about protecting the environment. She has pointed to the decrease in salmon on the West Coast as a sign of global warming. She believes global warming is a growing danger.
She wants to create an energy plan that makes polluters pay. This plan would also give tax credits for middle-class families. It would create new, clean, green jobs. Speier worked on laws like the Clean Air Rebate Act of 2009 and the American Clean Energy and Security Act.
Foreign Policy Views
In January 2019, Speier introduced a bill called the RIGHT Act. This bill aims to stop money from other countries from influencing U.S. elections. In 2017, she also introduced the PUTIN Act. This law would prevent federal money from being used for a cybersecurity team with Russia. This was proposed by then-President Donald Trump.
On June 27, 2019, Speier introduced a resolution. It condemned the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. It also asked the Secretary of State to rethink the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia. This was in response to reports of human rights violations against Saudi activists.
Human Rights Efforts
In 2018, Speier helped form a group called the Congressional Unexploded Ordnance/Demining Caucus. This group works to address unexploded bombs and mines around the world. These leftover explosives affect how countries can rebuild after conflicts.
Speier successfully helped secure money in a House bill for humanitarian demining assistance. She also made sure that military research on demining would be shared with groups that clear mines.
In September 2017, Speier spoke out against human rights abuses. These abuses were against the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. She supported programs that help countries build fair and open governments.
Speier opposed the Trump administration's cuts to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). This fund helps end preventable deaths during childbirth. It also provides family planning and fights gender-based violence. She led a letter with 145 other members of Congress. They urged the administration to change its decision to stop U.S. funding.
Speier also supports efforts to educate girls worldwide. She works to end gender-based violence, like child marriage. She promotes women's involvement in peace and security efforts. She also works to ensure women have access to jobs without discrimination.
As co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Armenian Caucus, Speier works to build strong U.S.-Armenia cooperation. This includes her amendment that passed the House. It provides over $40 million for Armenian Democracy Assistance. It also aims to start direct flights between California and Yerevan.
LGBT Equality
Jackie Speier supports same-sex marriage. She is a member of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus. This group works to support the rights of LGBTQ+ people.
Personal Life
Jackie Speier is Roman Catholic.
Books Written by Jackie Speier
- This Is Not the Life I Ordered: 50 Ways to Keep Your Head Above Water When Life Keeps Dragging You Down, co-authored with Deborah Collins Stephens, Michealene Cristini Risley, and Jan Yanehiro, 2007.
- Undaunted: Surviving Jonestown, Summoning Courage, and Fighting Back, by Jackie Speier, 2018.
Images for kids
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Official portrait, 2015
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Speier while serving in the California state senate
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Caltrain locomotive named after Jackie Speier
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Speier during the 110th United States Congress
