U.S. Rep. Elaine Luria represents Virginia's Second Congressional District. Prior to her election in 2018, Rep. Luria served two decades in the Navy, retiring at the rank of Commander. Rep. Luria served at sea on six ships as a nuclear-trained Surface Warfare Officer, deployed to the Middle East and Western Pacific, and culminated her Navy career by commanding a combat-ready unit of 400 sailors. Vice Chair of the House Armed Services Committee and a member the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Rep. Luria was one of the first women in the Navy's nuclear power program and among the first women to serve the entirety of her career in combatant ships. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee, where she is the committee's Vice Chair, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, where she serves as Chair of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee, and the House Committee on Homeland Security. Of all members in the House Democratic Caucus, she served the longest on active duty, having completed 20 years of active military service with the U.S. Navy. Rep. Luria graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and received a master's in engineering management from Old Dominion University.
The United States has the finest military in the world, and it is critical to ensure the brave women and men who serve have the resources, support, and equipment they need. As a 20-year Navy veteran and Member of the House Armed Services Committee, I am committed to supporting policies that will improve life for active duty military, support military families, build resiliency in defense communities, and ensure the Department of Defense spends your tax dollars as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Having a strong and ready military is only part of maintaining national security. Sending our troops into combat must always be a last resort. That is why I support diplomacy and encourage negotiations to resolve conflicts before they escalate. It is also important to support our allies, such as Israel, to protect U.S. interests around the world.
I am also fighting for Gold Star Families – those who have made the greatest sacrifice imaginable by losing an immediate relative in combat.