Zoe Lofgren has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1995. She represents the 19th District of California, based in the “Capital of Silicon Valley,” San Jose, and the Santa Clara Valley.
A lifelong Bay Area resident and the daughter of a truck driver and a cafeteria cook, Zoe attended public schools and attended Stanford University on a California State Scholarship, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1970. Prior to attending Stanford, Lofgren worked the night shift at the Eastman Kodak plant in Palo Alto to save money for non-tuition college expenses not covered by her scholarship. After graduating from Stanford, she attended, with the help of a scholarship, Santa Clara University School of Law, graduating cum laude in 1975.
Education is one of the most important issues Zoe deals with as a Member of Congress. The stakes are enormous and Zoe takes seriously her responsibility to ensure that the federal government make plans and positions well to make resources available for the education of our children.
Zoe is committed to making sure that elementary and secondary schools get the resources they need to ensure that we are are "leaving no child behind." Additionally, Zoe continues to work with her colleagues in Congress to make college more affordable and accessible to students.
America's greatest resource for innovation resides within classrooms across the country. We must give students more opportunities to be highly-trained in math, science, and technology so they can turn ideas into innovations. Future innovators must reflect the diversity of our country, and we must provide opportunities for every qualified student. Zoe works with her colleagues to create a new generation of scientists, engineers, and mathematicians to ensure that today's students get the job skills they need at any level of learning.