WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Katherine Clark (MA-5) released the following statement on her election to House Democratic Whip for the 118th Congress:
“I am humbled and honored to be the next Democratic Whip, and I am proud to be a member of the team that will lead House Democrats through this moment of transition and renewal.
“House Democrats are united in our purpose: to bring people and solutions together. While the Republican agenda seeks to divide us — to secure power through chaos, to turn neighbor on neighbor — Democrats will meet the American people’s most pressing challenges with demands for progress. We will fight for affordable child care and health care for every family. We will defend women’s rights and reproductive justice for every person. We will demand clean air and clean water for every community. We will build coalitions and leave no one behind.
“Today is defined by hope and unity, and I stand ready to guide our Caucus as we continue America’s march toward opportunity and equality for all.”
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Background:
Katherine Clark proudly serves the Fifth District of Massachusetts. Her career in public service is driven by her commitment to helping children and families succeed. She is a vocal advocate for protecting women’s health care, access to affordable, high-quality child care, paid family leave, pay equity, and other reforms to address the challenges women and families face.
During the pandemic, she led the fight to save the child care industry, securing $50 billion in federal relief funding to keep child care providers open and get parents back to work.
She is a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations and three subcommittees within Appropriations: Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; Legislative Branch; and Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies. Additionally, she serves as a member of the Steering and Policy Committee within the Caucus and is a proud member of several caucuses in Congress, including the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Democratic Women’s Caucus.
Katherine brings her experience as a state senator, state representative, general counsel for the Massachusetts Office of Child Care Services, and policy chief for the state attorney general. She represents a diverse district comprised of 24 cities and towns that stretch from the coastal communities of Revere and Winthrop through the economic engine of MetroWest. She was first elected to Congress in a special election in December 2013.
Katherine and her husband Rodney live in Revere and have three children.
Leadership experience:
Katherine served as Vice Chair of Recruitment for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) in 2017 and the Co-Chair of the Red to Blue Committee in 2018. She played an instrumental role in helping Democrats gain control of the House in 2018. Following the election, she was elected Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus for the 116th Congress.
As Vice Chair, she worked in partnership with Chair Jeffries to usher the Caucus through the pandemic, ultimately helping to maintain the Majority in the 2020 election. In November 2020, she was elected Assistant Speaker, the fourth highest ranking position in House leadership and the second woman in Congressional history to be elected into the top four in House leadership.
As Assistant Speaker, her member services focus includes mentoring the new members of the Caucus and their offices, and assisting every Democratic district office across the country. She has equipped Member offices across the Caucus with tools to lead on abortion rights, respond to disasters, support diversity and inclusion efforts, and much more.
She has also led the charge to make the House a better place for her colleagues to thrive: using her power as a senior Appropriator on the Legislative Branch Subcommittee, she's successfully increased the student loan repayment cap, advocated for coverage for fertility benefits and expanded child care, pushed for a higher MRA, increased funding to pay interns, led on creating new resources for caregivers, and spearheaded efforts for better bathroom access for everyone regardless of gender.
During the 2022 election, she traveled to 19 states to support her House Members across the country and amplify the work of the Democrats to lower costs, create good jobs, and make communities safer.