Career Timeline of Maxine Waters: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Maxine Waters built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Maxine Waters is an American politician who has served as the U.S. representative for California's 43rd congressional district since 1991. Throughout her tenure, she has represented various districts within southern Los Angeles, including portions of Gardena, Inglewood, and Torrance.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

1966: Worked with Head Start Program

In 1966, Maxine Waters was hired as an assistant teacher with the Head Start program in Watts.

1973: Worked as Chief Deputy

In 1973, Maxine Waters began working as chief deputy to City Councilman David S. Cunningham Jr.

1976: Elected to California State Assembly

In 1976, Maxine Waters was elected to the California State Assembly. During her time, she advocated for the divestment of state pension funds from businesses active in South Africa.

1990: Elected to U.S. House of Representatives

In 1990, Maxine Waters was elected to the United States House of Representatives for California's 29th congressional district.

1991: Elected to Congress

In 1991, Maxine Waters was elected as the U.S. Representative for California's 43rd congressional district, then numbered as the 29th district.

1997: Chaired Congressional Black Caucus

In 1997, Maxine Waters became the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, a position she held until 1999.

1998: End of CBC Chairmanship

In 1998, Maxine Waters's term as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus concluded, after having served since 1997.

1999: End of CBC Chairmanship

In 1999, Maxine Waters's term as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus concluded, after having served since 1997.

2002: Waters Voted Against Iraq War Resolution

In 2002, Maxine Waters voted against the Iraq War Resolution, which funded and granted Congressional approval to possible military action against Saddam Hussein's regime.

2005: Testified on For-Profit Education Fraud

In 2005, Maxine Waters testified at the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce hearings on "Enforcement of Federal Anti-Fraud Laws in For-Profit Education", identifying the American College of Medical Technology as a problematic school in her district.

2006: Involved in King Drew Medical Center Debate

In 2006, Maxine Waters participated in the debate over King Drew Medical Center. She also asked the FCC to deny a waiver of the cross ownership ban, affecting KTLA-TV.

2007: Waters Criticizes Bush's Iraq War Funding Requests

In 2007, Maxine Waters asserted that President George W. Bush was trying to "set [Congress] up" by continually requesting funds for the Iraq War, arguing that the economic resources being "wasted" in Iraq could be used for universal health care or fully funding the "No Child Left Behind" education bill.

August 2008: Waters introduces Stop VULTURE Funds Act

In August 2008, Maxine Waters introduced HR 6796, the Stop Very Unscrupulous Loan Transfers from Underprivileged countries from Rich Exploitive Funds Act (Stop VULTURE Funds Act). The bill aimed to limit the ability of investors in sovereign debt to use U.S. courts to enforce those instruments against defaulting countries, but it died in committee.

2008: Enactment of National Housing Trust

In 2008, the National Housing Trust, which would later be a key part of Maxine Waters's Home Forward Act of 2014, was enacted but remained unfunded.

2009: Co-sponsored Reparations Bill

In 2009, Maxine Waters co-sponsored Representative John Conyers's bill calling for reparations for slavery to be paid to black Americans.

2012: Ranking Member of House Financial Services Committee

In 2012, upon Barney Frank's retirement, Maxine Waters became the ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee.

July 24, 2013: Voted in Favor of Amendment 100

On July 24, 2013, Maxine Waters voted in favor of Amendment 100 in H.R. 2397 Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2014, which aimed to limit the NSA's data collection on U.S. citizens.

March 27, 2014: Introduced Home Forward Act of 2014

On March 27, 2014, Maxine Waters introduced a discussion draft of the Housing Opportunities Move the Economy Forward Act of 2014, known as the Home Forward Act of 2014. The bill included provisions for affordable housing initiatives.

June 18, 2019: Waters Asks Facebook to Halt Libra Cryptocurrency

On June 18, 2019, Maxine Waters asked Facebook to halt its plan for the development and launching of Libra, a new cryptocurrency, citing concerns about investor protection, privacy, national security, cybersecurity, and trading risks.

December 18, 2019: Waters Votes for Trump's Impeachment

On December 18, 2019, Maxine Waters voted for both articles of impeachment against Donald Trump. Before voting for the second impeachment, she called him "the worst president in the history of the United States."

2019: Chaired House Financial Services Committee

In 2019, Maxine Waters became the chair of the House Financial Services Committee, a role she held until 2023.

October 1, 2020: Waters co-signs letter regarding Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

On October 1, 2020, Maxine Waters co-signed a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that condemned Azerbaijan's offensive operations against the Armenian-populated enclave Nagorno-Karabakh, denounced Turkey's role in the conflict, and called for an immediate ceasefire.