History of Pramila Jayapal in Timeline

Pramila Jayapal is a prominent American politician currently serving as the U.S. Representative for Washington's 7th congressional district since 2017. As a member of the Democratic Party, she represents Seattle and parts of King County. Before her congressional career, Jayapal served in the Washington State Senate from 2015 to 2017. She holds the distinction of being the first Indian-American woman to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, the first woman to represent her district in Congress, and the first Asian American to represent Washington at the federal level, marking significant milestones in American political history.

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Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

September 21, 1965: Pramila Jayapal Born

On September 21, 1965, Pramila Jayapal was born. She is now a U.S. Representative from Washington's 7th congressional district.

Others born on this day/year

1973: War Powers Act

In April 2019, Jayapal signed a letter to Trump requesting a meeting with him and urging him to sign Senate Joint Resolution 7, which invokes the War Powers Act of 1973 to end unauthorized US military participation in the Saudi-led coalition's armed conflict against Yemen's Houthi forces.

1982: Immigrated to the U.S.

In 1982, at the age of 16, Jayapal immigrated to the U.S. to attend college.

1991: Moved into the Public Sector

In 1991, Pramila Jayapal transitioned into the public sector after briefly working in sales and marketing for a medical company.

March 2000: Published 'Pilgrimage: One Woman's Return to a Changing India'

In March 2000, Jayapal's book, 'Pilgrimage: One Woman's Return to a Changing India', was published.

2001: Founded Hate Free Zone

In 2001, Jayapal founded Hate Free Zone as an advocacy group for immigrant groups after the September 11 attacks.

2008: Hate Free Zone Rebranded as OneAmerica

In 2008, the Hate Free Zone advocacy group changed its name to OneAmerica.

May 2012: Stepped down from OneAmerica leadership

In May 2012, Jayapal stepped down from her leadership position at OneAmerica.

2012: Stepped down as executive director of OneAmerica

In 2012, Jayapal stepped down as the executive director of OneAmerica, a pro-immigrant advocacy group that she founded after the September 11 attacks.

2013: Recognized as White House Champion of Change

In 2013, Pramila Jayapal was recognized by the White House as a "Champion of Change".

2014: Entered race to succeed Adam Kline

In 2014, after State Senator Adam Kline announced his retirement, Jayapal entered the race to succeed him and ultimately defeated fellow Democrat Louis Watanabe in November.

July 2015: SB 5863 passed into law

In July 2015, SB 5863, which Jayapal sponsored, was passed into law. It directs the Washington State Department of Transportation to administer a pre-apprenticeship program targeting women and people of color.

2015: Washington State Senator

In 2015, Pramila Jayapal represented the 37th legislative district in the Washington State Senate, a position she held until 2017.

2015: Ukraine memory laws glorifying Ukrainian Insurgent Army

In 2015, Ukraine's memory laws glorifying the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) and its pro-Nazi leaders, such as Roman Shukhevych were condemned by Jayapal.

2015: Conflict against Yemen's Houthi forces initiated

In April 2019, Jayapal signed a letter to Trump requesting a meeting with him and urging him to sign Senate Joint Resolution 7 to end unauthorized US military participation in the Saudi-led coalition's armed conflict against Yemen's Houthi forces, initiated in 2015 by the Obama administration.

January 2016: Declared Candidacy for Congress

In January 2016, Jayapal declared her candidacy for Congress in Washington's 7th congressional district, after Representative Jim McDermott announced his retirement.

2016: Endorsed Bernie Sanders for President

In 2016, Jayapal endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders for President of the United States in the Democratic primaries.

January 6, 2017: Objected to Georgia's electoral votes

On January 6, 2017, Jayapal objected to Georgia's 16 electoral votes, which Donald Trump had won. Her objection was dismissed because no senator joined her.

2017: Became U.S. Representative

In 2017, Pramila Jayapal became the U.S. representative from Washington's 7th congressional district. She is the first Indian-American woman to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, the district's first female member of Congress, and the first Asian American to represent Washington at the federal level.

April 25, 2018: Released condemnation of Holocaust distortion

On April 25, 2018, Jayapal, along with 57 members of the House of Representatives, released a condemnation of Holocaust distortion in Ukraine and Poland.

June 29, 2018: Arrested at Women Disobey Protest

On June 29, 2018, Jayapal participated in Women Disobey and was arrested at the sit-in at the Hart Senate Office Building to protest the Trump administration's "zero-tolerance" approach to illegal immigration.

February 2019: Sponsored Medicare for All Act of 2019

In February 2019, Jayapal sponsored and introduced the Medicare for All Act of 2019 with more than 100 co-sponsors, aiming to create a publicly financed comprehensive healthcare insurance system for every U.S. resident.

April 2019: Signed letter to Trump requesting meeting on Yemen

In April 2019, Jayapal was one of nine lawmakers to sign a letter to Trump requesting a meeting with him and urging him to sign Senate Joint Resolution 7 to end unauthorized US military participation in the Saudi-led coalition's armed conflict against Yemen's Houthi forces.

July 2019: Voted against House resolution condemning Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement

In July 2019, Jayapal voted against a House resolution condemning the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement targeting Israel. The resolution passed 398–17.

August 2019: Revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir

In December 2019, Jayapal introduced a bill to urge India to lift curbs on communications in Kashmir. These curbs were introduced as part of revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019.

December 2019: Introduced bill urging India to lift curbs on communications in Kashmir

In December 2019, Jayapal introduced a bill to urge India to lift curbs on communications in Kashmir.

2019: Co-Chaired Congressional Progressive Caucus

In 2019, Jayapal co-chaired the Congressional Progressive Caucus until 2021.

2019: Publicly wrote about abortion decision

In 2019, Jayapal publicly wrote that she had chosen to abort a pregnancy because it risked her and the unborn child's health.

2019: Susheela became a Multnomah County Commissioner

In 2019, Jayapal's older sister Susheela began serving on the Multnomah County Commission.

January 20, 2020: Endorsed Bernie Sanders for President

On January 20, 2020, Jayapal endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders in the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries.

January 11, 2021: Tested positive for COVID-19

On January 11, 2021, Jayapal tested positive for COVID-19 and criticized Republican colleagues for refusing to wear masks during the 2021 United States Capitol attack.

September 2021: Staffers described Jayapal's office as a volatile workplace

In September 2021, it was reported that 14 former staffers described Jayapal's congressional office as a volatile and dysfunctional workplace, prompting a response from her office denying the allegations.

2021: Introduced similar legislation for the 117th Congress

In 2021, Jayapal introduced similar legislation for the 117th Congress related to Medicare for All Act.

2021: Attempt to reduce National Defense Authorization Act failed

In 2021, Jayapal, along with Barbara Lee and Mark Pocan, attempted to reduce the size of the $740 billion National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, but their motion failed.

2021: Served as chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus

In 2021, Pramila Jayapal served as chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus after co-chairing it from 2019.

July 9, 2022: Brett Forsell arrested for threats and stalking

On July 9, 2022, Brett Forsell was arrested after making threats at Jayapal's Seattle home. He had been stalking her for weeks and was armed with a handgun when arrested.

October 24, 2022: Letter calling for negotiations with Putin withdrawn

On October 24, 2022, a letter led by Jayapal and signed by 30 progressive Democrats, calling on President Biden to pursue negotiations with Vladimir Putin to end the invasion of Ukraine, was released. The letter was withdrawn a day later after Jayapal said it was drafted months ago and was released by a staffer without vetting.

June 2023: Brett Forsell sentenced to jail for stalking

In June 2023, Brett Forsell pled guilty to stalking Jayapal and was sentenced to 364 days in jail followed by 24 months of probation.

July 6, 2023: Opposed decision to supply cluster munitions to Ukraine

On July 6, 2023, Jayapal opposed the decision of the Biden administration to supply cluster munitions to Ukraine.

July 16, 2023: Described Israel as a 'racist state'

On July 16, 2023, Jayapal addressed the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and described Israel as a “racist state”, later apologizing for the remarks and criticizing the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.

2023: Voted against Fiscal Responsibility Act

In 2023, Jayapal was among the 46 Democrats who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.

2024: Raised funds for Harris's election campaign

In 2024, Jayapal raised over $400,000 for the election campaign of Vice President Harris.

2024: Susheela ran in Oregon's 3rd congressional district

In 2024, Jayapal's older sister Susheela announced that she was running in Oregon's 3rd congressional district, ultimately losing to Maxine Dexter in the Democratic primary.