Biography
Joshua Paul Riley, born on January 21, 1981, in Endicott, New York, is a fifth-generation Upstate New Yorker. His family has a long history of working in local factories, including the Endicott-Johnson Shoe Corporation and IBM. Witnessing the decline of manufacturing jobs in his community, Riley was inspired to pursue a career dedicated to public service and advocacy for working-class families.
In 2024, Riley was elected as the U.S. Representative for New York's 19th Congressional District, defeating incumbent Republican Marc Molinaro. He was sworn into office on January 3, 2025.
Education and Political Experience
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Education:
- Bachelor of Science in Government and Economics from the College of William & Mary, 2003
- Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, 2007
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Political Experience:
- Staff Assistant to Congressman Maurice Hinchey
- Policy Analyst at the U.S. Department of Labor
- Heyman Fellow on the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
- Law Clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- General Counsel to Senator Al Franken on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee
Notable Achievements and Positions
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Legal Career:
- Represented the American Academy of Pediatrics in a landmark civil rights lawsuit to improve access to healthcare for children from low-income families.
- As General Counsel on the Senate Judiciary Committee, worked on bipartisan legislation to protect survivors of domestic violence and combat the opioid epidemic.
- Filed briefs in the U.S. Supreme Court challenging restrictive immigration policies and advocating for the Equal Rights Amendment.
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Congressional Service:
- Serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- Vice Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
- Member of the New Democrat Coalition and the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition.
Riley resides in Ithaca, New York, with his wife, Monica Kohli, and their two sons.
