Biography
Summer Lynn Lee, born on November 26, 1987, in North Braddock, Pennsylvania, is an American politician and attorney serving as the U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district since January 3, 2023. She is a member of the Democratic Party and made history as the first Black woman from Pennsylvania elected to Congress.
Raised in the Mon Valley region, Lee attended Woodland Hills High School, where she was active as a drum major and track team member. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with minors in International Studies and French from Pennsylvania State University in 2009. In 2015, she obtained her Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law, focusing on civil rights and social justice advocacy.
Lee's political career began with grassroots organizing, including voter mobilization efforts for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. In 2017, she led a successful write-in campaign to reform the Woodland Hills School Board following incidents of violence against students. In 2018, she was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 34th district, becoming the first Black woman from Western Pennsylvania to serve in the state legislature.
During her tenure in the state legislature, Lee championed workers' rights, environmental justice, and racial equity. She co-founded UNITE, a grassroots organization dedicated to building progressive electoral power, which played a pivotal role in electing Pittsburgh's first Black mayor, Ed Gainey.
In 2022, Lee was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Pennsylvania's 12th district. She serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Lee is also an active member of several caucuses, including the Congressional Black Caucus, where she co-chairs the Race and Justice Taskforce, and the Congressional Progressive Caucus, serving on its Executive Board.
In her first term, Lee secured over $1.2 billion in federal investments for Western Pennsylvania, focusing on infrastructure, clean energy, and community revitalization projects. She has been a vocal advocate for affordable housing, criminal justice reform, and combating environmental racism.
Education
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Bachelor of Arts in Journalism: Pennsylvania State University, 2009
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Juris Doctor: Howard University School of Law, 2015
Political Experience
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Pennsylvania House of Representatives: Representative for the 34th district
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U.S. House of Representatives: Representative for Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district
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Committee Assignments:
- House Committee on Oversight and Accountability
- Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services
- House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
- Subcommittee on Energy
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Caucus Memberships:
- Congressional Black Caucus
- Congressional Progressive Caucus
- Equal Rights Amendment Caucus
- LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus
Lee's legislative priorities include advocating for workers' rights, environmental justice, and racial equity, reflecting her commitment to progressive values and community empowerment.
