House, California , District #39

Contact Information

Sanchez
202-225-6676
202-226-1012 (fax)
http://www.house.gov/lindasanchez


Home Town: Orange, CA
Committees: Government Reform

Bio

Congresswoman Linda Sánchez was sworn into office on January 7, 2003 to represent the newly created 39th Congressional District of California. The 39th District includes the cities of Artesia, Cerrritos, Hawaiian Gardens, Lakewood, La Mirada, Lynwood, Paramount, and South Gate (in their entirety), a large portion of Whittier, small portions of Long Beach and Los Angeles, and parts of unincorporated Los Angeles County - East La Mirada, Florence-Graham, Los Nietos, West Whittier, and Willlowbrook. Sánchez’s service is historic as she joins her sister Loretta (D–Garden Grove) in the U.S. House. They are the first sisters and the first women of any relation to ever serve in Congress. Linda Sánchez is an advocate for California’s working families. She is committed to reducing crime, making public schools safe and secure for our children, providing quality education and affordable health care, improving our economy by creating economic opportunities, and decreasing unemployment.

Sánchez serves on the Judiciary Committee, which considers all legislation pertaining to judiciary and to civil and criminal judicial reform. Specifically, the committee reviews issues such as civil liberties, constitutional amendments, immigration, and naturalization, and protection of trade and commerce against unlawful restraints and monopolies. The Committee also has jurisdiction over the U.S. Department of Justice, as well as federal aid to local law enforcement.

Congresswoman Linda Sánchez also serves on the Committee on Government Reform, which has oversight over all federal government activities and serves as the watchdog to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars. Additionally, she serves on the Small Business Committee. Linda Sánchez is the sixth of seven children born to immigrant parents from Mexico. Born in the City of Orange, she attended public schools before graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Literature with an emphasis in Bilingual Education. After working her way through undergraduate school as a bilingual aid and "English as a Second Language" instructor, she attended law school at U.C.L.A., graduating and passing the bar exam in 1995.

During her legal studies at U.C.L.A., Linda interned with the Honorable Judge Terry Hatter, Jr., Chief Justice of the Central District Court. She also spent a summer working for the National Organization for Women Legal Defense and Education Fund (NOW LDEF) in New York City.

After law school, she practiced law in the areas of appellate law, civil rights, and employment law. In late 1998, Sánchez went to work for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 441 and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) as a compliance officer on public works and prevailing wage issues. A proud member of IBEW Local 441, Congresswoman Sánchez has been an active member since 1998. Prior to coming to Congress, Sánchez served as the Executive Secretary-Treasurer for the Orange County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

Congresswoman Linda Sánchez lives in the City of Lakewood with her two dogs Baloo and Pip.