Congresswoman pramila Jayapal
A former Washington State Senator and a lifelong organizer for immigrant, civil, and human rights, Representative Pramila Jayapal is currently serving her fifth term in Congress for WA-07, which encompasses Seattle and surrounding communities.
In 2016, she became the first South Asian American woman ever elected to the House. She came to the United States alone at the age of 16 and went on to start the largest immigrant rights organization in Washington state before becoming one of only two dozen naturalized citizens serving in Congress today.
Representative Jayapal is the lead sponsor of multiple landmark progressive bills including the Medicare for All Act, the College for All Act, the Housing is a Human Right Act, the Ultra-Millionaire Tax Act, and the Roadmap to Freedom immigration resolution.
She currently serves on the Judiciary Committee, where she is also Ranking Member of the Immigration Subcommittee, as well as the Budget and Foreign Affairs Committees. She is a Chair Emerita of the nearly 100-member Congressional Progressive Caucus, having led the caucus for six years and establishing term limits. Congresswoman Jayapal lives in Seattle with her husband Steve.
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal is keynote speaker for NAAPR’s Refugee Community Building Conference 2026
