Congresswoman Kaptur, the senior-most woman in the 110th Congress, has represented her constituents with distinction since 1983, leading numerous legislative efforts on behalf of the Ohio Ninth Congressional District, the nation, and the international community. Before her election to office, she was appointed as the urban adviser to the Carter While House, during which time she helped maneuver several housing and neighborhood revitalization bills through the Congress.
She has served on several prestigious congressional committees, including House Appropriations, House Budget, and Veterans Affairs, and also on subcommittees that include Agriculture, Defense, and Housing and Urban Development. Among her many honors and awards are an honorary doctorate from the University of Toledo, a Distinguished Alumna Award from the University of Michigan, and the Director’s Award from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.
She was named “Legislator of the Year” by the National Mental Health Association and received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. She also received the Prisoner of War “Barbed Wire” Award for her commitment to veterans’ affairs and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Award for her part in introducing the legislation authorizing the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
She is the author of a book, Women of Congress: A Twentieth Century Odyssey, that was published by the Congressional Quarterly Inc. in 1996.
Maryse and Ramzy Mikhail Memorial Lecture 