Representative, United States House of Representatives, District 18, 1995-present

Democratic At-Large Whip, United States House of Representatives

Candidate, United States House of Representatives, Texas, District 18, 2024

Member, Houston City Council, 1990-1994

Member, Committee on Homeland Security

Member, Committee on the Budget

Member, Committee on the Judiciary

Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance

Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance

Member, Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection

Member, Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness and Technology

Member, Subcommittee on Immigration, Security, and Enforcement

Member, Subcommittee on The Constitution and Limited Government

Member, 9/11 Commission Caucus

Co-Founder, Afghan Caucus

Chair, Airport and Cable Committees

Member, Bipartisan Congressional Refugee Caucus

Former Member, Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives

Member, Building a Better America Caucus

Member, Children and Families Task Force

Co-Chair, Congressional Algeria Caucus

Member, Congressional Arts Caucus

Former First Vice Chair, Congressional Black Caucus

Whip, Congressional Black Caucus

Member, Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues

Member, Congressional Caucus on Ethiopia and Ethiopian-Americans

Member, Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans

Member, Congressional Caucus on Nigeria

Member, Congressional Caucus on the Judicial Branch

Member, Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine

Co-Chair, Congressional Children's Caucus

Founder, Congressional Children's Caucus

Member, Congressional Children's Caucus

Member, Congressional Coastal Caucus

Member, Congressional Diabetes Caucus

Member, Congressional Entertainment Industries Caucus

Member, Congressional Fire Services Caucus

Member, Congressional French Caucus

Member, Congressional Gulf of Mexico Caucus

Member, Congressional Human Rights Caucus

Member, Congressional Internet Caucus

Member, Congressional Labor and Working Families Caucus

Member, Congressional Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus

Member, Congressional Native American Caucus

Founder, Congressional Pakistan Caucus

Co-Chair, Congressional Pakistan Caucus

Member, Congressional Port Security Caucus

Vice Chair, Congressional Progressive Caucus

Member, Congressional Recycling Caucus

Member, Congressional Tri-Caucus

Member, Congressional United Services Organization (USO) Caucus

Member, Congressional Urban Caucus

Member, Congressional Victim's Rights Caucus

Member, Congressional Vision Caucus

Member, Congressional Wireless Caucus

Former Ranking Member, Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives

Former Member, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives

Senior Whip, Democratic Caucus

Co-Chair, Democratic Caucus' Task Force on Children

Member, Democratic Homeland Security Task Force

Co-Chair, Democratic Outreach Task Force

Member, Democratic Study Group

Former Chair, Energy Task Force

Former Member, Executive Overreach Task Force, United States House of Representatives

Member, Faith and Values in Politics Task Force

Member, Friends of Norway Caucus

Member, High Tech Caucus

Former Chair, Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection, United States House of Representatives

Member, House Democratic Caucus

Member, House Democratic Steering Committee

Former Member, House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism

Member, House Hunger Caucus

Chair, Human Relations Committee

Member, Immigration Task Force

Former Member, Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives

Member, Interstate 69 Caucus

Member, Katrina Task Force

Member, Law Enforcement Caucus

Member, National Guard and Reserve Components Congressional Members Organization

Member, Out of Iraq Caucus

Former Co-Chair, Redistricting Task Force, 112th Congress

Member, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus

Member, Songwriters Caucus

Member, TEX-21 Congressional Caucus

Co-Chair, United States-Afghanistan Caucus

Associate Municipal Court Judge, City of Houston, 1987-1989

Democratic Nominee, Texas District Court Judge, 1988

Attorney, United Energy Resources, 1980-1987

Staff Counsel, Select Committee on Assassinations, United States House of Representatives, 1977-1978

Member, American Leadership Forum

Member, Leadership Houston

Member, State Bar Association of Justice Committee

Member, Texas Municipal Judges Association

Member, Texas State Bar

Member, United Way

Former President, Houston Lawyers Association, 1983-1984

Chair, Black Women Lawyers Association, 1980

Astrological Sign:

Capricorn

Awards:

National Women's History Month, 2009

Texas Democratic Women (TDW) Proclamation, 1998

United States Department of Commerce Bureau Of the Census, Certificate of Recognition, 2000

HFD, Dennis Holder Scholarship Fund, 2004

Transportation Security Administration, Certificate of Appreciation, 2008

25 of the Worlds Most Inspiring Women By Essence Magazine, 2006

Texas Association for Home Care People's Choice Award, 1998

Texas NAACP, Texas Heroes 2004

Texas Coalition Of Black Democrats, Courage Award, 1995

Texas Southern University, Doctor of Human Letters, 2004

World Africa Nobel Award, 2005

Hope-Ward, Scholarship Fund & EAP, 1998

United States Africa Legislation Leadership Award, 1997

Houston Black Firefighter 12th Annual Scholarship Ball, 1994

Outstanding Young Houstonian, Houston Chamber of Commerce

Ebony 100 Most Influential Black American, 2006

United State Department of Agriculture, Certificate of Appreciation, 2000

Rising Star of Texas, Texas Business Magazine, 1983