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The Honorable Jane Harman
Recognized by her colleagues and the national
media as an authoritative voice on
counterterrorism, homeland security and
intelligence matters, Jane Harman has
represented California's 36th Congressional
District in Los Angeles’ South Bay since 1992.
In 2006, Harman completed eight years of
service on the House Intelligence Committee –
the final four as Ranking Member – where she
helped shape Congress’ policy response to the
9/11 attacks and played a lead role in the
creation and passage of the Intelligence Reform
Act of 2004.
Now in her seventh term, Harman
continues that policy focus as Chair of the
Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence
& Terrorism Risk Assessment. She is
also a member of the Energy and Commerce
Committee, where she sits on the
Telecommunications & the Internet and
Energy & Air Quality Subcommittees.
Harman’s role as an environmental leader
was cemented with the passage of the 2007
Energy Act, which included her landmark
lighting efficiency provisions to phase-out the
wasteful 100-watt incandescent bulb by 2012,
and require all light bulbs to be at least
three times more efficient than today’s by
2020.
Her life-long commitment to progressive
issues is reflected in her record on a woman's
right to choose, on issues of interest to the
gay and lesbian community, seniors and
veterans, and has earned her top ratings from
advocacy groups including Planned Parenthood,
the Human Rights Campaign, and the California
League of Conservation Voters.
A product of Los Angeles public schools,
Harman is a graduate of Smith College and
Harvard Law School. Prior to serving in
Congress, she was a top aide in the United
States Senate, Deputy Cabinet Secretary to
President Jimmy Carter, Special Counsel to the
Department of Defense, and in private law
practice. Married for almost three
decades to Sidney Harman, founder and Chairman
of Harman International Industries, she has
four adult children and three grandchildren.