Like the Silicon Valley region she once represented, former Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo exemplifies innovation. She’s creative, productive, a problem solver, and a consensus builder. For 32 years in Congress, Eshoo defended consumers, promoted American competitiveness and innovation, fought for access to health care for families and children, protected the environment, and encouraged development of clean energy technology. Anna was first sworn in as a Member of the United States House of Representatives in January 1993, after serving on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors for 10 years.
She served on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee since 1995, and she was the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology for six years, the first woman in the history of the Subcommittee to serve in a leadership role. On January 15, 2019, the Democratic Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted to elect Eshoo as the first woman to ever serve as Chair of the Health Subcommittee. Eshoo also served on the House Intelligence Committee during her time in Congress.
While in Congress, Eshoo led development of public health and biomedical legislation to enhance preparedness for biological events. She authored on a bipartisan basis the original Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act in 2006, which included one of her top priorities: the establishment of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. She continued to sponsor and lead reauthorization efforts for that keystone law until her retirement. She also advocated for the establishment of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health at the Department of Health and Human Services. ARPA-H engages in high-risk, high-reward health and biomedical research that could be leveraged to reduce biological risk.
Eshoo was born in New Britain, Connecticut, of Assyrian and Armenian heritage. She is the proud mother of two children, Karen and Paul. Eshoo is a graduate of Cañada College and the CORO Foundation and was awarded an Honorary Degree by Menlo College.
