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Center for Health Policy "Nurse Leaders in Politics", Darlene Curley

Nurses Currently Serving in the 112th Congress:

Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA-33)
Karen Bass is the U.S. Representative for California's 33rd congressional district. She has been selected by Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi to serve on the prestigious Steering and Policy Committee which sets the policy direction of the Democratic Caucus. Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland appointed Bass to serve as an Assistant Whip.

Prior to her serving as the current Representative for CA-33rd, Karen Bass made history when the California Assembly elected her to be its 67th Speaker, catapulting her to become the first African American woman in the country to serve in this powerful state legislative role.

Congresswoman Diane Black (R-TN-06)
As a small business owner, former educator and registered nurse for over 40 years, Congressman Diane Black brings a unique perspective to her work in Washington.

From starting two family-owned businesses, Black understands how to balance a budget, invest and hire new employees and grow a company without the help of government. From her work in the health care field, Black learned first-hand the importance of high-quality care and the obstacles faced by both patients and providers. She began her career as an emergency room nurse, but also served as a long-term care nurse and worked as part of an outpatient surgery team.

Congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle (R-NY-25)
Ann Marie Buerkle is a life-long Central New Yorker who proudly represents the people of New York State's 25th Congressional District. She was elected to the United States House of Representatives in the 2010 general election and took the oath of office on January 5, 2011.

She graduated from St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing as a Registered Nurse in 1972 and went to work in New York City's Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. In 1977, she graduated from Le Moyne College with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-CA-23)
During her 20-year tenure as a nurse and health advocate for the Santa Barbara School District, thousands of Santa Barbara's children and families benefited from Capps' personal care and leadership. As director of Santa Barbara County's Teenage Pregnancy and Parenting Project and the Parent and Child Enrichment Center, Capps gave countless young parents the support and encouragement to stay in school while providing them with critical child development skills to ensure their children grow up in healthy, loving environments. Capps also taught for 10 years as a part-time instructor of Early Childhood Education at Santa Barbara City College.

Capps now draws on this extensive healthcare background as founder and co-chair of the House Nursing Caucus. She also serves as co-chair of the Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition, the House Cancer Caucus, the Congressional School Health and Safety Caucus, National Marine Sanctuary Caucus, as well as the House Democratic Task Force on Health and Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition.

Congresswoman Renee Ellmers (R-NC-02)
Renee Ellmers was born in Ironwood in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. When she was a child her family moved to Madison Heights, near Detroit, where her father took a job in the auto industry. He worked with General Motors until he retired.

After graduating from Madison High School, needing to work her way through college, Renee trained as a Medical Assistant. For the next eight years, working full and part-time jobs, she attended Oakland University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. A year later, working as a Surgical Intensive Care Nurse at Beaumont Hospital she met her husband, Brent, a graduate of the University Of Indiana School Of Medicine.

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX-30)
Congresswoman Johnson studied nursing at St. Mary's College at the University of Notre Dame. She returned to Texas when she successfully passed the National Board Examination in Nursing. She later became Chief Psychiatric Nurse at the VA Hospital in Dallas and received a bachelor's degree in nursing from Texas Christian University in 1967. She received a master's degree in public administration from Southern Methodist University in 1976. Congresswoman Johnson is the first nurse to be elected to the U.S. Congress.

Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY-04)
A lifelong resident of Mineola, Congresswoman McCarthy has over 30 years experience as a nurse. Congresswoman McCarthy married Dennis McCarthy in 1967 and they raised one son, Kevin. Carolyn has two grandchildren, Denis and Grace, by Kevin and his wife Leslie.

Carolyn McCarthy is the first Congresswoman from Long Island and is included in Newsday's 100 Long Island Influentials, Long Island Business News's Long Island Top 50, Congressional Quarterly's 50 Most Effective Legislators, Redbook Magazine's Mothers and Shakers and the Ladies' Home Journal 100 Most Important Women.

2010-2011 Nurse State Legislators and State Administrative Leaders (AL-WY)

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