Congressman Steny Hoyer
Congressman Steny H. Hoyer represents Maryland’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties and portions of Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties. A resident of Mechanicsville serving his 14th term in Congress, Congressman Hoyer became on June 4, 2007, the longest-serving Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland. He has served as the Majority Leader since 2019.
Elected by his colleagues in the Democratic Caucus to serve as House Democratic Whip for the 112th Congress, he had served 2007 to 2011 as House Majority Leader and as House Democratic Whip from 2003 to 2007 and again from 2011 to 2019.
A Record of Achievement
An outstanding record of achievement earned Rep. Hoyer a reputation as a strong leader, a skilled legislator and a committed consensus builder. The “National Journal” wrote about Mr. Hoyer, “Congressional insiders roundly agree that [he] is a workhorse with the ability to focus on getting a job done that is unmatched by many lawmakers.”
Congressman Hoyer guided the Federal Employee Pay Comparability Act (FEPCA) to House passage. It was signed into law in November 1990. FEPCA restructured the pay system for Federal employees to ensure fairness in pay and comparability to similar work outside the Federal government.
He shepherded the Americans With Disabilities Act to overwhelming approval in the House in 1990, and it was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush. This landmark civil rights legislation has helped millions of disabled Americans enter the workforce, achieve independence and go as far as their talents take them.
Rep. Hoyer gained wide acclaim for guiding passage of the Help America Vote Act through Congress signed into law by President Bush on Oct. 29, 2002. Washington Post columnist David Broder called this comprehensive election reform legislation “the most significant piece of election law since [the] Voting Rights Act.”
Always Advocating for His Constituents
Congressman Hoyer leads economic development and jobs to this district including preserved 5,000 jobs and helping to add 5,000 more at NAS: Pax River. He was instrumental keeping open the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Indian Head, preserving 3,000 jobs and helping win reversal of a closure recommendation at St. Inigoes, preserving more than 1,600 jobs. He additionally blocked an effort to close Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, saving more than 3,000 civil service and approximately 6,000 contractor positions.
A Commitment to Public Service and Southern Maryland
Steny Hoyer graduated from Suitland High School in Prince George’s County. In 1963, he graduated with high honors from the University of Maryland and was selected “Outstanding Male Graduate.” In 1966, he received his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. That same year, at the age of 27, he won a seat in the Maryland Senate, after campaigning on a fair housing platform.
In 1975, he was elected President of the Senate, the youngest ever in state history, and served in that body until 1978. He also was a member of the State Board of Higher Education from 1978 to 1981, the year in which he came to Congress after winning a special election.
Congressman Hoyer currently serves on the Naval Academy Board of Visitors, and the St. Mary’s College Board of Trustees.
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