Candidate for
US Representative; District 13

Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz is a tough, skillful, and accomplished legislator with over three decades experience in public service. On January 6th, 2009, Schwartz was sworn into her third term in the United States House of Representatives where she represents Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district.

The district, which comprises Northeast Philadelphia and suburban Montgomery County, has a tradition of hard fought campaigns and in 2004 National Journal magazine named it one of the nation's "most competitive." In past years the district has been home to some of the country's most expensive races due to the costly Philadelphia media market and the closely divided partisan registration.

Congresswoman Schwartz has a well-deserved national reputation as one of America's foremost healthcare policy experts. She has been actively working toward health care reform for over 20 years, first as a Pennsylvania State Senator, and now as a Member of Congress.

As a member of the Ways and Means Committee and Vice Chair of the Budget Committee, Schwartz authored several key provisions of the health care law passed this year, including those to invest in lifesaving bio-sciences, increasing access to primary care, banning pre-existing conditions exclusions and allowing young adults to remain on their parent's health coverage.

Congresswoman Schwartz also authored successful legislation on E-Prescribing, a technological advancement which will help to prevent 1.5 million medical errors per year, and worked for a $20 million investment in health information technology to be included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

As a Pennsylvania State Senator, Schwartz led the drive to create the Pennsylvania's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which has served as a national model for expanding access to health insurance to children. In Congress, Schwartz led the charge to expand CHIP to cover 11 million additional children, and stood with President Obama as he signed this important legislation in 2009.

Congresswoman Schwartz is serving her second term as a member of the Committee on Ways and Means. Known as the most powerful committee in Congress, it has jurisdiction over all tax and trade issues, Social Security and Medicare.

In 2009, Schwartz was named Vice Chair of the Budget Committee, where she has served since 2005. On the Budget Committee, she is a vocal proponent for responsible and disciplined federal budgeting, and investing in the future of our nation. She works actively to meet the goal of a balanced federal budget in which we make important and effective investments in our nation's infrastructure, education, veteran's healthcare, homeland security, and research and development in science and technology.

Congresswoman Schwartz has a lengthy record of legislative accomplishments. In addition to her prominent work in healthcare, she is actively engaged in promoting innovative solutions to global warming, energy independence, creating sustainable communities and helping working families.

Schwartz's legislative proposals have included tax deductions for energy efficient commercial buildings, tax incentives for rehabilitating and preserving historic buildings, helping cities to implement job-creating green infrastructure initiatives and an expansion of the Child Care Tax Credit for middle income families. She has been instrumental in strengthening and growing the biotechnology industry, a vital sector that continues to create jobs in southeastern Pennsylvania.

The daughter of a Korean War veteran, Schwartz strongly supports America's veterans and works to ensure that they have the healthcare and family support they deserve. Schwartz's first Congressional bill, a plan providing tax credits to businesses hiring Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, passed Congress in 2007 with bipartisan support.

Congresswoman Schwartz has a deep and personal commitment to Israel, inspired in large part by the experiences of her mother, a Holocaust survivor. She has led numerous Congressional efforts to strengthen America's relationship with Israel. She is a member of the Democratic Israel Working Group and the U.S. Israel Security Caucus. In 2006, the National Jewish Democratic Coalition awarded Schwartz the Golda Meir Award for her political accomplishments.

In December 2008, Schwartz was named Vice Chair of the centrist New Democrat Coalition, and serves as Co-Chair of the New Democrats Health Care Coalition. She is engaged in promoting NDC's interest in Congressional action to strengthen our nation's economic competitiveness through pro-economic growth policies, such as innovation, support for education, and fair trade policies. Schwartz has been an active member of the moderate Democratic Leadership Council for over a decade.

Schwartz is one of the most successful female elected officials in Pennsylvania history. She has repeatedly broken new ground in the state's political structure, starting when she became just the third women to serve in the Pennsylvania State Senate in 1991. She is currently one of only two women members of the 19 member Pennsylvania congressional delegation, and the only Jewish woman representing Pennsylvania.

Impressed by her political strength, House Democratic leadership has appointed Schwartz to help lead two national initiatives: Women LEAD, to support female congressional candidates from across the country in 2007; and Red to Blue, to actively support strong Democratic candidates in Republican leaning districts. Schwartz serves as co-chair these important initiatives, in addition to serving as a member of the DCCC's Recruitment Committee.

Schwartz is a graduate of Simmons College and holds a Master's Degree from Bryn Mawr College. Her husband of over 30 years, David Schwartz, is a prominent Philadelphia cardiologist. They have two adult sons, Daniel and Jordan. Schwartz and her family are active members of their local synagogue.