Congressman Mark Pocan was sworn in as the U.S. Representative for Wisconsin’s second congressional district in 2013 following 14 years in the Wisconsin State Assembly. A small business owner, union member, and lifelong advocate for progressive causes, Rep. Pocan is committed to using his life experience to fight for policies that promote economic and social justice and support the families of south central Wisconsin.
In the 117th Congress, he serves on the House Appropriations Committee where he sits on the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee; the Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Subcommittee; and the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee. He also serves on the House Education and Labor Committee and the Joint Economic Committee.
I am proud to serve as Co-Chair of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, helping to lead more than 100 caucus members on civil rights and equality issues. I am a leading co-sponsor of the Equality Act, legislation that would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include protections that ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex. I am also a sponsor of the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act, a bill to prevent discrimination at colleges and universities, and the Restore Honor to Service Members Act, a bill to restore the status and benefits of service members discharged due to their sexual orientation.
During the Trump Administration, I strongly opposed the numerous attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, from the transgender military ban, to discriminatory adoption practices. I will always support our nation's LGBTQ+ youth, who face relentless efforts to silence and alienate them, particularly on the state level through bills like Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law. Our kids should always feel safe to be who they are, and that includes while they're at school.