Lois Capps
U.S. Congresswoman

Congresswoman Lois Capps has served in Congress since 1998, succeeding her late husband Congressman Walter Capps. She now represents of the 23rd District, which includes parts of Ventura, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, San Luis Obispo County and Santa Barbara County.

Congresswoman Capps serves on the Committee on Energy and Commerce and its Subcommittee on Health Care and the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality. She also serves on the House Budget Committee. Additionally, Capps is a member of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus.

She has been the leader in the House of Representatives on efforts to limit new offshore oil drilling, passing legislation on the House floor to stop new drilling off California’s coast. She has voted to require cars and trucks to be more fuel efficient and to increase efficiency standards for appliances and buildings. She has also been a strong supporter of increasing investments in renewable sources of energy, including solar, wind, wave and biomass, and to require large utilities to derive more of their power from renewable energy sources.

Congresswoman Capps has passed legislation to address the national nursing shortage, curb underage drinking, improve mental health services, provide emergency defibrillators to local communities, bring CPR instruction to schools and provide immediate Medicare coverage to patients suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease.

Capps holds a B.S. in nursing from Pacific Lutheran University in Washington, an M.A. in religion from Yale, an M.A. in education from UCSB and honorary doctorates from Pacific Lutheran University and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley.