Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to my friend Kenny Cox, who passed away in July following a battle against Parkinson's disease. Kenny led a life defined by service, courage, and unwavering commitment to the men and women of our Nation's firefighters and emergency medical response teams. A firefighter right out of high school, Kenny was forced into early retirement because of a midcareer injury, but Kenny couldn't walk away from the cause he loved. For 37 years, he served in elected leadership roles in the International Association of Fire Fighters, including as its president.
2026 MidtermsSolid SeatD+36D shift +4$402K raised
Steny Hoyer
Representative · Maryland · Democrat
Steny Hoyer
House Floor
Recent comments in the House
I am sorry that the Senate won't pass that bill, and I am sorry the President won't sign that bill. The President will sign this bill. This is something we can do. I rise in very strong support of the passage of this legislation. I am, very frankly, in disagreement with the people who have spoken about giving Trump this unfettered power. Trump believes he has unfettered power right now without this bill or any action by the House of Representatives. That is an irrelevant argument.
Mr. Speaker, one of the proudest moments of my time in public service was sponsoring the Americans with Disabilities Act and seeing it through to enactment. I was honored to work closely with House and Senate colleagues, leaders like Bob Dole, Tom Harkin, Tony Coelho, Steve Bartlett, Orrin Hatch, and Ted Kennedy, just to name a few. We passed it on a bipartisan basis, and it was signed into law by President George Bush in 1990. This month, we celebrate the 36th anniversary of the ADA. In those 36 years, that law has made a transformative difference for millions of Americans.
Biography
Steny Hoyer began his public service as a civil rights advocate before entering politics. Elected to represent Maryland’s 5th Congressional District in 1981, Hoyer has prioritized economic development, federal workforce support, and access to health care. As House Majority Leader, he played a key role in passing the Affordable Care Act and securing federal infrastructure investments for Maryland. Hoyer’s leadership reflects a commitment to responsive governance, working to ensure his district’s concerns are addressed at the national level.
Education
- Honorary Doctor of Public Service, University of Maryland1988
- J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, DC1966
- B.S., University of Maryland, College Park, MD1963
Professional History
U.S. Representative
1981-PresentRepresenting Maryland's 5th district
Member, State Board for Higher Education
1978–81Chairman, Prince George’s County Senate Delegation
1969–75(chairman, 1967–69)
Member, Maryland Senate
1967–79(president, 1975–79)
Practicing Attorney
1966–90(admitted to the Maryland Bar Association, 1966)
Policy Focus
Congress64%
International Affairs14%
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues14%
Public Lands and Natural Resources7%
Notable Legislation
Key legislative actions from Steny Hoyer's record in Congress.
Americans with Disabilities Act
Helped pass the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, prohibiting discrimination based on disability.
Federal Employee Pay Equity
Championed pay equity and benefits improvements for federal employees, including the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990.
Renewable Energy Funding
Secured increased federal funding for renewable energy research and development through annual appropriations.
House Majority Leader Leadership
As House Majority Leader, led passage of major legislation including the Affordable Care Act and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Committee Assignments
View details →- House Committee on Appropriations
Rep. Steny Hoyer FAQ
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