Jim McDermott

United States Congressman

Jim McDermott was born in Chicago on December 28, 1936. He was the first member of his family to attend college, and went on to finish medical school. After completing his medical residency and military service, he made his first run for public office in 1970 and served in the State Legislature from the 43rd district in Washington State. In 1974, he ran for the State Senate, and held the office for three terms.

In 1987, after 15 years of legislative service, Rep. McDermott decided to leave politics and continue in public service as a Foreign Service medical officer based in Zaire, providing psychiatric services to Foreign Service, AID, and Peace Corps personnel in sub-Saharan Africa. When the 7th district Congressional seat later became open, he returned from Africa to run for the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1989, he began serving to the 101st Congress and is currently in his 9th term.

A physician, Rep. McDermott is especially interested in health care issues. While in the state legislature, he developed the Washington Basic Health Plan, the first state program in the country to provide low-cost health insurance to the unemployed and working poor. In the Congress, he is active in health care reform issues. He founded and chairs the Congressional Task Force on International HIV/AIDS and introduced the AIDS Housing Opportunities Act, a new program enacted into law in 1990 authorizing $156 million in FY 92 for special housing assistance for people with AIDS. As co-author of National Health Care legislation, he is leading the fight in the House of Representatives to guarantee all Americans comprehensive health care coverage.

Rep. McDermott is married to Therese Hansen, an attorney in Seattle. He has two adult children and one granddaughter. He attends St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Seattle.