Val Foushee
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNorth Carolina's4th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2023
Preceded by	David Price
Member of theNorth Carolina Senate from the23rd district
In office September 13, 2013 – January 1, 2023
Preceded by	Eleanor Kinnaird
Succeeded by	Graig Meyer
Member of theNorth Carolina House of Representatives from the50th district
In office January 1, 2013 – September 13, 2013
Preceded by	Bill Faison
Succeeded by	Graig Meyer
Personal details
Born	Valerie Jean Paige (1956-05-07)May 7, 1956 (age 69) Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Stanley Foushee
Children	2
Education	University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (BA)
Website	House website Campaign website
Foushee's voice Foushee questioning witnesses on diversity in pilot education programs. Recorded February 7, 2023

Valerie Jean Foushee (/fuˈʃiː/foo-SHEE; néePaige; born May 7, 1956)^[1][2] is an American politician serving as theU.S. representative forNorth Carolina's 4th congressional district since 2023. A member of theDemocratic Party, she previously served in theNorth Carolina House of Representatives for the 50th district in 2012 and was appointed to represent the 23rd senatorial district in 2013.^[3] She is thefirst African American and the first woman to represent the district in Congress.

Foushee was born inChapel Hill, North Carolina. She graduated fromChapel Hill High School in 1974. She later attended theUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned aBachelor of Arts degree in political science and African-American studies in 2008.^[4][5]

In 1987, Foushee began working as an administrative officer for the Chapel Hill Police Department, a position she held until 2008.^[4] While raising her children, she became involved in their education and joined the School Governance Council.^[6] In 1997, she was elected to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education, serving until 2004, including a term as chair from 2001 to 2003.^[4]

She was subsequently elected to the Orange County Board of Commissioners in 2004 and served until 2012, chairing the board from 2008 to 2010.^[4]

Foushee was elected to theNorth Carolina House of Representatives in 2012. Local Democrats selected her to fill a vacancy in theNorth Carolina Senate caused by the resignation ofEleanor Kinnaird in 2013.^[7] During the legislative session beginning in 2015, Foushee was one of 12 African Americans serving in the North Carolina Senate.^[8]

During the2021–22 session, Foushee served on the following Standing and Select Committees:^[9]

• Appropriations on Education/Higher Education
• Appropriations/Base Budget
• Commerce and Insurance
• Education/Higher Education
• Finance
• Select Committee on Nominations
• State and Local Government

Foushee ran for theU.S. House of Representatives forNorth Carolina's 4th congressional district in 2022. She won the primary againstprogressiveNida Allam.^[10] She reeceive funds and assistance from pro-Israel groups such asAIPAC,DMFI andSam Bankman-Fried'sProtect Our Future PAC, prompting allegations that her campaign had succeeded primarily due to support fromdark money as the race became "the most expensive Democratic congressional primary in North Carolina history".^[11] On November 8, she defeated Republican nominee Courtney Geels with 67% of the vote to her 33%.^[12]

On November 5. 2024, Foushee won reelection to Congress with 74.9% of the vote, defeating Republican Eric Blankenburg, who received 23.61%, and Libertarian Guy Meillur, who earned 1.49%.^[10]

For the119th Congress:^[13]

• Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
  • Subcommittee on Energy
  • Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics (Ranking Member)
• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Subcommittee on Aviation
  • Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials

• Black Maternal Health Caucus^[14]
• Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus^[15]
• Congressional Black Caucus^[16]
• Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment^[17]
• Congressional Equality Caucus^[18]
• Congressional Progressive Caucus^[19]
• New Democrat Coalition^[20]

Foushee supports aMedicare for all plan for healthcare.^[21] During her time as a state senator, she sponsored legislation to expandMedicaid coverage.^[22]

Foushee voted to provideIsrael with support following2023 Hamas attack on Israel.^[23][24] In March 2024, she flew to Israel as part of a trip organized byAIPAC to meet withBenjamin Netanyahu.^[25] Additionally, AIPAC supported her campaigns for congress.^[21] In December, she signed a letter with other congress members urging PresidentJoe Biden to negotiate a ceasefire inGaza to prevent further loss of life and address thehumanitarian crisis.^[26]

In 2023, Foushee co-sponsored the Redistricting Transparency and Accountability Act alongside RepresentativesDeborah Ross andWiley Nickel. This legislation aims to increase transparency in the redistricting process to addresspartisan gerrymandering.^[27]

Valerie is married to Stan Foushee. They have two sons.^[28]

• List of African-American United States representatives
• Women in the United States House of Representatives

Wikimedia Commons has media related toValerie Foushee.

EnglishWikisource has original works by or about:

Valerie Jean Foushee

• Congresswoman Valerie Foushee official U.S. House website
• Valerie Foushee for Congress campaign website

• Biography at theBiographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at theFederal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at theLibrary of Congress
• Profile atVote Smart
• Appearances onC-SPAN

• 1956 births
• 20th-century African-American politicians
• 20th-century African-American women politicians
• 20th-century American women politicians
• 21st-century African-American politicians
• 21st-century African-American women politicians
• 21st-century American women politicians
• 21st-century members of the North Carolina General Assembly
• 21st-century United States representatives
• African-American United States representatives
• African-American state legislators in North Carolina
• Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina
• Democratic Party North Carolina state senators
• Female United States representatives
• Living people
• Women state legislators in North Carolina

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