19 Facts About Grace Napolitano

Graciela "Grace" Napolitano is an American Democratic Party politician who represented California's San Gabriel Valley and other parts of Los Angeles County in the United States House of Representatives from 1999 to 2025.

Grace Napolitano previously served in the California State Assembly and the Norwalk City Council.

At the age of 88, Napolitano was the oldest sitting member of the House of Representatives at the time of her departure.

Grace Napolitano represented the 34th district from 1999 to 2003, the 38th district from 2003 to 2013, and the 32nd district from 2013 to 2023.

In July 2023, Grace Napolitano announced that she would not be running for re-election in 2024.

Grace Napolitano began her political career as a member of the Norwalk City Council, winning her first election in 1986 by 28 votes.

Grace Napolitano made her way up through the ranks of Ford Motor Company for 21 years.

In 1998, Grace Napolitano was termed out of the State Assembly and decided to run for a State Senate seat being vacated by Charles Calderon.

Grace Napolitano would be facing a difficult race against fellow termed-out Assemblywoman Martha Escutia.

In July 2023, Grace Napolitano announced her intention to retire from Congress and not seek re-election in 2024.

In 2011, Grace Napolitano voted against the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 as part of a controversial provision that allows the government and the military to indefinitely detain American citizens and others without trial.

Grace Napolitano has been a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources since the 106th Congress and was selected as chair of the Water and Power Subcommittee for the 110th Congress.

Grace Napolitano has promoted conservation, water recycling, desalination, and sound groundwater management and storage to address Southern California's need for adequate water quality and supply.

Grace Napolitano is a member of the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus.

At the start of the 110th Congress, Grace Napolitano became the most senior new member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, with jurisdiction over America's aviation system, surface transportation, freight and passenger rail, the inland waterway system, international maritime commerce, the Economic Development Administration, the US Army Corps of Engineers' support of the nation's water resources, and the federal clean water program.

Grace Napolitano's experience includes six years on the California State Assembly Transportation Committee, and current work on rail safety and congestion relief in the San Gabriel Valley.

Grace Napolitano was married to Frank Grace Napolitano, a restaurateur and community activist, from the early 1980s until his death from cancer on December 15,2017, aged 90.

Grace Napolitano had five children from a previous marriage, which ended with her husband's death.

On February 13,2016, Grace Napolitano had a minor hemorragic stroke during a campaign event.