On Aug. 15, 1938, United States House Representative Maxine Waters was born in Kinloch, Missouri. She represents California's 43rd congressional district.
In her 37 years of public service, she has built a reputation for tackling tough and even controversial issues. As a member of California's State Assembly (1976–1991), she spoke out against South Africa's apartheid government. Waters was elected to the House of Representatives in 1991. In 1992, as Los Angeles was rocked with rioting following the verdict in Rodney King's beating case, she founded Community Build, the city’s grassroots rebuilding project. In recent years, Waters has been a vocal opponent of the War in Iraq, forming the Out of Iraq Congressional Caucus in 2005, for which she is the founding member and former chair.

In 2012, Waters was elected to her 12th term in the House of Representatives. She serves as the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Financial Services and is also a member of the Steering & Policy Committee and Congressional Progressive Caucus. Additionally, Congresswoman Waters is a member and former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
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(Photo: Gus Ruelas/Reuters)