Pramila Jayapal on Wednesday (Thursday in India) was named the vice chair of the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law. Born in Chennai, Jayapal is the first Indian-American woman in the House of Representatives. The 55-year-old Democrat is the chair of the crucial Immigration Task Force of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, which is also co-chaired by Raja Krishnamoorthi. 

Her duties as the vice chair of the subcommittee will require overlooking urgent work on antitrust, big tech, reining in anti-competitive behaviour, helping prevent monopolistic practices, protecting a free press, and allowing innovation to thrive.

Jayapal was the co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus from 2019 to 2021. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has described the Chennai-born as a “rising star in the Democratic caucus.”

She is US US Representative for Washington’s 7th congressional district since 2017 and has also been named as a member of the House Budget Committee, which plays a key role in the passing of the Budget. 

Jayapal was also leading the effort on $15 per hour as minimum wage, proposed in the $1.9 billion COVID-19 relief package by Biden. However, it has now been stricken down from the bill.

The Chennai-born was one of three lawmakers, who tested positive for COVID-19 after attacks on the US Capitol on January 6. 

Jayapal was also one of the seven lawmakers, who urged the then US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in December last year to raise the issue of ongoing farmers’ protest in India with his Indian counterpart.