Summary
Current Position: US Representative of OH 11th District since 2008
Affiliation: Democrat
Marcia Louise Fudge (born October 29, 1952) is an American attorney and politician serving as the 18th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, she served as the U.S. representative for Ohio’s 11th congressional district from 2008 to 2021.
Following the death of Stephanie Tubbs Jones in 2008, Fudge ran unopposed in the special election to replace her.She was chair of the Congressional Black Caucus in the 113th Congress. She considered running for Speaker of the United States House of Representatives at the start of the 116th Congress but eventually announced she would back Nancy Pelosi.
Then president-elect Joe Biden nominated Fudge as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development on December 10, 2020. The U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs advanced her nomination by a vote of 17–7 on February 4, 2021. She was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 10, 2021, by a vote of 66–34. She was virtually sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris on March 10, 2021. Upon taking her oath of office, she became the first African-American woman to serve as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development since Patricia Roberts Harris left the office in 1979.
Source: Wikipedia
OnAir Post: Marcia Fudge
News
11th District
Democrats in Northeast Ohio’s 11th Congressional District will nominate a likely successor to HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge after a bitter race that stirred old tensions about the 2016 and 2020 Democratic presidential primaries. Nina Turner, a former state senator and co-chair of the last presidential campaign of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), is facing Shontel Brown, the chair of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party. Brown has the support of Hillary Clinton and Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.); Turner has the backing of Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).
Democratic primary
Brown is projected to win. 100 percent of precincts are reporting.
| Candidate | Votes | Pct. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Shontel Brown | 37,666 | 50.2% | ||
Nina Turner | 33,420 | 44.5 | ||
Jeff Johnson | 1,349 | 1.8 | ||
John Barnes | 773 | 1.0 | ||
Shirley Smith | 583 | 0.8 | ||
Show more candidates | ||||
| 75,064 votes reported from 100% of precincts. | ||||
The Senate voted Wednesday to confirm Ohio Democratic Rep. Marcia Fudge as secretary of Housing and Urban Development, adding another African American woman to the ranks of President Joe Biden’s Cabinet.
About
Source: Government page
Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge is a committed public servant who brings a hard-working, problem-solving spirit to Congress and to the task of creating jobs, protecting safety net programs, and improving access to quality public education, health care and healthy foods. First elected in 2008, she represents the people of the 11th Congressional District of Ohio.
Congresswoman Fudge serves on the Committee on House Administration, House Committee on Agriculture and House Committee on Education and Labor. She is the Chair of the Committee on House Administration Subcommittee on Elections and Chair of the Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight and Department Operations. She serves on the Subcommittees on Conservation and Forestry (Agriculture), Civil Rights and Human Services (Education & Labor) and Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions (Education & Labor).
In the 115th Congress, the Congresswoman served on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittees on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education and on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions. She also served as Ranking Member on the House Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry and a member on the Subcommittee on Nutrition. She is a member of several Congressional Caucuses and past Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Congresswoman Fudge consistently fights for voter protection, equitable access to a quality education from preschool through post-secondary programs, child nutrition, food stamp (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients, access to locally grown, healthy foods, fair labor practices, and civil and human rights, among other issues. Additionally, she remains a steadfast advocate to strengthen and preserve Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
Congresswoman Fudge has served the people of Ohio for more than three decades, beginning with the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office. She was later elected as the first African American and first female mayor of Warrensville Heights, Ohio, where she led the city in shoring up a sagging retail base and providing new residential construction.
Congresswoman Fudge earned her bachelor’s degree in business from The Ohio State University and law degree from the Cleveland State University Cleveland-Marshall School of Law. She is a Past National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and a member of its Greater Cleveland Alumnae Chapter.
Congresswoman Fudge’s work ethic, problem-solving approach, and ability to build collaborative relationships have earned her a reputation among her colleagues in Washington and at home as an insightful leader and knowledgeable legislator. As a dedicated public servant, she begins each morning with a firm promise “to do the people’s work.” It is this simple philosophy that defines Congresswoman Fudge as a Member of substance and character who always keeps her promise.
Experience
Work Experience
- Served as mayor of Warrensville Heights, Ohio
2000 to 2008
Education
Personal
Birth Year: 1952
Place of Birth: Cleveland, OH
Gender: Female
Religion: Christian: Baptist
Contact
Email:
Offices
Washington D.C. Office
2344 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-7032
Fax: (202) 225-1339
Cuyahoga County
4834 Richmond Road, Suite 150
Warrensville Heights, OH 44128
Phone: (216) 522-4900
Fax: (216) 522-4908
Summit County
1225 Lawton Street
Akron, OH 44320
Phone: (330) 835-4758
Fax: (330) 835-4863
Web
Government Page, Campaign Site, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Wikipedia
Politics
Source: none
Recent Elections
2020
| Marcia Fudge (D) | 70,379 | 90.5% |
| Tariq Shabazz (D) | 2,813 | 3.6% |
| Michael Hood (D) | 2,641 | 3.4% |
| James Jerome Bell (D) | 1,963 | 2.5% |
| TOTAL | 77,796 |
Source: Ballotpedia
Finances
FUDGE, MARCIA L has run in 6 races for public office, winning 5 of them. The candidate has raised a total of $4,126,015.
Source: Follow the Money
Committees
Committees
House Committee on Agriculture
House Committee on House Administration
House Committee on Education and Labor
Subcommittees
Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations
Conservation and Forestry
Elections
Civil Rights and Human Services
Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions
Voting Record
See: Vote Smart
New Legislation
Source: Congress.gov
Issues
Civil Rights
Voting Rights and Elections Subcommittee Hearings
In my capacity as Chair of the House Administration Subcommittee on Elections, I have had the pleasure of going to multiple states across the country to hear testimony about voting rights abuses. Testimony was given by a panel of experts with backgrounds in voting rights advocacy and civil rights law, and it confirmed what we already know – “the more things change, the more things stay the same.”
The progress made since the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is stained by present-day suppression tactics meant to turn back the clock to the days of Jim Crow and overt denial at the ballot box. We’ve come so far, but still have a long way to go.
To see videos of each of the field hearings, click on the links below:
- Field Hearing in Cleveland, Ohio
- Listening Session in Brownsville, Texas
- Field Hearing in Atlanta, GA
- Field Hearing on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in Fort Yates, ND
- Field Hearing in Weldon, NC
- Field Hearing in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
- Field Hearing in Birmingham, AL
Background:
The Supreme Court’s 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder invalidated key provisions of the Voting Rights Act while acknowledging the persistence of voter discrimination. Following the Court’s decision, which constructively eliminated preclearance requirements under the Voting Rights Act, hundreds of polling locations have been closed in Texas — significantly more in number and percentage than any other state. Additionally, the Texas Election Code only requires a 72-hour notice of polling location changes. These are just a few examples of the erosion of equal access to voting in Texas.
Congress has the power and responsibility to ensure that every American can exercise their franchise. Accordingly, the Committee on House Administration hosted this session and will host subsequent hearings to further develop the contemporaneous record of ongoing voter discrimination, address the Supreme Court’s concerns about the data supporting Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act, and work toward the full implementation of Section 5.
Economy
Small businesses are responsible for creating over 60% of all new jobs and are the backbone of our local economy. They are integral to our nation’s economic recovery and I strongly support policies that help Americans start, grow, and sustain small businesses.
Small businesses lead the way with cutting-edge innovations and home-grown ingenuity. By employing local workers, these businesses help stimulate demand for goods and services. We must ensure the viability of small businesses given their role as robust economic engines within our communities.
To assist small businesses I will fight for access to better credit sources for new and existing companies seeking to expand operations. I encourage lenders to provide small businesses with the credit necessary to operate, expand and add jobs. Small businesses also need fair tax relief which will provide necessary investments in future growth.
There is nothing small about small business commitment to our community or their impact on the nation. Within the 11th Congressional District of Ohio, small businesses have often led our economic recovery and prosperity, and I am committed to helping them grow and thrive.
Federal Resources
SBA Direct SBA Direct is a Web tool that allows users to personalize their experience on SBA.gov. Just by answering a few simple questions about your business, SBA Direct brings the targeted resources you need to start, operate and grow your small business – directly to your desktop.
SCORE A resource partner with the SBA, SCORE has over 11,000 volunteers that bring practical experience to small businesses and entrepreneurs thinking about starting a new small business. The online “Ask SCORE” tool allows small business owners to enter a business topic, choose a mentor from a list who best matches his or her needs, and send questions.
Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) SBDCs provide free or low-cost assistance to small businesses using programs customized to local conditions. There are more than 900 SBDCs with at least one in every state and U.S. territory.
Startup America This interagency initiative connects entrepreneurs with successful businesses, opens up $2 billion in seed capital for emerging companies in fields of strategic importance, such as clean energy, and aims to simplify tax policy. Startup businesses may be interested in applying for new sources of Small Business Administration (SBA) funding.
Veterans Business Outreach Program (VBOP) VBOP is designed to provide entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling, and mentoring, as well as referrals for eligible veterans owning or considering starting a small business.
Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) WBC is a large network throughout the United States, offering women entrepreneurs, especially those that are socially or economically disadvantaged, comprehensive training and counseling to help them start and grow their own business.
State Resources
AG – LINK Ohio farmers can receive an interest rate reduction to help offset the upfront costs of their farming operations.
ECOLink Homeowners can receive a 3% interest rate reduction on bank loans to finance energy efficient upgrades.
growNOW Small businesses seeking to create or retain jobs in Ohio can receive up to a 3% interest rate reduction on new or existing small business loans.
Reenergize Ohio Small businesses can receive up to a 3% interest rate reduction on new or existing small business loans when used for energy-efficient upgrades.
saveNOW Ohioans can receive a 3% interest rate bonus on savings accounts and receive financial education newsletters.
SBA Ohio’s Small Business Resource Guide A comprehensive guide for small business owners in Ohio.
Local Resources
Cleveland SBA District Office
1350 Euclid Avenue, Suite 211
Cleveland, OH 44115
Phone: 216-522-4180
Fax: 216-522-2038
Visit the SBA Cleveland website for local updates and resources, and to find events and workshops in your area.
Grow Cuyahoga County Fund The Grow Cuyahoga County Fund is designed to assist eligible small business owners within Cuyahoga County to obtain loans to grow their businesses and create jobs. Low interest loans between $100,000 and $1 million are available and may also be used for retail and restaurant development projects.
SCORE Akron Offers entrepreneurial counseling and workshops to successfully guide small businesses in Medina, Portage, Summit, and Wayne Counties.
SCORE Cleveland Offers entrepreneurial counseling and workshops to successfully guide small businesses in Cuyahoga County.
Education
As a member of the House Committee on Education and Labor, I have long advocated for education policies that strengthen schools and prepare our young people for the jobs of the future. Education begins at birth and ensuring that our youth have the opportunities and tools necessary to grow into healthy, well-rounded and productive members of society, is critically important.
I will remain committed to ensuring that every child has the right to a good primary and secondary education, decreasing education disparities, and giving all young people access to college.
Rep. Fudge’s Education Achievements in the 116th Congress
Introduced Bills
Strength in Diversity Act (H.R.6722)– This bill enables the Department of Education to award competitive grants for the development or implementation of plans to improve diversity or eliminate racial and socioeconomic isolation in public schools and publicly funded early education programs.
Go to High School, Go to College Act (H.R. 3268) –The bill creates a pilot program that allows high school students enrolled in postsecondary courses to access Pell Grants. Federal dollars, rather than school or local funds, will allow students to enroll in college courses and earn transferable college credit, setting them on an accelerated path to postsecondary success.
The Parent PLUS Loan Improvement Act (H.R. 3353)– The bill places a cap on, and lowers, current PLUS loan interest rates. It requires both entrance and exit counseling for all borrowers and ensures borrowers’ eligibility for income-based repayment, providing an affordable pathway to higher education.
The Time for Completion Act (H.R. 3354) –The bill expands current federal graduation rate benchmarks to better reflect average rates of completion for students attending two- and four-year institutions. It also requires the Department of Education to provide students and families with expanded access to information about graduation rates among part-time and full-time students.
END ALL Hazing Act (H.R. 3267) – The bill requires institutions of higher education to make information about student organizations disciplined for hazing or other misconduct publicly available online, updated on a biannual basis. Details on corrective measures imposed by the school on the organization must also be made publicly available.
REP. FUDGE’S GOALS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
• Ensure all Americans have an opportunity to attend college or develop a trade
• Protect Pell Grants
• Provide federal funding for early college and concurrently enrolled secondary students
Health Care
Affordable Care Act
The Affordable Care Act addressed a major need in our nation. Prior to its passage, 47 million Americans had no health insurance and millions more were financially burdened by the limited coverage. In addition to expanding health coverage, the ACA has protected Americans from losing coverage because of a pre-existing condition, among other protections, and saved seniors billions of dollars on their prescription drugs. Accessible, affrordable, high-quality health care should not be treated as a privilege, but a basic human right. I will continue to push back against Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, by supporting efforts to strengthen and improve it. Read more about this landmark law.
Childhood Obesity
Nearly one-third of all children in this country are overweight or obese – a rate that has tripled over the past fifty years and disproportionally impacts at-risk communities. Left unchecked, obesity threatens to create the first generation of Americans with shorter life expectancies than their parents.
To combat this epidemic, I was the first to introduce a resolution that designates September as Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. It is up to all of us to ensure that the children in our lives develop healthy and nutritious eating habits.
Social Security
These programs were critical components of President Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society in the 1960s and remain some of the most important programs we have in the War on Poverty today.
I am a strong supporter of the Medicare program, and have spoken out against attempts by my Republican colleagues to drastically decrease services for beneficiaries and make Medicare a voucher program. Beneficiaries of the program worked hard for their earned benefits and deserve to keep them.
I also believe Medicaid is a vital component of our nation’s safety net, providing health coverage for some of the most vulnerable among us, including children, pregnant women and the poor.
This administration has proven time and again, that they are against our senior citizens. During his time in office, President Donald Trump has taken several actions that were harmful to our nation’s elderly. He has clearly declared war on our seniors, and I am am committed to fighting against these attacks.
In the 116th Congress, Rep. Fudge has taken the following legislative measures to ensure the safety and well-being of seniors:
She voted YES on the Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act (H.R. 987). This bill lowers prescription drug costs by promoting generic competition and strengthens health care by reversing the Administration’s sabotage on the Affordable Care Act.
She voted YES on the Protecting People with Pre-Existing Conditions Act (H.R. 986). This bill rescinds guidance issued by the Administration that weakens insurance coverage and undermines the Affordable Care Act’s protections for people with pre-existing conditions. It would prohibit any similar Administration guidance from being proposed in the future.
Agriculture
I am proud to serve as Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight and Department Operations. The subcommittee has jurisdiction over policies and statutes relating to nutrition, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps) and domestic commodity distribution, and consumer initiatives.
While management of farm programs is certainly an important area of focus, 65% of the matters dealt with by the Committee are nutrition-based, such as regulation and oversight of programs that fund in-school meals and emergency food providers. As a member of the Agriculture Committee, I am committed to increasing access to healthy foods, eliminating food deserts, and protecting safety net programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Rep. Fudge’s Agriculture Achievements for the 116th Congress
Family Poverty is Not Child Neglect Act (H.R. 2535) – This bill ensures child protective service agencies will never again allow children to be separated from their parents based upon their poverty level. The bill language was included in the overall Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (H.R. 2480) that passed the House on May 20, 2019.
Farm to School Act (H.R. 3562) – The bill provides increased funding for the USDA Farm to School Grant Program, from $5 to $15 million, and increases the individual grant award maximum to $250,000. It ensures prioritization of grant applications that engage beginning, veteran and socially disadvantaged farmers, and serve diverse and high-need student populations.
Proposed Rule on Able-bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWD) – On February 1, 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a proposed rule to limit states’ ability to request a waiver of the ABAWD time limit and reduce the carryover of ABAWD percentage exemptions to a one-year lookback. In response to this proposed rule, Rep. Fudge promptly sent a letter urging Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to extend the comment period on USDA’s proposal to further restrict the eligibility of able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) to receive benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). To read the letter, click here.
Rep. Fudge’s Ongoing Agriculture Initiatives
Seasonal High Tunnel Program (Hoop Houses) – In 2012 the Congresswoman started this initiative in collaboration with Ohio USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Ohio State University Extension. The purpose of this initiative is to help OH-11 residents grow fresh food in an environmentally friendly manner for up to 9-12 months a year; effectively extending the growing season by 3-4 months, meet the nutritional needs of residents; improve neighborhoods, increase employment as well entrepreneurial opportunities and to assist in eradicating “food desert,” areas with limited access to nutritious food near their homes. Since 2012, over 100 Seasonal High Tunnels have been erected in Ohio’s Eleventh Congressional District.
Labor
Fighting for the collective bargaining rights of union workers and the middle class is one of my top priorities. I firmly support the right of labor unions and public and private employees to collectively bargain. Ohio is significantly impacted by union membership, as it is home to over 600,000 union members.
Unfortunately, union membership has been on the decline since 1983, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While unionized workers averaged roughly $191 more in median weekly earnings than nonunionized workers in 2018, unionized workers made up only 33.9% of public-sector workers and only 6.4% of private-sector workers.
Fair Wages
In the 116th Congress I have continued to fight for fair wages for workers. I cosponsored the Restoring Overtime Pay Act (H.R. 3197). The bill strengthens overtime protections and increases the overtime salary level from $23,660 per year to nearly $51,000 per year, making roughly 4.6 million workers newly eligible for overtime pay. The bill will reestablish the salary level set in 2016, guaranteeing more salaried workers get additional overtime pay.
I supported the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R.7). This bill amends sections of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to enhance enforcement of equal pay requirements and collect pay information by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. It provides workers crucial tools toward achieving wage equality. Because everyone deserves equal pay for equal work.
I also had the pleasure of voting YES on the Raise the Wage Act, which passed the House in the 116th Congress. This bill will increase the national minimum wage to $15/hr by 2025. It will lift 1.3 million people out of poverty including 600,000 children.
Federal Workers
I support a measure to give federal workers the pay increase they deserve after enduring a three-year wage freeze, four years without locality pay, furloughs, and a government shutdown. In 2014, the 1% wage adjustment failed to keep up with the nation’s rate of inflation. I also support the Wage Grade Employee Parity Bill, which ensures that wage-grade employees receive the same wage increase as salaried federal employees.
Workplace Protections and Wage Equality
I am a strong supporter of workforce protection measures, including the ability for employees to earn paid sick leave as well as family and medical leave insurance. I cosponsored the Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Act to improve compliance with mine safety and health laws so that all workers are protected. I also joined a letter to Secretary Perez and OMB Director Donovan supporting President Obama’s executive order on Fair Pay and Save Workplaces to federal contractors are fully evaluated for compliance with employment and workplace safety laws. I am also focused on closing the wage gap that has been an ongoing struggle for working women. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the female-to-male earnings ratio has not changed significantly since 2007. Women in Ohio who work full time earn 83 percent of that earned by men working full time. This wage discrimination hinders our economy as women increasingly become the breadwinners in their families. In the 116th Congress, the House passed the Paycheck Fairness Act to close the loopholes in the Equal Pay Act of 1963. This bill will put us one step closer to guranteeing equal pay for equal work.
