Stephanie Murphy

Stephanie Murphy
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 7th district
Assumed office
January 3, 2017
Preceded by John Mica
Personal details
Born Đặng Thị Ngọc Dung
(1978-09-16) September 16, 1978
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Sean Murphy
Education College of William & Mary (BA)
Georgetown University (MS)
Website House website

Stephanie Murphy (born Đặng Thị Ngọc Dung; September 16, 1978) is an American business consultant, professor, and politician from the state of Florida. She is a member of the Democratic Party and a member of the United States House of Representatives for Florida's 7th congressional district, having defeated incumbent John Mica in 2016.

She is the first Vietnamese-American woman and the second Vietnamese American to be elected to Congress.[1]

Early life and education

Stephanie Murphy was born Đặng Thị Ngọc Dung on September 16, 1978, in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon.[2] Her family fled Communist-controlled Vietnam in 1979 when she was six months old.[3] Their boat ran out of fuel and they were rescued by the United States Navy while at sea.[4][5] They settled in Northern Virginia, where she grew up.[6]

With the help of Pell Grants and student loans, Murphy attended the College of William & Mary, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics. She then went to Georgetown University, from which she received a Master of Science degree in foreign service.[5][7]

Pre-congressional career

After the September 11 attacks, Murphy went to work for the United States Department of Defense as a national security specialist.[5][8] She worked as an executive on investment efforts and government affairs initiatives at Sungate Capital in Winter Park, Florida, and as a business professor at Rollins College.[7]

Congress

2016

Murphy declared her candidacy for the United States House of Representatives for Florida's 7th congressional district in the 2016 elections. She ran against 12-term incumbent Republican John Mica in the general election on November 8, 2016.[6] She was endorsed by President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.[5][9][10] Murphy defeated Mica, receiving 51% of the vote.[11] Murphy is the second Vietnamese-American, after Joseph Cao, to be elected to the United States Congress, and the first Vietnamese-American woman to do so.[5]

After meeting with President Trump in September 2017, Murphy said that she and fellow Democrats could work with him.[12]

2018

"Of the three freshman Democrats from Central Florida, which include U.S. Reps. Val Demings, D-Orlando, and Darren Soto, D-Kissimmee, Murphy faces the toughest race for re-election," stated the Orlando Sentinel on January 2, 2018. "I think she has one of the toughest districts in the country," said Susan MacManus, a political science professor at the University of South Florida. "It's very difficult to please everybody in a swing district, and that's why it's so challenging."[12]

U.S. House of Representatives

Tenure

Rep. Murphy was sworn into office on January 3, 2017. She has urged the FBI to investigate various bomb threats against Jewish facilities.[13]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Political positions

Gun policy

Murphy decided to run for office when incumbent Republican John Mica accepted a campaign contribution from the NRA two days after the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida. (The 7th congressional district includes much of Orlando) She won office with the support of gun-control groups, such as Americans for Responsible Solutions and the Pride Fund to End Gun Violence, which was formed after the Pulse shooting. Murphy supports universal background checks, as well as prohibiting those on the No Fly List from purchasing firearms.[21] Murphy has stated, "We should protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners, but we should also protect our communities by passing commonsense gun laws."[22]

In 2017, Murphy introduced the "Gun Violence Research Act" into the United States House of Representatives, which was designed to repeal the 1996 federal ban on gun-violence research. Murphy stated that the current ban on gun-violence research was "un-American to its core."[23] As of February 2018, the Act had not been voted on. Following the 2018 Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, several Republican Congress members indicated that they were in favor of the Gun Violence Research Act. Carlos Curbelo, in particular, is expected to become the first Republican cosponsor of the bill.[24] In March 2018, Murphy said that gun control might be approaching "a tipping point" because the present younger generation "had to grow up where they don't know anything but school mass shootings. They're sick and tired of it, and they're activating."[25]

Illegal immigration

Murphy co-sponsored the DREAM Act and voted several times to force a House vote on it.[12] She was, however, one of only 24 House Democrats who voted for Kate's Law,[26] under which "an alien who has been excluded, deported, removed, or denied admission, or who has departed the United States while under an outstanding order of exclusion, deportation, or removal, and who subsequently crosses or attempts to cross the border into the United States, shall be fined, imprisoned not more than two years, or both."[27] To demonstrate her support for immigration reform, she posted online a picture of herself wearing an "I Am An Immigrant" t-shirt along with the message, "#IAmAnImmigrant and proud of it. Our nation's diversity is its strength. Opportunity and freedom keep the American dream alive."[28]

Trump travel ban

Murphy opposed President Trump's executive order temporarily banning entry into the U.S. by citizens of six Muslim-majority countries. "I strongly oppose the President's executive orders on refugees, which violate fundamental American values and undermine our national security," she said. "We must work in a bipartisan manner to strengthen our refugee policy in a way that keeps us secure AND upholds our values."[29]

Small-business loans

Murphy introduced a bill to make it easier for small business owners to obtain low-interest loans. The bill was passed by the House. She also co-sponsored a law, passed and signed by President Trump, that ensures that small businesses will receive a share of federal government contracts.[12]

Personal life

Murphy and her husband, Sean, have two children.[30]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Weik, Taylor. "Stephanie Murphy Went from Vietnam War Refugee to Member of Congress". NBC News. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  2. ↑ "Candidate Conversation – Stephanie Murphy (D) – News & Analysis – The Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report". Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  3. ↑ Dunkelberger, Lloyd (October 24, 2016). "John Mica faces major challenge in redrawn district from Stephanie Murphy". Orlando Weekly. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  4. ↑ Bade, Rachel (November 1, 2016). "Top GOP congressman laughs his way to possible defeat". Politico. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Hassan, Mohamed (November 8, 2016). "5 Things to Know About Stephanie Murphy, First Vietnamese-American Woman Elected to Congress". NBC News. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Democrats find a challenger against Mica". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Stephanie Murphy files to run against John Mica in CD 7 – Florida Politics". Florida Politics. June 23, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  8. ↑ Hackman, Michelle (October 23, 2016). "In Diversifying Florida District, a Challenge for the GOP". Retrieved November 9, 2016 – via Wall Street Journal.
  9. ↑ Sentinel, Orlando. "Val Demings, Stephanie Murphy endorsed by Gabby Giffords". Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Barack Obama endorses Val Demings, Stephanie Murphy – Florida Politics". October 24, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  11. ↑ Comas, Martin E. (November 8, 2016). "Political newcomer Murphy pulls stunner, unseats Mica; Demings defeats Lowe". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Lemongello, Steven. "Stephanie Murphy attempts bipartisan balancing act in first year". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  13. ↑ Derby, Kevin. "Stephanie Murphy Leads Congressional Push for Feds to Investigate Threats to Jewish Centers." Sunshine State News | Florida Political News, 27 Feb. 2017, www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/stephanie-murphy-leads-congressional-push-feds-investigate-threats-jewish-centers. Accessed 27 Feb. 2017.
  14. ↑ http://www.dems.gov/coalitions/national-security-task-force/
  15. ↑ "Members". Blue Dog Coalition. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  16. ↑ Powers, Scott. "Stephanie Murphy Joining Blue Dogs, New Democrats." Florida Politics, 21 Dec. 2016, floridapolitics.com/archives/229291-stephanie-murphy-joining-blue-dogs-new-democrats. Accessed 27 Feb. 2017.
  17. ↑ "Members". New Democrat Coalition. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  18. ↑ "Members". Citizen's Climate Lobby. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  19. ↑ "Members". LGBT Equality Caucus. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  20. ↑ "Members". Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  21. ↑ Garcia, Patricia (12 June 2017). "Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy Ran for Office After the Pulse Shooting: Now She's Taking on the NRA and Steve Bannon". Vogue. Condé Nast. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  22. ↑ "U.S. House District 7 - Stephanie Murphy". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  23. ↑ Powers, Scott (9 March 2017). "Stephanie Murphy bill to repeal ban on gun violence research". Florida Politics. Peter Schorsch. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  24. ↑ Powers, Scott (18 February 2018). "Carlos Curbelo pledges to back Stephanie Murphy's CDC gun violence research bill". Florida Politics. Peter Schorsch. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  25. ↑ Gancarski, AG. "Stephanie Murphy anticipates 'tipping point' in gun debate". Orlando Rising. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  26. ↑ Wolf, Colin. "Stephanie Murphy and Val Demings just voted for an incredibly terrible anti-immigration bill". Orlando Weekly. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  27. ↑ "H.R.3004 - Kate's Law". congress.gov. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  28. ↑ Powers, Scott. "Stephanie Murphy lets immigration reform shirt do the talking". Florida Politics. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  29. ↑ Nielsen, Allison. "Florida Congressional Freshmen React to Trump's Refugee Ban". Sunshine State News. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  30. ↑ "EMILY's List Endorses Stephanie Murphy in Florida's 7th Congressional District". July 25, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
John Mica		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 7th congressional district
2017–present		 Incumbent
Current U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Paul Mitchell
R-Michigan		 United States Representatives by seniority
407th		 Succeeded by
Tom O'Halleran
D-Arizona
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