Grace Meng

Grace Meng
Official portrait, 2012
Grace Meng
Born	Grace Meng 1 10, 1975
Birthplace	New York City, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, lawyer
Known for	First Asian American elected to Congress from New York
Education	University of Michigan (BA) Yeshiva University (JD)
Children	2
Website	[Official website Official site]

Grace Meng (Template:Zh; born October 1, 1975) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the U.S. representative for New York's 6th congressional district since January 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, Meng represents a district situated entirely within the New York City borough of Queens, encompassing neighborhoods including Flushing, Bayside, Forest Hills, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Rego Park, Kew Gardens, Fresh Meadows, Woodside, Maspeth, Middle Village, Glendale, and East Elmhurst. Before entering Congress, she represented the 22nd district in the New York State Assembly from 2009 to 2012. Meng holds the distinction of being the first Asian American elected to the United States Congress from the state of New York. As of 2026, she serves as the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, and chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC).

Early Life

Grace Meng was born on October 1, 1975, in New York City. She grew up in the borough of Queens, in the neighborhood of Flushing and the surrounding area, a community known for its large and diverse Asian American population. Her father, Jimmy Meng, was a prominent figure in Queens politics who himself served in the New York State Assembly, representing the 22nd district before Grace succeeded him in the seat. The Meng family's roots in the Queens political landscape provided Grace with an early exposure to public service and community engagement.

Growing up in one of the most ethnically diverse urban areas in the United States, Meng was shaped by the multicultural character of Queens. The borough's 6th congressional district, which she would eventually represent, is home to substantial populations of Chinese, Korean, South Asian, and Hispanic Americans, among many other communities. Meng's upbringing in this environment informed her later political career and her focus on issues affecting immigrant communities and Asian Americans.

Education

Meng attended the University of Michigan, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She then pursued a legal education at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University in New York City, where she earned her Juris Doctor degree. Her legal training provided a foundation for her subsequent career in both law and politics, and her educational background at two institutions known for their academic rigor helped prepare her for legislative work at the state and federal levels.

Career

New York State Assembly (2009–2012)

Meng's political career began with her election to the New York State Assembly in 2008, when she won the seat representing the 22nd Assembly district. She succeeded Ellen Young in the position. The district encompassed parts of Flushing and surrounding areas in Queens, communities with which Meng had deep personal ties.

Meng took office on January 1, 2009, and served in the Assembly for two terms. During her tenure in the state legislature, she focused on issues pertinent to her constituents in Queens, including education, public safety, and services for immigrant communities. She was reelected in 2010, securing her position in the Assembly for a second term.

Her service in the state legislature provided Meng with legislative experience and a platform from which to build a broader political career. She served in the Assembly until December 31, 2012, when she departed to take her seat in the United States Congress. She was succeeded in the Assembly by Michaelle Solages.

2012 Congressional Campaign

In 2012, Meng launched a campaign for the United States House of Representatives, seeking to represent New York's 6th congressional district. The district had been redrawn following the 2010 Census, creating a new configuration that encompassed much of central and eastern Queens. Meng received the backing of the Queens Democratic Party leadership, a significant endorsement in a borough where the local party organization wields considerable influence over primary outcomes.

Meng won the Democratic primary and went on to win the general election in November 2012, becoming the first Asian American to be elected to the United States Congress from the state of New York. Her victory was a landmark moment for Asian American political representation, both in New York and nationally, as it expanded the presence of Asian Americans in the halls of Congress at a time when the community's political influence was growing in tandem with its population.

U.S. House of Representatives (2013–present)

Meng was sworn in as the representative for New York's 6th congressional district on January 3, 2013, succeeding Gregory Meeks (who had represented the prior configuration of the district before redistricting). Since taking office, she has been reelected in every subsequent election cycle, establishing herself as a durable political presence in Queens.

Legislative Work

In Congress, Meng has focused on a range of legislative priorities. Among her early legislative achievements was the passage of legislation addressing the desecration of cemeteries. In 2014, the House of Representatives passed Meng's legislation to make the desecration of cemeteries a violation of religious freedom protections. The legislation reflected Meng's attention to issues of religious liberty and the protection of sacred sites.

Meng has introduced numerous pieces of legislation during her time in Congress, addressing issues ranging from public safety to immigration to health care. She has been a consistent voice on issues affecting Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, and her legislative record reflects a focus on anti-discrimination measures, language access, and culturally competent government services.

In 2026, Meng introduced legislation addressing the use of deadly force by federal law enforcement agencies, reflecting her continued engagement with criminal justice and public safety issues as Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies.

Appropriations Committee

Meng serves on the House Appropriations Committee, one of the most powerful committees in Congress due to its authority over federal spending. She has described herself as New York's senior member of the committee. Her position on the committee has enabled her to direct federal resources to her district. In 2026, Meng announced that she had secured nearly $18 million for local projects in Queens, underscoring her use of the appropriations process to benefit her constituents.

Meng serves as Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, a role that places her in a key position to influence federal spending on law enforcement, the judiciary, scientific research, and commercial regulation. She also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and related programs, which deals with foreign affairs and defense-related spending.

Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus

Meng chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), an organization of members of Congress who advocate for the interests of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. In this role, she has been a prominent voice on issues affecting these communities, from immigration policy to anti-Asian hate crimes to cultural representation. In 2026, in her capacity as CAPAC chair, Meng issued a statement responding to a Supreme Court ruling on tariffs, illustrating the breadth of issues on which the caucus engages.

Meng has been an advocate for the establishment of a National Museum on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, speaking publicly in support of the proposal.

Constituent Services

Meng has maintained an active constituent services operation, providing direct assistance to residents of her Queens district. Her office regularly facilitates access to government programs and resources. In 2026, she announced free tax preparation services for her constituents during the tax filing season, continuing a practice of connecting residents with practical assistance.

Health Care Advocacy

Meng has been vocal on health care issues, particularly as they affect her constituents in Queens. In March 2026, she selected New York City Deputy Mayor Dr. Helen Arteaga as her guest for President Donald Trump's State of the Union address, specifically to highlight what she described as the impact of the administration's health care policies on New York. The selection of a health care official as her State of the Union guest was intended to draw attention to health care access and funding concerns in the New York City area.

Foreign Policy

In addition to her domestic policy work, Meng has engaged on foreign policy matters through her role on the Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and related programs. In October 2025, she issued a statement regarding negotiations between Israel and Hamas concerning the release of hostages and efforts to bring peace to Gaza, reflecting her involvement in Middle Eastern affairs and her attention to the security of American interests abroad.

2013 Attack

On November 20, 2013, during her first term in Congress, Meng was attacked and robbed near her Washington, D.C., residence. The incident drew national attention and raised concerns about the safety of members of Congress. Meng recovered from the attack and continued to serve in Congress without interruption.

2026 Reelection Prospects

In November 2025, a former diplomat and city government worker from Queens launched a primary challenge to Meng, marking a rare competitive race in a district that has been considered a safe Democratic seat. Meng has held the seat since 2013 and has faced limited opposition in previous election cycles.

Personal Life

Meng married Wayne Kye in 2005. The couple's wedding was noted in The New York Times. They have two children together.

Meng's father, Jimmy Meng, served in the New York State Assembly prior to Grace's election to the same seat, making the Mengs a notable political family in Queens. The family's involvement in Queens politics has spanned multiple decades and has contributed to the growing political influence of the Asian American community in the borough.

Meng resides in Queens, maintaining her ties to the community she has represented in both the state legislature and the United States Congress.

Recognition

Meng's election to Congress in 2012 was a historic milestone, as she became the first Asian American to represent New York in the United States Congress. This distinction has been widely noted in coverage of her career and in accounts of Asian American political representation. Her election reflected the increasing political engagement of Asian American communities in New York City, particularly in Queens, where Asian Americans constitute a significant portion of the population.

Her role as chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus has further elevated her profile as a leader in the Asian American and Pacific Islander political community at the national level. In this capacity, she speaks on behalf of the caucus on major policy issues and serves as a public representative of Asian American and Pacific Islander interests in Congress.

Meng's position on the House Appropriations Committee and her role as Ranking Member of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee represent significant institutional achievements within the congressional hierarchy. Her seniority on the committee has enabled her to wield influence over federal spending decisions affecting her district, the state of New York, and the nation.

Legacy

As the first Asian American elected to Congress from New York, Meng's career represents a significant chapter in the broader narrative of Asian American political advancement in the United States. Her election in 2012 opened a door for greater Asian American representation in New York's congressional delegation and served as an example of the political potential of Asian American communities in large metropolitan areas.

Meng's tenure in Congress has coincided with a period of heightened public awareness of issues affecting Asian Americans, including anti-Asian hate crimes, immigration policy, and cultural visibility. Her leadership of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus has placed her at the center of legislative efforts to address these issues at the federal level.

Her sustained presence in Congress—spanning more than a decade as of 2026—and her accumulation of institutional power through the Appropriations Committee have positioned her as one of the more influential members of New York's congressional delegation. Her focus on directing federal resources to Queens, her advocacy for health care access, and her attention to both domestic and foreign policy matters have defined a multifaceted congressional career.

The competitive primary challenge announced in late 2025 reflected the evolving political dynamics of her district, but Meng's long record of service and her institutional position in Congress have made her a formidable incumbent in New York's 6th congressional district.