Maxine Waters

The neutral encyclopedia of notable people


Maxine Waters
BornMaxine Moore Carr
15 8, 1938
BirthplaceSt. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationPolitician
Known forChair of the House Financial Services Committee (2019–2023), anti-apartheid advocacy, phrase "Reclaiming my time"
EducationCalifornia State University, Los Angeles (BA)
Children2
AwardsTime 100 Most Influential People (2018)
Website[https://waters.house.gov/ Official site]

Maxine Moore Waters (née Carr; born August 15, 1938) is an American politician who has served as the U.S. representative for California's 43rd congressional district since 1991. A member of the Democratic Party, Waters has represented various configurations of southern Los Angeles, including portions of Gardena, Inglewood, and Torrance, across more than three decades in Congress. Born into poverty in St. Louis, Missouri, and raised as one of thirteen children, Waters rose through California politics to become one of the most prominent African American women in the history of the U.S. Congress. Before her election to the House, she served seven terms in the California State Assembly, where she championed legislation requiring the state's pension funds to divest from apartheid-era South Africa. In Congress, she has been a consistent and outspoken voice on issues of financial regulation, racial justice, and foreign policy, chairing the Congressional Black Caucus from 1997 to 1999 and the House Financial Services Committee from 2019 to 2023.[1] She currently serves as the ranking member of the Financial Services Committee, a position she has held since January 2023. Waters was named to Time magazine's list of the "100 Most Influential People" in 2018, and her phrase "Reclaiming my time" became a widely recognized cultural touchstone.

Early Life

Maxine Moore Carr was born on August 15, 1938, in St. Louis, Missouri. She was the fifth of thirteen children raised by her mother in conditions of considerable economic hardship.[2] Growing up in a large family in a segregated city during the late 1930s and 1940s, Waters experienced firsthand the challenges of poverty and racial discrimination in the American Midwest.

As a young woman, Waters relocated to Los Angeles, California, joining the broader pattern of African American migration from the South and Midwest to western cities during the mid-twentieth century. In Los Angeles, she found work in a garment factory and later took a position as an operator for a telephone company. These early employment experiences exposed her to the working conditions and economic realities facing African Americans and working-class communities in urban America, themes that would later define her political career.

Waters began her involvement in public service through the Head Start program, the federally funded early childhood education initiative that was part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty. She served as a Head Start volunteer and assistant teacher, working directly with low-income children and families in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. This experience proved formative, drawing her into community organizing and political activism, and providing her with a direct connection to the needs of underserved communities. Her work in the Head Start program catalyzed her interest in public policy and would ultimately lead her to seek elected office.

Education

Waters attended California State University, Los Angeles, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.[3] Her pursuit of higher education came while she was balancing work and family responsibilities, and her academic training helped provide the foundation for her subsequent career in California politics. The university, part of the California State University system, is located in eastern Los Angeles and serves a diverse student population.

Waters later received an honorary degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz. At the university's convocation, she was recognized for her achievements in public service and her advocacy on behalf of marginalized communities.[4]

Career

California State Assembly (1976–1990)

Waters was first elected to the California State Assembly in 1976, representing the 48th district, which encompassed parts of southern Los Angeles. She succeeded Leon D. Ralph in the seat and went on to serve seven consecutive terms in the Assembly, remaining in the chamber until 1990.[5]

During her tenure in the Assembly, Waters established herself as a forceful legislator on issues of civil rights and social justice. One of her most notable legislative accomplishments during this period was her advocacy for California's divestment from South Africa during the apartheid era. She pushed for legislation requiring that the state's public pension funds withdraw their investments from companies doing business in South Africa, making California one of the first states to take such action. This divestment campaign aligned with a broader international movement to isolate the South African government economically and pressure it to dismantle its system of racial segregation.

Waters also focused on issues affecting women, minorities, and low-income Californians during her time in the Assembly. Her legislative work during these fourteen years built her reputation as an advocate for communities that were often underrepresented in Sacramento and laid the groundwork for her transition to national politics.

Upon her departure from the Assembly, she was succeeded by Marguerite Archie-Hudson.

U.S. House of Representatives

Election and Early Terms

In 1990, Waters was elected to the United States House of Representatives, succeeding the retiring Augustus Hawkins in what was then California's 29th congressional district. She took office on January 3, 1991.[6] The district was renumbered as the 35th district following the 1990 census redistricting and later redesignated as the 43rd district after the 2010 census. Throughout these changes, the district has consistently included much of southern Los Angeles along with portions of Gardena, Inglewood, and Torrance.

Waters quickly established herself as one of the most outspoken members of Congress. She became known for her willingness to confront members of both parties and multiple presidential administrations on issues she considered critical to her constituents and the broader public interest. She has sharply criticized Presidents George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump at various points during their terms in office.

Congressional Black Caucus Chair (1997–1999)

Waters served as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) from January 1997 to January 1999, succeeding Donald M. Payne and preceding Jim Clyburn in the role.[7] As CBC chair, she served as a leading voice for African American legislative priorities and worked to advance the caucus's policy agenda within the Democratic Party and the House as a whole. She is the most senior of the African American women serving in Congress.

CIA-Contra Cocaine Controversy

During the late 1990s, Waters became deeply involved in the controversy surrounding allegations that the Central Intelligence Agency had been complicit in the trafficking of crack cocaine into American inner cities during the 1980s, in connection with the Contra rebel movement in Nicaragua. The allegations were initially raised by journalist Gary Webb in his 1996 San Jose Mercury News series "Dark Alliance."[8]

Waters called for congressional investigations and pressed the CIA and the Department of Justice to account for their actions. The Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General conducted an investigation into the allegations regarding the relationship between the CIA, the Contras, and drug trafficking.[9] Waters used her platform to demand accountability and drew attention to the devastating impact of the crack epidemic on African American communities, arguing that government agencies bore responsibility for the destruction caused by the drug trade in neighborhoods like those in her district.[10]

The controversy generated significant media attention and debate. Some media outlets were criticized for their dismissive coverage of the original Webb reports.[11]

Opposition to the Iraq War

Waters was a vocal opponent of the Iraq War, which began in 2003. She voted against the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002, which authorized the use of military force against Iraq. The roll call vote on the resolution, held on October 10, 2002, showed that Waters was among the members who voted against the measure.[12]

Throughout the war, Waters continued to speak out against U.S. military involvement in Iraq, delivering floor speeches and public statements calling for the withdrawal of American troops. In speeches before the House, she criticized the rationale for the war and its impact on both American service members and Iraqi civilians.[13][14] Her opposition to the Iraq War was consistent and predated the broader shift in public opinion against the conflict.

Haiti and Foreign Policy

Waters has been actively involved in U.S. policy toward Haiti throughout her congressional career. In 2004, she was a prominent voice in the controversy surrounding the departure of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide from power. Aristide claimed he had been forced out by the United States, a claim that generated significant international attention.[15] Waters was among the American lawmakers who took Aristide's claims seriously and called for an investigation into the circumstances of his removal.

Waters traveled to the region and spoke publicly about the situation, including in interviews with the Pacifica Radio network's Democracy Now! program.[16] Aristide's exile and the political crisis in Haiti were covered extensively by international media, including the Jamaica Gleaner.[17][18]

More recently, Waters has continued to engage on international issues. In 2026, she introduced the Food for Palestinian Children and Families in Gaza Act, which addressed the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.[19] She also issued a statement criticizing the Trump administration's seizure of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, calling the military action unauthorized.[20]

Telecommunications and Media Policy

Waters has been involved in telecommunications and media policy, particularly with regard to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and its impact on minority communities and diverse media ownership. She has held hearings and made public statements addressing the FCC's regulatory decisions.[21] Her interest in telecommunications policy has been informed by concerns about media consolidation and its effect on the representation of diverse viewpoints, issues that have been covered by trade publications such as Broadcasting & Cable.[22]

House Financial Services Committee

Waters has served on the House Financial Services Committee for much of her congressional career. She became the committee's ranking member in January 2013, succeeding Barney Frank.[23] When the Democratic Party won a majority in the House in the 2018 elections, Waters assumed the chairmanship of the committee on January 3, 2019, succeeding Jeb Hensarling and becoming the first African American and the first woman to chair the panel.

As chair from 2019 to 2023, Waters oversaw the committee's jurisdiction over the banking industry, housing policy, insurance, and securities regulation. She used the position to conduct oversight hearings on major financial institutions and to advocate for consumer protection and affordable housing.

After the Republican Party regained the House majority following the 2022 elections, Waters returned to the role of ranking member in January 2023, with Patrick McHenry assuming the chairmanship.

As ranking member in the 118th and 119th Congresses, Waters has continued to use the committee as a platform for oversight and policy advocacy. In February 2026, she delivered statements criticizing the SEC under the Trump administration, stating that the agency was "putting Wall Street and billionaires first and America's investors last."[24] She also criticized what she characterized as the Trump family "cashing in while everyday Americans are struggling."[25]

In February 2026, Waters applauded a Supreme Court ruling striking down tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, calling them "lawless."[26] She has also worked with Congresswoman Joyce Beatty to encourage the International Monetary Fund to strengthen anti-corruption safeguards in its lending programs.[27]

"Reclaiming My Time" and Public Profile

Waters became a prominent cultural figure in part through a moment during a July 2017 House Financial Services Committee hearing in which she repeatedly invoked the parliamentary phrase "reclaiming my time" to regain control of her allotted questioning period. The phrase became a viral internet phenomenon and was adopted as a broader cultural expression of assertiveness.

In February 2026, a similar moment occurred during a hearing with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, when Waters asked, "Can you shut him up?" The exchange was widely covered by media outlets and circulated on social media platforms.[28]

Legislative Initiatives

Throughout her career, Waters has introduced numerous pieces of legislation. She introduced H.R. 40 in the 111th Congress, a bill related to the study of reparations for African Americans.[29] She has also sponsored legislation on a range of other issues, including financial services reform, housing, and foreign policy.[30]

Personal Life

Maxine Waters was born Maxine Moore Carr in St. Louis, Missouri. She has two children.[31] She has maintained long personal and political relationships with prominent civil rights figures. In February 2026, she issued a personal statement titled "Jesse and Me," reflecting on her relationship with civil rights leader Jesse Jackson.[32]

Waters has resided in the Los Angeles area since relocating from St. Louis as a young woman. She has represented the southern Los Angeles area in elected office continuously since 1976, first in the California State Assembly and then in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Recognition

Waters has received a number of honors and distinctions over the course of her political career. In 2018, she was named to Time magazine's annual list of the "100 Most Influential People in the World," recognizing her impact on American politics and public discourse.

She received an honorary degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz, in recognition of her public service career.[33]

The organization Citizens Against Government Waste named Waters its "Porker of the Month" in June 2009, criticizing her for what the organization described as actions relating to government spending.[34] Waters rejected the characterization and continued to advocate for the policies in question.

As the most senior African American woman in Congress, Waters holds a distinctive position within the Democratic caucus and the broader political landscape. She is the second-most senior member of the California congressional delegation, after Nancy Pelosi.

Legacy

Maxine Waters's career in elected office spans nearly five decades, beginning with her election to the California State Assembly in 1976. Her tenure has been characterized by consistent advocacy on issues of racial justice, economic equity, and government accountability. Her work on South African divestment during the 1980s placed her among the American legislators who used state-level policy to challenge international human rights abuses. Her subsequent investigations into the CIA-Contra cocaine controversy brought national attention to allegations of government complicity in the drug crisis that devastated inner-city communities.

As chair and ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee, Waters has shaped the congressional agenda on banking regulation, housing policy, and consumer financial protection. Her oversight work has placed her at the center of debates over the regulation of Wall Street and the accountability of financial institutions.

Beyond her legislative record, Waters has had a notable cultural impact. Her direct, confrontational style in committee hearings has generated moments — particularly "Reclaiming my time" — that have transcended the usual boundaries of congressional proceedings and entered mainstream popular culture. Her willingness to engage in pointed exchanges with executive branch officials has made her a recognizable figure well beyond her Los Angeles district.

Waters continues to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing California's 43rd congressional district and serving as ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee.[35]

References

  1. ↑ "WATERS, Maxine Moore".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=w000187.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ "WATERS, Maxine Moore".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=w000187.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ "WATERS, Maxine Moore".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=w000187.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ "Convocation".University of California, Santa Cruz.http://currents.ucsc.edu/06-07/01-15/convocation.asp.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ "WATERS, Maxine Moore".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=w000187.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ "WATERS, Maxine Moore".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=w000187.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ "WATERS, Maxine Moore".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=w000187.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ "Dark Alliance: The Story Behind the Crack Explosion".NarcoNews.http://www.narconews.com/darkalliance/drugs/library/32.htm.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ "The CIA-Contra-Crack Cocaine Controversy: A Review of the Justice Department's Investigations and Prosecutions".U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General.http://www.usdoj.gov/oig/special/9712/ch01p1.htm.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ "Maxine Waters Press Conference on CIA Involvement".California State University, Northridge.http://www.csun.edu/coms/ben/news/cia/7May98/waters2.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "Media Coverage of the CIA-Contra Connection".Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR).http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=2056.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 455".Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives.http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2002/roll455.xml.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ "Floor Statement on Iraq War".Office of Congresswoman Maxine Waters.http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/ca35_waters/FS071022_iraqwar.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ "Floor Statement on Iraq".Office of Congresswoman Maxine Waters.http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/ca35_waters/FS071106_iraq.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ "Aristide says U.S. forced him out".CNN.2004-03-01.http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/americas/03/01/aristide.claim/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ "Democracy Now! Program".Pacifica Radio.2004-03-15.http://www.pacifica.org/programs/dn/040315.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ "Aristide in exile".Jamaica Gleaner.2004-03-21.http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20040321/news/news3.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ "Aristide exile coverage".CTV News.2004-05-30.http://saskatoon.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20040530/aristide_exile_040530?hub=Saskatoon.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ "Congresswoman Maxine Waters Introduces Food for Palestinian Children and Families in Gaza Act".Office of Congresswoman Maxine Waters.http://waters.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-maxine-waters-introduces-food-for-palestinian-children-and-families-in-gaza-act.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ "Congresswoman Maxine Waters Blasts Trump Administration's Unauthorized Military Strike and Seizure of Nicolás Maduro".Office of Congresswoman Maxine Waters.http://waters.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-maxine-waters-blasts-trump-administration-s-unauthorized-military-strike-and-seizure-of-nicolas-maduro-venezuela-s-former-president.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "Congresswoman Waters on FCC".Office of Congresswoman Maxine Waters.http://www.house.gov/apps/list/hearing/ca35_waters/CS061101_fcc.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ "Broadcasting & Cable report".Broadcasting & Cable.http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA454236.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  23. ↑ "WATERS, Maxine Moore".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=w000187.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  24. ↑ "Ranking Member Maxine Waters: "This SEC Is Now Putting Wall Street and Billionaires First and America's Investors Last."".House Financial Services Committee Democrats.https://democrats-financialservices.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415205.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  25. ↑ "Ranking Member Maxine Waters: "The Trump Family Is Cashing in While Everyday Americans Are Struggling."".House Financial Services Committee Democrats.https://democrats-financialservices.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415197.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  26. ↑ "Ranking Member Maxine Waters Applauds SCOTUS Ruling Striking Down Trump's Lawless Tariffs".House Financial Services Committee Democrats.https://democrats-financialservices.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415210.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  27. ↑ "Ranking Member Maxine Waters and Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, Encourage IMF to Redouble Efforts to Bolster Anti-Corruption Safeguards Through Its Lending Programs".House Financial Services Committee Democrats.https://democrats-financialservices.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415212.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  28. ↑ "Maxine Waters' 'Can you shut him up' moment with Scott Bessent, explained".CNN.2026-02-04.https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/04/business/maxine-waters-scott-bessent-can-you-shut-him-up.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  29. ↑ "H.R. 40".GovTrack.http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-40.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  30. ↑ "H.R. 6796".GovTrack.http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-6796.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  31. ↑ "WATERS, Maxine Moore".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=w000187.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  32. ↑ "Jesse and Me".Office of Congresswoman Maxine Waters.https://waters.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/jesse-and-me.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  33. ↑ "Convocation".University of California, Santa Cruz.http://currents.ucsc.edu/06-07/01-15/convocation.asp.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  34. ↑ "Porker of the Month: June 2009".Citizens Against Government Waste.2009-06.http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=news_porkerofthemonth_2009_June.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  35. ↑ "Official Website".Office of Congresswoman Maxine Waters.http://waters.house.gov/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.

Retrieved from "https://biography.wiki/index.php?title=Maxine_Waters&oldid=1335"