Born and raised in Glenside, Pennsylvania, to Bob and Mary Dean, Madeleine got her start in politics around the dinner table with her five older brothers and one older sister.

Biography

Madeleine completed her undergraduate studies at La Salle University in Philadelphia, and earned her law degree at Delaware Law School of Widener University.

Madeleine Dean was born and raised in Glenside, Pennsylvania. She completed her undergraduate studies at La Salle University in Philadelphia and earned a law degree at Delaware Law School of Widener University.

Biography | Congresswoman Madeleine Dean

Madeleine completed her undergraduate studies at La Salle University in Philadelphia, and earned her law degree at Delaware Law School of Widener University. She returned home, practicing law in a small Philadelphia firm and with the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association and eventually serving as executive director.

Madeleine then opened a small, three-woman law practice in Glenside.

While she and her husband PJ Cunnane were raising three young sons, Madeleine changed careers. From 2001 to 2011 she was a member of the English Department at LaSalle University, teaching writing and ethics.

Madeleine taught writing and ethics as a member of the English Department at La Salle University. She previously practiced law at a small Philadelphia firm and with the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association, where she eventually served as executive director, and opened a three-woman law practice in Glenside.

Madeleine taught as a member of the English Department at La Salle University. She previously practiced law.

With her children grown, Madeleine took the chance to enter public service — something she had long wanted — after studying politics and public service at Penn’s Fels School of Government. In 2011, Madeleine ran for and served as Abington Township commissioner, before winning a special election to the Pennsylvania State House in 2012.

In 2012, Madeleine won a special election to serve in the Pennsylvania State House seat that was Governor Josh Shapiro’s, where she served for six and a half years.

Meet Mad

In Congress, Madeleine remains focused on decency and the common good. That means working hard to address issues that affect Americans deeply — including stopping gun violence and guaranteeing health care for all. In Madeleine’s view, building a more compassionate society means making smart, humane policy choices. It also means working to ensure that the government functions smoothly and delivers the services constituents need.

Now in her fourth term, Congresswoman Dean serves on the House Appropriations and House Foreign Affairs Committees.

Madeleine is in her fourth term in Congress. She was elected to the Pennsylvania State House in a 2012 special election and served for six and a half years. She also served as an Abington Township commissioner after running for the office in 2011.

2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

Ensuring quality education includes making sure students and educators are supported with adequate funding, beginning with universal pre-K and robust support for K-12 schools, special education, college, and technical training.

Education

Madeleine opposes attempts to gut funding for education or shutter the Department of Education.

Finally, Madeleine co-led the America’s College Promise Act, which would create new partnerships with state governments and provide two years of tuition-free access to community college programs that lead to a degree of industry-recognized credential.

Additionally, Madeleine’s bill, H.R. 4748 The Private Loan Disability Discharge Act, would fill a gap in current law by allowing private student loan borrowers who become permanently disabled to be relieved of their loans.

Supports funding for universal pre-kindergarten, K–12 schools, special education, college, and technical training.

Opposes cuts to education funding and the closure of the Department of Education.

Co-led the America’s College Promise Act to provide two tuition-free community-college years through state partnerships.

Introduced the Private Loan Disability Discharge Act to allow permanently disabled borrowers to have private student loans discharged.

- Supports funding for universal pre-kindergarten, K–12 schools, special education, college, and technical training.
- Opposes cuts to education funding and the closure of the Department of Education.
- Co-led the America’s College Promise Act to provide two tuition-free community-college years through state partnerships.
- Introduced the Private Loan Disability Discharge Act to allow permanently disabled borrowers to have private student loans discharged.

While Republicans used their control of the House, Senate, and White House to benefit the billionaire class — adding trillions of dollars to our national debt — Madeleine will always prioritize her constituents and their well-being. She opposes massive tax cuts for the wealthy –– especially when they come at the expense of the American people.

Economy and Cost of Living

She opposes massive tax cuts for the wealthy –– especially when they come at the expense of the American people. And she is deeply disturbed by the President’s erratic tariff policies that leave businesses without the certainty they need to plan, invest, and grow.

Throughout her time in Congress, Madeleine has fought for workers’ rights by supporting legislation to raise the federal minimum wage, close the gender wage gap, increase funding for job training, and protect worker’s rights to organize and collectively bargain.

Opposes large tax cuts for wealthy people.

Opposes the President's tariff policies, saying they leave businesses without certainty to plan, invest, and grow.

Supports raising the federal minimum wage, closing the gender wage gap, job training, and workers' collective-bargaining rights.

- Opposes large tax cuts for wealthy people.
- Opposes the President's tariff policies, saying they leave businesses without certainty to plan, invest, and grow.
- Supports raising the federal minimum wage, closing the gender wage gap, job training, and workers' collective-bargaining rights.

Economy

Solutions she’s fighting for include: protecting and increasing annual funding for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), funding for further research on addiction, treatment options for pregnant and postpartum women, and increasing access to medication-assisted treatment.

Solving the Opioid Epidemic

Congress must do more to lower healthcare costs for all Americans. That begins with protecting and expanding access to Medicare and Medicaid.

Healthcare

Madeleine voted against Congressional Republicans’ so-called One Big Beautiful Bill —  immoral legislation that included the largest cut to Medicaid in our nation’s history. Cynically, the bill delays many of these Republican-supported cuts to healthcare and SNAP until after the midterm elections.

Madeleine supports legislation that eliminates barriers to healthcare, protects patients with pre-existing conditions, and lowers the cost of prescription drugs.

Madeleine always has and always will support a woman’s right to choose — and will work to overturn Dobbs and codify that right.

Madeleine supports legislation that eliminates barriers to healthcare, protects patients with pre-existing conditions, and lowers the cost of prescription drugs. She stands with healthcare workers, and introduced legislation –– the Safety From Violence for Healthcare Employees Act –– to create penalties for those who intentionally assault or intimidate hospital employees.

Advocates for increased addiction-treatment funding, research, treatment for pregnant and postpartum women, and access to medication-assisted treatment.

Supports protecting and expanding Medicare and Medicaid to lower healthcare costs.

Opposes the One Big Beautiful Bill, citing its Medicaid cuts.

Supports legislation to protect people with pre-existing conditions, reduce prescription-drug costs, and remove barriers to healthcare.

Supports abortion access and plans to codify abortion rights and overturn Dobbs.

Introduced the Safety From Violence for Healthcare Employees Act to penalize intentional assault or intimidation of hospital employees.

- Advocates for increased addiction-treatment funding, research, treatment for pregnant and postpartum women, and access to medication-assisted treatment.
- Supports protecting and expanding Medicare and Medicaid to lower healthcare costs.
- Opposes the One Big Beautiful Bill, citing its Medicaid cuts.
- Supports legislation to protect people with pre-existing conditions, reduce prescription-drug costs, and remove barriers to healthcare.
- Supports abortion access and plans to codify abortion rights and overturn Dobbs.
- Introduced the Safety From Violence for Healthcare Employees Act to penalize intentional assault or intimidation of hospital employees.

Madeleine knows voting is our sacred right and has worked with colleagues to introduce legislation that would strengthen our democracy by making voter registration, getting to the polls, and serving in public office more accessible. These include: the Removing Barriers to Running for Elected Office for People with Disabilities Act, which ensures those with disabilities do not lose federal benefits when running for office; the AID Local Government Leadership Act, which ensures those in public service with disabilities have the necessary accommodations; and the Accessible Voting Act to remove barriers to voting.

Corruption and Ethical Governance

Madeleine knows diversity is our strength. She supported the Equality Act, which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity with respect to businesses, employment, housing, and federally funded programs. She hopes to continue building on that work by addressing accessibility issues in registering to vote, getting to the polls, running for public office, and serving in local government.

Empowering Our Diverse Communities

Supports criminal-justice reform and efforts to address healthcare inequities affecting Black and Brown communities.

Plans to address accessibility barriers to registering, voting, running for office, and serving in local government.

- Supports criminal-justice reform and efforts to address healthcare inequities affecting Black and Brown communities.
- Plans to address accessibility barriers to registering, voting, running for office, and serving in local government.

Voting & Elections

Madeleine believes we must take steps to strengthen our legal immigration system. This includes a path to citizenship for people who want to peacefully live and work in our country, asylum for those who need it, reinstating DACA to allow the Dreamers to be able to stay in our country without fear, and fighting against border policies that treat people inhumanely.

Humane Immigration Policies

Additionally, we must end the administration’s cruel policies of family separation —- murdering people on our streets with impunity —- and placing people seeking legal asylum in inhumane living conditions at the border or elsewhere in our country. Asylum is a right — and we must afford everyone on our soil due process and fair trial.

As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Madeleine works to ensure our safety, security, and economic wellbeing around the world. She rejects the chaotic and arbitrary use of tariffs that raise costs for American families, confuse businesses, disrupt global supply chains, and damage our global relationships. She strongly supports funding for agencies like USAID – where cuts have already contributed to hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths.

Foreign Affairs

Ukraine

Madeleine is a member of the Ukraine Caucus – and believes we must urgently support Ukraine against Russia’s illegal war of aggression. She voted for the Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, which provided billions of dollars in funding for vital training and resources for Ukraine.

She also demands that we confront the ongoing humanitarian crisis and famine in Gaza. While Israel has a right and duty to protect itself, it must do everything in its power to prevent the innocent loss of life, comply with international law by protecting civilians, and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid. The conditions in Gaza –– famine, drought, lack of basic medical care and house –– are unacceptable, and the United States must do more to address these urgent needs.

Madeleine wants permanent peace, dignity, and security in the Middle East. That rests on the establishment of a two-state solution — security for Israel, autonomy for Palestine. This requires serious people — serious diplomacy — and a regional plan for peace and prosperity.

Supports a path to citizenship, asylum access, reinstating Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, and humane border policies.

Supports due process and fair trials for everyone in the United States seeking asylum.

Supports funding for the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Supports urgent U.S. support for Ukraine against Russia's invasion.

Calls for Israel to protect civilians, comply with international law, and ensure humanitarian-aid delivery in Gaza.

Supports a two-state solution with security for Israel and autonomy for Palestine.

- Supports a path to citizenship, asylum access, reinstating Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, and humane border policies.
- Supports due process and fair trials for everyone in the United States seeking asylum.
- Supports funding for the U.S. Agency for International Development.
- Supports urgent U.S. support for Ukraine against Russia's invasion.
- Calls for Israel to protect civilians, comply with international law, and ensure humanitarian-aid delivery in Gaza.
- Supports a two-state solution with security for Israel and autonomy for Palestine.

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Madeleine has also led the effort to protect communities and drinking water from PFAS chemical contamination – a contaminant her constituents unfortunately know all too well. She is a founding member of the bipartisan Congressional PFAS Task Force and has also introduced H.R. 2600, the Toxic PFAS Control Act, which bans the manufacturing and processing of PFAS chemicals and requires the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate their disposal.

Protecting Our Planet

This starts with our country seeking 100% renewable clean energy sources —- and addressing egregious environmental injustice in predominantly low-income, minority communities.

This means putting conservation before exploitation of our natural resources, and robustly funding organizations like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who oversee essential regulatory practices.

One of the first bills Madeleine voted in favor of in Congress was H.R. 9, which would require the President to re-enter the United States into the Paris Climate Accords to achieve the climate targets. But Madeleine knows this is just a first step — we must move quickly to carbon-neutral emissions. She has helped pass initiatives that invest in clean water initiatives, reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation fund, and protect public lands.

Introduced the Toxic PFAS Control Act to ban PFAS manufacturing and processing and require disposal regulation.

Supports conservation, stronger Environmental Protection Agency funding, renewable energy, and addressing environmental injustice.

Voted for House Resolution 9 to direct the United States to reenter the Paris Climate Accords.

- Introduced the Toxic PFAS Control Act to ban PFAS manufacturing and processing and require disposal regulation.
- Supports conservation, stronger Environmental Protection Agency funding, renewable energy, and addressing environmental injustice.
- Voted for House Resolution 9 to direct the United States to reenter the Paris Climate Accords.

Energy & the Environment

In 2025, she introduced several pieces of legislation to stop gun violence, including: The Undetectable Firearms Modernization Act (to stop the use of ghost guns), The Fire Sale Loophole Closing Act (to close a loopholes and ensure buyers can’t avoid background checks), The Gun Violence Prevention Through Financial Intelligence Act (use financial crime prevention tactics to stop mass shootings, acts of terrorism, and incidents of mass violence), and more.

Gun Violence Prevention

As a state legislator, Madeleine co-founded the gun violence prevention group PA SAFE Caucus, authoring universal background check, extreme risk protection order, and “bump stock” ban legislation. She continues to fight the gun violence epidemic in Congress, where the very first bill she introduced addressed the danger of plastic guns which go undetected to metal detectors.

Madeleine voted to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that would close gun loopholes, require stricter licensing, and prevent bad actors from avoiding background checks.

Madeleine knows we must also address issues that disproportionately affect black and brown populations, like reforming our criminal justice system, addressing inequities in healthcare, and ensuring that everyone can safely access their right to vote.

Introduced the Undetectable Firearms Modernization Act and Fire Sale Loophole Closing Act to address untraceable firearms and background-check evasion.

Authored legislation for universal background checks, extreme-risk protection orders, and a bump-stock ban as a state legislator.

Voted for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which closes gun loopholes, requires stricter licensing, and expands background checks.

Supports criminal-justice reform and addressing healthcare inequities affecting Black and Brown communities.

- Introduced the Undetectable Firearms Modernization Act and Fire Sale Loophole Closing Act to address untraceable firearms and background-check evasion.
- Authored legislation for universal background checks, extreme-risk protection orders, and a bump-stock ban as a state legislator.
- Voted for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which closes gun loopholes, requires stricter licensing, and expands background checks.
- Supports criminal-justice reform and addressing healthcare inequities affecting Black and Brown communities.

Public Safety

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Madeleine Dean

- Supports protecting and expanding Medicare and Medicaid to lower healthcare costs.
- Opposes the One Big Beautiful Bill, citing its Medicaid cuts.
- Supports legislation to protect people with pre-existing conditions, reduce prescription-drug costs, and remove barriers to healthcare.
- Supports abortion access and plans to codify abortion rights and overturn Dobbs.
- Introduced the Safety From Violence for Healthcare Employees Act to penalize intentional assault or intimidation of hospital employees.

- Supports conservation, stronger Environmental Protection Agency funding, renewable energy, and addressing environmental injustice.
- Voted for House Resolution 9 to direct the United States to reenter the Paris Climate Accords.

- Authored legislation for universal background checks, extreme-risk protection orders, and a bump-stock ban as a state legislator.
- Voted for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which closes gun loopholes, requires stricter licensing, and expands background checks.
- Supports criminal-justice reform and addressing healthcare inequities affecting Black and Brown communities.

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- Your US Representative represents the interests of your district in the US House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. Pennsylvania currently has 19 US Representatives.
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- Representatives may serve on congressional committees. Committees focus on certain policy areas, such as transportation, education, or labor. They may also run for higher positions within their party, such as the Speaker of the House or Majority/Minority Leader.
- Representatives are elected to two-year terms. To hold this office, a candidate must be a legal resident of Pennsylvania for at least seven years before their election. 
- US Representatives are paid a salary of $174,000/year.

Your representative and federal lawmaker in the US House of Representatives