Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila

Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick represents Florida's 20th congressional district, which includes majority-Black communities in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Born in Brooklyn to Haitian parents, she moved to Florida as a teenager and later earned degrees from Howard University and St. Thomas University School of Law. Before entering public office, she served as a project manager for the New York City Transit Authority and spent over twenty years at Trinity Health Care Services, eventually serving as the company's CEO. She first entered Congress in 2022 following a special election.

In the House of Representatives, she holds several key committee assignments, including the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Within these roles, she serves as the Ranking Member for the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa and is an active member of the Subcommittee on Africa. Her work also extends to the Subcommittees on Health and Technology Modernization, reflecting her professional background in the healthcare industry.

Her legislative priorities include economic relief, labor rights, and agricultural support. She has sponsored measures such as the ASTIP Act of 2024, the Wartime Anti-Profiteering and Relief (W.A.R.) Act, and the Respect for Essential Workers Act. Recently, her tenure has been marked by legal challenges, including a 2025 federal indictment involving charges related to the alleged misuse of FEMA funds and campaign finance violations.