MoveOn is proud to endorse Summer Lee for Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District!
Leadership and Experience
With years of dedicated experience as an organizer, attorney, and progressive legislator, Summer Lee has committed her career to fighting for the working class. Born and raised in the Mon Valley, she attended public schools before earning her law degree from the Howard University School of Law. She channeled her advocacy into grassroots action, leading vital voter mobilization efforts and organizing successful community initiatives—including a major push to reform the local Woodland Hills School Board following repeated incidents of institutional violence against students.
Summer transitioned her frontline organizing skills into a historic run for the Pennsylvania State House, where she defeated a 20-year incumbent with over 67% of the vote. In the state legislature, she championed environmental safety and workers’ rights while delivering millions of dollars for local community revitalization. After co-founding a grassroots organization that transformed regional politics, she was elected to Congress, where she has already delivered over $1 billion in federal investments to Western Pennsylvania. She is running for reelection to continue utilizing her policy expertise and bold, community-centered organizing to deliver real results in Washington.
How she’ll help your community:
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Expanding Affordable Housing: Summer views stable housing as a cornerstone of community health. She has secured over $50 million in federal funding to revitalize local affordable housing, including landmark projects like Bedford Dwellings, to bring down housing costs for families.
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Dignity and Protection for Workers: A steadfast ally to working families, Summer fights for a livable wage and robust protections for unions. She regularly joins workers at pickets and rallies, and she introduced the Hazard Pay for Health Care Workers Act to boost wages and expand safety protections for frontline staff.
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Environmental Justice and Clean Energy: Summer knows that corporate polluters disproportionately impact vulnerable neighborhoods. She co-founded the first-ever Congressional People’s Environmental Justice Caucus and advocates for a Green New Deal to build a 100% clean energy economy while keeping manufacturing jobs local.
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Safeguarding Democracy: Committed to building a government accountable to everyday people, Summer has co-sponsored major federal voting rights bills and led national efforts to get money out of politics, including pushing legislation to abolish Super PACs.
Her position on key issues
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Healthcare for All: Summer is a strong supporter of Medicare for All, advocating for a system that covers community-based, long-term support services and protects vulnerable seniors and individuals with disabilities.
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Ending Corporate and Billionaire Influence: She explicitly rejects corporate dominance in politics. Summer co-led the OLIGARCH Act and the Drain the Swamp Act to reinstate lobbying bans and stop billionaires from cheating the system on the backs of hardworking families.
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Community-Centered Justice Reform: To replace punitive measures with care, Summer introduced the People’s Response Act, which focuses federal investments on community safety and mental health first responders.
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Protecting Reproductive Health: She stands as a strong defender of reproductive health and bodily autonomy, consistently supporting legislation to ensure reproductive rights are protected nationwide.
To learn more about Summer, visit her website: https://summerforpa.com/home/