For the third consecutive session, Jesuit-educated alumni comprise ten percent of Congress. Among the 535 members of the 117th United States Congress, 55 graduated from Jesuit colleges and universities: 13 in the Senate and 42 in the House of Representatives. In addition to the 55 alumni from Jesuit colleges and universities who are serving in the 117th U.S. Congress, there are several who are graduates of Jesuit high schools.

Jesuit-educated members are well-represented in leadership positions in both the Senate and the House. In the Senate, Senator John Barrasso (R-WY, Georgetown) serves as Chair of the Senate Republican Conference, while Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL, Georgetown) serves as Democratic Whip. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV, Gonzaga) serves as Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. In the House, Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD, Georgetown) serves as Majority Leader and Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY, Georgetown) serves as chair of the House Democratic Caucus.

Eleven Jesuit institutions are currently represented by alumni in the 117th U.S. Congress. Georgetown University has the most with a total of 28, followed by Boston College with seven and Fordham University with six (note: Representative Tom Suozzi (D-NY) is an alumnus of both Boston College and Fordham; Representative Rosa DeLauro is an alumna of Marymount College, which was later incorporated by Fordham University). Loyola University Chicago, Marquette University, Saint Peter’s University, Santa Clara University and the University of Detroit Mercy all have two alumni represented, while Creighton University and Gonzaga University each have one alum.

When asked how Jesuit values can help Americans to become better citizens and neighbors to each other, Rep. DeSaulnier, co-founder of the Friends of Jesuit Colleges and Universities Caucus said,

To be open-minded and to seek the truth. Those two things I definitely think the Jesuits are very good at. I think public service is very spiritual—I’ve said this often. I think the House chamber is a sancta sanctorum of human evolution, and a Jesuit education has a lot that has impacted me and my belief system: that what I do is not a job. It’s not just public service: it’s connected to God.”

This news was originally published by the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (ajcunet.edu).  To read more detail information about this news click here