Ros-Lehtinen for Congress' photostream  

Born in Havana, Cuba, I immigrated to the United States with my parents as a child and quickly took to my new hometown of Miami, Florida. I attended Southside Elementary School, West Miami Middle School and Southwest High School. After high school, I graduated from then-Miami Dade Community College with an Associate in Arts and Florida International University with a Bachelors in Arts and later a Masters in Educational Leadership. Putting my passion for education to work, I founded a small private school in Hialeah. Serving as a teacher and owner of the school was a rewarding experience as many parents would often come to me with problems and community issues.


I took action and ran for State Representative in 1982 and State Senator in 1986, becoming the first Hispanic woman to serve in either bodies of the Florida Legislature. During my time there, I founded the Florida PrePaid College Program. This program has helped more than 850,000 families enroll their children in an affordable college program and provide higher education to their children.

In 1989, following the death of Claude Pepper, another opportunity to serve the community arose and I ran for Congress. After my victory in the special election, I immediately set to work to help my constituents and work to solve South Florida's problems.

In Congress, I have fought to ensure a strong economy, make us energy independent, preserve the environment, and keep South Florida vibrant by dredging the Miami River. I am honored to serve as the Ranking Member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which I advocate for human rights in such places as Tibet, Darfur, and other oppressed parts of the world.

I am blessed with my husband, Dexter Lehtinen, daughters and stepchildren, Amanda Marie and Patricia Michelle and Douglas and Katherine Lehtinen, in addition to my parents Enrique and Amanda Ros.

Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen