Susan Brooks
U.S. Representative for Indiana
Susan Lynn Wiant Brooks was born in August 1960 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She earned an undergraduate degree from Miami University, Ohio, and received her Juris Doctor from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. She practiced criminal defense law for several years.
She was appointed to be Deputy Mayor of Indianapolis, served there two years, and returned to the private practice of law. In 2001, she was appointed by President George W. Bush as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. She held that position for seven years, resigning to take the position of general counsel and senior vice president for workforce and economic development at the Ivy Tech Community College. Four years later, she made a successful run to be a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. She assumed office in January 2013.
Brooks is married to David and they have two children. She is Catholic.
In the News…
Long before the outbreak of the coronavirus, Representative Susan Brooks was working to prepare for the crisis. She sponsored the reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act (PAHPA) in 2019.
That Act was originally adopted in 2006 to prepare for a natural or man-made emergency. “Some of what we were working on to prepare has helped with the COVID-19 outbreak,” she said. “The bill created a strategic national stockpile of medical supplies.” She said the measure allowed the government to buy the medical supplies and store them at strategic locations around the country.
“The challenge with COVID-19 is that it is new,” she said. “There were not tests in the stockpile.”
She explained that in 2018 the House voted for the reauthorization of the legislation, but the Senate did not take up the measure. “I was the lead author in the House,” she said of the legislation that was passed by Congress and signed by President Trump last June.
“We need to have a national health preparedness strategy,” Brooks said. “The federal government has to work with the medical community to encourage the development of vaccines.” She added, “Since 2006, there have been 42 medical countermeasures approved. We can never do enough.”
“We are following the blueprint. Mistakes will be made,” she said, “but I have faith in the people put in charge.”
Contact this Leader…
Did you pray for Representative Brooks today? You can let her know at:
The Honorable Susan Brooks
Representative for Indiana
2211 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
