Lois Capps

Lois Capps — Life, Career, and (Noteworthy) Quotes

Lois Capps (born January 10, 1938) is an American former U.S. Representative known for her background in nursing, health advocacy, and environmental policy. This article traces her early life, political journey, values, and memorable statements.

Introduction

Lois Ragnhild Capps (née Grimsrud; born January 10, 1938) is an American politician, nurse, and educator who served as a U.S. Representative from California from 1998 to 2017. A Democrat and a longtime champion of health care, environmental protection, and community well-being, she brought to Congress a practitioner’s perspective rooted in her years as a nurse and public health advocate.

Early Life and Family

Lois Capps was born in Ladysmith, Wisconsin, to Solveig Magdalene (Gullixson) and Jurgen Milton Grimsrud, a Lutheran minister.

She graduated from Flathead County High School in Kalispell, Montana, in 1955.

In 1960, while studying at Yale, she married Walter Capps, who would later become a U.S. Representative. They had three children.

Education and Early Career

Lois Capps earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing from Pacific Lutheran University in 1959.

Before entering politics, she worked for many years as a nurse, a nursing instructor, and in public health and education roles.

Entry into Politics & Congressional Career

Special Election & Early Terms

Her husband, Walter Capps, won election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996.

Lois Capps ran in the special election to fill the vacancy and was sworn in on March 17, 1998.

Over her congressional career, due to redistricting, she represented:

• California’s 22nd District (1998–2003)

• Then the 23rd District (2003–2013)

• Then the 24th District (2013–2017)

She was a member of committees such as the Committee on Energy and Commerce and served on subcommittees for Health, Energy & Power, Environment & Economy.

Policy Focus, Values & Legislative Highlights

Healthcare & Nursing

Given her nursing background, health care was a central theme in her work. She founded the House Nursing Caucus and often emphasized the importance of nursing, preventive care, public health systems, and patient advocacy.

Environment & Public Health

Capps often linked environmental policy to health outcomes. She opposed offshore drilling near her coastal district, supported conservation of coastal lands, and addressed air and water quality issues.

She also worked on legislation related to forest fires, oil spills, and public lands in her region.

Bipartisanship & Moderation

Capps was considered a relatively moderate Democrat. She was part of the New Democrat Coalition, a centrist Democratic caucus.

Decision to Retire

On April 8, 2015, she announced she would not seek re-election in 2016.

Personality & Leadership Style

• Service orientation: Her career in health and education shaped a mindset of service more than politics for its own sake.

• Empathy and collaboration: She was often praised for listening, building consensus, and reaching across the aisle.

• Educator and communicator: Her experience teaching and working directly with communities helped her ground policy debates in real-world human contexts.

Selected Quotes

Lois Capps is not as widely quoted as some politicians, but her public statements reflect her priorities in health, environment, and social welfare:

• “My experience as a school nurse taught me that we need to make a concerted effort, all of us, to increase physical fitness activity among our children and to encourage all Americans to adopt a healthier diet that includes fruits and vegetables.”

• “Studies have indicated there is a strong correlation between the shortages of nurses and morbidity and mortality rates in our hospitals.”

• “In reality drilling is the slowest, dirtiest, and most expensive way to solve our energy crisis.”

• “We have a moral responsibility to save wild places … for future generations, and that is why our country has remained committed to its protection for nearly 50 years.”

These express her conviction that education, prevention, and conservation are integral to public health and civic responsibility.

Lessons from Lois Capps

1. Expertise as advocacy: Capps showed how professional experience (nursing, education) can provide credibility and depth to policy debates.

2. Bridging perspectives: She merged health, environment, and policy into an integrated approach, emphasizing that environment and public health are deeply connected.

3. Stepping up in tragedy: When faced with her husband’s sudden death, she entered politics to continue service rather than simply as a legacy.

4. Gentle leadership can be effective: Her style—listening, collaboration, empathy—demonstrated that one need not be abrasive to be influential.

5. Legacy through policy and people: Her impact lies not just in votes passed, but in strengthening nursing voices in Congress, elevating health discourse, and preserving coastal land for her district.

Conclusion

Lois Capps’s life arc—from nurse and educator to Congresswoman—is a testament to how professional experience, public service, and grounded values can yield meaningful political impact. Her career reflected a commitment to health, environmental stewardship, and thoughtful governance rather than partisan rhetoric. As one of the relatively few nurse-legislators in U.S. history, Capps carved a distinctive niche in Congress, reminding us that domain knowledge and compassion matter in politics.