Profile

Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger is serving his eleventh term in the United States House of Representatives for the citizens of Maryland’s 2nd District, which includes much of Baltimore and Carroll Counties as well as part of Baltimore City.

Congressman Ruppersberger currently serves on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, which is responsible for allocating hundreds of billions of federal dollars each year. Congressman Ruppersberger serves on the Defense subcommittee, a good match for the Baltimore region, which is home to the National Security Agency, Fort Meade, U.S. Cyber Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground and other installations essential to the country’s national security. He also serves on the Commerce, Justice and Science subcommittee.

Congressman Ruppersberger previously served a record 12 years on the House Intelligence Committee, including four as Ranking Member, during numerous high-profile national security moments including the capture of Osama bin Laden, the diplomatic attacks in Benghazi and the Edward Snowden leaks. He and then-Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, a Republican, became the first dual recipients of the prestigious William Oliver Baker Award from the nonpartisan Intelligence and National Security Alliance for their bipartisan and pragmatic leadership.

Congressman Ruppersberger has always prioritized the needs of our nation’s veterans and their families. He is currently Chairman of the United States Naval Academy Board of Visitors and co-chair of the bipartisan House Army Caucus. In 2003, Congressman Ruppersberger created “Operation Hero Miles” after learning deployed troops were paying for connecting flights home out-of-pocket, enabling patriotic Americans to donate frequent flyer miles instead. Now operated by the nonprofit Fisher House, the program today provides airline tickets to wounded and ill service members or their families while undergoing treatment at a military or VA medical center. To date, more than 3 billion miles have been donated. In 2011, Congressman Ruppersberger authored legislation creating a “Hotels for Heroes” offshoot that also allows Americans to donate hotel reward points for the same purposes.

Congressman Ruppersberger decided to run for office after a near-fatal car accident while he was working as an assistant state’s attorney in Baltimore County. Thanks to the dedication of doctors at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, Congressman Ruppersberger survived and began campaigning for office to support the healthcare system that saved his life. He currently serves as Vice Chairman of Shock Trauma’s Board of Visitors.

Congressman Ruppersberger was first elected to the Baltimore County Council in 1985 and again in 1989, chosen twice as council chairman. He was elected Baltimore County Executive in 1994 and 1998, and, under his leadership, the county was named one of the nation’s four best-managed counties by Governing Magazine. In 2016, Congressman Ruppersberger leveraged his background in local government to create the bipartisan House Municipal Finance Caucus to advocate for the tools state and local governments need to fund community projects.

In all, Congressman Ruppersberger has served in public office for 38 years.

A native of Baltimore City, Congressman Ruppersberger spent his summers as a lifeguard and police officer in Ocean City, Maryland. He attended Baltimore City College and the University of Maryland College Park, where he played lacrosse. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Baltimore Law School.