Unsoeld, Jolene (1931–)
Unsoeld, Jolene (1931–)
American politician. Born Jolene Bishoprick, Dec 3, 1931, in Corvallis, Oregon; educated at primary schools in Shanghai, China, 1938–40, and public schools in Portland, Oregon; attended Oregon State University, Corvallis, 1949–51; married an educator.
US congressional representative (Jan 3, 1989–Jan 3, 1995); with husband, who was a mountain climber and educator, lived in Kathmandu, Nepal (1962–67); was director of the English Language Institute in Kathmandu for 2 years; as a lobbyist in Olympia, Washington, worked for campaign finance reform and environmental issues; was a member of the Democratic National Committee (1983–88); served in Washington state House of Representatives (1984–89); during tenure, ran a successful campaign to set more stringent guidelines for cleanup of toxic waste sites in the state; elected to US Congress from 3rd Congressional District (1988), a seat she held from the 101st Congress through the 103rd; served on the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, Committee on Education and Labor, and Select Committee on Aging; ran unsuccessfully for reelection (1994).