Nellie Pou
U.S. Representative from NJ, District 9
Analytics
Biography
Nellie Pou is New Jersey's first Latina member of Congress, elected in 2024 after decades in the state legislature, serving on Transportation and Homeland Security.
Nellie Pou made history as the first Latina from New Jersey to serve in the U.S. House, representing the 9th Congressional District covering Passaic and Bergen counties including Paterson, Clifton, and Hackensack. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in New Jersey, Pou spent over twenty years in the New Jersey State Senate, where she chaired the Commerce Committee. Elected in 2024 to succeed the late Bill Pascrell Jr., she brings extensive executive experience including prior service as Paterson's Business Administrator. In the 119th Congress, Pou serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee as vice ranking member of the Aviation Subcommittee, and the Homeland Security Committee. She introduced the SAFE TRACKS Act to improve railway crossing safety nationwide and voiced strong opposition to federal funding freezes for the Gateway Tunnel project affecting her constituents.