State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara is the daughter of a union firefighter and bus driver. When she was 13 years old, her father died by gun suicide, leaving her mother to raise her and her siblings. Thanks to essential public services, her father’s union pension, and her mother’s union job, Jennifer’s family survived. Rep. O’Mara went on to become a first generation college student, earning a dual degree in history and secondary education from West Chester University. Jennifer also holds a Master’s Degree in Liberal Arts from the University of Pennsylvania where she studied English and history. Prior to joining the state legislature, Jennifer was employed for almost seven years at the University of Pennsylvania, serving as the Assistant Director of University Stewardship. Jennifer is married to a combat veteran who earned two Purple Hearts in the U.S. Army while serving in Afghanistan. She is also the mother of two children, Katherine and William, both she proudly conceived via IVF.

Today, Rep. O’Mara uses her life experiences to shape her work in the state legislature. This includes introducing Extreme Risk Protection Order legislation to prevent suicides by temporarily disarming those in crisis, passing a law to expand workers compensation to cover PTSD for first responders, and championing paid leave in Pennsylvania. She co-chairs the Mental Health Caucus and was appointed to serve the Governor’s Challenge Team to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans and Their Families. She is also a vocal advocate in expanding access to fertility treatments and is working on legislation to expand insurance coverage for IVF. During her undergrad and graduate school years, Rep. O’Mara faced food insecurity. This experience inspired her to work with Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta from Philadelphia on the Hunger-Free Campus Initiative, which was created in the 2022-23 state budget. The legislators’ program received $1 million each year that goes toward supporting on-campus food pantries and meal donation programs to ensure no student goes hungry while pursuing post-secondary education.