Congresswoman Mary Bono is a successful businesswoman, respected political leader, and nationally recognized advocate for addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery. During her tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives, The Washington Times hailed her as the “embodiment of powerful American womanhood.”
Elected to Congress in 1998 following the untimely death of her husband, entertainer and Congressman Sonny Bono, Mary represented California’s 44th Congressional District, later renumbered the 45th, for seven terms (1998–2013). She served on the House Committees on Energy and Commerce, Armed Services, Judiciary, and Small Business, earning a reputation as a bipartisan consensus builder. Her legislative accomplishments include authoring bills signed into law by three presidents: Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.
Today, Mary remains at the forefront of the national effort to combat substance use and the fentanyl crisis. During her time in Congress, she co-founded the first Congressional Prescription Drug Abuse Caucus and chaired hearings focused on the growing opioid epidemic. She continues this work as Chair of the Board of Mothers Against Prescription Drug Abuse (MAPDA) and MAPDA Action, championing solutions that support prevention, treatment, and recovery in communities across the country.
In 2022, Mary received the Distinguished Graduate Merit Award from her alma mater, the University of Southern California. She is married to former astronaut and retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Steve Oswald and is a proud mother, grandmother, and dog mom.
Copyright ©2026 MaryBono.com - All Rights Reserved.