| Jack Reed | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| United States Senator from Rhode Island | |||
| Incumbent | |||
| Assumed office January 3, 1997 Serving with Sheldon Whitehouse | |||
| Preceded by | Claiborne Pell | ||
| Member of the United States House of Representatives | In office January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1997 | ||
| Preceded by | Claudine Schneider | ||
| Succeeded by | Robert Weygand | ||
| Personal details | |||
| Born | John Francis Reed November 12, 1949 $4, Rhode Island, U.S. | ||
| Political party | Democratic | ||
| Alma mater | United States Military Academy Harvard University | ||
| Religion | Roman Catholicism
| ||
| Website | www.reed.senate.gov | ||
| Military service | |||
| Allegiance | United States | ||
| Service/branch |  United States Army
| ||
| Years of service | 1971–1979 (Active) 1979–1991 (Reserve) | ||
| Rank |  Major[1]
| ||
| Unit | 82nd Airborne Division | ||
John Francis “Jack” Reed (born November 12, 1949) is the senior United States Senator from Rhode Island, serving since 1997. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served in the United States House of Representatives for Rhode Island's 2nd congressional district from 1991 to 1997.
Early life, education and career[]
Reed was born in Cranston, Rhode Island, the son of Mary Louise (née Monahan) and Joseph Anthony Reed.[2] Reed graduated from La Salle Academy and the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1971. Following graduation, he spent several years in active duty military service. Reed earned the Ranger Tab and was a paratrooper. He served as a paratrooper in the 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division where he was a Platoon Leader, Company Commander, and Battalion Staff Officer.
Reed attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where he received a Masters of Public Policy. He returned to West Point in 1978 as an associate professor in the Department of Social Sciences.[3] He left active duty in 1979 after earning the rank of Captain. However, he would remain a member of the United States Army Reserve until 1991. After leaving active duty, Reed enrolled in Harvard Law School, where he became a member of the Board of Student Advisers. In 1982, he graduated with his Juris Doctor and worked as an associate at the Washington, D.C. office of law firm of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan. Afterwards, he returned to Rhode Island and joined Edwards and Angell, a Providence law firm. He worked with this group until 1990.
Reed was elected as a state senator in 1984 and served three terms.[4]
Reed married professional Senate staffer Julia Hart in a Roman Catholic ceremony in the Catholic chapel on the United States Military Academy campus on April 16, 2005. On January 5, 2007, Mrs. Reed gave birth to a daughter, Emily.
U.S. House of Representatives[]
In 1990, Reed was elected to the United States House of Representatives, receiving 59% of the vote in the general election.[4] For the next six years, Reed focused on education and health care.
U.S. Senate[]
Political campaigns[]
- 1996
When Senator Claiborne Pell, the longest-serving Senator in Rhode Island's history and the 13th-longest serving Senator in US history announced his retirement in 1996, Reed declared his candidacy. Reed won the Democratic primary with 86% of the vote and beat the Republican nominee, Rhode Island General Treasurer Nancy Mayer, in the general election by 63% to 35%.
- 2002
Reed ran for re-election to a second term. He was unopposed in the Democratic primary and his Republican opponent was Robert Tingle, a casino pit manager and the unsuccessful Republican nominee for the state's 2nd congressional district in 2000. Reed won by 78% to 22%.
- 2008
In 2008, ran for re-election to a third term. He faced a primary challenge which he easily turned aside, winning with 87% of the vote. In the general election, he faced a re-match against Robert Tingle. Reed again won a landslide victory, by 73% to 28%.
- 2014
Reed has announced that he will run for re-election to a fourth term in 2014. Polling shows him leading prospective Republican opponents by margins of between 29% and 65%.
Political future[]
In 2008, Reed was mentioned as a potential Vice Presidential running mate for Barack Obama.[5][6] On 14 July 2008, Reed announced that he was "not interested" in becoming Obama's running mate.[7]
Reed has consistently been speculated as a possible Secretary of Defense.[8][9] In late 2010, he turned down an offer from President Obama to succeed Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense. The position was ultimately filled by Leon Panetta.[10] After President Obama was re-elected in 2012, Reed was again mentioned as a possible nominee for Secretary of Defense, as well as for Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Once again, he denied interest in either position.[11][12][13]
Committee assignments[]
- Committee on Armed Services
- Committee on Appropriations
- Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
- Subcommittee on Defense
- Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies (Chairman)
- Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
- Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
- Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
- Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
- Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection
- Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development
- Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment
Reed speaking during the third night of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.
Political positions[]
Since his election to Congress, Reed has consistently voted in a similar manner to other New England Democrats, holding generally liberal positions on social and economic issues. Reed has voted with his party 94.7% of the time.[14]
Healthcare[]
Reed has been an advocate of preventive healthcare. He has generally followed the Democratic line by supporting increased Medicare funding, enrolling more Americans into programs that help the uninsured, allowing prescription drugs to be imported from Canada, and negotiating bulk medication purchases for Medicare in order to lower costs. However, in 2003, he stated that individual states should be allowed to negotiate these bulk purchases on their own.[15]
Economy and jobs[]
Reed has generally supported fair trade policies over similar ones advocating free trade. He voted against renewing presidential authority for 'fast tracking' normalized trade relations. He also opposed CAFTA and similar free trade proposals for Chile, Singapore, Peru, and Oman. However, Reed voted in favor of normalizing trade relations with China. He has also been a strong supporter of unionizing workers, and he has criticized government and business interference with these groups. He also supports increasing the minimum wage and unemployment compensation.[15]
Civil rights[]
Reed supports affirmative action. He has voted to expand such policies and to set aside money for women and minorities from the highway fund. Reed also has supported gay rights, voting against a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, while voting in favor of measures that prevent job discrimination and hate crimes against homosexuals.[15]
Reed has also consistently voted against proposals to change the Constitution to ban flag desecration and has criticized wiretapping policies.
Abortion[]
He is strongly pro-choice, and he has rejected proposals to limit late-term abortion, such procedures from occurring on military installations, and the ability of minors to cross state lines to obtain abortions.[15]
Energy[]
Reed supports limiting American oil use and expanding alternative energy. He opposes Arctic National Wildlife Refuge drilling and federal subsidies for oil exploration, while favoring a 40 percent reduction in oil use by 2025 and funding for hydrogen automobiles. However, he voted to end discussions on Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards. Reed has also been an outspoken proponent of stronger restrictions of mercury use, as well as an end to commercial whaling.
Gun control[]
Reed has continuously voted against limiting lawsuits on gun manufacturers and has favored expanding gun control. He voted against loosening background checks at gun shows. The NRA has given Reed a F rating on gun control. >http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/12/19/us/politics/nra.html
Immigration[]
Although he voted for the 1996 Immigration Reform Bill, Reed has generally supported allowing illegal immigrants and foreign workers to enter the path to citizenship. He supports Guest Worker programs and allowing immigrants to have access to Social Security. He rejected the idea of establishing English as the nation's official language and has been critical of the effort to fence the US-Mexican border.[15] He is the author of the Reed Amendment, which permits former U.S. citizens to be denied entry to the country if they are believed to have renounced for tax reasons.[16] On February 23, 2010, Reed co-sponsored the DREAM Act, a piece of legislation that would allow undocumented students living in the United States from a very young age to gain legal status.[17]
When asked about voting against Social Security benefits going to illegal immigrants, Reed said that he supported this interim measure and "any such agreement must be fully examined so that it does not adversely impact benefits earned by American citizens."[18]
Veteran affairs[]
Reed has made it a point to maintain liaisons within his office specifically to interact with discharged veterans of the Armed Services. These liaisons often help veterans enter the Department of Veteran Affairs, ensuring that these former servicemen and servicewomen can receive medical care.[15]
War in Iraq[]
Reed was one of 23 US senators to vote against H.J. Resolution 114, which authorized President George W. Bush to use force against Iraq in 2002.[19] In 2007, Reed elaborated on his sentiments, saying "It was a flawed strategy that diverted attention and resources away from hunting down Osama bin Laden's terrorist network." Like General Petraeus, Reed said that he believed the real problems in Iraq were political and unrelated to the military.[20]
Electoral history[]
United States Senate election in Rhode Island, 2008
| Jack Reed (D) (inc.) 73.4% |
| Robert G. Tingle (R) 27.6% |
United States Senate election in Rhode Island, 2002
| Jack Reed (D) (inc.) 78.4% |
| Robert G. Tingle (R) 21.6% |
United States Senate election in Rhode Island, 1996
| Jack Reed (D) 63.3% |
| Nancy Mayer (R) 35.0% |
| Donald W. Lovejoy (I) 1.7% |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Once a Soldier... Always a Soldier". Legislative Agenda. Association of the United States Army. 2011. http://www.ausa.org/legislation/congressionalinfo/Documents/OAS%20112th%20Congress.pdf. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
- ↑ Roots web: John Francis “Jack” Reed
- ↑ Biography: Senator Jack Reed
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Sen. Jack Reed (D)". Almanac. The National Journal. http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/2010/person/jack-reed-ri/. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
- ↑ NY Times: A Quiet Dealmaker Works for Pained Homeowners
- ↑ VP picks: Gore, or somebody like him: The Swamp
- ↑ "Reed says 'not interested' in VP role". CNN. July 15, 2008. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/07/15/reed-says-not-interested-in-vp-role/. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
- ↑ "Capitol Hill Shocker!: Reed Won't be SecDef". The Providence Phoenix. 28 September 2010. http://blog.thephoenix.com/BLOGS/notfornothing/archive/2011/04/12/capitol-hill-shocker-reed-won-t-be-secdef.aspx. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
- ↑ "Barack Obama's second-term Cabinet". Politico. 28 September 2010. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/83519_Page3.html. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
- ↑ "Report: Jack Reed turns down Defense Secretary job". WPRI. 28 September 2010. http://blogs.wpri.com/2010/09/28/report-jack-reed-turns-down-defense-secretary-job/. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
- ↑ "If Sen. Reed Becomes Sec. of Defense or CIA Director - See the Domino Effect". Go Local Prov. 28 September 2010. http://www.golocalprov.com/politics/if-sen-reed-becomes-sec-of-defense-or-cia-director-see-the-domino-effect/. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
- ↑ "Re-elected Obama prepares to replace Panetta". DoD Buzz. 28 September 2010. http://www.dodbuzz.com/2012/11/07/re-elected-obama-prepares-to-replace-panetta/. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
- ↑ "Sen. Jack Reed not interested in CIA director job". Politico. 28 September 2010. http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/11/sen-jack-reed-not-interested-in-cia-director-job-149386.html. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "Voting Statistics for Jack Reed". The Political Guide. The Political Guide. http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/Senate/Rhode_Island/Jack_Reed/VotingStatistics/. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 "Jack Reed on the Issues". Ontheissues.org. http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/jack_reed.htm. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
- ↑ Kirsch, Michael S. (2004). "Alternative Sanctions and the Federal Tax Law: Symbols, Shaming, and Social Norm Management as a Substitute for Effective Tax Policy". Iowa Law Review. http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=552730. Retrieved 2012-05-18.
- ↑ Reed Cosponsors DREAM Act [1].
- ↑ "Reed on Immigration". On The Issues. On The Issues. http://www.ontheissues.org/International/Jack_Reed_Immigration.htm. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
- ↑ "U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 107th Congress—2nd Session". U.S. Senate. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=2&vote=00237. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
- ↑ "Sen. Jack Reed Responds to President Bush's Address on Iraq". 13 September 2007. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/13/AR2007091302386.html. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
External links[]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jack Reed. |
- Senator Jack Reed official U.S. Senate site
- Jack Reed for Senate
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Profile at Project Vote Smart
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Profile at SourceWatch
- War Puts Military Veteran Candidates in the Spotlight Greg Giroux, CQ Politics, February. 10, 2006
- Mulligan, John E. "Soldiering On", Washingtonian, September 1, 2008
The original article can be found at Jack Reed (politician) and the edit history here.