Jack Reed

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Jack Reed
Senior Senator from Rhode Island
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 7, 1997 Serving with Sheldon Whitehouse
Preceded by	Claiborne Pell
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Rhode Island's 2nd district
In office January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1997
Preceded by	Claudine Schneider
Succeeded by	Robert Weygand
Born	November 12, 1949 (1949-11-12) (age 58) Cranston, Rhode Island
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Julia Hart
Alma mater	USMA (West Point) and Harvard
Religion	Roman Catholic
Military service
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1971 – 1979
Rank	Captain
Unit	Army Rangers 82nd Airborne Division 325 Infantry

John Francis "Jack" Reed (born November 12, 1949) is a Democrat and the senior United States senator from Rhode Island.

[edit] Early life and family

Reed was born in Cranston, Rhode Island, to Mary Louise Monahan and Joseph Anthony Reed.^[1] Reed graduated from La Salle Academy in Providence and attended the United States Military Academy in West Point, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1971. Following his graduation and receiving an active duty commission, Reed attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where he received a Masters in Public Policy. Reed, an Army Ranger and a paratrooper, served in the 82nd Airborne Division as an Infantry Platoon leader in the 325th Infantry Regiment^[2], a Company Commander, and a Battalion Staff Officer. He returned to West Point in 1978 as an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Sciences.^[3] He 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.

[edit] Law and politics

Reed resigned from the army in 1979 as a captain and enrolled in Harvard Law School. In 1982, he graduated and served 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. Reed was elected as a state senator in 1984 and served three terms. In 1990, Reed was elected to the United States House of Representatives. For the next six years, Reed became well known in his state for his positions on education and health care, and when Senator Claiborne Pell announced his retirement in 1996, Reed campaigned to be his replacement and won the election. He was easily reelected to a second term in 2002.

Reed is currently a member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and the Senate Appropriations Committee. Americans for Democratic Action has often listed him as a "hero" as they indicate he has one of the most liberal voting records in the Senate.^[4]

Reed is on the short list of potential running mates for President of the United States with Barack Obama. ^[5]

[edit] Senate Committee Assignments

• Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
  • Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
• Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Financial Institutions
  • Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development
  • Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment (Chairman)
• Committee on Armed Services
  • Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities (Chairman)
  • Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
• Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
  • Subcommittee on Children and Families
  • Subcommittee on Retirement and Aging

[edit] Electoral history

2002 Rhode Island United States Senate Election

1996 Rhode Island United States Senate Election

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• United States Senator Jack Reed, official U.S. Senate site
• Jack Reed for United States Senate official campaign site

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia
• War Puts Military Veteran Candidates in the Spotlight Greg Giroux, CQ Politics, February. 10, 2006

v • d • e United States Senators from Rhode Island Class 1: Foster • Potter • Howland • Malbone • Champlin • Hunter • De Wolf • Robbins • Dixon I • Sprague III • Francis • A. Greene • James • Simmons • Arnold • Sprague IV • Burnside • Aldrich • Lippitt • Gerry • Hebert • Gerry • McGrath • Leahy • Pastore • J. Chafee • L. Chafee • Whitehouse Class 2: Stanton • Bradford • R. Greene • Ellery • Fenner • Mathewson • Howell • Burrill • Knight • Simmons • Clarke • Allen • Anthony • Sheffield • Chace • Dixon III • Wetmore • Colt • Metcalf • Green • Pell • Reed