Brad Sherman

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Brad Sherman
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 27th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2003
Preceded by Adam Schiff
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 24th district
In office
January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by Anthony C. Beilenson
Succeeded by Elton Gallegly
Member of the
California Board of Equalization
from the 4th district
In office
1991–1997
Preceded by Conway Collis
Succeeded by John Chiang
Personal details
Born Bradley James Sherman
October 24, 1954 (1954-10-24) (age 57)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Lisa Kaplan Sherman
Residence Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma mater Harvard Law School
University of California, Los Angeles
Occupation Accountant
Lawyer
Religion Judaism

Bradley James "Brad" Sherman (born October 24, 1954) is an American politician. He has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1997, representing California's 27th congressional district. Sherman represents California’s San Fernando Valley, and currently resides in Sherman Oaks, CA.

Contents

[edit] Early life and family

Sherman was born in Monterey Park, Los Angeles, the son of Lane M. (née Moss) and Maurice Hyman Sherman. His parents were both of Russian Jewish descent.[1] He attended Mark Keppel High School, Alhambra, Calif., and Corona del Mar High School, Newport Beach, Calif. He received a B.A., University of California, Summa Cum Laude,[2] Los Angeles, Calif., 1974; J.D., Harvard Law School, Magna Cum Laude,[3] Cambridge, Mass., 1979.[4]

On December 3, 2006, Sherman married Lisa Nicola Kaplan, a foreign affairs officer for the U.S. State Department.[5] The couple’s first child, Molly Hannah Sherman, was born on January 14, 2009.[6] Their second child, Naomi Claire Sherman, was born on February 6, 2010.[7] Their third child, Lucy Rayna Sherman, was born on August 8, 2011.[8]

[edit] Career

[edit] Early career

Congressman Sherman’s public service career includes serving on the California State Board of Equalization from 1991 to 1996. He was Chairman of the Board from 1991 to 1995.,[9] Before joining Congress, Sherman was on staff at one of the nations’ big-four CPA firms. While at the firm, he audited large businesses and governmental entities, provided tax law counsel on multi-million dollar transactions, advised entrepreneurs and small businesses on tax and investment issues, and helped represent the Government of the Philippines under President Aquino in a successful effort to seize assets of deposed President Marcos[10]. Sherman was also an instructor at Harvard Law School’s International Tax Program.[11]

First elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1996, Sherman is serving his eighth term in Congress. Congressman Sherman is a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and serves as the top Democrat on the Subcommitee on International Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade. He is also a senior member of the Financial Services Committee.[12]

[edit] Environment

Congressman Sherman has earned a 100% rating from the Sierra Club[13] and the League of Conservation Voters [14] – two of the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States.

Serving on the House Budget Committee in 1997, Congressman Sherman authored the Sherman Amendment to the Budget Resolution providing an additional $700 million for the acquisition of environmentally important lands in FY ‘98.[15] The Sherman Amendment was included in the Joint Budget Resolution and effectuated by a $699 million appropriation. Sherman also secured $20 million to acquire land and to complete the Backbone Trail System through the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

[edit] Financial crisis

During the debate over the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, Sherman was an early and outspoken critic of the proposal, leading the House revolt against the bailout bill, a move which made him "spectacularly unpopular with both the Republican and Democratic leaderships, not to mention K Street."[16] Sherman argued that Bush and his advisors had created a panic atmosphere in an effort to get lawmakers to rubber-stamp the bill.[17]

[edit] China, Iran

In August 2010, Sherman introduced legislation aimed at rescinding China's Most Favored Nation status as long as there was not "a more level playing field between our two nations".[18] He said that "the U.S. – China trade relationship is horrendously lopsided".[18]

In September 2010, Sherman introduced legislation designed to close loopholes for U.S. companies with subsidiaries operating in Iran. He has also sought legislative measures to curtail U.S. funding of international organizations providing loans to Iran. "We must continue to enact tougher sanctions to isolate Iran economically and diplomatically, and we must act now," Sherman said.[19]

[edit] Religion

Sherman is a member of the Jewish faith. For many years Congressman Sherman and his wife Lisa have been members of Valley Beth Shalom, a conservative synagogue in Encino, California.

In 2006 Congressman Sherman was married to Lisa Kaplan by the senior Rabbi of Valley Beth Shalom, Rabbi Eddie Feinstein.

Sherman's Los Angeles district lies within Scientology's West Coast stronghold,[20] though there are no Scientology centers in Sherman's district.[21] He attended the Church of Scientology's reopening in Washington, DC in October 2009.[20][22] Speaking about the importance of religious freedom, he praised the church's work in support of that aim; but his representative noted that the congressman has appeared at events for "over 100" religious groups and "this does not give me the time to evaluate each of their organizational structures or doctrines because I am also showing up at hundreds of events for nonreligious organizations."[22][20] Sherman has been described as "[one] of the church's best friends currently serving in Congress."[23] At a 2004 Celebrity Centre gala, a flag was presented to Scientology on behalf of Sherman and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.[24]

[edit] Internet policy

In 2011, Rep. Sherman became a co-sponsor of Bill H.R.3261 otherwise known as the Stop Online Piracy Act. [25]

[edit] Israel

Sherman has been a strong supporter and advocate of the U.S-Israel relationship, consistently backing US aid to Israel. [26]

In 2004, Brad Sherman first [27] introduced the U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperation Act. The Act was passed into law as Section 917 of the Energy Independent and Security Act of 2007.[28] The U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperation Act now funds joint U.S. and Israeli research programs in the areas of alternative energy sources and energy efficiency. It provides grant money to joint ventures between American and Israeli academics and private sector companies that conduct research and develop energy-efficient and alternative energy technologies.

[edit] LGBT

Congressman Sherman is a strong supporter of LGBT rights and an advocate of equality. He has worked in congress to end discrimination against the LGBT community, and he has consistently earned a 100% rating from The Human Rights Campaign [29] - the United States' largest LGBT advocacy group.

[edit] Pro-Choice

Congressman Sherman is pro-choice. He has earned a 100% rating from NARAL [30] and Planned Parenthood [31]

[edit] Gun Control

Congressman Sherman has worked to expand the definition of armor-piercing ammunition in US law. He was a sponsor of the Protect Law Enforcement Armor (PLEA) Act [32]. Sherman has received a 100% rating from The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence[33]

[edit] Trade

Sherman has opposed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) arguing that the agreements cost American jobs, fail to protect foreign workers, harm the environment, and cost U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars [34]. Sherman has also opposed a Free Trade Agreement with South Korea arguing that, a proposed U.S. trade agreement could undermine U.S. security and economic interests by benefiting China and North Korea [35].

[edit] Town Hall Meetings

Sherman has held over 100 Town Hall meetings since being elected to Congress.[36]

[edit] Committee assignments

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/reps/sherman.htm
  2. ^ http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CDIR-2009-12-01/pdf/CDIR-2009-12-01-CA-H-26.pdf
  3. ^ http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/sherman.html
  4. ^ http://vote-ca.org/intro.aspx?state=ca&id=cashermanbrad
  5. ^ nytimes.com
  6. ^ http://thehill.com/capital-living/announcements/25098-announcements-january-20-2009
  7. ^ http://thehill.com/capital-living/in-the-know/80293-rep-brad-sherman-welcomes-baby-girl-who-had-good-timing
  8. ^ http://www.scpr.org/blogs/kitty-felde/2011/08/09/another-sherman-sherman-oaks/
  9. ^ http://bradsherman.house.gov/about/biography.shtml
  10. ^ http://www.politico.com/arena/bio/brad_sherman.html
  11. ^ http://bradsherman.house.gov/about/biography.shtml
  12. ^ http://bradsherman.house.gov/about/biography.shtml
  13. ^ http://www.sierraclub.org/planet/200011/endorsements.asp
  14. ^ http://capwiz.com/lcv/bio/keyvotes/?id=625&congress=1121&lvl=C
  15. ^ "Fund Intended for Parkland". Los Angeles Times. September 4, 1997. http://articles.latimes.com/1997/sep/04/local/me-28798. 
  16. ^ "Rep. Sherman, Not So Popular On the Playground". The Washington Post. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/2008/10/rep_sherman_not_so_popular_on.html. 
  17. ^ Pergram, Associated Press, Chad. "Paulson Urges Quick Action on $700 Billion Bailout Plan". Fox News. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,425663,00.html. Retrieved 2011-07-09. 
  18. ^ a b Stiles, Andrew. "Dems ready to push China this fall". The Hill. http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/112967-dems-ready-to-push-china-on-currency-manipulation. Retrieved 2011-07-09. 
  19. ^ Solomon, Jay. "U.S. Slams Firms Over Ties to Iran". The Wall Street Journal. http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:l-8zhJDmKzcJ:online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704789404575524050147296646.html+wsj+%22We+must+continue+to+enact+tougher+sanctions+to+isolate+Iran+economically+and+diplomatically,+and+we+must+act+now%22&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&source=www.google.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-07-09. 
  20. ^ a b c The news on the street, Washington Post (Nov. 4, 2009)
  21. ^ Google Maps search for Scientology near Van Nuys, CA, retrieved December 9, 2011, shows only a closed location
  22. ^ a b Clabaugh, Jeff (November 9, 2009). "Church of Scientology opens new D.C. home". Washington Business Journal (American City Business Journals, Inc.). http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/11/09/daily9.html. Retrieved 2010-04-19. 
  23. ^ Pareene, Alex (2011-02-10) The Church of Scientology's friends in Washington, Salon.com
  24. ^ "Church Of Scientology Celebrity Centre International Hosts 35th Anniversary Gala". Church of Scientology. August, 2004. http://www.scientology.cc/en_US/news/2004/lw0804/. 
  25. ^ Bill H.R.3261; GovTrack.us;
  26. ^ http://www.njdc.org/site/page/brad_sherman
  27. ^ http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-108hr5342ih/pdf/BILLS-108hr5342ih.pdf
  28. ^ http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-108hr5342ih/pdf/BILLS-108hr5342ih.pdf
  29. ^ http://www.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/111thCongressional_Scorecard.pdf
  30. ^ http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/us-government/congressional-records/california.html
  31. ^ http://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/elections-politics/2010-elections-map.htm#/california/ush10849
  32. ^ http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/search/pagedetails.action;jsessionid=XxQQTLHVdPYqqh16QsyX4GWgZWZ9wkfYqtCvT7q3T2G8QcCt9c5j!-961268343!234411547?sr=733&originalSearch=&st=sale&ps=10&na=&se=&sb=re&timeFrame=&dateBrowse=&collection=&historical=false&granuleId=&packageId=BILLS-110hr1784ih
  33. ^ http://thehill.com/resources/lawmaker-ratings/82965-rep-brad-sherman-d-calif
  34. ^ http://bradsherman.house.gov/2005/07/pr-tradetreaty.html.shtml
  35. ^ Sherman, Brad (March 16, 2011). "Help South Korea, not the North". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2011/mar/16/opinion/la-oe-sherman-koreapact-20110316. 
  36. ^ http://lifeinshermanoaks.com/lead-articles/brad-sherman-to-hold-town-hall-meeting/

[edit] External links

Wikisource has original works written by or about: Brad Sherman
Political offices
Preceded by
Conway Collis		 Member, California Board of Equalization, 4th District
1991–1997		 Succeeded by
John Chiang
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Anthony C. Beilenson		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 24th congressional district
1997–2003		 Succeeded by
Elton Gallegly
Preceded by
Adam Schiff		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 27th congressional district
2003–present		 Incumbent
United States order of precedence
Preceded by
Pete Sessions
R-Texas		 United States Representatives by seniority
135th		 Succeeded by
John Shimkus
R-Illinois
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