Ed Markey

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Ed Markey
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 7th district
Incumbent
Assumed office  November 2, 1976
Preceded by	Torbert Macdonald
Chairman of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 18, 2007
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Susan Blumenthal
Residence	Malden, Massachusetts
Alma mater	Boston College
Occupation	attorney
Religion	Roman Catholic
Military service
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1968-1973
Unit	Reserves

Edward John "Ed" Markey (born July 11, 1946) has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1976, representing the 7th District of Massachusetts. The district includes most of Boston's northern and western suburbs, such as Medford and Framingham. Markey is the Dean of both the Massachusetts and New England House delegations. He is the second-longest serving member of Congress from New England, behind Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont.

[edit] Early life and career

Markey is a lifelong resident of Malden. He was educated at Malden Catholic High School, Boston College and Boston College Law School. He served in the United States Army Reserve, and was a lawyer and member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives representing Malden and Melrose from 1972 to 1976.

In May 1976, longtime 7th District Congressman Torby Macdonald died in office. Markey won a crowded seven-way primary for the seat, which was tantamount to election in this heavily Democratic district. He has been reelected 16 times with no substantive opposition by an average of over 70 percent of the vote.

He is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. The National Journal generally gave him a "Composite Liberal" score in the mid-90s.^[1] Since May 2005, he has been a contributing blogger at The Huffington Post.^[2]

In 2004, he announced that he would run for John Kerry's seat in the United States Senate if Kerry were to be elected President of the United States.^{[citation needed]} Although Kerry lost the election, Markey was easily reelected in 2004 over Republican Kenneth Chase and Independent Jim Hall.

Markey was considered a leading contender to run in the January 19, 2010 special election to fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Edward M. Kennedy. On September 12, 2009, however, Markey announced his decision to remain in the U.S. House.^[3] Markey has however, made an endorsement in the race, supporting Congressman Michael Capuano.

[edit] Political activity

Markey is known for his advocacy against torture and the practice of extraordinary rendition through the Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act.^{[citation needed]}

In 2003, he began to call attention to the lack of security surrounding air cargo placed on commercial passenger planes, arguing that if all passenger baggage is screened for explosive devices, air cargo on the same plane should be as well. In 2007, he succeeded in getting a 100 percent air cargo screening requirement signed into law, which must be implemented within three years.^{[citation needed]}

He was one of the 31 members of the House who voted not to count the electoral votes from Ohio in the 2004 Presidential election. ^[4]

He is also responsible for introducing legislation to change the duration of daylight saving time, starting in 2007, from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.

In December 2007, Markey became the first US politician to utilize the medium of Second Life, through which he addressed the delegates of the UNFCCC in Balias part of OneClimate's Virtual Bali event. It was estimated that the carbon dioxide saved in not flying Rep. Markey to Bali was around 5.5 tons.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Committee assignments

• Committee on Energy and Commerce
  • Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Environment (Chairman)
  • Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
• Committee on Natural Resources
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
• Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming (Chairman)

[edit] Caucus memberships

• Co-chair of bipartisan Caucus on Nonproliferation
• Co-chair of bipartisan Caucus on Privacy
• Co-chair of bipartisan Caucus on Alzheimer’s disease
• Co-chair of bipartisan Caucus on Cystic Fibrosis

[edit] Personal life

Markey is married to Dr. Susan Blumenthal. He was one of several politicians who appeared in a cameo in the 2003 film Gods and Generals. He played an Irish Brigade officer.^[5]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Congressman Ed Markey official U.S. House website
• The Markey Committee official campaign website
• 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
• Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
• Current Bills Sponsored at StateSurge.com
• Congressional profile at GovTrack.us
• Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia
• Ed Markey speaks on Second Life to delegates during OneClimate's Virtual Bali event in December 2007