Judy Biggert

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Judy Biggert
Judy Biggert
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 13th district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
January 6, 1999
Preceded by Harris Fawell
Born August 15, 1937 (1937-08-15) (age 71)
Chicago, Illinois
Political party Republican
Spouse Rody Biggert
Children Courtney
Alison
Rody
Adrienne
Residence Hinsdale, Illinois
Alma mater Stanford University, Northwestern University
Occupation attorney
Religion Episcopalian

Judith Borg "Judy" Biggert (born August 15, 1937 in Chicago, Illinois), American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1999, representing Illinois's 13th congressional district (map).

Contents

[edit] Personal life

Judy Biggert was born in Chicago on August 15, 1937 and attended New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois. She is married to Rody Biggert, with whom she has four children: Courtney Caverly, Alison Cabot, Rody Biggert, and Adrienne Morrell, and seven grandchildren: Martin Bray, Gillian and Grant Patterson Caverly, and John Henry, Matthew, and Ethan Cabot, and Greer Morrell. The couple lives in a 138-year-old home in Hinsdale, Illinois.[1] Biggert graduated from Stanford University and Northwestern University School of Law.

After graduating with a law degree, Biggert began her legal career as clerk to judge Luther Merritt Swygert of United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. She is a member of the American Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, the DuPage Bar Association, and the DuPage Association of Women Lawyers.

On April 3, 2008, Biggert presented with the ASME President's Award by ASME President Sam Zamrik as recognition for her "leadership in advancing the science, engineering and technology enterprise which is so vital to this nation"[2]

[edit] Legislative career

Biggert began her legislative career in 1992, when she was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives to serve the newly created 81st District. She became the first member of the Illinois House in the 20th Century to be named to leadership after serving only one term.[citation needed] She was re-elected in 1994 and 1996 before running for Congress in 1998. Biggert defeated Peter Roskam in the Republican primary. Biggert earned 61% of the vote to win the seat opened up by the retirement of U. S. Representative Harris Fawell.

Biggert was cited by Glamour Magazine as one of the "New Female Power Players" and by Fortune Magazine as one of "The Picks of Congress' New Litter."[3]

In 2000, Biggert was re-elected with 66% of the vote, and her winning margins have been similarly large in elections since then.[citation needed] She is currently serving on the House Education & Labor Committee, the House Science & Technology Committee, and the House Financial Services Committee — on which she is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit.[citation needed] In 2003, she co-sponsored legislation that would have provided private sector employees the same workplace flexibility currently available to federal employees; thereby making it easier for parents and other caregivers to balance work and family commitments.[4][5][6]

Biggert's other subcommittee assignments include: Housing and Community Opportunity (Financial Services); Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit (Financial Services); Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education(Education and Labor); Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness (Education and Labor); Energy and Environment (Science & Technology), Technology and Innovation (Science & Technology).[7]

Biggert undertook bipartisan support for the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) and was key in working with the employer and insurance communities to enable the passage of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act in the House on April 25, 2007.[8] She was the initial sponsor of the bill.[9] She was present when President George W. Bush signed the bill into law on May 21, 2008.[10]

Biggert also serves as Co-chair of the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus.[citation needed]

Congresswoman Biggert has a proven track record of working with both Democrat and Republican members to enact legislation. Her work with the Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Democrat Louise Slaughter (D-NY) led to the enactment of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (H.R. 493); which bars employers and insurers from discriminating against individuals on the basis of their genes.[11] She continues to author numerous other bipartisan bills and is often asked to participate in bipartisan negotiations. Last year, when Congress and the President were hopelessly deadlocked on changes to the State's Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), Democrats in the House asked her to lead a negotiating team that lead to the reauthorization of this important program.[12]

Some additional bipartisan bills introduced by Rep. Biggert this Congress:

Oil and Gas-to-Alternatives Swap (OGAS) Act of 2007 (H.R. 86). Encourages the development of renewable technologies such as plug-in hybrid vehicles. [13] 401Kids Act (H.R. 87) - Provides a single college savings vehicle for parents and other relatives; making saving for college simpler. [14] Eating Disorders Awareness, Prevention, and Education Act of 2007 (H.R. 88). [15] Great Lakes Asian Carp Barrier Act (H.R. 553). [16] FAFSA Fix for Homeless Kids Act (H.R. 601). Ensure homeless children are able to access federal student loans. Incorporated into H.R. 1642 and enacted into law. [17] Homeless Education Improvement Act of 2007 (H.R. 3205). Improves K-12 education for homeless youth by incorporating lessons learned since the passage of NCLB. [18] Protecting Our Children Online Act of 2008 (H.R. 6145) [19] Medicare Beneficiary Protection Act of 2008 (H.R. 6359). Protects seniors from abusive marketing practices in the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D programs. Incorporated into H.R. 6331 (Sec. 103) and enacted over the President's Veto. [20] Medicare Physician Telephone Consultation Services Coverage Act of 2008 (H.R. 6380). Increases seniors' access to their physicians and reduces emergency room costs. [21]

[edit] Committee assignments

[edit] Caucus memberships

  • Co-Chair of the Caucus on Women's Issues

[edit] Legislation and voting record

Judy's views on alternative energy solutions:

“America can neither drill nor conserve its way to cheaper energy or energy security. Nor can we meet today's energy needs -- much less tomorrow's -- with yesterday's energy infrastructure and technology. I believe advanced energy technologies offer the best hope for diversifying energy supplies and promoting conservation. That’s why I continue to press to reduce our reliance on expensive natural gas and Middle Eastern oil, and instead encourage the development and use of clean, efficient, advanced technologies like nuclear power, renewable fuels, and hydrogen. To accelerate their deployment, Congress must increase funding for basic science research and energy technology development at places like Argonne National Laboratory.” ~ Judy Biggert, Chairman of the Energy Subcommittee of the Science Committee, 2002-2006.[22]

Reducing the Price at the Pump

Judy supported legislation to increase fuel economy standards for cars and trucks to 35 miles per gallon by 2025, which would reduce gas consumption by 55 billion gallons saving American drivers over $100 billion in fuel costs. (P.L. 110-140, Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007).[22]

Judy is a cosponsor of legislation to reduce the number of boutique fuels that refiners have to produce across the country, and to allow the EPA to waive requirements for the use of boutique fuels in the event of supply disruptions or other emergencies. Requiring refiners to produce so many unique blends of gasoline only adds to the cost of a gallon of gasoline, and can result in gasoline shortages when there’s a supply disruption. (H.R. 2493, Boutique Fuel Reduction Act of 2007).[22]

Judy supported suspending the delivery of 70,000 barrels (11,000 m3) of oil daily to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, allowing this additional supply of oil to flow into the market instead to be refined into gasoline. Currently, the SPR is almost at capacity, holding 702 million of its 727-million-barrel (1.156E+8 m3) capacity. (H.R. 6022, Strategic Petroleum Reserve Fill Suspension and Consumer Protection Act).[22]

Judy is a cosponsor of legislation directing the Federal Trade Commission to combat price gouging related to the sale of crude oil, gasoline, diesel, home heating oil, and biofuels. (H.R. 2335, Federal Energy Price Protection Act).[22]

Judy has supported opening to oil and gas production only a very limited portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge – only 2,000 acres (8.1 km2) of ANWR’s 1,500,000-acre (6,100 km2) coastal plain, or about one-tenth of one percent of the coastal plain, and using all federal royalty revenues to fund efforts to boost efficiency, production, research, development, and deployment of clean, renewable, and alternative energy technologies. (H.R. 6107, American Energy Independence and Price Reduction Act—110th Congress; H.R. 5429, American-Made Energy and Good Jobs Act—109th Congress).[22]

Judy supported efforts to give states unprecedented control over oil and gas production in Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) waters out to 100 miles (160 km), in exchange for ending a 25-year moratorium on oil and gas production beyond 100 miles (160 km). The United States is the only developed nation in the world with such a moratorium, which has prevented access to an estimated 420 trillion cubic feet (12,000 km3) of natural gas (the U.S. consumes 23×10^12 cu ft (650 km3) per year) and 86 billion barrels (1.37×1010 m3) of oil (the U.S. imports 4.5 billion per year), according to the U.S. Minerals Management Service. (H.R. 6108, Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act – 110th Congress; H.R. 4761, Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act – 109th Congress).[22]

“I hope that we never will have to tap these resources, but we must expand – not limit – our energy options with record high oil prices and growing international demand for oil. A truly comprehensive approach to solving our energy problem must involve domestic oil production. It’s so hypocritical for Democrats to call for OPEC to produce more oil – and even threaten to withhold aid from our allies like Saudi Arabia – while at the same time prohibiting domestic oil production off our own shores.” - Judy Biggert.[22]

Judy voted for the No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels (NOPEC) Act, which would give the Department of Justice additional tools to combat those nations that might try to limit the production, set the price, or restrain the trade of petroleum products. (H.R. 2264, NOPEC).[22]

Reducing our Reliance on Foreign Oil and Natural Gas

Judy is a lead cosponsor of the COMMUTER Act, which offers employers a 50 percent tax credit for all transit benefits provided to employees, up to $115 per employee per month. Current law only allows businesses a tax deduction for the purchase of transit benefits for their employees. Under the COMMUTER Act, employees could receive up to $1,380 in free mass transit each year, with the employer receiving $690 in tax credits per employee. (H.R. 6030, the Creating Opportunities to Motivate Mass-transit Utilization To Encourage Ridership Act of 2008).[22]

“By boosting the incentive to offer transit benefits, this bill will ensure that more employees are given the option to leave their car at home. And the more people fill up at $4.00 a gallon, the more interested they become in alternatives like mass transit.” - Judy Biggert.[22]

Judy introduced and the House and Senate approved H.R. 85, the Energy Technology Transfer Act, to help move energy efficiency and advanced energy technologies out of the laboratory and into the marketplace. It does so by directing the DOE to create a network of energy tech transfer centers by awarding grants to existing community outreach networks to transfer knowledge and information about advanced energy technologies, especially those developed at the DOE’s national labs, to a wide range of energy users. (P.L. 110-229; H.R. 85/S. 2739, Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008).[22]

Judy introduced legislation to repeal tax credits for oil and gas production included in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT) law, and redirect those funds to consumers and businesses that switch to alternative fuel vehicles. (H.R. 86, Oil and Gas-to-Alternatives Swap Act).[22]

“In 2005, it made sense to provide incentives to drill for oil here in the United States. Today, oil and gas producers do not need more incentives to drill – especially not when oil prices reach $130 or more a barrel. Let’s put that money to much better use by redirecting it to consumers who purchase plug-in hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles.”[22]

Encouraging the Use of Alternative Fuels

Judy is a cosponsor of legislation to extend the tax credit for electricity produced from wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, animal waste, and other renewable resources. (H.R. 197, A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code…)[22]

Judy is a cosponsor of legislation that, among other things, extends tax credits in the 2005 Energy Policy Act for energy efficiency improvements to homes and businesses, and for the construction of energy efficient homes and the manufacture of energy efficient appliances. (H.R. 5984, the Clean Energy Tax Stimulus Act).[22]

Judy is a cosponsor of legislation to provide a tax credit for the installation of wind turbines and accelerated depreciation of the property. (H.R. 1772, Rural Wind Energy Development Act).[22]

Judy is a cosponsor of legislation to encourage the blending of gasoline with no less than 10 percent renewable fuel by 2012. (H.R. 635, A bill to amend the Clean Air Act).[22]

Judy is a cosponsor of legislation directing to the DOE to conduct research and development on Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) technologies, and to provide 25 grants to state and local governments to test and demonstrate PHEV’s. (H.R. 2079, Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Act),[22]

Biggert has a noteriety for being a "Biggot" in legislative and social terms. She routinely denied the opportunity of a debate against her first real opponent, Scott Harper, and some find it amusing how her name is so similar with the adjective she is so often associated with.

Two of Biggert's initiatives during her first term became law: the Cybertipline legislation to report and track down computer-based sex crimes against children, and another bill which increased penalties for traffickers of Ecstasy. She also helped write the the Homeless Education Provisions contained in the No Child Left Behind legislation and has been recognized for her work ensuring homeless children have access head start, K-12 education and federal aid for college.[23]

On October 20, 2007, Biggert's amendment to expand research into hydrogen energy storage was approved in Congress.[24]

Biggert is a member of The Republican Main Street Partnership and Republicans for Choice and is considered a moderate Republican.

[edit] Electoral history

  • 2008 Race for U.S. House of Representatives—13th District
    • Judy Biggert (R), 54%
    • Scott Harper (D), 44%
  • 2006 Race for U.S. House of Representatives—13th District
    • Judy Biggert (R), 58%
    • Joseph Shannon (D), 42%
  • 2004 Race for U.S. House of Representatives—13th District
    • Judy Biggert (R), 65%
    • Gloria Schor Andersen (D), 35%
  • 2002 Race for U.S. House of Representatives—13th District
    • Judy Biggert (R), 70%
    • Tom Mason (D), 30%
  • 2000 Race for U.S. House of Representatives—13th District
    • Judy Biggert (R), 66%
    • Tom Mason (D), 34%
  • 1998 Race for U.S. House of Representatives—13th District
    • Judy Biggert (R), 61%
    • Susan Hynes (D), 39%
  • 1998 Race for U.S. House of Representatives—13th District Republican Primary

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Meet Judy". Judy Biggert Congresswoman 13th District of Illinois. http://judybiggert.house.gov/MeetJudy.aspx. 
  2. ^ ASME (May 2008). "NEWS Online". http://www.asmenews.org/features/0508pres.html. 
  3. ^ "About Judy". Judy Biggert. http://www.biggert.com/about/. 
  4. ^ http://www.therealjudybiggert.com/
  5. ^ HR 2989, House Vote 489, 9/9/03; H Res 770, House Vote 451
  6. ^ http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c108:1:./temp/~c108TIz19X::
  7. ^ "Judy's Resume". Judy Biggert Congresswoman 13th District of Illinois. http://judybiggert.house.gov/MeetJudy.aspx?Section=2. 
  8. ^ House of Representatives
  9. ^ Library of Congress
  10. ^ Bush Signs Bill Outlawing Genetic Discrimination - Boston Globe
  11. ^ http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.r.00493:
  12. ^ Library of Congress
  13. ^ http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110:7:./temp/~bd7qsD::|/bss/d110query.html|
  14. ^ http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110:8:./temp/~bdFw3k:@@@P|/bss/d110query.html|
  15. ^ http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110:9:./temp/~bdFw3k::|/bss/d110query.html|
  16. ^ http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110:10:./temp/~bdK5ET::|/bss/d110query.html|
  17. ^ http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110:11:./temp/~bdFw3k::|/bss/d110query.html|
  18. ^ http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110:16:./temp/~bdK5ET::|/bss/d110query.html|
  19. ^ http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110:29:./temp/~bdK5ET::|/bss/d110query.html|
  20. ^ http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110:30:./temp/~bdK5ET::|/bss/d110query.html|
  21. ^ http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110:31:./temp/~bdK5ET::|/bss/d110query.html|
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s http://judybiggert.house.gov
  23. ^ http://judybiggert.house.gov/NewsRoom.aspx?FormMode=Detail&ID=738
  24. ^ "New fuel to avoid energy doomsday". Daily Herald. 2007-10. http://dailyherald.com/story/?id=61497. 

[edit] External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Harris W. Fawell		 U.S. Representative of Illinois's 13th Congressional District
1999–		 Succeeded by
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