Pete Visclosky

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article may contain wording that promotes the subject in a subjective manner without imparting real information. Please remove or replace such wording or find sources which back the claims.

Pete Visclosky
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 1st district
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 3, 1985
Preceded by	Katie Hall
Born	August 13, 1949 (1949-08-13) (age 59) Gary, Indiana
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Joanne Royce
Residence	Merrillville, Indiana
Alma mater	Indiana University Northwest, Notre Dame University, Georgetown University
Occupation	attorney
Religion	Roman Catholic

Peter John "Pete" Visclosky^[1] (born August 13, 1949) is an American politician who will be serving his twelfth term in the United States House of Representatives for Indiana's 1st congressional district. The First District lies in Northwest Indiana and includes all of Lake, Newton, Jasper and Benton counties as well as a major portion of Porter County. Much of the population is based in the Chicago metropolitan area.

[edit] Biography

Of Slovak descent,^[2] Visclosky was educated at Andrean High School in Merrillville, Indiana. He earned a bachelor's degree at Indiana University Northwest in Gary, Indiana and went on to earn his juris doctor from Notre Dame Law School. At Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., Visclosky earned a master's degree in comparative law. He has worked as a lawyer and staff member of United States Representative Adam Benjamin before entering the House. He defeated incumbent Katie Hall in the Democratic primary in 1984 and won the general election. He has won reelection every election year since.

Visclosky's parents were involved in Gary's once prominent but now declining steel industry. Reinstating the steel tariff and fighting to save American manufacturing jobs have long been listed as Visclosky's biggest goal while in Congress. As a result, he has received the chairmanship of the Congressional Steel Caucus since the Democrats took control of the House. He also received a position as chair of the Energy and Water Development Subcommittee, as the leader of which he has used his resources to study alternative energy. Visclosky is a strong advocate of labor and fair-trade.

Visclosky is one of the 126 Democrats who voted against the Iraq War Resolution. He also is a supporter of high tech solutions as a way to revive the American blue collar work force, and as a way to decrease crime.

Visclosky is married and has two sons.

[edit] PMA Group investigation

The Washington Times reported in March 2009 that Visclosky had received, over ten years, $1.36 million in campaign donations from clients of the PMA Group. In 2007 and 2008, the United States House Committee on Appropriations, of which Visclosky is a member, directed $137 million in government purchasing to PMA's clients. The PMA Group is currently under investigation by the FBI.^[3] In May 2009, Visclosky received subpoenas in the grand jury investigation into PMA Group, the first member of Congress to be subpoenaed in the investigation.^[4]

[edit] Committee Assignments

• Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Defense
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development (Chairman)
• Congressional Steel Caucus (Chairman)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• U.S. Congressman Pete Visclosky official House 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
• Visclosky for Congress official campaign website