Bobby Rush

Bobby Rush is also the name of a blues musician. See Bobby Rush (musician)

Bobby Rush
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 1st district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3 1993
Preceded by	Charles Hayes
Personal details
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Carolyn Thomas

Bobby Lee Rush (born November 23 1946) has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1993, representing the 1st District of Illinois, located principally on the south side of Chicago. His district has a higher percentage of African American residents (65%) than any other congressional district in the nation.

Rush was born in Albany, Georgia, was educated at Roosevelt University, the University of Illinois and McCormick Theological Seminary (all in Chicago), served in the United States Army from 1963 to 1968, was a co-founder of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, and was an insurance agent and member of the Chicago City Council before entering the House. He is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

In the 2000 Democratic primary, Rush defeated challenger Barack Obama, who was subsequently elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004 [1]. On July 15 2004, Rush became the second sitting Congressman, after Charles Rangel, to be arrested in as many days for protesting human rights violations at the Sudanese Embassy in Washington, D.C.

In March 2006, Rush was co-author, along with conservative congressman Joe Barton, of the controversial Barton-Rush Bill. The bill would significantly benefit telecommunications companies like AT&T, Verizon and Qwest — a bill that generated some controversy after it was revealed that the charitable arm of major telephone company SBC (now AT&T) paid over $1 million to an Englewood charity Rush and his wife founded to create the Bobby L. Rush Community Technology Center [2].

Congressman Rush is a member of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.

He is also a pastor in Chicago.

Committee Assignments

• Committee on Energy and Commerce
  • Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection (Chairman)
  • Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
• Co-chairman of the Congressional Biotech Caucus

External links

• Official House site

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Official campaign site from the DCCC

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