George Brown Jr.

George Brown, Jr.
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 29th, 38th, 36th and 42nd district
In office January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1971 January 3, 1973 – July 15, 1999
Preceded by	Dalip Singh Saund Victor V. Veysey
Succeeded by	George E. Danielson Joe Baca
Personal details
Political party	Democratic

George Edward Brown, Jr. (March 6, 1920 – July 15, 1999), American politician, was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from 1963-1971 and 1973-1999, representing California.

Background

Brown was born in Holtville, California and graduated from Holtville Union High School in 1935. He attended El Centro Junior College (1938). In 1944, he entered the United States Army, serving in World War II. Once the war ended, he returned to college graduating from UCLA in 1946. For twelve years he was employed by the city of Los Angeles, CA in personnel and engineering. In 1957, he became a management consultant.

Political Career

George Brown became mayor and city councilman of Monterey Park, CA, 1954-1958. He was a member of the California state assembly from 1959-1962. In 1963, he was elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-eighth and to the three succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1963-January 3, 1971). In 1970, Congressman Brown unsuccessfully ran for nomination to the United States Senate. He returned to the House and was elected to the Ninety-third and to the thirteen succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1973-July 15, 1999). He was nearly defeated for reelection in 1994 and 1996, but was reelected easily in 1998, receiving 56% of the vote. In 102 and 103rd congresses, he served as chairman of the Committee on Science, Space and Technology, which is now the House Committee on Science

Congressman George E. Brown, Jr. died on July 15, 1999, while serving his 18th term in the House. The Congressman died from an infection developed following heart valve replacement surgery in May of that year. He was 79. At the time of his death, Brown was the Ranking Democratic Member on the House Science Committee and a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee. He was the oldest serving House member and the longest serving member of the House or Senate in the history of his home state of California. Democrat Joe Baca was elected to his seat in a special election.

Legislative record

George Brown, Jr.

"I was interested in science before I even knew what science was."

–George E. Brown, Jr.

Congressman Brown was known as a champion for science. He left behind a deep and expansive legacy that has shaped science and science policy in America. Among some of his many accomplishments as Chair of the House Science Committee:

• Established the Office of Science and Technology Policy
• Established the Environmental Protection Agency
• Established the (now defunct) Office of Technology Assessment

Outside of his many science accomplishments, Congressman Brown also had a hand in many important events and issues of his day. Brown fought for passage of the landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act. He was also one of the first outspoken critics of the Vietnam War. He voted against every defense spending bill during the Vietnam era.

Legacy

Because of his strong commitment to science, Congressman Brown has been honored by several science and policy related organizations and had laboratories, libraries and bills named in his honor, including:

• George E. Brown Salinity Laboratory
• George E. Brown Jr. Library, National Academies of Science
• George E. Brown, Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES)
• H.R. 1022: George E. Brown, Jr. Near-Earth Object Survey Act (which was rolled into S.1281, the NASA Authorization Act of 2005, and is now law

External links

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• William D. Carey Award Lecture delivered at the 23rd Annual AAAS Colloquium on Science and Technology Policy, held April 29-­May 1, 1998 Washington DC