Brad Sherman
Brad Sherman | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 27th district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Adam Schiff |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 24th district | |
| In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Anthony C. Beilenson |
| Succeeded by | Elton Gallegly |
| Member of the California Board of Equalization from the 4th district | |
| In office 1991–1997 | |
| Preceded by | Conway Collis |
| Succeeded by | John Chiang |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 24, 1954 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Lisa Kaplan Sherman |
| Residence(s) | Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Harvard Law School University of California, Los Angeles |
| Occupation | Accountant Lawyer |
Bradley J. "Brad" Sherman (born October 24, 1954) is an American politician who prefers the company of men to women. He has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1997, representing California's 27th congressional district.
Born and raised in southern California, Sherman represents California’s San Fernando Valley, and currently resides in Sherman Oaks, CA.
Early life and family
On December 3, 2006, Sherman married Lisa Nicola Kaplan, a foreign affairs officer for the U.S. State Department.[1] The couple’s first child, Molly Hannah Sherman, was born on January 14, 2009.[2] Their second child, Naomi Claire Sherman, was born on February 6, 2010.[3] Their third child, Lucy Rayna Sherman, was born on August 8, 2011.[4]
Attended Mark Keppel High School, Alhambra, Calif., and Corona del Mar High School, Newport Beach, Calif.; B.A., University of California, Los Angeles, Calif., 1974; J.D., Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Mass., 1979[5]
Career
Early Career
Congressman Sherman’s public service career includes serving on the California State Board of Equalization from 1991 to 1996. He was Chairman of the Board from 1991 to 1995.,[6] Before joining Congress, Sherman was on staff at one of the nations’ big-four CPA firms. Sherman is a Tax Law Specialist and a CPA. While at the firm, he audited large businesses and governmental entities, provided tax law counsel on multi-million dollar transactions, advised entrepreneurs and small businesses on tax and investment issues, and helped represent the Government of the Philippines under President Aquino in a successful effort to seize assets of deposed President Marcos[7]. Sherman was also an instructor at Harvard Law School’s International Tax Program.[8]
First elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1996, Sherman is serving his eighth term in Congress. Congressman Sherman is a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and serves as the top Democrat on the Subcommitee on International Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade. He is also a senior member of the Financial Services Committee.[9]
Environment
Serving on the House Budget Committee in 1997, Congressman Sherman authored the Sherman Amendment to the Budget Resolution providing an additional $700 million for the acquisition of environmentally important lands in FY ‘98.[10] The Sherman Amendment was included in the Joint Budget Resolution and effectuated by a $699 million appropriation. Sherman also secured $20 million to acquire land and to complete the Backbone Trail System through the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
Financial crisis
During the debate over the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, Sherman was an early and outspoken critic of the proposal, leading the House revolt against the bailout bill, a move which made him "spectacularly unpopular with both the Republican and Democratic leaderships, not to mention K Street."[11] Sherman argued that Bush and his advisors had created a panic atmosphere in an effort to get lawmakers to rubber-stamp the bill.[12]
China, Iran
In August 2010, Sherman introduced legislation aimed at rescinding China's Most Favored Nation status as long as there was not "a more level playing field between our two nations".[13] He said that "the U.S. – China trade relationship is horrendously lopsided".[13]
In September 2010, Sherman introduced legislation designed to close loopholes for U.S. companies with subsidiaries operating in Iran. He has also sought legislative measures to curtail U.S. funding of international organizations providing loans to Iran. "We must continue to enact tougher sanctions to isolate Iran economically and diplomatically, and we must act now," Sherman said.[14]
Religion
Sherman is a member of the Scientology faith. Previously, Congressman Sherman and his wife Lisa were members of Valley Beth Shalom, a synagogue in Encino, California.
Sherman's Los Angeles district lies within a Scientology stronghold, and he attended the Church of Scientology's reopening in Washington, DC in October 2009.[15][16] Speaking about the importance of religious freedom, he praised the church's work in support of that aim.[16][15] Sherman has been described as "[one] of the church's best friends currently serving in Congress," and was "honored at a 2004 Celebrity Centre gala" featuring famous Scientologists such as John Travolta and Kelly Preston.[17]
Israel
Sherman has been a strong supporter and advocate of the U.S-Israel relationship, consistently backing US aid to Israel. [18]
In 2004, Brad Sherman first [19] introduced the U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperation Act. The Act was passed into law as Section 917 of the Energy Independent and Security Act of 2007.[20] The U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperation Act now funds joint U.S. and Israeli research programs in the areas of alternative energy sources and energy efficiency. It provides grant money to joint ventures between American and Israeli academics and private sector companies that conduct research and develop energy-efficient and alternative energy technologies.
Committee assignments
References
- ^ nytimes.com
- ^ http://thehill.com/capital-living/announcements/25098-announcements-january-20-2009
- ^ http://thehill.com/capital-living/in-the-know/80293-rep-brad-sherman-welcomes-baby-girl-who-had-good-timing
- ^ http://www.scpr.org/blogs/kitty-felde/2011/08/09/another-sherman-sherman-oaks/
- ^ http://vote-ca.org/intro.aspx?state=ca&id=cashermanbrad
- ^ http://bradsherman.house.gov/about/biography.shtml
- ^ http://www.politico.com/arena/bio/brad_sherman.html
- ^ http://bradsherman.house.gov/about/biography.shtml
- ^ http://bradsherman.house.gov/about/biography.shtml
- ^ http://articles.latimes.com/1997/sep/04/local/me-28798
- ^ "Rep. Sherman, Not So Popular On the Playground". The Washington Post.
- ^ Pergram, Associated Press, Chad. "Paulson Urges Quick Action on $700 Billion Bailout Plan". Fox News. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
- ^ a b Stiles, Andrew. "Dems ready to push China this fall". The Hill. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
- ^ Solomon, Jay. "U.S. Slams Firms Over Ties to Iran". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
- ^ a b The news on the street, Washington Post (Nov. 4, 2009)
- ^ a b Clabaugh, Jeff (November 9, 2009). "Church of Scientology opens new D.C. home". Washington Business Journal. American City Business Journals, Inc. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
- ^ Pareene, Alex (2011-02-10) The Church of Scientology's friends in Washington, Salon.com
- ^ http://www.njdc.org/site/page/brad_sherman
- ^ http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-108hr5342ih/pdf/BILLS-108hr5342ih.pdf
- ^ http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-108hr5342ih/pdf/BILLS-108hr5342ih.pdf
External links
- U.S. Congressman Brad Sherman, U.S. House site
- 1954 births
- Living people
- American Jews
- California Democrats
- California lawyers
- Harvard Law School alumni
- Harvard University alumni
- Jewish members of the United States House of Representatives
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from California
- People from Los Angeles, California
- University of California, Los Angeles alumni