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Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

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Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 18th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
August 29, 1989
Preceded byClaude Pepper
Succeeded byPatrick Murphy (elect)
Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2011
Preceded byHoward Berman
Member of the Florida Senate
from the 34th district
In office
1987–1989
Preceded byJoe Gersten
Succeeded byLincoln Díaz-Balart
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 110th district
In office
1983–1987
Preceded byRoberta F. Fox
Succeeded byLincoln Díaz-Balart
Personal details
Born
Ileana Ros y Adato

(1952-07-15) July 15, 1952 (age 72)
Havana, Cuba
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Dexter Lehtinen (m. June 9, 1984–present); 2 children; 2 stepchildren
Residence(s)Miami, Florida, U.S.
Alma materMiami Dade College, Florida International University, University of Miami
OccupationSchoolteacher

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (born Ileana Ros y Adato; July 15, 1952) is the U.S. Representative for Florida's 18th congressional district, serving since 1989. She is a member of the Republican Party. Due to redistricting, Ros-Lehtinen will soon become the member for the newly created 27th district in Florida.

She is currently the most senior Republican woman in the U.S. House, and was the first Republican woman elected to the House of Representatives from Florida. She is chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, effective 2011.[1]

Early life, education, and early career

Ileana Ros y Adato was born in Havana, Cuba, one of two children born to Enrique Ros and his wife, Amanda Adato. The family emigrated to the United States when Ileana was seven years old. She received her Bachelor of Arts in education and her Master of Arts in educational leadership from Florida International University. She attended the University of Miami where she earned a Ph.D in higher education.[2]

Ros-Lehtinen was an educator and the owner/operator of a private school in Miami-Dade County.[3] She was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1982, where she met State Representative Dexter Lehtinen (D-Miami). They married in 1985, after Dexter switched parties. They both served in the State House until 1986. That year, they were both elected to the Florida Senate, where he was elected to District 40 and she was elected in District 34.[4][5] In 1988, Dexter Lehtinen resigned his seat to become U.S. Attorney of South Florida. In 1989, Ros-Lehtinen resigned her seat to become a U.S. Representative.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

After incumbent Democrat U.S. Congressman Claude Pepper died on May 30, 1989, there was a special election scheduled for August 29, 1989. State Senator Ros-Lehtinen defeated Democrat Gerald Richman 53%-47%.[6] She was the first Cuban American and the first Hispanic woman elected to the United States Congress. In 1990, she won re-election to a full term with 60% of the vote.[7] In total, she has been elected to ten full terms, never winning with less than 58%. [8]

Tenure

File:IRLOptometry1.JPG
Ros-Lehtinen was an original author of the Vision Care for Kids Act. She is also an original cosponsor of the Vision Preservation Act.

Ros-Lehtinen is considered conservative on foreign, economic, and other social policy. Ros-Lehtinen is a supporter of President George W. Bush's surge policy in Iraq, a supporter of Israel and supports continued sanctions against Cuba. She also supported the de facto government in Honduras, headed by Roberto Micheletti, that emerged after the military coup against President Manuel Zelaya. She has said of the decision to invade Iraq: "Whether or not there is a direct link to the World Trade Center does not mean that Iraq is not meritorious of shedding blood. The common link is that they hate America." [9]

Among Ros-Lehtinen's other conservative views include votes against the estate tax, voted in favor of Bush's tax cuts, for fuel efficiency standards on autos, drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, support of the Central American Free Trade Agreement, votes in favor of making the Patriot Act permanent, support of the Military Commissions Act, votes against funding for stem cell research, and votes against SCHIP. She signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge.[10]

Ros-Lehtinen generally portrays a pro-military stance. However, during the 2011 Libyan civil war, she expressed support of the Libyan opposition; on February 26, 2011, she released a press release which stated, "stronger penalties must be imposed in order to hold the regime accountable for its heinous crimes, and to prevent further violence against the Libyan people". But on March 20, 2011, the day after the NATO strikes to enforce the no-fly-zone began, she expressed a different view in a press release: "I am concerned that the President has yet to clearly define for the American people what vital United States security interests he believes are currently at stake in Libya."[11] The congresswoman has also been a forerunner in cutting U.S. aid to foreign lands, including the State Department, The Peace Corps, the Asia Foundation, the U.S. Institute of Peace and the East-West Center. She also advocates cutting funding to Lebanese Armed Forces and the West Bank and Gaza.[12]

Gay rights

Ros-Lehtinen sides with the Democrats on many issues of gay rights. Her elder child (born Amanda Michelle Lehtinen, now known as Rodrigo), a is transgender LGBT rights activist. The district includes large LGBT populations in South Beach in Miami Beach and in the Florida Keys. She was one of three Republican members of the LGBT Equality Caucus, of which she is a founding member and a vice-chairperson. Although she is not a co-sponsor of the Uniting American Families Act, she supports anti-hate crime laws, anti-discrimination bills, believes gays and lesbians should be allowed to serve openly in the armed forces, is a sponsor of the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, and voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment.[13] Ros-Lehtinen was one of fifteen Republican House members to vote in favor of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010.[14][15] In September 2011, Ros-Lehtinen became the first Republican member of the U.S. Congress to co-sponsor the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.[16] In July 2012, she was the first Republican in the House to fully support same-sex marriage.[17]

In 2011, Ros-Lehtinen signed on to a letter to IRS Commissioner Schulman requesting that the IRS provide clear guidance for LGBT taxpayers.[18] The letter asks the IRS to ensure that tax law is being applied fairly to all individuals.

Passport processing delays

Ros-Lehtinen pressured the State Department to accelerate its processing of passports, something that had hindered American citizens' travel during the crucial summer travel season. Calling the delay "outrageous, incomprehensible, unconscionable" at a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where she is chairwoman, Ros-Lehtinen brought the pressure of committee Republicans to bear on the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs and spur them to action.[19]

United Nations

On November 23, 2010, she called on the Obama administration to "announce publicly, right now, that we will stay away from Durban III, deny it US taxpayer dollars, and oppose all measures that seek to facilitate it. And we should encourage other responsible nations to do the same."[20]

Darfur

Ros-Lehtinen joined Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) on a Congressional delegation to the United Nations in order to encourage international support for an end to the genocide in Darfur. In addition, when Ros-Lehtinen returned from a trip to Darfur in April 2007 where she visited Sudanese refugee camps, she strongly encouraged the United States and the international community to find a solution to this humanitarian crisis.[21][22]

Israeli–Palestinian conflict

Ros-Lehtinen is opposing US support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East[23] and the Palestinian Authority. She describes herself as a "strong supporter of Israel" and regards the U.S. relationship with Israel as "critical to the national security interests of both nations".[24] As of 2010, she is the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. After comments by State Department over Israeli settlements, she demanded that the Obama administration halt its "condemnations" of "an indispensable ally and friend of the United States." In September 2011, she introduced a bill to cut off US funding to any UN organization that recognises Palestinian statehood.[23]

Cuba
Dexter Lehtinen, Celia Cruz, Alonso R. del Portillo, Rep. Ros-Lehtinen, and Pedro Knight in May 1992.

Ros-Lehtinen plays a prominent role in the Cuban-American lobby, which puts pressure on the Cuban government to bring about political change in Cuba. She is a member of the Congressional Cuba Democracy Caucus. She is the daughter of Enrique Ros, a Florida-based Cuban business man and anti-Fidel Castro activist. Ros-Lehtinen also advances strongly held views on Cuba, and has lobbied against ending the United States embargo against that country. In 2004 she formed the Cuba Democracy Group aimed at curtailing U.S. agriculture exports and preventing U.S. banks from doing business with the Cuban government.[25]

Ros-Lehtinen has defended former fugitive Velentin Hernández, convicted of murdering Luciano Nieves, a fellow Cuban exile who supported negotiations with the Cuban government,[26] In the 1980s, Ros-Lehtinen lobbied for the release and pardon of Cuban exile Orlando Bosch, who had been convicted of terrorist acts and has also been accused of involvement in the 1976 bombing of Cubana Flight 455, which killed 73 people, helping organize an "Orlando Bosch day" to gain support for his release.[27][28][29] Ros-Lehtinen played a prominent role in the unsuccessful attempt by relatives of Elian Gonzalez to gain custody of six-year-old from the Castro regime, describing Cuba as "that system of godless communism".[30] She also attempted to block Jimmy Carter's visit to the island in 2002.[31][32]

She stirred controversy by calling for the assassination of Cuban Leader Fidel Castro. She appeared in a British documentary, which was entitled 638 Ways to Kill Castro, saying: "I welcome the opportunity of having anyone assassinate Fidel Castro and any leader who is oppressing the people." After a 28-second clip began circulating on the Internet, she claimed the filmmakers spliced clips together to get the sound bite. Twenty-four hours after the controversy erupted, director Dollan Cannell sent unedited tapes of his interview with Ros-Lehtinen to reporters.[33] The uncut version contradicted her response, showing she had twice welcomed an attempt on Castro's life. Although she attempted to distance herself from her denial, filmmaker Cannell requested an apology.[34]

2008 "Bailout"

Ros-Lehtinen voted against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 in its initial September 29, 2008 vote, which failed,[35] but voted in favor of the revised bill in its October 3, 2008 vote, which passed.[36]

Child marriage

Ros-Lehtinen played a key role in keeping the International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act of 2010 from being passed into law.[37] Although the bill had unanimously passed the Senate with bipartisan support, she persuaded enough Republicans in the House to vote against the bill so that it did not receive the required two-thirds majority. She reportedly invoked concerns about the legislation's cost and that funds could be used to promote abortion.[1]

Peace Corps

Ros-Lehtinen has been an opponent of funding for the Peace Corps. In 2011, she led a hearing about the perils that volunteers faced and the lack of concern for victims of sexual abuse while serving.[38]

Scientology

Ros-Lehtinen has been a supporter of the Church of Scientology. She has been described as "[one] of the church's best friends currently serving in Congress", and was "honored at a 2004 Celebrity Centre gala" with famous Scientologists such as John Travolta and Kelly Preston.[39]

Obama "prank" calls

Following the 2008 elections, then President-elect Barack Obama rang Ros-Lehtinen to congratulate her on her re-election. She hung up on him, believing that it was a prank call from a radio station. She did the same to Obama's chief of staff Rahm Emanuel when he rang to confirm the original call was genuine, and only accepted the call after Congressman Howard Berman managed to speak to her.[40][41]

Committee assignments

Caucus membership

Notable staff members

Notable campaign contributors

A major individual campaign contributor to Ros-Lehtinen is Irving Moskowitz, a funder of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.[42] The lobby group J Street has called on Ros-Lehtinen to return campaign contributions from Moskowitz, saying he "actively undermines the two-state solution and the foreign policy of the United States by funding illegal settlements in the occupied territories".[43][44] American Council on World Jewry president Jack Rosen has "great concern"[45] about this demand.

Personal life

She married Florida State Representative Dexter Lehtinen, on June 9, 1984, while she was serving in the Florida Legislature. They have two children, Rodrigo and Patricia Marie. She is also step-mother to Katherine and Douglas Lehtinen.

Project Vote Smart lists Ros-Lehtinen as Episcopalian.[2] Ros-Lehtinen's maternal grandparents were Sephardic Jews from Turkey who had been active in Cuba's Jewish community.[46] Her mother later converted to Catholicism.[46]

References

  1. ^ a b "Who killed the bill to prevent forced child marriages". The Cable Foreign Policy Magazine. The Washington Post. 2010-12-22. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  2. ^ a b "Project Vote Smart - Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen". Vote-smart.org. 1952-07-15. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  3. ^ "Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.)". The Washington Post. April 15, 2007. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  4. ^ "86-88 Senate Handbook" (PDF). Retrieved February 29, 2012.
  5. ^ "Senator called A Brainy Tough Guy". The Miami Herald. June 11, 1988, p. 1A
  6. ^ "FL District 18 - Special Election Race". Our Campaigns. August 29, 1989. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
  7. ^ "FL District 18 Race". Our Campaigns. November 6, 1990. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
  8. ^ "Candidate: Ileana Ros-Lehtinen". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
  9. ^ Kaplan, Jonathan (June 17, 2004). "House GOP disputes the 9-11 finding". The Hill. Archived from the original on June 19, 2004. Retrieved November 16, 2012. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ "Current Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers". Americans for Tax Reform. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
  11. ^ "Gingrich Not Alone In No-fly Zone Contradiction". ABC News. March 24, 2011. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
  12. ^ Rogin, Josh (March 23, 2011). "The Cable: Ros-Lehtinen targets several State Department budget items". Foreign Policy. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
  13. ^ "LGBT Equality Caucus". Lgbt.tammybaldwin.house.gov. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  14. ^ Chris Geidner, House Passes DADT Repeal Bill, Metro Weekly (December 15, 2010).
  15. ^ House Vote 638 - Repeals 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell', New York Times (December 15, 2010).
  16. ^ Reilly, Ryan J. (September 23, 2011). "Ros-Lehtinen First GOPer To Sponsor Bill Repealing DOMA". Talking Points Memo. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
  17. ^ http://www.advocate.com/politics/marriage-equality/2012/07/13/gop-congresswoman-first-house-her-party-support-marriage
  18. ^ "Ros-Lehtinen Joins Congressional Letter to the IRS Asking for Clear Guidelines for LGBT Taxpayers". Talking Points Memo. September 26, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
  19. ^ "Ros-Lehtinen To Support Legislation To Ease Passport Delays". Committee on Foreign Affairs. Committee on Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  20. ^ U.N. Pours Salt in America's Wounds, FOX News 24-11-2010
  21. ^ [1]
  22. ^ [2]
  23. ^ a b "Palestinian Statehood: A Bad Bill for Everyone". The Economist. September 1, 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2011.
  24. ^ "Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen on Foreign Affairs". U.S. House of Representatives.
  25. ^ "Election galvanizes Cuba embargo backers" www.cubacentral.com
  26. ^ "Our Man's in Miami. Patriot or Terrorist?" The Washington Post. April 17, 2005.
  27. ^ "The ghost of terror past". Salon.com
  28. ^ Who is a terrorist? South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Wayne S. Smith. May 31, 2002
  29. ^ Congressman Diaz-Balart Says U.S. Should Consider Assassination of Fidel Castro. Wayne Smith. CIP senior fellow. March 31, 2004
  30. ^ Who Should Decide the Destiny of Elian Gonzalez. CNN transcripts.
  31. ^ Ann Louise Bardach. Cuba confidential. p351. "Ignoring the growls of the Reich team and attempts by Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Lincoln Diaz-Balart to block the visit, the Bush administration reluctantly granted approval"
  32. ^ "Will Jimmy Carter Become First President to Visit Castro in Cuba?" CNN transcripts.
  33. ^ "Rep. Ros-Lehtinen Admits 'Kill Castro' remark" Newsmax
  34. ^ Tape contradicts Ros-Lehtinen. Miami Herald.
  35. ^ "Bailout Roll Call" (PDF). 2008-09-29. Retrieved September 29, 2008.
  36. ^ "Final vote results for roll call 681". 2008-10-03. Retrieved October 3, 2008
  37. ^ Ros-Lehtinen and other Republicans oppose child marriage prevention bill
  38. ^ Graves, Lucia (July 11, 2011). "Peace Corps Volunteers Speak Out About Rape, Violence". Huffington Post. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  39. ^ Pareene, Alex (2011-02-10) "The Church of Scientology's friends in Washington", Salon.com, February 10, 2011.
  40. ^ Press Release from the Office of Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Florida, ABC News
  41. ^ Congresswoman hangs up on Obama, BBC, December 4, 2008
  42. ^ Greybeards Urge U.S. not to Veto U.N. Anti-Settlement Resolution (IPS, January 19, 2011)
  43. ^ Krieger, Hilary Leila (January 19, 2011). "J Street tells Ros-Lehtinen to give up Moskowitz donations". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
  44. ^ The political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans Chairwoman Ros-Lehtinen: Return Irving Moskowitz's Money (J Street)
  45. ^ "Unpacking J Street-Ros Lehtinen-Moskowitz". Jewish Telegraphic Agency, January 19, 2011
  46. ^ a b Nir, Ori (2005-10-14). "Miami Pol Closes In on Key Foreign Policy Post – The Jewish Daily Forward". Forward.com. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
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Preceded by
Howard Berman
California
 Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee
2011–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States Representatives by seniority
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