Featured Member of the Legislative Branch for Prayer

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

Elijah Cummings, United States Representative from Maryland

Elijah Eugene Cummings was born in January 1951 in Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated from Baltimore City College and later from Howard University with a B.A. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland, and was engaged in the private practice of law for 19 years.

Cummings served in the Maryland House of Delegates and the Maryland General Assembly for a combined total of 16 years.

He has been a member of the United States House of Representatives representing Maryland’s 7^th district since 1996. He is presently the Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

He is married to Maya Rockeymoore Cummings. The family are Baptist.

IN THE NEWS: The ongoing debate about who should shoulder the burden of deficit reduction continues as lawmakers struggle to reach a deal. Representative Elijah Cummings of Maryland sent a letter to the conference committee asking conferees to oppose an additional one-year pay freeze for government workers that would follow the two-year pay freeze already in place. He argued that reductions in the federal workforce means government employees are having to work harder than ever with fewer resources and shouldn’t have to give up more.

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Featured Member of the Legislative Branch for Prayer

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

Duncan Hunter, United States House of Representatives from California

Duncan Duane Hunter was born in December 1976 in San Diego, California. He graduated from Granite Hills High School in El Cajon, California. He earned a degree in business administration from San Diego State University. He began his own web design company while in college in order to pay for his tuition. Upon graduation, he worked full time as an information technology business analyst.

The day after the attacks on September 11, Hunter quit his job and joined the Marine Corps. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant after graduating from the Officer Candidates School. He subsequently served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and following his honorable discharge, he joined and continues to serve part-time as a Captain in the Marine Corps Reserve.

He succeeded his father, Duncan L. Hunter, as Representative from California’s 52^nd district, assuming office in January 2009.

Hunter and his wife, Margaret, have three children. He is a Baptist.

IN THE NEWS: California Representative Duncan Hunter said the actions of the Marines were wrong and that they should be disciplined, but he said they should not face a punishment “for the purpose of making a statement to our partners in the region.” He added, “What is particularly concerning to me, as a Marine who served both in Iraq and Afghanistan, is the reported potential legal focus of the investigation and your promise that the Marines in question will be held accountable to the fullest extent, which would include prison time under military law.” Hunter went on to say that the realities of military combat can be difficult, if not impossible, to explain. He wrote that “most people will never know what our Marines endure unless they see it or experience it for themselves. … In the case of the video, we do not know the full extent of the situation or the shared experiences of these Marines. We owe it to these individuals and others, who put their lives on the line every day, to take into account the extraordinary conditions and danger they face when judging their actions, and put things into proper perspective.”

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Featured Member of the Legislative Branch for Prayer

Thursday, January 19th, 2012

The Reverend Patrick J. Conroy, Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives

Fr. Pat Conroy, a Jesuit of the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus, was born in Everett, WA in 1950. When his parents divorced, he moved with his mother to Arlington, VA, where he lived until midway through his sophomore year in high school, and transferred to Snohomish (WA) high school where he graduated.

Fr. Conroy graduated from Claremont McKenna College, and attended Gonzaga University Law School for one year before entering the Jesuit Order. As a Jesuit scholastic (seminarian), he earned an M.A. in Philosophy from Gonzaga University, a J.D. from St. Louis University, an M.Div. from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, and an STM from Regis College of the University of Toronto in Missiology.

Fr. Conroy was ordained a priest in 1983 in Seattle, WA.

During his years of training, Fr. Conroy did practice law for the Colville Confederated Tribes in Omak, WA, representing tribal members in state courts, he represented Salvadoran refugees for the Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Immigration Office in San Francisco while studying theology, and again worked for the Colville Tribes helping to develop the case for the Tribes’ treaty fishing rights in the mid 1980’s. He has not practiced law since 1986.

After ordination, Fr. Conroy served 4 villages on the Colville and Spokane Indian Reservations for five years. After a year of working for the national Jesuit Office of Social Ministries in Washington, D.C., he began a career of university chaplaincy, primarily directing student retreats at Georgetown University for 4 years, Seattle University for 3 years, and again at Georgetown for 6 ½ years.

Conroy was transferred to Jesuit High School in Portland, OR, where he served as the superior of the Jesuit community for 3 years, and began a 7 ½ year stint teaching freshman theology and coaching the school’s Mighty JV II girls’ softball team. During his time in Portland, Fr. Conroy also served for 3 years as the Oregon Province’s Provincial Assistant for Formation, having responsibility over the young Jesuits of the Province training for the priesthood.

In May of 2011 Fr. Conroy was nominated as the 60th Chaplain to United States House of Representatives by Speaker of the House John Boehner (OH), in consultation with Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA), and was elected by the House and sworn in by the Speaker on May 25, 2011.

Fr. Conroy was a competitive runner in college and for a few years after, a recreational runner for many years, and continues to have an interest in remaining physically fit. He plays the guitar, and especially through years of retreat work has learned how to lead sing-a-longs, favoring classic rock and roll.

IN THE NEWS: What both chaplains yearn for is a public with perspective on itself. The warring senators and representatives of Washington did not wind up there by accident or coincidence. Somebody elected them. To put it scripturally, Father Conroy said he finds himself thinking of Luke 6:41: “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”

“The American Congress,” he said, “represents the American people. Is it any surprise they got what they voted for? It’s easier to blame Congress than to look in the mirror.”

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Featured Member of the Legislative Branch for Prayer

Thursday, January 12th, 2012

Peter T. King, United States Representative from New York

Peter T. “Pete” King was born in April 1944 in Manhattan, New York, and raised in Sunnyside, Queens, New York. He graduated from St. Francis College in Brooklyn and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame Law School. He then worked for the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office for six years.

King served in the 69^th Infantry Regiment of the New York National Guard.

King entered public office when he was elected to a seat on the Hempstead, New York Town Council. He was subsequently elected the Nassau County Comptroller. He was elected as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York and assumed office in January 1993.

King is married to Rosemary and they have two adult children and one grandson. King is Roman Catholic.

IN THE NEWS: Representative Peter King previously called for a probe to look into any sort of cooperation between federal agencies and producers for a movie, which at the time had been scheduled for an October release – a month before the elections. “The leaks that followed the successful bid Laden mission led to the arrests of Pakistanis and put in danger the mission’s heroes and their families,” King said in a statement. “Privately, individuals in the intelligence and special operations communities expressed support for my request for the probe. I look forward to an update on the investigation and actions taken thus far.”

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Featured Member of the Legislative Branch for Prayer

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

Scott Brown, United States Senator from Massachusetts

Scott Philip Brown was born in September 1959 in Kittery, Maine, and grew up in Wakefield, Massachusetts. Brown had a difficult childhood after his parents divorced, and he was a victim of childhood sexual abuse from a camp counselor at the age of 10. He graduated from Wakefield High School, and received a B.A. in History from Tufts University, and a Juris Doctor from Boston Law School.

He joined the Massachusetts Army National Guard and attended ROTC classes at the campus of Northeastern University. Following law school, he joined the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, remaining active and holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

He “caught the political bug” when he was elected property assessor of Wrentham, Massachusetts, and then to the Wrentham Board of Selectmen. He served six years in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and another six in the Massachusetts Senate. Brown successfully and surprisingly was elected to the U.S. Senate seat previously held by Edward Kennedy, to serve for the remainder of the deceased Kennedy’s term.

Brown is married to former television reporter Gail Huff and they have two daughters. Brown and his family are members of the Christian Reformed Church in North America.

IN THE NEWS: Senator Brown is against raising taxes until Congress can show it is managing the economy responsibly, a spokesperson for Brown said. She also said Brown as open to “raising revenues by closing loopholes” but did not mention the possibility of raising rates. Brown has cast himself as an underdog in the anticipated race against Elizabeth Warren to retain the seat once held by Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy.

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Featured Member of the Legislative Branch for Prayer

Thursday, December 29th, 2011

Ben Nelson, United States Senator from Nebraska

Earl Benjamin “Ben” Nelson was born in May 1941 in McCook, Nebraska. He earned a B.A., M.A. and J.D. from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

Nelson made his name and money in the insurance industry. After graduating from law school, he landed a job as assistant general counsel for Central National Insurance Group of Omaha. He ultimately became executive vice president and then president of that company.

He was first elected to office when he became governor of Nebraska, a position he held for eight years. He assumed office as a United States Senator from Nebraska in January 2001.

Nelson is married to Diane, and is a Methodist.

IN THE NEWS: The White House and top Senate Democratic leaders including Harry Reid of Nevada and Chuck Schumer of New York had quietly mounted a pressure campaign to keep Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson from retiring. Nelson has more than $3 million in his campaign war chest, and his approval rating seems solid.

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Featured Member of the Legislative Branch for Prayer

Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

Keith Ellison, United States House of Representatives for Minnesota

Keith Maurice Ellison was born in August 1963 in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy where he had been active in sports and student government. He earned a B.A. in economics from Wayne State University in Detroit, and received a Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School.

After law school, he worked in the private practice of law as a litigator specializing in civil rights, employment, and criminal defense. He was very involved in community services, and hosted a public affairs radio talk show.

Ellison served as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, for four years, and has been a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota’s 5^th district since January 2007.

He is married to Kim, a high school mathematics teacher, and they have four children. Ellison, who grew up Roman Catholic, converted to Islam while at Wayne State University. Kim is not a Muslim, but their four children have been raised in Islam.

IN THE NEWS: Representative Keith Ellison, the first Muslim to serve in the House of Representatives, met with hunger strikers last week and pledged to read their declaration calling for full voting rights for District of Columbia residents as well as legislative and budget autonomy on the floor of the House of Representatives and enter it into the congressional record. He embarked on a 24-hour hunger strike in solidarity with the protesters.

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Featured Member of the Legislative Branch for Prayer

Thursday, December 15th, 2011

Marsha Blackburn, United States House of Representatives for Tennessee

Marsha Wedgeworth Blackburn was born in June 1952 in Laurel, Mississippi. She attended Northeast Jones High school and graduated from Mississippi State University. She owned and operated a marketing company in Williamson County, Tennessee.

Blackburn began her political career as a founding member of the Williamson County Young Republicans. She served in the Tennessee State Senate.

She assumed office as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee’s 7^th District in January 2003.

Blackburn is married to Charles “Chuck” Blackburn, and the couple has two children. She is a Presbyterian, and a member of The C Street Family, a prayer group that includes many members of Congress.

IN THE NEWS: The Stop TSA’s Reach in Policy (or STRIP) Act, introduced last week, would prohibit Transportation Security Administration employees who have not received federal law enforcement training from using the title of “officer” as well as bar them from wearing uniforms and badges resembling those of law enforcement officers. “It is outrageous that in a post 9/11 world that the American people should have to live in fear of those whose job it is to keep us safe,” Representative Marsha Blackburn, the bill’s lead sponsor, said in a statement. “The least we can do is end this impersonation which is an insult to real cops.”

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Featured Member of the Legislative Branch for Prayer

Thursday, December 8th, 2011

Joe Lieberman, Untied States Senator from Connecticut

Joseph Isadore “Joe” Lieberman was born in February 1942 in Stamford, Connecticut. His paternal grandparents immigrated from Poland, and his maternal grandparents were from Austria. He received undergraduate degrees in science and economics from Yale University, and earned his law degree from Yale Law School. After graduation, he worked as a lawyer for firm based in New Haven.

Lieberman served ten years as a member of the Connecticut Senate, and was for the last six years the Majority Leader. Thereafter, he served six years as Connecticut Attorney General.

He was elected to the United States Senate in 1988, where he continues to serve. He is presently the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Lieberman has been twice married, first to Elizabeth Haas, whom he met in law school, and from whom he is divorced, and is now married to Hadassah Freilich Tucker, the child of a Holocaust survivor. They have one daughter together, and Lieberman has a step-son from his wife’s prior marriage.

The family are Orthodox Jews, keeping a Kosher home and observing Shabbat. Senator Lieberman has said there is currently “a constitutional place for faith in our public life,” and that the Constitution does not provide for “freedom from religion.”

IN THE NEWS: The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is holding hearings on a bill introduced to prohibit insider trading by members of Congress and their employees. The bill would bar members or employees of Congress and the executive branch from using nonpublic information obtained through their public service for the purpose of investing for personal gain. Despite the SEC filing a statement saying they consider the practice illegal, Senator Joe Lieberman says he is “still concerned that the law is not clear when it comes to the possibility of insider trading by members of Congress or our staff – and, therefore, in the interest of perception, prevention, and punishment, we ought to be adopting a law to specifically make insider trading by members of Congress illegal.”

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Featured Member of the Legislative Branch for Prayer

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

Pat Toomey, United States Senate from Pennsylvania

Patrick Joseph “Pat” Toomey, Sr. was born in November 1961, in Providence, Rhode Island. He attended La Salle Academy on scholarship, and graduated from Harvard College with an A.B. in government.

Toomey was hired by Chemical Bank, where he was involved in currency swap transactions. He went on to work for Morgan Genfell & Co., where he dealt in multiple foreign currencies, interest rates, and currency-related derivatives. He resigned from that firm when it was acquired by Deutsche Bank, and he and his two younger brothers opened Rookie’s Restaurant in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Toomey served as the U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania’s 15^th congressional district for six years. During his last year in the House, he made an unsuccessful bid for Senator from Pennsylvania. Ultimately, he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010.

Toomey is married to Kris Ann Duncan, and they have three children. He is a Roman Catholic.

IN THE NEWS: Speaking of the failure of the supercommittee on the deficit, member Pat Toomey said, “I will acknowledge that I think there was an asymmetry in the incentives. I think there was something to [the idea that Republicans would be blamed for supercommittee failure.] The president’s fundamental campaign message is to run against Congress, never mind the fact that half the congress is controlled by the Democrats. But that’s his purpose, and certainly an agreement in this committee would have stepped on that narrative for the president.” However, Toomey did compliment certain unnamed Democratic members of the supercommittee, whom he deemed as having the right motives.

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