Joseph R. Biden, Jr. was first elected to the United States Senate in 1972 at the age of twenty-nine and is recognized as one of the nation’s most powerful and influential voices on foreign relations, terrorism, drug policy, and crime prevention.

Foreign Policy & National Security

Senator Biden has played a pivotal role in shaping U.S. foreign policy for over three decades. As the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he is a student of history, respected at home and abroad for his uniquely well-informed, common sense approach to the complexities of American foreign policy issues. Senator Richard Lugar, who currently chairs the committee, said: "Senator Biden has a very strong commitment to a bipartisan foreign policy and serves as a good example for everyone in Congress. He has a very broad, comprehensive view of the world. He’s a good listener, but he’s also a strong and effective advocate of his position."

Safeguarding Our Streets

A strong leader on anti-crime and drug policy, Senator Biden has been instrumental in crafting virtually every major piece of crime legislation over the past two decades, including the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, also known as the Biden Crime Law, which dramatically increased funds spent on law enforcement. Additionally, Senator Biden is the author of the landmark Violence Against Women Act of 2000 (VAWA 2000) which contains a broad array of ground-breaking measures to combat domestic violence and provides billions of dollars in federal funds to address gender-based crimes. Biden, who serves as Co-Chairman of the International Narcotics Control Caucus, also wrote the law creating the nation's "Drug Czar" who oversees and coordinates national drug control policy. Today, Senator Biden continues to work to stop the spread of new drugs such as Ecstacy, Ketamine and Rohypnol, the "date rape" drug.

Protecting Our Environment

In addition to his leadership on foreign policy, crime and drug control issues, Senator Biden is widely recognized for his work on environmental protection and education policy. His work over the past 20 years has led to the end of federal control and the return to Delawareans of more than 1,180 acres of beach shoreline along the Delaware coast. In 2000, Biden’s decades-long efforts culminated with establishment of Delaware’s first and only National Wild and Scenic River -- the White Clay Creek Watershed -- which will be preserved and saved from development for future generations.

Empowering Our Students

To help Americans struggling to afford the rising costs of college tuition, Biden has been a staunch supporter of college aid and loan programs and has offered legislation to allow families to deduct up to $10,000 per year in higher education expenses on their annual income tax returns. And to prepare today’s students to meet the technology challenges of tomorrow, Biden has undertaken bold initiatives in the Senate to close the "digital divide" and ensure that all students have access to the on-ramp of the information super highway. Senator Biden’s "Kids 2000" legislation, signed into law by the President in October of 2000 establishes a public/private partnership to help provide computer centers, teachers, Internet access and technical training to young people across the nation, particularly to low-income and at-risk youth.

Personal Information

Senator Biden grew up in New Castle County, Delaware. He graduated from the University of Delaware in 1965, and from the Syracuse University College of Law in 1968. Prior to his election to the Senate, Biden practiced law in Wilmington, Delaware and served on the New Castle County Council from 1970 to 1972. Since 1991, Biden has been an adjunct professor at the Widener University School of Law, where he teaches a seminar on constitutional law.

Senator Biden lives in Wilmington, Delaware and commutes to Washington, DC when the Senate is in session. He is married to the former Jill Jacobs, and is the father of three children: Beau, Hunter and Ashley. The Bidens also have five grandchildren: Naomi, Finnegan, Roberta Mabel, Natalie, and Robert Hunter Biden.

For more information about Senator Biden, read these fast facts.