On November 5, 2002, Saxby Chambliss was elected Georgia's 63rd United States Senator in what is being talked about as one of the most stunning and historical victories of the midterm elections.
Chambliss first arrived in Washington in 1994 representing the 8th congressional district of Georgia. During his tenure in the House of Representatives, Chambliss emerged as a leader in Washington and gained the reputation as an expert on defense, budget, intelligence and agriculture. He served four terms in the House of Representatives.
Continuing the work he began in the House, Chambliss serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Select Committee on Intelligence, the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Rules Committee.
Chambliss' leadership and experience on the issues of terrorism, homeland security, and intelligence matters earned him an appointment to the prestigious Senate Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. While such an appointment is a rarity for a freshman senator, Chambliss earned national recognition and invaluable experience as chairman of the House Intelligence Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security making him one of the leading congressional experts on the issues of terrorism and homeland security. In the months immediately following the tragic September 11 terrorist attacks, Chambliss' House subcommittee conducted a thorough investigation and released the first comprehensive report detailing critical shortfalls within the United States intelligence community's performance and technological capabilities.
As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Chambliss will remain committed to continuing Georgia's longstanding tradition of leadership in Washington and advocacy for the state's 13 military installations. Following in the footsteps of former Senators Richard B. Russell, Jr., and Sam Nunn, Chambliss is a strong voice for Georgia's defense industry and the military community, and a leader on issues of national security. Chambliss, who previously worked in support of Georgia during the last base realignment and closure round, will be an instrumental figure in preparing and protecting Georgia's bases in advance of the next round of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) in 2005.
Recognizing that one in six jobs in Georgia is connected to agriculture and the importance of the industry to the state's economy, Chambliss continues to fight for Georgia's farmers and agribusiness community. Prior to his election to Congress, Chambliss specialized in agricultural law in South Georgia. As a member of the House Agriculture Committee and chairman of the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management, Chambliss was instrumental in drafting two farm bills and reforming our nation's crop insurance program.
Additionally, as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chambliss will play a key role in helping confirm President Bush's judicial nominees. Chambliss will also serve on the Senate Rules Committee which is responsible for the administrative policies for the United States Senate.
Throughout his legislative career, Chambliss has been honored with many awards from both the private and public sector for his work in the fields of agriculture, defense, budget, and national security. He is a past recipient of the Air Force Association's W. Stuart Symington Award, the top civilian award given annually for outstanding contributions in the field of national security.
Chambliss earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Georgia in 1966 and earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1968. Senator Chambliss and his wife, Julianne, have been married since 1966, and reside in Moultrie, Georgia. They have two children and two grandchildren.
Alphabetical Listing of Senators
