Biography
Hometown: Democrat from
Flint, Michigan. Represents the State's 5th Congressional District
Born: September 16, 1929,
in Flint.
Education: Sacred Heart
Seminary, B.A.; University of Detroit, Teacher's Certificate; University
of Michigan, M.A.; graduate studies in history and political science
at the University of Peshawar, Pakistan, under a Rotary Foundation
Fellowship.
Profession: Teacher, University
of Detroit High School, 1954-1956, and Flint Central High School,
1956-1964.
Religion: Roman Catholic.
Family: Married Gayle C. Heyn, February 27, 1965. Three adult children: David, Laura, and Paul; six grandchildren.
Community Affiliations: Member
of Optimists, Urban League, Knights of Columbus, Phi Delta Kappa
(national honorary fraternity), and American Federation of Teachers.
A life member of the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People.
Political Accomplishments: In
1964, elected to the Michigan House of Representatives, 81st District,
and re-elected to four succeeding terms.
Elected to the Michigan State Senate, 25th District in 1974.
Elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1976 and
each succeeding term in the 7th and 5th Congressional Districts.
Committees: Currently is
a senior member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce
and serves as ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee on 21st Century
Competitiveness (Higher Education) and a member of the Subcommittee
on Employer-Employee Relations. He is also a member of the House
Committee on Resources, where he sits on the Subcommittee on National
Parks and Public Lands and the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest
Health.
Serving since 1993 as co-chair of the Congressional Automotive Caucus.
Elected by his colleagues in 1997 to serve as co-chair of the Native
American Caucus.
Committee Assignments:
Committee on Education and
the Workforce
Committee on Resources
Congressional Caucus Assignments:
The Native American Caucus
The Automotive Caucus |