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United States Representative Jim Kolbe, proudly serving Arizona

Biography

Jim Kolbe is serving his eleventh term in the United States House of Representatives. He was first sworn into Congress in 1985, becoming the first Republican to represent southern Arizona since statehood. He represents the people of Arizona's Eighth Congressional District, which includes most of Tucson, eastern Pima County, all of Cochise County and parts of Pinal and Santa Cruz Counties. Jim is one of eight Members of Congress from Arizona and ranks 57th in seniority in the House.

Jim Kolbe as a Congressional PageJim became interested in politics at a young age when he served as a page for Senator Barry Goldwater in his high school years. His keen interest in international affairs began during a one year global educational course while attending college.

Jim is the acknowledged Republican leader for free trade and open markets, an impassioned advocate of Social Security reform including the creation of personal accounts, a leader and proponent of immigration reform and strengthening border security, and a fierce proponent of smaller government, lower taxes and more individual responsibility.

The Eighth District hosts two of the nation's premier military bases: Davis Monthan Air Force Base and Ft. Huachuca. It is home to stunning beauty including Saguaro National Park, Chiricahua National Monument, Coronado National Memorial and Coronado National Forest. Two of the nation's National Conservation Areas -- Las Cienegas and San Pedro are located in the district. The Eighth District is also home to the Pima Community College; Cochise College; and the University of Phoenix. It hosts numerous world-renowned attractions including Tombstone ("The Town Too Tough to Die"), the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Kartchner Caverns, Colossal Cave, Old Tucson, Biosphere II, Bisbee Copper Queen Mine and the Pima Air and Titan Missile Museums. Jim Kolbe in Vietnam

Appropriations Committee Assignments

  • Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs: Chairman of this subcommittee which funds most US foreign aid programs, including the Agency for International Development; the Peace Corps; development banks including the North American Development Bank; the Overseas Private Investment Corporation; Child Survival and Disease Programs Fund; U.S. and Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund. It also funds the State Department's international narcotics interdiction efforts and counter-terrorism activities
  • Subcommittee on Homeland Security : Member of this subcommittee which funds and oversees of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Department is the third-largest cabinet agency behind the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs and is home to more than 180,000 employees. Security-related entities such as the Transportation Security Administration, Federal Emergency Management Service, Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Secret Service, and Coast Guard fall under the DHS umbrella.

Chairman, Co-Chairman and Board of Directors / Trustees

  • Transatlantic Policy Network (Chairman)
  • U.S./Mexico Interparliamentary Group (Chairman)
  • Competitiveness Caucus (Co-chairman)
  • Congressional Study Group on Mexico (Co-chairman)
  • Congressional Economic Leadership Institute (Co-chairman))
  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Director
  • Public Pension Reform Caucus (Co-chairman)
  • Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts (Board of Trustees)
  • International Republican Institute (Board of Directors)

Member

  • Border Caucus
  • House Wednesday Group
  • National Campaign to Prevent Teenage Pregnancy
  • Internet Caucus
  • Inter-American Dialogue
  • Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus
  • World Economic Forum
  • Republican Main Street Partnership
  • Homeland Security Caucus
  • US-Mexico Caucus
  • Impact Aid Coalition

Public Service, Voluntary Activities, Advisory Boards

  • America-Israel Friendship League
  • Arizona Council for CASA, Inc., Board Member
  • Arizona-Mexico Commission
  • Big Brothers/Big Sisters
  • Friends of Kartchner Caverns
  • Tucson Community Food Bank
  • Tucson Shalom House, Advisory Board
  • Wright Flight, Inc., Board of Directors

Awards

  • Citizens For A Sound Economy
  • Citizens Against Government Waste
  • Free Congress Foundation
  • Jewish National Fund
  • National 4-H Hall of Fame, Inducted in the 2002 Centennial class
  • National Federation of Independent Businesses
  • Retired Officers Association
  • Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce 1998 Man of the Year
  • Watchdogs of the Treasury, Inc.

Personal

  • Born on June 28, 1942, Evanston, IL
  • Moved to Santa Cruz County, AZ, 1947.
  • Page for Senator Barry Goldwater (R-AZ) 1958-60.
  • B.A. Political Science, Northwestern University, 1965.
  • Navy ROTC, 1961-65.
  • M.B.A., concentration in Economics, Stanford University, 1967.
  • Lieutenant, United States Navy 1965-69 (Vietnam: 1968-69).
  • Naval Reserves, 1970-77.
  • Navy commendation medal, "V" Device.
  • Illinois Building Authority Architect, Assistant, 1970-72.
  • Illinois Governor’s Office, Assistant, 1972-73.
  • Vice Pres., land planning firm, Real estate consultant
  • Arizona State Senator - 1976-82
  • Chairman, Judiciary Committee; Majority Whip 1979-80
  • U.S. House of Representatives - Sworn in 1985
1661 North Swan Road Suite 112
Tucson, AZ 85712
Map
520-881-3588
77 Calle Portal Suite B-160
Sierra Vista, AZ 85635
Map
520-459-3115
237 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-2542