Jim DeMint
U.S. Senator, South Carolina
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| The Senator's Biography |
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Biography
Jim DeMint was elected on November 2, 2004 as South Carolina’s 55th U.S. Senator. He has dedicated his life in public service to defending the values that have made America great -- individual liberty, free markets and faith. Jim is a responsive, reform-minded Republican who is fighting for more independence and security for all Americans. Jim believes we are the most secure as a nation when we are the most free.
Jim was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina, where he became an active volunteer and community leader. After graduating from Wade Hampton High School (named after South Carolina’s 34th U.S. Senator), he earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee and received his Masters in Business Administration from Clemson University.
As the owner of a Greenville based market research firm, Jim became an expert in positioning products in a crowded marketplace, a skill that has made him an effective legislator and representative. When Jim was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1998, his colleagues recognized his unique attributes and skills and elected him president of the Republican freshman class.
In Congress, Jim has fought to restore our founders' vision of limited government with personal freedom and responsibility. He believes the best way government can be true to that vision is to return dollars, decisions and freedom to our communities and families. His priorities in Congress include supporting President Bush in the war on terror, saving and strengthening Social Security, making health care more affordable and accessible, reducing taxes and reforming our tax code, and empowering parents with more education.
In the 108th Congress, Jim introduced the Social Security Savings Act, a bill that would save Social Security by strengthening it for current and future generations. The Social Security Savings Act would protect promised benefits to seniors and establishes personal accounts younger workers can own and pass on to their families, creating real retirement security.
In order to make health care more affordable and accessible, Jim supports patient-directed health care. He believes government and health insurance bureaucracy has made our health care system costly and painfully difficult to navigate. Jim has authored legislation that allows patients to create tax-free health savings accounts (HSAs) that turn patients into shoppers and equip them with buying power. When combined with low cost, high deductible health insurance, HSAs could dramatically reduce health care costs and improve the quality of care. Significant portions of DeMint HSA proposals became law in 2003.
Jim has helped President George W. Bush pass tax relief, and he cast important votes to end the marriage penalty, repeal the death tax, and increase the amount of money workers can contribute to retirement savings plans. In the 108th Congress, Jim introduced the Tax Reform Action Commission (TRAC) Act that would eliminate our antiquated and complex tax code and replace it with a tax code that is more simple and fair.
Jim has also helped pass legislation to reform welfare, protect a student's right of religious expression, honor baseball great "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, and encourage the adoption of needy children.
Jim and his wife, members of the Presbyterian Church of America, live in Greenville, South Carolina with their four children. Committee Assignments:
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Committee Chair - Subcommittee on Disaster Prediction and Prevention
Environment and Public Works
Joint Economic Committee
Special Committee on Aging
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| Office Locations |
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Charleston
112 Custom House
200 East Bay St
Charleston, SC 29401
P: 843-727-4525
F: 843-722-4923
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Columbia
1901 Main St
Suite 1475
Columbia, SC 29201
P: 803-771-6112
F: 803-771-6455
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Greenville
105 North Spring St
Suite 109
Greenville, SC 29601
P: 864-233-5366
F: 864-271-8901
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Washington, D.C.
340 Russell
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
P: 202-224-6121
F: 202-228-5143
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