Senator
John Ensign has served the people of Nevada from his days
as a veterinarian, small business owner, and U.S. Congressman
to his present role as the 24th U.S. Senator for Nevada.
Senator
Ensign was raised in northern Nevada and moved to southern
Nevada where he graduated from Clark High School. He attended
UNLV and earned a Bachelor’s degree from Oregon
State University. He received his Doctor of Veterinary
Medicine degree from Colorado State University in 1985.
Senator Ensign immediately began practicing veterinary
medicine and opened the first 24-hour animal hospital
in Las Vegas.
Throughout
his career, Ensign has fought for smaller, more effective
government; lower taxes; a strong national defense and
aggressive approach to combating terrorists; increased
parental control in education choices; and quality health
care for Nevada's seniors and veterans.
Senator
Ensign was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000 and serves
on the following committees: Armed Services; Budget; Commerce,
Science and Transportation; Health, Education, Labor and
Pensions (HELP); and Veterans Affairs. Ensign is Chairman
of the Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee of
the Armed Services Committee and of the Subcommittee on
Technology, Innovation and Competitiveness of the Commerce
Committee. In addition, Senator Ensign chairs the Republican
High Tech Task Force; serves as Vice Chairman of the Republican
Steering Committee, a group that shapes the party’s
legislative agenda; and is a member of the Senate Fiscal
Watch Team, whose goal is to reduce government spending
and bring accountability to the system.
Since
taking office, Senator Ensign has worked hard and fulfilled
his promises to the people of Nevada. His Education High
Growth Grant amendment, which brings tens of millions
of extra dollars to Nevada schools, was included in the
education bill signed into law by President Bush.
On
the environmental front, the Southern Nevada Public Lands
Management Act, authored by then-Congressman Ensign, has
generated more than $2.7 billion for Nevada’s general
education fund; Clark County parks; facilities at Red
Rock Canyon, Lake Mead, and the Spring Mountains; and
the purchase of environmentally sensitive land. The legislation
was amended by Senator Ensign to include vital protection
for Lake Tahoe by providing $300 million over eight years
for water clarity, erosion control, and fire suppression
to reverse the decline of Lake Tahoe's famous clarity.
Senator Ensign’s commitment to the environment also
resulted in the enactment of the Ensign/Reid Clark County
Lands Bill which protects environmentally sensitive areas
in southern Nevada, allows recreational opportunities
to continue, and improves the quality of life for all
citizens.
From
his post on the Veterans Affairs Committee, Senator Ensign
led the fight to build a Veterans Hospital in southern
Nevada to provide quality health care for the brave men
and women who proudly served this nation. Construction
is expected to begin in 2007.
Senator
Ensign has been recognized by many local and national
groups for his work. He is the recipient of the 2004 Jacob
K. Javits Award for his efforts and action on behalf of
Americans with disabilities and the 2005 Educational Pioneer
Award for his vision and contributions to the disadvantaged
student population of Nevada. He was also named 2005 Legislator
of the Year by the Humane Society of the United States
for his commitment to the humane treatment of animals.
Senator
Ensign spends his workweek in Washington and his weekends
in Las Vegas with his wife, Darlene, and their three children—Trevor,
Siena, and Michael.
Name: |
John
Ensign (R-NV) |
Born: |
March
25, 1958, in Roseville, CA |
Hometown: |
Las
Vegas, NV |
Education: |
graduated
E.W. Clark High School, (1976); attended University
of Nevada, Las Vegas (1979); B.S., Oregon State University,
Corvallis (1981); D.V.M. Colorado State University,
Fort Collins (1985) |
Family: |
married
to Darlene Sciaretta; three children: Trevor, Siena,
and Michael |
Profession: |
veterinarian,
U.S. Congressman, U.S. Senator |
|
|
1987-1994 |
owner,
West Flamingo Animal Hospital, Las Vegas |
1994-2001 |
owner,
South Shores Animal Hospital, Las Vegas |
1995-1999 |
served
as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives,
1st District |
Nov.
7, 2000 |
elected
to U. S. Senate for 107th Congress |
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