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Click here for Congressman
Shays' abbreviated bio
Click here for Congressman
Shays' head shot
"...his record reflects a rare thoughtfulness and
considerable independence....Legislators with the fearlessness
and principles of Mr. Shays aren't easy to come by."
New York Times, Oct. 26, 2004
In his over three decades of public service, Congressman
Christopher Shays (R-CT) has distinguished himself as a committed
advocate for the constituents of the Fourth District, a dedicated
leader in the fight against terrorism, a budget hawk, an activist
for good government, a respected voice on urban issues, and
a staunch environmentalist.
Christopher is Vice Chairman of the Government Reform Committee,
Chairman of its Subcommittee on National Security and a member
of the Homeland Security and Financial Services Committees.
These assignments put him at the center of some of the most
critical issues facing our country today: fighting the war
on terror, getting our economy moving again and increasing
government accountability.
On the front lines of the war on terror well before September
11, 2001, Christopher is considered an expert on terrorism
issues. He chaired 20 hearings on the terrorism threat before
the attack on the twin towers and Pentagon and continues aggressive
oversight of the nation’s military, intelligence and
homeland security operations, to ensure we are working hard
to prevent and prepare for future attacks.
The first Congressman to enter Iraq after the war, Christopher
has been to the nascent democracy fourteen times. He has traveled
throughout Baghdad and the Iraqi countryside, both inside
and outside the umbrella of the military; witnessed their
historic elections; and sought to provide leadership by uniting
U.S. officials, NGO representatives and Iraqi citizens to
define the future of the country and the region together.
First elected to public office in 1974 - the year of the
Watergate scandal -Christopher has been an outspoken advocate
for good government practices. He has been a driving force
behind such landmark legislation as the Bipartisan Campaign
Reform Act, which transforms federal campaign finance law,
and the Congressional Accountability Act, which requires Congress
to live by the laws it writes.
Christopher represents 17 communities, including the cities
of Bridgeport, Stamford and Norwalk, and places a high priority
on urban renewal and economic development issues. He works
to attract businesses to Connecticut’s urban areas in
order to create a larger job and tax base through such programs
as the “One Coast, One Future” initiative, which
takes a regional approach to marketing the Bridgeport-Stamford
corridor. He and Kweisi Mfume, who formerly represented Baltimore,
introduced the Urban Marshall Plan to Rebuild Our Cities,
which proposed legislation to encourage economic and social
programs to benefit cities. Christopher will have a new platform
to tackle grant management reform, Brownfields clean-up, redevelopment,
and other policies affecting housing and urban development
through his appointment to the new Federalism and Census Subcommittee
and his involvement on the Saving America’s Cities Working
Group.
Christopher was elected to Congress in 1987 promising to “get
our financial house in order” and has worked hard to
reduce spending and stimulate the economy with selected tax
cuts.
Christopher has a seat on the Financial Services Committee,
which oversees an industry of utmost importance to the economy
of the Fourth District. He is a proponent of the Corporate
Auditing Accountability, Responsibility and Transparency Act,
which protects investors by improving the accuracy and reliability
of corporate disclosures. Christopher serves on the Capital
Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises and
the Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittees, where
he works on policy related to U.S. capital markets, securities
and insurance industries, regulation of government-sponsored
enterprises and public and private housing and community development
needs.
Designated an “Environmental Champion” by the
League of Conservation Voters, Christopher is steadfast in
his commitment to protecting our precious earth. He fights
to conserve our resources, diversify our energy sources, limit
greenhouse gas emissions, and protect the integrity of federal
laws that guard our air, land and water.
A leader among centrist Republicans, Christopher is an advocate
of socially moderate views. He worked with the former Administration
to establish the successful COPS program, which has helped
reduce crime through the United States. He leads the charge
to end racial profiling and sexual discrimination in the workplace.
He is an ardent supporter of a woman’s right to choose.
He helped author the 1993 Gun Control Act and advocates a
sensible assault weapons ban reauthorization bill. A former
Peace Corps volunteer, Christopher helped establish the AmeriCorps
national service program and co-founded the Congressional
National Service Caucus. He is Co-Chair of the Congressional
Arts Caucus, the Congressional Friends of Animals Caucus and
the Nonproliferation Task Force.
A guest on national and local television and radio shows,
Christopher is an oft-quoted voice on the pressing issues
of the day, including terrorism, Iraq, civil liberties, the
economy, campaign finance reform and the budget.
Christopher served seven terms in the Connecticut House of
Representatives prior to his election to Congress. He earned
his MBA and MPA from New York University and his undergraduate
degree from Principia College. He and his wife, Betsi - his
high school sweetheart - grew up in Darien, lived in Stamford
for 27 years, and now reside in Bridgeport. Their daughter,
Jeramy, attends Vermont Law School and is studying environmental
policy.
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