main photo
thumbnail

CONGRESSMAN BRAD ELLSWORTH

As the 8th District's Congressman, Brad Ellsworth is continuing his career-long commitment to put Hoosiers first. In Congress, he is a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and is working to reduce waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars. He also sits on the Armed Services, Agriculture, and Small Business Committees.

Before coming to Congress, Brad spent 24-years in the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's office protecting the people of southwest Indiana. He was twice decorated for heroism in the line of duty and graduated from the FBI National Academy. In 1998, Brad was elected Vanderburgh County Sheriff, where he completed two terms. Brad was born and raised in southern Indiana. He grew up in Evansville; attending University of Southern Indiana and Indiana State University. Brad and his wife, Beth, reside in Evansville. Together they have a daughter, Andrea.

Today, following the signing of the Wall Street Reform bill which will help protect Hoosier investors from having their life savings, 401Ks, and college funds gambled away by a few unscrupulous Wall S... MORE

Today, as Hoosier businesses continue to climb out of this recession, Brad Ellsworth voted to provide tax relief for U.S Manufacturers to help them compete in the global economy: “For too long Ho... MORE

Featured Issue: Healthcare

Skyrocketing costs have forced many small businesses to either shift the growing cost of their insurance programs to their employees or eliminate their health plans altogether. The result: the majority of workers haven't seen any increase in their buying power in the last decade, since any additional compensation is quickly absorbed by their increasing health insurance premiums. Read More

Date Roll Bill Vote More Votes >
Dec 01 595 h res 1724 Yea
Dec 01 594 h res 1217 Aye
Dec 01 593 h j res 101 Yea
Dec 01 592 h res 1430 Aye
Dec 01 591 h res 1735 Aye
Dec 01 590 h con res 323 Yea
Dec 01 589 h res 1741 Yea
  • EVANSVILLE DISTRICT OFFICE
    101 NW Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Room 124 Evansville, IN 47708 T 812.465.6484 | F 812.422.4761
  • TERRE HAUTE DISTRICT OFFICE
    901 Wabash Avenue Suite 140 Terre Haute, IN 47807 T 812.232.0523 | F 812.232.0526
  • WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE
    513 Cannon House Office Bldg Washington, DC 20515 T 202.225.4636 | F 202.225.3284 Toll Free 866.567.0227

National Defense

Every day, I am inspired by the unwavering will and determination of our fighting men and women who serve with valor in Iraq, Afghanistan, and throughout the world in the Global War on Terror.  Their commitment to serving our country represents the very best America has to offer and we owe them our debt of gratitude.
As a member of the House Committee on Armed Services, my number one priority is ensuring our men and women in uniform have the equipment, weapons and training they need to complete their missions. We should treat every soldier as if they were our own son or daughter. Providing them with anything less than our full support is unacceptable to me. 

Essential to providing a strong national defense is a fully modernized military.  I am proud of the vital contribution the 8th Congressional District makes to our national defense through technological innovation at Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center in Martin County.  Crane's support for the Navy and Army electronic warfare components is essential to our military effectiveness.

The 8th Congressional District can also be proud of the Newport Chemical Agent Disposal Facility and its important work to neutralize VX nerve agent, as well as the Crane Army Ammunition Activity supplying essential weapons for our troops in harms way.

Iraq
Our fighting men and women in Iraq have performed with tactical precision that has brought about real security gains in regions of Iraq. But a lasting peace in Iraq will require the Iraqis to stand up, lay down their arms against each other, and form a functional government. This is, after all, their country. It will require Iraqi politicians, tribal leaders, and everyday citizens choosing reconciliation over violence. In Congress, the great challenges present in Iraq require members from both parties and the President to work together to bring this war to a successful conclusion.  We all want our fighting men and women to have the best equipment, weapons, and training they need to execute their missions and return home safely as soon as possible.

There's no question, we face big challenges in Iraq. But the bottom line is we are stronger when we face them together.

National Guard Readiness
The 8th Congressional District is home to the brave men and women of the 163rd Field Artillery Regiment based in Evansville, the 152nd Infantry Division in Vincennes, and the 181st Fighter Wing of the Indiana Air Guard at Hulman Field in Terre Haute.

When called upon to serve our country at home or abroad, our National Guard and Reserve have time and time again answered the call with valor. 

During my time in Congress, my colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee and I worked hard to address the readiness concerns of our National Guard and Reserve.  It is imperative that all of our fighting men and women have everything they need. 

National Guard units across the nation are playing a vital role in the security of our country; not only serving valiantly in Iraq and Afghanistan, but also responding to national crisis and natural disaster at home. However, their ability to respond to tomorrow's crisis depends on the steps we take today.  Congress must continue to support our National Guard and Reserve troops in the upcoming Defense Authorization bill.