Biography of U.S. Representative Bart Stupak
Bart Stupak was elected in 1992 to represent Michigan's First Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. It is one of the largest congressional districts in the nation, encompassing approximately half of the state’s land mass. The district contains more shoreline - 1,613 miles - than any other congressional district in the nation except Alaska. Stupak became the first Democrat in the 20th century to serve successive terms in this district by winning reelection eight times: in 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008.
Stupak is a member of the prestigious House Energy and Commerce Committee, which is an exclusive committee and therefore is the only committee on which Stupak serves. Congressman Stupak's committee assignment allows him to shape legislation that affects all Americans, from Medicare and prescription drug bills, to rural health care and telemedicine measures, to legislation affecting energy availability and prices.
Within the Energy and Commerce Committee, Stupak serves as the chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee (commonly referred to as “O&I;”). Since 2007, as the top Democrat on the subcommittee, Stupak helped spearhead investigations into high-profile issues like online child pornography, physical and cyber security breaches at U.S. nuclear labs, food and drug safety, insurance company rescissions of insurance policies, and the recent Toyota sudden unintended acceleration problems. Stupak’s law enforcement background and his work as an attorney make him uniquely qualified to chair the subcommittee. In addition to serving as chairman of O&I;, Stupak also serves on the Communications, Technology and the Internet Subcommittee and the Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee.
Most recently, Congressman Stupak played a significant role in the passage of H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This legislation will provide 32 million more Americans with access to affordable, quality health insurance, will provide important consumer protections and prevent families who require medical care from falling into bankruptcy. Health care for all Americans has been a priority ever since Stupak was first elected in 1992. He pledged then not to accept the insurance that members of Congress receive – the Federal Employees Health Benefit Package – until all Americans could have access to that same quality health care. He has kept that promise.
Throughout his 20 years of state and federal elected service, Congressman Stupak has steadfastly championed pro-life values from the moment of conception until an individual’s last breath. He has served as co-chairman of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, chairman of Democrats for Life and has been endorsed by pro-life groups in every congressional election. Stupak helped pass the Partial Birth Abortion Ban of 2003 and most recently played an instrumental role in helping pass health insurance reform legislation that protects the unborn. Thanks to Stupak’s leadership, President Obama signed an executive order ensuring that no taxpayer funds will be used for abortion in the new health care reform legislation.
Stupak has made protecting the Great Lakes one of his signature priorities. He led the International effort to ban the sale and diversion of Great Lakes water and he was the first elected official to oppose the drilling for oil and gas in and under the Great Lakes. Stupak’s years of persistence and hard work paid off in 2005 when a permanent federal ban on new drilling for oil and gas in and under the Great Lakes was enacted into law. Stupak achieved an additional clean water victory in 2005 when the House overwhelmingly passed his legislation to block the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from finalizing its proposal to allow partially treated human waste to be dumped into our waterways.
Stupak is a recognized leader in Congress on energy issues. In each of the past five years, he authored legislation that instructed the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to crack down on gas price gouging and excessive speculation by traders on energy futures. In the spring of 2006, when gas prices soared to record levels, the House Democratic leadership called on Stupak to deliver the Democratic response to the president’s weekly radio address.
Acknowledging Congressman Stupak's investigative experience and his ability to work in a bipartisan manner, Democratic leaders have several times named him to a small pool of members of Congress who may be called upon to investigate other members for potential ethics violations. In the selection of Stupak, leaders cited his sense of justice and fair play, knowledge of the House and its procedures, and an ability to rise above partisanship, as well as his law enforcement background.
Stupak began his career in public service as an Escanaba, Michigan police officer in 1972 and continued his career in law enforcement as a Michigan State Police Trooper. Injured in the line of duty, he was medically retired from the state police in 1984. He also has served Michigan residents as an attorney and as a member of the Michigan State Legislature.
Stupak's 12 years of experience as a police officer have allowed him to take a lead role on law enforcement issues. He founded and co-chairs the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus, a bipartisan organization of more than 100 House members, which provides our nation's law enforcement community with an avenue to participate in the legislative process.
In response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Stupak was named to the Democratic Caucus Task Force on Homeland Security and currently serves as a member of a task force subgroup, the Domestic Law Enforcement Working Group. In that forum and through legislation he sponsored, he has fervently sought to train and equip local law enforcement and other first responders to be better prepared for potential bioterrorism attacks and other terrorist incidents. Stupak has been a lead advocate for ensuring local law enforcement and first responders have “interoperable” communications that can communicate across jurisdictions during emergency situations and terrorist incidents.
Due to the First Congressional District’s position along America’s northern border with Canada and Stupak’s steadfast work on northern border issues, Stupak was selected as co-chairman of the Congressional Northern Border Caucus. His work toward promoting border security while working to preserve the vitality of cross-border trade and travel earned him the Canadian/American Border Trade Alliance (Can/Am BTA) top honor for his “leadership and the positive difference it makes.”
Congressman Stupak holds a Juris Doctor degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School, in Lansing, Michigan. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Saginaw Valley State University in 1977, graduating magna cum laude, and he earned his Associate's Degree from Northwestern Michigan Community College in Traverse City in 1972.
Bart was born on February 29, 1952. He lives in Menominee, Michigan, with his wife, Laurie. Their son, Ken, graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law in 2006 and resides in California with his wife, Cristina. The Stupaks also had a son, Bart Jr., who died in May 2000.
Congressman Bart Stupak - Recent Honors and Awards
2009– Commencement Speaker & Honorary Doctor of Laws degree – Northern Michigan University “Thousands of student lives have been enriched and enhanced by the dedication of Congressman Bart Stupak’s efforts on behalf of Northern Michigan University. Northern is most fortunate to have such a tireless representative in Congress working on its behalf and is proud to have Bart Stupak as an adopted alumnus.” – Dr. Leslie Wong, President, Northern Michigan University.
2008– Association for Community Afflicted Plans Community Health Leader award given for his “strong & consistent support of Medicaid and the safety net health plans that serve millions of Americans.”
2007– Commencement Speaker & Honorary Doctor of Laws degree – Saginaw Valley State University
2007- National Rural Health Association’s “Rural Health Champion”
“In his 14 years serving the 1st District of Michigan, Representative Bart Stupak has been a tireless advocate for his rural constituents, rural health care providers and the patients they serve. It is fitting that the representative would be such a great friend to rural health.” - Alan Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of the National Rural Health Association.
2006- Michigan Sheriff’s Association’s first ever “Federal Legislator of the Year Award”
"He has led fights to provide additional funding for Byrne Grants; supported the COPS program; passed resolutions honoring National Night Out; spoken at National Law Enforcement Memorial services; fought for funding to make communications for local law enforcement and first responders interoperable; and more. This is the first time MSA has recognized a federal legislator for this award.” -Terrence Jungel, Executive Director of the Michigan Sheriff’s Association.
2005- American Rivers’ Legislator of the Year Award This award was presented to Congressman Stupak to honor his work preventing untreated sewage from being discharged into American waterways.
2005- Michigan Credit Union League Federal (MCUL) Legislator of the Year
“Congressman Stupak has been an incredible advocate on many of the issues important to credit unions in Michigan.”– Patrick LaPine, Government Affairs Vice President, Michigan Credit Union League.
2003- The Great Lakes Maritime Task Force’s Great Lakes Legislator of the Year Award
“Great Lakes deserve great legislators, and Congressman Stupak certainly fills that bill. From his first days in Congress, he has recognized the important contributions Lakes shipping makes to Michigan’s economy and the country’s national defense capabilities. Just as it takes skilled American mariners to ease a 1,000 foot freighter into the Poe Lock, it takes skilled legislators like Bart Stupak to promote Great Lakes shipping in Washington.” John Baker, the President of the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force.
2001– National Association of Community Health Centers 2001 Community Health Super Hero Award presented for his dedication to community health centers.
2001– Fellow of Northwestern Michigan College
Congressman Bart Stupak Selected Major Legislation Accomplishments April 9, 2010
