Biography
BORN:
May 6, 1934 in Birmingham, Alabama
HOME:
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
FAMILY:
Married: Annette Nevin
Two children: Richard Jr. and Claude Nevin
EDUCATION:
- B.A., University of Alabama, 1957
- LL.B., University of Alabama, School of Law, 1963
CAREER:
- Lawyer, 1963-1978
- Tuscaloosa City Prosecutor, 1963-1971
- U.S. Magistrate, Northern District of Alabama, 1966-1970
- Special Assistant Attorney General, State of Alabama, 1969-1971
- Alabama State Senator, 1970-1978
- U.S. Representative, 1979-1987
- U.S. Senator, 1987-Present
Richard Shelby, Alabama's senior United States Senator, was first elected to the Senate in 1986 with an undeniable commitment to Alabama and the simple philosophy that a smaller government can also be a more effective government.
Senator Shelby is ranking member of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee and ranking member of the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Subcommittee. In addition, he is a senior member of the full Appropriations Committee and the Special Committee on Aging.
Senator Shelby's legislative agenda mirrors not only his conservative values, but his commitment to freedom, family, and a strong economy. He has authored and introduced legislation to create a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution every Congress since his election to the United States Senate. A leading tax code reform proponent, Senator Shelby is the Senate sponsor of legislation that would replace the current tax code with a flat-rate tax. As a strong proponent of government fiscal responsibility, Senator Shelby has consistently opposed Congress’s efforts to bailout private corporations with taxpayer dollars.
In the 111th Congress, Senator Shelby remains the ranking Republican on the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. The Committee has oversight of the operation and regulation of our nation’s banking system, financial markets, and housing markets. The bursting of the housing bubble and the ongoing credit crisis have led to significant turmoil in each of these areas. Throughout this time, Senator Shelby has been a strong advocate on behalf of the American taxpayer, and a vocal critic of Congress and the Bush Administration’s response. In the new Congress, the Banking Committee will turn its attention to, among other issues, restructuring the regulatory framework of the U.S. financial system. As the Committee undertakes this important task, Senator Shelby will continue to advocate for transparency, accountability, and taxpayer protection.
Senator Shelby serves as a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and is the ranking member of the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Subcommittee. The subcommittee's jurisdiction includes the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Economic Development Authority (EDA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Justice, among others. Senator Shelby is a strong supporter of local law enforcement, and as ranking member, consistently fights to secure funding for law enforcement agencies to implement programs that prevent and control crime.
Senator Shelby is a longtime supporter of programs and funding to help missing and exploited children. Senator Shelby is the Co-chair and Co-founder of the Senate Caucus on Missing, Exploited, and Runaway Children and the founder of the Financial Coalition to Fight Child Pornography. Senator Shelby introduced The Protect Our Children First Act of 2007, which became law in 2008. The legislation reauthorizes several laws pertaining to missing children’s assistance programs that work toward the goal of eradicating child pornography, combating exploitation, punishing sex offenders, and finding missing children. He also started a $16 million annual grant program to fight child predators in fiscal year 2008. Senator Shelby annually works to fund efforts that thwart child exploitation in Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bills. Additionally, every envelope that leaves Senator Shelby's office includes a printed photograph of a missing child to increase the visibility and hope of finding that child.
Senator Shelby believes that education is a national investment in our nation’s future and that expansion of infrastructure in our nation’s institutions of higher learning is vital. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, he has fought to secure critical funds to construct facilities at Alabama’s premier colleges and universities that will educate students in the subjects of math, science, and engineering. Because of Senator Shelby’s efforts, Alabama’s colleges and universities have received over $132 million to build state-of-the-art laboratories and research facilities.
Senator Shelby previously served as Chairman of the Transportation, Treasury and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee. In this capacity, Senator Shelby worked to ensure that Alabama receives its fair share of transportation funding. He nearly doubled the amount of federal highway funds that Alabama received for important infrastructure projects and secured over $400 million for Alabama’s airports.
Senator Shelby is also able to effectively oversee and provide funding for our nation's defense and military infrastructure through his position on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. He continues to fight each year to maintain the funding needed to protect servicemen and women stationed around the world. Senator Shelby maintains a careful watch over our nation's defense and aerospace industries, which are critical to not only the nation's defense and readiness, but to Alabama's thriving economy as well. He also works to ensure that our servicemembers have the training and equipment they need to survive and win any conflict. Senator Shelby will continue his efforts to ensure that BRAC funding stays on track, which is vital to the continued growth of Redstone Arsenal.
Senator Shelby recognizes that our nation’s number one future challenge is energy availability. He consistently promotes the need to reduce oil imports from unstable or unfriendly nations and expand domestic production. Senator Shelby believes that the United States must create a comprehensive energy plan that includes greater reliance on existing energy alternatives such as nuclear power. Senator Shelby also understands that renewable energy resources, including solar, hydropower, and biomass fuels show promise for the future. For this reason, Senator Shelby is a strong supporter of research and development initiatives that will encourage further expansion in the renewable resources industry.
Senator Shelby believes that national security is one of the federal government’s primary responsibilities and he takes that role very seriously. From 1995 to 2003, Senator Shelby served on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. In this capacity, he and the other committee members provided oversight of the intelligence community. Following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Senator Shelby served diligently to investigate the intelligence failures that led to those attacks.
Although Senate rules allow members to serve only eight years on the Intelligence Committee and having fulfilled that term, Senator Shelby remains committed to working with President Obama to ensure the safety of all Americans, both here and abroad. Senator Shelby has been a strong proponent of intelligence reform and was involved in debate surrounding the intelligence reform bill that former President Bush signed into law in December, 2004. Senator Shelby was pleased that the bill included the creation of a National Counterterrorism Center and immigration reforms, but he was disappointed that the bill did not call for a stronger, cabinet-level Director of National Intelligence that would have command and control authority over the entire intelligence community.
Senator Shelby has received countless awards for his outstanding record on business, economic, military, family, and seniors issues. Awards like the “Spirit of Enterprise,” from the U. S. Chamber of Commerce; “Guardian of Small Business,” from the National Federal of Independent Business; “Taxpayer's Friend,” from the National Taxpayers Union; “Medaris Award,” from the National Defense Industrial Association; “Friend of the Family,” from the Christian Coalition; and “Guardian of Seniors' Rights,” from the 60 Plus Association are a testament to his support of these important issues.
Prior to Senator Shelby’s election to the United States Senate, he served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and eight years in the Alabama legislature. He also served as a City Prosecutor in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Alabama, and Special Assistant to the Attorney General in Alabama.
A fifth generation Alabamian, Senator Shelby is a graduate of the University of Alabama's undergraduate and law programs. He and his wife, Annette Nevin Shelby, have two sons: Richard Jr. and Claude Nevin. Claude and his wife Lisa have one daughter, Anna Elizabeth Shelby, and one son, William Nevin Shelby.