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Senator John Breaux

Senator John Breaux

U.S. Senator John Breaux, a leader in national politics, serves as an effective and aggressive advocate for the state of Louisiana. Born in Crowley, Louisiana, he was elected to the House of Representatives in 1972 at the age of 28. At the time of his election, he was the youngest member of the U.S. Congress. Senator Breaux represented the 7th District of Louisiana for 14 years before being elected to fill Senator Russell Long's seat in 1986. In 1992, Senator Breaux won re-election with 74 percent of the vote -- the largest margin of all senators running for re-election that year. In 1994, Campaigns and Elections magazine named him one of the 20 most popular elected officials in America.

Senator Breaux is widely recognized as a leader in the Senate. In 1993, his Democratic colleagues elected him to serve as Chief Deputy Whip, a position he continues to hold in the 105th Congress. A senior member of the Finance Committee, he serves as the ranking Democrat of the Subcommittee on Social Security and Family Policy. He also serves on two other Finance subcommittees -- International Trade and Taxation and IRS Oversight.

From his position on the Finance Committee, Senator Breaux has played pivotal roles in several recent legislative debates. He was instrumental in helping forge the compromises that led to passage of the welfare reform and health insurance reform bills in 1996. He is also a leader in the efforts for tax reform and has proposed significant tax relief for education expenses.

For the past several years, as the leader of the Centrist Coalition of moderate Democrats and Republicans, Breaux has sought bipartisan agreements on a number of issues, including a balanced budget, welfare reform and health care reform.

Senator Breaux's mainstream approach to government has earned him praise from conservatives, liberals and moderates across Louisiana. As The Times (Shreveport) observed in a March 1997 editorial: "Instead of indulging in the partisan, divisive ideological politics that has characterized recent years, Breaux has sought to build bridges between Democrats and Republicans and is widely respected on both sides of the aisle. Breaux speaks for America and Louisiana, not for an ideology, and his constituents know it."

Senator Breaux is the ranking Democrat on the Special Committee on Aging and has used this position to highlight the importance of protecting and strengthening Social Security, Medicare, and other programs that are essential to the health and well-being of older Americans. In January 1998, he was selected by the White House and congressional leaders to chair the National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare.

As a member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Senator Breaux has taken a leadership role on a wide variety of issues, including telecommunications, consumer protection, fisheries, shipping, tourism and aviation. He is the ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, Foreign Commerce and Tourism. He also serves on four additional subcommittees: Aviation, Communication, Oceans and Fisheries, and Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine.

Senator Breaux has been a leader on critical issues facing Louisiana. He has strongly supported Louisiana's agriculture, oil and gas, and tourism industries. In 1993, he played a crucial role in the defeat of the unpopular Btu tax -- a proposal that would have harmed Louisiana industry and cost jobs nationwide. And he has balanced a strong economic agenda with environmental action. In 1990, he authored and secured passage of landmark legislation resulting in more than $50 million annually to preserve America's wetlands. And he took a leading role in revising the Clean Air Act to reduce air pollution.

Senator Breaux has been at the forefront of the effort to return the national Democratic Party to the center of American politics. He was a founder and past chair of the Democratic Leadership Council, succeeding President Bill Clinton in 1991.

Senator Breaux and his wife, the former Lois Daigle of Lafayette, have four children, John Jr., Bill, Beth and Julie. He is a graduate of Southwestern Louisiana University in Lafayette and the Louisiana State University School of Law in Baton Rouge.


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