Biography

 
Congressman Dan Lipinski - Third District, Illinois

Dan Lipinski was elected to the House of Representatives in 2004 to serve the people of Illinois' 3rd Congressional District. He is a proud native of the district, which includes parts of Chicago, southwest Cook County, and northeastern Will County. Now in his fifth term, Rep. Lipinski has earned a reputation as a legislator who brings people together to solve problems, distinguishing himself as a leader on transportation issues, the promotion of American manufacturing, and job creation through research and innovation.

A champion for the middle class, the congressman has led the fight to develop a national manufacturing strategy and supports investing in local infrastructure to improve communities, foster economic development, and create good jobs. Rep. Lipinski is a strong voice for fiscal responsibility and deficit reduction, earning him recognition and awards for his efforts to rein in our national debt.

In the House, Rep. Lipinski serves on two Committees: Transportation & Infrastructure and Science, Space, & Technology.

Rep. Lipinski is the most senior member from Illinois on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, serving on the Subcommittee on Aviation and the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials. In 2005 he secured $100 million in federal funding to initiate the CREATE rail modernization program, a public-private partnership that is easing congestion on the road and rails in northeastern Illinois. In 2012, he helped pass the first federal highway and transit bill in seven years and the first Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization in nine years. These bills are critical for easing congestion on local roads and mass transit, as well as at airports. Representing a district that includes federal highways, state tollways, Chicago's Midway Airport and Romeoville’s Lewis University Airport, the Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal, four commuter rail lines, Amtrak, and six of the country's seven Class I freight railroads, he is an expert on the various transportation needs and challenges facing the country. Working with local leaders, he has helped to improve service on Metra’s SouthWest Service and Heritage Corridor lines, providing commuters with better access to jobs and improving their quality of life.

On the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Rep. Lipinski is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Research and sits on the Subcommittee on Energy. Rep. Lipinski’s district includes Argonne National Laboratory, the first national laboratory in the United States and the largest facility of its kind in the Midwest. The congressman has long supported investing in innovation and scientific research at universities, national labs, and other entities that support long-term economic growth and allow the United States to compete in the global marketplace and grow American jobs.

As a former teacher, Rep. Lipinski has pushed for improvements in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education throughout his career. Rep. Lipinski is a strong believer that improving STEM education at all levels is among the most important steps we can take to ensure that America remains the most technologically innovative country in the world and our children receive an education that will allow them to succeed in the jobs of today and the future. When he was chairman of the Research Subcommittee, Rep. Lipinski helped write the legislation reauthorizing the National Science Foundation (NSF) as well as the America COMPETES Act. In 2007, Lipinski was a member of the House-Senate Conference Committee that completed work on the COMPETES Act, a response to a National Academies report warning that America must take action if it wants to maintain its place as the world’s scientific and technological leader.

Among Rep. Lipinski’s other priorities are boosting domestic manufacturing and strengthening Buy American laws so that taxpayer money is spent on products made in the United States and not in foreign countries.

Lipinski is known throughout the district for his top-notch constituent services and his work on behalf of veterans and senior citizens.   

Prior to serving in Congress, Rep. Lipinski taught American Government at a number of colleges, including the University of Notre Dame. He also gained experience on Capitol Hill working for the House Administration Committee, the Democratic Policy Committee, and House members, including Minority Leader Richard Gephardt. He also has worked for the U.S. Department of Labor and the Illinois General Assembly's Commission on Intergovernmental Cooperation.

Rep. Lipinski earned a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University, a Master's degree in Engineering-Economic Systems from Stanford University, and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Duke University. In the 113th Congress, he is one of only a dozen trained engineers in the House and Senate.

Rep. Lipinski and his wife, Judy, reside in Western Springs. In their free time, they are avid runners, participating in numerous races each year, ranging from two-mile sprints to half-marathons.