Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

Judy Biggert

 
Wikipedia: Judy Biggert
Judy Biggert


Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 13th district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
January 3, 1999
Preceded by Harris Fawell

Born August 15, 1937 (1937-08-15) (age 72)
Chicago, Illinois
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Rody Biggert
Children Courtney
Alison
Rody
Adrienne
Residence Hinsdale, Illinois
Alma mater Stanford University, Northwestern University
Occupation attorney
Religion Episcopalian

Judith Borg "Judy" Biggert (born August 15, 1937 in Chicago, Illinois), American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1999, representing Illinois's 13th congressional district (map).

Contents

Personal life

Judy Biggert was born in Chicago on August 15, 1937 and attended New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois. She is married to Rody Biggert, with whom she has four children: Courtney Caverly, Alison Cabot, Rody Biggert, and Adrienne Morrell, and seven grandchildren: Martin Bray, Gillian and Grant Patterson Caverly, and John Henry, Matthew, and Ethan Cabot, and Greer Morrell. The couple lives in a 138-year-old home in Hinsdale, Illinois.[1] Biggert graduated from Stanford University and Northwestern University School of Law.

After graduating with a law degree, Biggert began her legal career as clerk to judge Luther Merritt Swygert of United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. She is a member of the American Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, the DuPage Bar Association, and the DuPage Association of Women Lawyers.

On April 3, 2008, Biggert presented with the ASME President's Award by ASME President Sam Zamrik as recognition for her "leadership in advancing the science, engineering and technology enterprise which is so vital to this nation"[2]

Legislative career

Biggert began her legislative career in 1992, when she was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives to serve the newly created 81st District. She became the first member of the Illinois House in the 20th Century to be named to leadership after serving only one term.[citation needed] She was re-elected in 1994 and 1996 before running for Congress in 1998. Biggert defeated Peter Roskam in the Republican primary. Biggert earned 61% of the vote to win the seat opened up by the retirement of U. S. Representative Harris Fawell.

Biggert was cited by Glamour Magazine as one of the "New Female Power Players" and by Fortune Magazine as one of "The Picks of Congress' New Litter."[3]

In 2000, Biggert was re-elected with 66% of the vote, and her winning margins have been similarly large in elections since then.[citation needed] She is currently serving on the House Education & Labor Committee, the House Science & Technology Committee, and the House Financial Services Committee — on which she is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit.[citation needed] In 2003, she co-sponsored legislation that would have provided private sector employees the same workplace flexibility currently available to federal employees; thereby making it easier for parents and other caregivers to balance work and family commitments.[4][5][6]

Biggert's other subcommittee assignments include: Housing and Community Opportunity (Financial Services); Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit (Financial Services); Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education(Education and Labor); Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness (Education and Labor); Energy and Environment (Science & Technology), Technology and Innovation (Science & Technology).[7]

Biggert undertook bipartisan support for the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) and was key in working with the employer and insurance communities to enable the passage of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act in the House on April 25, 2007.[8] She was the initial sponsor of the bill.[9] She was present when President George W. Bush signed the bill into law on May 21, 2008.[10]

Biggert also serves as Co-chair of the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus.[citation needed]

Congresswoman Biggert has a proven track record of working with both Democrat and Republican members to enact legislation. Her work with the Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Democrat Louise Slaughter (D-NY) led to the enactment of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (H.R. 493); which bars employers and insurers from discriminating against individuals on the basis of their genes.[11] She continues to author numerous other bipartisan bills and is often asked to participate in bipartisan negotiations. Last year, when Congress and the President were hopelessly deadlocked on changes to the State's Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), Democrats in the House asked her to lead a negotiating team that lead to the reauthorization of this important program.[12]

Some additional bipartisan bills introduced by Rep. Biggert this Congress:

Oil and Gas-to-Alternatives Swap (OGAS) Act of 2007 (H.R. 86). Encourages the development of renewable technologies such as plug-in hybrid vehicles. [13] 401Kids Act (H.R. 87) - Provides a single college savings vehicle for parents and other relatives; making saving for college simpler. [14] Eating Disorders Awareness, Prevention, and Education Act of 2007 (H.R. 88). [15] Great Lakes Asian Carp Barrier Act (H.R. 553). [16] FAFSA Fix for Homeless Kids Act (H.R. 601). Ensure homeless children are able to access federal student loans. Incorporated into H.R. 1642 and enacted into law. [17] Homeless Education Improvement Act of 2007 (H.R. 3205). Improves K-12 education for homeless youth by incorporating lessons learned since the passage of NCLB. [18] Protecting Our Children Online Act of 2008 (H.R. 6145) [19] Medicare Beneficiary Protection Act of 2008 (H.R. 6359). Protects seniors from abusive marketing practices in the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D programs. Incorporated into H.R. 6331 (Sec. 103) and enacted over the President's Veto. [20] Medicare Physician Telephone Consultation Services Coverage Act of 2008 (H.R. 6380). Increases seniors' access to their physicians and reduces emergency room costs. [21]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

  • Co-Chair of the Caucus on Women's Issues

Legislation and voting record

Biggert is a member of The Republican Main Street Partnership and Republicans for Choice and is considered a moderate Republican. She is a signer of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge.[22]

Electoral history

  • 2008 Race for U.S. House of Representatives—13th District
    • Judy Biggert (R), 54%
    • Scott Harper (D), 44%
  • 2006 Race for U.S. House of Representatives—13th District
    • Judy Biggert (R), 58%
    • Joseph Shannon (D), 42%
  • 2004 Race for U.S. House of Representatives—13th District
    • Judy Biggert (R), 65%
    • Gloria Schor Andersen (D), 35%
  • 2002 Race for U.S. House of Representatives—13th District
    • Judy Biggert (R), 70%
    • Tom Mason (D), 30%
  • 2000 Race for U.S. House of Representatives—13th District
    • Judy Biggert (R), 66%
    • Tom Mason (D), 34%
  • 1998 Race for U.S. House of Representatives—13th District
    • Judy Biggert (R), 61%
    • Susan Hynes (D), 39%
  • 1998 Race for U.S. House of Representatives—13th District Republican Primary

See also

References

  1. ^ "Meet Judy". Judy Biggert Congresswoman 13th District of Illinois. http://judybiggert.house.gov/MeetJudy.aspx. 
  2. ^ ASME (May 2008). "NEWS Online". http://www.asmenews.org/features/0508pres.html. 
  3. ^ "About Judy". Judy Biggert. http://www.biggert.com/about/. 
  4. ^ http://www.therealjudybiggert.com/
  5. ^ HR 2989, House Vote 489, 9/9/03; H Res 770, House Vote 451
  6. ^ http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c108:1:./temp/~c108TIz19X::
  7. ^ "Judy's Resume". Judy Biggert Congresswoman 13th District of Illinois. http://judybiggert.house.gov/MeetJudy.aspx?Section=2. 
  8. ^ House of Representatives
  9. ^ Library of Congress
  10. ^ Bush Signs Bill Outlawing Genetic Discrimination - Boston Globe
  11. ^ http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.r.00493:
  12. ^ Library of Congress
  13. ^ http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110:7:./temp/~bd7qsD::|/bss/d110query.html|
  14. ^ http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110:8:./temp/~bdFw3k:@@@P|/bss/d110query.html|
  15. ^ http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110:9:./temp/~bdFw3k::|/bss/d110query.html|
  16. ^ http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110:10:./temp/~bdK5ET::|/bss/d110query.html|
  17. ^ http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110:11:./temp/~bdFw3k::|/bss/d110query.html|
  18. ^ http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110:16:./temp/~bdK5ET::|/bss/d110query.html|
  19. ^ http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110:29:./temp/~bdK5ET::|/bss/d110query.html|
  20. ^ http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110:30:./temp/~bdK5ET::|/bss/d110query.html|
  21. ^ http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110:31:./temp/~bdK5ET::|/bss/d110query.html|
  22. ^ Current Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers

External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Harris W. Fawell
U.S. Representative of Illinois's 13th Congressional District
1999–
Succeeded by
Incumbent

Search unanswered questions...
Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics
 
 

 

Copyrights:

Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Judy Biggert" Read more