Brad Sherman
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 27th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Adam Schiff
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 24th district
In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Anthony C. Beilenson
Succeeded by	Elton Gallegly
Member of the California Board of Equalization from the 4th district
In office 1991–1997
Preceded by	Conway Collis
Succeeded by	John Chiang
Personal details
Born	Bradley James Sherman (1954-10-24) October 24, 1954 (age 57) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Lisa Kaplan Sherman
Residence	Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma mater	Harvard Law School University of California, Los Angeles
Occupation	Accountant Lawyer
Religion	Judaism

Bradley James "Brad" Sherman (born October 24, 1954) is an American politician. He has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1997, representing California's 27th congressional district. Sherman represents California’s San Fernando Valley, and currently resides in Sherman Oaks, CA.

Early life, education, and early career[link]

Sherman was born in Monterey Park, Los Angeles, the son of Lane and Maurice Hyman Sherman. His parents were both of Russian Jewish descent.^[1] He attended Mark Keppel High School and Corona del Mar High School. He received a B.A. from University of California Summa Cum Laude^[2] in 1974 and a J.D. from Harvard Law School Magna Cum Laude^[3] in 1979.^[4]

Before joining Congress, Sherman was on staff at one of the nations’ big-four CPA firms. While at the firm, he audited large businesses and governmental entities, provided tax law counsel on multi-million dollar transactions, advised entrepreneurs and small businesses on tax and investment issues, and helped represent the Government of the Philippines under President Aquino in a successful effort to seize assets of deposed President Marcos.^[5] Sherman was also an instructor at Harvard Law School’s International Tax Program.^[6]

Board of Equalization (1991-1996)[link]

Congressman Sherman’s public service career includes serving on the California State Board of Equalization from 1991 to 1996. He was Chairman of the Board from 1991 to 1995.,^[6]

U.S. House of Representatives (1997-Present)[link]

Elections[link]

In 1994, incumbent Democrat U.S. Congressman Anthony C. Beilenson of California's 24th congressional district barely survived the Republican Revolution, winning re-election by just a two point margin,^[7] by far the worst election performance of his career. In 1996, he decided to retire. Sherman decided to run and won the 7-candidate Democratic primary with 54% of the vote.^[7] In the general election, he defeated Republican nominee Rich Sybert (also 1994 nominee) 49%-44%.^[8]

In 1998, he won re-election with 57% of the vote.^[9] After that, he has won re-election every two years with at least 62%.^[10]

After redistricting, Sherman will face fellow U.S. Congressman Howard Berman in the open primary.^[11]

Tenure[link]

First elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1996, Sherman is serving his eighth term in Congress. He's senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and serves as the top Democrat on the Subcommitee on International Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade. He is also a senior member of the Financial Services Committee.^[6]

Sherman has held over 160 Town Hall meetings since being elected to Congress.^[12]

Environment

Congressman Sherman has earned a 100% rating from the Sierra Club^[13] and the League of Conservation Voters^[14] – two of the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States.

Serving on the House Budget Committee in 1997, Congressman Sherman authored the Sherman Amendment to the Budget Resolution providing an additional $700 million for the acquisition of environmentally important lands in FY ‘98.^[15] The Sherman Amendment was included in the Joint Budget Resolution and effectuated by a $699 million appropriation. Sherman also secured $20 million to acquire land and to complete the Backbone Trail System through the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

Labor

Sherman’s voting record has most often earned him a 100% rating from the AFL-CIO, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).^[16][17]

Sherman was an original cosponsor of The Employee Free Choice Act when it was introduced at the start of 2007, and again when it was re-introduced in 2009.^[18]

Sherman introduced legislation, in 2008 and 2010, to eliminate so-called state “Right to Work” laws nationwide.^[19] and he supports a single national standard that protects labor rights. Sherman has also opposed Free Trade deals with South Korea, Colombia, and other countries because he believes they are bad for the American worker.^[20][21]

Transportation

Sherman has worked to reduce airport noise in the San Fernando Valley. Sherman joined several colleagues in introducing legislation, the Valley-Wide Noise Relief Act, to allow the operator of Bob Hope Airport to implement a mandatory nighttime curfew.^[22]

Sherman secured federal funds to initiate several improvements at the 101/405 interchange.^[23]

Animal Rights

Sherman’s voting record has consistently earned a 100% rating from the Humane Society which has awarded him the “Humane Champion” award for five consecutive years.^[17][24]

Financial crisis

During the debate over the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (commonly referred to as "the bailout of the U.S. financial system), Sherman was an early and outspoken critic of the proposal, leading the House revolt against the bailout bill, a move which made him "spectacularly unpopular with both the Republican and Democratic leaderships, not to mention K Street."^[25] Sherman argued that Bush and his advisors had created a panic atmosphere in an effort to get lawmakers to rubber-stamp the bill.^[26]

Social Security and Health Care

Sherman has said he is "opposed to creating a voucher system for Medicare." He wants to avoid "turn[ing] Social Security into a welfare program" instead keeping it "for people who contribute to it."^[27]

For his voting record and efforts in Congress, Sherman has consistently earned a 100% rating from the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare and from the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons).^[17] Congressman Sherman supported the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which closed the “donut hole” or coverage gap.

Housing

Sherman introduced the Preserving Equal Access to Mortgage Finance Programs Act (HR 1754), which raises the conforming loan limit for FHA loans in high-cost areas such as Sherman's district.^[28][29]

Foreign relations

In August 2010, Sherman introduced legislation aimed at rescinding China's Most Favored Nation status as long as there was not "a more level playing field between our two nations".^[30] He said that "the U.S.-China trade relationship is horrendously lopsided".^[30]

Sherman has introduced or co-sponsored more than 20 bills in the 111th and 112th Congresses that he says, "enact tougher sanctions to isolate Iran economically and diplomatically."^[31] His efforts have included legislation designed to close loopholes for U.S. companies with subsidiaries operating in Iran. and to curtail U.S. funding of international organizations providing loans to Iran.^[32]

Sherman has been a strong supporter and advocate of the U.S-Israel relationship, consistently supporting aid to Israel.^[33] In 2004, Brad Sherman first^[34] introduced the U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperation Act.^[34] It provides grant money to joint ventures between American and Israeli academics and private sector companies that conduct research and develop energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies.

As a senior member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Sherman has focused on Congressional recognition of the Armenian Genocide, as well as increasing funding to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.^[35][36][37]

Religion

Sherman is a member of the Jewish faith. For many years Congressman Sherman and his wife Lisa have been members of Valley Beth Shalom, a conservative synagogue in Encino, California.

In 2006 Congressman Sherman was married to Lisa Kaplan by the senior Rabbi of Valley Beth Shalom, Rabbi Eddie Feinstein.

Sherman's Los Angeles district lies within Scientology's West Coast stronghold,^[38] though there are no Scientology centers in Sherman's district.^[39] He attended the Church of Scientology's reopening in Washington, DC in October 2009.^[38][40] Speaking about the importance of religious freedom, he praised the church's work in support of that aim; but his representative noted that the congressman has appeared at events for "over 100" religious groups and "this does not give me the time to evaluate each of their organizational structures or doctrines because I am also showing up at hundreds of events for nonreligious organizations."^[38][40] Sherman has been described as "[one] of the church's best friends currently serving in Congress."^[41] At a 2004 Celebrity Centre gala, a flag was presented to Scientology on behalf of Sherman and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.^[42]

Internet policy

In 2011, Sherman co-sponsored SOPA because "Hollywood's first offer" in combating piracy of music, films and books.^[43]

LGBT

Congressman Sherman is a strong supporter of LGBT rights and an advocate of equality. He earned a 100% rating from The Human Rights Campaign,^[44] the largest LGBT advocacy group in the country.

Sherman is a member of the LGBT Equality Caucus,^[45] which serves to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality. Sherman supports full marriage equality,^[46] and supported the overturning of the military’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Policy.^[47]”

Sherman was an original co-sponsor of Congressman Jared Polis's Student Non-Discrimination Act.^[48] Sherman is also a cosponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act,^[49] known as ENDA, (H.R. 1397). In 2009, Sherman voted for the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act,^[50] which imposes additional federal penalties for crimes motivated by hatred on the basis of race, religion, or actual or perceived sexual orientation.

Abortion

Sherman is pro-choice. He has earned a 100% rating from NARAL^[51] and Planned Parenthood^[52]

Gun Control

Congressman Sherman has worked to expand the definition of armor-piercing ammunition in US law. He was a sponsor of the Protect Law Enforcement Armor (PLEA) Act.^[53] Sherman has received a 100% rating from The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence^[16]

Trade

Sherman has opposed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) arguing that the agreements cost American jobs, fail to protect foreign workers, harm the environment, and cost U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars.^[54] Sherman has also opposed a Free Trade Agreement with South Korea arguing that, a proposed U.S. trade agreement could undermine U.S. security and economic interests by benefiting China and North Korea.^[55]

Education

Congressman Sherman has earned a 100% rating from the California Teachers Association,^{[citation needed]} the National Education Association,^[56] and the American Federation of Teachers.^[57]

Sherman supported the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Also know as the Stimulus Bill) which allocated $53.6 billion for K through 12 education, 6 billion of which went to California schools. The stimulus bill also included $12.2 billion for the administration of the Individuals with Disabilities Education (IDEA) Act.^[58]

Sherman cosponsored the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act,^[59] the single largest investment in our nation’s history in aid to students and families to pay for college. This legislation reforms the system of federal student loans to save taxpayers $87 billion and then invests $77 billion of those savings back into education, and directs $10 billion back to the Treasury to reduce entitlement spending.^[60]

Committee assignments[link]

• Committee on Financial Services
  • Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government-Sponsored Enterprises
  • Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity
• Committee on Foreign Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade (Ranking Member)
  • Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific

Personal life[link]

On December 3, 2006, Sherman married Lisa Nicola Kaplan, a foreign affairs officer for the U.S. State Department.^[61] The couple’s first child, Molly Hannah Sherman, was born on January 14, 2009.^[62] Their second child, Naomi Claire Sherman, was born on February 6, 2010.^[63] Their third child, Lucy Rayna Sherman, was born on August 8, 2011.^[64]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikisource has original works written by or about: Brad Sherman

• U.S. Congressman Brad Sherman, U.S. House site

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Issue positions and quotes at On the Issues
• Financial information at OpenSecrets.org
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Brad Sherman for U.S. Congress, Campaign site

Sherman Howard
Born	(1949-06-11) June 11, 1949 (age 63) Chicago, Illinois

Howard Lee Sherman (born June 11, 1949 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American actor.

Biography[link]

Acting career[link]

Theatre[link]

In 1989 he appeared at the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival in Louisville, Kentucky. He played the title role in Hamlet and Malvolio in Twelfth Night. His wife, Donna Bullock, played Ophelia in Hamlet and Viola in Twelfth Night.

Movies[link]

He has appeared in motion pictures such as Day of the Dead (in which he played the zombie Bub) and Lethal Weapon 2.^[1] Sherman was special guest of the 2010 Creation Entertainment Weekend of Horrors on 21 May 2010.^[2] Howard also played the voice of the evil Chief McBrusque in An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island.

Television[link]

His most well known part would probably be his appearance as Roy "the Triangle Boy" from "The Junior Mint" episode of Seinfeld. He has made appearances on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager.^[3] and Stephen King's "The Stand". He played Lex Luthor in Superboy, Derek Powers in Batman Beyond and Buzzard in Men in Black: The Series.

Video Games[link]

He lent his voice to play the villain Kor in Jak II and Daxter and the Red Sage in The Precursor Legacy. Other video games he has appeared in include "Red Faction 2", "Devil May Cry 2" and, "Run Like Hell".

Personal life[link]

He is married to actress Donna Bullock.^[4]

References[link]