Janice Hahn
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 36th district
Incumbent
Assumed office July 12, 2011
Preceded by	Jane Harman
Member of the Los Angeles City Council from the 15th district
In office July 1, 2001 – July 12, 2011
Preceded by	Rudy Svorinich
Succeeded by	Joe Buscaino
Personal details
Born	(1952-03-30) March 30, 1952 (age 60) Los Angeles, California
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Gary Baucum (divorced)
Relations	Kenneth Hahn (father) James Hahn (brother) Gordon Hahn (uncle)
Children	Three
Residence	San Pedro, Los Angeles
Alma mater	Abilene Christian University
Occupation	U.S. Congresswoman, former businesswoman and teacher
Religion	Churches of Christ
Education	B.S. in Education, 1974
Website	Official Website

Janice Kay Hahn (born March 30, 1952) is the U.S. Representative from California's 36th congressional district and a member of the Democratic Party. She was previously a Los Angeles City Councilwoman representing the 15th district from 2001 to 2011. From 1997 to 1999 she served as an elected representative on the Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission.^[1]

On July 12, 2011, Hahn won a special election for Congress to fill the seat vacated by Democrat Jane Harman. Despite the strong Democratic lean of the district, she defeated Republican Craig Huey, a Tea Party-backed direct marketer from the Torrance area, with 55 percent of the vote to Huey's 45 percent.^[2]

Early life, education, and business career[link]

Portrait of Hahn by David Fairrington

Hahn was raised in a politically involved family. She is the daughter of the late Ramona Hahn (née Fox)^[3] and the late Kenneth Hahn, a 40-year Los Angeles County Supervisor who started his career in elective politics as a Los Angeles City Councilman.^[4] Her uncle, Gordon Hahn, was a member of the California Assembly and a Los Angeles City Councilman from the late 1940s to the early 1960s. Her brother, James Hahn, served as Los Angeles City Controller from 1981 to 1985, City Attorney from 1985 until 2001, and Mayor of Los Angeles from 2001 until 2005.^[1][4] Hahn's maternal grandparents served as missionaries in Japan in the 1920s and 1930s.^[3]

Hahn attended Abilene Christian University in Texas, earning a bachelor of science in education in 1974.^[5] She taught at the Good News Academy, a private school in Westchester from 1974 to 1978.^[5] Her other work in the private sector has included Public Affairs Region Manager at Southern California Edison from 1995 to 2000;^[5] Vice President for Prudential Securities in Public Finance, Director of Community Outreach for Western Waste Industries, and Director of Marketing for the Alexander Haagen Company.

Early political career (1997-2001)[link]

Local commissions[link]

Hahn was elected to represent the Fifteenth District on the Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission, serving from 1997 to 1999.^[6] As a Commissioner, she fought for many of the reforms included in the new charter, including Area Planning Commissions, local representation on the citizen commissions governing Los Angeles International Airport and the Port of Los Angeles, and a system of neighborhood councils.^[4]

1998 congressional election[link]

Incumbent Democrat U.S. Congresswoman Jane Harman decided to resign in order to run for Governor of California. Hahn won the Democratic nomination, but lost the general election to Republican State Assemblyman Steven T. Kuykendall 49%-47%.^[7]

Los Angeles City Council (2001-2011)[link]

Hahn giving a speech in 2007

Hahn served on the Los Angeles City Council, representing the 15th District, from 2001 to 2011. The 15th District encompasses the San Pedro Harbor and includes the ethnically diverse communities of Harbor City, Harbor Gateway, San Pedro, Watts and Wilmington.^[8] She was reelected to her third and final term in November 2009.^[1]

She has been called "one of the most pro-labor members" of the City Council, and a "consistent opponent of layoffs and furloughs for city workers."^[9] Hahn walked the picket lines with unionized dockworkers in 2002.^[10] After the Bush administration suggested it would intervene in the labor dispute by using government troops to operate the ports, Hahn urged non-intervention.^[10] "'There's no room for the federal government. There's only one reason for them to get involved, and that's to break the union,' she said."^[10] She was the leading force on the City Council behind both the passage of a living wage ordinance for the hotel workers along Century Boulevard near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and the provision of improved health benefits to LAX employees.

Hahn cites her efforts to clean up the Port of Los Angeles as one of her main accomplishments while on the City Council.^[11] The 2006 Clean Air Action Plan, which she and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa pushed forward, set a goal of reducing pollution by 45 percent within five years and shifted the movement of goods at the ports to off-peak traffic hours.^[11] Hahn also supported the addition of the Clean Trucks Program that requires the 16,000 diesel trucks serving the ports meet 2007 EPA emission standards within five years.^[11][12] She has noted that the ports have been Southern California's largest emitter of greenhouse gasses and diesel emissions and that the Clean Trucks Program also provides for improved working conditions, wages and benefits for port truckers.^[12] Prior to the Clean Air Action Plan, she had already shifted about 35% of goods to be moved during off-peak hours. Hahn also helped advance redevelopment projects at the Port of Los Angeles in both San Pedro and Wilmington.

On the City Council, Hahn was a major proponent of gang prevention, intervention, and suppression programs. She led the campaign to pass Measure A, which would have dedicated a sustainable revenue stream for those programs, but fell just shy of the two thirds percentage needed to pass. On a smaller level, she expanded the Gang Alternatives Program to all elementary schools in her district.

2010 Lieutenant Governor election[link]

Hahn ran for California Lieutenant Governor but was defeated in the primary by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, finishing second in a field of three candidates.^[13]

U.S. House of Representatives (2011-Present)[link]

Elections[link]

2011

On February 7, 2011, Hahn announced her intention to run for the U.S. House of Representatives in the special election to fill California's 36th Congressional District seat vacated by Congresswoman Jane Harman's departure to head the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

Hahn was one of sixteen candidates from all parties who competed in the special election primary on May 17, 2011.^[14] She finished first with 24 percent of the vote; Republican Craig Huey finished second with 22 percent. Because no candidate received more than 50 percent, Hahn and Huey, the top two finishers, faced off in a special runoff election on July 12.^[14] Many had expected Debra Bowen, the third place finisher and California Secretary of State, to secure one of the top two spots.

The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, endorsed Hahn in March 2011, a move the Daily Breeze called "significant" because of the fundraising and get out the vote power of the large organization.^[15] As of March 23, 2011, Hahn had received endorsements from Senator Dianne Feinstein, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, California Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez, California State Senator Ted Lieu, Torrance Firefighters Association Local 1138, and other notable figures such as former LA Laker Earvin “Magic” Johnson and environmentalist and actor Ed Begley Jr.^[16] On April 25, 2011, Hahn secured the endorsement of the Los Angeles Times.^[14] Following her victory in the primary, Hahn was endorsed by California Democrats Governor Jerry Brown, Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom (who defeated Hahn in the 2010 primary race for Lieutenant Governor), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland.^[17] Emily's List, an organization that supports women candidates who support abortion rights also endorsed Hahn.^[17] On June 5, 2011, Hahn was officially endorsed by primary opponent Marcy Winograd, California State Controller John Chiang, Assemblyman Warren Furutani and Assemblywoman Betsy Butler, as well as the gun-control group Brady Campaign.

A poll conducted by the Daily Kos and Services Employees International Union shortly before the July 2011 election had Hahn in the lead over Huey by 8 points, (52 percent to 44 percent) with 4 percent undecided.^[18] Her final margin of victory was 9 points, 54.56 percent to 45.44.^[2]

2012

After redistricting, Hahn decided to run in the newly redrawn California's 44th district. She will face fellow U.S. Congresswoman Laura Richardson in the Democratic primary. The California Democratic Party endorsed Hahn.^[19]

Committee assignments[link]

• House Committee on Homeland Security
• House Committee on Small Business

Caucuses

• PORTS Caucus
• Congressional Progressive Caucus
• Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
• Out of Afghanistan Caucus^[20]

Recognition[link]

Some of the awards received by Hahn include the Rosa Parks Award from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Bold Vision Award from the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, the Public Service Award from the African-American Chamber of Commerce, the Recognition Award from the Harbor Area Gang Alternative Program, and enshrinement on the Promenade of Prominence in Watts.^[1]

Personal life[link]

Hahn is a lifelong resident of Los Angeles and lives in San Pedro.^[1] She is the mother of three children, the grandmother of five, and a member of the Churches of Christ.^[21]

Electoral history[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Janice Hahn

• Janice Hahn for Congress
• 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

Devin Nunes
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 21st district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2003
Succeeded by	Incumbents
Personal details
Born	(1973-10-01) October 1, 1973 (age 38) Tulare, California
Political party	Republican
Residence	Tulare, California
Alma mater	California Polytechnic State University
Occupation	farmer
Religion	Roman Catholic

Devin Nunes (born October 1, 1973) is the U.S. Representative for California's 21st congressional district, serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district, located in the San Joaquin Valley, includes all of Tulare County, as well as much of eastern Fresno County. He is also the author of the book Restoring the Republic, published by WND Books in September 2010. Time magazine named Nunes one of the rising stars of American politics under 40, in their list of ″40 under 40″; that is, the top forty civic leaders under 40 years of age.^[1] Nunes is a member of two committees in the House of Representatives, Ways and Means and Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.^[2] He is also co-chair of the Brazil Caucus and the U.S.-Mexico Friendship Caucus.

Early life, Education, and Career[link]

Nunes was born in Tulare, California. His family has operated a farm in Tulare County for three generations. The Nunes family is of Portuguese descent, immigrating from the Azores to California.^[3]

Nunes graduated from Tulare Union High School. He is the second Member of Congress to attend Tulare Union, following Olympic gold medalist Bob Mathias three-decades later, who served in House of Representatives from 1967-1975. After associate's work at College of the Sequoias, Nunes graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he received a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business and a master’s degree in agriculture.

Nunes was first elected to public office when he was 22 years old. He unseated an 18-year incumbent for a seat on the Board of Trustees of his alma mater, the College of the Sequoias, earning 65 percent of the vote.^[4] He served as a trustee from 1996-2002.^[5] In 2001, he was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as California State Director for the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development section. He left this post later in the year to run for the Republican nomination in the 21st congressional district, a new California district created through reapportionment after the 2000 United States census. Before 2002, the 21st congressional district was part of three districts represented respectively by Bill Thomas, Cal Dooley, and George Radanovich.

Elections 2002-2010[link]

Nunes principal opponents in the crowded seven-way 2002 Republican primary were former Fresno mayor Jim Patterson and State Assemblyman Mike Briggs. Nunes was the only major candidate from Tulare County, while Patterson and Briggs were both from Fresno. This was critical; 42% of the district population is in Fresno County and 58% in Tulare County.^[6] Patterson and Briggs split the vote in Fresno County, allowing Nunes to win by a four-point margin over Patterson, his nearest competitor. Nunes won 46.5% of the vote in Tulare County and 28.1% of the vote in Fresno County. In addition to Patterson and Briggs splitting Fresno County's vote, Nunes was also helped by a strong showing in the rural part of the district.^[7] He won the endorsement of the California Farm Bureau and the Fresno Bee.^[6] This district is heavily Republican, and Nunes coasted to victory in November. He has been reelected four times against only nominal Democratic opposition. During the June 8, 2010, California primary, Nunes actually received more write-in votes in the Democratic primary than the Democratic write-in candidate.^[8][9] He ran unopposed in the 2010 general election.

U.S. Congress[link]

Committees[link]

During 108th Congress, Nunes' first term in Congress, he served on the House Resources Committee, where he was chairman of its National Parks Subcommittee. He was also a member of the Agriculture and Veterans Affairs committees. In the 109th Congress, Nunes was named to the House Ways and Means Committee. He has served on the committee since then, where he is 6th in seniority, and a member of the Subcommittees on Trade and Health.^[10] He was also a member of the House Budget Committee during the 111th Congress. For the 112th United States Congress, Nunes was named to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

In 2003, Nunes became a founding member of the Congressional Hispanic Conference, a caucus of Republican Members of Congress of Hispanic and Portuguese descent.

Policies and Legislation[link]

Water[link]

On May 1, 2011, Nunes with the other members of the San Joaquin Valley’s Republican Congressional Delegation introduced The San Joaquin Valley Water Reliability Act to restore the flow of water to the San Joaquin Valley. Water restrictions have been in place to enforce the Endangered Species Act, which has seen water allocations decline dramatically even in non-drought years. The result has been what Nunes terms a "man-made drought."^[11]

Energy[link]

In 2006, Nunes authored the "American-Made Energy Freedom Act." In July 2008, the Republican Conference introduced the American Energy Act, which included a key Nunes proposal from the American-Made Energy Freedom Act to establish a renewable energy trust fund from revenues generated by deep ocean and Arctic coastal plain exploration and invest the monies in alternative fuels and technology.^[12]

On July 28, 2010, Nunes introduced H.R. 5899, "A Roadmap for America's Energy Future." It accelerates the exploration and production of fossil fuel; supports the rapid development of market-based alternative energy supplies; and expands the number of nuclear reactors from the current 104 to 300 over the next 30 years.^[13] Kimberley Strassel of The Wall Street Journal wrote that "It's a bill designed to produce energy, not restrict it. It returns government to the role of energy facilitator, not energy boss. It costs nothing and contains no freebies. It instead offers a competitive twist to government support of renewable energy."^[14]

Federal Spending, Healthcare, State Pensions[link]

On January 27, 2010, Nunes became an original cosponsor of H.R. 4529, "A Roadmap for America's Future", sponsored by Paul Ryan.^[15] H.R. 4529 proposes major reforms of the U.S. health care system, Social Security, the federal tax code, job training, and the budget process. A key feature of the "Roadmap" is that the legislation solves the problem of the unfunded liabilities of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, and provides for their long-term financial solvency. On January 29, 2010, President Obama said that the "Roadmap" is a "legitimate" plan to solve the fiscal crisis facing the United States due to the unfunded liabilities of Medicare and Medicaid.^[16] Nunes was also a co-sponsor of "Roadmap for America's Future Act of 2008," an earlier version of H.R. 4529.

Also in 2009, Nunes co-authored the "Patients' Choice Act" with Paul Ryan (R-WI) in the House, and Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Richard Burr (R-NC) in the Senate. The Patient's Choice Act would establish a system of state health insurance exchanges and amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a refundable tax credit for qualified health care insurance coverage. The bill also proposes to adsorb Medicaid programs to the exchange system.^[17] The Patients' Choice Act was incorporated into A Roadmap for America's Future.

On December 2, 2010, Nunes introduced H.R. 6484 the "Public Employee Pension Transparency Act."^[18] Paul Ryan and Darrell Issa (R-CA) are cosponsors. H.R. 6484 enhances transparency for state and local pensions, and would establish a clear federal prohibition on any future public pension bailouts by the federal government.

Transportation[link]

California State Route 99 is a highway running north and south that breaks off from Interstate 5 at Wheeler Ridge in Kern County and continues through the Central Valley until it connects with I-5 again at Red Bluff in Tehama County. In 2005, Nunes introduced H.R. 99, which designated State Route 99 as a congressional High Priority Corridor. The bill also provided federal authorization for Highway 99 to become part of the Interstate Highway System. The bill became law as part of H.R. 3 in August 2005. On February 17, 2011, Nunes introduced H.R. 761, the "San Joaquin Valley Transportation Enhancement Act", which would give the State of California the option to redirect federal high speed rail funds to finance improvements to Highway 99.^[19] H.R. 761 was cosponsored by Jeff Denham (R-CA) and House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).^[20]

Veterans[link]

The Hubbard Act of 2008, H.R.5825, was named in honor of the Hubbard brothers of California, Jared, Nathan, and Jason. Jared and Nathan lost their lives serving in Iraq. Jason Hubbard was discharged as a sole survivor, but denied separation benefits on leaving the Army. The Hubbard Act provides sole survivors a number of benefits already offered to other soldiers honorably discharged. Sole survivors also do not have to repay any portion of their enlistment bonus, are entitled to the educational benefits of the Montgomery GI Bill, and can receive separation pay and transitional healthcare coverage.

National Security, Foreign Affairs, and Trade[link]

As a member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Nunes would have oversight over 17 military and national intelligence programs, including the CIA and other clandestine activities. He appears to travel extensively as a committee member. Unlike most congressional travel, in the highly secretive world of intelligence little is disclosed where Members of Congress travel unless reported by the House intelligence committee, foreign governments, or international media. Committee records indicate that Nunes has traveled to Europe, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia during 2011-2012.^[21] Foreign country news reports reveal that Nunes was in Kashmir in November 2011 with Mac Thornberry (R-TX) also a member of the House intelligence committee and vice-chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, as part of a larger trip to India. It was further reported (and photographed) that they met with Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah.^[22]

As co-chair of the Brazil and Mexico caucuses, Nunes was selected by Speaker John Boehner to be a member of a well-publicized congressional delegation that the Speaker led to Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico in January 2012. Members of the delegation were Reps. Dave Camp (R-MI), Ways and Means Committee chairman; Doc Hastings (R-WA), Natural Resources Committee chairman; John Kline (R-MN), Education and the Workforce Committee chairman; Greg Walden (R-OR); and Dan Boren (D-OK). Boren was the sole Democrat on the trip.

As co-chair with Jared Polis (D-CO) of the U.S.-Mexico Friendship Caucus, Nunes along with members of the Hispanic Caucus and Hispanic Conference of the House of Representatives met with President Felipe Calderón of Mexico on April 24, 2012, in what is believed to be Calderón's final trip to Washington, D.C, as President of Mexico. Steny Hoyer, the Democratic Whip, also attended the meeting.^[23]

Controversies[link]

Nunes has been referred to as brash and sharped-tongued by his opponents. ^[24] He has had a long-running dispute with Senator Diane Feinstein over water policy and other issues,^[25] running a series of ads against her in California.^[26] There was even speculation that Nunes would challenge her for the Senate.^[27]

Author[link]

On September 13, 2010, Nunes' book, Restoring the Republic: A Clear, Concise, and Colorful Blueprint for America's Future was published by WND Books, an imprint of WorldNetDaily.

Committees 112th Congress[link]

• House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
• Committee on Ways and Means
  • Subcommittee on Trade
  • Subcommittee on Health

References[link]

External links[link]

• U.S. Congressman Devin Nunes official House site
• Congressman Devin Nunes official campaign site
• Biography at WhoRunsGov.com at The Washington Post
• 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
• Congressional profile at GovTrack
• Congressional profile at OpenCongress
• Issue positions and quotes at On the Issues
• Financial information at OpenSecrets.org
• Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Appearances on C-SPAN programs
• Profile at SourceWatch
• Smart Voter's congressional district 21 results for 2002 2004 2006