- Brad Sherman
-
Brad Sherman 
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 27th districtIncumbent Assumed office
January 3, 2003Preceded by Adam Schiff Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 24th districtIn office
January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2003Preceded by Anthony C. Beilenson Succeeded by Elton Gallegly Member of the
California Board of Equalization
from the 4th districtIn office
1991–1997Preceded by Conway Collis Succeeded by John Chiang Personal details Born October 24, 1954
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 AngelesOccupation Accountant
LawyerReligion Judaism Bradley J. "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.
Born and raised in southern California, Sherman represents California’s San Fernando Valley, and currently resides in Sherman Oaks, CA.
Contents
Early life and family
On December 3, 2006, Sherman married Lisa Nicola Kaplan, a foreign affairs officer for the U.S. State Department.[1] The couple’s first child, Molly Hannah Sherman, was born on January 14, 2009.[2] Their second child, Naomi Claire Sherman, was born on February 6, 2010.[3] Their third child, Lucy Rayna Sherman, was born on August 8, 2011.[4]
Attended Mark Keppel High School, Alhambra, Calif., and Corona del Mar High School, Newport Beach, Calif.; B.A., University of California, Summa Cum Laude [5], Los Angeles, Calif., 1974; J.D., Harvard Law School, Magna Cum Laude [6], Cambridge, Mass., 1979[7]
Career
Congressman Brad Sherman
Early Career
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.,[8] 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[9]. Sherman was also an instructor at Harvard Law School’s International Tax Program.[10]
First elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1996, Sherman is serving his eighth term in Congress. Congressman Sherman is a 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.[11]
Environment
Congressman Sherman has earned a 100% rating from the Sierra Club [12] and the League of Conservation Voters [13] – 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.[14] 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.
Financial crisis
During the debate over the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, 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."[15] Sherman argued that Bush and his advisors had created a panic atmosphere in an effort to get lawmakers to rubber-stamp the bill.[16]
China, Iran
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".[17] He said that "the U.S. – China trade relationship is horrendously lopsided".[17]
In September 2010, Sherman introduced legislation designed to close loopholes for U.S. companies with subsidiaries operating in Iran. He has also sought legislative measures to curtail U.S. funding of international organizations providing loans to Iran. "We must continue to enact tougher sanctions to isolate Iran economically and diplomatically, and we must act now," Sherman said.[18]
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 a Scientology stronghold, and he attended the Church of Scientology's reopening in Washington, DC in October 2009.[19][20] Speaking about the importance of religious freedom, he praised the church's work in support of that aim.[20][19] Sherman has been described as "[one] of the church's best friends currently serving in Congress," and was "honored at a 2004 Celebrity Centre gala" featuring famous Scientologists such as John Travolta and Kelly Preston.[21]
Israel
Sherman has been a strong supporter and advocate of the U.S-Israel relationship, consistently backing US aid to Israel. [22]
In 2004, Brad Sherman first [23] introduced the U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperation Act. The Act was passed into law as Section 917 of the Energy Independent and Security Act of 2007.[24] The U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperation Act now funds joint U.S. and Israeli research programs in the areas of alternative energy sources and energy efficiency. It provides grant money to joint ventures between American and Israeli academics and private sector companies that conduct research and develop energy-efficient and alternative energy technologies.
LGBT
Congressman Sherman is a strong supporter of LGBT rights and an advocate of equality. He has worked in congress to end discrimination against the LGBT community, and he has consistently earned a 100% rating from The Human Rights Campaign [25] - the United States' largest LGBT advocacy group.
Pro-Choice
Congressman Sherman is pro-choice. He has earned a 100% rating from NARAL [26] and Planned Parenthood [27]
Gun Control
Congressman Sherman has worked to control the sale of guns designed to penetrate bullet proof vests. He was a sponsor of the Protect Law Enforcement Armor (PLEA) Act [28]. Sherman has received a 100% rating from The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence[29]
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 [30]. Sherman has also opposed a Free Trade Agreement with Korea arguing that, a proposed U.S. trade agreement could undermine U.S. security and economic interests by benefiting China and North Korea [31].
Town Hall Meetings
Sherman has held over 100 Town Hall meetings since being elected to Congress.[32]
Committee assignments
- 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
References
- ^ nytimes.com
- ^ http://thehill.com/capital-living/announcements/25098-announcements-january-20-2009
- ^ http://thehill.com/capital-living/in-the-know/80293-rep-brad-sherman-welcomes-baby-girl-who-had-good-timing
- ^ http://www.scpr.org/blogs/kitty-felde/2011/08/09/another-sherman-sherman-oaks/
- ^ http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CDIR-2009-12-01/pdf/CDIR-2009-12-01-CA-H-26.pdf
- ^ http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/sherman.html
- ^ http://vote-ca.org/intro.aspx?state=ca&id=cashermanbrad
- ^ http://bradsherman.house.gov/about/biography.shtml
- ^ http://www.politico.com/arena/bio/brad_sherman.html
- ^ http://bradsherman.house.gov/about/biography.shtml
- ^ http://bradsherman.house.gov/about/biography.shtml
- ^ http://www.sierraclub.org/planet/200011/endorsements.asp
- ^ http://capwiz.com/lcv/bio/keyvotes/?id=625&congress=1121&lvl=C
- ^ http://articles.latimes.com/1997/sep/04/local/me-28798
- ^ "Rep. Sherman, Not So Popular On the Playground". The Washington Post. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/2008/10/rep_sherman_not_so_popular_on.html.
- ^ Pergram, Associated Press, Chad. "Paulson Urges Quick Action on $700 Billion Bailout Plan". Fox News. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,425663,00.html. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
- ^ a b Stiles, Andrew. "Dems ready to push China this fall". The Hill. http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/112967-dems-ready-to-push-china-on-currency-manipulation. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
- ^ Solomon, Jay. "U.S. Slams Firms Over Ties to Iran". The Wall Street Journal. http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:l-8zhJDmKzcJ:online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704789404575524050147296646.html+wsj+%22We+must+continue+to+enact+tougher+sanctions+to+isolate+Iran+economically+and+diplomatically,+and+we+must+act+now%22&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&source=www.google.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
- ^ a b The news on the street, Washington Post (Nov. 4, 2009)
- ^ a b Clabaugh, Jeff (November 9, 2009). "Church of Scientology opens new D.C. home". Washington Business Journal (American City Business Journals, Inc.). http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/11/09/daily9.html. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
- ^ Pareene, Alex (2011-02-10) The Church of Scientology's friends in Washington, Salon.com
- ^ http://www.njdc.org/site/page/brad_sherman
- ^ http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-108hr5342ih/pdf/BILLS-108hr5342ih.pdf
- ^ http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-108hr5342ih/pdf/BILLS-108hr5342ih.pdf
- ^ http://www.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/111thCongressional_Scorecard.pdf
- ^ http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/us-government/congressional-records/california.html
- ^ http://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/elections-politics/2010-elections-map.htm#/california/ush10849
- ^ http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/search/pagedetails.action;jsessionid=XxQQTLHVdPYqqh16QsyX4GWgZWZ9wkfYqtCvT7q3T2G8QcCt9c5j!-961268343!234411547?sr=733&originalSearch=&st=sale&ps=10&na=&se=&sb=re&timeFrame=&dateBrowse=&collection=&historical=false&granuleId=&packageId=BILLS-110hr1784ih
- ^ http://thehill.com/resources/lawmaker-ratings/82965-rep-brad-sherman-d-calif
- ^ http://bradsherman.house.gov/2005/07/pr-tradetreaty.html.shtml
- ^ http://articles.latimes.com/2011/mar/16/opinion/la-oe-sherman-koreapact-20110316
- ^ http://lifeinshermanoaks.com/lead-articles/brad-sherman-to-hold-town-hall-meeting/
External links
- 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
Political offices Preceded by
Conway CollisMember, California Board of Equalization, 4th District
1991–1997Succeeded by
John ChiangUnited States House of Representatives Preceded by
Anthony C. BeilensonMember of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 24th congressional district
1997–2003Succeeded by
Elton GalleglyPreceded by
Adam SchiffMember of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 27th congressional district
2003–presentIncumbent United States order of precedence Preceded by
Pete Sessions
R-TexasUnited States Representatives by seniority
135thSucceeded by
John Shimkus
R-IllinoisCategories:- 1954 births
- Living people
- American Jews
- California Democrats
- California lawyers
- Harvard Law School alumni
- Harvard University alumni
- Jewish members of the United States House of Representatives
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from California
- People from Los Angeles, California
- University of California, Los Angeles alumni
- Committee on Financial Services
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