New Members 110Th Congress

1101 Vermont Avenue, N.W. Suite 400 Washington, DC 20005-3586 (202) 289-3903 FAX: (202) 371-0197 wpllc.net New Members of Congress Listed below are the newly elected members of Congress. Where available, we’ve included information on their backgrounds and from their campaign platforms that indicates an interest in education issues. Members are grouped by state, which are listed alphabetically. Senate Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) Defeated: current Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele (R) Stance on Education Issues: Cardin believes “that educating our children must be a priority at every level of government.” Cardin opposes school vouchers and pledges to work “towards making college more affordable, repairing our schools, standing up for our teachers’ needs, and the federal government fulfills its promises to fund important educational programs for our children.” His campaign web site emphasizes quality teachers in every classroom, the affordability of college, safe and healthy schools and adequate funding for NCLB, Head Start, and special education. Education Connection: Cardin’s wife, Myrna, was an educator, teaching fourth grade, later tutoring a student with dyslexia as a volunteer member of the Board the Dyslexia Tutoring Program, and then served for eight years as the Executive Director of the Maryland Association of Non-Public Special Education Facilities. More information can be found at: http://www.bencardin.com/issues?id=0004 Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) Defeated: Rep. Mark Kennedy to replace retiring Sen. Mark Dayton (D) Stance on Education Issues: Klobuchar believes in fully funding NCLB and will fight to improve early childhood education. Her campaign web site also asserts her commitment to adequate access to grants and loans for higher education, citing in the skyrocketing costs of college tuition. Education Connection: Klobuchar’s mother was a second-grade teacher until the age of 70, and her father a product of a community college education. More information can be found at: http://senate.ontheissues.org/Social/Amy_Klobuchar_Education.htm Sources: Roll Call, November 13, 2006, www.rollcall.com On The Issues, www.ontheissues.org Candidates Campaign Web sites Claire McCaskill (D-MO) Defeated: Sen. Jim Talent (R) Stance on Education Issues: McCaskill wants to make college affordable for all students by expanding Pell Grants and HOPE scholarships. She would also like to restore the College Tuition Tax Credit, as well as work to close of the gap in math and science and expand pre- school and Head Start. Education Connection: McCaskill herself worked her way through college and law school. She has seven children, ranging in ages 14 to 30. More information can be found at: http://senate.ontheissues.org/Social/Claire_McCaskill_Education.htm Jon Tester (D-MT) Defeated: Sen. Conrad Burns (R) Stance on Education Issues: Tester believes that “education is the backbone of democracy and wants to see more tuition tax credits, low-interest loans, and Pell Grants.” Education Connection: As president of the Montana Senate in 2005, he worked successfully on legislation that defined a “quality” K-12 education and on an effort to provide scholarships to Montana students pursuing a degree at one of Montana’s universities or colleges of technology. More information can be found at: http://senate.ontheissues.org/Social/Jon_Tester_Education.htm Sherrod Brown (D-OH) Defeated: Sen. Mike DeWine (R) Stance on Education Issues: Brown opposes school vouchers and was given a 92% rating by the NEA on voting pro-education. He has voted to provide for year round Pell Grants, to repeal the single lender rule, and in support of lowering student loan interest rates. Education Connection: Prior to serving in congress, in the early 1990s, he taught democracy and government in Poland. He’s also taught in Ohio’s public schools and at Ohio State University. More information can be found at: http://senate.ontheissues.org/Social/Sherrod_Brown_Education.htm Bob Casey, Jr. (D-PA) Defeated: Sen. Rick Santorum (R) Stance on Education Issues: Casey opposes school vouchers and favors increased funding for education. He states he will be an advocate for increased investments to reduce class size and retain well-qualified teachers. He also supports increased funding for child care, early childhood education, and afterschool programs. Education Connection: Following graduation from college, Casey spent a year teaching fifth grade and coaching an eighth grade basketball team. More information can be found at: http://senate.ontheissues.org/Social/Bob_Casey_Education.htm Sources: Roll Call, November 13, 2006, www.rollcall.com On The Issues, www.ontheissues.org Candidates Campaign Web sites Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) Defeated: Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R) Stance on Education Issues: Whitehouse supports full funding of NCLB and opposes school vouchers. He has also been strongly endorsed by the NEA. His web site asserts, “Sheldon Whitehouse supports fully funding No Child Left Behind, as well as special education and afterschool programs.” He also supports increases in Pell Grants. More information can be found at: http://senate.ontheissues.org/Social/Sheldon_Whitehouse_Education.htm Bob Corker (R-TN) Defeated: Rep. Harold Ford, Jr. to succeed Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R) Stance on Education Issues: Corker favors giving bonuses for high performing teachers. Corker also supports better coordination between schools and local law enforcement to ensure that students and teachers are safe and would like to see reform to the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Program. He endorses charter schools and accountability efforts in public education, but concedes there is a balance to be struck between assessment and sanctions. Education Connection: As Mayor of Chattanooga, he led an education initiative using incentives to reward teachers in some of Chattanooga’s most challenging schools with merit bonus pay. More information can be found at: http://senate.ontheissues.org/Social/Bob_Corker_Education.htm Bernie Sanders (I-VT) Defeated: Richard Tarrant (R) to succeed retiring Sen. Jim Jeffords Stance on Education Issues: Sanders favors smaller class sizes and opposes school vouchers. He seeks membership on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. He has voted in support of lowering student loan interest rates, providing year round Pell Grants and repealing the single lender rule. Education Connection: His wife is in her third year as President of Burlington College. Her previous work included providing educational and political consulting as a partner in Leadership Strategies and serving as the Director of Youth Services for the City of Burlington. More information can be found at: http://senate.ontheissues.org/Social/Bernie_Sanders_Education.htm Jim Webb (D-VA) Defeated: Sen. George Allen (R) Stance on Education Issues: Webb would like to see full funding for No Child Left Behind and he views the testing and accountability in NCLB as “a good first step”. Education Connection: Webb taught literature at the Naval Academy. More information can be found at http://www.webbforsenate.com/issues/issues.php - educ Sources: Roll Call, November 13, 2006, www.rollcall.com On The Issues, www.ontheissues.org Candidates Campaign Web sites House Harry Mitchell (D-AZ) Defeated: Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R) Stance on Education Issues: In the AZ legislature, Mitchell was a “powerful voice for Arizona students.” On his campaign website he states that he is committed to fully funding NCLB and IDEA. Education Connection: Mitchell comes from a family of teachers and was himself a high school teacher of government and economics. He also served as an adjunct professor at Arizona State University. His wife also was a high school teacher. More information can be found at: http://harry2006.com/Issues.asp - Build Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) Defeated: Randy Graf (R) to succeed retiring Rep. Jim Kolbe (R) Stance on Education Issues: Giffords was endorsed by the National Education Association, the Arizona Education Association as well as the Arizona Federation of Teachers. She has stated on her campaign website that “In addition to hiring 100,000 new teachers to decrease class sizes, Giffords pledges to fight in Congress for the following goals: all-day kindergarten nationwide; increased resources for early-childhood education programs; teacher training and incentives to bring the best skills into the classroom, and computer access for every public school student. Education Connection: Giffords serves on the board of the Metropolitan YMCA. More information can be found at: http://www.giffordsforcongress.com/ Jerry McNerney (D-CA) Defeated: Rep. Richard Pombo (R) Stance on Education Issues: McNerney opposes school vouchers and favors lowering teacher ratios in the classroom and adequate funding for education. On his campaign website, McNerney states that “our nation needs high quality education for all students in order for us to be competitive in the world marketplace. We must provide adequate funding for education, stop unfunded federal education mandates, and foster a culture that enhances and values education in our society.” Education Connection: McNerney attended the University of New Mexico, where he studied engineering and mathematics, earning a PhD in 1981. He and his wife have three children, one currently an under-graduate student at UC Davis. More information can be found at: http://www.jerrymcnerney.org/issues_details.asp?id=5 Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) Defeated: Sharon Beery (D) to succeed

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