Shelley Berkley
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Shelley Berkley | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 1999 |
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| Preceded by | John Ensign |
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| Born | January 20, 1951 New York City, New York |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Larry Lehrner |
| Religion | Jewish |
Rochelle "Shelley" Berkley (born Rochelle Levine January 20, 1951) is an American politician, and has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1999, representing the First Congressional District of Nevada, which includes most of the city of Las Vegas as well as the Las Vegas Strip. She is the first Jewish woman and second member of the Jewish faith elected to Congress from Nevada, the other being "Chic" Hecht. She is also the second woman elected to Congress from Nevada.
Born in New York City, she attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and earned a degree in political science and served as the UNLV Student Body President. She then entered the University of San Diego, graduating with a degree in Law. Berkley practised law for several years, mainly as a member of the legal counsel for several Las Vegas casinos. She served in the Nevada Assembly from 1982 to 1984 and was involved in civic affairs locally. Berkley was also appointed vice chair of the Nevada University System Board of Regents, serving at the position from 1990 to 1998.
Elected to the House in 1998, she serves in the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, and Ways and Means. As a representative, Berkley views her top priorities as to fight for affordable health care coverage for all Americans, veteran's rights, and alternative energy. She is also strongly opposed to the building of a nuclear waste dump in Yucca Mountain, Nevada. She is a member of the New Democrat Coalition.
Berkley is known as one of the supporters of the drive to regulate online gambling. She was one of the few congressional members to stand up against Bill Frist's addition of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, to the unrelated SAFE Port Act.
On October 10, 2002, Shelley Berkley was among the 81 House Democrats who voted in favor of authorizing the invasion of Iraq.
[edit] Committee Assignments
- Committee on Ways and Means
- Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support
- Subcommittee on Trade
- Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
- Subcommittee on Disability & Memorial Affairs
- Subcommittee on Health
- Congressional Stop DUI Caucus (co-chair)
- Congressional Gaming Caucus (co-chair)
- Congressional Taiwan Caucus (co-Chair)
- Congressional Recycling Caucus
[edit] External links
- U.S. Representative Shelley Berkley, U.S. House site
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
- Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
- Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
- Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia
- Shelley Berkley for Congress, Campaign site
- Internet Gambling Bill Would Not Prohibit Online Poker Says Congresswoman, Stance on Internet Gambling
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by John Ensign |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Nevada's 1st congressional district 1999 – present |
Incumbent |
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