Chaka Fattah

Chaka Fattah
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 2nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 1995
Preceded by	Lucien Blackwell
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 7th district
In office January 3, 1989 – August 31, 1994[1]
Preceded by	Freeman Hankins
Succeeded by	Vincent Hughes
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 192nd district
In office January 4, 1983 – November 30, 1988
Preceded by	Nick Pucciarelli
Succeeded by	Louise Bishop
Personal details
Born	Arthur Davenport (1956-11-21) November 21, 1956 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	i) Michelle Fattah ii) Renee Chenault-Fattah
Children	Frances Fattah Cameron Fattah Chandler Fattah Chaka Fattah Jr.
Residence	Philadelphia
Alma mater	Community College of Philadelphia University of Pennsylvania
Occupation	Legislator
Religion	Baptist

Chaka Fattah (born Arthur Davenport on November 21, 1956) is the U.S. representative for Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district, serving since 1995. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served in the Pennsylvania Senate and the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

The district includes portions of North Philadelphia, South Philadelphia, and West Philadelphia along with Lower Merion Township in Montgomery County.

Early life and education

Fattah has lived all his life in the city, attending Overbrook High School, the Community College of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania's Fels Institute of Government, where he received an MGA in 1986.^[2] He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.^{[citation needed]}

His parents, David Fattah (born Russell Davenport) and Sister Falaka Fattah (born Frances Brown, also known as Queen Mother Falaka Fattah), are community activists in West Philadelphia, where they are building an "urban Boys' Town" through their organization, the House of Umoja.^[3] He has five brothers.^[4]

Pennsylvania Legislature

Fattah served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1983 to 1988, and as a State Senator from 1988 to 1994.

In 1987, Fattah founded the Graduate Opportunity Initiative Conference, an annual three-day informational and scholarship conference which aims to significantly increase the enrollment of under-represented graduate students studying Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM fields). The conference was designed to encourage minority students’ interest in STEM graduate and professional schools. More than 12,000 students have been served^{[citation needed]} and notable Pennsylvania participants in the program include Philadelphia District Attorney R. Seth Williams and City Council Kenyatta Johnson.^{[citation needed]}

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

In 1991, then-State Senator Fattah decided to run for the Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district in the 1991 special election that was held after Democrat U.S. Congressman William Gray decided to resign. On November 5, 1991, Lucien Edward Blackwell won the election with a plurality of 39% of the vote defeating Fattah (28%), John F. White (28%), and Nadine Smith-Bulford (5%).^[5]

In 1994, Fattah decided to challenge Blackwell in the Democratic primary. He defeated the incumbent 58%-42%.^[6] He won the general election with 86% of the vote.^[7] After that, he has been re-elected every two years with at least 86% of the vote. He has never been challenged in the Democratic primary.^[8]

Tenure

Fattah has represented the 2nd district in Pennsylvania, an overwhelmingly Democratic district, in the United States House of Representatives since 1995. Fattah endorsed Barack Obama for President in 2008.^[9]

He is the architect of the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs.

In his first years in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Fattah introduced and passed into law Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) an early college awareness program. Since its inception, more than $4 billion in federal funds have been distributed to assist 12 million students in 50 states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. Fattah sponsored H.R. 4207, American Dream Accounts Act which would authorize the Department of Education to award three-year competitive grants to support partnerships that provide financial support and preparation for low-income students as they plan for their college education.^[10][11] The bill is co-sponsored in the U. S. Senate by Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, Senator Mark Rubio of Florida and Senator Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico. Specifically the legislation creates personal online accounts for students that monitor higher education readiness and includes a college savings account. The accounts follow students from school to school and through college. Parents can grant vested stakeholders (including counselors, teachers, coaches, mentors, and others) access to the account to update student information, monitor progress, and provide college preparatory support.

Fattah has introduced a few bills targeting the equity of resource allocation within and between school districts. In 2002, he introduced the "Student Bill of Rights", H.R. 2451.^[12] The measure calls for States to provide highly effective teachers, early childhood education, college prep curricula and equitable instructional resources to all students who attend public schools. Current law requires that schools within the same district provide comparable educational services; this bill would extend that basic protection to the State level by requiring comparability across school districts.

The ESEA Fiscal Fairness Act, H.R. 5071 – amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to requires school districts to equalize the real dollars spent among all schools within its jurisdiction – with the imperative to raise the resources allotted to schools in the poorest neighborhoods to meet those in well-off schools – before receiving federal aid.^[13][14]

Congressman Fattah introduced "Communities Committed to College", H.R. 1579.^[15] The legislation provides a 50% tax credit to donors who contribute to qualifying scholarship trusts that are recognized and registered with the Secretary of the Treasury.

He also wrote the legislation for the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC). The tax credit assists any full-time college or university student or their families that claim the credit. Since 2011, it has assisted 4.5million students and their families.^{[citation needed]} AOTC provides up to $2500 tax credit for families to assist them with the cost of college. The credit is unique in that families under a set income without a tax liability are eligible for a tax rebate. President Obama has called for making the tax credit permanent.^{[citation needed]} Outside of legislative work Congressman Fattah has created a few local education initiatives for Philadelphia and Pennsylvania families as a state legislator and in cooperation with state and municipal governments, including the CORE scholars program and the annual Grad Conference.^{[citation needed]}

College Opportunity Resources for Education (CORE) is a Philadelphia city-wide initiative providing almost $27 million in last-dollar scholarships to over 18,000 students.^[16] The program encourages the students to participate in service to the local community and provides technical assistance to the families of program participants ensuring that they apply for educational assistance programs (Pell Grants, PHEAA grants, etc.) offered by the state and federal government.

A report issued by the National Student Clearinghouse concludes that participants in CORE are more likely than their fellow non-CORE classmates to complete their college education in four years.^[17]

Congressman Fattah is the lead Democrat responsible for the funding of the United States Department of Justice and the United States Attorney General.^[18] Since 2011, the Congressman was able to negotiate an increase of $30M to investment in DOJ programs that fund groups including the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.^{[citation needed]}

In 2012, Fattah negotiated a partnership between FIRST and Boys & Girls Clubs of America to provide robotics programs to 4 million youth by 2015.^[19]

Congressman Fattah is the lead Democrat responsible for funding some of the largest science agencies in the federal system (NASA, NSF, Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).^[20] In December 2011, Fattah through his role on the Appropriations Committee, directed the OSTP to establish an Interagency Working Group on Neuroscience (IWGN].^[21] Housed within the White House and chartered on June 20, 2012, the IWGN convenes representatives across the Federal government to make recommendations about the future of neuroscience research.

The Fattah Neuroscience Initiative is a policy initiative designed to make major progress understanding the human brain by intensifying, in a collaborative fashion, federal research efforts across brain disease, disorder, injury, cognition and development.^[22] The initiative aims to coordinate Federal research across agencies and draw upon public-private partnerships and the world of academia. The initiative promotes research and discovery across brain cognition, development, disease and injury.

As a member of Pennsylvania’s state House Fattah wrote and passed into law Pennsylvania’s Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP).^[23] HEMAP is a loan program designed to protect Pennsylvanians who, through no fault of their own, are financially unable to make their mortgage payments and are in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure. Started in 1983 by Pennsylvania’s Act 91 of 1983, it was only one of its kind until 2010 when Congressman Fattah added language to the Dodd Frank bill to provide similar assistance, to homeowners nationwide.^[24] The Emergency Homeowners Loan Program provides up to 24 months of assistance, through bridge loans, for distressed homeowners and is a scaled up version of the HEMAP program.^[25][26]

Congressman Fattah has introduced legislation to scale up the growth and national impact of co-ops. His bill calls for $25 million federal investment and technical assistance to cooperatives through a new National Cooperative Development Center. The bill has national support from co-op and EOB advocates and members.^[27] Co-ops have a broad base and connection to community in the Philadelphia area.^[28]

Fattah’s priority is ensuring that small and medium businesses have the tools they need to prosper in an increasingly competitive global marketplace. He is the lead Democrat responsible for funding the Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. In his role on the Appropriations Committee the Congressman has advocated to $128 million in funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a program that assists small and mid-sized manufacturers create and retain jobs, increase profits, and save time and money. He is also an advocate for the SelectUSA program, an initiative that encourages U.S. businesses operating off-shore to return to the U.S. and promote the U.S. marketplace.^[29]

In 2013, Fattah served as a Vice Chair on the House Gun and Violence Taskforce, a taskforce created under the direction of House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. The taskforce included both liberal and conservative Democrats, gun owners and Representatives from cities plagued with gun violence. Congressman Fattah received an A+ from the Coalition on Gun Violence and the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence for his positions on gun control.^[30][31]

Since 2006, Fattah “pioneered gun-buyback programs” in Philadelphia with the Philadelphia Police. The program offers Philadelphians the chance to turn in guns, no questions asked, in exchange for vouchers for groceries or other goods.^[32]

In 2004, Fattah introduced a bill titled the "Transform America Transaction Fee," (H.R. 3759) which proposed to have the U.S. Treasury conduct a one-year feasibility study of a 1 percent transaction fee imposed on transactions made at any financial institution. He touted the possibility that such a system would bring in so much money it would allow for greatly increased federal spending, saying the "excess funds" would "provide universal health care, support an equitable public school finance system, and fund economic development in urban and rural areas," in addition to extinguishing the national debt and eliminating all other federal taxes.^[33] The bill died without becoming law, or even attracting a single co-sponsor. In 2005, Fattah introduced the bill again with H.R. 1601, and again in 2007 with H.R. 2130 which had a single cosponsor, Democratic Rep. Brian Baird of Washington. Both bills died without any action being taken. In 2009, Fattah introduced a fourth bill to require having a study conducted, H.R. 1703, which attracted no cosponsors. On February 23, 2010, Fattah reintroduced the bill as the "Debt Free America Act," (H.R. 4646) which proposed to repeal the federal income tax and replace it with a 1 percent "transaction tax" on every financial transaction — whether paid by cash, credit card or any form of financial transfer, the only exception being transactions involving the purchase or sale of stock.^[34] The latest bill places more focus on eliminating the federal debt. Fattah has also added a 1 percent tax credit designed to eliminate the impact of the measure on couples making less than $250,000 a year. As of September 5, 2010, none of the House committees have scheduled any action on the latest bill.

In 2005, Fattah opposed the War in Iraq and supported Congressman John Murtha's call for troop withdrawal.^[35] He publicly supported the “Bring Our Troops Home and Iraq Sovereignty Act” a bill that called for bringing the troops home within six months and transitioning the Iraqis to self-government.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (Ranking Member)
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development

2007 mayoral election

In November 2006, he declared his candidacy for Mayor of Philadelphia,^[36] where two-term incumbent Mayor John F. Street was barred from re-election by term limits, amid pressure from Democratic voters to keep his Congressional seat in order to maintain a Philadelphia representative on the powerful Appropriations Committee in the House. His candidacy announcement took place next to the recently completed Microsoft School of the Future in the city's Parkside neighborhood to emphasize his campaign platform of better educational opportunities for city youth.

After emerging as a mayoral candidate, Fattah came under fire from the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police for his repeated calls to grant a new trial to Mumia Abu-Jamal, who was convicted of murdering police officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981;^[37] he also was criticized for possibly unethical campaign spending, based on new campaign finance rules adopted by the city of Philadelphia. The Fattah campaign defended itself, claiming that it had followed less restrictive federal rules in spending the money,^[38] but eventually returned a portion of the excess contributions to the exploratory committee following a settlement with the city's Board of Ethics.^[38] Fattah eventually came in fourth in the Democratic primary, close behind fellow Congressman Bob Brady but well behind former city councilman Michael Nutter, who went on to win the fall general election handily.

Electoral history

In the 2012 election, Congressman Fattah received 302,746 votes; more votes than any other member of the House of Representatives and, some researchers indicate, in the history of the House.^[39] Fattah was challenged by Republican nominee Robert Allen Mansfield, Jr. and Independent candidate and publisher of the Germantown Newspapers, Jim Foster.^[40]

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 2012#District 2

• 2010 Race for US House^[41]

Fattah was challenged by Republican nominee Rick Hellberg, the CEO of a small financial firm.

• • Chaka Fattah (D) (inc.), 89%
  • Rick Hellberg (R), 11%

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 2010#District 2

• 2008 Race for US House^[42]
  • Chaka Fattah (D) (inc.), 89%
  • Adam Lang (R), 11%

• 2007 Democratic Primary for Mayor of Philadelphia
  • Michael Nutter 106,805 36.64%
  • Tom Knox 71,731 24.61%
  • Bob Brady 44,474 15.26%
  • Chaka Fattah 44,301 15.20%
  • Dwight Evans 22,782 7.82%
  • Totals 291,492 100%

• 2006 Race for US House
  • Chaka Fattah (D) (inc.), 89%
  • Michael Gessner (R), 9%
• 2004 Race for US House
  • Chaka Fattah (D) (inc.), 88%
  • Stewart Bolno (R), 12%
• 2002 Race for US House
  • Chaka Fattah (D) (inc.), 88%
  • Tom Dougherty (R), 12%
• 2000 Race for US House
  • Chaka Fattah (D) (inc.), 98%
  • Ken Krawchuk (L), 2%
• 1998 Race for US House
  • Chaka Fattah (D) (inc.), 86%
  • Anne Marie Mulligan (R), 14%
• 1996 Race for US House
  • Chaka Fattah (D) (inc.), 88%
  • Larry Murphy (R), 12%
• 1994 Race for US House
  • Chaka Fattah (D), 86%
  • Lawrence Watson (R), 14%

Personal life

His current wife is Renee Chenault-Fattah, a local Philadelphia television news broadcaster on WCAU-TV (NBC 10).^{[citation needed]} He is the father of three daughters, Frances, Cameron and Chandler, and one son, Chaka Fattah Jr. Chaka Fattah is Baptist.

In 2002, he was named to the PoliticsPA list of Best Dressed Legislators, noting his "excellence in haberdashery."^[43]

He has also proclaimed that NASA's voting contest for naming rights for a module on the International Space Station should be honored by naming one "Colbert" in honor of TV personality Stephen Colbert.^[44][45]

On February 29, 2012, FBI agents raided the home of Fattah's son, Chaka Fattah Jr.^[46]

References

External links

Media related to Chaka Fattah at Wikimedia Commons

• Congressman Chaka Fattah official U.S. House site
• Fattah for Congress
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at The Library of Congress

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Lucien Blackwell	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district 1995–present	Incumbent
Pennsylvania State Senate
Preceded by Freeman Hankins	Member of the Pennsylvania Senate for the 7th District 1989–1994	Succeeded by Vincent Hughes
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Preceded by Nick Pucciarelli	Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 192nd District 1983–1988	Succeeded by Louise Bishop
United States order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by Mike Doyle D-Pennsylvania	United States Representatives by seniority 77th	Succeeded by Rodney Frelinghuysen R-New Jersey

v t e Pennsylvania's current delegation to the United States Congress Senators Bob Casey, Jr. (D) Pat Toomey (R) Representatives (ordered by district) Bob Brady (D) Chaka Fattah (D) Mike Kelly (R) Scott Perry (R) Glenn Thompson (R) Jim Gerlach (R) Pat Meehan (R) Mike Fitzpatrick (R) Bill Shuster (R) Tom Marino (R) Lou Barletta (R) Keith Rothfus (R) Allyson Schwartz (D) Mike Doyle (D) Charles Dent (R) Joe Pitts (R) Matt Cartwright (D) Tim Murphy (R) Other states' delegations Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Non‑voting: American Samoa District of Columbia Guam Northern Mariana Islands Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands

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Persondata
Name	Fattah, Chaka
Alternative names
Short description	American politician
Date of birth	November 21, 1956
Place of birth	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Date of death
Place of death