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U.S. House
Chicago, IL 60653 Campaign Contributions: FEC Disclosure Reports Open Secrets Profile U. S. Congressman Bobby L. Rush is a proven leader. Since first elected to serve as the U.S. Representative of Illinois' First Congressional District on November 3, 1992, his political effectiveness has been recognized by the Democratic leadership, his colleagues and most importantly, by his constituents. He is presently serving his fifth term in the 107th Congress. Congressman Rush is a member of the influential House Committee on Energy and Commerce and four subcommittees - the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection. In this capacity, he weighs in on approximately 65 percent of all legislation considered by Congress. Throughout his Congressional career, Rush's leadership has been recognized and rewarded. As a freshman lawmaker, Democratic leadership appointed Rush to serve as part of the whip organization, a position he still holds. He was also elected class president for two terms by his Democratic colleagues in the class of 1992. Since then, he has been appointed co-chairman of the Congressional Biotech Caucus. In this position, Rush works with the Caucus to keep Members informed about issues regarding the safety and potential of biotechnology in food and farm products. He was also elected by the Congressional Black Caucus to serve as their Secretary in the 107th Session of Congress. And he serves as a U.S. delegate to the North Atlantic Assembly, an interparliamentary organization of NATO nations. Congressman Rush has taken the lead on a wide range of issues affecting the First Congressional District and the nation. Early in his first term, he enjoyed unparalleled success when President Clinton signed into law "The Community Development and Regulatory Act," a landmark community banking bill that was based largely on a plan Rush introduced. Always keeping his constituents' issues in mind, Congressman Rush initiated the Chicago Partnership for the Earned Income Tax Credit, an on-going program designed to help thousands of low-income, working Chicagoans receive federal tax credits. Prior to his election to Congress, Congressman Rush was an Alderman in the Chicago City Council. He served for eight years representing the 2nd Ward on Chicago's South Side and as an Alderman, Rush helped pass significant environmental protection, gun control and neighborhood development legislation. Rush was born on November 23, 1946 in Albany, Georgia. His family later moved to Chicago and lived on the near north and west sides. Rush attended Marshall High School and at the age of 17, enlisted in the United States Army. He served in the military from 1963 until 1968, receiving an honorable discharge. Following his military service, Rush attended Roosevelt University, where he graduated with honors with a bachelors degree in general studies in 1973. He later pursued graduate studies and, in 1994, received a masters degree in political science from the University of Illinois at Chicago. In 1998, Rush received his second masters in theological studies from McCormick Seminary and since then, has become an ordained Baptist minister. Rush was an active participant in the unprecedented Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's. In an effort to secure basic civil and human rights for African-Americans, women and others, he was a member of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SIMCC) from 1966 to 1968 and a co-founder of the Illinois Black Panther Party in 1968. While a Black Panther, he operated the Panther Party's Free Breakfast for Children program. He also coordinated the Free Medical Clinic, which developed the nation's first mass sickle cell anemia testing program. This visionary Panther initiative forced America's health care providers to recognize the impact of sickle cell anemia on the Black community and to develop national research into its causes, effects and solutions, a practice which endures to this day. Congressman Rush has been married to his wife Carolyn for 20 years. Campaign Contributions: FEC Disclosure Reports Open Secrets Profile E-mail this article to a friend | Printer friendly format |
