Senate Report Card: Jack Reed D-RI

Senator Jack Reed is the senior Democratic United States Senator from the state of Rhode Island. He assumed office in 1997.

Senator Reed currently is a member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. He is also the senior Democrat on the Joint Economic Committee.

Reed is known as being a very liberal member of the senate. He is known for being a strong advocate for education matters as well as health care. Senator Reed authored legislation to enhance the recruitment, training, and retention of teachers and early childhood education providers by improving preparation and professional development opportunities and providing mentoring services. He has helped secure hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to America's public and school libraries. He has also fought for financing of financial aid programs for students. He voted to increase the federal Pell Grant amount. He voted for the No Child Left Behind Act. He has easily won both his terms in his state.
Senator Reed supports a national energy policy that will reduce United States' dependence on foreign oil, promote the use of alternative fuels and increase energy efficiency standards. He has fought to protect Rhode Island's beaches, parks and waterways.

Senator Reed is for gun control and is pro choice. He is a strong advocate for oversight, voting to provide oversight in contracts relating to Iraq and Afghanistan. He also voted to create the Hurricane Katrina Commission that would investigate the mistakes and problems in the aftermath of the hurricane.

Reed has become a leading spokesman on defense issues. He voted against the resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq, he has consistently voted to support America's fighting men and women. He authored legislation to increase the size of our Armed Forces. Although opposed to the war, Reed has fought to provide troops with the equipment they need and secure benefits for. He voted in favor of restrictions on troop deployments. He is in favor of placing a timetable or timeline on the war in Iraq and is critical of the Bush Administration's implementation of the war and lack of an exit strategy.

In addition to supporting homeland security efforts, Reed has provided funding to local law enforcement to fund for tools they need as well as maintaining a well-equipped National Guard.

Senator Jack Reed is expected to win his next term in Rhode Island in 2008.