Senate Report Card: John Ensign R-NV

Senator John Ensign is the junior Republican United States Senator from the state of Nevada. Senator Ensign assumed office in 2001. He is the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Senator Ensign serves on the Budget and Commerce, Science and Transportation Committees. He is the ranking member of the Science, Technology and Innovation Subcommittee.

Ensign's Education High Growth Grant Amendment brought tens of millions of extra dollars to Nevada schools, and was included in the education bill signed into law by President Bush.

He is passionate about protecting the environment and cosponsored the Ensign-Reid Clark County Lands Bill which protects environmentally sensitive areas in southern Nevada, allows recreational opportunities to continue and improves the quality of life for all citizens. He created a similar land bill for White Pine and Lincoln Counties that were signed into law and have provided an economic boost to Nevada. The legislation included funding to reduce the threat of catastrophic fire in the Great Basin Area and eastern Nevada as well as protections to areas such as Lake Tahoe, the Ballardini Ranch and the eastern Sierra.

Senator Ensign led the fight to build a Veterans Hospital in southern Nevada to provide health care for the veterans and military members. Construction is expected to be completed in 2011.

Ensign considers himself pro-life. Ensign opposed the Prevention First Act because it included programs that would broaden women's access to birth control. Ensign authored legislation that makes it illegal for family members to transport teens across state lines to receive an abortion. It has been criticized as being unconstitutional because, among other things, the law essentially treats human beings as interstate commerce.

Senator Ensign was a lead sponsor of the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, which makes it a felony to transport animals across state lines for the purpose of fighting.

Ensign has been a strong supporter of the U.S. war effort in Iraq. He voted in favor of using military force. He opposed restriction on troop deployments that would extend the time between tours of duty. He opposed all efforts to attach a timetable or call for a withdrawal of combad troops.Ensign said "Democratic leaders like Nancy Pelosi and Ted Kennedy - let me tell you, I say this without reservation - they have hurt our military, they have emboldened the enemy." Ensign also said that the failure of citizens to continue supporting the war was a reflection of the United States' instant gratification mentality.

Senator John Ensign faces reelection in 2013.