Mel Watt

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Mel Watt currently serves the 12th Congressional district of North Carolina

Melvin Luther (Mel) Watt, has been a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives since 1993, representing the 12th District of North Carolina (map).

Record and controversies

General information about important bills and votes for can be found in Congresspedia's articles on legislation. You can add information you find on how Mel Watt voted by clicking the "[edit]" link to the right and typing it in. Remember to cite your sources!

Iraq War

Watt voted against the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War.

For more information see the chart of U.S. House of Representatives votes on the Iraq War.

Environmental record

For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Bio

Background

Born August 26, 1945 in Steele Creek, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, he attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Yale University Law School. He served a single term in the North Carolina Senate (1985-1986), before returning to his law practice and running private business.

Congressional Career

Watt was elected to the House in 1992 and in the 109th Congress. He is chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Watt is also a member of the NAACP.

Watt was elected to his seventh consecutive term in the 2004 Congressional elections, earning 67% of the popular vote and defeating Republican Ada Fisher.

2006 elections

In 2006, the Republicans nominated Ada M. Fisher to face Watt in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) [1] What retained his seat.

Money in politics

This section contains links to – and feeds from – money in politics databases. <crpcontribdata>cid=N00002328&cycle=2006</crpcontribdata>

Links to more campaign contribution information for Mel Watt from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org site.
Fundraising profile:	2006 election cycle	Career totals
Top contributors by organization/corporation:	2006 election cycle	Career totals
Top contributors by industry:	2006 election cycle	Career totals

• Revolving door profile for Mel Watt from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org website.
• 2006 privately funded travel profile for Mel Watt from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org website.
• Personal finance profile for Mel Watt from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org website.

Committees and Affiliations

Committees

• House Committee on the Judiciary
  • Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law
  • Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties
  • Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property
• House Committee on Financial Services
  • Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit
  • Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations -Chair

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

• House Committee on Financial Services
  • Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit
  • Subcommittee on Capital Markets Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises
  • Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy Trade and Technology
• House Committee on the Judiciary
  • Subcommittee on Task Force on Antirust
  • Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law - Ranking Minority Member
  • Subcommittee on the Constitution

Coatlitions and Caucuses

• Congressional Black Caucus
• Director, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
• Congressional Human Rights Caucus
• Congressional Progressive Caucus
• Democratic Study Group
• Steering Committee

Boards and other Affiliations

• Member, Auditorium-Coliseum Authority, Charlotte
• Central Piedmont Community College Foundation
• Starting Pitcher, Democratic Baseball Team
• President, Mecklenberg County Bar Association
• Member, Mount Olive Presbyterian Church
• Life Member, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
• NCNB Community Development Corporation
• North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers
• North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers

More Background Data

• Background information on Mel Watt from Project Vote Smart

• Interest group scorecard ratings for Mel Watt from Project Vote Smart

• Voting record for Mel Watt from the Washington Post database

• Information on Mel Watt from Congress Merge

Wikipedia also has an article on Mel Watt. This article may use content from the Wikipedia article under the terms of the GFDL.

Contact

DC Office:
2236 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-3312
Phone: 202-225-1510
Fax: 202-225-1512
Web Email
Website

District Office - Charlotte:
1230 West Morehead Street, Suite 306
Charlotte, NC 28208-5214
Phone: 704-344-9950
Fax: 704-344-9971

District Office - Greensboro:
301 South Greene Street, Suite 210
Greensboro, NC 27401-2615
Phone: 336-275-9950
Fax: 336-379-9951

Articles and Resources

Resources

• Official website
• Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Articles

• Congressman Watt Elected to Be Chair of the CBC

Local blogs and discussion sites

Corresponding article on Wikipedia and Cause Caller. (If Cause Caller link does not work, pick from its list of senators and representatives.)

Current Office: U.S. House of Representatives
111th Congress
Leadership Position:	Committees Chaired:	Committees, Ranking Member On:	Caucuses:
Committees:
110th Congress
Leadership Position: None	Committees Chaired:	Committees, Ranking Member On:	Caucuses: Congressional Black Caucus, Director of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Congressional Human Rights Caucus, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Democratic Study Group, Steering Committee
Committees: House Committee on the Judiciary, House Committee on the Judiciary/Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law, House Committee on the Judiciary/Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, House Committee on the Judiciary/Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property, House Committee on Financial Services, House Committee on Financial Services/Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit, House Committee on Financial Services/Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations -Chair
Congressional Career
First Elected to Current Office: November 3, 1992	First Took Current Office: January 3, 1993	Next Election: November 2, 2010	Term Ends:
Freshman Member? No	Previous Political Work?	Other Party Membership:
District Offices:
1. 1230 West Morehead Street, Suite 306, Charlotte, NC 28208-5214 Phone: 704-344-9950 / Fax: 704-344-9971 2. 301 South Greene Street, Suite 210, Greensboro, NC 27401-2615 Phone: 336-275-9950 / Fax: 336-379-9951
Campaign Contact:
Website: Webform Email: / Email: Campaign Offices: 1. Phone: / Fax:
Zip Code Affiliations:
Misc:
Date of Birth: August 26, 1945