Joe Sestak

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Joe Sestak previously served the 7th Congressional district of Pennsylvania

Joe Sestak, a Democrat, is a former U.S. Representative for the 7th Congressional district of Pennsylvania, having served 2007 to 2011.[1]

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 Joe Sestak voted by clicking the "[edit]" link to the right and typing it in. Remember to cite your sources!

Iraq War

Sestak introduced a bill (H.R.960) on February 8, 2007, that would redeploy all U.S. troops in Iraq "to locations within the Middle East or Southwest Asia regions or to other regions or nations, or returned to the United States" by December 31, 2007. That same day, the bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Armed Services and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. [1]

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

Norman Hsu campaign donations

Upon hearing revelations of Norman Hsu's fugitive status, Sestak has opted to give back the thousand dollar donation that he received from Hsu.[2]

Biography

Sestak was born in 1951 in Springfield, PA. His father had come to the United States as a small boy and attended the Naval Academy before serving in WWII. After finishing high school, Sestak continued the family tradition, attending the U.S. Naval academy, graduating in 1974. He served in the Navy for the next 31 years, rising to the rank of vice admiral. According to his campaign website, Sestak "served six sea tours with units of the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets during which he made seven deployments to Europe, the Persian Gulf and the western and South Pacific. He served in command of USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58) named the best overall surface ship in the Atlantic Fleet in the Battenberg Cup selection, and as Commander, Destroyer Squadron Fourteen. He also served at sea as Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group Two and George Washington Battle Group deploying to both the Arabian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea. As the Battle Group Commander, he led an international coalition force of 30 U.S. and allied ships and 15,000 sailors, exercising command of combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as senior diplomatic engagements throughout Southwest Asia, Europe and Africa." [2]

When not at sea, Sestak directed the CNO's Strategy and Policy Division (N51), and led the Navy's efforts toward the 2000 Quadrennial Defense Review, for which he analyzed the economic value of U.S. defense spending. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, he became the first director of the Navy Operations Group (Deep Blue), which sought to redefine strategic, operational and budgetary policies in the Global War on Terrorism. [[3]

Between tours of duty, Sestak earned a master's degree in Public Administration and and Ph.D in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University. During the Clinton presidency, he worked for the White House as the Director for Defense Policy on the National Security Council staff. He and his wife Susan have one daughter. [4]

Congressional career

2006 election

Sestak defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Curt Weldon 56%-44% to take possession of the seat in the 2006 congressional elections.

2010 election

In 2010, Sestak ran for U.S. Senator for Pennsylvania. In the Democratic primary, Sestak beat party-switching Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) but lost in the general election to Republican Patrick Toomey.[1] Sestak's House seat was won by Republican Patrick Meehan.[3]

Money in politics

This section contains links to – and feeds from – money in politics databases. <crpcontribdata>cid=N00028049&cycle=2006</crpcontribdata>

Links to more campaign contribution information for Joe Sestak
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

Controversy

Committees and affiliations

Committees

Twitter

Articles and resources

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Joe Sestak profile, The Washington Post, accessed January 2011.
  2. Jim Kuhnhenn, "Clinton to give away fundraiser's cash," AP News via Talking Points Memo, August 29, 2007.
  3. Patrick Meehan profile, The Washington Post, accessed January 2011.

Resources

Local blogs and discussion sites

Articles

Renee Schoof, "Former admiral says all American forces should pull out by year's end," McClatchy Newspapers, February 20, 2007.

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:
Committees: House Committee on Armed Services, House Committee on Armed Services/Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, House Committee on Armed Services/Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Roles and Missions Panel, House Roles and Missions Panel/Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces, House Committee on Education and Labor, House Committee on Education and Labor/Subcommittee on Early Childhood Elementary and Secondary Education, House Committee on Education and Labor/Subcommittee on Health Employment Labor and Pensions, House Committee on Small Business, House Committee on Small Business/Subcommittee on Contracting and Technology, House Committee on Small Business/Subcommittee on Regulations Healthcare and Trade, House Committee on Small Business/Subcommittee on Finance and Tax
Congressional Career
First Elected to Current Office:
November 7, 2006
First Took Current Office:
January 4, 2007
Next Election:
November 2, 2010
Term Ends:
Freshman Member?
No
Previous Political Work?
None or Not Available
Other Party Membership:
District Offices:
1. 600 N. Jackson Street, Suite 203, Media, PA 19063
Phone: 610-892-8623 / Fax: 610-892-8628





Campaign Contact:

Website:
Webform Email: / Email:

Campaign Offices:

1.
Phone: / Fax:



Zip Code Affiliations:
Misc:

Date of Birth: December 12, 1951