John Spratt

John McKee Spratt, Jr., a Democrat, represented the Fifth Congressional District of South Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1983 to 2011.

Iraq War
During the debate in 2002 over the resolution giving the president the right to use military force against Iraq, Spratt proposed an amendment (H.AMDT.609) requiring the president to obtain congressional approval before using military force against Iraq if a United Nations resolution could not be obtained. Supporters argued that the amendment ensured that Congress would have the final say in regards to going to war (which the Constitution guarantees). The amendment failed 155-270.

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

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

FY2009 Budget
On June 5, 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives gave final approval to a conference agreement on the budget resolution for fiscal year 2009, marking the first time Congress has passed a budget in an election year since 2000. The Senate approved the plan on June 4.

“This agreement charts a new course,” said House Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt (D-SC). “It accommodates tax cuts for middle-income families; supports investments in energy, education and infrastructure; and returns the budget to balance. This is a balanced budget with balanced priorities.

"Our nation cannot afford to continue the Bush Administration’s policies of deficits and debt. People are struggling. This conference agreement begins the process of recovery. While it may not be a grand solution, this budget moves us in the right direction, enforcing fiscal responsibility but not to the exclusion of values that we hold dear,” Spratt said.

Energy
Spratt Testifies in Support the Rural Energy Savings Program Act. http://spratt.house.gov/2010/05/spratt-testifies-in-support-the-rural-energy-savings-program-act.shtml. May 13, 2010. An article put out by Spratt’s campaign website describes Spratt’s support of The Rural Energy Savings Program Act. If enacted, this plan would establish a nationwide energy saving program designed to reduce consumer costs on utility bills. He presented the bill to the Committee on Agriculture’s Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research, telling the subcommittee that “many of my hard-working constituents would gladly invest in their homes to make them more efficient; but they cannot borrow or afford the capital necessary to install a new heat pump or install insulation in their walls and ceiling.”

Environment
S.C. leaders cheer ruling to keep Yucca plan alive. http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/07/04/1569420/sc-leaders-cheer-ruling-to-keep.html. July, 4 2010. John Spratt has been a long time supporter of a plan to develop a permanent nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. If this plan succeeds, a large shipment of toxic waste would be sent there from around South Carolina, however, if it should fall through, the waste will stay in temporary storage facilities around the state. Spratt gave a statement on the issues saying: "currently, South Carolina is storing 37 million gallons of liquid waste at SRS, as well as tons of used fuel rods at nuclear plants across the state that are intended to be shipped to Yucca Mountain.”He concluded: "should Yucca Mountain not be opened, South Carolina would be stuck with this waste indefinitely”.

NRC panel: Nuclear waste dump process continues. http://www.theitem.com/news/article_dcd16cc6-9763-516d-be34-e4e3d270b717.html. June 29, 2010. On June 10, 2010 a Nuclear Regulatory Commission legal panel restored a plan for a national nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. The panel’s decision dealt a blow to President Obama’s efforts to kill the plan. U.S. Rep. John Spratt praised the NRC panel’s decision, stating “"The ruling today confirms the policy established by Congress on Yucca Mountain, and I will continue fighting here on Capitol Hill to see that the program is given the resources needed to fully defend the license application."

Judges block Obama effort to close Yucca Mountain waste site. http://www.kansascity.com/2010/07/04/2063070/judges-block-obama-effort-to-close.html. July 4, 2010 In early July three administrative judges within the Nuclear Regulatory Commission ruled that President Obama’s efforts to close the nuclear waste storage facility at Yucca Mountain in Nevada would take an act of Congress, citing that the president and Department of Energy Secretary do not have the authority to close the site unilaterally. U.S. Representative John Spratt spoke in favor of this ruling, saying he will use his post as House Budget Committee chairman to try to restore some of the funds cut by Obama to start the building project of the Yucca repository. Spratt supports this project because the Yucca Mountain site, if completed, would house 37 million gallons of liquid waste being stored in South Carolina.

Health
Spratt: Health care foes losing intensity. http://www.heraldonline.com/2010/06/13/2238307/spratt-health-care-foes-losing.html. June 13, 2010. An article published in Herald Online contains a discussion by Spratt about the public’s reaction to his support of the health care reform bill. The article shows Spratt to have expected much opposition in his supporters for his stance on health care, but found many gracious for his support of the bill, stating "the opposition is not nearly as intense as it was." He also expressed optimism for the future of the bill saying "I do think the bill will stand the test of time. People will find more and more in it they can support."

Biography
John Spratt was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, but grew up in York, South Carolina, where he still resides. After graduating from York High School, he earned a BA degree in history from Davidson College in 1964. He served as student body president at both schools. Spratt later earned an MA degree in philosophy, politics, and economics from Oxford University in 1966 while studying on a Marshall Scholarship, and an LLB degree from Yale Law School in 1969. Spratt was a captain in the Army from 1969 to 1971, serving in the Operations Analysis Group in the office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) at the Pentagon, and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.

Spratt returned to York in 1971 to practice at the law firm of Spratt, McKeown, and Spratt. He was county attorney and school board attorney, and president of the Bank of Fort Mill. He also ran a small insurance agency and owned a farm in Fort Mill. John Spratt is married to the former Jane Stacy, of Filbert, South Carolina. They have three daughters and four grandchildren.

Congressional Career
Spratt was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982 and has been re-elected every two years since then.

2006 congressional elections
In 2006, the Republicans nominated Ralph Norman to face Spratt in his November 2006 bid for reelection. Spratt defeated Norman for a thirteenth term by 57%-43%. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006)

Money in politics
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Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Armed Services


 * Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces


 * Subcommittee on Strategic Forces


 * Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations


 * House Committee on the Budget - Chairman

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

 * House Committee on Armed Services


 * Subcommittee on Strategic Forces


 * Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces


 * House Committee on the Budget - Ranking Minority Member

Coalitions and Caucuses

 * Vice Chair, House Democratic Policy Committee, 1994-1996


 * Airpower Caucus


 * Arms Control Foreign Policy Caucus


 * Army Caucus


 * Congressional Arts Caucus


 * Co-Chair, Congressional Bearing Caucus


 * Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans


 * Congressional Competitiveness Caucus


 * Congressional Diabetes Caucus


 * Congressional Fire Services Caucus


 * Congressional Fitness Caucus


 * Congressional Human Rights Caucus


 * Congressional Rural Caucus


 * Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus


 * Congressional Vietnam-Era Veterans Caucus


 * Democratic Homeland Security Task Force


 * Democratic Steering Committee


 * New Democrat Coalition


 * Co-Chair, Nuclear Energy Caucus


 * Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus


 * Sunbelt Caucus


 * Co-Chair, Textile Caucus

Boards and other Affiliations

 * Chair, Divine Savior Hospital Board


 * Elder, First Presbyterian Church


 * National Guard and Reserve Components Congressional Members Organization


 * Member, Phi Beta Kappa


 * Member, Piedmont Legal Services Board of Services


 * Member, South Carolina Bar Association


 * President, Western York County United Fund


 * Chair, Winthrop College Board of Visitors


 * President, York Chamber of Commerce

More Background Data

 * 2006 South Carolina CD 5 Candidate List from VIS

Contact
1401 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 202-225-5501 Fax: 202-225-0464 web email web site: spratt.house.gov

District Office - Darlington:

88 Public Square Darlington, SC 29532 Phone: 843-393-3998 Fax: 843-393-8060

District Office - Rock Hill:

201 East Main Street, Suite 305 Rock Hill, SC 29730 Phone: 803-327-1114 Fax: 803-327-4330

District Office - Sumter:

707 Bultman Drive

Sumter, SC 29150 Phone: 803-773-3362 Fax: 803-773-7662

Resources

 * Official website


 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * South Carolina Democratic Party

Articles

 * Walter Pincus, "Democrats Who Opposed War Move Into Key Positions. New Committee Chairmen Had Warned of Postwar Disorder," Washington Post, December 4, 2006.