J. Gresham Barrett

For the economist and climate change policy wonk, see James P. Barrett.

James Gresham Barrett, a Republican, represented the Third Congressional District of South Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2003 to 2011.

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

Biography
Barrett was born February 14, 1961 in Westminster, South Carolina where he resides today. He graduated from The Citadel in 1983 and was a Captain in the U.S. Army Field Artillery before resigning his commission in 1987. Barrett served three terms in the South Carolina State House of Representatives before succesfully running for Congress in 2002.

Congressional career
He ran in place of Lindsey Graham (who was retiring to run for the U.S. Senate seat of the retiring Strom Thurmond) and took office in January 2003. He ran unopposed for reelection in 2004. He is being challenged for the 2006 congressional race by Lee Ballenger.

Legislative priorities are to "continue to support the military, fight to keep our borders secure and our homeland safe, lessen the tax burden placed on all Americans, promote energy independence, strengthen families and protect individual freedom." He is pro-business, anti-tax and anti-regulation and believes "the current system is too burdensome - that it disadvantages our business community" and "federal regulations stifle growth and enterprise." Barrett is pro-life, believes there is too much judicial activism and supports "traditional family values, like marriage between a man and woman."

Barrett is supportive of the Bush administration, having served on the Bush for President South Carolina State Steering Committee in 2000.

One of Barrett's priorities is bringing a nuclear reactor to South Carolina on the Savannah River Site  near Aiken. The site was established in the 1950s as part of the U.S.'s weapons program.

2006 congressional elections
In 2006, the Democrats nominated Lee Ballenger to face Barrett in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006)  Gresham retained his seat.

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

 * House Committee on Financial Services
 * Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises
 * Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit
 * Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
 * House Committee on Foreign Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Middle East and Central Asia
 * House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct
 * House Committee on Budget

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

 * House Committee on Budget
 * House Committee on Financial Services
 * Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit
 * Subcommittee on Capital Markets Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises
 * Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
 * House Committee on International Relations
 * Subcommittee on Europe and Emerging Threats
 * Subcommittee on International Terrorism and Nonproliferation

Campaign contact information
DC Office: Washington DC Address 1523 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 202-225-5301 Fax: 202-225-3216 Web Email Website

District Office- Aiken: 233 Pendleton Street, Northwest Post Office Box 1042 Aiken, SC 29801 Phone: 803-649-5571 Fax: 803-648-9038

District Office- Anderson: 315 South McDuffie Street Anderson, SC 29622 Phone: 864-224-7401 Fax: 864-225-7049

District Office- Greenwood: 115 Enterprise Court, Suite B Greenwood, SC 29649 Phone: 864-223-8251 Fax: 864-223-1679

Twitter
 Gresham Barrett posts on Twitter at http://twitter.com/greshambarrett/

Latest posts: http://twitter.com/statuses/user_timeline/15581825.rss|title=none| max=3| short See all the members of Congress who Twitter

Resources

 * Official website
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * South Carolina Democratic Party