Patrick Joseph Kennedy

Patrick Joseph Kennedy, a Democrat, has represented the First Congressional District of Rhode Island in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2011.

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

Kennedy supports gradual decline in troop numbers and redeployment of troops to Afghanistan.

Environmental record
Kennedy supports tougher legislation protecting the environment. He supports the Safe Climate Act to limit the ammount of global-warming causing pollutants allowed to be released. He also supports amending the Clean Air Act to toughen standards on Mercury emmisions to limit the ammount of Mercury found in fish. Kennedy also wants to cut funding for livestock protection programs that allow for traps to be set for predators of livestock but end up catching and killing endangered species. 

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

Support for gun control
Kennedy cosponsored H.R. 1312 (Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2005) on April 21, 2005.

He also cosponsored H.R. 1022 (Assault Weapons Ban Reauthorization) on March 22, 2007.

In addition, he cosponsored H.R. 3411 (Juvenile Crime Reduction Act). The act would allow juvenile offenders who suffer from mental illness or drug abuse to be transfered to treatment centers instead of detention facilities.

Abortion Rights
Kennedy received a score of 100 from NARAL, Pro Choice America in 2007.

Kennedy supports the upholding of Roe v. Wade. He also opposes the gag rule which limits federal funding to overseas agencies that provide abortions. He supports allowing over the counter emergency contraception pills such as Plan B, and supports the Prevention First Act to provide education to women to reduce unwanted pregnancies.

Homeland Security
Kennedy introduced H.R. 1891, the Ready and Willing and Able Act which encourages cities to formulate disaster plans. 

Civil Rights
Kennedy voted for the Employment Non Discrimination Act, which made illegal discimination on the basis of sexual or gender orientation, whether actual or perceived.

Kennedy voted for the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Act in May 2007, which allowed federal assistance to local law enforcement agencies when dealing with hate crimes which may otherwise go unprosecuted.

Kennedy is the vice-chairman of the Congressional Native American Caucus, which works to advance the civil rights and protections of Native Americans, especially in the fields of education and health care.

Bio
Born July 14, 1967, Patrick J. Kennedy is the son of Ted Kennedy and Joan Bennett. Patrick Kennedy became the youngest member of his family to hold elected office in 1988, when he won election to the Rhode Island General Assembly at age 21.

Congressional career
Kennedy won his seat on the United States House of Representatives in November 1994.

In the House, "He authored the Foundations for Learning Act, which is designed to help young children develop emotional and social skills necessary for success later in life. He's also been a staunch advocate on gun-control and senior citizen issues. The lawmaker, who has admitted battling depression, also fights for mental health issues."

From 1999-2001 he served a two-year term as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and raised about $97 million, "nearly triple the amount raised during the previous election cycle".

Patrick Kennedy has twice considered running against Lincoln Chafee for the U.S. Senate, in 2000 and 2006.

2006 elections
In 2006, the Republicans nominated Lindsey String to face Kennedy in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006)  Kennedy retained his seat.

Personal problems
Circa 2000, Kennedy's ratings "slumped after reports he shoved an airport security guard, caused $28,000 in damage to a chartered yacht, and that a date had to be rescued from his boat by the Coast Guard after an argument". In 1986, he was also hospitalized for cocaine addiction.

Kennedy states, "I know having the Kennedy last name makes it easy for the media to make a lot of any mistakes that I make. I'm only human. I make and have made mistakes," he said. "But I'm trying to be a better person all the time. ... I've been made stronger as a result of what I've learned from those mistakes." Pundits predict Kennedy has moved past the controversy and "come into his own." 

On May 5, 2006, Kennedy announced that he will enter drug rehab at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN for treatment of an addiction to prescription drugs. This came as a result of being cited with three violations after crashing his car into a security barrier near the US Capitol the day before. After a four week stay at the Mayo clinic, Kennedy reached a plea deal on June 13,2006, with prosecutors in which he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and charges of reckless driving and driving without a permit were dropped. 

Money in politics
cid=N00000360&cycle=2008

Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Appropriations
 * Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science
 * Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education
 * Subcommittee on Military Construction-Veterans Affairs
 * House Committee on Natural Resources
 * Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
 * Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans

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

 * House Committee on Appropriations
 * Subcommittee on Labor Health and Human Services Education and Related Agencies
 * Subcommittee on Science State Justice and Commerce and Related Agencies


 * Chairman, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, 1999 to 2001

Resources

 * Official website.
 * 2004 Campaign website.
 * USA Today Profile.
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database.

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Kmareka
 * Matthew - RI
 * Newport 9

Articles

 * Del Quentin Wilber, Allan Lengel and Bill Brubaker, "Rep. Kennedy to Enter Rehab After Crash. Congressman Acknowledges Addiction to Prescription Drugs," Washington Post, May 5, 2006.
 * Joe Dwinell, "Kennedy to enter drug rehab," Boston Herald, May 5, 2006.
 * "Police report lists alcohol as contributing factor in Kennedy wreck," Associated Press (Boston Herald), May 5, 2006.
 * "Kennedy Will Seek Addiction Treatment After Accident" (Update1), Bloomberg News, May 5, 2006.
 * Marc B. Zawel and Marla Lehner, "Patrick Kennedy Admits, 'I Need Help'," People Magazine, May 5, 2006.
 * Henri E. Cauvin "Patrick Kennedy to Plead Guilty to DUI," Washington Post, June 13, 2006.
 * Holly Martins, "America's Dumbest Congressmen. Radar ranks the 10 biggest fools on the Hill," Radar, October 13, 2006.