Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Republican, has represented the 18th District of Florida in the United States House of Representatives since 1989. Her district includes Coral Gables and parts of Miami.

Iraq War
Ros-Lehtinen 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

Aid to Afghanistan
In May 2007, Rep. Ros-Lehtinen, along with Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) sponsored the Afghanistan Freedom and Security Support Act (H.R. 2446), which would provide $1.6 billion per year over the following three years to assist development, economic, and security programs in Afghanistan.

Scientology support
Ros-Lehtinen has supported and sponsored several pieces of legislation for the Church of Scientology, attended Scientology events , received recognition from Scientology publications , and collected numerous sizable campaign donations from prominent Scientologists.

Biography
Ros-Lehtinen was born in Havana, Cuba on July 15, 1952. She was educated at Florida International University and was a member of the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate before entering the House.

Upon her election to succeed the late Congressman Claude Pepper, she became the first Hispanic woman elected to the United States House of Representatives. Her campaign manager was Jeb Bush and her candidacy was endorsed by Jorge Mas Canosa, former head of the Cuban-American National Foundation.

Ros is very popular among the populous gay community of Key West, as she has sponsored or supported some LGBT-friendly legislation such as:
 * A hate crimes law.
 * An employment discrimination bill to protect sexual minorities in federal jobs.
 * AIDS prevention funding.
 * A bill to allow openly homosexual military members.

In 2006, Ros sponsored legislation making it a federal crime to accompany a minor across state lines in order to allow her to obtain an abortion while avoiding parental notification. 

2006 elections
In 2006, the Democrats nominated David Patlak to face Ros-Lehtinen in her November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Ros-Lehtinen retained her seat.

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

 * House Committee on Foreign Affairs -Ranking

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

 * House Committee on Government Reform
 * Subcommittee on Energy and Resources
 * Subcommittee on National Security Emerging Threats and International Relations
 * House Committee on International Relations
 * Subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia - Chair
 * Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere

Coalitions and Caucuses

 * Co Chair,Congressional Children's Caucus
 * National Guard and Reserve Component Organization
 * Congressional Boating Caucus
 * Congressional Fire Sevices Caucus
 * Congressional Horse Caucus
 * Congressional Human Rights Caucus
 * Congressional Sunbelt Caucus
 * Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus
 * Speaker's Task Force for a Drug Free America

Boards and other Affiliations

 * Bi-lingual Private School Association
 * Member, Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China

Twitter
 Ileana Ros Lehtinen posts on Twitter at http://twitter.com/IRL/

Latest posts: http://twitter.com/statuses/user_timeline/14275291.rss|title=none| max=3| short See all the members of Congress who Twitter

Resources

 * Official website
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database
 * Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen's official re-election website Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen's official re-election website

Articles

 * Steve Rothaus, "Republican Lawmaker Urging End to 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Policy," Miami Herald, April 10, 2005.