John Hall

John Hall, a Democrat, represented the 19th Congressional District of New York in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011.

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

Nuclear energy
Indian Point Energy Center (IPEC) is a three-unit nuclear power plant station located on the east bank of the Hudson River, about twenty-four miles north of New York City (within Hall’s district). During Hall’s 2006 campaign for Congress, he released a 34-page plan for a national Sustainable Energy Center to replace the nuclear plant at Indian Point. He stated, “I have called for the closure of Indian Point on many occasions, and now, with undetermined amounts of radioactive water leaking from the plant, it may be more appropriate than ever to shut it down. But opposition to nuclear power also carries with it the corollary of supporting sustainable energy.” (Read Rep. Hall’s full proposal)

Several weeks into Hall’s first term, several blogs (the Congressman John Hall Blog and the Green Nuclear Butterfly Blog) criticized Hall for his inaction relating to the nuclear plant. At the time, he had not introduced any legislation pertaining to the matter. During the 109th Congress, before Hall was elected to Congress, Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.) introduced a bill in the House, “to require the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to conduct an independent safety assessment of the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant.” Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) introduced a Senate version. Neither, however, made it to the floor for a vote. 

Veteran's health
On March 21, 2007, the House considered a bill, Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2007, sponsored by Rep. Hall to raise compensation rates for veterans with service-connected disabilities, as well as the rates determining dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of some disabled veterans. Clothing allowance increases would also be included. The scope of the rate increases were not specified in the bill; rather, it authorized the Department of Veterans Affairs to institute and publish the enhanced rate increases in the near future. The bill passed 418-0.

Biography
Hall was born on July 23, 1948 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was a student at Notre Dame University when he quit to pursue a career in music. Songwriting and session time with such artists as Janis Joplin, Seals &amp; Crofts and Bonnie Raitt preceded his founding of Orleans in January 1972 in Ulster County, New York with Wells Kelly and Larry Hoppen. 

In 1977, Hall left the band to begin a solo career and became active in the anti-nuclear movement, co-founding Musicians United for Safe Energy. Another group, the John Hall Band, released two solo albums, but disbanded after limited chart success. Hall spent the next few decades writing songs for other artists and reunited with Orleans in 1990, 1996, and 2000. In 2005 he released the album, Rock Me on the Water. 

Political career
In late October 2004, Hall publicly commented that the presidential campaign of George W. Bush never received permission to use the Orleans song "Still the One" at campaign events. The campaign responded by dropping the song from their playlist.

In 1989, Hall was elected to the Ulster County Legislature. In the late nineties, after three successive school budgets were rejected by the voters, John ran for, and was elected twice to, the Saugerties Board of Education. His fellow trustees elected him president, and budgets were passed each year of Hall's tenure.

Hall ran in the September 2006 primary race as Democrat in New York. He won the primary, with a commanding 48% in a 4-way race, and faced incumbent Rep. Sue Kelly (R-N.Y.) in the general election. Hall's platform favored universal healthcare, intensive alternative energy initiatives, and complete funding of No Child Left Behind. 

2006 election
Hall defeated Republican Rep. Sue Kelly 51% to 49% to win a seat in the 110th Congress. 

Money in politics
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Committees and Affiliations

 * House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
 * Subcommittee on Aviation
 * Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
 * House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
 * Subcommitee on Economic Opportunity
 * Subcommitee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, Chair
 * House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming

Resources

 * Congressman John Hall, official site.
 * John Hall's Full Indian Point Proposal
 * THOMAS page on H.R. 994 (Rep. Hall's Indian Point bill)
 * THOMAS page on H.R. 1284 (Rep. Hall's bill on veterans' rate of compensation)
 * THOMAS page on S.2488 (Sen. Clinton's Indian Point bill)
 * THOMAS page on H.R. 4891 (Rep. Hinchey's Indian Point bill)

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Progressive Wave's NY-19
 * Congressman John Hall Blog
 * Green Nuclear Butterfly Blog

Articles

 * Elana Schor, "It’s Hillary versus Rudy: The overture," The Hill, December 13, 2006.