Robert Scott

Robert Cortez "Bobby" Scott, a Democrat, has represented the Third Congressional District of Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1992.

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

Death penalty
Scott is opposed to the death penalty.

Civil liberties
Scott opposed the the USA Patriot Act. He was one of three representatives to vote against a resolution condemning the Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow decision regarding the Pledge of Allegiance.

Background
Scott was born April 30, 1947 in Washington, D.C.. He graduated from Harvard University and Boston College Law School. Scott was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1977 and he was elected to the Senate of Virginia in 1982.

Congressional Career
He was unsuccessful in his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives in 1986. But, in 1992, he was elected to the Congress in Virginia's 3rd District, which was created after the Department of Justice directed the Virginia legislature to draw a black-majority district after the 1990 census. He is the first African American Representative from Virginia since Reconstruction, and has been reelected five times with no substantive opposition. Also, having a maternal grandfather of Filipino ancestry gives Rep. Scott the distinction of being the first American with Filipino heritage to serve in the United States Congress.

Scott didn't have Republican opposition in 2000 and 2002. He faced former State Delegate Winsome Sears in the 2004 election, and won with 69% of the vote. He considered a run for Governor of Virginia but decided against the race.

2006 elections
No major candidates announced their intentions to contest Scott’s seat in the November 2006 election. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006)

2008 elections
No major candidates announced their intention to challenge scott in the 2008 congressional elections.

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

 * House Committee on Education and Labor
 * Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education
 * Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness
 * House Committee on the Judiciary
 * Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties
 * Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security -Chair
 * House Committee on Budget

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

 * House Committee on Education and the Workforce
 * Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness
 * Subcommittee on Education Reform
 * House Committee on the Judiciary
 * Subcommittee on Task Force on Antirust
 * Subcommittee on the Constitution
 * Subcommittee on Crime Terrorism and Homeland Security - Ranking Minority Member

Coalitions and Caucuses

 * Congressional Arts Caucus
 * Congressional Black Caucus
 * Congressional Children's Working Group
 * Congressional Fire Services Caucus
 * Congressional Urban Caucus
 * Democratic Homeland Security Task Force
 * Executive Committee, Democratic Study Group

Boards and other Affiliations

 * Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
 * Board of Directors, March of Dimes
 * National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
 * National Guard and Reserve Components Organization
 * Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
 * Board of Directors, Peninsula Legal Aid Center
 * Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity

More Background Data

 * 2006 Virginia CD 3 Candidate List from VIS

External articles

 * Official website
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Richmond Democrat
 * Vivian J. Paige - All Politics is Local

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