Allyson Schwartz

Allyson Y. Schwartz has been a Democratic member of the U. S. House of Representatives, representing the 13th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, since 2005.

Iraq War and the War on Terror
Among other key votes, Allyson Schwartz voted “No” on the Military Commisions Act. The Military Commissions Act allows military commissions (versus civil courts) to try enemy combattants for violations of the laws of war. She supported a bill that provides supplemental appropriations to various departments for the War on Terror, Katrina Disaster Relief, and that provided timetables for the redeployment of troops in Iraq. Schwartz supported the reauthorization of the Patriot Act. She recently voted to require the Secretary of Defense to commence the reduction of the number of United States Armed Forces in Iraq to a limited presence by April 1, 2008.

Other key votes are as follows:


 * Voted YES on making the Patriot Act permanent. (Dec 2005)
 * Voted YES on restricting no-bid defense contracts. (Mar 2007)
 * Voted NO on allowing electronic surveillance without a warrant. (Sep 2006)
 * Voted YES on continuing intelligence gathering without civil oversight. (Apr 2006)
 * Voted NO on federalizing rules for driver licenses to hinder terrorists. (Feb 2005)
 * Voted YES on continuing military recruitment on college campuses. (Feb 2005)
 * Voted NO on redeploying US troops out of Iraq starting in 90 days. (May 2007)
 * Voted NO on declaring Iraq part of War on Terror with no exit date. (Jun 2006)

http://vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=5239

Environmental record
Schwartz’s voting record on Environmental and Energy bills are as follows:
 * Supported changing our energy policy and becoming oil independent. (Nov 2004)
 * Voted YES on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore. (Jun 2006)
 * Voted NO on scheduling permitting for new oil refinieries. (Jun 2006)
 * Voted NO on authorizing construction of new oil refineries. (Oct 2005)
 * Voted YES on barring website promoting Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump. (May 2006) 			*Voted NO on deauthorizing "critical habitat" for endangered species, a bill which would open up certain endangered species habitats to logging, farming and hunting. (Sep 2005)

http://vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=5239

During her tenure as Pennsylvania State Senator, Schwartz supported promoting increased use of alternative fuel technology and funding open-state preservation.

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

Abortion and Stem Cell Research
Schwartz is in favor of stem cell research and has a Pro-choice record. She has said she believes that abortion should always be legally available. NARAL Pro-choice America and Planned Parenthood (two Pro-choice organizations) rated her as supporting 100% of their interests in 2006.

Her voting record on abortion and abortion related bills is as follows:


 * Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Jan 2007)
 * Voted YES on allowing human embryonic stem cell research. (May 2005)
 * Voted NO on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions. (Apr 2005)
 * Voted NO on the Abortion Pain Bill: A bill that would ensure that women seeking an abortion are fully informed regarding the pain experienced by their unborn child. (2005)

http://vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=5239

Gay Rights
During her tenure as Pennsylvania State Senator, Schwartz indicated that she supports including sexual orientation in Pennsylvania's anti-discrimination laws She voted NO on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage. (July 2006)

http://vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=5239

Health Care
During her tenure as Pennsylvania State Senator, Representative Allyson Schwartz initiated and led effort to create the Pennsylvania children’s health program, one of the first in the nation. As a member of the Committee on Ways and Means, Schwartz has continued to be one of the leading advocates for extending the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

After the House of Representatives failed to override President Bush’s veto of the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, Representative Schwartz released a statement saying: “Members of Congress had a clear choice. Vote for a bipartisan plan to deliver health coverage to 10 million American children – a bill overwhelmingly supported by 8 in 10 Americans…“For the parents of children who don’t have health coverage, their worries are all consuming. And, for a nation as great as ours, it is unacceptable that children go without needed healthcare simply due to the lack of an insurance card."

http://schwartz.house.gov/

Background
Allyson Y. Schwartz was born October 3rd, 1948 in Queens, New York. In 1970 she received a BA in Sociology from Simmons College and a Masters degree from the Bryn Mawr College of Social Work and Social Research in 1972. Schwartz is married to Dr. David Schwartz, a cardiologist, with whom she has two adult sons. She is a resident of Jenkintown, and is a member of the Jewish faith. Her professional experience includes:


 * Assistant director, Health Services Department, Philadelphia's Health Plan 1972 – 1975
 * Founder/Director, Elizabeth Blackwell Health Center for Women, 1975-1988
 * Founder of Women’s Ways in 1979
 * Deputy Managing Director for Health and Human Services, Philadelphia, 1988

Her political experience before her election as a Pennsylvania State Senator includes:


 * Governor’s Committee on Health Care Cost Containment, 1981-1983
 * Pennsylvania State Board of Education
 * Acting/First Deputy Commissioner, Philadelphia Department of Human Services, 1988-1990

In 1990, Schwartz was elected as a Pennsylvania State Senator, representing a district in Northwest and Northeast Philadelphia. Her district was later extended into Montgomery County during the Census redistricting of 1991. She was reelected in 1994, 1998 and 2002, serving in the state senate for a total of 14 years. In 2000, Schwartz ran in the hard fought, six way Democratic Primary for United States Senate. Schwartz was the runner up, winning Montgomery County and Philadelphia with impressive numbers.

Congressional Career
In 2003, Pennsylvania’s 13th district Representative Joe Hoeffel, chose not to run for a 4th term, opting instead to make an unsuccessful United States Senate run against Republican Arlen Specter. Although Schwartz had originally planned to run for Auditor General, she changed her plans after Hoeffel’s announcement that he would not seek a fourth term. Schwartz faced and narrowly defeated the former deputy mayor of Philadelphia and Constitution Center director Joe Torsella in the Democratic Primary. During the general election, Schwartz faced Republican Melissa Brown. Although the 13th district was considered a strong base for moderate Republicans, Schwartz succeeded in defeating her opponent, 56%-41%, the largest margin of victory for a Democrat in the 13th district. Schwartz was inaugurated in January 2005 as part of the 109th Congress.

During the race, Schwartz was noted by political Scientists for her talent at fundraising. Former state legislators usually raise more money from PACs and rely on them for higher proportions of their total receipts. However, Allyson Schwartz raised $4,597,032 from individual donations and comparatively little ($558,376) in PAC donations.

The finance department countered or prepared for Melissa Brown's potential avenues for fundraising. They cut off her fundraising from PACs that would normally support her, such as Realtors and financial services by persuading them that Allyson Schwartz could also address their needs. The purpose of communicating with PACs was not always to try to gain contributions, for the campaign understood that certain PACs would not donate to Democratic candidates. Instead, their purpose was to say to them, "If you can't support than don't hurt us" and many did not contribute to the race on either side.

EMILY's List gave the most to Allyson Schwartz's 2004 campaign in the form of bundled donations. EMILY's List financially contributed, directly and through bundling, an amount exceeding $213,338.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) also helped Schwartz. The DCCC program, "Red to Blue," solicited different members of Congress and PACs on the behalf of candidates in ten races. They also coordinated volunteer activities and helped to fan out their staff members to close House races across the country.

2006 elections
In 2006, Republicans nominated Raj Peter Bhakta to face Schwartz in her November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Schwartz retained her seat.

Positions and Views
Thus far in her term she has been credited with securing $52.5 million in federal funds for local infrastructure priorities as a part of the Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (TEA-LU) bill.

She is an endorser of the Genocide Intervention Network.

Schwartz is a member of the New Democratic Coalition

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

 * House Committee on Ways and Means
 * Subcommittee on Social Security
 * Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures
 * House Committee on Budget

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

 * House Committee on Budget
 * House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
 * Subcommittee on Highways Transit and Pipelines
 * Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment

Coalitions and Caucuses

 * Pennsylvania Citizens Crime Comm. Task Force on Juvenile Justice, 1988-1990
 * Vice Chair, Assembly on Federal Issues 1995-1996
 * Mayor's Committee on Health Care in the 80s, 1982-83
 * Executive Committee, American Jewish Committee
 * Pennsylvania Committee on Women
 * Pennsylvania Department Health Cervical and Breast Cancer Advisory Board
 * Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission

Boards and other Affiliations

 * Member, Allens Lane Art Center
 * Board of Trustees, Arcadia University
 * Member, Center for Policy Alternatives
 * Member, Center for Responsible Funding
 * Member, Chestnut Hill Health Care
 * Chair, Committee for Protection of Human Subjects
 * Member, Council of State Legislators
 * Former Board Member, Delaware Valley Child Care Council
 * Montgomery County Commission for Women and Families
 * Member, National Jewish Democratic Council
 * Chair, National Conference of State Legislatures Health Committee
 * National Conference of State Legislatures Women's Network Board
 * Member, Pennsylvania Children's Trust Fund Board
 * Member, Pennsylvania Council on Higher Education
 * Board of Directors, Philadelphia Health Management Corporation
 * Member, Women's Way
 * Policy Council, Center for Women Policy Studies

Resources

 * Official website
 * Campaign website
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Articles

 * Berkman, Michael, and James Eisenstein. "State Legislators as Candidates: The Effects of Prior Experience on Legislative Behavior and Fundraising," Political Science Quarterly, 52, no. 3 (1999): 481-498.

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * The All-Spin Zone
 * Above Average Jane