Emanuel Cleaver

The Reverend Emanuel Cleaver, II has been a Democratic member of the U. S. House of Representatives, representing the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri, since 2005. His district primarily consists of the Kansas City-Jackson County metro area.

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

Bio
Born in Waxahachie, Texas on October 26, 1944, Cleaver grew up in public housing in Wichita Falls, Texas. After his graduation from Prairie View A&M University, Cleaver moved to Kansas City, Missouri. He founded a branch of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Kansas City and received a Master of Divinity degree from St. Paul School of Theology. Cleaver was ordained as a minister the United Methodist church and served a city councilman in Kansas City from 1979 to 1991, and was the mayor of Kansas City, Missouri for two terms, from 1991 until 1999. He was the first African American mayor in that city's history.

Congressional career
In the 2004 U.S. House election, Cleaver defeated Republican party challenger Jeanne Patterson, who financed her campaign with her own fortune.

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

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

 * House Committee on Financial Services
 * Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit
 * Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity
 * Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

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

 * House Committee on Financial Services
 * Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity
 * Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
 * Cleaver is a prominent member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the oldest intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African Americans.
 * Member, Congressional Black Caucus.

Articles and Resources

 * Official website
 * biographic sketch at U.S. Congress website
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Chatter