William Delahunt

William D. Delahunt was a Democratic member of the U. S. House of Representatives from 1997 to 2011, representing the 10th District of Massachusetts.

Iraq War
Delahunt voted against 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

Support for gun control
Delahunt cosponsored H.R. 1312 (Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2005) on July 28, 2005.

He also cosponsored H.R. 1022 (Assault Weapons Ban Reauthorization Act of 2007) on March 13, 2007.

Venezuelan oil
In winter 2005, Delahunt entered into a deal with Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, in which non-profits in seven northeastern states would be sold Venezuelan owned- Citgo oil for below market price to provide winter heat for low income residents.   In Decmber, Fox News described the State Department as "furious," but USA Today reported that "State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said this month that CITGO "is free to decide ... how it distributes oil" and the Whithouse had no comment.

The program has caused controversy in Washington. According to The Hill, in February 2006, "House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R-Texas) and Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) wrote Citgo to demand documents about the program. The members, for example, asked how the company selected which communities would get the oil and whether the program violated federal antitrust laws....'Given President Chavez's clear anti-American sentiments, his current efforts must be viewed with concern that he is attempting to politicize the debate over U.S. energy policy,' the Barton and Whitfield letter stated. A Citgo official would not comment beyond the letter sent Feb. 17 in response to Barton's committee. The letter notes that senators had called on oil companies to donate some of their record profits to programs to distribute cheap fuel to poor people."

Bio
Delahunt was born on July 18, 1941, in Quincy, Massachusetts. He was educated at Middlebury College and Boston College Law School and later served in the United States Coast Guard Reserve. He served a term in the Massachusetts House of Representatives before serving as a district attorney of Norfolk County, Massachusetts for more than 20 years.

Congressional career
Delahunt was first elected to Congress after a bitter primary battle against Phil Johnston of Marshfield and Ian Bowles of Woods Hole. Johnston was initially declared the winner, but a recount, which ultimately ended up being done in court, gave the victory to Delahunt.

2006 elections
In 2006, Republicans nominated Jeffrey K. Beatty to face Delahunt in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Delahunt retained his seat.

2008 superdelegate

 * "Delahunt says Obama will restore US image abroad", The Boston Globe, December 27, 2007
 * Delahunt's district went for Clinton by 74,634 to 53,714 in the Massachusetts primary.

Money in politics
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Committees and Affiliations

 * Congressional Advisory Board, Humpty Dumpty Institute

Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Foreign Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere
 * Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight, Chair
 * House Committee on the Judiciary
 * Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law
 * Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security
 * Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims
 * House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct

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

 * House Committee on International Relations
 * Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations - Ranking Minority Member
 * Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
 * House Committee on the Judiciary
 * Subcommittee on Task Force on Antirust
 * Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law
 * Subcommittee on Crime Terrorism and Homeland Security

Articles and Resources
"Behind scenes, unlikely allies spurred oil deal Delahunt-Chávez accord to be announced today"] Boston Globe, November 22, 2005.
 * Official website
 * Congressional biography
 * Susan Milligan, November 22, 2005

Resources

 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Mass Revolution Now
 * St. Kermit