Nick Joe Rahall

Nick Joe Rahall II has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing West Virginia's 3rd Congressional District, since 1977. He is the Dean of the West Virginia Delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Iraq War
Rahall 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

CLEAN Energy Act of 2007
In January 2007, Rahall sponsored the CLEAN Energy Act of 2007 which was the comprehensive energy bill that addressed royalties and tax breaks previously afforded to oil and gas companies. It passed the house on January 18, 2007 in a vote of 264-163. The Senate version of the bill included many amendments to further change energy laws.

Bill to restore a prohibition on the commercial sale and slaughter of wild free-roaming horses and burros
On April 26, 2007, the House considered a bill sponsored by Rep Rahall which would reverse an amendment to a 2005 appropriations bill that allowed for the commercial sale and slaughter of wild free-roaming horses and burros. The 2005 law also provided, and this bill would prohibit, that animals over ten years old or that have been unsuccessfully offered for adoption three times must be sold with no limitations. It allowed the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to round up horses and burros for adoption when necessary. Following passage of the bill, the BLM followed the practice of rounding up more animals than it could get adopted or afford to care for and feed. As of 2007, the BLM had approximately 31,000 horses and burros in holding facilities (their care and feeding reportedly half the BLM budget). As of 2007, 50 horses had been slaughtered since the 2005 bill passed. The 2005 bill had cited overpopulation as justification for allowing the Bureau of Land Management to conduct a roundup of the horses and burros. This bill noted that there are “significantly fewer of those animals than 25 years back. In 1980 there were 62,638 and by February 2007 there were 28,500.”

The bill passed 277-137.

Background
Nick Rahall was born May 20, 1949 in Beckley, West Virginia. His father was the owner of many businesses, including many radio stations throughout the state. Rahall attended Duke University. Following his graduation, he attended graduate school at the George Washington University, but dropped out when the Viet Nam draft ended. He then went to work for Senator Robert Byrd (who is from nearby Sparta, West Virginia) as a staff member.

Congressional Career
After 4th District Congressman Ken Hechler stepped down to run for governor in 1976, Rahall narrowly won a 10-way Democratic primary, which was tantamount to election in the heavily Democratic district. He has been reelected 14 times with virtually no Republican opposition aside from 1988 and 1990. Rahall holds one of the safest Democratic districts in the country (Democrats frequently win by margins of 90-10). The district was renumbered the 3rd after the 1990 census, when West Virginia's declining population cost it a congressional seat.

Speculation on his political future centers on a possible run for the Senate whenever Byrd's seat opens up, and on the continued population loss of his district, which will likely result in some degree of redistricting in the state.

2006 election
In 2006, the Republicans nominated Kim Wolfe to challenge Rahall in his bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Rahall retained his seat.

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

 * House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
 * Subcommittee on Aviation
 * Subcommittee on Highways, Transit & Pipelines
 * Subcommittee on Railroads
 * House Committee on Natural Resources -Chair

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

 * House Committee on Resources - Ranking Minority Member
 * House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
 * Subcommittee on Aviation
 * Subcommittee on Highways Transit and Pipelines
 * Subcommittee on Railroads
 * Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment

Coalitions and Caucuses

 * Arts Caucus
 * Black Caucus
 * Chair/Founder, Congressional Coalition Group
 * Congressional Fire Services Caucus
 * Congressional Sportsman's Caucus
 * Congressional Wine Caucus
 * Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
 * Democratic Leadership Council
 * Democratic Study Group
 * Energy & Environment Study Conference
 * Minor League Baseball Caucus
 * Rural Caucus
 * Steel Caucus
 * Textile Caucus
 * Travel & Tourism Caucus
 * Truck Caucus

Boards and other Affiliations

 * National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
 * National Guard & Reserve Components Congressional Members Organization
 * National Rifle Association
 * National Advisory Board, Arab American National Museum

2008 Campaign Contact Information
Official Rahall for Congress campaign website

Keep Nick Rahall in Congress PO Box 64 Beckley, WV 25801

[mailto:NJRCampaign@gmail.com NJRCampaign@gmail.com]

Nick Rahall on MySpace Nick Rahall on Facebook

Articles and resources

 * Official website

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Appalachian Voices
 * West Virginia Political Sweatbox
 * The Goat Rope