| Jeff Sessions | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 7, 1997 Serving with Richard Shelby |
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| Preceded by | Howell T. Heflin |
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| In office January 16, 1995 – January 3, 1997 |
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| Governor | Fob James |
| Preceded by | Jimmy Evans |
| Succeeded by | William H. Pryor, Jr. |
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| Born | December 24, 1946 Selma, Alabama |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Mary Blackshear Sessions |
| Alma mater | Huntingdon College |
| Religion | Methodist |
Jefferson Beauregard "Jeff" Sessions III (born December 24, 1946) is the junior United States Senator from Alabama. The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives Alabama (formally the State of Alabama;) is a State located in the southern region of the United States of America. Events 1325 - Alfonso IV becomes King of Portugal. 1558 - France takes Calais, the last continental Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Richard Craig Shelby (born May 6 1934) sometimes known as Dick Shelby, is an American politician. Howell Thomas Heflin (June 19 1921 &ndash March 29 2005 was a United States Senator from Alabama, and a member of the Democratic Party. The Attorney General of Alabama is an elected constitutional officer of the State of Alabama. Events 27 BC - The title Augustus is bestowed upon Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian by the Roman Senate. Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Forrest Hood "Fob" James Jr (born September 15, 1934 in Lanett Alabama) is an American Republican Politician Jimmy Evans is a pastor Bible teacher and best-selling Author. William Holcombe "Bill" Pryor Jr (born April 26 1962, Mobile Alabama, USA) is a federal judge on the United States Events 563 - The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by Earthquakes Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Selma is a city in and the County seat of Dallas County, Alabama, United States, located on the banks of the Alabama River. Alma mater is Latin for "nourishing mother" It was used in Ancient Rome as a title for the mother Goddess, and in Medieval Huntingdon College, founded in 1854 is a Coeducational Liberal arts college in Montgomery, Alabama. Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations Events 563 - The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by Earthquakes Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives Alabama (formally the State of Alabama;) is a State located in the southern region of the United States of America. He is a member of the Republican Party.
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Early life
Sessions was born in Selma, Alabama to Abbie Powe and Jefferson Beauregard Sessions, Jr. Selma is a city in and the County seat of Dallas County, Alabama, United States, located on the banks of the Alabama River. [1] His father owned a general store and then a farm equipment dealership. Sessions grew up in the small town of Hybart. In 1964 he became an Eagle Scout. Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA In his adult life, he became a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America. The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award (DESA is a distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America. Scouting in Alabama has a long history from the 1910s to the present day serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live
After attending school in nearby Camden, Sessions studied at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1969. Camden is a city in Wilcox County, Alabama, United States. The population was 2257 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town Huntingdon College, founded in 1854 is a Coeducational Liberal arts college in Montgomery, Alabama. Montgomery (məntˈgəmɜriː is the Capital, second most populous city and the 4th most populous metropolitan area in the Southern U He was active in the Young Republicans and student body president there. The oldest Young Republican club in the country is the New York Young Republican Club in New York City. [2] Sessions received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Alabama in 1973. Juris Doctor (abbreviated JD or JD, from the Latin, Teacher of Law) is a first professional graduate degree and Professional
Sessions became a practicing attorney first in Russellville and then in Mobile, where he now lives. Russellville is a city in Franklin County in the US state of Alabama. He was also an army reservist in the 1970s, achieving the rank of captain. The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army.
Sessions and his wife Mary have three children: Mary Abigail, Ruth Walk, and Sam.
Political career
Following a two-year stint as Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama (1975–1977), Sessions was nominated by President Ronald Reagan in 1981 and confirmed by the Senate to serve as the United States Attorney for Alabama's Southern District, a position he held for 12 years. United States Attorneys (also known as federal prosecutors) represent the United States federal government in United States district court and In 1986, Sessions was nominated for a federal judgeship by Reagan. The nomination was killed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, which refused by a 10-8 vote[3] to let the nomination come to the Senate floor for a vote. Sessions' opponents accused him of "gross insensitivity” on racial issues. [2] One of those voting against him was Democratic Senator Howell Heflin of Alabama. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. Howell Thomas Heflin (June 19 1921 &ndash March 29 2005 was a United States Senator from Alabama, and a member of the Democratic Party.
Sessions was elected Alabama Attorney General in November 1994. In 1996, Sessions won the Republican primary for U. S. Senate, after a runoff, and then defeated Democrat Roger Bedford, 52%-46% in the November general election. Roger H Bedford Jr is a Democratic member of the Alabama Senate, representing the 6th District since 1994 The US Senate election 1996 was an election for United States Senate which coincided with the re-election of Bill Clinton as president [2] He succeeded Heflin, who had retired after 18 years in the Senate. In 2002, Sessions won re-election by defeating Democratic challenger and State Auditor Susan Parker. In August 2007, State Senator Vivian Davis Figures announced she will seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Sessions in 2008.
Sessions was only the second freshman Republican Senator from Alabama since the Reconstruction, and gave Alabama two Republican senators, also a first since the Reconstruction. Sessions was easily reelected in 2002 becoming the first (or second, if one counts his colleague Richard Shelby, who switched from Democrat to Republican in 1994) Republican reelected to the Senate from Alabama. The 2002 United States Senate election featured a series of fiercely-contested elections that resulted in a victory for the Republican Party, which gained two seats and Richard Craig Shelby (born May 6 1934) sometimes known as Dick Shelby, is an American politician.
Political positions
Sessions was ranked by National Journal as the fifth-most conservative United States Senator in their March, 2007 conservative/liberal rankings[1]. National Journal is a weekly magazine that reports on the current political environment and emerging political and policy trends He backs conservative Republican stances on foreign affairs, taxes, and social policy. The foreign policy of the United States is highly influential on the world stage as it is a Superpower. He opposes abortion and illegal immigration. An Immigration refers to the movement of people among countries While the movement of people has existed throughout human history at various levels modern immigration implies long-term Sessions serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and is its only member to have unsuccessfully faced the Committee before becoming a senator. The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary (informally Senate Judiciary Committee) is a Standing committee of the United States Senate, the Sessions was a supporter of the "nuclear option," a tactic favored by then-Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist in the spring of 2005 to stop filibusters of judicial nominees. The nuclear option, also called the constitutional option, is an attempt by the presiding officer of the United States Senate to end a filibuster by majority The Senate Majority and Minority Leaders (also called Senate Floor Leaders) are two United States Senators who are elected by the party conferences William Harrison "Bill" Frist A filibuster, or "talking out a bill", is a form of obstruction in a Legislature or other decision-making body When 14 Senators led by Republican John McCain of Arizona and Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska struck a deal to avert the option, Sessions was one of the agreement's most severe critics. The State of Arizona ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. Earl Benjamin "Ben" Nelson (born May 17, 1941) is the junior U Nebraska ( is a state located on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States and
An December 2007 poll shows Sessions has a 56% approval rating, with 34% disapproving. Survey USA
On September 25, 2005, he spoke at a rally attended by 400 people in Washington, D.C. in favor of the war in Iraq. Events 303 - On a voyage preaching the Gospel, Saint Fermin of Pamplona is beheaded in Amiens, France Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D The Iraq War, also known as the Second Gulf War, the Occupation of Iraq, or the War in Iraq, is an ongoing Military campaign It was held in opposition to an anti-war protest held the day before that was attended by 100,000 people. The term anti-war usually refers to the opposition to a particular nation's decision to start or carry on an armed conflict unconditional of a maybe-existing just cause. Sessions spoke of the anti-war protesters, saying "The group who spoke here the other day did not represent the American ideals of freedom, liberty and spreading that around the world. I frankly don't know what they represent, other than to blame America first. "[4]
On October 5, 2005, he voted against a bill restricting treatment of terrorist suspects [2]. Events 869 - The Fourth Council of Constantinople is convened to decide about what to do about Patriarch Photius of Constantinople Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Terrorism is the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion
Sessions has taken a strong stand against any form of citizenship for illegal immigrants. Illegal immigration refers to Immigration across National Borders in a way that violates the Immigration laws of the destination Country Sessions was one of the most vocal critics of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007, leading the charge to its being tabled (killed) on June 28, 2007. The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007, or in its full name the Secure Borders Economic Opportunity and Immigration Reform Act of 2007 ( was a bill discussed in Events 1098 - Fighters of the First Crusade defeat Kerbogha of Mosul. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
Sessions was one of 37 Senators to vote against funding for Embryonic Stem Cell Research.
Brief exchange with Chuck Grassley
On June 26, 2007, Sessions got into a brief exchange with Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa. Charles Ernest "Chuck" Grassley (born September 17 1933) is the senior United States Senator from Iowa. The State of Iowa ( is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States of America. Sessions stated that he did not support Grassley's amendment, but would yield time to Grassely, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid did not allow it, prompting Grassley to responded, "I don't care if I speak, I can speak sometime else, but I would like to have time for debate on my amendment, and can I talk about why I should bring my amendment up. The Senate Majority and Minority Leaders (also called Senate Floor Leaders) are two United States Senators who are elected by the party conferences Harry Mason Reid (born December 2 1939 is the senior United States Senator from Nevada and a member of the Democratic Party, as well as "[3]
Environmental Record
In 2005, Jeff Sessions received a 0 percent on the Republicans for Environmental Protection's ("REP") environmental scorecard. Republicans for Environmental Protection (REP is a national organization of United States Republican Party voters formed in 1995 [5] He voted in a manner inconsistent with what the REP considers pro-environment on all 15 issues considered environmentally critical by the REP. Issues in which Senator Sessions voted anti-environment were all amendments to the Energy Policy Act proposed in 2005, the issue of authorizing drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge, and fuel economy standards for vehicles. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge ( ANWR) is a National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern Alaska.
Senator Sessions received a 5 percent from the League of Conservation Voters ("LCV") scorecard for his pro-environment vote on the issue of natural gas facilities. The League of Conservation Voters (LCV is a political advocacy organization that was founded in 1969 by American Environmentalist David Brower. [6] He voted against tabling the bill which would allow states a say in companies building new and possibly harmful natural gas facilities. This pro-environment vote, however, was balanced by his anti-environment votes on the energy conference report, renewable energy, farm conservation programs, global warming, natural gas facilities, undermining fuel economy, increasing fuel economy, and various other issues. Global warming is the increase in the average measured temperature of the
In 2006, Senator Sessions received a 0 percent from the REP[7] and a 0 percent from the LCV[8] According to these organization, he voted anti-environment on the issue of energy and weatherization assistance, on drilling, environmental funding, peer review, renewable resources, and The Gulf of Mexico Security Act.
Controversies
Sessions had unsuccessfully prosecuted three civil rights workers (including Albert Turner, a former aide to Martin Luther King, Jr), on a case of election fraud for the 1984 election. Martin Luther King Jr ( January 15, 1929 April 4, 1968) was an American clergyman, Activist and prominent leader Electoral fraud is illegal interference with the process of an Election. Sessions spent hours interrogating black voters in predominantly black counties, finding only 14 allegedly tampered ballots out of the more than 1. 7 million ballots cast. The three civil rights workers were acquitted after four hours of jury deliberation. [3]
During his nomination to federal court, it was revealed that Sessions had once labeled the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) "un-American," "Communist-inspired," and had said that they "forced civil rights down the throats of people. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, usually abbreviated as NAACP, is one of the oldest and most influential Civil rights organizations The American Civil Liberties Union ( ACLU) consists of two separate Non-profit organizations the ACLU Foundation a 501(c(3 organization which focuses Communism is a Socioeconomic structure that promotes the establishment of an egalitarian, classless, stateless Society based " At his confirmation hearings, Sessions said that the groups could be un-American when "they involve themselves in un-American positions" in foreign policy. [3] Sessions also stated about the Ku Klux Klan, "I used to think they're OK," until he learned that some Klan members were "pot smokers". Ku Klux Klan ( KKK) is the name of several past and present secret domestic terrorist organizations in the United States, generally in the southern states that are Sessions claims he was joking or misunderstood. [9]
On September 9, 2005, after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, Sessions called his former law professor, Harold Apolinsky, co-author of Sessions' legislation repealing the federal estate tax, which had lost momentum in Congress, and left a voicemail: "[Arizona Sen. Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the costliest hurricane, as well as one of the five deadliest in the history of the United States The Gulf Coast region of the United States comprises the coasts of states which border the Gulf of Mexico. The estate tax in the United States is a Tax imposed on the transfer of the "taxable estate " of a deceased person whether such property is transferred ] Jon Kyl and I were talking about the estate tax. This page is about the current Arizona Senator for his father a U If we knew anybody that owned a business that lost life in the storm, that would be something we could push back with. "[10]
Sessions was one of only nine opponents of Senator John McCain's anti-torture amendment. Torture, according to the United Nations Convention Against Torture, is "any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental is intentionally Sessions supports Vice President Dick Cheney's proposal to exempt the CIA from any ban on torture. Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney (born January 30 1941 is the forty-sixth and current Vice President of the United States. near as long as it used to be several months ago It has been actively summarized and split into sub-articles and there is a dynamic talk page discussion of all
Sessions has been opposed to parts of the Voting Rights Act, which he described as a "piece of intrusive legislation". Background See also [[Disfranchisement after the Civil War]] The 13th Amendment, ratified in 1865 after the Civil War, abolished and prohibited [3] In 2006 he was in favor of letting it expire, and also said that Congress should consider if it was needed in some northern cities and states. [11] He later voted in favor of extending it. [12][13]
Sessions has advocated the extension of FISA legislation to legalize the Bush Administration's wiretapping techniques. The NSA warrantless surveillance controversy concerns Surveillance of persons within the United States incident to the collection of Foreign intelligence by the He compared worries about government overreach to "two dramatic errors some years ago in a situation just like this, on emotion driven by our civil libertarian friends," specifically the lack of sharing of information between the FBI and the CIA as well as prohibitions on obtaining intelligence from "dangerous" sources. Sessions was indirectly criticized for this phrasing by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), who replied "[Senator Sessions said] 'The civil libertarians among us'—and then he listed all the bad things he thinks the civil libertarians among us have done. Barbara Levy Boxer (born 11 November 1940 is an American Democratic Politician and the current junior U I hope every one of us—every one of us in this Chamber—supports the civil liberties of the United States of America because if you don't, you don't believe in the Constitution. The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme Law of the United States. "[14]
Committee Assignments
- Committee on Armed Services
- Committee on the Budget
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
- Committee on the Judiciary
- Caucus on International Narcotics Control
Electoral history
| Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | 3rd Party | Party | Votes | Pct | 3rd Party | Party | Votes | Pct | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Roger Bedford | 681,651 | 45% | Jeff Sessions | 786,436 | 52% | Mark Thornton | Libertarian | 21,550 | 1% | Charles R. The Committee on Armed Services is a Committee of the United States Senate empowered with legislative oversight of the nation's military, including the The Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Airland is one of six subcommittees within the Senate Armed Services Committee. The Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Sea Power is one of six subcommittees within the Senate Armed Services Committee. The Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces is one of six subcommittees within the Senate Armed Services Committee. The United States Senate Committee on Budget was established by the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974. The United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources has jurisdiction over matters related to energy and nuclear waste policy territorial policy native Hawaiian Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy is one of four subcommittees of the U Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks is one of four subcommittees of the U Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests is one of four subcommittees of the U The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary (informally Senate Judiciary Committee) is a Standing committee of the United States Senate, the The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts is one of seven subcommittees within the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs is one of seven subcommittees within the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Refugees and Border Security is one of seven subcommittees within the Senate Judiciary Committee. The United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism Technology and Homeland Security is one of seven subcommittees within the Senate Judiciary Committee. The United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control (also known as the Senate Narcotics Caucus) was created to monitor and encourage Alabama was admitted to the Union on December 14 1819. Its Senate seats were declared vacant in March 1861, due to its The US Senate election 1996 was an election for United States Senate which coincided with the re-election of Bill Clinton as president Roger H Bedford Jr is a Democratic member of the Alabama Senate, representing the 6th District since 1994 The Libertarian Party is a United States political party founded on December 11 1971 Hebner | Natural Law | 9,123 | 1% | * | ||||
| 2002 | Susan Parker | 538,878 | 40% | Jeff Sessions | 792,561 | 59% | Jeff Allen | Libertarian | 20,234 | 1% | Write-ins | 1,350 | <1% |
Notes and references
- ^ 1
- ^ a b c Profile of Jeff Sessions by CQ Press
- ^ a b c d Sarah Wildman, Closed Sessions: The Senator Who's Worse than Lott, The New Republic, December 30, 2002
- ^ Brian J. Foley, "I Gave My Copy of the Constitution to a Pro-War Veteran", Antiwar. com, October 1, 2005
- ^ Republicans for Environmental Protection 2005 Scorecard
- ^ League of Conservation Voters
- ^ Republicans for Environmental Protection 2006 Scorecard.
- ^ League of Conservation Voters
- ^ http://www.cqpress.com/ls/pia/pdfs/106/als2.pdf
- ^ Massimo Calabresi, "Looking for a Corpse to Make a Case: Senators look for a wealthy casualty of Katrina as evidence against the estate tax", Time Magazine, September 17, 2005
- ^ "Sessions wants to extend Voting Rights Act north", Decatur Daily News, May 11, 2006
- ^ U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions, Republican - ALABAMA
- ^ U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote
- ^ FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE ACT--MOTION TO PROCEED -- (Senate - December 17, 2007) Congressional Record for the 110th Congress
- ^ Election Statistics. Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Retrieved on 2007-08-08. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1220 - Sweden is defeated by Estonian tribes in the Battle of Lihula.
External links
- United States Senator Jeff Sessions, U. S. Senate site
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
- Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
- Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
- SourceWatch Congresspedia — Jeff Sessions profile
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jimmy Evans |
Attorney General of Alabama 1995 – 1997 |
Succeeded by William H. Pryor, Jr. |
| United States Senate | ||
| Preceded by Howell T. Heflin |
United States Senator (Class 2) from Alabama 1997 – present Served alongside: Richard Shelby |
Incumbent |
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Sessions, Jefferson Beauregard, III |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Sessions, Jeff |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | United States Senator from Alabama |
| DATE OF BIRTH | December 24, 1946 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Selma, Alabama |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
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