| Solomon Ortiz | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 1983 |
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| Preceded by | None (District Created After 1980 Census) |
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| Born | June 3, 1937 Robstown, Texas |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | divorced |
| Religion | Methodist |
Solomon Porfirio Ortiz (born June 3, 1937 in Robstown, Texas) is an American politician from the State of Texas who currently serves in the United States House of Representatives from Texas's 27th congressional district (map) based in Corpus Christi. The United States House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate. Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. Texas District 27 of the United States House of Representatives is a Congressional district that serves a strip in deep south Texas on the Gulf Coast Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, proclaims himself Roman Emperor, entering Year 1937 ( MCMXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Robstown is a city in Nueces County, Texas, United States and a western suburb of Corpus Christi. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, proclaims himself Roman Emperor, entering Year 1937 ( MCMXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Robstown is a city in Nueces County, Texas, United States and a western suburb of Corpus Christi. Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. The United States House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate. Texas District 27 of the United States House of Representatives is a Congressional district that serves a strip in deep south Texas on the Gulf Coast Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U
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Early life
Solomon Porfirio Ortiz was born in Robstown, Nueces County, Texas. Robstown is a city in Nueces County, Texas, United States and a western suburb of Corpus Christi. Nueces County is a County located in the US state of Texas. As of 2000 the population was 313645 Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. His family had migrated to Texas from Mexico. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. Ortiz idenifies himself as a member of Methodist Church. Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations As a young boy, he worked as a shoeshiner and an inker for the letter press of his hometown newspaper, The Robstown Record. Shoeshiner is a profession in which a person polishes Shoes with Shoe polish. During his jobs, he made friends with law enforcement officers. Ortiz was very impressed with the officers and he became fascinated with law and law enforcement because of them. He went to school at Robstown High School and attended Del Mar College from 1965 to 1967. Principal AdministratorJulio Rangel Grade levels9 Del Mar College ( DMC) is a Community college in Corpus Christi Texas, founded in 1935 Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar.
Army
When Ortiz was 16, his father died, leaving him to support the family. In 1960, Ortiz decided to join the army because it gave him a place to stay and a good way to make money. Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. An army (from Latin Armata "act of arming" via Old French armée) in the broadest sense is the land-based Armed forces Ortiz got his education in the army, getting the equivalent of a high school diploma. He was trained in Fort Hood, Texas and then was sent to Verdun and Vitry-le-François, France. Fort Hood, named after Confederate General John Bell Hood, is a United States Army post located halfway between Austin and Waco Verdun (medieval Wirten official name before 1970 Verdun-sur-Meuse) is a city and commune Vitry-le-François is a commune of the Marne département, in France. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics.
One day, an officer inspecting his barracks found books about crime investigations and police techniques. The officer asked if he was interested in police work, which he enthusiastically replied, "Yes". He was reassigned to the 61st Military Police Company Criminal Investigation Office. In Fort Gordon, Georgia, he received his advanced military police training until 1962. This was a step in the direction of his future government work.
Running for Sheriff
Back in South Texas, Ortiz worked as an insurance agent for three years. Insurance, in Law and Economics, is a form of Risk management primarily used to hedge against the Risk of a contingent loss Then, his friends convinced him that he should run for the Nueces County Country Constable (Constable — A public officer similar to a sheriff also having judicial duties). Nueces County is a County located in the US state of Texas. As of 2000 the population was 313645 They said that his experience in the Army would help.
In 1964, Ortiz began gathering support and talking to other Hispanics about what he would do for justice. Later, Ortiz realized that he had to pay a $600 filing fee to apply for the campaign. Ortiz talked to his mother about this and was surprised by her reaction. She said they would take out a $1000 loan, for the filing fee and to help pay the Hispanic poll tax.
Unluckily, soon after, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed, which outlawed poll taxes. In his first election, Ortiz was sure he would fail, but he was amazed to find that he had made it into the runoff by defeating the current Constable. In 1965, he won the final election.
Rapid Uprising
Ortiz served as Constable for four years until 1968. In 1969, he ran for County Commissioners Court of Nueces County and won. Nueces County is a County located in the US state of Texas. As of 2000 the population was 313645 He was a County Commissioner until 1976, when he became the Nueces County Sheriff.
In 1982, due to Texas' population increase, the 27th District of Texas was created and Ortiz ran for the Congressional seat. He was elected as a Democrat to Congress in 1982 (taking office January 3, 1983), and he has served continuously since then. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. Ortiz was assigned to the House Armed Services Committee and the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee. This assignment covers four military bases. Since then, Ortiz's specialty has become defense policy and the readiness of the Armed Forces.
Current status
Ortiz is currently the chairman of the Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Readiness. The US House Committee on Armed Services, commonly known as the House Armed Services Committee, is a Standing committee of the United States House of Representatives House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness is a subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee in the United States House of Representatives.
During his terms in office, Ortiz has been working in the Pacific Rim to create more industry and jobs in South Texas. The Pacific Rim refers to the countries and cities located around the edge of the Pacific Ocean.
He is a senior member of two important committees, co-chair of the Border Caucus, House Depot Caucus and Naval Mine Warfare Caucus, and as dean of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Ortiz has passed many bills that relate to Energy and Water, development, transportation, Veterans, agricultural issues, homeland security, defense and the military.
During his time in the House, he has maintained a moderate voting record, with a reputation of bipartisanship. His voting record is not as liberal as has become typical of Hispanic Democrats — for example, he opposes abortion in most circumstances. An
External links
- Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz official U. S. House 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
- Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia
| Preceded by District created after 1980 census |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 27th congressional district 1983–Present |
Succeeded by incumbent |
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