• SANDERS, BERNARD
Experience: Senator, United States Senate, 2006-present
Home State: Vermont
Person Website: https://berniesanders.com/
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Running: President, United States, 2016
Total Raised: $229,115,600Coverage End: Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Winning: Won with 0.00%
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Personal

    Full Name: Bernard 'Bernie' Sanders
    Gender: Male
    Family: Wife: Jane; 4 Children: Levi, Heather, Carina, David
    Birth Date: 09/08/1941
    Birth Place: Brooklyn, NY
    Home City: Burlington, VT
    Religion: Jewish

Education

    Attended, Brooklyn College
    BS, University of Chicago, 1964

Political Experience

    Senator, United States Senate, 2006-present
    Representative, United States House of Representatives, 1990-2006
    Mayor, City of Burlington, 1981-1989
    Candidate, United States House of Representatives, 1988
    Candidate, Governor of Vermont, 1972, 1976, 1986
    Candidate, United States Senate, 1972, 1974

Current Legislative Committees

    Budget, Ranking Member
    Energy and Natural Resources, Member
    Environment and Public Works, Member
    Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Member
    Subcommittee on Children and Families, Member
    Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, Member
    Subcommittee on Energy, Member
    Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife, Member
    Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New Economy, Member
    Subcommittee on National Parks, Member
    Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, Ranking Member
    Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Member
    Subcommittee on Water and Power, Member
    Veterans' Affairs, Member

Caucuses/Non-Legislative Committees

    Co-Chair, Prescription Drug Task Force
    Former Chair, Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, United States Senate
    Co-Chair, Congressional Child Care Caucus, 2003-2004
    Officer, Congressional Progressive Caucus, 1991-1998
    Co-Founder, Congressional Progressive Caucus, 1991

Professional Experience

    Author
    Former Documentary Filmmaker
    Former Carpenter
    Journalist
    Lecturer, Hamilton College, 1989-1990
    Lecturer, Harvard University, 1989
    Director, American People's Historical Society, 1977

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

    Member, Coalition on Population and Development
    Member, Friends of Ireland
    Former Member, Liberty Union Party
    Member, National Guard and Reserve Components Organization
    Member, Northeast-Midwest Coalition

Additional Information

Priority Issues:

    Progressive Tax Reform
    Worker's Rights
    A National Energy Policy
    The Environment
    Justice and Equality For All
    National Healthcare
    Getting Our Priorities Right
    A Strong Safety Net

Publications:

    Absolutely Absurd: The Life & Times of Bernie Sanders (Sleepy Hollow Press, 2002)-Outsider in the House (Verso, 1997)

About Bernie Sanders

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Bernard “Bernie” Sanders is the son of Polish Jewish immigrants. While his higher education began with the study of psychology in Brooklyn, he soon transferred to the University of Chicago, where he ultimately graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. His political activities during his academic career consisted mostly of contributions to the Civil Rights Movement, as he was a student organizer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. After college, he moved to Vermont and worked in several fields, including carpentry, film-making, writing, and research.

Sanders began a humble political career in 1971, experiencing frustrating results for the following ten years. It was not until 1981, after a brief break from politics, that he found major success in the field by winning election to the office of Mayor in Burlington. He held this role until 1989, when he opted not to seek reelection and began teaching political science at Harvard University. Sanders returned to politics again in 1991 and won the seat for Vermont's at-large congressional district, becoming the first Independent in congress in over 40 years.

Although Sanders traditionally runs as an Independent and describes himself as a “Democratic Socialist”, he caucuses with the Democratic Party and generally enjoys their support. In 2005, Sanders declared himself a candidate for Senate representing Vermont, following the retirement of Jim Jeffords. Critically, his campaign won the endorsement of New York Senator Chuck Schumer, the Chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Schumer's support meant that, although Sanders was as usual running as an Independent, any Democrat attempting to run against him would receive no financial help from the party. He also received endorsements from such notable Democrats as Harry Reid, Howard Dean, and even Barack Obama. Sanders would go on to win this Senate seat, and was reelected in 2012 with an impressive 71% of the vote.

Total: 121
Dejected Bernie Sanders Supporters Are Still Not Ready For Hillary

A sizable number of them just aren’t with her.

07/28/2016
By Eliot Nelson | The Huffington Post
Sanders Delegate Protests Clinton Nomination With Middle Finger On Live TV

Despite backlash, the Hawaii delegate says she has no regrets.

07/27/2016
By Chris D’Angelo | The Huffington Post
Bernie Sanders Will Endorse Hillary Clinton Next Week: Report

The announcement will be an important step toward uniting Democrats ahead of this month’s convention.

07/07/2016
By Marina Fang | The Huffington Post
Bernie Sanders Booed By House Democrats For Refusal To Endorse Hillary Clinton

Members want a timeline for when he will endorse Clinton. Sanders isn’t ready to give them one.

07/06/2016
By Sam Stein & Amanda Terkel | The Huffington Post
Bernie Sanders has won some big concessions. But he still won’t endorse Hillary Clinton.

His window may be closing.

06/27/2016
By Greg Sargent | The Washington Post
Bernie Sanders Mounts Democratic Convention Platform Fight

He successfully got some of his policy proposals into the initial draft of the Democratic platform but is determined to press further.

06/26/2016
By Marina Fang | The Huffington Post
Bernie Sanders: ‘It Doesn’t Appear That I’m Going To Be The Nominee’

He pledged to continue his work to transform the Democratic party.

06/22/2016
By Sam Levine | The Huffington Post
Sanders' anti-superdelegate push gains steam in Senate

A growing number of senators back changes to a system critics say gives party bosses undue sway to decide the nominee.

06/21/2016
By Burgess Everett and Seung Min Kim | POLITICO
Yes, Bernie Has Leverage. Deal With It.

Sanders received a mandate in “defeat” that most politicians never achieve in victory.

06/20/2016
By Richard (RJ) Eskow | ALTERNET
Sanders refuses to concede in speech to supporters

Bernie Sanders refused to formally concede the race for the Democratic presidential nomination to Hillary Clinton on Thursday night in a lengthy address to his supporters.

06/16/2016
By Ben Kamisar and Jonathan Easley | The Hill
Sanders demands Democratic Party reforms

Bernie Sanders delivered a simple message Tuesday at a press conference outside his campaign's Capitol Hill office: The Democratic Party needs to be transformed, and he plans to push for that all the way through the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

06/14/2016
By Daniel Strauss and Seung Min Kim | POLITICO
Sanders: Don’t blame Islam for Orlando shooting

Bernie Sanders on Tuesday lashed out at those who blame Islam for the shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando.

06/14/2016
By Jonathan Easley | The Hill
Bernie Sanders Calls For ‘Fundamental Transformation’ Of The Democratic Party

He demanded reforms as he prepared for a meeting with Hillary Clinton.

06/14/2016
By Samantha Lachman | The Huffington Post
Bernie's legacy: One of the most valuable donor lists ever

ActBlue has more than 3 million credit cards on file, a serious technological advantage for Democrats raising money.

06/06/2016
By Shane Goldmacher | POLITICO
Obama flips to Sanders’ side, calls for expansion of Social Security benefits

The last time President Obama signed on to a plan to save Social Security, nearly five years ago, he agreed to a proposal that would have reduced the growth of benefits.

06/05/2016
Dave Boyer | The Washington Times
Bernie Sanders Steps Up Feud With Democratic Establishment

Sanders has ignored growing Democratic calls to step aside and repeated his vow to stay in the race until the party convention.

05/22/2016
By John Whitesides | REUTERS
Bernie Sanders’ Campaign Is Feeling The Money Burn

Sanders’ campaign entered May with a cash balance that was dwarfed by Hillary Clinton’s.

05/20/2016
By Paul Blumenthal | The Huffington Post
Clinton and Sanders must make peace

The success of Bernie Sanders’s insurgency is a marvel and an achievement.

05/18/2016
By E.J. Dionne Jr. | Washingtonpost
Total: 3
Sunday, March 6, 2016 9:00 PM CNN Democratic Debate
Location: The Whiting Auditorium in Flint, Michigan
Sponsors: CNN, MLive, The Flint Journal
Moderators: Anderson Cooper
Saturday, November 14, 2015 6:00 PM CBS News Democratic Debate
Location: Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa
Sponsors: CBS News, KCCI, the Des Moines Register
Moderators: John Dickerson
Tuesday, October 13, 2015 8:30 PM CNN Democratic Primary Debate
Location: Wynn Las Vegas
Sponsors: CNN, Nevada Democratic Party
Moderators: Anderson Cooper, Don Lemon, and Dana Bash
General Survey
Issue Title Candidate's Answers
1. Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right

Strongly Support
2. Stricter punishment reduces crime

Strongly Oppose
3. Marijuana is a gateway drug

Strongly Oppose
4. Higher taxes on the wealthy

Strongly Support
5. Stimulus better than market-led recovery

Strongly Support
6. Vouchers for school choice

Strongly Oppose
7. Make voter registration easier

Strongly Support
8. Prioritize green energy

Strongly Support
9. Avoid foreign entanglements

Strongly Support
10. Expand the military

Strongly Oppose
11. Support & expand free trade

Strongly Oppose
12. Support American Exceptionalism

Strongly Oppose
13. Absolute right to gun ownership

No Opinion
14. Expand ObamaCare

Strongly Support
15. Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens

Support
16. EPA regulations are too restrictive

Strongly Oppose
17. Keep God in the public sphere

Strongly Oppose
18. Legally require hiring more women & minorities

Strongly Support
19. Comfortable with same-sex marriage

Strongly Support
20. Privatize Social Security

Strongly Oppose
Total: 372
Introduced Date Bill Number Bill Title Last Action
06/13/2007 S.309 Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act 06/13/2007 Sponsor introductory remarks on measure.  (All Actions)
05/08/2007 S.1326 Comprehensive Veterans Benefits Improvements Act of 2007 05/08/2007 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.  (All Actions)
08/02/2006 H.R.5245 To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1 Marble Street in Fair Haven, Vermont, as the "Matthew Lyon Post Office Building". 08/02/2006 Became Public Law No: 109-263. (TXT | PDF)  (All Actions)
04/24/2007 S.1201 Clean Power Act of 2007 04/24/2007 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.  (All Actions)
03/28/2007 S.1008 A bill to amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to improve and strengthen the safety inspection process of nuclear facilities. 03/28/2007 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.  (All Actions)
03/08/2007 S.818 National Priorities Act of 2007 03/08/2007 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
02/15/2007 S.Con.Res.13 A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress that the President should not initiate military action against Iran without first obtaining authorization from Congress. 02/15/2007 Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.  (All Actions)
07/17/2006 H.R.5761 Spent Nuclear Fuel Control and Accounting Act of 2006 07/17/2006 Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.  (All Actions)
06/12/2006 H.Res.864 Recognizing the importance of shared housing in the United States. 06/12/2006 Referred to the House Committee on Government Reform.  (All Actions)
04/26/2006 H.R.5157 Vermont Wilderness Act of 2006 04/26/2006 Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry.  (All Actions)
04/04/2006 H.R.5034 To redesignate the White Rocks National Recreation Area in the State of Vermont as the "Robert T. Stafford White Rocks National Recreation Area". 04/04/2006 Executive Comment Requested from Interior.  (All Actions)
03/27/2006 H.R.4420 To repeal tax subsidies enacted by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 for oil and gas, to repeal certain other oil and gas subsidies in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and to use the proceeds to carry out the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 and to provide weatherization assistance. 03/27/2006 Referred to the Subcommittee on Education Reform.  (All Actions)
02/17/2006 H.R.4697 Medicare Drugs for Seniors (MEDS) Act of 2006 02/17/2006 Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.  (All Actions)
12/02/2005 H.R.4333 Tire-Derived Fuel Safety Act of 2005 12/02/2005 Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.  (All Actions)
11/17/2005 H.R.4052 Pension Benefits Protection Act of 2005 11/17/2005 Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.  (All Actions)
10/12/2005 H.R.3601 Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act of 2005 10/12/2005 Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.  (All Actions)
08/24/2005 H.R.3492 Consumer Credit Card Protection Act of 2005 08/24/2005 Referred to the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit.  (All Actions)
06/09/2005 H.J.Res.27 Withdrawing the approval of the United States from the Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization. 06/09/2005 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.  (All Actions)
06/03/2005 H.R.2457 Employee Ownership Opportunity Act 06/03/2005 Referred to the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit.  (All Actions)
05/31/2005 H.R.2240 Urban and Rural Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Act of 2005 05/31/2005 Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.  (All Actions)
Total: 5295
Date Bill Number Bill Title Result Vote
06/14/2017 S.591 Military and Veteran Caregiver Services Improvement Act of 2017
06/08/2017 S.Res.184 A resolution relative to the death of James Paul David "Jim" Bunning, former United States Senator for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
06/08/2017 S.363 North Country National Scenic Trail Route Adjustment Act
05/18/2017 S.1182 A bill to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint commemorative coins in recognition of the 100th anniversary of The American Legion.
05/18/2017 S.881 21st Century Glass-Steagall Act of 2017
05/17/2017 S.1162 A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for the refinancing of certain Federal student loans, and for other purposes.
05/17/2017 S.1155 A bill to amend title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 in order to increase the amount of financial support available for working students.
05/17/2017 S.784 Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2017
05/17/2017 S.324 State Veterans Home Adult Day Health Care Improvement Act of 2017
05/11/2017 S.1105 Miners Pension Protection Act
05/04/2017 S.1045 Save Women's Preventive Care Act
05/03/2017 S.Res.153 A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that, during Public Service Recognition Week, public servants should be commended for their dedication and continued service to the United States.
05/02/2017 S.1006 Equality Act
05/02/2017 S.662 NO HATE Act
05/01/2017 S.999 COAST Anti-Drilling Act
05/01/2017 S.991 Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act of 2017
04/27/2017 S.987 100 by '50 Act
04/27/2017 S.985 A bill to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from revising the approved oil and gas leasing program for fiscal years 2017 through 2022.
04/27/2017 S.959 Protection of Social Security Benefits Restoration Act
04/27/2017 S.957 Access to Contraception for Women Servicemembers and Dependents Act of 2017
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