• SANDERS, BERNARD
Experience: Senator, United States Senate, 2006-present
Home State: Vermont
Person Website: https://berniesanders.com/
Social Media
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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
Watch Republicans Get Giddy Over Bernie Sanders' Iowa Surge

The party of Cruz and Trump seems overjoyed that Democrats have a challenger, too.

02/02/2016
By Michael McAuliff Senior Congressional Reporter |The Huffington Post
The Worst Reason to Not Vote for Bernie Sanders

When did citizens of the United States adopt a defeatist attitude?

01/31/2016
By Cody Gough | The Huffington Post
Sanders challenges Clinton to 3 new debates

MASON CITY, Iowa — Hours after Hillary Clinton ratcheted up her pressure on him to accept an invitation to an unsanctioned debate on Feb. 4, Bernie Sanders escalated the debate by calling for three new debates.

01/27/2016
By Gabriel Debenedetti | POLITICO
Bernie Sanders' Wife Opens Up About Campaign Life With 'Rock Star' Husband

"He thinks things through, I feel things through."

01/26/2016
By Samantha-Jo Roth | The Huffington Post
Sanders: It's A 'Mythology' That I Need To Win Iowa

Sanders appeared to lower expectations about his performance in the Iowa caucuses.

01/26/2016
By Ken Thomas | AP
Bernie Sanders Supporter Shares What It's Like To Live On Less Than $10,000 A Year

"It's just hard."

01/25/2016
By Samantha Lachman | The Huffington Post
Mr. Sanders needs to come clean about the funding for his health-care plan

Judging by the sketchy single-payer health-care plan he unveiled just before Sunday’s Democratic debate, Mr. Sanders is not up to the challenge.

01/19/2016
By Editorial Board | The Washington Post
Bernie Sanders Tells Donald Trump: Stop Talking About Bill Clinton's Sex Life

"We have got more important things to worry about in this country."

01/03/2016
By Marina Fang | The Huffington Post
Bernie Sanders Defends Obama's Planned Executive Action On Gun Control

"He’s doing what the American people would like him to do."

01/03/2016
By Jessica Schulberg | The Huffington Post
New Bernie Sanders ads highlight inequality

Bernie Sanders’ campaign is releasing four new TV ads that will air in primary states Tuesday.

12/28/2015
By Eliza Collins | POLITICO
Sanders fails to convert data breach into new support

Iowa activists say the underdog is overestimating the anti-establishment fervor among Democrats.

12/23/2015
By Gabriel Debenedetti | POLITICO
Bernie Sanders Calls U.S. Prison Numbers An 'International Embarrassment'

He said jobs and education are a lot cheaper than prisons.

12/23/2015
By Kim Bellware | The Huffington Post
Sanders still polling strong in New Hampshire

Bernie Sanders’ lead is increasing with Democratic primary voters in New Hampshire, according to a new CNN/WMUR poll.

12/09/2015
By Eliza Collins | POLITICO
Sanders courts black voters in O'Malley's Baltimore

BALTIMORE — Bernie Sanders’ presidential prospects may be shrinking, but when he stepped off a campaign bus into the heart of this struggling city Tuesday, he was met by a spontaneous chorus of residents pleading for jobs and a pathway from poverty.

12/08/2015
By Kyle Cheney | POLITICO
Sanders compares Trump to other divisive 'demagogues' on 'Tonight Show'

The Democratic presidential hopeful took aim at the Republican front-runner.

12/08/2015
By John Wagner | The Washington Post
Sanders calls for Chicago resignations in police shooting case

Bernie Sanders stopped just short of calling on Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to resign, saying instead that any official who knew that the videotape of a police officer shooting a black teenager was being withheld should be out of a job.

12/04/2015
By Gabriel Debenedetti | POLITICO
Sanders: ObamaCare repeal bill a 'waste of time'

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Tuesday slammed Republicans for trying to repeal large swaths of ObamaCare, saying the reconciliation legislation is a "waste of time" and the "wrong direction." 

12/01/2015
By Jordain Carney | The Hill
Sanders supporters release 'Feel the Bern' anthem

Supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) have a new anthem to help them “feel the Bern.”

11/30/2015
By Judy Kurtz | The Hill
Report: Sanders boosts southern staff

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is increasing the size of his campaign staff and boosting state budgets in an effort to chip away at Hillary Clinton’s southern stronghold, Reuters is reporting.

11/26/2015
By Bradford Richardson | The Hill
Leaked Sanders memo attacks O'Malley on immigration

Martin O’Malley is mired at the bottom of the polls and struggling to raise money for his presidential bid, but Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' campaign is circulating an internal document to its staff and supporters tearing down the former Maryland governor’s immigration plan.

11/25/2015
By Annie Karni | POLITICO
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
05/10/2017 S.1082 United States Employee Ownership Bank Act 05/10/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.  (All Actions)
05/10/2017 S.1081 WORK Act 05/10/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.  (All Actions)
05/09/2017 S.1076 Keep Our Pension Promises Act 05/09/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
04/03/2017 S.806 College for All Act of 2017 04/03/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.  (All Actions)
04/03/2017 S.805 Inclusive Prosperity Act of 2017 04/03/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
03/09/2017 S.586 Corporate Tax Dodging Prevention Act 03/09/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
03/02/2017 S.495 Medical Innovation Prize Fund Act 03/02/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.  (All Actions)
02/28/2017 S.469 Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act 02/28/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.  (All Actions)
02/16/2017 S.427 Social Security Expansion Act 02/16/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
06/09/2016 S.3044 Puerto Rico Humanitarian Relief and Reconstruction Act 06/09/2016 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
12/10/2015 S.2399 Climate Protection and Justice Act of 2015 12/10/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
11/05/2015 S.2242 Save Oak Flat Act 11/05/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.  (All Actions)
11/04/2015 S.2237 Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2015 11/04/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.  (All Actions)
12/10/2015 S.2398 Clean Energy Worker Just Transition Act 12/10/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
12/10/2015 S.2391 American Clean Energy Investment Act of 2015 12/10/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
10/06/2015 S.2142 Workplace Democracy Act 10/06/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.  (All Actions)
09/17/2015 S.2054 Justice is Not For Sale Act of 2015 09/17/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.  (All Actions)
09/10/2015 S.2023 Prescription Drug Affordability Act of 2015 09/10/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
08/05/2015 S.1970 Raising Enrollment with a Government Initiated System for Timely Electoral Registration (REGISTER) Act of 2015 08/05/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.  (All Actions)
08/05/2015 S.1969 Democracy Day Act of 2015 08/05/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.  (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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