Jack Reed (Rhode Island politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jack Reed
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Official portrait, 2020
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| Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Roger Wicker |
| In office January 3, 2015 – February 3, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Jim Inhofe |
| Succeeded by | Jim Inhofe |
| Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee | |
| In office February 3, 2021 – January 3, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Jim Inhofe |
| Succeeded by | Roger Wicker |
| United States Senator from Rhode Island |
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| Assumed office January 3, 1997 Serving with Sheldon Whitehouse
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| Preceded by | Claiborne Pell |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Rhode Island's 2nd district |
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| In office January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Claudine Schneider |
| Succeeded by | Robert Weygand |
| Member of the Rhode Island Senate from the 12th district |
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| In office January 1, 1985 – January 1, 1991 |
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| Preceded by | Robert Moretti |
| Succeeded by | John O'Leary |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Francis Reed
November 12, 1949 Cranston, Rhode Island, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Julia Hart
(m. 2005) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service |
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| Rank | Major |
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John Francis Reed (born November 12, 1949) is an American politician and lawyer. He is a U.S. Senator for Rhode Island. He was first elected to this role in 1996. Before becoming a senator, he served as a U.S. Representative for Rhode Island from 1991 to 1997.
Reed is a member of the Democratic Party. He studied at the United States Military Academy and Harvard University. He also served in the United States Army from 1971 to 1979. He is currently the most senior member of Rhode Island's group of lawmakers in Congress.
Early Life and Education
Jack Reed was born in Cranston, Rhode Island. His parents were Mary Louise and Joseph Anthony Reed. He went to La Salle Academy.
After high school, he attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1971.
Military Service and Law Career
After graduating from West Point, Reed joined the U.S. Army. He became a paratrooper and earned the Ranger Tab. He served in the 82nd Airborne Division. He was a platoon leader and company commander.
In 1978, he returned to West Point as a professor. He left active duty in 1979 as a captain. He continued to serve in the United States Army Reserve until 1991, retiring as a major.
Reed also went to Harvard University. He earned a Master of Public Policy degree. Later, he studied law at Harvard Law School and became a lawyer in 1982. He worked at law firms in Washington, D.C., and Rhode Island.
Family Life
Reed is a Roman Catholic. He married Julia Hart in 2005. They have one daughter, Emily, who was born in 2007.
Political Career
Jack Reed has served in government for many years. He started his political career in Rhode Island.
State Senator in Rhode Island
In 1984, Reed was elected as a state senator in Rhode Island. He served three terms in this role.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
In 1990, Reed was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He represented Rhode Island's 2nd district. During his six years in the House, he focused on important issues like education and health care.
Serving in the U.S. Senate
In 1996, Senator Claiborne Pell retired. Reed decided to run for his seat in the United States Senate. He won the election and has been a U.S. Senator ever since.
Senate Elections
- 1996 Election: Reed won the Democratic primary with 86% of the vote. He then won the general election with 63% of the vote.
- 2002 Election: He ran for a second term and won easily with 78% of the vote.
- 2008 Election: Reed won his third term with 73% of the vote.
- 2014 Election: He was re-elected for a fourth term, winning 71% of the vote.
- 2020 Election: Reed won his fifth term with 67% of the vote.
Possible Cabinet Roles
Over the years, Jack Reed has been considered for important roles in the U.S. government. For example, he was mentioned as a possible running mate for Barack Obama in 2008. He was also often considered for the job of Secretary of Defense. However, Senator Reed has always said he prefers to continue serving the people of Rhode Island in the Senate.
Committee Work in the Senate
Senators work on different committees to handle specific issues. Here are some of the important committees Jack Reed serves on:
- Committee on Appropriations: This committee decides how the government spends money.
- He leads the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch.
- Committee on Armed Services (Chair): This committee deals with military and defense matters. As Chair, he is a member of all subcommittees.
- Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: This committee focuses on banking, housing, and city development.
- Select Committee on Intelligence (ex officio): This committee oversees U.S. intelligence agencies.
Political Views and Actions
Senator Reed is known for his generally liberal views on social and economic issues. He often votes with other Democrats from New England.
Civil Rights
Reed supports policies that help ensure equal opportunities for all people. He has voted to expand policies that support women and minorities. He also supports LGBTQ rights, voting against banning gay marriage and for laws that prevent job discrimination and hate crimes.
Economy and Jobs
Reed generally supports fair trade policies. He has voted against some free trade agreements. He is a strong supporter of workers' unions. He believes in increasing the minimum wage and unemployment benefits.
Election Security
Reed works to make sure elections are safe and fair. He has asked for explanations about past voting issues to help prepare for future elections.
Energy and Environment
Reed supports reducing America's oil use and using more alternative energy sources. He is against drilling for oil in certain protected areas. He also supports stronger rules to protect the environment.
Gun Control
Reed supports stricter gun control laws. He is in favor of a national ban on assault weapons. He has voted to expand gun control measures and against loosening background checks for gun purchases.
Healthcare
Reed believes in preventing health problems. He supports increasing funding for Medicare, which helps with healthcare costs for older Americans. He also wants to make it easier for uninsured Americans to get healthcare. He supports allowing cheaper prescription drugs to be imported.
Immigration
Reed generally supports allowing immigrants to become citizens. He supports programs that allow foreign workers to come to the U.S. He has also worked on legislation like the DREAM Act, which helps young undocumented students gain legal status.
Support for Veterans
Reed works to help veterans get the medical care and support they need from the Department of Veteran Affairs.
Foreign Policy Views
- War in Iraq: Reed voted against the resolution that allowed the use of force in Iraq in 2002. He believed it was a flawed plan.
- War in Yemen: Initially, Reed supported U.S. backing of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. Later, he changed his position and wanted to end U.S. support for the conflict.
- Nagorno–Karabakh Conflict: In 2020, Reed spoke out against military actions by Azerbaijan and Turkey in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He called for a ceasefire.
- War in Afghanistan: Reed supported President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan in 2021.
- Artificial Intelligence: In 2024, Reed joined other senators in proposing a plan to manage the risks of very advanced artificial intelligence.
Electoral History Highlights
Here are some of the election results for Jack Reed:
- 1990 U.S. House Election: Jack Reed (D) won with 59.2% of the vote.
- 1996 U.S. Senate Election: Jack Reed (D) won with 63.3% of the vote.
- 2002 U.S. Senate Election: Jack Reed (D) (Incumbent) won with 78.4% of the vote.
- 2008 U.S. Senate Election: Jack Reed (D) (Incumbent) won with 73.4% of the vote.
- 2014 U.S. Senate Election: Jack Reed (D) (Incumbent) won with 71% of the vote.
- 2020 U.S. Senate Election: Jack Reed (D) (Incumbent) won with 66.5% of the vote.
Honors and Awards
- Grand-Officer of the Order of Prince Henry, Portugal (1998)
- American Library Association Honorary Membership (2012)
Images for kids
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Official portrait, 2020
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Reed during the 112th United States Congress
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Reed speaking during the third night of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.
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Reed and King Abdullah II of Jordan in February 2018
