Jim Himes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jim Himes
|
|
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2023
|
|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut's 4th district |
|
| Assumed office January 3, 2009 |
|
| Preceded by | Chris Shays |
| Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee | |
| Assumed office January 9, 2023 |
|
| Preceded by | Mike Turner |
| Chair of the New Democrat Coalition | |
| In office January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2019 |
|
| Preceded by | Ron Kind |
| Succeeded by | Derek Kilmer |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
James Andrew Himes
July 5, 1966 Lima, Peru |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Mary Scott
(m. 1994) |
| Children | 2 |
| Residences | Cos Cob, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Education | Harvard University (BA) St Edmund Hall, Oxford (MPhil) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | |
James Andrew Himes (born July 5, 1966) is an American politician and former businessman. Since 2009, he has been a U.S. representative for Connecticut's 4th district. A representative is a person elected to speak and vote for the people in their area in the U.S. government. Himes is a member of the Democratic Party.
Himes's district is in the southwest corner of Connecticut, near New York. It includes cities like Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Stamford.
In Congress, Himes is the lead Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. This important committee oversees the nation's intelligence agencies, like the CIA. He is also a member of the House Financial Services Committee, which deals with the country's banking and money systems.
Contents
Early Life and Schooling
Jim Himes was born on July 5, 1966, in Lima, Peru. His parents were American citizens working abroad. His father, James R. Himes, worked for the Ford Foundation, and his mother, Judith A. Himes, worked in higher education.
Because of his father's job, Himes spent his early childhood in Peru and Bogotá, Colombia. Later, he moved with his mother and sisters to Pennington, New Jersey. He graduated from Hopewell Valley Central High School.
For college, Himes went to Harvard University, where he was captain of the lightweight rowing team. He graduated in 1988. He then studied Latin American history at Oxford in England as a Rhodes scholar, a special award given to excellent students.
Career Before Politics
In 1995, Himes started working as a banker at Goldman Sachs, a major investment bank. He worked in Latin America and New York City and became a vice president.
After his banking career, Himes wanted to work in his community. He was appointed as a commissioner for the Greenwich Housing Authority, helping to provide affordable homes for people. He also served on the boards of other local organizations that helped the community.
Work in the U.S. Congress
As a representative, Jim Himes is part of many groups in Congress that focus on specific issues. These groups are called caucuses. Some of the caucuses he belongs to include:
- New Democrat Coalition: A group of Democrats who support pro-growth and financially responsible ideas.
- Congressional Coalition on Adoption: Works on issues related to adoption and foster care.
- Rare Disease Caucus: Raises awareness for people with rare diseases.
Important Committees
For the 118th Congress, Himes serves on two key committees:
- Committee on Financial Services: This committee handles laws about banking, insurance, and housing.
- Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Himes is the Ranking Member, which means he is the most senior Democrat on this committee. It is in charge of watching over the U.S. intelligence community to keep the country safe.
What Jim Himes Believes
As a politician, Jim Himes has shared his views on many important topics.
Healthcare and Family
Himes believes that women should have the right to make their own healthcare decisions. He supports the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a law that made health insurance available to more Americans. He also supports programs like Medicare and Medicaid, which provide health care for seniors and low-income families.
National Security
Himes has said that the U.S. should focus its military efforts on fighting terrorism. He supports using sanctions (penalties against other countries) to deal with nations like Iran. He also supports a "two-state solution," which is the idea of creating a separate, independent country for Palestinians alongside Israel.
The Environment
Himes has a 100% rating from Environment America for his votes on environmental issues. He believes the country can have a strong economy while also protecting the planet. He supported the American Clean Energy and Security Act, a bill aimed at reducing pollution and promoting clean energy.
Gun Safety
Himes supports stronger gun safety laws and has a 100% rating from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. After mass shootings, he chooses not to take part in moments of silence in Congress. He believes that instead of being silent, Congress should use that time to pass laws to help prevent gun violence.
UFOs and Government Secrets
In recent years, the government has started talking more about unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), which many people call UFOs. In 2022, Himes took part in a hearing about UAPs. He said he wanted the government to share what it knows to reduce conspiracy theories.
Later, he expressed doubts about claims from a whistleblower named David Grusch, who said the government was hiding crashed alien spacecraft. Himes said that he had been told by intelligence agencies that no such materials existed.
Running for Office
To become a representative, a person must win elections. Himes has run for his seat in Congress many times.
- 2008: Himes first ran for Congress against Chris Shays, a Republican who had been in office for ten terms. Himes won the election, getting 51% of the vote. His victory was a big deal because it meant that for the first time ever, all of the representatives from New England were Democrats.
- 2010-2022: Himes has been reelected every two years since his first victory. In each election, he has faced a Republican challenger but has won with strong support from voters in his district. For example, in his most recent election in 2022, he defeated Jayme Stevenson with 59.4% of the vote.
Personal Life
Jim Himes married Mary Lynley Scott in 1994. They live in the Cos Cob area of Greenwich and have two daughters.
