Jon Kyl facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jon Kyl
Official portrait, 2018
United States Senator from Arizona
In office September 4, 2018 – December 31, 2018
Appointed by	Doug Ducey
Preceded by	John McCain
Succeeded by	Martha McSally
In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Dennis DeConcini
Succeeded by	Jeff Flake
Senate Minority Whip
In office December 19, 2007 – January 3, 2013
Leader	Mitch McConnell
Preceded by	Trent Lott
Succeeded by	John Cornyn
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona's 4th district
In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1995
Preceded by	Eldon Rudd
Succeeded by	John Shadegg
Personal details
Born	Jon Llewellyn Kyl (1942-04-25) April 25, 1942 (age 83) Oakland, Nebraska, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Caryll Collins ​ (m. 1964)​
Children	2
Parents	John Henry Kyl Arlene Griffith
Education	University of Arizona (BA, LLB)

Jon Llewellyn Kyl (born April 25, 1942) is an American politician and a person who works to influence government decisions (called a lobbyist). He was a United States Senator for Arizona from 1995 to 2013.

After Senator John McCain passed away in 2018, Jon Kyl briefly returned to the Senate. He later resigned, and Martha McSally took his place. Kyl is a member of the Republican Party. He held two different Senate seats for Arizona at different times. He also served as the Senate Minority Whip from 2007 to 2013. After leaving the Senate in 2013, he worked for a law firm called Covington & Burling, and then rejoined them in 2019.

Jon Kyl is the son of U.S. Representative John Henry Kyl. He grew up in Nebraska and lived in Iowa for a while. He earned his bachelor's degree and law degree from the University of Arizona. Before becoming a politician, he worked as a lawyer and lobbyist in Phoenix, Arizona. He was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1986, serving from 1987 to 1995. He was then elected to the U.S. Senate in 1994 and won re-election easily until he retired in 2013. In 2006, Time magazine named him one of America's Ten Best Senators.

Early Life and Education

Jon Kyl was born in Oakland, Nebraska. His mother was Arlene Griffith, and his father, John Henry Kyl, was a teacher. His family later moved to Bloomfield, Iowa, where his father became a Congressman.

After finishing high school in 1960, Kyl went to the University of Arizona. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1964 with honors. He is a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. In 1966, he earned his law degree from the University of Arizona's James E. Rogers College of Law. He was also the editor-in-chief of the Arizona Law Review. Before entering politics, he worked as a lawyer and lobbyist in Phoenix, Arizona.

Kyl is a Presbyterian. He is married to Caryll Collins, and they have two children and four grandchildren.

Serving in Congress

Jon Kyl served in the United States House of Representatives from 1987 to 1995. He was first elected in 1986. He won his elections by large margins. For his first six terms, he represented a large part of northeastern Arizona. After new district maps were drawn in 1990, he continued to win easily.

First Time in the Senate (1995–2013)

Kyl during his first time as a U.S. Senator

Kyl was elected to the United States Senate in 1994. He defeated Samuel G. Coppersmith with 54% of the votes. He was re-elected in 2000 and 2006. The 2006 election was very expensive. A big topic in that election was illegal immigration.

Important Jobs in the Senate

Kyl was chosen by his fellow Republican Senators for several important leadership roles:

• He was the chairman of the Policy Committee from 2003 to 2007.
• He was the chairman of the Republican Conference in 2007.
• He became the Senate Minority Whip in December 2007. This is a very important leadership position. He was the first person from Arizona to hold such a high Senate leadership job since the 1950s.

Committee Work

During his first time in the Senate, Kyl was part of several important committees:

• Committee on the Judiciary: This committee deals with laws and the justice system.
• Committee on Finance: This committee handles taxes and money matters.
• Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction: This committee worked on reducing the government's debt.

Judicial Nominees

Kyl voted to approve John Roberts as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He also voted to approve Samuel Alito as an associate justice. However, he voted against the nominations of Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.

Returning to the Senate (2018)

On September 4, 2018, Governor Doug Ducey appointed Jon Kyl to fill the Senate seat left empty after John McCain passed away. This was a temporary appointment until a special election could be held in 2020.

Kyl is one of only a few people to return to the Senate through an appointment since 1913. He voted to approve Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court. Kyl resigned from the Senate on December 31, 2018. Martha McSally then took his place.

Committee Work (2018)

When he returned to the Senate in 2018, Kyl served on these committees:

• Committee on Armed Services: This committee deals with military and defense matters.
• Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: This committee focuses on national security and how the government runs.
• Committee on Indian Affairs: This committee works on issues related to Native American tribes.

What Were His Main Ideas?

Kyl at an event in Phoenix in April 2017.

Jon Kyl is known as a conservative politician. This means he generally supports traditional values, limited government, and lower taxes. In 2007, he was ranked as one of the most conservative U.S. Senators. In 2006, Time Magazine recognized him as one of "America's 10 Best Senators." They praised his work behind the scenes as head of the Senate Republican Policy Committee.

Kyl has signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. This means he promised not to raise taxes.

Views on Key Issues

• Arms Control: In 2010, Kyl was against approving the New START treaty. This treaty aimed to reduce nuclear weapons. However, the treaty was approved.
• Internet Gambling: Kyl was one of the first people to propose laws about online gambling. He worked to stop most online gambling activities. In 2006, he strongly supported the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. This law made it harder to gamble online.
• Healthcare: Kyl voted against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare) in 2009 and 2010.
• Other Issues:

* In 2009, Kyl invited Geert Wilders to show his film Fitna to the United States Congress. This led to protests from American Muslim groups. * In 2011, Kyl said that the Republican Party had stopped opposing cuts to defense spending. * In 2012, he voted against approving the UN Treaty Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. * He was against the FIRST STEP Act, a bill about criminal justice reform. However, the bill passed in 2018.

Helping Others and Campaigns

Zadroga Act

In 2010, Senator Harry Reid wanted the Senate to work during the holidays to pass important laws. One of these was the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. This act would provide health coverage for 9/11 first responders. Kyl said that working during this time would disrespect Christian holidays. However, the Zadroga Act was passed on December 22.

See also

In Spanish: Jon Kyl para niños