Lane Evans facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lane Evans
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 17th district |
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| In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | George M. O'Brien |
| Succeeded by | Phil Hare |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Lane Allen Evans
August 4, 1951 Rock Island, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | November 5, 2014 (aged 63) East Moline, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Rock Island, Illinois |
| Alma mater | Augustana College, Georgetown University |
| Occupation | Attorney |
Lane Allen Evans (born August 4, 1951 – died November 5, 2014) was an American lawyer and politician. He was a member of the Democratic Party and served in the United States House of Representatives from 1983 to 2007. He represented the 17th District of Illinois. Evans decided not to run for re-election in 2006 because of his Parkinson's disease. He retired at the end of the 109th Congress.
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Early Life and Education
Lane Evans was born in 1951 in Rock Island, Illinois. He went to Alleman High School and Augustana College in his hometown. After high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps. He served during the Vietnam War and was stationed in Okinawa.
After leaving the Marines in 1971, Evans went back to Augustana College. He graduated in 1974. Later, he earned a law degree from Georgetown University in 1977. He started his career as a lawyer in Moline, Illinois.
Political Career in Congress
In 1982, Evans decided to run for Congress. He won the Democratic nomination for Illinois's 17th congressional district. This district included a large part of the Quad Cities area. Before Evans, the district had mostly been represented by Republicans since 1939.
Evans got a big boost when the long-time Republican representative, Tom Railsback, lost his party's nomination. Railsback was replaced by a more conservative Republican, Kenneth McMillan. Evans took advantage of the tough economic times during a recession that year. He won the election by about 5 percentage points.
Evans was known for often disagreeing with President Reagan's plans. He easily defeated McMillan again in 1984. Even though Ronald Reagan won the presidency by a lot that year, Evans still won his district. He received more votes than Reagan in the 17th Congressional District.
Evans faced opponents in his next four elections. In 1990, he won by more than 50,000 votes. In 1994, Republicans took control of the House of Representatives. However, Evans still kept his seat, winning by nine points. He continued to win his elections in 1996, 1998, and 2000.
After the 2000 census, the district boundaries were changed. This made it even safer for Evans to win future elections. He was re-elected in 2002 and 2004.
Key Achievements and Views
Lane Evans helped pass the Agent Orange Act of 1991. This law provided help to veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. In 1995, he received the Silver Helmet award from the American Veterans Group (AMVETS). Evans also played a part in the election of Barack Obama to the U.S. Senate in 2004.
Evans was known as one of the most liberal members of the House. This means he often supported social programs, workers' rights, and environmental protection. He was a founding member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. This group focuses on progressive policies. He also had a very high rating from Americans for Democratic Action, a liberal organization.
Health Challenges and Retirement
Starting in 1995, Evans began to battle Parkinson's disease. This is a condition that affects movement. His opponents in earlier elections did not bring up his health. However, his opponent in 2004, Andrea Zinga, claimed he could not fully represent his district because of his health. This tactic did not work, and Evans won the election easily.
Evans won the Democratic primary election in 2006. He was set to run against Zinga again. But on March 28, 2006, Evans announced he would not seek a 13th term. He made a short return to Washington in June 2006. His decision meant local Democrats had to find a new candidate. They chose his district director, Phil Hare, who was then elected.
Death
Lane Evans passed away on November 5, 2014. He was 63 years old. He died in a nursing home in East Moline, Illinois, due to complications from Parkinson's disease.
See also
- 21st Century Democrats — a political organization co-founded by Evans
