Steny Hoyer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Steny Hoyer
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Official portrait, 2019
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| House Majority Leader | |
| In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023 |
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| Speaker | Nancy Pelosi |
| Whip | Jim Clyburn |
| Preceded by | Kevin McCarthy |
| Succeeded by | Steve Scalise |
| In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011 |
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| Speaker | Nancy Pelosi |
| Whip | Jim Clyburn |
| Preceded by | John Boehner |
| Succeeded by | Eric Cantor |
| House Minority Whip | |
| In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2019 |
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| Leader | Nancy Pelosi |
| Preceded by | Eric Cantor |
| Succeeded by | Steve Scalise |
| In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2007 |
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| Leader | Nancy Pelosi |
| Preceded by | Nancy Pelosi |
| Succeeded by | Roy Blunt |
| Chair of the House Democratic Caucus | |
| In office June 21, 1989 – January 3, 1995 |
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| Leader | Tom Foley |
| Preceded by | William H. Gray III |
| Succeeded by | Vic Fazio |
| Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus | |
| In office January 3, 1989 – June 21, 1989 |
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| Leader | Jim Wright |
| Preceded by | Mary Rose Oakar |
| Succeeded by | Vic Fazio |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 5th district |
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| Assumed office May 19, 1981 |
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| Preceded by | Gladys Spellman |
| President of the Maryland Senate | |
| In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1978 |
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| Preceded by | William S. James |
| Succeeded by | James Clark Jr. |
| Member of the Maryland Senate from the 26th district |
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| In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1978 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Mike Donovan |
| Member of the Maryland Senate from the 4C district |
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| In office January 1967 – January 1975 |
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| Preceded by | constituency established |
| Succeeded by | constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Steny Hamilton Hoyer
June 14, 1939 New York City, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses |
Judith Pickett
(m. 1961; died 1997)Elaine Kamarck
(m. 2023) |
| Children | 3 |
| Residences | Mechanicsville, Maryland, U.S. |
| Education | University of Maryland, College Park (BA) Georgetown University (JD) |
| Profession |
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| Signature |  |
Steny Hamilton Hoyer (born June 14, 1939) is an American politician and a retired lawyer. He has been a U.S. representative for Maryland's 5th district since 1981. This means he has represented people from a specific area of Maryland in the U.S. Congress for a very long time.
He also served as the House Majority Leader twice, from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023. The Majority Leader is a very important job in the House of Representatives. This person helps guide the laws and plans for the political party that has the most members. For many years, Hoyer was the second-highest-ranking Democrat in the House, after Nancy Pelosi. In 2022, he announced he would not seek a leadership role again, but he continues to serve as a member of the House.
Early Life and Education
Steny Hoyer was born in New York City. He grew up in Mitchellville, Maryland. His father was from Denmark, and "Steny" is a different way to say his father's name, "Steen." His mother was American and had family roots from Scotland, Germany, and England. She was even related to John Hart, who signed the Declaration of Independence. Hoyer went to Suitland High School in Maryland.
When he first started college at the University of Maryland, College Park, he didn't do very well. But his view on school and politics changed after he heard a speech from then-Senator John F. Kennedy in 1960. Hoyer worked hard and graduated from the University of Maryland in 1963 with high honors (magna cum laude). He then earned his law degree (J.D.) from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., in 1966.
Early Political Career
From 1962 to 1966, Hoyer worked for U.S. Senator Daniel Brewster of Maryland. During this time, Nancy Pelosi, who would later become a major leader in Congress with Hoyer, also worked for Senator Brewster.
In 1966, Hoyer won a seat in the Maryland State Senate. This was a new district in Prince George's County. In 1975, he was elected President of the Maryland State Senate. He was the youngest person ever to hold this position in Maryland's history.
From 1969 to 1971, Hoyer was the first vice president of the Young Democrats of America. In 1978, he tried to become the Lieutenant Governor of Maryland but did not win the nomination. He then served on the Maryland Board of Higher Education until 1981.
U.S. House of Representatives
Becoming a Representative
In 1980, the Congresswoman for Maryland's 5th district, Gladys Spellman, became very ill. Her seat was declared empty in 1981. Steny Hoyer won a special election on May 19, 1981, to fill this seat. He won by a small number of votes.
Since then, Hoyer has been reelected many times. He has served for a very long time and is the longest-serving House member ever from Maryland.
Key Issues and Actions
Domestic Issues
Hoyer has supported the Make It In America plan. This plan aims to help American manufacturing and improve the U.S. economy. He has voted on many important laws and issues during his time in Congress.
He supports affirmative action, which helps make sure people from all backgrounds have equal opportunities. He also supports LGBT rights. Hoyer is known for supporting gun control measures.
In 2008, Hoyer helped create a bill that would protect phone companies from lawsuits related to wiretapping. He voted against the impeachment of President Bill Clinton in 1999. Later, in 2019 and 2021, Hoyer voted to impeach President Donald Trump.
In 2021, Hoyer gave a speech in Congress. He strongly criticized a social media post by another U.S. Representative, Marjorie Taylor Greene. He argued that her words were harmful and that she should be removed from her committee roles. The vote to remove her from committees passed, with some members from both parties agreeing.
Foreign Issues
Hoyer supports working with India on civilian nuclear power. He initially supported the Iraq War. Later, he said he favored a "responsible redeployment" of troops.
He is a strong supporter of Israel. In 2007, he disagreed with a fellow Representative who suggested that a pro-Israel group had pushed for the Iraq War. In 2017, he voted for a resolution that criticized a United Nations decision about Israeli settlements. Hoyer also supported President Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. In 2023, he voted to provide support to Israel after attacks by Hamas.
Hoyer has stated that a nuclear Iran is "unacceptable." He believes that using force should remain an option if needed. In 2019, he opposed President Trump's plan to remove U.S. troops from Syria and Afghanistan. He thought this decision was "impulsive, irresponsible, and dangerous."
Legislation
In 2014, Hoyer introduced a bill to extend the time for building the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, D.C. This museum honors law enforcement officers.
Fundraising
Hoyer is very good at raising money for other Democrats in the House. He has given a lot of money to his party and to individual candidates running for office.
Party Leadership Roles
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Hoyer has held many important leadership positions for the Democratic Party in the House. He was the chair of the Democratic Caucus from 1989 to 1994. This is a key leadership role. He also helped recruit candidates for the House Democrats.
In 2002, Hoyer was elected as the House Minority Whip. This is the second-highest position for the minority party in the House. He worked closely with Nancy Pelosi, who was the Minority Leader at the time.
When Nancy Pelosi became the Speaker of the House in 2007, Hoyer was elected by his fellow Democrats to be the House Majority Leader. This made him the second-highest-ranking Democrat in the House. He was the first person from Maryland to become Majority Leader.
After the 2010 elections, when Democrats lost control of the House, Hoyer became the Minority Whip again. He continued to serve in this role until 2019. In 2018, when Democrats regained control of the House, Hoyer was again chosen to be the House Majority Leader.
Personal Life
Steny Hoyer has three daughters with his first wife, Judy Pickett Hoyer. Judy passed away from cancer in 1997. She was a strong supporter of early childhood education. Child development centers in Maryland are named "Judy Centers" in her honor. She also had epilepsy, and the Epilepsy Foundation of America holds an annual lecture in her name. Steny Hoyer has also worked to support research in this area.
After being a widower for 26 years, Hoyer married Elaine Kamarck in June 2023. She is a former government official and works at a research organization called the Brookings Institution.
Hoyer serves on the board of trustees for St. Mary's College of Maryland. He is also involved with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, which helps support elections around the world. Hoyer is a member of a Baptist church. In August 2024, it was reported that he had a mild stroke.
Images for kids
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Official portrait, 2019
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Steny Hoyer's signature
See also
In Spanish: Steny Hoyer para niños
