Thomas R. Carper

Thomas Richard "Tom" Carper (born January 23, 1947) is an American politician from Wilmington, Delaware, in New Castle County. He is a member of the Democratic Party, served as U. S. Representative from Delaware, Governor of Delaware, and is the incumbent junior U.S. Senator from Delaware.

United States Senator

In 2000 he was elected U.S. Senator from Delaware, defeating incumbent Republican U.S. Senator William V. Roth. He is serving in his first term, having taken office January 3, 2001. Carper is a member of the moderate Democratic Leadership Council (DLC), of which he presently serves as Vice-Chairman. In December 2004 Carper became a member of the Senate Democratic Leadership. As a member of the four person "Executive Committee" he became one of four deputy whips. David Broder of the Washington Post called Carper, "a notably effective and nonpartisan leader, admired and trusted on both sides of the aisle." Carper has worked to institute a national energy policy, a balanced budget, strong environmental protections, welfare reform, and national education standards. {{ref|JAG3}}

Related Topics:
2000 - U.S. Senator from Delaware - Republican - William V. Roth - 2001 - Democratic Leadership Council - Washington Post

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Carper serves on the following committees in the 109th Congress:

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• U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
• Subcommittee on Financial Insitutions
• Subcommittee on Housing and Transportation
• Subcommittee on Securities and Investment
• U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
• Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security (Ranking Member)
• Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia
• Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
• U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
• Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate Change and Nuclear Safety (Ranking Member)
• Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure
• U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging

Carper joined in the unsuccesful attempt to tie the Bush administration tax cuts to deficit reduction and has supported additional funding for school choice programs and charter schools. He has also sought additional funding for railroad projects and for rail security. Carper has been a leader on Postal reform issues, limiting Internet taxation, and expanding emission controls. He strongly supported legislation to limit class action lawsuits and has proposed the creation of a National Park in Delaware, the Coastal Heritage Park to be in four locations along the Delaware River and Delaware Bay.{{ref|AAP4}}

Related Topics:
Bush administration - School choice - Charter schools - Postal - Internet - Delaware River - Delaware Bay

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Carper's term expires in January 2007, and as of September 2005 there has been no indication of a significant challenge to his reelection.

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