Dan Lungren
Encyclopedia
Daniel Edward "Dan" Lungren (born September 22, 1946) is the U.S. Representative
for , serving since 2005. The district covers most of Sacramento County
and part of Solano County
, as well as all of Alpine
, Amador
and Calaveras
counties. He is a member of the Republican Party
and the Republican Study Committee
.
Lungren previously represented the Long Beach
area in Congress, from 1979 to 1989, and served as California's Attorney General
from 1991 to 1999.
, of Irish, Swedish, and Scottish extraction. From 1952, Lungren's father was the personal physician and a close friend of former President Richard Nixon
.
Lungren graduated from St. Anthony High School
in 1964 and matriculated to the University of Notre Dame
, where he earned an A.B. with honors in English
in 1968.
He returned to California to chair Youth for Nixon during Nixon's first successful run for the presidency.
Lungren began his legal studies at the University of Southern California Law School
but transferred to Georgetown University Law Center
, where he earned his J.D.
in 1971. During his years at Georgetown, Lungren worked for U.S. Senators George Murphy (R-CA) and Bill Brock (R-TN). From 1971 to 1972, he also was Special Assistant to the Co-Chairman of the Republican National Committee (R-NC). In addition, during that time, Lungren's wife, Bobbi, worked in the Nixon White House.
When Lungren returned to Long Beach, he joined a law firm and practiced civil law for a short time before running unsuccessfully for Congress in 1976. He was successful in 1978.
and Orange County
. He was one of Newt Gingrich
's chief lieutenants during this time, and was a founding member of the Conservative Opportunity Society. He served on the House Judiciary Committee
, where he pushed for sanctions
against employers who hired illegal immigrants, but supported a temporary guest-worker program. He was the principal House cosponsor of the Simpson-Mazzoli immigration bill, which became the Immigration Reform Act of 1986. He also independently sponsored a "guest worker" bill, designed to allow for importation of "temporary" immigrant laborers.
appointed him as California's acting State Treasurer, but was never confirmed. According to the San Francisco Chronicle
Democrats "praised Lungren's integrity, but said they were unwilling to vote for a Republican whose congressional voting record was so conservative".
Lungren was later elected as California Attorney General in 1990, and served from 1991–1999. Lungren worked in passing such legislation as "Megan's Law," "3-Strikes-and-You're-Out", "Sexual Anti-Predator Act" and the "California's Safe Schools Plan".
In 1996, he was considered as a possible running mate for Republican nominee Bob Dole
. In 1998 Lungren ran as the Republican candidate for governor against Democratic Lieutenant Governor Gray Davis
. Davis received 57.9% of the votes, while Lungren got 38.4%. During the campaign, Davis maintained that Lungren, who presented himself as the political heir to former California Governor and US President Ronald Reagan
, was too conservative for California. Davis also criticized Lungren's hesitancy, as California Attorney General, to enforce laws restricting assault weapons and his waiting until the last minute to become part of a class action lawsuit against the cigarette industry.
In 2005, Lungren supported the USA PATRIOT Act
, which renewed the Federal Government's ability to perform secret surveillance including wiretaps of citizens and monitoring of public and private computer packet-switched networks to prevent terrorism from hitting the United States.
In 2006, Lungren and Congresswoman Jane Harman
(D-CA) authored the SAFE Port Act, which improves security at the ports including additional requirements for maritime facilities, foreign port assessments, container security initiatives and Customs Trade Partnership against Terrorism. The bill passed the House with bipartisan support. In 2007, Lungren was appointed to the House Administration Committee.
On April 4, 2007, Lungren cosponsored a bill indicating that U.S. citizenship is a privilege and should be granted to children born to U.S. citizens or residents with legal immigration status in the U.S., not grant automatic citizenship to children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants.
On July 29, 2008, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6295, introduced by Lungren. This legislation is to stop the use of submersible and semi-submersible vessels used to transport drugs and other contrabands, which pose a threat to communities and national security. Shortly after the 2008 election, a newly reelected Lungren challenged Congressman John Boehner
for Minority Leader. Lungren did not win the post. Boehner appointed Lungren as Ranking Republican Member of the House Administration Committee. To serve on this new role, Lungren left his spot with the Budget Committee.
On December 3, 2010, following the November 2 midterm elections in which Republicans won back the majority, Lungren was named Chairman of the House Administration Committee.
The National Journal
's Cook Political Report
named Lungren the Republican most vulnerable to redistricting in 2012.
announced his retirement. Lungren has stated that his desire to serve in Congress
again was rekindled by the September 11, 2001 attacks
. He won a come from behind victory in a three-way primary against Mary Ose and State Senator Rico Oller
in 2004.
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for , serving since 2005. The district covers most of Sacramento County
Sacramento County, California
Sacramento County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Sacramento, which is also the state capital. As of 2010 the county had a population of 1,418,788....
and part of Solano County
Solano County, California
Solano County is a county located in Bay-Delta region of the U.S. state of California, about halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento and is one of the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties. The county's population was reported by the U.S. Census to be 413,344 in 2010...
, as well as all of Alpine
Alpine County, California
Alpine County is the smallest county, by population, in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010, it had a population of 1,175, all rural. There are no incorporated cities in the county. The county seat is Markleeville...
, Amador
Amador County, California
Amador County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 38,091. The county seat is Jackson.Amador County bills itself as "The Heart of the Mother Lode" and lies within the Gold Country...
and Calaveras
Calaveras County, California
Calaveras County is a county located in the Gold Country of the U.S. state of California. Calaveras is the Spanish word for skulls; the county was reportedly named for the remains of Native Americans discovered by the Spanish explorer Captain Gabriel Moraga. As of the 2010 census, the county had a...
counties. He is a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and the Republican Study Committee
Republican Study Committee
The Republican Study Committee [RSC] is a caucus of over 170 conservative members of the Republican Party in the United States House of Representatives...
.
Lungren previously represented the Long Beach
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
area in Congress, from 1979 to 1989, and served as California's Attorney General
California Attorney General
The California Attorney General is the State Attorney General of California. The officer's duty is to ensure that "the laws of the state are uniformly and adequately enforced" The Attorney General carries out the responsibilities of the office through the California Department of Justice.The...
from 1991 to 1999.
Early life, education and career
Dan Lungren was born in Long Beach, CaliforniaLong Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
, of Irish, Swedish, and Scottish extraction. From 1952, Lungren's father was the personal physician and a close friend of former President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
.
Lungren graduated from St. Anthony High School
St. Anthony High School (California)
St. Anthony High School, commonly referred to as SA, is a private, Roman Catholic high school located in the downtown area of Long Beach, California. As of the 2010-2011 school year, the school had 375 students enrolled in grades 9 through 12. It is served by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los...
in 1964 and matriculated to the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, where he earned an A.B. with honors in English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
in 1968.
He returned to California to chair Youth for Nixon during Nixon's first successful run for the presidency.
Lungren began his legal studies at the University of Southern California Law School
University of Southern California Law School
The University of Southern California Law School , located in Los Angeles, California, is a law school within the University of Southern California...
but transferred to Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
, where he earned his J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1971. During his years at Georgetown, Lungren worked for U.S. Senators George Murphy (R-CA) and Bill Brock (R-TN). From 1971 to 1972, he also was Special Assistant to the Co-Chairman of the Republican National Committee (R-NC). In addition, during that time, Lungren's wife, Bobbi, worked in the Nixon White House.
When Lungren returned to Long Beach, he joined a law firm and practiced civil law for a short time before running unsuccessfully for Congress in 1976. He was successful in 1978.
U.S. House of Representatives (1979–1989)
Lungren first served in the House of Representatives from 1979 to 1989, representing portions of Long BeachLong Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
and Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
. He was one of Newt Gingrich
Newt Gingrich
Newton Leroy "Newt" Gingrich is a U.S. Republican Party politician who served as the House Minority Whip from 1989 to 1995 and as the 58th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999....
's chief lieutenants during this time, and was a founding member of the Conservative Opportunity Society. He served on the House Judiciary Committee
United States House Committee on the Judiciary
The U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, also called the House Judiciary Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. It is charged with overseeing the administration of justice within the federal courts, administrative agencies and Federal law enforcement...
, where he pushed for sanctions
Sanctions (law)
Sanctions are penalties or other means of enforcement used to provide incentives for obedience with the law, or with rules and regulations. Criminal sanctions can take the form of serious punishment, such as corporal or capital punishment, incarceration, or severe fines...
against employers who hired illegal immigrants, but supported a temporary guest-worker program. He was the principal House cosponsor of the Simpson-Mazzoli immigration bill, which became the Immigration Reform Act of 1986. He also independently sponsored a "guest worker" bill, designed to allow for importation of "temporary" immigrant laborers.
California statewide offices
Lungren did not seek re-election to the U.S. House when California Governor George DeukmejianGeorge Deukmejian
Courken George Deukmejian, Jr. born June 6, 1928) is an Armenian American politician from California who as a Republican served as the 35th Governor of California and as California Attorney General .-Early life:...
appointed him as California's acting State Treasurer, but was never confirmed. According to the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
Democrats "praised Lungren's integrity, but said they were unwilling to vote for a Republican whose congressional voting record was so conservative".
Lungren was later elected as California Attorney General in 1990, and served from 1991–1999. Lungren worked in passing such legislation as "Megan's Law," "3-Strikes-and-You're-Out", "Sexual Anti-Predator Act" and the "California's Safe Schools Plan".
In 1996, he was considered as a possible running mate for Republican nominee Bob Dole
Bob Dole
Robert Joseph "Bob" Dole is an American attorney and politician. Dole represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996, was Gerald Ford's Vice Presidential running mate in the 1976 presidential election, and was Senate Majority Leader from 1985 to 1987 and in 1995 and 1996...
. In 1998 Lungren ran as the Republican candidate for governor against Democratic Lieutenant Governor Gray Davis
Gray Davis
Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who served as California's 37th Governor from 1999 until being recalled in 2003...
. Davis received 57.9% of the votes, while Lungren got 38.4%. During the campaign, Davis maintained that Lungren, who presented himself as the political heir to former California Governor and US President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, was too conservative for California. Davis also criticized Lungren's hesitancy, as California Attorney General, to enforce laws restricting assault weapons and his waiting until the last minute to become part of a class action lawsuit against the cigarette industry.
Return to Congress
Lungren was reappointed to the Judiciary Committee based on his previous five terms of seniority, and also serves on the Homeland Security committee.In 2005, Lungren supported the USA PATRIOT Act
USA PATRIOT Act
The USA PATRIOT Act is an Act of the U.S. Congress that was signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 26, 2001...
, which renewed the Federal Government's ability to perform secret surveillance including wiretaps of citizens and monitoring of public and private computer packet-switched networks to prevent terrorism from hitting the United States.
In 2006, Lungren and Congresswoman Jane Harman
Jane Harman
Jane Margaret Lakes Harman is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1993 to 1999, and from 2001 to 2011. She is a member of the Democratic Party....
(D-CA) authored the SAFE Port Act, which improves security at the ports including additional requirements for maritime facilities, foreign port assessments, container security initiatives and Customs Trade Partnership against Terrorism. The bill passed the House with bipartisan support. In 2007, Lungren was appointed to the House Administration Committee.
On April 4, 2007, Lungren cosponsored a bill indicating that U.S. citizenship is a privilege and should be granted to children born to U.S. citizens or residents with legal immigration status in the U.S., not grant automatic citizenship to children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants.
On July 29, 2008, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6295, introduced by Lungren. This legislation is to stop the use of submersible and semi-submersible vessels used to transport drugs and other contrabands, which pose a threat to communities and national security. Shortly after the 2008 election, a newly reelected Lungren challenged Congressman John Boehner
John Boehner
John Andrew Boehner is the 61st and current Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. A member of the Republican Party, he is the U.S. Representative from , serving since 1991...
for Minority Leader. Lungren did not win the post. Boehner appointed Lungren as Ranking Republican Member of the House Administration Committee. To serve on this new role, Lungren left his spot with the Budget Committee.
On December 3, 2010, following the November 2 midterm elections in which Republicans won back the majority, Lungren was named Chairman of the House Administration Committee.
The National Journal
National Journal
National Journal is a nonpartisan American weekly magazine that reports on the current political environment and emerging political and policy trends. National Journal was first published in 1969. Times Mirror owned the magazine from 1986 to 1997, when it was purchased by David G. Bradley...
's Cook Political Report
Cook Political Report
The Cook Political Report is an independent, non-partisan online newsletter that analyzes elections and campaigns for the United States House of Representatives, the United States Senate, Governor's offices and the American Presidency. The Cook Political Report is led by a staff of five...
named Lungren the Republican most vulnerable to redistricting in 2012.
Committee assignments
- Committee on House AdministrationUnited States House Committee on House AdministrationThe United States House Committee on House Administration deals with the general administration matters of the United States House of Representatives.-Jurisdiction:...
(Chairman) - Committee on the JudiciaryUnited States House Committee on the JudiciaryThe U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, also called the House Judiciary Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. It is charged with overseeing the administration of justice within the federal courts, administrative agencies and Federal law enforcement...
- Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland SecurityUnited States House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland SecurityThe House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security is a subcommittee within the House Judiciary Committee.-Jurisdiction:From the House Rules:...
- Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement
- Task Force on Judicial Impeachment
- Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security
- Committee on Homeland SecurityUnited States House Committee on Homeland SecurityThe U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. Its responsibilities include U.S...
- Subcommittee on Transportation Security
- Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies (Chairman)
- Joint Committee on PrintingUnited States Congress Joint Committee on PrintingThe Joint Committee on Printing is a joint committee of the United States Congress devoted to overseeing the functions of the Government Printing Office and general printing procedures of the federal government of the United States...
- Joint Committee on the LibraryUnited States Congress Joint Committee on the LibraryThe Joint Committee on the Library is a joint committee of the United States Congress devoted to the affairs and administration of the Library of Congress, which is the library of the federal legislature. There are five members of each house on the committee. It has no subcommittees.The committee...
- Republican Study CommitteeRepublican Study CommitteeThe Republican Study Committee [RSC] is a caucus of over 170 conservative members of the Republican Party in the United States House of Representatives...
2004
Lungren ran for Congress again in the 3rd Congressional District after six-year incumbent Congressman Doug OseDoug Ose
Douglas Arlo "Doug" Ose is a former California congressman who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1999 to 2005, representing California's 3rd Congressional District...
announced his retirement. Lungren has stated that his desire to serve in Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
again was rekindled by the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
. He won a come from behind victory in a three-way primary against Mary Ose and State Senator Rico Oller
Rico Oller
Thomas "Rico" Oller is a Republican U.S. politician from California. He served in the California State Assembly, representing the 4th District from 1996 to 2000, and the California State Senate, representing the 1st district from 2000 to 2004...
in 2004.
2010
Lungren was challenged by Democratic nominee Dr. Ami Bera, American Independent Jerry Leidecker, Peace and Freedom nominee Mike Roskey, and Libertarian Douglas Art Tuma. Lungren was reelected with 50.6 % of the vote, with Bera accumulating 42.7%, and 6.7% to other candidates.Electoral history
Personal life
Lungren and his wife Bobbi have three children and six grandchildren. In 2010 he was inducted into the College of Fellows of the Dominican School of Philosophy and TheologyDominican School of Philosophy and Theology
The Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology is a Roman Catholic college, seminary, and graduate school in Berkeley, California. It is located at 2301 Vine Street in Berkeley....
.
External links
- U.S. Congressman Dan Lungren official U.S. House site
- Profile at SourcewatchSourceWatchSourceWatch is an internet wiki site that is a collaborative project of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy...