Gene Green
Encyclopedia
Raymond Eugene "Gene" Green (born October 17, 1947) is the U.S. Representative
for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Democratic Party
. The district includes most of eastern Houston, along with large portions of Houston's eastern suburbs.
, earning a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1971 and a law degree in 1977. He held positions as a business manager and a private attorney prior to his election to Congress.
in 1972. He was elected to the Texas Senate
in 1985.
in 1992. Although the 29th was (then as now) drawn as a majority-Hispanic district, Green finished second in the five-way Democratic primary, behind city councilman
Ben Reyes
. Green defeated Reyes in the runoff by only 180 votes, all but assuring him of election in this heavily Democratic district. Green has been reelected eight times, never facing substantive Republican
opposition. The Republicans didn't even bother to file a candidate against him in 1998, 2002 or 2004. In 2006 and 2008, Green faced Republican Eric Story, and defeated him by the same margin, 75% to 24%, in both elections.
In 2011, Representative Green was chosen to act as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy.
In 2007, he became vice-chairman of the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee. He also serves as a deputy whip.
He voted in favor of the Iraq Resolution in 2002, and gave a speech on the house floor linking Saddam Hussein to the 9/11 attacks. Despite the Democratic leadership's general disapproval of the war, Green has voted against measures aimed at placing a timetable on military withdrawal.
In September 2004, he proposed the Every Vote Counts Amendment
, which would have abolished the U.S. electoral college
in United States presidential election
s.
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 1993. He is a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. The district includes most of eastern Houston, along with large portions of Houston's eastern suburbs.
Early life, education and career
Green was born in Houston and he graduated from the University of HoustonUniversity of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
, earning a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1971 and a law degree in 1977. He held positions as a business manager and a private attorney prior to his election to Congress.
Texas Legislature
Green was first elected to the Texas House of RepresentativesTexas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
in 1972. He was elected to the Texas Senate
Texas Senate
The Texas Senate is the upper house of the Texas Legislature. There are 31 members of the Senate, representing 31 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 672,000 per constituency. There are no term limits, and each term is four years long. The Senate meets at the...
in 1985.
Political campaigns
Green was first elected to the U.S. HouseUnited 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...
in 1992. Although the 29th was (then as now) drawn as a majority-Hispanic district, Green finished second in the five-way Democratic primary, behind city councilman
Houston City Council
The Houston City Council is a city council for the city of Houston in the U.S. state of Texas.Currently, there are fourteen members, nine elected from council districts and five at-large. The members of the Council are elected every two years, in odd-numbered years...
Ben Reyes
Ben Reyes
Ben Torres Reyes , an American, is a former member of the Texas House of Representatives and a former Houston City Council member.-History:...
. Green defeated Reyes in the runoff by only 180 votes, all but assuring him of election in this heavily Democratic district. Green has been reelected eight times, never facing substantive Republican
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...
opposition. The Republicans didn't even bother to file a candidate against him in 1998, 2002 or 2004. In 2006 and 2008, Green faced Republican Eric Story, and defeated him by the same margin, 75% to 24%, in both elections.
U.S. House of Representatives
Committee assignments
- Committee on Energy and CommerceUnited States House Committee on Energy and CommerceThe Committee on Energy and Commerce is one of the oldest standing committees of the United States House of Representatives. Established in 1795, it has operated continuously—with various name changes and jurisdictional changes—for more than 200 years...
- Subcommittee on Energy and Power
- Subcommittee on Environment and EconomyUnited States House Energy Subcommittee on Environment and EconomyThe Energy Subcommittee on Environment and Economy is a subcommittee within the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Prior to 2009, it was known as the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials, and was part of the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment from 2009 to 2011...
(Ranking Member) - Subcommittee on Oversight and InvestigationsUnited States House Energy Subcommittee on Oversight and InvestigationsThe U.S. House Energy Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations is a subcommittee within the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.-Jurisdiction:...
In 2011, Representative Green was chosen to act as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy.
In 2007, he became vice-chairman of the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee. He also serves as a deputy whip.
He voted in favor of the Iraq Resolution in 2002, and gave a speech on the house floor linking Saddam Hussein to the 9/11 attacks. Despite the Democratic leadership's general disapproval of the war, Green has voted against measures aimed at placing a timetable on military withdrawal.
In September 2004, he proposed the Every Vote Counts Amendment
Every Vote Counts Amendment
The Every Vote Counts Amendment is a joint resolution to amend the United States Constitution, providing for the popular election of the president and vice president under a new electoral system. This proposed amendment would abolish the electoral college in United States presidential elections...
, which would have abolished the U.S. electoral college
United States Electoral College
The Electoral College consists of the electors appointed by each state who formally elect the President and Vice President of the United States. Since 1964, there have been 538 electors in each presidential election...
in United States presidential election
United States presidential election
Elections for President and Vice President of the United States are indirect elections in which voters cast ballots for a slate of electors of the U.S. Electoral College, who in turn directly elect the President and Vice President...
s.
2011 incident at Houston office
According to an online CNN wire staff news story by Vivian Kuo, Carol Cratty, and Michael Martinez posted on Tuesday, August 30, 2011, "The FBI and local Texas authorities are investigating reports of gunshots Tuesday striking the north Houston office..." of Green.External links
- Congressman Gene Green official U.S. House site
- World Energy Television Interview Gene Green on WorldEnergySource.com World Energy Television
- Profile at SourceWatchSourceWatchSourceWatch is an internet wiki site that is a collaborative project of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy...