Jim Himes
Encyclopedia
James A. "Jim" Himes is an American
businessman
and U.S. Representative
for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Democratic Party
.
The district incorporates portions of Fairfield
and New Haven
counties in southwestern Connecticut, including the cities of Bridgeport
and Stamford
.
, Peru
, to American parents, where his father worked for the Ford Foundation
and UNICEF. He spent his early childhood in Lima and Bogotá
, Colombia
. After the divorce of his parents, Himes, his mother, and his two sisters moved to Pennington, New Jersey
, where Himes attended and graduated from Hopewell Valley Central High School.
In 1984, Himes attended Harvard University
where he was the captain of the Lightweight crew and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
in 1988. Himes studied for a degree in Latin American studies
as a Rhodes scholar at the University of Oxford
, and graduated with a Master of Philosophy
in 1990.
as a banker in Latin America
and New York
. He was eventually promoted to vice president. In 2003, Himes began working for the non-profit Enterprise Foundation
(currently Enterprise Community Partners
), and later began running their metropolitan New York operations. In 2007, he was named vice president of Enterprise
.
Himes was appointed a Commissioner of the Greenwich Housing Authority in 2002, and served for two years as chairman of the board. He has also served as a board member of Aspira of Connecticut
in Bridgeport
, a board member of the Fairfield County Community Foundation, and as an advisory board member of Family Assets, LLp of Bridgeport.
He was also an elected member of the Greenwich Board of Estimate and Taxation and served as the Chairman of the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee.
gives Himes a 100% pro choice rating. He voted against the Stupak-Pitts Amendment in the Affordable Health Care for America Act
that was intended to prevent any federal funds from paying for any health care plan with abortion coverage.
that promoted the financial literacy of students.
has given Himes a 100% rating, indicating his strong support for the environment. He believes that “By creating the right set of financial incentives and supporting a broad range of research and development, we can deliver the energy our economy requires to thrive while protecting our planet.” He also voted for the American Clean Energy and Security Act
.
. He believes in preserving Medicare
and Medicaid
and says we must be “prepared to equitably reform these programs to address the challenging problem of rising health care costs and ensure that these important safety net programs are here to help this generation and the next.”
Himes co-sponsored H.R. 402, The National Infrastructure Development Bank Act of 2011, which would objectively fund national infrastructure projects. According to Himes it would also “attract private investment and facilitate private sector partnering with regions, states and localities to borrow from the Bank while adding its own private equity to projects.” He has helped bring money to the 4th district, such as “over $70 million for safety improvements, resurfacing, enhancements, and bridge improvements to the Merritt Parkway; over $11 million for infrastructure improvements at the Steel Point project in Bridgeport that will generate thousands of new jobs; and $30 million for upgrades to Metro North’s Danbury Branch line.”
incumbent Chris Shays in the 2008 congressional election
, along with Libertarian
nominee M.A.Carrano, a professional philosophy writer and systems consultant, and Green Party nominee Richard Duffee. Winning by a margin of 51 percent to 47 percent., although Himes claimed only three towns in the district, he swamped Shays in Bridgeport, winning a staggering 83 percent of the vote there. He was also helped by Barack Obama
's massive win in that district.
Himes took office in the 111th United States Congress
on January 6, 2009. He is the first Democrat to represent the district since Donald J. Irwin
left office in 1969. Shays was the sole Republican congressman from New England, and Himes' win made New England's House delegation entirely Democratic for the first time in 150 years.
Dan Debicella
.
with $57,550. Two through five respectively were Goldman Sachs
, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
, the Metropolitan Museum of Art
, and Pullman & Comley.The majority of his money, 74%, came from in-state. Only 26% came from out of state.Rep. Himes disclosed 97.9% of his donations.
with his wife, Mary, and their two daughters. He is fluent in Spanish. He is also a Member of Session of the First Presbyterian Church of Greenwich.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman
Businessperson
A businessperson is someone involved in a particular undertaking of activities for the purpose of generating revenue from a combination of human, financial, or physical capital. An entrepreneur is an example of a business person...
and U.S. Representative
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 2009. 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 incorporates portions of Fairfield
Fairfield County, Connecticut
Fairfield County is a county located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The county population is 916,829 according to the 2010 Census. There are currently 1,465 people per square mile in the county. It is the most populous county in the State of Connecticut and contains...
and New Haven
New Haven County, Connecticut
New Haven County is a county located in the south central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of the 2010 Census, the county population is 862,477 making it the third most populated county in Connecticut. There are 1,340 people per square mile...
counties in southwestern Connecticut, including the cities of Bridgeport
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
and Stamford
Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
.
Early life and education
Himes was born July 5, 1966 in LimaLima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, to American parents, where his father worked for the Ford Foundation
Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....
and UNICEF. He spent his early childhood in Lima and Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. After the divorce of his parents, Himes, his mother, and his two sisters moved to Pennington, New Jersey
Pennington, New Jersey
Pennington is a Borough in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 2,585.Pennington was established as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on January 31, 1890, from portions of Hopewell Township, based on the results of...
, where Himes attended and graduated from Hopewell Valley Central High School.
In 1984, Himes attended Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
where he was the captain of the Lightweight crew and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1988. Himes studied for a degree in Latin American studies
Latin American Studies
Latin American studies is an academic discipline dealing with the study of Latin America and Latin Americans.-Definition:Latin American studies critically examines the history, culture, politics, and experiences of Latin Americans in Latin America and often also elsewhere .Latin American studies...
as a Rhodes scholar at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, and graduated with a Master of Philosophy
Master of Philosophy
The Master of Philosophy is a postgraduate research degree.An M.Phil. is a lesser degree than a Doctor of Philosophy , but in many cases it is considered to be a more senior degree than a taught Master's degree, as it is often a thesis-only degree. In some instances, an M.Phil...
in 1990.
Professional career
In 1995, Himes began working at Goldman SachsGoldman Sachs
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an American multinational bulge bracket investment banking and securities firm that engages in global investment banking, securities, investment management, and other financial services primarily with institutional clients...
as a banker in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He was eventually promoted to vice president. In 2003, Himes began working for the non-profit Enterprise Foundation
Enterprise Community Partners
Enterprise Community Partners, formerly The Enterprise Foundation, is a Columbia, Maryland-based nonprofit organization with offices nationwide. Founded in 1982 by developer/philanthropist James W...
(currently Enterprise Community Partners
Enterprise Community Partners
Enterprise Community Partners, formerly The Enterprise Foundation, is a Columbia, Maryland-based nonprofit organization with offices nationwide. Founded in 1982 by developer/philanthropist James W...
), and later began running their metropolitan New York operations. In 2007, he was named vice president of Enterprise
Enterprise Community Partners
Enterprise Community Partners, formerly The Enterprise Foundation, is a Columbia, Maryland-based nonprofit organization with offices nationwide. Founded in 1982 by developer/philanthropist James W...
.
Himes was appointed a Commissioner of the Greenwich Housing Authority in 2002, and served for two years as chairman of the board. He has also served as a board member of Aspira of Connecticut
ASPIRA
ASPIRA of New York is a Hispanic non-profit organization working to foster educational excellence and civic responsibility among young Latinos. ASPIRA youth development clubs, dropout prevention initiatives and after school programs each year serve more than 8,000 young people in the five boroughs...
in Bridgeport
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
, a board member of the Fairfield County Community Foundation, and as an advisory board member of Family Assets, LLp of Bridgeport.
He was also an elected member of the Greenwich Board of Estimate and Taxation and served as the Chairman of the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Financial ServicesUnited States House Committee on Financial ServicesThe United States House Committee on Financial Services is the committee of the United States House of Representatives that oversees the entire financial services industry, including the securities, insurance, banking, and housing industries...
- Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government-Sponsored Enterprises
- Subcommittee on Oversight and InvestigationsUnited States House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and InvestigationsThe U.S. House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations is a subcommittee of the House Committee on Financial Services.-Jurisdiction:The Subcommittee conducts oversight of the agencies, departments, and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction...
Abortion
Planned ParenthoodPlanned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood Federation of America , commonly shortened to Planned Parenthood, is the U.S. affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and one of its larger members. PPFA is a non-profit organization providing reproductive health and maternal and child health services. The...
gives Himes a 100% pro choice rating. He voted against the Stupak-Pitts Amendment in the Affordable Health Care for America Act
Affordable Health Care for America Act
The Affordable Health Care for America Act was a bill that was crafted by the United States House of Representatives in November 2009. At the encouragement of the Obama administration, the 111th Congress devoted much of its time to enacting reform of the United States' health care system...
that was intended to prevent any federal funds from paying for any health care plan with abortion coverage.
Defense
Himes states that “we should reduce our presence in Afghanistan as rapidly as possible and reshape our mission to focus exclusively on counterterrorism”, yet requiring “presence in the region, but one considerably smaller than that required by our present strategy of nation-building.” He believes in a nuclear weapon free world, and readily supports sanctions against Iran. He voted for the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010.He supports a two state solution between Israel and Palestine.Education
Himes believes that early childhood education is “the most intelligent investment a nation can make in its future”, and voted to double funding for Early Head Start Program. He stated in 2008 that No Child Left Behind “is well-intentioned because it focuses on education, but it must be reformed.” Rep. Himes also co-authored an amendment to the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility ActStudent Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act
The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009 is a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives of the 111th United States Congress by Congressman George Miller that would expand federal Pell Grants to a maximum of $5,500 in 2010 and tie increases in Pell Grant maximum values to...
that promoted the financial literacy of students.
Environment
Environment AmericaEnvironment America
Environment America is a federation of state-based, citizen-funded environmental advocacy organizations. Its mission is to advocate for and protect clean air, water, and open spaces in the United States...
has given Himes a 100% rating, indicating his strong support for the environment. He believes that “By creating the right set of financial incentives and supporting a broad range of research and development, we can deliver the energy our economy requires to thrive while protecting our planet.” He also voted for the American Clean Energy and Security Act
American Clean Energy and Security Act
The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 was an energy bill in the 111th United States Congress that would have established a variant of an emissions trading plan similar to the European Union Emission Trading Scheme...
.
Gun Rights
Himes voted against H.R. 627 which allowed loaded guns into national parks. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence gives him a 100% lifetime score for his support of more gun regulations.Health Care
Himes supports the Patient Protection and Affordable Care ActPatient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
. He believes in preserving Medicare
Medicare
Medicare may refer to any of several publicly funded health insurance programs:*Medicare *Medicare *Medicare - See also :*Medicaid*Medicare Australia*Medicare Resources - China*Medicare Rights Center - United States...
and Medicaid
Medicaid
Medicaid is the United States health program for certain people and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, and is managed by the states. People served by Medicaid are U.S. citizens or legal permanent...
and says we must be “prepared to equitably reform these programs to address the challenging problem of rising health care costs and ensure that these important safety net programs are here to help this generation and the next.”
Himes co-sponsored H.R. 402, The National Infrastructure Development Bank Act of 2011, which would objectively fund national infrastructure projects. According to Himes it would also “attract private investment and facilitate private sector partnering with regions, states and localities to borrow from the Bank while adding its own private equity to projects.” He has helped bring money to the 4th district, such as “over $70 million for safety improvements, resurfacing, enhancements, and bridge improvements to the Merritt Parkway; over $11 million for infrastructure improvements at the Steel Point project in Bridgeport that will generate thousands of new jobs; and $30 million for upgrades to Metro North’s Danbury Branch line.”
Animal Rights and Wildlife Issues
In 2009-2010 the Society for Animal Protective legislation gave Himes a rating of 100% on his support of animal protection. In 2009, Himes was given a rating of 100% by the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund due to his position on wildlife action.Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
In 2009-2010 the Human Rights Campaign gave Himes a rating of 100% due to his stance on human rights and liberties. This rating also extends to his position on sexual orientation and gender identity.Immigration
In 2009-2010 the American Immigration Lawyers Association gave Himes a rating of 100% due to his stance on the defense of immigrants in the U.S.2008
In 2008 Himes faced the ten-term RepublicanRepublican 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...
incumbent Chris Shays in the 2008 congressional election
Connecticut's 4th congressional district election, 2008
The 2008 Connecticut 4th Congressional District Election was held on November 7 to elect the representative from the 4th District of Connecticut, which includes 17 towns in southwest Connecticut. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; the elected representative will serve in the 111th...
, along with Libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
nominee M.A.Carrano, a professional philosophy writer and systems consultant, and Green Party nominee Richard Duffee. Winning by a margin of 51 percent to 47 percent., although Himes claimed only three towns in the district, he swamped Shays in Bridgeport, winning a staggering 83 percent of the vote there. He was also helped by Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's massive win in that district.
Himes took office in the 111th United States Congress
111th United States Congress
The One Hundred Eleventh United States Congress was the meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government from January 3, 2009 until January 3, 2011. It began during the last two weeks of the George W. Bush administration, with the remainder spanning the first two years of...
on January 6, 2009. He is the first Democrat to represent the district since Donald J. Irwin
Donald J. Irwin
Donald Jay Irwin is a U.S. Representative from Connecticut.Born of American parents in Argentina, Irwin came to the United States in 1945 to attend Yale University....
left office in 1969. Shays was the sole Republican congressman from New England, and Himes' win made New England's House delegation entirely Democratic for the first time in 150 years.
2010
In the 2010 election, Himes won re-election against Republican challenger State SenatorConnecticut Senate
The Connecticut State Senate is the upper house of the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The state senate comprises 36 members, each representing a district with around 94,600 inhabitants. Senators are elected to two-year terms without term limits...
Dan Debicella
Dan Debicella
-External links:** at Connecticut Senate Republicans* at OpenSecrets.org...
.
Campaign Finance 2010
The campaign raised $3,660,497.57, $3,603,727 of which was spent. Only 4% of that came from small individual donors, while 60% came from large individual donors. The remaining donations came mostly from Political Action Committees (34%). He did not self-finance at all. His top contributor was General ElectricGeneral Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
with $57,550. Two through five respectively were Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an American multinational bulge bracket investment banking and securities firm that engages in global investment banking, securities, investment management, and other financial services primarily with institutional clients...
, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. is an American investment bank and securities firm, founded in 1818, it is the oldest and largest private bank in the United States. Brown Brothers Harriman serves clients globally in three main businesses: Investment Banking & Advisory, Wealth Management, Commercial...
, the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...
, and Pullman & Comley.The majority of his money, 74%, came from in-state. Only 26% came from out of state.Rep. Himes disclosed 97.9% of his donations.
Personal life
Himes currently lives in the Cos Cob section of GreenwichGreenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 61,171. It is home to many hedge funds and other financial service companies. Greenwich is the southernmost and westernmost municipality in Connecticut and is 38+ minutes ...
with his wife, Mary, and their two daughters. He is fluent in Spanish. He is also a Member of Session of the First Presbyterian Church of Greenwich.
External links
- Congressman Jim Himes official U.S. House site
- Jim Himes, Democrat for Congress official campaign site