Rick Berg
Encyclopedia
Richard Alan Berg is the U.S. Representative
for . Berg serves on the House Ways and Means Committee. He is a member of the Republican Party
. Previously, he served in the state House of Representatives. He served as Majority Leader and Speaker.
and raised on a farm in Hettinger
. His father was a large animal veterinarian. He graduated from Hettinger High School
. He earned a wrestling scholarship to the North Dakota State School of Science. He attended for a year before transferring to North Dakota State University
, where he graduated with a B.A. in Agricultural Economics
. After college, he became a partner in Goldmark Commercial Corp.
from 1985 until 2011, representing the 45th legislative district. He served as Majority Leader
(2003–07) and Speaker of the House (1993).
In the last legislative session, he served in the Legislative Management, Tribal/State Relations committee, Economic Development committee, and the House Appropriations committee (Government Operations division). He was also a member of the Budget Section and the Legislative Council.
. In March 2010, Berg won the GOP nomination at the Republican state convention to challenge incumbent Democratic Representative Earl Pomeroy
for the state's at-large seat in the United States House of Representatives
. In the general election Berg defeated the incumbent with 55% of the vote to represent .
Berg's biggest donor during the campaign was Goldmark Property Management, Inc. Berg has worked at Goldmark since 1981 and is currently Senior Vice President of Goldmark Schlossman Commercial Real Estate Services.
. He voted in favor of the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act and has received "A" and "A+" ratings from the National Rifle Association
Political Victory Fund for his stance on gun rights.
Berg joined almost 60 other members of Congress in a letter to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction that urged committee members not to cut the critical access hospital (CAH) program. The CAH program provides assistance to rural hospitals. 36 CAHs exist in North Dakota, including one in Hettinger
, Berg's hometown.
Berg has voted to curtail EPA regulations, stating: "In North Dakota, we know the damaging effects that overreaching government regulations can have on our small businesses and their ability to create jobs." He has also proposed drilling for oil in federal lands, including North Dakota's own Theodore Roosevelt National Park
, as a way to provide funding for Social Security
. In 2009, he was presented with the Greater North Dakotan Award by the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce for his support of business interests.
Berg is pro-life
and has voted to prohibit federal funds from being used to pay for any part of of any health care plan that covers abortions. He is a member of the Congressional Prayer Caucus.
Caucus Memberships
seat being vacated by Democratic incumbent Kent Conrad
.
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 . Berg serves on the House Ways and Means Committee. 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...
. Previously, he served in the state House of Representatives. He served as Majority Leader and Speaker.
Early life, education, and pre-political career
Berg was born in MaddockMaddock, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 498 people, 238 households, and 127 families residing in the city. The population density was 564.7 people per square mile . There were 276 housing units at an average density of 313.0 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 99.60% White, 0.20%...
and raised on a farm in Hettinger
Hettinger, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,307 people, 584 households, and 345 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,556.6 people per square mile . There were 720 housing units at an average density of 857.5 per square mile...
. His father was a large animal veterinarian. He graduated from Hettinger High School
Hettinger High School
Hettinger High School is a public high school located in Hettinger, North Dakota. It currently serves 118 students and is a part of the Hettinger School District. The athletic teams are known as the "The Black Devils"...
. He earned a wrestling scholarship to the North Dakota State School of Science. He attended for a year before transferring to North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, more commonly known as North Dakota State University , is a public university in Fargo, North Dakota. NDSU has about 14,000 students and it is the largest university in North Dakota based on full time students and land size...
, where he graduated with a B.A. in Agricultural Economics
Agricultural economics
Agricultural economics originally applied the principles of economics to the production of crops and livestock — a discipline known as agronomics. Agronomics was a branch of economics that specifically dealt with land usage. It focused on maximizing the crop yield while maintaining a good soil...
. After college, he became a partner in Goldmark Commercial Corp.
State legislature
Berg served in the North Dakota House of RepresentativesNorth Dakota House of Representatives
The North Dakota House of Representatives is the lower house of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly and is larger than the North Dakota Senate....
from 1985 until 2011, representing the 45th legislative district. He served as Majority Leader
Majority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
(2003–07) and Speaker of the House (1993).
In the last legislative session, he served in the Legislative Management, Tribal/State Relations committee, Economic Development committee, and the House Appropriations committee (Government Operations division). He was also a member of the Budget Section and the Legislative Council.
2010 Election
On January 20, 2010 Berg officially announced he was seeking the GOP endorsement to run for the United States House of RepresentativesUnited 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 March 2010, Berg won the GOP nomination at the Republican state convention to challenge incumbent Democratic Representative Earl Pomeroy
Earl Pomeroy
Earl Pomeroy is a lobbyist and former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1993 until 2011. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party.- Early life, education and career :...
for the state's at-large seat in the United States House of Representatives
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...
. In the general election Berg defeated the incumbent with 55% of the vote to represent .
Berg's biggest donor during the campaign was Goldmark Property Management, Inc. Berg has worked at Goldmark since 1981 and is currently Senior Vice President of Goldmark Schlossman Commercial Real Estate Services.
Tenure
Berg strongly supports a balanced-budget amendment to the ConstitutionUnited States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
. He voted in favor of the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act and has received "A" and "A+" ratings from the National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
Political Victory Fund for his stance on gun rights.
Berg joined almost 60 other members of Congress in a letter to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction that urged committee members not to cut the critical access hospital (CAH) program. The CAH program provides assistance to rural hospitals. 36 CAHs exist in North Dakota, including one in Hettinger
Hettinger, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,307 people, 584 households, and 345 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,556.6 people per square mile . There were 720 housing units at an average density of 857.5 per square mile...
, Berg's hometown.
Berg has voted to curtail EPA regulations, stating: "In North Dakota, we know the damaging effects that overreaching government regulations can have on our small businesses and their ability to create jobs." He has also proposed drilling for oil in federal lands, including North Dakota's own Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is a United States National Park comprising three geographically separated areas of badlands in western North Dakota. The park was named for U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, in honor of his achievements in conservation as president and for the landscape's...
, as a way to provide funding for Social Security
Social Security (United States)
In the United States, Social Security refers to the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program.The original Social Security Act and the current version of the Act, as amended encompass several social welfare and social insurance programs...
. In 2009, he was presented with the Greater North Dakotan Award by the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce for his support of business interests.
Berg is pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
and has voted to prohibit federal funds from being used to pay for any part of of any health care plan that covers abortions. He is a member of the Congressional Prayer Caucus.
Committee assignments
Berg is a member of the powerfull U.S. House Ways & Means Committee.Caucus Memberships
- Congressional Western Caucus
- Unmanned Systems Caucus
- General Aviation Caucus
- Coal Caucus
- Friends of Norway Caucus
- Job Creators Caucus
- E-911 Caucus
- National Archives Caucus
- Rural Health Care Coalition
- Sportsman Caucus
- Sugar Caucus
- Congressional Prayer Caucus
- House National Guard and Reserve Caucus
- Congressional Prayer Caucus
2012 U.S. Senate campaign
On May 16, 2011, Berg announced he will run for the United States SenateUnited States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
seat being vacated by Democratic incumbent Kent Conrad
Kent Conrad
Kent Conrad is the senior United States Senator from North Dakota. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, the North Dakota affiliate of the Democratic Party...
.
External links
- Congressman Rick Berg Official U.S. House Website
- Berg for North Dakota Official Campaign Website