• SANDERS, BERNARD
Experience: Senator, United States Senate, 2006-present
Home State: Vermont
Person Website: https://berniesanders.com/
Social Media
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Running: President, United States, 2016
Total Raised: $229,115,600Coverage End: Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Winning: Won with 0.00%
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Personal

    Full Name: Bernard 'Bernie' Sanders
    Gender: Male
    Family: Wife: Jane; 4 Children: Levi, Heather, Carina, David
    Birth Date: 09/08/1941
    Birth Place: Brooklyn, NY
    Home City: Burlington, VT
    Religion: Jewish

Education

    Attended, Brooklyn College
    BS, University of Chicago, 1964

Political Experience

    Senator, United States Senate, 2006-present
    Representative, United States House of Representatives, 1990-2006
    Mayor, City of Burlington, 1981-1989
    Candidate, United States House of Representatives, 1988
    Candidate, Governor of Vermont, 1972, 1976, 1986
    Candidate, United States Senate, 1972, 1974

Current Legislative Committees

    Budget, Ranking Member
    Energy and Natural Resources, Member
    Environment and Public Works, Member
    Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Member
    Subcommittee on Children and Families, Member
    Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, Member
    Subcommittee on Energy, Member
    Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife, Member
    Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New Economy, Member
    Subcommittee on National Parks, Member
    Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, Ranking Member
    Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Member
    Subcommittee on Water and Power, Member
    Veterans' Affairs, Member

Caucuses/Non-Legislative Committees

    Co-Chair, Prescription Drug Task Force
    Former Chair, Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, United States Senate
    Co-Chair, Congressional Child Care Caucus, 2003-2004
    Officer, Congressional Progressive Caucus, 1991-1998
    Co-Founder, Congressional Progressive Caucus, 1991

Professional Experience

    Author
    Former Documentary Filmmaker
    Former Carpenter
    Journalist
    Lecturer, Hamilton College, 1989-1990
    Lecturer, Harvard University, 1989
    Director, American People's Historical Society, 1977

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

    Member, Coalition on Population and Development
    Member, Friends of Ireland
    Former Member, Liberty Union Party
    Member, National Guard and Reserve Components Organization
    Member, Northeast-Midwest Coalition

Additional Information

Priority Issues:

    Progressive Tax Reform
    Worker's Rights
    A National Energy Policy
    The Environment
    Justice and Equality For All
    National Healthcare
    Getting Our Priorities Right
    A Strong Safety Net

Publications:

    Absolutely Absurd: The Life & Times of Bernie Sanders (Sleepy Hollow Press, 2002)-Outsider in the House (Verso, 1997)

About Bernie Sanders

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Bernard “Bernie” Sanders is the son of Polish Jewish immigrants. While his higher education began with the study of psychology in Brooklyn, he soon transferred to the University of Chicago, where he ultimately graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. His political activities during his academic career consisted mostly of contributions to the Civil Rights Movement, as he was a student organizer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. After college, he moved to Vermont and worked in several fields, including carpentry, film-making, writing, and research.

Sanders began a humble political career in 1971, experiencing frustrating results for the following ten years. It was not until 1981, after a brief break from politics, that he found major success in the field by winning election to the office of Mayor in Burlington. He held this role until 1989, when he opted not to seek reelection and began teaching political science at Harvard University. Sanders returned to politics again in 1991 and won the seat for Vermont's at-large congressional district, becoming the first Independent in congress in over 40 years.

Although Sanders traditionally runs as an Independent and describes himself as a “Democratic Socialist”, he caucuses with the Democratic Party and generally enjoys their support. In 2005, Sanders declared himself a candidate for Senate representing Vermont, following the retirement of Jim Jeffords. Critically, his campaign won the endorsement of New York Senator Chuck Schumer, the Chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Schumer's support meant that, although Sanders was as usual running as an Independent, any Democrat attempting to run against him would receive no financial help from the party. He also received endorsements from such notable Democrats as Harry Reid, Howard Dean, and even Barack Obama. Sanders would go on to win this Senate seat, and was reelected in 2012 with an impressive 71% of the vote.

Total: 121
Sanders claims more women donors than Clinton

Sen. Bernie Sanders's (I-Vt.) 2016 presidential campaign says they have more female donors than Democratic primary front-runner Hillary Clinton.

11/25/2015
By Bradford Richardson | The Hill
Sanders has highest approval in Senate

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is far and away the most popular senator among his own constituents, a new Morning Consult poll reveals.

11/24/2015
By Neetzan Zimmerman | The Hill
Sanders hesitates on socialism speech

Bernie Sanders’ ballyhooed speech on socialism is now on indefinite hold.

11/17/2015
By Annie Karni | POLITICO
Sanders knocked off stride by foreign policy focus

Bernie Sanders didn’t sign up for a foreign policy election. Yet that's exactly what he's getting in the wake of the Paris attacks, a shift that's turned the primary contest — temporarily at least — into a test for commander in chief.

11/16/2015
By Gabriel Debenedetti | POLITICO
Sanders doubles down: Climate change causes terrorism

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Sunday reiterated his claim that climate change will lead to terrorism by destabilizing regions affected by droughts, floods, and other natural disasters.

11/15/2015
By Bradford Richardson | The Hill
President Obama Praises Bernie Sanders but Passes on Whether He'd Make 'Great' POTUS

President Obama offered praise for Sen. Bernie Sanders, but declined to say whether he thought the independent Vermont senator would be a “great” president, a compliment he had previously bestowed upon Hillary Clinton.

11/15/2015
By Benjamin Bell | ABC News
Sanders: I'll go further than Obama on immigration orders

The liberal senator has argued in the past that reform could hurt American workers.

11/09/2015
By Seung Min Kim | POLITICO
Bernie Sanders leaves money on the table

The progressive contender has decided not to court California’s big money liberals, despite their willingness to play ball.

11/09/2015
By Gabriel Debenedetti | POLITICO
Bernie Sanders Promises Action On Immigration In First 100 Days As President

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders promised Monday to begin taking executive action on immigration reform during the first 100 days of his presidency, including sweeping deportation relief that would go beyond the policies of President Barack Obama. 

11/09/2015
By Elise Foley | The Huffington Post
George W. Bush practically gagged when he spoke of fellow Texan Sen. Ted Cruz.

The stage was set for Bernie Sanders to make a splashy introduction to Latino voters.

11/09/2015
By Philip Rucker | The Washington Post
Bernie Sanders: Hillary Clinton At Her Worst Would Be Better Than The GOP Candidate

Sanders says he agrees with the Democratic front-runner on "a number of" issues -- but not Wall Street.

11/08/2015
By Ariel Edwards-Levy | The Huffington Post
Sanders is trying to correct record on debate exchange over Clinton's e-mails

When the issue of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s private e-mail server came up last month in the first Democratic presidential debate, I — and you, too, I suspect — leaned in closer to the TV. 

11/08/2015
By Chris Cillizza | The Washington Post
Joe Biden meets with Bernie Sanders

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders met with Vice President Joe Biden at his Naval Observatory residence for an hour Thursday, discussing issues related to campaign finance reform and education, according to a statement released through the Vermont senator's campaign.

10/29/2015
By Nick Gass | POLITICO
Sanders: Hillary's wrong on gay marriage law

Sen. Bernie Sanders on Sunday challenged Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton’s characterization of why her husband, former President Bill Clinton, signed the Defense of Marriage Act, which denied federal recognition of gay marriages.

10/25/2015
By Adam Sneed | POLITICO
Bernie Sanders goes on the attack at Iowa Democratic dinner

He launches a new broadside on Hillary Clinton’s record, caution and character.

10/24/2015
By Annie Karni and Glenn Thrush | POLITICO
Sanders building out New Hampshire operation

Bernie Sanders’ insurgent presidential campaign is building out its New Hampshire staff with three new top hires, taking its total number of paid staffers to 53 in the first-in-the-nation primary state.

10/19/2015
By Gabriel Debenedetti | POLITICO
Bernie Sanders gets second congressional endorsement

Sen. Bernie Sanders got his second congressional endorsement on Monday, from Rep. Keith Ellison. 

10/12/2015
By Daniel Strauss | POLITICO
In NH, Sanders and Christie look opposite ways for Social Security fix

Christie calls for raising the retirement age, while Sanders wants to expand payroll taxes.

10/12/2015
By Alexander Bolton | The Hill
Sanders: Middle East allies must step up to fight ISIL

President Barack Obama’s recruiting effort to fight the Islamic State in Syria has “failed,” Sen. Bernie Sanders says, calling out Saudi Arabia and other U.S. Middle East allies for not doing enough to help.

10/11/2015
By Patrick Temple-West | POLITICO
Bernie Sanders vs. the Lamestream Media

The 2016 candidate’s criticism of the press is central to the way the socialist sees the world.

10/11/2015
By Jack Shafer | POLITICO
Total: 3
Sunday, March 6, 2016 9:00 PM CNN Democratic Debate
Location: The Whiting Auditorium in Flint, Michigan
Sponsors: CNN, MLive, The Flint Journal
Moderators: Anderson Cooper
Saturday, November 14, 2015 6:00 PM CBS News Democratic Debate
Location: Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa
Sponsors: CBS News, KCCI, the Des Moines Register
Moderators: John Dickerson
Tuesday, October 13, 2015 8:30 PM CNN Democratic Primary Debate
Location: Wynn Las Vegas
Sponsors: CNN, Nevada Democratic Party
Moderators: Anderson Cooper, Don Lemon, and Dana Bash
General Survey
Issue Title Candidate's Answers
1. Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right

Strongly Support
2. Stricter punishment reduces crime

Strongly Oppose
3. Marijuana is a gateway drug

Strongly Oppose
4. Higher taxes on the wealthy

Strongly Support
5. Stimulus better than market-led recovery

Strongly Support
6. Vouchers for school choice

Strongly Oppose
7. Make voter registration easier

Strongly Support
8. Prioritize green energy

Strongly Support
9. Avoid foreign entanglements

Strongly Support
10. Expand the military

Strongly Oppose
11. Support & expand free trade

Strongly Oppose
12. Support American Exceptionalism

Strongly Oppose
13. Absolute right to gun ownership

No Opinion
14. Expand ObamaCare

Strongly Support
15. Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens

Support
16. EPA regulations are too restrictive

Strongly Oppose
17. Keep God in the public sphere

Strongly Oppose
18. Legally require hiring more women & minorities

Strongly Support
19. Comfortable with same-sex marriage

Strongly Support
20. Privatize Social Security

Strongly Oppose
Total: 372
Introduced Date Bill Number Bill Title Last Action
05/10/2017 S.1082 United States Employee Ownership Bank Act 05/10/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.  (All Actions)
05/10/2017 S.1081 WORK Act 05/10/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.  (All Actions)
05/09/2017 S.1076 Keep Our Pension Promises Act 05/09/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
04/03/2017 S.806 College for All Act of 2017 04/03/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.  (All Actions)
04/03/2017 S.805 Inclusive Prosperity Act of 2017 04/03/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
03/09/2017 S.586 Corporate Tax Dodging Prevention Act 03/09/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
03/02/2017 S.495 Medical Innovation Prize Fund Act 03/02/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.  (All Actions)
02/28/2017 S.469 Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act 02/28/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.  (All Actions)
02/16/2017 S.427 Social Security Expansion Act 02/16/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
06/09/2016 S.3044 Puerto Rico Humanitarian Relief and Reconstruction Act 06/09/2016 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
12/10/2015 S.2399 Climate Protection and Justice Act of 2015 12/10/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
11/05/2015 S.2242 Save Oak Flat Act 11/05/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.  (All Actions)
11/04/2015 S.2237 Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2015 11/04/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.  (All Actions)
12/10/2015 S.2398 Clean Energy Worker Just Transition Act 12/10/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
12/10/2015 S.2391 American Clean Energy Investment Act of 2015 12/10/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
10/06/2015 S.2142 Workplace Democracy Act 10/06/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.  (All Actions)
09/17/2015 S.2054 Justice is Not For Sale Act of 2015 09/17/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.  (All Actions)
09/10/2015 S.2023 Prescription Drug Affordability Act of 2015 09/10/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.  (All Actions)
08/05/2015 S.1970 Raising Enrollment with a Government Initiated System for Timely Electoral Registration (REGISTER) Act of 2015 08/05/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.  (All Actions)
08/05/2015 S.1969 Democracy Day Act of 2015 08/05/2015 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.  (All Actions)
Total: 5295
Date Bill Number Bill Title Result Vote
06/14/2017 S.591 Military and Veteran Caregiver Services Improvement Act of 2017
06/08/2017 S.Res.184 A resolution relative to the death of James Paul David "Jim" Bunning, former United States Senator for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
06/08/2017 S.363 North Country National Scenic Trail Route Adjustment Act
05/18/2017 S.1182 A bill to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint commemorative coins in recognition of the 100th anniversary of The American Legion.
05/18/2017 S.881 21st Century Glass-Steagall Act of 2017
05/17/2017 S.1162 A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for the refinancing of certain Federal student loans, and for other purposes.
05/17/2017 S.1155 A bill to amend title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 in order to increase the amount of financial support available for working students.
05/17/2017 S.784 Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2017
05/17/2017 S.324 State Veterans Home Adult Day Health Care Improvement Act of 2017
05/11/2017 S.1105 Miners Pension Protection Act
05/04/2017 S.1045 Save Women's Preventive Care Act
05/03/2017 S.Res.153 A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that, during Public Service Recognition Week, public servants should be commended for their dedication and continued service to the United States.
05/02/2017 S.1006 Equality Act
05/02/2017 S.662 NO HATE Act
05/01/2017 S.999 COAST Anti-Drilling Act
05/01/2017 S.991 Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act of 2017
04/27/2017 S.987 100 by '50 Act
04/27/2017 S.985 A bill to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from revising the approved oil and gas leasing program for fiscal years 2017 through 2022.
04/27/2017 S.959 Protection of Social Security Benefits Restoration Act
04/27/2017 S.957 Access to Contraception for Women Servicemembers and Dependents Act of 2017
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