Al Green (Texas)

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Al Green
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 9th district
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 3, 2005
Preceded by	Nick Lampson
Born	September 1, 1947 (1947-09-01) (age 62) New Orleans, Louisiana
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	single
Residence	Alief, Houston, Texas
Alma mater	Florida A&M University, Tuskegee University, Texas Southern University
Occupation	attorney
Religion	Baptist

Alexander N. "Al" Green (September 1, 1947) is the U.S. Representative from Texas' 9th congressional district (map).

[edit] Early life and career

Green was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He attended FAMU and transferred to Tuskegee University, from which he earned a bachelor's degree. He later went on to receive his Juris Doctor in 1974 from Texas Southern University. Green was later elected as Justice of the Peace in Harris County, Texas in the Precinct 7, Place Two position prior to running for the U.S. Congress. He held this Justice of Peace position for 26 years.

Green is a former trial lawyer. After college, he co-founded the firm of Green, Wilson, Dewberry, and Fitch. He also served as president of the Houston NAACP, and during his term as the organization's leader, membership increased sevenfold. While serving as NAACP leader, he focused on increasing minority hiring in Texas and formed alliances with Hispanic groups.

Green defeated Congressman Chris Bell, a perceived rising star in the party, in the 2004 Democratic primary. Redistricting, which threw many white urban Democrats from Bell's district in with a Republican-dominated suburban precinct and combined Bell's district with a majority black area, later triggered ethics complaint against House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

Green is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African Americans.^[1]

[edit] Political career

Green won the Democratic primary for District 9 in Houston on March 9, 2004, a district that is largely Democratic with 37 percent of its population African American and 31 percent Hispanic. He was later victorious over Republican Arlette Molina.

While in Congress, Green has focused on issues similar to those that he worked for while with the NAACP. Fair housing and hiring practices for the poor and minorities are some of his greatest concerns.

[edit] Committee assignments

• Committee on Financial Services
  • Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit
  • Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity
  • Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology
• Committee on Homeland Security
  • Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism
  • Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment
  • Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and Oversight

[edit] Caucuses

• Congressional Black Caucus
• Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus

[edit] External links

• U.S. Congressman Al Green official House site
• Al Green (Texas) at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Federal Election Commission — Alexander Green campaign finance reports and data
• On the Issues — Al Green issue positions and quotes
• OpenSecrets.org — Al Green campaign contributions
• Project Vote Smart — Representative Al Green (TX) profile
• Washington Post — Congress Votes Database: Al Green voting record

[edit] References