Born in Honolulu, HI on August 4, 1961; attended from Occidental College; graduated with BA from Columbia University, 1983;  earned JD from Harvard Law School, 1991; attorney; lecturer; Senator, Illinois State Senate, 1996-2004; keynote speaker, 2004 Democratic National Convention; elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate (November 2, 2004-present).

Born in Honolulu, HI on August 4, 1961; attended from Occidental College; graduated with BA from Columbia University, 1983;  earned JD from Harvard Law School, 1991; attorney; lecturer; Senator, Illinois State Senate, 1996-2004; keynote speaker, 2004 (more)

Key NMA Votes in the 110th Congress
Description	Preferred Position	This official's vote compared with the preferred position
Energy Policy/Coal-to-Liquid: Vote on Bunning (R-Ky.) amendment to the “CLEAN Energy Act of 2007” (H.R. 6) to provide standards for clean coal-derived fuels. Vote Results: Rejected 39 Yes, 55 No, 5 Not Voting. June 19, 2007, Senate Roll Call Vote 213. NMA position: Yes.	Y
Card Check: Cloture vote on motion to proceed to consideration of the “Employee Free Choice Act” (H.R. 800). The bill would eliminate federally-supervised secret ballot elections and force employees to use only the inefficient, and potentially coercive, card check system. Vote Results: Motion rejected 51 Yes, 48 No, 1 Not Voting. June 26, 2007, Senate Roll Call Vote 227. Note: Three-fifths of the total Senate (60) is required to invoke cloture. NMA position: No.	N
On H.R.1495: The Water Resources Development Act included significant investments in upgrading the nation’s inland waterways infrastructure – including maintenance and new construction of locks and dams that facilitate the transportation to market of coal, metals and minerals. Vote Results: Agreed to 81 Yes, 12 No, 7 Not Voting. September 24, 2007, Senate Roll Call Vote 357. NMA position: Yes.	Y	-
On S.3036: Motion to invoke cloture on the Boxer-Lieberman-Warner cap-and-trade climate change amendment. The amendment would place mandatory limits on carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fueled power plants and other sources with the goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 70 percent by the year 2050 without recognizing the importance of coal fueled power to the national economy or adequate investments in clean coal technologies including carbon capture and storage. Vote Results: Motion Rejected 48 Yes, 36 No, 16 Not Voting. June 6, 2008, Senate Roll Call Vote 145. NMA position: No.	N	-
On H.R.3221: The Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 (H.R. 3221), allowed mining companies with accumulated Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) or Research and Development (R&D) credits to monetize those credits in lieu of electing bonus deprecation. According to the most recent data, the mining industry has collectively accumulated more than $2.5 billion in eligible AMT credits. Vote Results: Motion Agreed to 72 Yes, 13 No, 15 Not Voting. July 26, 2008, Senate Roll Call Vote 186. NMA position: Yes.	Y	-
On H.R.1424: The Energy Improvement and Extension Act, part of H.R. 1424, included $2.8 billion over 10 years in tax incentives for the development of clean coal technologies, coal gasification, liquid transportation fuels derived from coal and advanced mine safety improvements. Vote Results: Bill Passed 74 Yes, 25 No, 1 Not Voting. October 1, 2008, Senate Roll Call Vote 213. NMA position: Yes.	Y
This official's percentage on this voting record:		33%

Key NMA Votes in the 109th Congress
Description	Preferred Position	This official's vote compared with the preferred position
Renewable Portfolio Standard: Vote on a Bingaman (D-N.M.) amendment to mandate that at least 10 percent of the electricity sold by electric utilities by 2020 must be produced from renewable energy sources, beginning with a minimum annual percentage of 2.5 percent for calendar years 2008 through 2011. Vote Results: Adopted 52 Yes, 48 No. June 16, 2005. Senate Roll Call Vote 141	N
Climate Change: Vote on a Hagel (R-Neb.) amendment to direct the Energy Secretary to lead an interagency process to implement a national climate change strategy and authorize such sums as necessary for projects using technologies that reduce greenhouse gases. It would establish an interagency working to promote exports of greenhouse gas reducing technology to developing countries and allow U.S. companies that invest in such technologies overseas to deduct their investment costs. Vote Results: Adopted 66 Yes, 29 No, 5 Not Voting. June 21, 2005, Senate Roll Call Vote 144.	Y
Climate Change: Vote on a McCain (R-Ariz.)-Lieberman (D-Conn.) amendment that would cap greenhouse gas emissions at 2000 levels by 2010. It would also provide for the trading of emission allowances and reductions through a government-provided greenhouse gas database that would contain an inventory of emissions and a registry of reductions. Vote Results: Rejected 38 Yes, 60 No, 2 Not Voting. June 22, 2005. Senate Roll Call Vote 148.	N
Climate Change: Vote on an Inhofe (R-Okla.) motion to table (kill) the Bingaman amendment to express the Sense of the Senate that Congress should enact a national program of mandatory, market-based limits and incentives on greenhouse gas emissions that slow, stop, and reverse their growth at a rate that would not harm the economy, and would encourage comparable action by other nations. Vote Results: Rejected 44 Yes, 53 No, 3 Not Voting. June 22, 2005, Senate Roll Call Vote 149.	Y
Climate Change: Vote on Kerry (D-Mass.) Sense of the Senate Amendment to H.R.6, the Energy Policy bill, that the U.S. should act to reduce the health, environmental and economic risks posed by global climate change and foster sustained economic growth through new technologies by engaging in international negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change. Vote Results: Rejected 46 yes, 49 no, 5 Not Voting. June 22, 2005, Senate Roll Call Vote 151.	N
Energy Policy: Vote on passage of the Energy Policy bill (H.R. 6). H.R. 6 includes research and development incentives for clean coal technologies, economic incentives for power generators to install pollution control equipment, and research on precious metals as catalysts. NMA supported H.R. 6 because it would help energy producers and consumers to be more competitive by assuring an affordable mix of diverse energy sources. Vote Results: Adopted 85 Yes, 12 No, 3 Not Voting. June 28, 2005, Senate Roll Call Vote 158.	Y
Energy Policy: Vote on adoption of the conference report on the Energy Policy bill (H.R. 6). H.R. 6 includes research and development incentives for clean coal technologies, economic incentives for power generators to install pollution control equipment, and research on precious metals as catalysts. NMA supported H.R. 6 because it would help energy producers and consumers to be more competitive by assuring an affordable mix of diverse energy sources. Vote Results: Adopted 74 Yes, 26 No. July 29, 2005, Senate Roll Call Vote 213.	Y
Mercury Emissions Rule: Vote on passage of a joint resolution that would provide for congressional disapproval of an EPA rule that removes coal and oil-fired electric generating units from the list of major sources of hazardous air pollutants as defined by the Clean Air Act. Vote Results: Rejected 47 Yes, 51 No, 2 Not Voting. September 13, 2005, Senate Roll Call Vote 225.	N
This official's percentage on this voting record:		25%

Symbol Key:
	Voted with the preferred position		Voted against the preferred position
Y	Voted YES	N	Voted NO
-	Did Not Vote	A	Absent
T	Paired Vote	Z	Presiding
P	Voted PRESENT