Summary
Current Position: US Senator since 2020
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2021 US Senator
A senator from Georgia; born in Bloomington, Ill., November 27, 1970; graduated Olympia High School, Stanford, Ill., 1988; B.S., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1992; M.B.A., DePaul University, Chicago, Ill., 1999; finance firm chief executive officer; co-owner of Atlanta Dream professional women’s basketball team; appointed as a Republican to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Johnny Isakson, and took the oath of office on January 6, 2020.
Source: Government page
OnAir Post: Kelly Loeffler
About
Source: Government page
U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler was the fourth generation on her family’s grain farm, where she worked in the fields and showed cattle at the 4-H county fair. Helping out on the farm and in her family’s trucking business, she learned about small business and agriculture markets.
Her blue-collar upbringing in the heart of rural America instilled the values of faith, family and hard work. It also gave her a deep appreciation for all hardworking Americans who support their families to live the American Dream.
Kelly attended public school and waitressed through high school and college. She was the first in her family to graduate from college, and earned her degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Kelly returned to school to pursue an MBA from DePaul University and also earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
For over 25 years, Kelly moved around the country to build her career in financial services, moving to Georgia in 2002 to help build a startup company, Intercontinental Exchange, which later grew to become a Fortune 500 company. In 2010, Kelly acquired an interest in the WNBA Atlanta Dream. Most recently, Kelly was the CEO of a financial technology firm she helped found, and built it from one employee (herself) to 70. Kelly broke barriers in business and sports to become one of Georgia’s most successful businesswomen.
Kelly believes that when you set a goal and work hard, success is always within reach. She is a tenacious advocate for freedom and pro-growth policies that propel our country forward and create economic opportunities for all Americans.
Kelly left the private sector to serve as a United States Senator, working to empower every Georgian to achieve their American Dream. She was sworn in to the U.S. Senate in January 2020 after Georgia Governor Brian Kemp appointed her to fill the seat of U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson. She is a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions, Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, and the Joint Economic Committee.
Experience
Education
Offices
Washington, DC
131 Russell Senate Office
Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3643
Fax: (202) 228-0724
Atlanta
3625 Cumberland Blvd
Suite 970
Atlanta, GA 303391
Phone: (770) 661-0999
Fax: (770) 661-0768
Politics
Source: none
Committees
Committees
Committee on Health Education Labor & Pensions
The committee began in 1869 as the Committee on Education and in 1884 through the mid-1900s it was known as the Education and Labor Committee. In 1999, then Chairman James Jeffords of Vermont, worked to officially name it the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.
Today the Committee is led by Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) and is comprised of 22 Senators; 12 Republicans and 10 Democrats. Under their leadership, the Committee is composed of three subcommittees, which have a broad jurisdiction over our country’s health care, education, employment and retirement policies.
Joint Economic Committee
The Joint Economic Committee (JEC) was created when Congress passed the Employment Act of 1946. Under this Act, Congress established two advisory panels: the President’s Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) and the Joint Economic Committee. Their primary tasks are to review economic conditions and to recommend improvements in economic policy.
Chairmanship of the Committee alternates between the Senate and House every Congress.
Committee on Veterans Affairs
The Veterans’ Affairs committee was created in 1970 to transfer responsibilities for veterans from the Finance and Labor committees to a single panel. From 1947 to 1970, matters relating to veterans compensation and veterans generally were referred to the Committee on Finance, while matters relating to the vocational rehabilitation, education, medical care, civil relief, and civilian readjustment of veterans were referred to the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare.
Congressional legislation affecting veterans changed over the years. For the members of the armed forces and their families in the nation’s early wars — the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War and the Spanish-American War — the response of the federal government had been essentially financial. This was clearly the legislative mission of the Senate Committee on Pensions which was created as one of the Senate’s original standing committees in 1816 and continued until its termination in the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946.
During World War I the nature of the congressional response to veterans’ needs changed towards a more diversified set of programs. A war risk insurance program, which was referred to the Senate Finance Committee, changed the consideration of veterans benefits in the Senate. The Finance Committee was the Senate standing committee most responsible for veterans programs from 1917 to 1946. After World War II, the Finance Committee handled the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, the “GI Bill of Rights,” which extended to servicemen and their families, a number of benefits including unemployment assistance, education, vocational training, housing and business loan guarantees, as well as the traditional medical and pension benefits of previous times. Many experts believe this law was one of the most important elements in the expansion of the middle class following World War II.
The Veterans Affairs Committee had nine members in its initial congress, the 92nd Congress (1971-73). It now has a total of 17 members with Chairman Jerry Moran and Ranking Member Jon Tester in leadership roles during the 116th Congress.
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry
Agriculture was integral to the growth of the American colonies, and held an important place in the economy. In the early 19th century, agriculture was intertwined with other great issues of commerce and trade. The Committee on Commerce and Manufacturers focused on these issues, but eventually became mired in controversy over the issue of tariffs, as business and manufacturing interests were often at odds.
In 1825, the Senate debated dividing the Committee on Commerce and Manufacturers to avoid these conflicts. As this time, Senator William Findlay, a Republican from Pennsylvania, submitted a resolution providing for the creation of a standing Committee on Agriculture.
Senator Findlay pointed out that while commerce and manufacturing were two equal components of the American economy, like a three-legged stool, there was one other important segment being left out. He argued that agriculture was one of “three great branches of domestic industry” along with commerce and manufacturing. All three, he claimed, were equally entitled to the care and protection of the Government. He contended further that agricultural interests were distinct and not always best served when included with those of commerce.
On December 9, 1825, by a vote of 22-14, the Senate approved a resolution creating a standing Committee on Agriculture.
Since its creation, the Committee has helped establish, guide, and examine agricultural policies here and abroad. It has had a hand in fashioning the research and teaching of the 1860’s, the price and income support controls of the 1930’s, and the international trade of the 1990’s. The Committee has been active in times of prosperity and peace, as well as in times of depression and war. Present Committee members face many of the same challenges and concerns as past members: commodity price and income supports, trade, research, food safety, nutrition, and conservation.
Voting Record
See: Vote Smart
Issues
Economy
Enabling businesses – large and small – to flourish is the fastest path to economic prosperity. That’s why I support pro-growth policies that empower job creators, roll back regulations that hinder growth and allow employees to keep more of their hard-earned money. I firmly believe that through a thriving economy we can lift up all Americans. Georgia is the best state for business and I will continue to partner with the people of Georgia to push policies that encourage companies to stay in the U.S. and create new employment opportunities for all.
Education
Education is the foundation to developing a skilled workforce and a competitive economy. It is critical that we equip the next generation with the tools and resources they need to become our nation’s future leaders, whether those talents are harnessed through a 4-year degree, an apprenticeship program, or a trade school. As a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, I am dedicated to ensuring our children are receiving the best education possible.
Health Care
Many hardworking families know firsthand how expensive health care costs are these days. I believe the solution is not a government-run system that would get rid of employer-provided insurance, shutter our hospitals and raise taxes on the middle class.
Instead, we need to implement reforms that will lower health care costs, empower patients with more choice and increase access to quality care. As a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, I am committed to delivering real relief for all Americans.
Immigration
Immigration and Securing the Border
America is a welcoming country based upon the rule of law. For far too long, our immigration system has been broken and our law enforcement officers have been left vulnerable to loopholes that risk our nation’s sovereignty. Tolerating illegal immigration serves only to undermine the law and threatens our national security. I support policies that secure our border, keep our country safe, and defund dangerous sanctuary cities.
Safety
In an era of unprecedented threats, uncertainty, and evolving technology and tactics, ensuring that our armed forces are agile, ready, and lethal is vital to securing our nation’s safety. The Trump administration is working hard to restore America’s leadership on the world stage, and I am a proud ally in this mission. I strongly support a robust national defense that provides our warfighters with the tools, technology, and training necessary to protect our nation against enemies.
Veterans
America owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to the brave men and women who have served in our armed forces. Our veterans selflessly risked their lives in defense of our freedoms and way of life, and it is our duty to ensure our heroes have the tools to transition back to civilian life, receive the benefits they rightfully earned, and have easy access to quality care. With over 700,000 veterans in the state of Georgia, I’m fighting for those who fought for us. Through my work on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I will work hard to support the very people who have made America what it is today.
Agriculture
Our farmers, ranchers and producers feed and fuel America. In Georgia, agribusiness is our state’s leading industry, contributing over $75 billion in economic impact each year while accounting for hundreds of thousands of jobs in the labor force. As a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, one of my top priorities is looking out for our farming communities.
Budget and Debt
$23 trillion – and growing. That’s how much debt we owe. Our pattern of reckless federal spending is not only irresponsible and unsustainable, it is dangerous. I come from the business world, where if you continued to pile up debt and refused to pay it down, your business would go under. We must be good stewards of taxpayer dollars and restore fiscal responsibility to our budget process or we risk putting decades worth of debt on future generations.
