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SEVENTH DISTRICT

REPRESENTATIVE EDWARD J. MARKEY Party: Democratic Current Office: United States House of Representatives Running For: CONGRESS SEVENTH DISTRICT City: Malden Home State: Massachusetts Incumbent: Yes Read about REPRESENTATIVE EDWARD J. MARKEY

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REPRESENTATIVE EDWARD J. MARKEY:

"I am honored to represent the people of the 7th Congressional district of Massachusetts in the United States House of Representatives. Throughout my career I have seen my job as an opportunity to fight the fights that the people I serve would fight if they could be there themselves."

In more than twenty years representing Massachusetts' 7th District, Ed Markey has influenced federal policy in the areas of telecommunications, energy, consumer protection, and the environment.

Markey was born on July 11, 1946 in Malden, MA. He earned a B.A. from Boston College in 1968, and a J.D. from the same school four years later. Markey served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1968-73. His political career began in 1972, when he took a seat in the Massachusetts State Legislature. After four years, he made the leap to Congress.

A member of the House Commerce Committee, Markey has influenced a number of facets of communications policy. Among his contributions to the Telecommunications Act of 1996 were provisions designed to open up competition in that industry. Markey's Children's Television Act of 1990 mandated that broadcasters provide 20-30 hours of educational programming weekly. Markey also authored "E-Rate" legislation, which provides telephone rate discounts for schools and libraries to connect to the Internet.

Markey has also worked to protect both consumer interests and the environment. He helped gain passage of the Superfund Act. He wrote a provision in the Clean Air Act that rewarded utilities for becoming more energy efficient and reducing pollution. He authored the On-Line Child Privacy Act of 1996, which regulates online marketing aimed at children. And he pushed for reforms in the stock market that help protect investors from fraud.

Markey supports a number of environmental initiatives, including strengthening the Clean Water Act, encouraging the development of alternative fuels, and requiring strengthened emissions controls on gasoline and diesel engines. He favors the implementation of a national, single payer health care system. And he is working to protect Internet privacy through an "Electronic Privacy Bill of Rights."

Sources: www.house.gov/markey; vote-smart.org

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