Robert Byrd

Biography
In every corner of West Virginia, the people of the Mountain State know that there is one man on whom they can always depend: U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd. He never has forgotten the hard life that he had as a boy growing up in the poverty of the Southern West Virginia coalfields. He has always remained true to his faith and his family, while working to build a better future for his state and his country. In the Senate, Robert Byrd works for the people. Better jobs and more jobs. Health care that is affordable and accessible. A good future for our children and grandchildren. Each day in the Senate, Robert Byrd is focused on building a brighter future for the Mountain State.

Throughout West Virginia, thousands of new jobs have been created because of Senator Byrd's initiatives. New industries have taken root -- biometrics; aerospace research; advanced manufacturing; computer research; and defense innovations. And traditional industries -- coal and energy, chemicals, and steel -- continue to serve as the economic backbone of local communities. Byrd's efforts don't stop with new industry and economic opportunity. He's worked hard to expand access to health care for tens of thousands of West Virginians. The Health Sciences Center and the Jon Michael Moore Trauma Center, at West Virginia University, the Center for Rural Health at Marshall University, and at the West Virginia School for Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg are utilizing innovation to bring doctors and nurses closer to all West Virginians. And specialized facilities, created in the Mountain State through Byrd's Senate work, ensure that West Virginians do not have to drive out of state for quality care.

Byrd's work is shaped by the West Virginia values that he learned from his parents, Titus and Vlurma Byrd. The couple never had much in terms of material wealth, often scraping by thanks to odd jobs and boarders. But they instilled in him a work ethic that has served him well as a butcher, as the proprietor of a gorcery store, as a member of the West Virginia State Legislature, and member of the United States Senate. In the halls of Congress, Robert C. Byrd is well known for his fierce defense of the Constitution and the institution of the Senate. The Almanac of American Politics has said that Byrd "may come closer to the kind of senator the Founding Fathers had in mind than any other." Senators from both parties have paid tribute to Byrd's devotion to the Constitution. He endeavors to make sure that the wisdom of the Constitution's Framers is not forgotten and that the people's liberties are protected.

In the history of the Republic, Byrd has served longer than all but one Member of Congress. On June 12, 2006, Byrd became the longest serving U.S. Senator in the history of the Republic and, in November 2006, he was elected to an unprecedented ninth full term in the Senate. During his tenure, his colleagues have elected him to more leadership positions than any other Senator in history. Currently, Byrd is the President pro tempore, or the second highest ranking official in the United States Senate and the highest ranking senator in the majority party. He serves as the senior member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, and is the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security. Byrd also serves on the Senate Budget, Armed Services, and Rules and Administration Committees.

Animal Rights
It is because of his love for animals that he find's it alarming to learn that inhumane treatment of pets, and livestock, is still widespread and becoming more barbaric. One need only follow recent news reports to uncover examples of persistent and remorseless animal cruelty. In recent years we have seen high profile cases of dog fighting, examples of inhumane slaughter techniques, and sickening stories of individuals who abuse pets. Such incidents can only lead to more deviant behavior.

Budget
The Senate Budget Committee, of which he is a member, each year reviews the budget submitted by the President of the United States and establishes the parameters for federal spending for the coming fiscal year. The Senate Budget Committee also examines the close relationship between the nation's fiscal policy and economic strength.

Education
For many West Virginians, and certainly for me, education has been the key to opening doors to opportunity throughout life. While a formal education may start at pre-school and end with a college degree for most, learning never ends. For me, my education may have started in a small two-room schoolhouse, but it continues to this day. In the hills of West Virginia. In the halls of Congress. In quiet mediation. At each turn, I am always striving to learn. For I believe that, both for me personally and for our state, education is the passport to progress.

Energy Policy/Coal
He has long argued that the United States is too dependent on foreign oil. He has advocated for a long-term and sustainable energy strategy that will result in the production of more domestic energy -- including both renewable and fossil fuels, and especially coal.

Health Care
He is deeply committed to ensuring the availability of needed health care for all our citizens, and have helped to provide health care facilities and services throughout our state. Congress is currently working on a plan to make good health care affordable for more Americans, while keeping the size of our deficits down. Five Congressional Committees have reported health care legislation and the negotiating between the White House and the Congressional Leadership has just begun. Because health care spending accounts for one-sixth of the U.S. economy the ramifications of reform are enormous. Health care reform is certainly a job in need of doing, but the question is, can we get it right?

Homeland Security
In his capacity as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, he is responsible for overseeing the funding for America’s most critical and pressing security needs. The annual funding measure that the Homeland Security Subcommittee considers seeks to invest the necessary resources needed to protect our citizens from deadly terrorist attacks, to secure our borders, enforce U.S. immigration laws, and ensure that we have a rapid and effective federal response to both our natural and man-made disasters.

Iraq/Afghanistan
From the very beginning, he opposed President Bush's ill-conceived war in Iraq. Prior to the invasion, he addressed the Senate and the American people on many occasions, warning of the potentially disastrous consequences of rushing to war.

Mine Safety
He has long believed that improving the health and safety conditions for our coal miners is the best way to honor those who have perished in the coal fields. Unfortunately, over the years, the previous Administration starved the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, and political appointees diverted resources away from key programs that are responsible for ensuring the health and safety of our coal miners. That is now changing.

Social Security
West Virginians know, better than most, the absolute necessity of Social Security. It oftentimes is the difference between living with dignity and living in poverty. One in four West Virginians -- more than 400,000 retirees, disabled workers, widows and widowers, spouses and children -- receives a monthly benefit check. The arrival of their benefit check is essential, and for more than 70 years it's been guaranteed regardless of hard economic times.

Veterans
Throughout our nation's history, West Virginia's brave sons and daughters have left their homes prepared to fight and perhaps to die in foreign lands. These men and women came from big cities and small towns, from college campuses, factories, farms, and mines. They fought so that our nation would remain free. They fought so that their children and ours could grow to be doctors, farmers, school teachers, and musicians. They answered the call of their country, and they did not fail it.