U.S.
Senator John Sununu (R-NH)
Biography
John Sununu first ran for public office in 1996, winning election
in New Hampshire’s First Congressional District and serving three
terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2002, John defeated
both an incumbent Senator and an incumbent Governor to become the
youngest member of the United States Senate.
At the age of 43, John has already distinguished himself as an
innovative legislator, bringing an extensive background in science,
engineering, and small business to his work in Washington. He is
the 61st person to serve New Hampshire as a Senator and occupies
the Senate seat held by such distinguished individuals as Nicholas
Gilman, a signer of the U.S. Constitution, and Styles Bridges, one
of New Hampshire’s longest-serving Senators and Minority Leader
of the Senate in 1952.
During his six years in the House of Representatives, John rose
to become Vice-Chairman of the Budget Committee, taking a leading
role in shaping the nation’s annual budget priorities. He also served
on the House Appropriations Committee and worked to pass legislation
protecting New Hampshire’s Lamprey River, supporting the families
of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, and strengthening
funding for special education.
In the Senate, John’s key assignments include the Finance
Committee, the Commerce
Committee, and the Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. John also serves
on the Joint Economic Committee,
and is the Ranking Member – senior Republican – on the Commerce
Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, Insurance and Automotive Safety;
the Foreign
Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs; and the Homeland
Security Ad Hoc Subcommittee on State, Local, and Private Sector
Preparedness and Integration. He was nominated by President
Bush to serve as one of two Congressional Members in the United
States delegation to the 59th General Assembly of the United Nations.
John Sununu grew up in Salem, New Hampshire and is one of eight
children. He was first introduced to public service at a young age
when his mother served as chairman of the local school board. John
attended public schools, graduated from Salem High School, and received
Bachelors and Masters degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. John has also earned a Masters
degree in Business Administration from the Harvard Graduate School
of Business.
John and his wife Kitty have three children.
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