John Cornyn was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002. In a short period of time, he earned a national reputation as a forceful and articulate voice for Texas values. He was selected by his colleagues in December 2006 to be a member of the five-person Republican Senate leadership team – Vice Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference – the only first-term Senator in recent memory to be so honored.
Sen. Cornyn continues to take a leading role on many important issues in the Senate. He is committed to bolstering our national defense and keeping America safe from terrorism, reducing spending, securing our borders, making health care more accessible, continuing to strengthen the economy and expand job opportunities, improving educational opportunity for all Texans, and protecting the most vulnerable in our society.
Sen. Cornyn serves on the Armed Services, Judiciary and Budget Committees. In addition, he is Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics. He serves as the top Republican on both the Judiciary Committee’s Immigration, Refugees and Border Security subcommittee and the Armed Services Committee’s Airland subcommittee. For a full listing of Senator Cornyn's committee assignments, and links to the committee websites, click here.
Sen. Cornyn has distinguished himself as a prominent supporter of President Bush’s judicial nominees; he continues to work tirelessly on behalf of Texas military personnel, veterans and their families; he has played a leading role in securing our nation’s borders, while working to bring about broader reforms of our broken immigration system; and he stands as a dedicated defender of free markets, traditional values and individual liberty.
In addition to his legislative committees, Sen. Cornyn is the chairman of the Senate India Caucus, chairman of the Senate RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) Caucus, Vice Chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, and Vice Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference Task Force on Hispanic Affairs. He is also a member of the Senate Republican High Tech Task Force, the Congressional Oversight Group on Trade and the President’s Export Council.
While in the Senate, John Cornyn has received various awards and recognitions, including the 2005 Border Texan of the Year Award; the National Child Support Enforcement Association’s Children’s Champion Award; the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Friend of Farm Bureau Award; the Texas Association of Business’s (TAB) Fighter for Free Enterprise Award; the National Federation of Independent Business’s (NFIB) Guardian of Small Business Award; the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leader’s (CONLAMIC) Latino Leadership Award; and the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce’s (TAMACC) International Leadership Legislative Award; among others.
As Texas Attorney General from 1999-2002, John Cornyn directed many initiatives vital to the interests of Texas families. Cornyn served for six years as a District Court Judge in San Antonio before being elected to the Texas Supreme Court in 1990, where he served for seven years.
John Cornyn was born in Houston on February 2, 1952 and was raised in San Antonio. He is the son of John and Gale Cornyn, both native Texans. His father, a B-17 pilot in World War II, served for 31 years in the U.S. Air Force and, later, taught at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. A graduate of Trinity University and St. Mary’s School of Law, both in San Antonio, John Cornyn also earned a Masters of Law from the University of Virginia Law School in 1995. He was named the St. Mary’s Distinguished Law School Graduate in 1994 and a Trinity University Distinguished Alumnus in 2001.
Sen. Cornyn is married to Sandy, his wife of 27 years. They have two daughters.
