About Pete
A lifelong resident of Northwest Indiana, Pete Visclosky represents
Indiana's First Congressional District, which includes Lake, Porter,
Jasper, Newton and Benton Counties. Throughout his time in office, Pete has fought
for good-paying American jobs, worked to strengthen our nation’s pension
and retirement security systems, and advanced efforts to reduce our nation’s
dependence on foreign oil. A steadfast supporter of steel and manufacturing
jobs in Northwest Indiana, Pete has also worked to create new economic
opportunities for everyone throughout the region.
A member of the powerful Appropriations Committee, Visclosky serves
as the Chairman of the Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittee. He also serves
on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and is the chairman of the Congressional
Steel Caucus.
Addressing America’s Energy Crisis
Through his position as Chairman of the Energy & Water Appropriations
Subcommittee,
Pete has worked in a bi-partisan fashion to boost research and development
funding for alternative energy sources and new conservation initiatives. Working
with Senator Richard Lugar, Pete was also able to secure $9.5 million for the
construction of a bio-mass ethanol plant in Indiana’s First Congressional
District.
Protecting American Jobs & Retirement Security
Pete has been a leader in Congress to strengthen our nation’s pension system,
and has fought against the misguided practice outsourcing good-paying American
jobs to foreign countries. Pete’s work on these important issues
comes from growing up in Northwest Indiana, where people worked hard all of their
lives for the promise of a pension. Now, too many good-paying jobs
are being shipped overseas, and too many people have lost the pensions
they have earned, and Pete will keep fighting for these common-sense
policies.
Building a New Economy in Northwest Indiana
In addition to supporting steel and manufacturing jobs in Northwest
Indiana, Pete has been a leading advocate for major economic development
projects throughout the area, including the Purdue Technology Center
of Northwest Indiana and the Marquette Plan, Pete’s strategy to invest in Lake Michigan’s shoreline. Additionally,
Visclosky has supported local infrastructure projects that will help
build a new economy in Northwest Indiana, such as the South Shore
Rail Line and the Gary/Chicago Airport.
Pete was born in Gary and graduated from Andrean High School in Merrillville,
He earned a B.S. degree in Accounting from Indiana University Northwest,
a J.D. from the University of Notre Dame in 1973, and a Masters degree
in International and Comparative Law from Georgetown University. Pete is married to Joanne Royce, and has two sons, John and Timothy.