Representative Bernie Sanders Thursday April 15, 2004 8:00 pm, Ramo Auditorium, Caltech This event is free and open to the public; no tickets or reservations are required.

In 1991 Bernie Sanders was sworn in as Vermont's at-large member in the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first Independent elected to Congress in 40 years. He has since been re-elected five times and is now the longest-serving Independent in the history of the House of Representatives.

In a Congress heavily influenced by corporate and political interests, he has innovated and supported policies often at odds with these interests. He made headlines when he led Vermonters on a campaign across Canada to buy cheaper prescription drugs, helping launch the debate on health care reform. He was one of only 66 Members in the House to vote against the USA Patriot Act in the wake of 9/11, and continues today to fight against the erosion of civil liberties. As founder of the House Progressive Caucus, Sanders has built a reputation for being a strong voice for the poor and middle classes.

Biography

On January 3, 1991, Bernard Sanders came to Congress as Vermont's only Representative in the House and the first Independent elected to Congress in 40 years. Sanders was sworn in for his fifth term in office in January, 1999.

Sanders focused his efforts during the 104th Congress on the work of the House Progressive Caucus, which he founded and chairs.

Since its establishment in 1991, Progressive Caucus has grown from 5 Members to 58 Members. This body is organized around principles social economic justice, a non-discriminating society, national priorities which represent interests of all people, not just wealthy and the powerful.

The purpose of the Progressive Caucus is to present thoughtful, practical solutions to the economic and social problems facing America. Its agenda includes job creation, increasing the minimum wage, eliminating corporate welfare, single payer health care reform, environmental reform, and women's rights.

In 105th Congress, Sanders focused on articulating the views of the caucus as the main voice of opposition to the GOP "Contract with America". The Progressive Caucus offered an 11-point counter-proposal to the "Contract with America", called the "Progressive Promise: Fairness."

Before coming to Congress, Sanders served as Mayor of Burlington, Vermont's largest city, for four successive terms (1981-1989). His accomplishments as mayor included building affordable housing, revitalizing the city's waterfront and downtown, initiating arts, youth and women's programs and increasing voter turnout by more than 50 percent. Burlington was recognized as one of the three most livable cities in America, and Sanders was chosen as one of the 20 best Mayors in the country by U.S. News and World Report.

For more information on Rep. Sanders, go to his website: http://bernie.house.gov/.