Kerry and Edwards: A New Team for a New America; Fact Sheet on John Edwards

7/6/2004

From: Stephanie Cutter of John Kerry for President, 202-464-2800

PITTSBURGH, Penn., July 6 -- The following is a fact sheet on John Edwards, released today by John Kerry for President:

John Edwards

John Edwards was born in Seneca, South Carolina and raised in Robbins, North Carolina. There John learned the values of hard work and perseverance from his father, Wallace, who worked in the textile mills for 36 years, and from his mother, Bobbie, who ran a shop and worked at the post office. Working alongside his father at the mill, John developed his strong belief that all Americans deserve an equal opportunity to succeed and be heard.

A proud product of public schools, John became the first person in his family to attend college. He worked his way through North Carolina State University where he graduated with high honors in 1974, and then earned a law degree with honors in 1977 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

For the next 20 years, John dedicated his career to representing families and children hurt by the indifference and negligence of others. Standing up against the powerful insurance industry and their armies of lawyers, John helped these families through the darkest moments of their lives to overcome tremendous challenges. His passionate advocacy for people like the ones who worked in the mill with his father earned him respect and recognition across the country.

In 1998, John took this commitment into politics to give a voice in the United States Senate to the people he had represented throughout his career. He ran for the Senate and won, defeating an incumbent Senator.

In Congress, John is championing the issues that matter to American families. He is working to provide Americans with quality health care and he co-authored the Patients' Bill of Rights and helped pass it in the Senate. He fought for middle- class tax cuts to help families save and get ahead. And he worked to improve our schools, fund No Child Left Behind, improve teacher pay, and expand after-school programs.

John Edwards is working every day to protect our civil liberties and our rights: standing up to radical judicial appointees like Judge Pickering. He is standing up to the big polluters to preserve our environment and keep our air and our water clean. And he has called for fiscal discipline to cut the deficit in half to save Social Security and Medicare, and offered real reforms to change the way campaigns are financed.

As a member of the Select Committee on Intelligence, John Edwards has worked tirelessly for a strong national defense and to strengthen the security of our homeland. In the wake of September 11th, he served as a member of the joint House and Senate panel investigating the terrorist attacks.

John Edwards has been a leader in fighting bioterrorism, and he's taken on powerful special interests to safeguard our nuclear power plants and chemical plants. He was one of the first to call for fundamental reforms in the way our intelligence agencies are organized to catch terrorists here at home and around the world. And he was one of the first to travel to Afghanistan to visit our troops after they defeated the Taliban.

John Edwards represents the world's largest army installation complex as well as the headquarters of the Marine Antiterrorism Task Force. He has been active in strengthening our military and improving the lives of our men and women in uniform and their families. He has proposed to extend tax exemptions for military personnel in combat zones and provide National Guard families with financial help paying for child care in their home town

John Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, whom he met when both were law students at Chapel Hill, were married in 1977. They have had four children, including: their eldest daughter, Catharine, a recent graduate of Princeton University; six-year-old Emma Claire, and a four-year-old son, Jack. Their first child, Wade, died in 1996.

John Edwards and Elizabeth opened the Wade Edwards Learning Lab in Raleigh, North Carolina. The learning lab offers students after-school access to computers and tutoring in technology. The Edwards also established an education foundation in memory of their son that offers college scholarships to students.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Terrorism and National Security

Edwards Key Anti-Terrorism Legislation That Became Law. As a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, John Edwards has been an active leader on important issues related to U.S. national security, with particular focus on homeland security, intelligence reform, military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, and U.S.-European relations. The Durham Herald Sun noted: "List just a few of the nation's security and safety problems tackled on Capitol Hill since the Sept. 11 attacks, and Edwards and his pen are probably not far from them." (Herald Sun, 11/26/01)

The Biological and Chemical Weapons Preparedness Act. The bill, introduced by John Edwards with Chuck Hagel (R-NE), establishes a coordinated national plan for responding to biological and chemical weapons attacks and directs states to develop plans for dealing with such attacks. Major provisions of this bill were passed by the Senate in the Bioterrorism Preparedness Act. (S. 1486)

The Airport and Seaport Terrorism Prevention Act. This legislation specified the use of new identification technologies to screen airport employees. Parts of Edwards' proposal were passed by the Senate and signed into law by the President.

The Cyberterrorism Preparedness Act and the Cybersecurity Research and Education Act: These bills seek to strengthen our nation's preparedness and ability to ward off a cyber attack by terrorists. Parts of Edwards' cyberterrorism bill were passed by the Senate and signed into law as President.

The Name Matching for Enforcement and Security Act: Edwards introduced legislation to improve the weak capacity of anti- terrorist watch-lists and databases to match variants of foreign names. This legislation was incorporated into the Border Security Act of 2002.

Part of Working Group of Senators To Focus on Terrorism. Through his work on the Intelligence and Judiciary committees, John Edwards played a key role in the legislative effort to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks against the United States. In the summer of 2001, John Edwards joined a working group of senators (from the Intelligence, Judiciary, Armed Services committees) who focused on the growing terrorist threat and considered possible legislative responses. Many of the issues first discussed at these working group sessions - such as the mandatory sharing of intelligence information between CIA, FBI and other intelligence agencies, and the training of federal state and local law enforcement officers to recognize and communicate critical intelligence information - were later implemented in legislation passed after September 11, 2001.

Met Extensively with Leaders Around the Globe. As a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Edwards has traveled throughout the Middle East, South Asia, the Persian Gulf, Central Asia, and Europe. During these official trips, he met with foreign leaders and diplomats, senior U.S. military commanders, U.S. intelligence officials, and prominent regional policy experts. Through these Intelligence Committee travels, Edwards developed first-hand knowledge of important diplomatic challenges, ongoing U.S. military operations, U.S. intelligence activities, and relations with key allies and international organizations like NATO.

Middle East: Met with: Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Former Israel Prime Minister and then Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, Head of Mossad Ephraim Halevy, Egypt Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher, King of Jordan Abdullah

Asia: Met with: Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, Turkey Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Sultan of Oman His Majesty Qaboos Bin Said, Uzbekistan President Islom Karimov, Tajikistan President Imomali Rakhmonov, Secretary General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.

Europe: Met with: British Prime Minister Tony Blair, UK Defense Minister Geoff Hoon, Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Jonathan Powell, UK National Security Adviser David Manning, Head of UK British Security Service (MI-5) Eliza Manningham-Buller, NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson, EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, NATO Supreme Allied Commander, General Joe Ralston, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, NATO Deputy Military Commander General Baptiste.

Member of Joint Committee Investigating September 11th Attacks, Focused in On Intelligence Failures. Edwards also served as a member of the joint House/Senate panel investigating the September 11th attacks. During this inquiry, he developed a particular expertise on the shortcomings of the FBI's intelligence-gathering efforts. He consulted and developed relationships with a broad range of experts specializing in intelligence, national security policy, law enforcement and civil liberties, as well as receiving detailed private briefings from the FBI Director and the Director of the British Security Service (or MI5) in London. John Edwards was also a lead questioner at a public hearing (September 24, 2002) on issues relating to the failures of the FBI to prevent the attacks. During the final considerations of the panel's recommendations, John Edwards offered an amendment -- which was agreed to - urging the Congress to consider establishing a new agency to be responsible for this mission.

Working to Improve Our Military. As a Senator from North Carolina, Edwards represents Fort Bragg, the world's largest Army installation complex as well as the headquarters of the Marine Corps Antiterrorism Task Force. Edwards has been active in the effort to improve the quality of life for all who serve in the military.

Offered Bill to Offer Tax Help for Military in Hostile Areas, Help for Military Families. After a 1999 visit to Fort Bragg, he introduced legislation (S. 1424, 106th) to extend tax exemptions for military personnel in combat zones to members of the armed forces serving in other hostile areas designated by the Defense Department. The legislation grew out of meetings with the spouses of military service members deployed in Operation Allied Force, who asked why federal tax laws treated pay for duty in the Balkans combat zone differently than pay for other hazardous missions. John Edwards has continued his efforts to help military families as they deal with the stress of extended deployments and the ongoing War on Terror. He introduced legislation (S. 864, 108th) to give National Guard families financial help for child care in their hometown.

Edwards Played Leading Role in Post Conflict Planning Legislation. John Edwards has also played a leading role in improving America's ability to ensure that "post-conflict" states like Afghanistan and Iraq can address security challenges, humanitarian needs, and political development. In 2003, John Edwards introduced the bipartisan "Winning the Peace Act," that outlined major reforms to enhance the U.S. government's capacity to conduct post-conflict reconstruction. This legislation was based upon John Edwards's work as a Commissioner on the "Commission on Post-Conflict Reconstruction," a high-level panel of military, civilian, diplomatic and political experts convened in 2002 by the Association of the U.S. Army and the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Fighting For Affordable Quality Health Care

John Edwards has been a leader in the Senate on health care issues, from the Patients' Bill of Rights to prescription drugs, Edwards has been fighting for affordable, quality health care.

Edwards Led Successful Fight to Get Patients' Bill of Rights Passed in the Senate. A cornerstone of Edwards' campaign for the Senate was his support for legislation that would guarantee that people in HMOs and other insurance plans get the health care they pay for. Edwards followed up on his campaign promise with the Bipartisan Patient Protection Act, co-sponsored by Edwards and Senators McCain and Kennedy, which passed the Senate.

Edwards Passed Bill to Lower Prescription Drug Costs. In 2002, Edwards co-authored legislation that would have lowered costs of prescription drugs. In 2002, the Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation co-authored by John Edwards that would reduce prescription drug prices. The legislation would have closed loopholes in drug patent laws that brand-name pharmaceutical companies have used to keep lower-cost generic drugs off the market. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that by lowering hurdles for generic drugs to reach the market, the legislation would save American consumers more than $60 billion on prescription medicine over the next decade.

Expanded Funding For Research Into Causes of Mental Retardation. In 2000, Congress passed the Children's Health Act of 2000, which included major provisions of the Fragile X Research Breakthrough Act introduced by John Edwards. Fragile X is a genetic defect that causes an underproduction of a protein critical for mental development. It is the most common inherited cause of mental retardation. Edwards' legislation directs an expansion of research on Fragile X, and also authorizes the development of coordinated research centers to study the syndrome that causes mental retardation. The Senate also adopted a resolution authored by Edwards designating July 22 as National Fragile X Awareness Day.

Improve Health Care and Availability For Our Nation's Military and Veterans. In 1999, the Senate approved legislation cosponsored by John Edwards to improve Tricare, the health care program for 6.6 million military service members, their families, and retirees. The Military Health Care Improvement Amendment made it easier for individuals to make doctor appointments; improve both the rate and speed of reimbursements for physicians, pharmacists and other health care providers; ensure that health care benefits stay in place when service members and transferred to another base, and guarantee that military health insurance is comparable to coverage available to other federal workers.

Improve Health Care For Survivors of Sexual or Domestic Violence. In 2002, Edwards introduced two bills to improve care for women who are survivors of sexual or domestic violence. Cosponsored by Senator Patty Murray of Washington, the Women in Trauma Act would focus new federal efforts on improving mental health and substance abuse services for women affected by trauma. The companion legislation would provide funding for mental health and substance abuse counselors at battered women's shelters and other community-based service providers who serve victims of domestic and sexual violence.

Working for a Stronger Economy

John Edwards has supported common-sense efforts to jump-start the economy, to help out states with budget problems and to provide tax relief to Americans who need it.

Targeting Tax Cuts to Working Families. John Edwards voted against both of President Bush's tax cuts, which overwhelmingly benefited the wealthy, while forcing the budget into deficit and leaving working families with too little. During debate on the Bush tax cut, Edwards worked to provide more benefits to middle and lower-income families, by voting to expand the 15 percent tax bracket while decreasing the amount of tax cuts for the top bracket, and voting to make the HOPE tax credit refundable. Edwards also fought the size of the tax cut when other priorities were not being met-he voted to stop tax cuts until Head Start and Pell Grants were adequately funded.

Providing Additional Funding for States. Edwards has tried to help states through their current budget crises, made worse by additional resources needed because of the recession and 9/11. He introduced legislation to provide states with $50 billion in fiscal relief. He voted to give states an additional $5.5 billion to fund health insurance for unemployed workers and to increase the federal share for Medicaid in each state.

Rebuilding Consumer Confidence by Cracking Down on Fraud. John Edwards believes that in order to put the economy and consumer confidence back on track, we must stop corporate corruption. Edwards supported passage of the corporate accountability bill, and authored an amendment, which became law over the objection of the American Bar Association, to require lawyers for corporations to report corporate wrongdoing up the corporate chain of command. As a result of this amendment, co- authored by Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Jon Corzine (D-NJ), the federal Securities and Exchange Commission for the first time has explicit authority to discipline lawyers for unethical conduct. Edwards also voted for the corporate accountability bill signed into law in 2002, and urged Congress to go a step further and enact a right-to-know rule on CEO pay.

Energy and the Environment

Preserving Clean Air Laws and Fighting the Administration's Roll Back of the Clean Air Act. John Edwards led the fight against increased air pollution from factories with the administration's rollback of the Clean Air Act. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) moved to change the "New Source Review" provisions of the Clean Air Act to make it much easier for old factories and power plants to increase their pollution levels without having to add state-of-the-art clean-air technology. Edwards chaired a Senate hearing to expose the new rule's real effects, during which former EPA Administrator Carol Browner said the rules would "allow the air to become dirtier." Edwards also led a bipartisan group of 44 Senators in a letter urging the administration to postpone their planned changes and "conduct a rigorous analysis of the air pollution and public health impacts of the proposed rule changes."

Reducing Polluting Smokestack Emissions That Cause Acid Rain, Toxic Contamination, Global Warming. Edwards co-sponsored the Clean Power Act of 2002, which would drastically reduce powerplant emissions of four major pollutants which cause smog, acid rain, mercury contamination and global warming. The bill, authored by independent Senator Jim Jeffords, would tighten controls on sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and mercury. It would also for the first time regulate the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide - the prime suspect causing global warming. This tri- partisan legislation was much stronger in cracking down on harmful emissions to protect the environment and the health of Americans than the administration's "Clear Skies" proposal. Edwards has also co-sponsored the Clear Power Act of 2003 in the current session of Congress.

Fighting to Protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge From Exploration and Drilling. Edwards voted against leasing land in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for oil exploration and production. ANWR is one of America's natural treasures and is an important part of the Earth's ecosystem. In addition to environmental impacts, drilling for oil in the Arctic Refuge will do little or nothing to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, recoverable oil under the Arctic Refuge would only provide a few months of oil for the U.S. and wouldn't even be accessible for years to come.

Fighting For Our Students

Edwards Fought To Make National Education Reform Reflect Successes Achieved in North Carolina. In supporting the education bill last year, Edwards made sure it included a proposal to make national reform resemble the successes North Carolina has achieved in education reform. The legislation included specially- trained Assistance Teams composed of experienced educators and administrators dedicated to turning around schools once they are designated low performing--designed after the implementation of successful Assistance Teams in North Carolina.

Edwards Proposed a High School Community Corps. Edwards has proposed a new national service initiative for high school students. Edwards' bill, coauthored by Senator Gordon Smith (R- OR) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), would establish a nationwide competitive grant program to provide assistance to states or local school districts that require a community service commitment as a condition for high school graduation.

Edwards And His Wife Opened An After-School Learning Lab In Raleigh, NC. Edwards and his wife Elizabeth established an educational foundation in memory of their son Wade, which opened the Wade Edwards Learning Lab and has since opened other labs. The labs offer students after-school access to computers and tutoring in technology. The foundation also offers college scholarships to gifted students.

Fighting For Those Without A Voice

John Edwards won a national reputation in the legal profession as someone who would take on the tough fights -- he's given a voice to clients harmed by larger and more powerful interests:

-- Edwards Fought For Ethan Bedrick, Who Was Denied Doctor- Ordered Treatment By His Insurance Company. Edwards fought for Ethan Bedrick, who was born in 1992 with cerebral palsy. All of his doctors determined that he would need daily physical therapy to prevent him from losing the ability to use his arms and legs. Ethan's HMO overruled all of his doctors. Edwards and his law firm represented Ethan's family, and together they won.

-- Edwards Fought For Valerie Lakey, Injured By a Faulty Pool Drain. Edwards won a record verdict for Valerie Lakey, a girl from Cary, N.C., who was gravely injured when she sat on a faulty swimming pool drain in 1993. Edwards received a public service award from the Association of Trial Lawyers of America for his work on the case. The incident inspired the North Carolina General Assembly and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission to act to ensure that no other child was injured like Lakey.