Jim Himes: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia
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{{shortShort description|U.S.American Representativebusinessman fromand Connecticutpolitician (born 1966)}}
{{distinguish|Jim Hines}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Jim Himes
| image = Jim Himes Official Portrait, 113th118th Congress.jpg
| office alt = Ranking Member [[HouseOfficial Intelligenceportrait, Committee]]2023
| office = Ranking Member of the [[House Intelligence Committee]]
| term_start = January 9, 2023
| term_end =
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|7|5}}
| birth_place = [[Lima]], [[Peru]]
| residence = [[Cos Cob, Connecticut]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
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| spouse = {{marriage|Mary Scott|1994}}
| children = 2
| education = [[Harvard University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|ABBA]])<br />[[St Edmund Hall, Oxford]] ([[Master of Philosophy|MPhil]])
| website = {{urlURL|himes.house.gov|House website}}
| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Opening Statement of Rep. Jim Himes at a HPSCI Hearing Involving Former National Security Officials.ogg|title=Jim Himes's voice|type=speech|description=Himes's opening statement at a [[United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence|House Intelligence Committee]] hearing involving former national security officials<br/>Recorded February 8, 2023}}
}}
'''James Andrew Himes''' (born July 5, 1966) is an American businessman and politician serving as the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. representative]] for {{ushr|Connecticut|4}} since 2009. A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], he is the ranking member of the [[United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence|House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence]].
Himes's district includes most of the southwesternsouthwest corner of the state and is largely coextensive with the [[Connecticut]] side of the [[New York metropolitan area]]. It includes parts of [[Fairfield County, Connecticut|Fairfield County]] and [[New Haven County, Connecticut|New Haven County]], including the cities of [[Bridgeport, Connecticut|Bridgeport]], [[Norwalk, Connecticut|Norwalk]], [[Fairfield, Connecticut|Fairfield]] and [[Stamford, Connecticut|Stamford]].
Himes is the ranking member of the [[United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence|House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence]], and a member of the [[United States House Committee on Financial Services|House Financial Services Committee]].
He previously chaired the [[United States House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth]] and the [[United States House Financial Services Subcommittee on National Security, International Development and Monetary Policy|National Security, International Development and Monetary Policy Subcommittee]] of the [[United States House Committee on Financial Services|House Financial Services Committee]], and has been a member of the [[United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence|House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence]] since 2013. In 2023, Himes became the Ranking Member on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He also chaired the [[New Democrat Coalition]] in the [[115th United States Congress|115th Congress]] (2017–2019).<ref>{{cite web |title=Members |url=https://newdemocratcoalition-himes.house.gov/members |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208100356/https://newdemocratcoalition-himes.house.gov/members |archive-date=8 February 2018 |access-date=2 February 2018 |publisher=New Democrat Coalition}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=December 2016 |title=Himes to head centrist dem group |url=http://ctmirror.org/2016/12/01/himes-to-head-centrist-dem-group/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116165401/https://ctmirror.org/2016/12/01/himes-to-head-centrist-dem-group/ |archive-date=2020-11-16 |access-date=2016-12-04}}</ref>
==Early life and education==
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Himes spent his early childhood in Lima and [[Bogotá]], [[Colombia]].<ref name=NYT081109/> After his parents divorced, Jim, his mother, and his two sisters moved to [[Pennington, New Jersey]],<ref name=NYT081109/><ref>[http://www.himesforcongress.com/news_entry/himes_reaches_out_to_war_weary_republicans "Himes Reaches Out to War-Weary Republicans"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101021211842/http://www.himesforcongress.com/news_entry/himes_reaches_out_to_war_weary_republicans |date=2010-10-21 }}, Jim Himes for Congress. Accessed February 15, 2011. "He was raised by "a working single mom" in the small town of Pennington, N.J., and attended 'a decent public school.' When he brought home an A minus, his mother would ask, 'What went wrong?'"</ref> where he attended and graduated from [[Hopewell Valley Central High School]].<ref name="house1"/>
{{New Democrats}}
Himes attended [[Harvard College]], where he was the captain of the [[Lightweight rowing|lightweight crew]] and graduated with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in 1988.<ref name=congressbio/> He studied for a degree in [[Latin American studies]] as a [[Rhodes scholar]] at [[St Edmund Hall, Oxford|St Edmund Hall]], [[Oxford University|Oxford]]<ref name=NYT081109/> and graduated with a [[Master of Philosophy]] in 1990.<ref name=congressbio/> He was awarded an honorary [[Doctor of Humane Letters]] degree from the [[University of Bridgeport]] on May 5, 2012.<ref name="ubrelease">{{Cite web |url=http://www.bridgeport.edu/newsEvents/newsDetails.aspx?Channel=%2fChannels%2fSite+Wide+Content&WorkflowItemID=7eacd7fe-8e04-49d4-b0b2-e6dddf4c1ac1 |title=Rep. Jim Himes, D-CT, to address graduates at University of Bridgeport's 102nd Commencement on May 5 |access-date=2017-04-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512122105/http://www.bridgeport.edu/newsEvents/newsDetails.aspx?Channel=%2fChannels%2fSite+Wide+Content&WorkflowItemID=7eacd7fe-8e04-49d4-b0b2-e6dddf4c1ac1 |archive-date=2012-05-12 }}</ref>
==Early career==
{{moreBLP citations neededsources section|date=April 2009}}
In 1995, Himes began working at [[Goldman Sachs]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120428012713/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-04-26/wall-streets-favorite-democrat Wall Street's Favorite Democrat] April 26, 2012</ref> as a banker in [[Latin America]] and [[New York City|New York]]. He was eventually promoted to vice president.
Himes was appointed commissioner of the [https://greenwichcommunity.org/ Greenwich Housing Authority] in 2002, and served for two years as chairman of the board. He has also served as a board member of [[ASPIRA|Aspira of Connecticut]] in [[Bridgeport, Connecticut|Bridgeport]], a board member of the Fairfield County Community Foundation, and as an advisory board member of Family Assets, LLP of Bridgeport.
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===Legislation===
Himes has sponsored 75 bills.<ref>{{cite web|title=Representative Himes's Legislation|url=https://www.congress.gov/member/james-himes/1913?q=%7B%22sponsorship%22%3A%22sponsored%22%2C%22type%22%3A%22bills%22%7D|publisher=Library of Congress|access-date=December 5, 2014|archive-date=November 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116165346/https://www.congress.gov/member/james-himes/H001047?q=%7B%22sponsorship%22%3A%22sponsored%22%2C%22type%22%3A%22bills%22%7D|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Committee assignments===
For the [[118th United States Congress|118th Congress]]:<ref>{{cite web |title=James A. Himes |url=https://clerk.house.gov/members/H001047 |publisher=Clerk of the United States House of Representatives |access-date=2 May 2023}}</ref>
* [[United States House Committee on Financial Services|Committee on Financial Services]]
* [[United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence|Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence]] (Ranking Member)
===Caucus Membership===
* [[Congressional Coalition on Adoption]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute|url=https://www.ccainstitute.org|language=en}}</ref>
==Political positions==
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===Fourth Amendment===
Himes voted against H.R. 2397, which was to defund the NSA domestic phone metadata spying program.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2013/roll412.xml |title=ArchivedFinal copyVote Results for Roll Call 412 |series=H R 2397 |publisher=Clerk of the United States House of Representatives |date=2013-07-24 |access-date=2013-07-25 |archive-date=2013-07-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725003039/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2013/roll412.xml |url-status=live }}</ref> He said he voted against the bill not because he objects to limiting the NSA's power, but because the bill was created in a reactionary manner and stripped the NSA of too much power.{{citation needed|date=February 2018}}
===Transportation===
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===Electoral College and presidential selection===
In 2016, Himes lobbied the Electoral College to refuse to vote for [[Donald Trump]] and to instead elect [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref name="Halper">[https://nypost.com/2016/12/12/congressman-begs-electoral-college-voters-to-block-trump/{{cite Danielnews |last1=Halper, ''New|first1=Daniel York Post'', "|title=Congressman begs Electoral College voters to block Trump," December 12, 2016.]{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161213071007/http://nypost.com/2016/12/12/congressman-begs-electoral-college-voters-to-block-trump/ |access-date=22 March 2023 |agency=New York Post |date=2016-12-13 December 2016}}</ref> On December 12, 2016, in an interview on [[CNN]]'s ''[[New Day (TV series)|New Day]],'' he said he was troubled by several of Trump's actions. The issue that "pushed me over the edge" was Trump's criticism of the [[CIA]] and the intelligence community. Himes admitted that Trump won "fair and square" but said that Trump had proved himself unfit for public office. He cited the intentions behind the creation of the electoral college and argued that it was created for an instance such as Trump's election.{{citation<ref needed|datename=February 2018}}"Halper"/>
===Antitrust legislation===
In 2022, Himes was one of 16 Democrats to vote against the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022, an antitrust package that would crack down on corporations for anti-competitive behavior.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/29/house-passes-antitrust-bill-raising-ma-fees.html | title=House passes antitrust bill that hikes M&A fees as larger efforts targeting tech have stalled | website=[[CNBC]] | date=29 September 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/117-2022/h460 | title=H.R. 3843: Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022 -- House Vote #460 -- Sep 29, 2022 }}</ref>
=== UAP Disclosure ===
In 2022, during the [[House intelligence committee]]'s first hearing on UFOs in over 50 years, Himes asked the Pentagon if they could discuss their findings “in the service of sort of reducing speculation and conspiracy theories.”<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fenster |first=Jordan Nathaniel |date=2022-05-17 |title=Connecticut congressman asks Pentagon to debunk UFO conspiracies |url=https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/Connecticut-congressman-asks-Pentagon-to-debunk-17179132.php |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=CT Insider |language=en-US}}</ref>
On June 29, 2023, during an interview with Ask a Pol, Himes reacted skeptically to whistleblower [[David Grusch UFO whistleblower claims|David Grusch]]'s testimony regarding a US Government run UAP [[Special access program]]. He asserted that "I was assured by all of the various units that there was no material.”<ref>{{Cite web |last=Laslo |first=Matt |title=EXCLUSIVE: Top Dem on House Intel "skeptical" of UAP whistleblower |url=https://www.askapol.com/p/exclusive-top-dem-on-house-intel |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=www.askapol.com |language=en}}</ref>
Allegations have been made that Himes was secretly lobbying against the [[UAP Disclosure Act]], allegedly working in concert with Republican [[Mike Turner|Representative Mike Turner]] to remove provisions like eminent domain and an independent review board.<ref>{{Cite tweet |title=To add a personal note to this— |author=Nicholas G |user=SpinDubTracks |number=1735007896352563706 |access-date=2023-12-14 |language=en}}</ref> This is despite the bill passing through the Senate with broad bipartisan support.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hanks |first=Micah |date=2023-11-27 |title=UAP Disclosure Act Receives Pushback From Lawmakers on Capitol Hill, as Bipartisan Fight for Transparency Continues |url=https://thedebrief.org/uap-disclosure-act-receives-pushback-from-lawmakers-on-capitol-hill-as-bipartisan-fight-for-transparency-continues/ |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=The Debrief |language=en-US}}</ref>
===2024 presidential nominee===
On July 11, 2024, Himes called for [[Joe Biden]] to withdraw from the [[2024 United States presidential election]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Connecticut Congressman Jim Himes calls on Biden to drop out of race |url=https://www.wtnh.com/news/politics/connecticut-congressman-jim-himes-calls-on-biden-to-drop-out-of-race/ |website=[[WTNH]] |access-date=12 July 2024}}</ref>
==Political campaigns==
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Himes faced the ten-term [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] incumbent [[Chris Shays]] in the 2008 congressional election, along with [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]] nominee M.A. Carrano, a professional philosophy writer and systems consultant, and [[Green Party (United States)|Green Party]] nominee Richard Duffee. Himes defeated Shays, 51% to 47%.<ref name=NYT081109/> While Shays won 14 of the district's 17 towns, Himes won all three of the district's large cities—Bridgeport, Norwalk and Stamford. Ultimately, he owed his victory to swamping Shays in Bridgeport, winning 80% of the vote there.<ref>[http://www.sots.ct.gov/sots/lib/sots/electionservices/electionresults/2008_election_results/2008_representative_in_congress.pdf Elections Results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203051504/http://www.sots.ct.gov/sots/lib/sots/electionservices/electionresults/2008_election_results/2008_representative_in_congress.pdf |date=2009-02-03 }} from the Connecticut Secretary of State</ref> He was also helped by [[Barack Obama]]'s massive win in that district; Obama carried the 4th with 60% of the vote, one of his largest margins in a Republican-held district.
Himes took office in the [[111th United States Congress]] on January 6, 2009. He is the first Democrat to represent the district since [[Donald J. Irwin]] left office in 1969, and only the second since 1943. Shays was the sole Republican congressman from New England, and Himes's win made New England's House delegation entirely Democratic for the first time in history.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jim Himes Defeats Christopher Shays in 4th District |newspaper=The Hartford Courant |author=Jon Lender & Mark Pazniokas |date=November 5, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2014 |url=httphttps://articleswww.courant.com/2008-/11-/05/news/hcjim-4house.artnov05_1_himeshimes-barackdefeats-obamachristopher-bridgeportshays-in-4th-district/ |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017071606/http://articles.courant.com/2008-11-05/news/hc-4house.artnov05_1_himes-barack-obama-bridgeport |url-status=live }}</ref>
===2010===
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{{See also|2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut#District 4}}
Himes defeated Dan Debicella with 53.8% of the vote to Debicella’sDebicella's 46.2%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Connecticut's 4th Congressional District elections, 2014 |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Connecticut%27s_4th_Congressional_District_elections,_2014 |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref>
=== 2016===
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=== 2022 ===
{{See also|20202022 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut#District 4}}
Himes defeated Jayme Stevenson, 59.4% to 40.6%.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-11-08 |title=Connecticut Fourth Congressional District Election Results |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/11/08/us/elections/results-connecticut-us-house-district-4.html |access-date=2022-12-01 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
==Personal life==
On October 15, 1994, Himes married Mary LinleyLynley Scott, a designer.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/16/style/weddings-mary-l-scott-james-a-himes.html |title=Weddings {{!}} Mary L. Scott, James A. Himes |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |date=October 16, 1994 |access-date=February 17, 2017 |archive-date=November 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116165347/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/16/style/weddings-mary-l-scott-james-a-himes.html |url-status=live }}</ref> They live in the [[Cos Cob]] section of [[Greenwich, Connecticut|Greenwich]] with their two daughters.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.greenwichmag.com/g/March-2010/From-One-House-to-Another/ |title=From One House to Another |access-date=2015-12-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151225162148/http://www.greenwichmag.com/g/March-2010/From-One-House-to-Another/ |archive-date=2015-12-25 |first=Chris |last=Hodenfield |magazine=Greenwich Magazine }} From One House to Another</ref>
==See also==
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{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States representatives from Connecticut|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br />from [[Connecticut's 4th congressional district]]|years=2009–present}}
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{{s-new|office}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[United States House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth|House Fair Growth Committee]]|years=2021–2023}}
{{s-non|reason=Position abolished}}
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|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Ron Kind]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[New Democrat Coalition]]|years=2017–2019}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Derek Kilmer]]}}
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|-
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Brett Guthrie]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Seniority in the United States House of Representatives|United States representatives by seniority]]|years=86th82nd}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Blaine Luetkemeyer]]}}
{{s-end}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Himes, Jim}}
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:21st-century American politicianslegislators]]
[[Category:Alumni of St Edmund Hall, Oxford]]
[[Category:American Presbyterians]]
[[Category:American Rhodes Scholars]]
[[Category:Connecticut Democrats]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Connecticut]]
[[Category:Goldman Sachs people]]
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[[Category:People from Pennington, New Jersey]]
[[Category:American gun control activists]]
[[Category:Presbyterians from Connecticut]]
[[Category:Peruvian emigrants to the United States]]