Biography

Leadership: Assistant Minority Leader
Political Highlights: Democratic nominee for Ill. Senate, 1976; Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, 1978; U.S. House of Representatives, 1983-97
Born: November 21, 1944; East St. Louis, Ill.
Residence: Springfield
Religion: Roman Catholic
Family: Wife, Loretta Durbin; three children (one deceased)
Education: Georgetown U., B.S.F.S. 1966; Georgetown U., J.D. 1969
Elected: 1996
Committee Assignments: Appropriations (Defense - Ranking Member; Energy-Water; Financial Services; Labor-HHS-Education; State-Foreign Operations; Transportation-HUD); Judiciary (Border Security and Immigration - Ranking Member; Constitution; Crime & Terrorism); Rules & Administration

Roll Call Vitals

House Seniority: 8th ranked Senate Democrat
State Clout: Illinois is 16th on Roll Call's Clout Index, which measures influence in Congress by state

Election History

Margin of Victory (% pts.)