Susan Brooks
Susan Brooks | |
---|---|
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 5th district | |
In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2021 | |
Preceded by | Dan Burton |
Succeeded by | Victoria Spartz |
Chair of the House Ethics Committee | |
In office January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2019 | |
Preceded by | Charlie Dent |
Succeeded by | Ted Deutch |
United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana | |
In office October 12, 2001 – October 1, 2007 | |
President | George W. Bush |
Preceded by | Judith Ann Stewart |
Succeeded by | Timothy Morrison |
Personal details | |
Born | Susan Lynn Wiant Indiana University, Indianapolis (JD ) |
Susan Lynn Brooks (née Wiant) is an American prosecutor and politician. She is a Republican and the former U.S. Representative for Indiana's 5th congressional district. She was elected in 2012. The district includes the northern fifth of Indianapolis, as well as many of the city's affluent northern and eastern suburbs. Brooks served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana from 2001 to 2007.
She was a candidate to replace
She is also recruitment chair for the National Republican Congressional Committee.On June 14, 2019, Brooks announced that she would not run for reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2020.
Early life, education, and early law career
Brooks was born to Robert and Marilyn Wiant in
Deputy Mayor of Indianapolis (1998–1999)
She was appointed by Mayor Stephen Goldsmith in 1998 to be deputy mayor. She monitored the police, fire, and emergency response activities. She focused on crime, the criminal justice system, and social welfare issues.
She served on the following boards:
- Marion County Community Corrections
- Indianapolis Downtown, Inc.
- Indianapolis Violence Reduction Partnership
- Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee
- Race Relations Leadership Network Committee
- Indiana University/Purdue University at Indianapolis Board of Advisors
- Marion County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
- United Way Strategic Planning Committee
- Clarian Health's Community Plunge Steering Committee
- Employers Against Domestic Violence Initiative[5]
Ice Miller (1999–2001)
After she was deputy mayor, she joined the Indianapolis-based law firm of Ice Miller in the Government Services Practice Group. In 1999, she was named Influential Woman of Indianapolis. That year, she also earned a spot on Indianapolis Business Journal's 40 under 40 list in 1999.[6]
U.S. Attorney (2001–2007)
In 2001, President
In her first few weeks in office, she charged Dr. Randolph Lievertz of Indianapolis with illegally prescribing
She earned the Who's Who in Law in 2002, Super Lawyer from 2004 to 2008, and Indiana Lawyer Leadership in 2006.
Ivy Tech Community College (2007–2011)
In October 2007, she decided to resign her position as U.S. Attorney to become
In 2007, she earned the
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
- 2012
When she was U.S. Attorney, her Southern District covered two-thirds of Indiana, including the majority of the newly redrawn 5th District, after 2011 redistricting. Fifteen-term Republican U.S. Congressman Dan Burton decided to retire. Brooks entered a crowded seven-way primary—the real contest in this strongly Republican district. She had actually entered the race before Burton's retirement. New Jersey Governor and former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie endorsed and fundraised for Brooks.[8]
In May 2012, she won the Republican primary with 30% of the vote, just one point ahead of the second-place finisher and former U.S. Congressman
Brooks won the 2012 election, defeating Democrat Scott Reske with 58% of the vote.[10]
- 2014
Brooks's vote to end the
- 2018
Brooks was held to 56 percent of the vote to Democrat Dee Thornton's 43 percent of the vote. It was the first time a Democrat had managed even 40 percent of the vote in the district since it assumed its present configuration as a north suburban district in 1983 (it was numbered as the 6th from 1983 to 2003, and has been the 5th since 2003).[13][14]
- 2020
Brooks announced on June 14, 2019, that she would be retiring from Congress at the end of the session and would not seek re-election. She retained her role as recruitment chairman for the Republican National Congressional Committee for the 2020 election.[15]
Committee assignments
- Energy and Commerce Committee
- Subcommittee on Health
- Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
- Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing & Trade
- Committee on Ethics
- House Select Committee on the Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attack in Benghazi[16]
- Republican Study Committee[17]
- Bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues[16]
Caucus memberships
Legislation
On December 19, 2017, Brooks voted in favor of the
On May 4, 2017, Brooks voted for the American Health Care Act, reversing her position of February 2017, when she claimed to oppose taking insurance from people with preexisting conditions.
On July 29, 2015, Brooks introduced the Strengthening Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2015, H.R. 3299, bipartisan legislation that will dramatically transform and enhance the nation's ability to respond to current and emerging biothreats. This legislation reforms our nation's medical countermeasure acquisition process, incentivizes research to combat the next generation of deadly diseases, and increases accountability of preparedness spending. It is one of the legislative proposals highlighted by the bipartisan Blue Ribbon Panel Study on Biodefense as an important step towards shoring up our national security and preparedness for biothreats.
On June 17, 2015, Brooks introduced the Heroin and Prescription Opioid Abuse Prevention, Education, and Enforcement Act of 2015, H.R. 2805, which targets several areas of need critical to reducing the number of painkiller and heroin overdose deaths each year. The legislation will establish a working group to develop new guidance and best practices for members of the medical community, reauthorize prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP) critical to local law enforcement efforts, increase access to life-saving Naloxone and raise public, provider, and patient awareness of opioid drugs. It is the companion bill to S. 1134, legislation introduced by Senators Joe Donnelly (D-IN) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) in April 2015.
On March 14, 2014, Brooks introduced the
On March 18, 2014, Rep. Brooks introduced the
On July 29, 2015, Brooks introduced, along with Rep.
Brooks was ranked as the 44th most bipartisan member of the U.S. House of Representatives during the first session of the 115th United States Congress by the Bipartisan Index, created by The Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy to assess congressional bipartisanship.[25]
She is a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership.[26]
In February 2018, Brooks along with U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) founded a new bipartisan caucus called the Congressional Biodefense Caucus. The group will work to focus in "improving the preparedness of the United States to respond to a pandemic or chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats." Brooks and Eshoo launched the caucus during a reception in Washington with more than 50 attendees from Congress and the biodefense industry.[27]
Political positions
Susan Brooks was a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership which presented what it described as
Fiscal
On fiscal issues, Brooks has an 85% lifetime rating from the fiscally conservative Americans for Prosperity.[32] In 2015, she was the only Indiana Republican in the House to vote for a bipartisan continuing resolution to fund the federal government.[33]
Social issues
On social issues, Brooks is
Brooks is supportive of
Legalized marijuana
Regarding marijuana policy, Brooks has a "D" rating from
Sexual harassment
Brooks is "opposed to any sexual harassment, whether in the workplace or out of the workplace." In a 2017 interview, she said that she had not personally experienced sexual harassment.[16] She described the harassment allegations against Donald Trump as "personally disgusting."[38] She describes the federal process for investigating sexual harassment in federal workplaces as "not...as effective as it should be." She supports creating an ombudsman or advocate's office to handle reports, which would also provide a counselor to each victim.[16]
Biodefense
Brooks believes the U.S. is underprepared to fight
In March 2018, Brooks and Anna Eschoo launched the Congressional Biodefense Caucus. Within a week, the caucus had 21 Members of Congress as members. The caucus is “dedicated to strengthening our nation's biodefense enterprise and national security.”[40] The caucus will focus on chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats and pandemic outbreaks.[40]
Donald Trump
In July 2019, Brooks was one of four Republican House members to vote in support of a motion to condemn remarks by President Trump made on
Personal life
As of 2012[update] Brooks resided in Carmel, Indiana with her husband, David, and their two children.[4] She is Catholic.[43]
See also
References
- ^ Davey, Monica (July 26, 2016). "Indiana Republicans Choose Eric Holcomb to Run for Governor in Mike Pence's Place". The New York Times.
- ^ "Indiana Governor Results Eric Holcomb Wins". The New York Times. February 10, 2017.
- ^ "Congressional Member and Staff Organizations". Committee on House Administration. April 22, 2019.
- ^ a b Meet Susan Archived 2012-04-25 at the Wayback Machine, Susan Brooks for Congress
- ^ a b c "Susan Brooks – General Counsel". Ivy Tech Community College. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012.
- ^ "Women's Fund Board Members - Indiana Non Profit Organization Grants". Retrieved July 15, 2016.
- ^ "The Post and Courier – Google News Archive Search". Archived from the original on July 12, 2012.
- ^ "Christie Endorses Fellow Former U.S. Attorney in Indiana House Race - Main Justice". Archived from the original on April 30, 2012.
- ^ "2016 Primary Election Results: President Live Map by State, Real-Time Voting Updates". Retrieved July 15, 2016.
- ^ "Politico 2012 election result for Indiana 5th congressional district". Politico. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
- ^ "Secretary of State : Election Division: Election Results". Retrieved October 27, 2014.
- ^ "Indiana's 5th Congressional District elections, 2014 - Ballotpedia". ballotpedia.org. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - Container Detail Page".
- ^ "Our Campaigns - Container Detail Page".
- ^ Pathé, Simone (June 14, 2019). "Susan Brooks won't seek a fifth term, opening up targeted Indiana seat". Roll Call. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
- ^ a b c d Groppe, Maureen. "As ethics chair, Rep. Brooks in middle of national storm over sexual harassment". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
- ^ "Member List". Retrieved November 6, 2017.
- ^ "Members". Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
- ^ Almukhtar, Sarah (December 19, 2017). "How Each House Member Voted on the Tax Bill". The New York Times. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
- ^ "H.R. 4263 – Summary". United States Congress. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
- ^ "H.R. 4275 – Summary". United States Congress. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
- ^ a b Kasperowicz, Pete (March 24, 2014). "House extends tax-free typhoon aid to Philippines". The Hill. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
- ^ "Health Subcommittee holds markup on the Strengthening Public Health Emergency Response Act". Homeland Preparedness News. June 8, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
- ^ Memo to Members of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health from the Majority Committee staff. U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce. docs.house.gov. 2016-05-17. Retrieved 2016-06-24.
- ^ "McCourt School Bipartisan Index" (PDF). Washington, D.C.: The Lugar Center. April 24, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
- ^ "Members". Republican Mains Street Partnership. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
- ^ Riley, Kim (March 2, 2018). "'It's all about preparedness,' U.S. Congresswoman Brooks says". Homeland Preparedness News. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
- ^ "Republican Main Street Partnership to Showcase Centrist Republican Solutions for 2008, January 21st, 2008". Republican Main Street Partnership. September 1, 2011. Archived from the original on July 5, 2017. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
- ^ "Rep. Susan Brooks is picked for key leadership panel". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
- ^ a b "Susan Brooks' Ratings and Endorsements". Vote Smart. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
- ^ "Rating Group: American Conservative Union". Vote Smart. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
- ^ "Rating Group: Americans for Prosperity". Vote Smart. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
- ^ "Rep. Susan Brooks is lone Hoosier Republican who votes to fund government through Dec. 11". Indianapolis Star. Archived from the original on October 21, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
- ^ "NRA-PVF | Grades | Indiana". nrapvf.org. NRA-PVF. Archived from the original on November 4, 2014.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ McKinney, Matt (May 17, 2019). "Republican Rep. Susan Brooks votes against party line, supports anti-discrimination 'Equality Act'". WRTV. Archived from the original on May 18, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
- ^ Johnson, Cheryl. "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 217: On Passage, Equality Act". United States House of Representatives. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
- ^ "Indiana Scorecard". NORML. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
- ^ Groppe, Maureen; Schneider, Chelsea; Cook, Tony. "Pence says he can't defend Trump's comments". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
- ^ "Strengthening Biodefense". Congresswoman Susan W. Brooks. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
- ^ a b "New Congressional Biodefense Caucus launched". Congresswoman Susan W. Brooks. March 5, 2018. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
- Washington Post.
- ^ LeBlanc, Paul (July 16, 2019). "Here are the 4 Republicans who voted to condemn Trump's racist tweets". CNN.
- ^ "Members of Congress: Religious Affiliations". Pew Forum. January 5, 2015.