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Petri served in the [[Wisconsin State Senate]] from [[1973]] to [[1979]], when he entered the House of Representatives. Petri is Vice Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Education and the Workforce Committee. Petri is a member of The [[Republican Main Street Partnership]] and supports [[stem-cell research]], although he generally opposes [[abortion rights]]. Although he has also called for a moratorium on the [[capital punishment in the United States|death penalty]], he has voted against other restrictions on it.[http://ontheissues.org/House/Tom_Petri.htm]. Overall, he is generally viewed as a political centrist. |
Petri served in the [[Wisconsin State Senate]] from [[1973]] to [[1979]], when he entered the House of Representatives. Petri is Vice Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Education and the Workforce Committee. Petri is a member of The [[Republican Main Street Partnership]] and supports [[stem-cell research]], although he generally opposes [[abortion rights]]. Although he has also called for a moratorium on the [[capital punishment in the United States|death penalty]], he has voted against other restrictions on it.[http://ontheissues.org/House/Tom_Petri.htm]. Overall, he is generally viewed as a political centrist. |
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==Education Legislation== |
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One of Tom Petri's top priorities since coming to Congress has been to improve education and student loan and grant programs. As a member of the Education Committee in Congress he has introduced several bills to help students get access to low cost loans. |
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In 2006 Petri introduced the Student Aid Reward (STAR) Act which encourage colleges and universities to voluntarily participate in the more cost-effective student loan programs and retain $10 billion in savings for increased [[Pell Grant]] aid for their students. [http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/467/2093057.html] The legislation could boost Pell Grants by up to $800 per student while also devoting over $3 billion of the savings towards deficit reduction — at no additional cost to taxpayers. |
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Petri plans to reintroduce his Income-Dependent Education Assistance (IDEA) Act in the 110th Congress. IDEA streamlines student loan repayment through an improved income-contingent loan repayment with direct IRS collection. |
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In 2005 Petri introduced the Direct Loan Reward Act to achieve savings of some $18 billion over the next 10 years in the federal student loan program. Petri says the present student loan program includes big subsidies for private banks that are unnecessary. “If we stop subsidizing banks and just provide the loans directly form the U.S. Treasury, we could free up billions of dollars to be used for Pell scholarships,” said Petri, vice-chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee.[http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/467/2028192.html] |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
Revision as of 17:33, 29 July 2007
Tom Petri | |
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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 6th district | |
In office 1979-Present | |
Preceded by | Bill Steiger |
Personal details | |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Anne Neal Petri |
Thomas Evert Petri (born May 28 1940), American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1979, representing Wisconsin's 6th congressional district (map).
Born as Thomas Evert in Marinette, Wisconsin, his father was killed during World War II and he adopted the name Petri after his mother remarried when he was still a young child. He graduated from Goodrich High School in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Petri then attended Harvard University where he received his bachelors of arts and law degrees. During 1966–1967, he worked with the Peace Corps and the United States Agency for International Development in Somalia.
Petri served in the Wisconsin State Senate from 1973 to 1979, when he entered the House of Representatives. Petri is Vice Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Education and the Workforce Committee. Petri is a member of The Republican Main Street Partnership and supports stem-cell research, although he generally opposes abortion rights. Although he has also called for a moratorium on the death penalty, he has voted against other restrictions on it.[1]. Overall, he is generally viewed as a political centrist.
Education Legislation
One of Tom Petri's top priorities since coming to Congress has been to improve education and student loan and grant programs. As a member of the Education Committee in Congress he has introduced several bills to help students get access to low cost loans.
In 2006 Petri introduced the Student Aid Reward (STAR) Act which encourage colleges and universities to voluntarily participate in the more cost-effective student loan programs and retain $10 billion in savings for increased Pell Grant aid for their students. [2] The legislation could boost Pell Grants by up to $800 per student while also devoting over $3 billion of the savings towards deficit reduction — at no additional cost to taxpayers.
Petri plans to reintroduce his Income-Dependent Education Assistance (IDEA) Act in the 110th Congress. IDEA streamlines student loan repayment through an improved income-contingent loan repayment with direct IRS collection.
In 2005 Petri introduced the Direct Loan Reward Act to achieve savings of some $18 billion over the next 10 years in the federal student loan program. Petri says the present student loan program includes big subsidies for private banks that are unnecessary. “If we stop subsidizing banks and just provide the loans directly form the U.S. Treasury, we could free up billions of dollars to be used for Pell scholarships,” said Petri, vice-chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee.[3]
External links
- U.S. Congressman Tom Petri official site
- United States Congress. "Tom Petri (id: p000265)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Federal Election Commission - Tom Petri campaign finance reports and data
- On the Issues - Tom Petri issue positions and quotes
- OpenSecrets.org - Tom Petri campaign contributions
- Project Vote Smart - Representative Thomas E. 'Tom' Petri (WI) profile
- SourceWatch Congresspedia - Tom Petri profile
- Washington Post - Congress Votes Database: Tom Petri voting record
- Tom Petri for U.S. Congress official campaign site
- Peace Corps biography of Thomas Petri
- Republican Main Street Partnership