JIM GIBBONS’ ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Jim Gibbons represents Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District in the 108th Congress and his efforts on behalf of Nevadans can be found on his official House website.

Jim's committee assignments place him in a prime position to represent the varied interests of Nevadans. In seeking reelection, Jim stands on his record:

Supporting economic growth
Improving education
Supporting seniors
Returning Nevada’s lands to Nevadans
Homeland security
Strong on defense

Supporting economic growth
As a staunch supporter of Nevada's two largest economic industries, Congressman Gibbons serves as Co-Chairman of the Congressional Mining Caucus, and is the former Chairman of the House Gaming Caucus.
Jim’s efforts have been recognized by:

• National Association of Manufacturers - Manufacturing
• Legislative Excellence - 105th Congress
• Citizens for a Sound Economy - The Jefferson Award - 105th Congress
• American Shareholders Association - Friends of the Shareholder - 2000
• Americans for Tax Reform - Hero of the Taxpayer – 2000
• National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) - Guardian of Small Business Award - 2002

Improving education
As a parent of three children, Jim firmly believes that no child should be left behind when it comes to obtaining a quality education and he actively works on the federal and state level to improve education for our children. He is dedicated to increasing our nation's investment in education by sending more dollars directly to the classroom to better prepare our students for the 21st century.

Nevada's parents, teachers, and school administrators know best how to educate the children of Nevada- not bureaucrats thousands of miles away in Washington. Therefore, Jim supports President Bush’s commitment to reforming our nation’s education system. On May 23, 2001, the House of Representatives passed the "No Child Left Behind" education reform bill with overwhelming support. This landmark legislation empowers parents, teachers, and local officials in making education decisions for their children.

Jim has also been at the forefront of the student safety issue. In the summer of 1998, Congressman Gibbons hosted public forums on school violence in Reno and Las Vegas. These forums opened public debate in Nevada and took the first steps in ensuring our children's safety. He continues to provide leadership in keeping Nevada schools safe learning environments.

Supporting seniors
Assuring the long-term solvency and viability of Medicare is one of Jim’s top priorities in Congress. Working toward these goals, he supported the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003.

His work on behalf of seniors has been recognized by:

• The Seniors Coalition – Legislative Achievement Award - 2002
• Sixty Plus Association – Guardian Award and its Ben Franklin Award for his work to repeal the Death Tax – 2002

Returning Nevada’s lands to Nevadans
As Vice-Chairman of the House Resources Committee, Jim brings common sense into our public lands management policies. He has introduced several bills in the House of Representatives to accomplish this goal and to return more of Nevada’s lands to Nevadans.

• The Mining Townsite Bill stands as a shining example of the need to return lands occupied by Nevadans, but which have fallen under federal management. Currently, the residents of the mining towns of Gold Point and Ione are trespassing on federal land, even though they have occupied and used the land for generations. This bill will simply convey the land to local control.
• The Kingston Cemetery in Lander County and the Maiden’s Grave Cemetery in Eureka County fall under the jurisdiction of the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, respectively, even though they have been local cemeteries since the late 1800’s– well before the creation of either federal agency. Congressman Gibbons introduced legislation to transfer the ownership of these cemeteries to the local governments that know best how to maintain these historic and sacred sites.
• Throughout the State of Nevada, federal control of our land prevents economic development in many communities. Congressman Gibbons’ National Forest Disposal Act attempts to transfer some segmented parcels which border private land on at least two sides to the local communities.

Homeland security
Jim Gibbons took the lead in our nation’s fight against terrorism by introducing legislation that created the Department of Homeland Security. While there are no guarantees that America can prevent another terrorist attack on U.S. soil, Jim is fighting on many fronts to make the American people more secure and better prepared today than ever before. He currently serves on the:

• House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Human Intelligence, Analysis & Counterintelligence.
• House Select Committee on Homeland Security, where he is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Intelligence & Counterterrorism.

Strong on defense
A vital member of the Armed Services Committee, Jim was appointed by House leadership to sit on the Tactical Air & Land and Terrorism, Unconventional Threats & Capabilities Subcommittees. He was also appointed by the Speaker of the House to be a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. In these positions he keeps a watchful and proactive eye on issues and areas of vital national importance, including investigations into the intelligence actions before and since the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Congressman Gibbons also represents the workers of the Nevada Test Site, where the vast majority of our nation’s nuclear deterrent was tested. A leading sponsor of the legislation which created the DOE Worker Compensation Program to compensate DOE workers at the Nevada Test Site and other government weapons facilities during the Cold War who contracted illnesses and fatal diseases from exposure to radiation, beryllium, silica, and other toxic substances, he has remained an active advocate by sponsoring reform legislation to mandate faster determination on these cases.

Jim has been recognized for his support of our troops and veterans by:

• Veterans of Foreign Wars - Distinguished Service Award - 1997
• Veterans of Foreign Wars - Distinguished Service Award - 1998
• Air Force Sergeants Association - The L. Mendel Rivers Award of Excellence - 1999
• Nevada Reserve Officers Association - Nathan Hale Award for exhibiting outstanding and dedicated service in the interest of national security - 1998