Summary
Current Position: US Senator since 2001
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Positions: Governor from 1993 – 2001; US Representative from 1983 – 1993; Treasurer of Delaware from 1977 – 1983
Other positions: Chair, Committee on Environment and Public Works (Chairman)
Chair, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
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About
Born in West Virginia and raised in Virginia, Senator Tom Carper attended The Ohio State University on a Navy R.O.T.C. scholarship, graduating in 1968 with a B.A. in economics. He went on to complete five years of service as a naval flight officer, serve three tours of duty in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, and continued to serve in the Naval Reserve as a P-3 aircraft mission commander until retiring with the rank of captain in 1991 after 23 years of military service. With the war winding down in Southeast Asia, Tom Carper moved to Delaware in 1973 where he earned his M.B.A. at the University of Delaware. Today, he and his wife of 30 years, Martha, live in Wilmington and are the proud parents of two sons. Senator Carper travels from Wilmington to Washington each day on an Amtrak train.
His career in public service began in 1976 when he was elected to the first of three terms as Delaware’s state treasurer at the age of 29 at a time when the state of Delaware had the worst credit rating of any state in America. Six years later, with that credit rating restored to a respectable “AA,” he ran for – and was elected – to Delaware’s at-large seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Senator Carper went on to serve five terms as a U.S. congressman where he earned a reputation as a results-oriented centrist serving on the House Financial Services Committee, as well as the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, which is now part of the House Committee on Natural Resources. In 1991, then-Congressman Carper led a bipartisan, six-member congressional delegation of Vietnam veterans back to Southeast Asia to search for U.S. soldiers whose remains were never recovered and listed as MIAs. During that trip, the group met with the new Vietnamese General Secretary Do Muoi and helped lay the groundwork for normalizing relations between the United States and Vietnam.
Tom Carper was then elected the 78th governor of Delaware in 1992 and served two terms in that role. As governor, he pursued a common-sense agenda that led to eight balanced budgets, tax cuts in seven of those eight years, and major increases in employment. Governor Carper led the effort to strengthen the state’s “rainy day” fund and boost Delaware’s credit rating to “AAA” for the first time in state history, while helping to overhaul the state’s education system and to implement welfare reform initiatives in Delaware and the nation.
During his second term as governor, Tom Carper was selected by his colleagues to serve as vice-chairman, then as chairman, of the National Governors’ Association (NGA). After serving as chairman, he led the NGA’s ‘Center for Best Practices,’ which focused on developing and implementing innovative solutions to policy challenges faced by governors across the nation. From 1994-1998, he served as a member of Amtrak’s board of directors and, later, as founding vice-chairman of the American Legacy Foundation to combat youth smoking and as vice-chairman of Jobs for America’s Graduates, a national non-profit to reduce high school dropouts.
On Jan. 3, 2001, Governor Carper stepped down two weeks early to become Delaware’s junior senator. He was reelected in 2006, and with his reelection in November 2012 he has been elected to state-wide public office in Delaware 13 times. When Senator Joe Biden stepped down to become vice president in January 2009, Tom Carper became Delaware’s senior senator.
As the top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee, Senator Carper leads the fight to protect our environment and clean up our air as the committee’s ranking member in the 117th Congress. During his time on the committee, Senator Carper successfully defended common sense clean air regulations from misguided attempts to repeal them, and he continues to push for meaningful protections that limit carbon pollution, regulate cross-state air pollution and help stem the tide of climate change. He led the effort to pass the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act with Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio), which has cleaned up millions of old, dirty diesel engines to help save lives and improve public health. Senator Carper also helped broker the compromise that created our country’s highest fuel efficiency standards in a generation, saving Americans billions of dollars at the pump.
Senator Carper also serves as a senior member on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, having served as the committee’s chairman in the 113th Congress and ranking member in the 114th Congress. In his continued work on the committee, he focuses on protecting our country from threats to our national security, as well as ensuring federal government programs are efficient and using taxpayer dollars wisely. Senator Carper continues to champion postal reform with the goal of protecting the U.S. Postal Service from collapse and ensuring it remains a robust American institution for generations to come. He has also supported legislation to improve cybersecurity across the federal government and ensure we are doing all we can to respond to the growing threats our country faces in cyberspace.
During more than 30 years of public service, Senator Carper has worked tirelessly to develop practical solutions to real problems. His ability to work across party lines has earned him a reputation for consensus-building that is unique in today’s political climate. The Washington Post’s late David Broder calls him “a notably effective and non-partisan leader, admired and trusted on both sides of the aisle.”
Personal
Full Name: Thomas ‘Tom’ Richard Carper
Gender: Male
Family: Wife: Martha Ann; 3 Children: Benjamin, Christopher, Greg
Birth Date: 01/23/1947
Birth Place: Beckley, WV
Home City: Wilmington, DE
Religion: Presbyterian
Source: Vote Smart
Education
MBA, University of Delaware, 1975
BA, Economics, Ohio State University, 1968
Political Experience
Senator, United States Senate, 2001-present
Candidate, United States Senate, 2018
Deputy Minority Whip, United States Senate, 2004
Governor, State of Delaware, 1993-2000
Representative, United States House of Representatives, 1982-1992
Treasurer, State of Delaware, 1976-1982
Professional Experience
Director, National Governors’ Association Center for Best Practices, 2000-2001
Commander, United States Naval Reserves, 1968-1991
Industrial Development Specialist, Delaware Division of Economic Development, 1975-1976
Naval Flight Officer, United States Navy, 1968-1973
Offices
Washington, DC
513 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2441
Fax: (202) 228-2190
Hours: M-F 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
(Senate in session)
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Wilmington
301 North Walnut St., Suite 102L-1
Wilmington, DE 19801-3974
Phone: (302) 573-6291
Fax: (302) 573-6434
Hours: M-F 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Dover
555 E Loockerman St., Suite 300
Dover, DE 19901
Phone: (302) 674-3308
Fax: (302) 674-5464
Hours: M-F 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Georgetown
12 The Circle
Georgetown, DE 19947
Phone: (302) 856-7690
Fax: (302) 856-3001
Hours: M-F 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Contact
Email: Government
Web Links
Politics
Source: none
Finances
Source: Open Secrets
Committees
Committees
In the 117th Congress, Senator Carper serves as the top ranked Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee, leading Committee Democrats in efforts to protect public health and the environment, conduct oversight of the Environmental Protection Agency and push for smart investments in our nation’s infrastructure. He also serves as a senior member on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and is the top Democrat on the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, a bipartisan committee that has broad jurisdiction to conduct oversight of the federal government and conduct independent investigations on issues that impact every American. Senator Carper also serves on the Finance Committee which is charged with managing our nation’s tax code and considering international trade agreements.
The purpose of a Senate committee is to review proposed legislation before sending it to the full Senate for final debate and approval. The senator in charge of the committee is called the chairman, and is a member of the majority party. The minority party has a similar leader, called the ranking member. When a committee is given a bill to prepare, they coordinate with different government agencies for input on the issue. For example, on a bill that is being reviewed by the Environment and Public Works Committee, committee members may ask for input from the Environmental Protection Agency on how to improve the bill. Then the committee may invite experts to give their testimony at a hearing. After the various agencies and experts have weighed in, the committee reviews the bill, makes changes and submits the bill to the full Senate for debate and a vote.
To learn more about Senator Carper’s committee assignments, please visit the following pages:
Committee on Environment and Public Works, Chairman
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
As a senior member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Senator Carper uses his prior experience as Chairman, and then Ranking Member of the committee to advance his priorities for Delaware and . Some of Senator Carper’s top priorities are postal reform, cyber security, curbing waste in government spending, and strengthening America’s borders. In addition to this, Senator Carper and the committee are responsible for reviewing legislation that affects the Department of Homeland Security and, more broadly, the efficiency and effectiveness of government functions. To learn more about Senator Carper’s role as ranking member and his past role as chairman, visit the committee’s website here.
Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness, Chairman
New Legislation
Sponsored and Cosponsored
Issues
Source: Government page
More Information
Services
Source: Government page
Wikipedia
Thomas Richard Carper (born January 23, 1947) is an American politician and former military officer serving as the senior United States senator from Delaware, having held the seat since 2001. A member of the Democratic Party, Carper served in the United States House of Representatives from 1983 to 1993 and was the 71st governor of Delaware from 1993 to 2001.
A native of Beckley, West Virginia, Carper graduated from Ohio State University. Serving as a naval flight officer in the U.S. Navy from 1968 until 1973, he flew the P-3 Orion as a tactical coordinator and mission commander[1] and saw active duty in the Vietnam War. After leaving the active duty Navy, he remained in the U.S. Naval Reserve for another 18 years and eventually retired with the rank of Captain (O-6). Upon receiving his MBA from the University of Delaware in 1975, Carper went to work for the state of Delaware in its economic development office. He was elected state treasurer, serving from 1977 to 1983 and leading the development of Delaware’s first cash management system.
Encouraged by local politicians, Carper successfully ran for Delaware’s only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982. He served five terms in the House, where he chaired the Subcommittee on Economic Stabilization. In 1992, he swapped positions with term-limited Republican Governor Mike Castle, and the two were easily elected to each other’s seats. Carper governed for two terms as a moderate, business-oriented New Democrat, following the lead of the two previous Republican governors.
Carper was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000, defeating Republican incumbent William Roth. He was reelected by landslides in 2006, 2012, and 2018. He serves as one of four deputy Democratic whips, the chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Finance Committee. Carper is the senior senator in Delaware’s congressional delegation and the dean of the delegation. He is the last Vietnam War veteran to serve in the Senate.
Early life and education
Carper was born in Beckley, West Virginia, the son of Mary Jean (née Patton) and Wallace Richard Carper. He grew up in Danville, Virginia, and graduated from Whetstone High School in Columbus, Ohio. He then graduated from the Ohio State University in 1968, where he was a midshipman in the Naval ROTC and earned a degree in economics. At Ohio State, Carper became a member of the Beta Phi Chapter of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Carper earned an MBA from the University of Delaware in 1975.
Early career
Serving as a Naval Flight Officer in the U.S. Navy from 1968 until 1973, he served three tours of duty in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. He remained in the U.S. Naval Reserve as a P-3 aircraft mission commander for another 18 years and retired with the rank of Captain (O-6).[2]
While in college at the Ohio State University, Carper worked on the presidential campaign of U.S. Senator Eugene McCarthy. In Delaware, he worked as the campaign treasurer for University of Delaware professor James R. Soles in his unsuccessful 1974 bid for the U.S. House of Representatives.
After receiving his MBA degree in 1975, Carper went to work for the State of Delaware’s economic development office. In 1976, after developing good relationships with members of the state party leadership, he took out a $5,000 personal loan to fund his campaign to be Treasurer of Delaware. In the election, he defeated the favored Republican Party candidate, Theodore Jones. He served three terms, from January 18, 1977, through January 3, 1983, during which time he oversaw the development of Delaware’s first cash management system.
U.S. House of Representatives
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Tom_Carper_102nd_Congressional_portrait.jpg/180px-Tom_Carper_102nd_Congressional_portrait.jpg)
In 1982, U.S. Senator Joe Biden and other prominent Democrats convinced Carper to run for Delaware’s only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Incumbent Republican Thomas B. Evans Jr. sought reelection, and although he had been caught in a compromising “association” on a golfing trip with the lobbyist Paula Parkinson, was still considered a strong candidate.[3]
Carper was considered well-positioned until three weeks before Election Day, when the New York Post published an article claiming that the “dirtiest campaign in the country is being waged in tiny Delaware”, which suggested that Carper had abused his wife and stepchildren. But when rumors spread that the story was “planted” by a supporter of Evans, Carper bounced back, with public opinion seeming to be that the allegations inappropriately exploited private issue.[4][5] Carper and his wife both denied the allegations in 1982, but he later admitted to having slapped her. Carper defeated Evans.[6]
Carper served five terms in the House. He won his second term in 1984, defeating Elise R. W. du Pont, the wife of retiring Governor Pete du Pont. He then easily defeated Republicans Thomas S. Neuberger in 1986, James P. Krapf in 1988 and Ralph O. Williams in 1990. He was a member of the U.S. House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs and the U.S. House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. He chaired the House Subcommittee on Economic Stabilization. In these positions, he worked to allow banks into the securities business and to discourage the dumping of sludge into the ocean.
During his years in the House, Carper sought to gain better control of Delaware’s Democratic Party organization in hopes of someday becoming governor, focusing on heavily Democratic and populous New Castle County. Its Democratic organization was controlled by Eugene T. Reed, a former ironworker and longtime party boss who was then among several politicians in both parties implicated in illegal money raising practices. To address this corruption and rescue the Democratic Party’s reputation, Carper recruited Joseph E. Reardon, a DuPont Company chemist, as a candidate for New Castle County Democratic Party chairman. By early 1989, Reardon had been elected, replacing Reed at the head of a newly reformed party organization. In 1990, Carper defeated a Reed ally, Daniel D. Rappa, in the Democratic primary for U.S. representative.
Governor of Delaware
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/President_Bill_Clinton_and_First_Lady_Hillary_Clinton_greet_guests_at_the_National_Governors_Association_Dinner_in_the_Blue_Room_of_the_White_House_%2818%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-thumbnail.jpg)
Republican Governor Michael Castle was term-limited and unable to seek reelection in 1992. The result was what became known as “the Swap”, with Castle seeking Carper’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and Carper seeking the governorship. Neither faced substantive opposition for either post.
Carper defeated Republican B. Gary Scott and was elected governor. He served two terms. Carper positioned himself as a moderate, business-oriented governor, emphasizing economic development and business recruitment. This included the prevention of the closure of the General Motors automobile operation near Newport, Delaware, and convincing pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca to construct its new headquarters in the state.
Carper led an ongoing effort to reduce income tax rates, eliminate the marriage penalty and estate tax, cut the public utility tax, and eliminate the gross receipts tax for many small businesses. Delaware’s credit rating improved from among the worst in the nation to AAA. Carper also retained Castle’s standards-based education programs. Other programs included a fully funded Head Start program and a prescription-drug benefit for seniors.
Carper had high approval ratings, but was criticized by some old-line Democrats and union leaders.[4]
As a tribute to Anne Marie Fahey, who had been a youth mentor before her death, then-Governor Carper also became a mentor, and began actively promoting mentoring programs throughout Delaware’s business community. As a result, by the end of his last term, Delaware held the highest per-capita ratio of youth mentors in the country. Carper also established the Delaware Mentoring Council to help sustain this legacy.
Delaware General Assembly (sessions while Governor) | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Assembly | Senate Majority | President pro tempore | House Majority | Speaker | ||||||
1993–1994 | 137th | Democratic | Richard S. Cordrey | Republican | Terry R. Spence | ||||||
1995–1996 | 138th | Democratic | Richard S. Cordrey | Republican | Terry R. Spence | ||||||
1997–1998 | 139th | Democratic | Thomas B. Sharp | Republican | Terry R. Spence | ||||||
1999–2000 | 140th | Democratic | Thomas B. Sharp | Republican | Terry R. Spence |
United States Senate
Elections
2000
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Thomas_Carper.jpg/180px-Thomas_Carper.jpg)
Due to term limits, Carper had to retire as governor in 2000, and sought election to the U.S. Senate against incumbent Republican William Roth, declaring his candidacy in September 1999.[7] Some had concerns about Roth’s age of 79, compared to Carper’s relative youth. Roth started the campaign with a 2-to-1 spending advantage, but Carper went into the final month with more than $1 million on hand.[8] He defeated Roth, 56% to 44%. Roth received more votes than Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush, suggesting that the strength of the Democratic turnout for the presidential election was key in Carper’s victory.[citation needed] Some commentators attributed Roth’s defeat to his age and health, as he collapsed twice during the campaign, once during a television interview and once during a campaign event.[8][9][10]
2006
Carper sought reelection in 2006. He was unopposed in the Democratic primary and faced Republican nominee Jan C. Ting, a professor of law who had narrowly beaten airline pilot Michael D. Protack in the Republican primary. Carper was easily reelected, 67% to 27%.
2012
As the 2012 election cycle began, a Super PAC was created to oppose Carper’s reelection campaign. The Hill quoted Patrick Davis, the custodian of records and agent for Renew Delaware as saying, “Tom Carper has served in the United States Senate for a long time and has been part of the downturn in our economy.” Delaware Politics noted that the election would be costly for the Republican candidate and that Carper was heavily favored to win a third term.[11] A Carper spokesperson, Emily Spain, was quoted in The Hill saying that Carper was successful in his previous campaigns “because he works hard, takes nothing for granted, and puts the needs and interests of Delaware first.”[12] Carper won the Democratic primary with 88% of the vote and faced off against the only Republican candidate who filed for the race, businessman Kevin Wade. He was reelected with 66% of the vote.
2018
In 2018, Carper sought his fourth Senate term.[13][14] His campaign contributors included DuPont, his third-largest contributor since 2013. Between 2013 and 2018, he received $2.1 million from political action committees.[15] In the Democratic primary, Carper was challenged from the left by Kerri Evelyn Harris, a US Air Force Veteran, who, unlike Carper, supports a single-payer healthcare.[16] Carper won the primary with roughly 65% of the vote.[17] It was his most competitive primary in recent history. In the general election, Carper defeated Republican nominee Rob Arlett, 60.0% to 37.8%.[18]
2024
On May 22, 2023, Carper announced that he will not seek reelection in 2024. In his press conference, Carper endorsed U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester.[19]
Tenure
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Wayne_Gilchrest%2C_Joe_Biden%2C_Tom_Carper%2C_Mike_Castle%2C_and_Yang_Jiechi.jpg/225px-Wayne_Gilchrest%2C_Joe_Biden%2C_Tom_Carper%2C_Mike_Castle%2C_and_Yang_Jiechi.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Mike_Pence_with_Tom_Carper.png/225px-Mike_Pence_with_Tom_Carper.png)
Carper served with the Democratic minority in the 108th and 109th Congresses and was part of the Democratic majority in the 110th Congress. At the beginning of the 107th Congress, the Democratic Party was in the minority, but later held the majority. Carper was a member of the moderate Democratic Leadership Council (DLC), of which he served as vice chair. In 2004, Carper became part of the Senate Democratic leadership. As a member of a four-person “Executive Committee”, he is one of four deputy whips. David Broder of The Washington Post has called Carper “a notably effective and non-partisan leader, admired and trusted on both sides of the aisle.”[20]
During the January 6 United States Capitol attack, Carper said he did not support invoking the Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution or impeachment of Trump.[21] But hours later, he called on Trump to resign. He also called the attackers “domestic terrorists”. That evening, he voted to certify the 2021 United States Electoral College vote count.[22]
Committee assignments
Carper’s committee assignments for the 118th Congress are as follows:[23]
- Committee on Environment and Public Works (Chair)[24]
- As chair, Carper is an ex officio member of all subcommittees.
- Committee on Finance
- Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Caucus membership
Political positions
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Joe_Biden_and_Tom_Carper_fist_bumping_at_Biden%27s_farewell_address_in_Delaware.jpg/220px-Joe_Biden_and_Tom_Carper_fist_bumping_at_Biden%27s_farewell_address_in_Delaware.jpg)
Carper is considered a moderate Democrat.[25] He has a 13% conservative rating from the American Conservative Union.[26][27] Carper voted for the Budget Control Act, against cut, cap and balance, for debt increase, for debt ceiling increase, for debt limit increase, for the stimulus, for TARP, for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, for SCHIP, for DREAM, and for the Immigration Reform Act of 2006.[28]
Abortion
Carper has a mixed record on abortion issues. In 2003, he was one of 17 Democrats who broke with the majority of their party by voting to ban partial-birth abortion.[29] He also voted against banning abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, but voted to ban the use of federal funds for abortion.[30] In 2018, he opposed President Trump’s proposal to defund Planned Parenthood.[31] Carper was given a 50% rating by NARAL Pro-Choice America, indicating a mixed record on abortion, according to their scoring, and a 25% rating from the anti-abortion National Right to Life Committee.[32] After Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022, he said the decision was “unconscionably cruel and wrong” and that it was a “dark day for our country and our Constitution.”[33]
Foreign policy
In April 2019, Carper was one of thirty-four senators to sign a letter to President Trump encouraging him “to listen to members of your own Administration and reverse a decision that will damage our national security and aggravate conditions inside Central America”, asserting that Trump had “consistently expressed a flawed understanding of U.S. foreign assistance” since becoming president and that he was “personally undermining efforts to promote U.S. national security and economic prosperity” through preventing the use of Fiscal Year 2018 national security funding. The senators argued that foreign assistance to Central American countries created less migration to the U.S., citing the funding’s helping to improve conditions in those countries.[34]
In January 2024, Carper voted against a resolution, proposed by Bernie Sanders, to apply the human rights provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act to U.S. aid to Israel’s military. The proposal was defeated, 72 to 11.[35] In March 2024, Carper urged the Biden administration to recognize a “nonmilitarized” Palestinian state after the war in Gaza.[36]
Gun law
Carper joined 23 other Senate Democrats in signing a letter supporting Obama taking executive action to reduce gun violence.[37] In 2013, he voted to ban high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets.[38] In 2016, Carper participated in the Chris Murphy gun control filibuster.[39] In response to the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, Carper called for more gun laws, specifically background checks and mental health screenings.[40]
In January 2019, Carper was one of forty senators to introduce the Background Check Expansion Act, a bill that would require background checks for either the sale or transfer of all firearms including all unlicensed sellers. Exceptions to the bill’s background check requirement included transfers between members of law enforcement, loaning firearms for either hunting or sporting events on a temporary basis, providing firearms as gifts to members of one’s immediate family, firearms being transferred as part of an inheritance, or giving a firearm to another person temporarily for immediate self-defense.[41]
Finance and economy
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/UNDERMINE_PRESIDENT%E2%80%99S_CLEAN_POWER_PLAN_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-UNDERMINE_PRESIDENT%E2%80%99S_CLEAN_POWER_PLAN_%28cropped%29.jpg)
He joined in the unsuccessful attempt to tie the Bush administration tax cuts to deficit reduction and has supported additional funding for school choice programs and charter schools. He has also sought additional funding for railroad projects and for rail security. He strongly supported legislation to limit class action lawsuits and to restrict personal bankruptcy. In addition, he is a strong proponent of free trade. In 2012, Carper sponsored a bill, eventually passed and signed into law, that required government agencies to identify $125 billion in expected waste and fraud.[42]
Carper and George Voinovich of Ohio proposed a 25-cent raise in the federal gasoline tax; 10 cents would go to pay down the debt and the rest toward improving the nation’s infrastructure. The measure was proposed in November 2010.[43] The measure did not pass.
On May 14, 2011, The Wall Street Journal criticized a postal-bailout bill co-sponsored by Carper and Susan Collins (R-Maine). The bill would give $50–$75 billion to USPS, and would underwrite pension obligations for retired postal workers. The bailout would cost three times the savings of the 2011 federal budget.[44]
On August 1, 2019, the Senate passed a bipartisan budget deal that raised spending over current levels by $320 billion and lifted the debt ceiling for the following two years in addition to forming a course for funding the government without the perceived fiscal brinkmanship of recent years. Carper joined Joe Manchin and Republicans Mitt Romney and Rick Scott in issuing a statement asserting that “as former Governors, we were responsible for setting a budget each year that was fiscally responsible to fund our priorities. That’s why today, we, as U.S. Senators, cannot bring ourselves to vote for this budget deal that does not put our country on a fiscally sustainable path.”[45]
Environment
Carper proposed the creation of a National Park in Delaware, the Coastal Heritage Park, in four locations along the Delaware River and Delaware Bay. In January 2009, Carper briefly chaired a Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works hearing on the Tennessee Valley Authority’s coal ash spill in Kingston, Tennessee. However, he did vote for Keystone XL Pipeline, but has since expressed disappointment in that vote.[46]
Carper supports the EPA and Clean Air Act and blames states to the west of Delaware for its air pollution, calling them “America’s tailpipe”.[47]
Housing
In April 2019, Carper was one of forty-one senators to sign a bipartisan letter to the housing subcommittee praising the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 4 Capacity Building program as authorizing “HUD to partner with national nonprofit community development organizations to provide education, training, and financial support to local community development corporations (CDCs) across the country” and expressing disappointment that President Trump’s budget “has slated this program for elimination after decades of successful economic and community development.” The senators wrote of their hope that the subcommittee would support continued funding for Section 4 in Fiscal Year 2020.[48]
Technology
Carper co-wrote the “Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset Act of 2010”[49] introduced on June 19, 2010, by Senator Joe Lieberman (Senator Susan Collins is the third co-author of this bill). If signed into law, this controversial bill, which the American media dubbed the “Kill switch bill“, would grant the President emergency powers over the Internet. All three co-authors of the bill, however, issued a statement claiming that instead, the bill “[narrowed] existing broad Presidential authority to take over telecommunications networks”.[50] Carper was quoted as saying that the bill “would create a National Center for Cybersecurity and Communications in the Department of Homeland Security, with a Senate-confirmed director to oversee security of the federal government’s computer networks. The center would also identify vulnerabilities and help secure key private networks – like utilities and communications systems – that, if attacked or commandeered by a foreign power or cyberterrorists, could result in the crippling of our economy.”[51]
Consumer regulations
In May 2010, Carper introduced an amendment to limit state regulators from enforcing consumer regulations on national banks and their subsidiaries. It would also remove a Senate legislative measure requiring the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to find a “substantive standard” on regulation, before the office could move to preempt. The White House opposed Carper’s amendment. The amendment passed by a vote of 80–18.[52]
Employment
Jobs bill
On September 21, 2011, The Wall Street Journal noted that President Obama‘s job-creation plans were drawing resistance from Senate Democrats. The article quoted Carper as saying, “I think the best jobs bill that can be passed is a comprehensive long-term deficit-reduction plan. That’s better than everything else the president is talking about combined.”[53]
Minimum wage
In April 2014, the United States Senate debated the Minimum Wage Fairness Act (S. 1737; 113th Congress). The bill would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) to increase the federal minimum wage for employees to $10.10 per hour over the course of a two-year period.[54] The bill was strongly supported by President Barack Obama and many of the Democratic Senators, but strongly opposed by Republicans in the Senate and House.[55][56][57] Carper said that he preferred legislation that would have a greater chance of becoming law, such as an increase to only $9 an hour.[56]
On March 5, 2021, Carper voted against Bernie Sanders‘s amendment to include a $15/hour minimum wage in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.[58]
LGBT rights
Carper signed a law as Governor defining “marriage as between a man and a woman,” but he also voted as a Senator against the Federal Marriage Amendment, a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.[59] He also voted against banning gay marriage again in 2006.[60] In 2013, Carper announced that he now supports same-sex marriage.[61]
Iraq War
Carper voted yes on the 2002 Iraq War Resolution.[62]
Personal life
Carper married Martha Ann Stacy in 1985. They have two children. The family are members of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware.
Unlike most senators, who maintain residences in both Washington, D.C., and in their home state, Carper commutes more than 100 miles by Amtrak train from his home in Wilmington to the United States Capitol. Carper says this arrangement has helped his family live a normal life despite his demanding, high-profile job.[63] On May 12, 2015, he narrowly escaped injury when the train he took home derailed and crashed in Philadelphia shortly after he deboarded.[64] In 2024, Newark Train Station was renamed in his honor.[65]
Carper has been married twice, first in 1978, to Diane Beverly Isaacs, a former Miss Delaware, who had two children by a previous marriage. They divorced in 1983. In a 1998 interview, Carper admitted, “I slapped my then-wife, Diane, during a heated argument,” describing it as a mistake.[66][5] According to a 1982 New York Post article, Carper hit Isaacs “so hard he gave her a black eye” and his wife’s two children from a previous relationship “were slapped around and bruised by Carper for doing such things as leaving the family dog on the bed.” Carper denied these claims.[5]
Finances
As of 2018, according to OpenSecrets.org, Carper’s net worth was more than $5.7 million.[67]
In August 2023, Congresstrading.com tweeted that Carper, a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, made an inverse Nasdaq ETF purchase, a short sell option for investors looking to hedge against or profit from a decline in the index. The tweet questioned whether this was a conflict of interest for Carper.[68][69]
Almanac
Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. The Governor and State Treasurer take office the third Tuesday of January. The Governor has a four-year term and the State Treasurer had a two-year term at this time. U.S. Representatives take office January 3 and have a two-year term. U.S. Senators also take office January 3, but have a six-year term.
Public offices | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Office | Type | Location | Began office | Ended office | Notes | |
State Treasurer | Executive | Dover | January 18, 1977 | January 16, 1979 | ||
State Treasurer | Executive | Dover | January 16, 1979 | January 20, 1981 | ||
State Treasurer | Executive | Dover | January 20, 1981 | January 3, 1983 | resigned | |
U.S. Representative | Legislature | Washington | January 3, 1983 | January 3, 1985 | ||
U.S. Representative | Legislature | Washington | January 3, 1985 | January 3, 1987 | ||
U.S. Representative | Legislature | Washington | January 3, 1987 | January 3, 1989 | ||
U.S. Representative | Legislature | Washington | January 3, 1989 | January 3, 1991 | ||
U.S. Representative | Legislature | Washington | January 3, 1991 | January 3, 1993 | ||
Governor | Executive | Dover | January 19, 1993 | January 21, 1997 | ||
Governor | Executive | Dover | January 21, 1997 | January 3, 2001 | resigned | |
U.S. Senator | Legislative | Washington | January 3, 2001 | January 3, 2007 | ||
U.S. Senator | Legislative | Washington | January 3, 2007 | January 3, 2013 | ||
U.S. Senator | Legislative | Washington | January 3, 2013 | January 3, 2019 | ||
U.S. Senator | Legislative | Washington | January 3, 2019 | Ongoing |
Notes
- ^ “Navy Submarine to Bear Delaware’s Name,” Wilmington (Delaware) News Journal, 19 Nov 2012
- ^ “About Tom Carper”. carper.senate.gov. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
- ^ Baker, Donald P.; story, Washington Post staff writer; Washington Post staff writer Eugene L. Meyer also contributed to this (March 7, 1981). “Congressmen Shared House With Female Lobbyist”. The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Cohen, Celia (2002). Only in Delaware, Politics and Politicians in the First State. pp. 293–295.
- ^ a b c Bowden, John (December 14, 2017). “Dem senator denies report claiming he lied about abusing his wife”. The Hill. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
- ^ Goss, Scott. “Donald Trump Jr. tweet revives domestic violence accusation against U.S. Sen. Tom Carper”. The News Journal.
- ^ “Delaware governor to challenge Roth”. CNN. September 21, 2012. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012.
- ^ a b Wilkie, Curtis (October 26, 2000). “In Tight Race, Health Issues Dog Delaware’s Roth”. The Boston Globe (abstract). Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2013 – via Boston Globe Archives. Also available at: cache.boston.com. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
- ^ “Delaware U.S. Senate Race, 2000: Governor Unseats 5-Term Incumbent by 12 Percent”. Sussex County Online (Delaware). sussexcountyonline.com. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
- ^ “In Delaware, Gov. Carper Ousts 5-Term Sen. Roth”. The Philadelphia Inquirer (preview only; subscription required). November 8, 2000. Retrieved May 1, 2018 – via Philly.com.
- ^ Chris Slavens (July 26, 2011). “Kevin Wade vs. Tom Carper?”. DelawarePolitics.net. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
- ^ Leven, Rachel (October 14, 2011). “Super PAC opposing Sen. Tom Carper registers with FEC”. The Hill. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
- ^ Bittle, Matt (August 27, 2018). “Carper shifts left under progressive challenger’s attack; Harris labels senator as out of touch”. Delaware State News. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
- ^ Chase, Randall (August 27, 2018). “Carper meets upstart primary challenger Harris in debate”. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
- ^ Frerick, Austin (August 1, 2018). “Tom Carper: Senator DowDuPont”. Forbes. New York City. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
- ^ Joyce, A.P. (July 18, 2018). “Can Kerri Harris be the first progressive to oust a sitting Democratic senator?”. mic.com. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
- ^ “Primary Election (Official Results)”. State of Delaware Department of Elections. September 6, 2018. Archived from the original on November 7, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
- ^ “Delaware Election Results”. The New York Times. November 6, 2018. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
- ^ Everett, Burgess (May 22, 2023). “Carper to retire, opening safe Dem Senate seat”. Politico.
- ^ “About Tom Carper”. carper.senate.gov. Office of Senator Tom Carper. Archived from the original on April 14, 2019. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- ^ Quinn, Holly (January 7, 2021). “Here’s how Delaware political leaders responded to the Capitol riot on social media”. Technical.ly Delaware. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- ^ Thomas, TaRhonda; Ileto, Christie (January 7, 2021). “Local Democratic members of Congress join call to invoke 25th Amendment to remove President Trump”. 6abc Philadelphia. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- ^ “Committee Assignments of the 118th Congress”. United States Senate. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ “Carper to Chair Senate Environment and Public Works Committee”. February 4, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
- ^ Nilsen, Ella (September 5, 2018). “The left’s best hope to pick up a Senate seat is in Delaware”. Vox. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
- ^ “Lawmakers”. ratings.conservative.org. American Conservative Union. Archived from the original on May 4, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
- ^ “The Voter’s Self Defense System”. Vote Smart. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
- ^ “Political positions for Thomas Carper”. Archived from the original on November 5, 2014. Retrieved March 27, 2012.
- ^ “S. 3 (108th): Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 — Senate Vote #51 — Mar 13, 2003”. GovTrack.us. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
- ^ “The Voter’s Self Defense System”. Vote Smart. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
- ^ Petree, Rob (May 23, 2018). “Carper calls Trump’s proposal to cut abortion funding a “purely political attack”“. Delaware 105.9FM. Archived from the original on May 23, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
- ^ “Tom Carper on the Issues”. www.ontheissues.org. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
- ^ Carper, Tom. ““This Supreme Court decision is unconscionably cruel and wrong. It strips away 50 years of constitutional precedent and upends the lives of millions of American women. It’s a dark day for our country and our Constitution.”“. Twitter. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- ^ Frazin, Rachel (April 4, 2019). “More than 30 Senate Dems ask Trump to reconsider Central American aid cuts”. The Hill.
- ^ “Senate Kills Measure to Scrutinize Israeli Human Rights Record as Condition for Aid”. The Intercept. January 16, 2024.
- ^ “Senate Democrats press Biden to establish two-state solution for Israel, Palestine”. The Hill. March 20, 2024.
- ^ Starkey, Jonathan (November 25, 2016). “Carper, Coons push for gun control measures”. Delaware Online. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
- ^ “Tom Carper on Gun Control”. www.ontheissues.org. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
- ^ Mathis-Lilley, Ben; Hannon, Elliot (June 15, 2016). “Senate Democrats’ Surprise Gun-Control Filibuster Ended at 2:11 a.m.” Slate. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
- ^ Restuccio, Jonah (October 3, 2017). “Local lawmakers respond to Vegas shooting”. WMDT. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
- ^ “U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Helps Introduce Background Check Expansion Act To Reduce Gun Violence”. urbanmilwaukee.com. January 9, 2019.
- ^ Barone, Michael; McCutcheon, Chuck (2012). Almanac of American Politics. University of Chicago Press. p. 344. ISBN 978-0226038087.
- ^ Collins Rudolf, John (November 11, 2010). “On Our Radar: A Proposed Gas Tax Increase”. The New York Times. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
- ^ Schortgen, Kenneth Jr. (May 16, 2011). “Congress looking at new bill to bail out postal workers”. The Wall Street Journal. New York City: Dow Jones & Company. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
- ^ Everett, Burgess; Bresnahan, John (August 1, 2019). “Senate passes massive 2-year budget deal”. Politico.
- ^ Aronoff, Kate (August 24, 2018). “TOM CARPER TOUTS HIS ENVIRONMENTAL RECORD, BUT A CLOSER LOOK SUGGESTS IT’S NOT SO CLEAN”. The Intercept. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
- ^ Tom Carper (actor) (February 16, 2017). Senate Session Mr. Carper. C-SPAN. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
- ^ “Wyden, Merkley urge more affordable housing funds”. ktvz.com. April 16, 2019. Archived from the original on April 18, 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
- ^ “Home | Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee”. www.hsgac.senate.gov.
- ^ Senators Say Cybersecurity Bill Has No ‘Kill Switch’ Archived September 21, 2012, at archive.today, informationweek.com, June 24, 2010. Retrieved on June 25, 2010.
- ^ SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN & SEN. SUSAN COLLINS & SEN. TOM CARPER (June 10, 2010). “We must ‘arm’ cyberspace battlefront”. Politico. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
- ^ Brush, Silla (May 13, 2010). “White House fights back against Carper amendment to Wall Street reform bill”. The Hill. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
- ^ “Do-Nothing Democrats?”. WSJ.com. September 21, 2011. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
- ^ “S. 1737 – Summary”. United States Congress. April 2, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
- ^ Sink, Justin (April 2, 2014). “Obama: Congress has ‘clear choice’ on minimum wage”. The Hill. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
- ^ a b Bolton, Alexander (April 8, 2014). “Reid punts on minimum-wage hike”. The Hill. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
- ^ Bolton, Alexander (April 4, 2014). “Centrist Republicans cool to minimum wage hike compromise”. The Hill. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
- ^ Johnson, Jake (March 5, 2021). “Here Are the 8 Democrats Who Just Joined GOP to Vote Down Sanders’ $15 Minimum Wage Amendment”. Common Dreams. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
- ^ “Carper Statement on Gay Marriage Amendment”. United States Senator Tom Carper. July 14, 2004. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
- ^ “Tom Carper on Civil Rights”. www.ontheissues.org. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
- ^ Cirilli, Kevin (April 2, 2013). “Carper backs same-sex marriage”. Politico. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
- ^ “Senate Roll Call: Iraq Resolution”. The Washington Post. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
- ^ Manser, Ann (2001). “Delaware’s junior senator knows the business of government and politics”. University of Delaware Messenger. Vol. 10, no. 3. Newark, Delaware: University of Delaware.
- ^ Mulvihill, Geoff (May 14, 2015). “Amtrak train derails killing 6 people; investigation begins”. MSN. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
- ^ Mace, Ben. “Tributes to retiring Sen. Carper include buildings named in his honor in Newark, Smyrna”. Delaware Online. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ Petree, Rob. “Carper admits to slapping his ex wife, denies family abuse; stepson speaks out”. Delaware 105.9FM. Archived from the original on September 19, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- ^ “Tom Carper – Net Worth – Personal Finances”. OpenSecrets.org. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
- ^ Moorcraft, Bethan (August 3, 2023). “This sitting member of the Senate Finance Committee just made a bet against the US stock market by buying an inverse Nasdaq ETF — here’s why a government watchdog is calling him out for it”. Yahoo Finance. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
- ^ congresstrading.com [@congresstrading] (August 2, 2023). “Breaking: Senator Carper reports shorting (betting against) the American economy in his stock portfolio”.
References
- Barone, Michael; Richard E. Cohen (2005). Almanac of American Politics. Washington: National Journal Group. ISBN 0-89234-112-2.
- Hoffecker, Carol E. (2004). Democracy in Delaware. Wilmington, Delaware: Cedar Tree Books. ISBN 1-892142-23-6.
- Boyer, William W. (2000). Governing Delaware. Newark, Delaware: University of Delaware Press. ISBN 1-892142-23-6.
External links
- Senator Tom Carper official U.S. Senate website
- Carper for Delaware official campaign website
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Tom Carper at Curlie
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Profile at Delaware’s Governors
- Military profile at Experiencing War, Library of Congress
- University of Delaware’s Thomas R. Carper congressional papers