In his sixth term representing Massachusetts’s Sixth District, U.S. Representative John F. Tierney has developed a national reputation as an effective legislator fighting for America’s working families.
His hard work and commitment to ensuring the legislative branch conducts vigorous oversight has earned Congressman Tierney the Chairmanship of the National Security and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and a Speaker-appointed seat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
Congressman Tierney believes we must defend our nation from those who wish us harm in a way that preserves the rights and liberties of U.S. citizens. He supports a national security policy that prioritizes a strengthened military and Intelligence capability focused on 21st century threats and that gives our troops the support they need, meaningful diplomatic initiatives, serious attention to nuclear non-proliferation efforts, and a defense budget that most efficiently uses tax-payer dollars.
The Congressman also continues to proudly serve as the only member from Massachusetts on the Education and Labor Committee, serving on the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and Competitiveness and the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions.
Fighting for a vibrant middle class and working to create opportunity for all, Congressman Tierney has been an active leader on education and labor issues. He has spearheaded efforts to improve public education at all levels including authoring legislation (The College Affordability and Accountability Act) to make college more affordable for all students. This issue will be one of his top priorities in the 110th Congress.
Congressman Tierney is also committed to creating more jobs and ensuring workers receive needed training. This is reflected in his sponsorship and authorship of several key initiatives that strengthen laws protecting American workers including the Emergency Retiree Health Benefits Protection Act, which would prohibit profitable companies that promised employees retirement coverage from curtailing or eliminating benefits under their retiree health plans after an employee retires.
Additionally, Congressman Tierney believes that we can, and we should, have a government that is truly responsible to the American people -- not to special interest groups and lobbyists. To that end, he continues to be the leading advocate for the creation of a public financing system for congressional elections. His Clean Money, Clean Elections Act, for which he has been consistently pressed since first coming to Congress in 1997, would create a comprehensive, voluntary system whereby candidates could successfully fund their campaigns without recourse to private contributions and all the adverse perceptions they entail.
Born in Salem, Massachusetts, Congressman Tierney attended Salem Public Schools and graduated from Salem State College. He earned a law degree from Suffolk University and, until he took office in January 1997, was partner in the law firm of Tierney, Kalis and Lucas for over 20 years. He and his wife, Patrice, continue to make Salem their home.
