Bobby Rush
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 1st district
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 3, 1993
Preceded by	Charles Hayes
Born	November 23, 1946 (1946-11-23) (age 61) Albany, Georgia
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Carolyn Thomas
Religion	Baptist

Bobby Lee Rush (born November 23, 1946) is an American politician from Illinois. A Democrat, he has served as United States Representative of Illinois' 1st congressional district since 1993. The district is located principally on the south side of Chicago, and has a higher percentage of African American residents (65%) than any other congressional district in the nation. He is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Type Bicameral Speaker of the House of Representatives House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, (D) since January 4, 2007 Steny Hoyer, (D) since January 4, 2007 House Minority Leader John Boehner, (R) since January 4, 2007 Members 435 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political groups Democratic Party Republican Party... This article is about the U.S. State. ... Image:Illinois1st. ... Open seat redirects here. ... is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Charles Arthur Hayes (February 17, 1918 - April 8, 1997) was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois. ... is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nickname: Location in Dougherty County and the state of Georgia Coordinates: , Country State County Dougherty Government  - Mayor Willie Adams, Jr. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      Further information: Politics of the United States#Organization of American political parties The Democratic... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Baptist is... is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A politician is an individual who is a formally recognized and active member of a government, or a person who influences the way a society is governed through an understanding of political power and group dynamics. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      Further information: Politics of the United States#Organization of American political parties The Democratic... The House of Representatives is the larger of two houses that make up the U.S. Congress, the other being the United States Senate. ... Illinois First Congressional District since 2003 The First Congressional District of Illinois is a congressional district in the state of Illinois that includes part of Cook County. ... For other uses, see Chicago (disambiguation). ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... The Congressional Black Caucus is an organization representing African American members of the Congress of the United States. ...

Rush was born in Albany, Georgia, was educated at Roosevelt University, the University of Illinois and McCormick Theological Seminary (all in Chicago), served in the United States Army from 1963 to 1968, was a co-founder of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, and was an insurance agent and member of the Chicago City Council before entering the House. Nickname: Location in Dougherty County and the state of Georgia Coordinates: , Country State County Dougherty Government  - Mayor Willie Adams, Jr. ... Roosevelt University is a private institution of higher education with full service campuses in Chicagos Loop and northwest suburban Schaumburg. ... This article is about the University of Illinois at Chicago. ... McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago educates ministers of the Presbyterian Church USA. After serving as pastoral intern at Edgewater Presbyterian Church, Mamie Broadhurst receives her Master of Divinity degree on May 7, 2005. ... The United States Army is the largest, and by some standards oldest, established branch of the armed forces of the United States and is one of seven uniformed services. ... For other uses, see 1963 (disambiguation). ... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Black Panther Party (originally called the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense) was an African-American organization established to promote civil rights and self-defense. ... Chicago City Hall, adjacent to the Richard J. Daley Center, houses the chambers of the Chicago City Council. ...

During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's, Congressman Rush worked to secure basic civil and human rights for African-Americans, women and other minorities. He was a member of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) from 1966 to 1968. Congressman Rush was a co-founder of the Illinois Black Panther Party in 1968.

While a Black Panther, he operated the Panther Party's Free Breakfast for Children program. He also coordinated the Free Medical Clinic, which developed the nation's first mass sickle cell anemia testing program. This visionary Panther initiative forced America's health care providers to recognize the impact of sickle cell anemia on the Black community and to develop national research into its causes, effects and solutions, a practice which endures to this day.

In the 2000 Democratic primary, Rush defeated challenger and state senator Barack Obama, who was subsequently elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004 [1]. On July 15, 2004, Rush was the second sitting U.S. Congressman in one week, following Charles Rangel and preceding Joe Hoeffel, to be arrested for trespassing while protesting alleged human rights violations in front of the Sudanese Embassy. [2] “Barack” redirects here. ... Type Upper House President of the Senate Richard B. Cheney, R since January 20, 2001 President pro tempore Robert C. Byrd, D since January 4, 2007 Members 100 Political groups Democratic Party Republican Party Last elections November 7, 2006 Meeting place Senate Chamber United States Capitol Washington, DC United States... is the 196th day of the year (197th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The House of Representatives is the larger of two houses that make up the U.S. Congress, the other being the United States Senate. ... Charles Bernard Rangel Charles Bernard Rangel (born June 11, American politician. ... Rep. ... In law, trespass can be: the criminal act of going into somebody else’s land or property without permission; it is also a civil law tort that may be a valid cause of action to seek judicial relief and possibly damages through a lawsuit. ... Human rights are rights which some hold to be inalienable and belonging to all humans. ...

Congressman Rush authored the bill, H.R. 846, which provides for research on and services for individuals with postpartum depression and psychosis. The bill was named for Chicago-native, Mrs. Melanie Blocker-Stokes. A significant milestone was made on September 29, 2004, when a congressional hearing was held to hear expert testimony as well as a personal account of postpartum depression by the mother of Blocker-Stokes.

On August 9, 2004, Congress passed Rep. Rush's bill to redesignate two facilities of the U.S. Postal Service in the First Congressional District as the "James E. Worsham Post Office" and the "James E. Worsham Carrier Annex Building," respectively.

On November 12, 1999, President Clinton signed Cong. Rush's bill, the Nursing Relief for Disadvantaged Areas Act of '99, into Public Law. The law, temporarily addressed the nursing shortage by providing non immigrant visas for qualified foreign nurses, in the Englewood area of Chicago.

On October 17, 2000, Congress passed the Urban Asthma Reduction Act, 1999. This bill incorporated parts of Cong. Rush's original bill into the Children's Health Act of 2000, which eventually became Public Law No: 106-310. This law amends the Preventive Health & Health Services Block Grant program and includes an integrated approach to vermin management.

Congressman Rush initiated the Chicago Partnership for the Earned Income Tax Credit, an on-going program designed to help thousands of low-income, working Chicagoans receive federal tax credits.

Cong. Rush has brought close to $2 billion of federal funding to the First Congressional District of Illinois since his election. Recently, he announced a $1 million federal grant from the U.S. Office of Naval Research. This grant will help to develop easier and faster ways to assess the presence of chemical and biological agents. It was awarded to the Illinois Institute of Technology. This new research grant will be key to a stronger homeland security and to the safety of U.S. troops all over the world.

Congressman Rush is a member of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

He is also a pastor in Chicago.

Committee Assignments

• Committee on Energy and Commerce
  • Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection (Chairman)
  • Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
• Co-chairman of the Congressional Biotech Caucus

External links

• Official House site

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Current Bills Sponsored at StateSurge.com
• Official campaign site from the DCCC