Congressman Gary L. Ackerman

Gary Ackerman (born November 19, 1942) is presently serving his twelfth term in the United States House of Representatives. Ackerman represents the Fifth Congressional District of New York, encompassing the North Shore of Queens and Long Island, including West and Northeast Queens and Northern Nassau County (map). It includes areas like Corona, Flushing, Jamaica Estates, Bayside, Whitestone, Douglaston, and Little Neck in Queens, as well as Great Neck, Sands Point, Port Washington, Searingtown, Albertson, Manhasset, and Roslyn in Nassau County. Image File history File links Rep. ... Image File history File links Rep. ... November 19 is the 323rd day of the year (324th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... The chamber of the United States House of Representatives is located in the south wing of the Capitol building, in Washington, D.C.. This photograph shows a rare glimpse of the four vote tallying boards (the blackish squares across the top), which display each members name and vote as... Official language(s) None, English de facto Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  Ranked 27th  - Total 54,520 sq. ... Queens Borough in New York City, in yellow Queens is the largest in area and second most populous of the five boroughs of New York City. ... Mercator projection of Long Island Long Island is an island in New York, USA. At 1,377 square miles (3567 km²) and 7. ... Queens Borough in New York City, in yellow Queens is the largest in area and second most populous of the five boroughs of New York City. ... Nassau County is a county located outside New York City in the U.S. state of New York. ... Corona, Queens, (zip code 11368) is an area of Queens, New York surrounded by Flushing, Jackson Heights, and Elmhurst. ... Flushing is a section of the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. ... Bayside is the name of a neighborhood in Queens County of New York City, New York in the United States of America. ... Little Neck is a community in Queens, New York. ... Queens Borough in New York City, in yellow Queens is the largest in area and second most populous of the five boroughs of New York City. ... Great Neck is a village located in Nassau County, New York in the USA, on the North Shore of Long Island. ... Sands Point is a village located in Long Islands prestigious North Shore at the northern tip of the Cow Neck Peninsula of Long Island in Nassau County, New York in the USA. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 2,786. ... Port Washington is a hamlet located in Nassau County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. ... Searingtown is a census-designated place located in Nassau County, New York. ... Albertson is a hamlet (and census-designated place) located in Nassau County, New York. ... Manhasset is a hamlet (and census-designated place) located in Nassau County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. ... Roslyn is a village located in Nassau County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. ... Nassau County is a county located outside New York City in the U.S. state of New York. ...

Biography

Born on western Long Island, in Brooklyn, Ackerman was raised in Flushing, Queens. He attended local public schools, Brooklyn Technical High School and graduated from Queens College in 1965. After college, Ackerman became a New York City School teacher where he taught social studies, mathematics, and journalism to junior high school students in Queens . Mercator projection of Long Island Long Island is an island in New York, USA. At 1,377 square miles (3567 km²) and 7. ... A map of New York City, highlighting Brooklyn. ... Still existing symbols of New York Worlds Fair are in Flushing, Queens. ... Brooklyn Technical High School is one of New York Citys three original specialized high schools, along with the Bronx High School of Science and Stuyvesant High School. ... Queens College, Queens College or Queens College is the name of more than one institution, see: Queens College, Cambridge Queens College, Charlotte Queens College, Hong Kong Queens College, London Queens College, New York Queens College, Nassau The Queens College, Oxford Queens College was the... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Big Apple, The Capital of the World[1], Gotham Government Counties (Boroughs) Bronx (The Bronx) New York (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Kings (Brooklyn) Richmond (Staten Island) Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Geographical characteristics Area    - City 1,214. ... Social studies is the study of history, geography, civics, sociology, economics, and other social science subjects in primary and secondary schools in North America. ... Euclid, a famous Greek mathematician known as the father of geometry, is shown here in detail from The School of Athens by Raphael. ... Journalism is a discipline of collecting, analyzing, verifying, and presenting information gathered regarding current events, including trends, issues and people. ...

Following the birth of his first child in 1969, Ackerman petitioned the New York City Board of Education for an unpaid leave of absence to spend time with his newborn daughter. But his request was denied under then existing policy which reserved unpaid "maternity-child care" leave to women only. 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ... Leave of absence is a colloquial phrase that is typically used in the U.S. to mean an extended period of time away from your job without ending your employment status. ...

In what was to be a forerunner of the Federal Family Leave Act, then teacher Ackerman successfully sued the Board in a landmark case which established the right of either parent to receive unpaid leave for child care. A quarter of a century later, now a Congressman, Ackerman in the House-Senate Conference Committee, signed the report of the Family and Medical Leave Act which became the law of the land. Childcare is the act of caring for and supervising minor children. ...

Ackerman's second career move occurred in 1970, when he left teaching to start a weekly community newspaper in Queens called The Flushing Tribune which soon became The Queens Tribune. Ackerman served as its editor and publisher. 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... Queens Borough in New York City, in yellow Queens is the largest in area and second most populous of the five boroughs of New York City. ... An Editor is a person who prepares text—typically language, but also images and sounds—for publication by correcting, condensing, or otherwise modifying it. ... A publisher is a person or entity which engages in the act of publishing. ...

Ackerman was first elected to public office — the New York State Senate — in 1978. State Senator Ackerman was then elected to Congress in 1983 in a special election. Ackerman represented the central Queens area until 1992, when reapportionment reconfigured his district to the north shore of Queens , Nassau and Suffolk Counties . Then redistricting in 2002 slightly redrew the boundaries again to its present configuration of communities in Queens and Nassau County. The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... A congress is a gathering of people, especially a gathering for a political purpose. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Queens Borough in New York City, in yellow Queens is the largest in area and second most populous of the five boroughs of New York City. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... Reapportionment is the reallocation of seats in a legislature to the regions from which legislators are elected, following changes in population. ... Queens Borough in New York City, in yellow Queens is the largest in area and second most populous of the five boroughs of New York City. ... Nassau County is a county located outside New York City in the U.S. state of New York. ... Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ...

Ackerman, who sports a white carnation boutonniere each day, lives on a houseboat named the Unsinkable II while in Washington , D.C. and otherwise resides in Jamaica Estates, Queens with his wife Rita. The Ackermans have three children: Lauren who married Paul, Corey who married Lena and Ari. Representative Ackerman is a very amateur photographer, an avid stamp collector and a boating enthusiast. Ackerman is an Eagle Scout. A houseboat in Amsterdam House Boat on Kerala water-ways House Boat in Kumarakom lake House Boat on Kerala water-ways A houseboat is a boat that has been designed or modified to be used primarily as a human dwelling. ... This is a list of notable photographers in the art, documentary and fashion traditions. ... Stamp collecting is the collecting of postage stamps and related objects, such as envelopes (cover)s. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable by a Scout in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), and is also used as a title of a Scout who has achieved this honor. ...

At the 2006 meeting of the International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians (ICJP), Ackerman was unanimously elected to serve as the executive of the organization. The International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians (ICJP) is a project supported by the Knesset, the World Jewish Congress, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Israel Forum. ...

Committees

Congressman Ackerman is a senior member of the House International Relations Committee where he plays major leadership roles in flash point areas of the world. Often, these involve national security, nuclear proliferation and terrorism issues in areas such as the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Latin America . The U.S. House Committee on International Relations (also known as the House International Relations Committee, the House Foreign Relations Committee or the House Foreign Affairs Committee), is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives which is in charge of bills and investigations related to the foreign... Security measures taken to protect the Houses of Parliament in London, England. ... World map with nuclear weapons development status represented by color. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... World map showing the location of Asia. ... Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents of Earth which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiographic one, leading to various perspectives about Europes borders. ... Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ...

Ackerman is the ranking Democrat on the International Relations Subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia which has oversight on U.S. policy towards nations in the Middle East and Central Asia. He is also a member of and the most recent Democrat to chair the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, which has jurisdiction over United States policy towards countries in Asia. The Democratic Party is one of two major political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... This article describes a type of political entity. ... World map showing the location of Asia. ...

Ackerman also serves on the powerful Financial Services Committee where he sits on two Subcommittees: Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit, as well as Capital Markets, Insurance and Government-Sponsored Enterprises. The Financial Services Committee has jurisdiction over banking and financial institutions, housing programs, insurance regulations and monetary policy — issues that are critical to New York City and Long Island. Ackerman is a champion of consumer rights and a fighter for financial community reform. For other uses, see Bank (disambiguation). ... A financial institution acts as an agent that provides financial services for its clients. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Big Apple, The Capital of the World[1], Gotham Government Counties (Boroughs) Bronx (The Bronx) New York (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Kings (Brooklyn) Richmond (Staten Island) Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Geographical characteristics Area    - City 1,214. ... Mercator projection of Long Island Long Island is an island in New York, USA. At 1,377 square miles (3567 km²) and 7. ...

A Representative’s representative, he was also Congress’ delegate to the United Nations. In addition, he is the Present Chairman of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans. In 2002, he was awarded India's third highest civilian award, the Padma Bhushan for his contributions as member of the India Caucus in the Congress. For an article on American Indians see Native Americans. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... The Padma Bhushan is an Indian civilian decoration established on January 2, 1954 by the President of India. ...

Legislative Highlights

The "Heroes" postage stamp, introduced by Congressman Ackerman. Revenue from sales of this stamp supported families of rescue workers killed or disabled while responding to the attacks of 9/11. The stamp was based on a photograph entitled Ground Zero Spirit.

Among Ackerman's significant legislative undertakings, was the passage of his Baby AIDS legislation. The measure requires mandatory HIV testing of newborns and disclosure of the results to the mother. It also forbids insurance companies from terminating the health insurance of anybody who undergoes an AIDS test, regardless of the results. Image File history File links Stamp in honor of heroes of 9/11. ... Image File history File links Stamp in honor of heroes of 9/11. ... The explosion resulting from the crashing of United Airlines Flight 175 into the South Tower. ... Heroes stamp using the Thomas E. Franklin photo Raising the Flag at Ground Zero refers to the famous flag raising photograph by Thomas E. Franklin of the Bergen Record on September 11, 2001. ... The Red Ribbon is a symbol for solidarity with HIV-positive people and those living with AIDS. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS or Aids) is a collection of symptoms and infections in humans resulting from the specific damage to the immune system caused by infection with... Bold textJAMES CHECKLEY Legislation (or statutory law) is law which has been promulgated (or enacted) by a legislature or other governing body. ... Human immunodeficiency virus (commonly known as HIV, and formerly known as HTLV-III and lymphadenopathy-associated virus) is a retrovirus that primarily infects vital components of the human immune system such as CD4+ T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... HIV test kits used both to screen donor blood, blood components and cellular products, and to diagnose, treat and monitor persons with HIV and AIDS are regulated in the United States by the FDA. HIV tests to detect antibodies, antigens or RNA in serum, plasma, oral fluid, dried blood spot...

Ackerman championed the issue of newborn testing after discovering that 45 states including New York tested babies for HIV but did not disclose the results to the mothers, using the data for mere statistical purposes. As a result, thousands of mothers brought their infants home from the hospital, never aware that their child tested positive for HIV. This legislation, which became the subject of profound debate nationwide, garnered such support that it was the only bill that session of Congress to have a majority of all the House Democrats and Republicans as cosponsors. In addition, Ackerman stopped the anonymous testing from being reinstated in years that followed. Bold textJAMES CHECKLEY Legislation (or statutory law) is law which has been promulgated (or enacted) by a legislature or other governing body. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. ... This article is about the modern United States Republican Party. ...

The Congressman was also successful in getting enacted, his bill that created the "Heroes" postage stamp (the one with the three firefighters raising the American flag at ground zero), the revenue from which helps the families of rescue workers killed or permanently disabled while responding to the September 11 attacks. A selection of Hong Kong postal stamps A postage stamp is evidence of pre-paying a fee for postal services. ... Flag ratio: 7:12; nicknames: Stars and Stripes, Old Glory The flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars...

Ackerman also scored a victory in his efforts to ban downed animals from being sold as meat in supermarkets, restaurants and butcher stores. For a decade, Ackerman warned that use of such livestock was not only inhumane treatment of animals but also risked causing a Mad Cow disaster in the United States. His legislation fell on deaf ears until December 2003, when his warning became prophetic and the Bush Administration — among those who had opposed the bill — finally imposed his ban through regulation. Exterior appearance of typical American supermarket (a Safeway) A supermarket or grocery store is a store that sells a wide variety of food. ... Toms Restaurant, a restaurant in New York made familiar by Suzanne Vega and the television sitcom Seinfeld For other uses, see Restaurant (disambiguation). ... Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or commonly mad cow disease) is a fatal, neurodegenerative disease of cattle, which infects by a mechanism that shocked biologists on its discovery in late 20th century and appears transmissible to humans. ... George W. Bush administration is the administration of the 43rd president of the United States of America, 2001-present George H. W. Bush administration is the administration of the 41st president of the United States of America, 1989-1993 This is a disambiguation page, a list of pages that otherwise...

Also law of the land is Congressman Ackerman’s measure requiring banks and financial companies to notify consumers when negative information is placed on their credit reports. The Congressman also sponsored legislation which is now law that in the wake of the Enron, WorldCom and other corporate scandals, prohibits accounting firms from consulting for the companies they audit. Iain Banks is a Scottish-born writer of both mainstream and science fiction novels. ... Finance addresses the ways in which individuals, business entities and other organizations allocate and use monetary resources over time. ... A credit report summarizes historical financial information collected to determine an individuals or an entitys credit worthiness; that is, the means and willingness to repay an indebtedness. ... Enron Corporation is an energy company based in Houston, Texas. ... For a time, WorldCom (WCOM) was the United States second largest long distance phone company (AT&T was the largest). ...

Other highlights include the Congressman authoring legislation that required President Bush to impose sanctions against the Palestinian Authority for not complying with peace agreements it signed with the U.S. and Israel. Ackerman was also successful in getting Medicare to cover testing for prostate cancer. President Bush may refer to two different people who were Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States, 1989 - 1993. ... International sanctions are actions taken by countries against others for political reasons, either unilaterally or multilaterally, and consist of three major forms: Diplomatic sanctions - the reduction or removal of diplomatic ties, such as embassies. ... The West Bank The Palestinian National Authority (PNA or PA) is a semi-autonomous state institution nominally governing the bulk of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (which it calls the Palestinian Territories). It was established as a part of Oslo accords between the PLO and Israel. ... Medicare is a health insurance program for the elderly and disabled in the USA. It was first passed on July 30, 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson as amendments to Social Security legislation. ... Prostate cancer is a disease in which cancer develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. ...

Enacted as well was his measure that prevents war criminals and human rights abusers who have perpetrated genocide, torture, terrorism or other atrocities, from entering the U.S. and deports those who have slipped in. In addition, Ackerman sponsored the first federal legislation to ban the use of handheld cell phones while driving. A war crime is a punishable offense, under international law, for violations of the law of war by any person or persons, military or civilian. ... Human rights are rights which some hold to be inalienable and belonging to all humans. ... Genocide is defined by the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (CPPCG) Article 2 as any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, as such: Killing members of the group; Causing... Torture is any act by which severe pain, whether physical or psychological, is intentionally inflicted on a person as a means of intimidation, a deterrent, revenge, a punishment, or as a method for the extraction of information or confessions (i. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... Cellular redirects here. ...

Congressional Initiatives

In his capacity as the then Chairman of the Asia Subcommittee, Ackerman made history in the 1990s by traveling to North Korea to discuss non-proliferation. Upon his return to South Korea, Ackerman became the first person since the Korean War to cross the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone). The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive. ... World map with nuclear weapons development status represented by color. ... Combatants Western Allied/UN combatants: South Korea, United States Communist combatants: North Korea, Peoples Republic of China, Soviet Union Strength Note: All figures may vary according to source. ... In military terms, a demilitarized zone (DMZ) is an area, usually the frontier or boundary between two or more groups, where military activity is not permitted, usually by treaty or other agreement. ...

Ackerman is also well known for his many missions to feed the starving people of Ethiopia and the Sudan and for playing a leading role in the rescue of Ethiopian Jews and aiding their emigration to Israel. Active in the Middle East peace process, Ackerman has met with the current and most past Israeli prime ministers and the heads of all the Arab countries in an effort to help secure peace in the region. He also ventured to Kashmir enduring sub-freezing winter temperatures in an attempt to secure the release of four western hostages. The Beta Israel (or House of Israel), known by outsiders by the pejorative term Falasha or Falash Mura (exiles or strangers) are Jews of Ethiopian origin. ... The Arabs (Arabic: عرب ) are a large and heterogeneous ethnic group found throughout the Middle East and North Africa. ... Shown in green is the Kashmiri region under Pakistani control. ...

Among his many other initiatives, Ackerman helped to force the State of Hawaii to change its discriminatory law that forbade blind individuals from bringing their guide dogs with them to the Island. The Congressman chaired an investigation and bipartisan hearing into whether New York City and Long Island officials properly utilized the spraying of Malathion during the West Nile virus outbreak. He also obtained federal funds to combat a return of the virus. Official language(s) English, Hawaiian Capital Honolulu Largest city Honolulu Area  Ranked 43rd  - Total 10,941 sq. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Big Apple, The Capital of the World[1], Gotham Government Counties (Boroughs) Bronx (The Bronx) New York (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Kings (Brooklyn) Richmond (Staten Island) Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Geographical characteristics Area    - City 1,214. ... Mercator projection of Long Island Long Island is an island in New York, USA. At 1,377 square miles (3567 km²) and 7. ... Malathion is a organophosphate parasympathomimetic which binds irreversibly to cholinesterase. ... West Nile virus is a virus of the family Flaviviridae, found in both tropical and temperate regions. ...

He convinced the German government to establish a $110 million fund to compensate 18,000 Holocaust survivors and to investigate whether 3300 former Nazi soldiers now living in the U.S. and collecting German pensions are war criminals. Concentration camp inmates during the Holocaust The Holocaust was Nazi Germanys systematic genocide (ethnic cleansing) of various ethnic, religious, national, and secular groups during World War II. Early elements include the Kristallnacht pogrom and the T-4 Euthanasia Program established by Hitler that killed some 200,000 people. ... National Socialism redirects here. ...

Congressman Ackerman also convinced the Defense Department to stop garnishing wages from certain U.S. soldiers serving in the war against Iraq. Although troops who serve in combat zones are not required to pay federal taxes, many soldiers had failed to be granted the exemption. The United States Department of Defense, abbreviated DoD or DOD and sometimes called the Defense Department, is a civilian Cabinet organization of the United States government. ... A tax (also known as a duty) is a financial charge or other levy imposed on an individual or a legal entity by a state or a functional equivalent of a state (e. ...

In addition, the Congressman lobbied federal security officials — in the wake of September 11 — to use retired law enforcement officers as screeners at New York airports and he pressed President Bush to make good on his promise to provide New York with $20 billion in additional 9/11 disaster aid. September 11 is the 254th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (255th in leap years). ... Official language(s) None, English de facto Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  Ranked 27th  - Total 54,520 sq. ... President Bush may refer to two different people who were Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States, 1989 - 1993. ...

The Congressman has also not been without some controversial votes including being one of only 22 Congressman and the only Democrat from New York to vote against protecting the symbols and traditions of Christmas. The resolution, which did not include language that would protect the symbols of other religious holidays, passed 401-22 in the House in December 2005. This isn’t the first time the Congressman was labeled as anti-Christian; in April 2003 the Catholic League for religious and civil rights attacked Ackerman for voting against a non-binding resolution that would have declared a day of prayer in recognition of the U.S. war in Iraq. He was also criticized for calling on Bush to demand U.S. Secretary Rod Paige's resignation for stating that values taught in Christian schools are better than those learned in public schools. Official language(s) None, English de facto Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  Ranked 27th  - Total 54,520 sq. ... Christmas is a Christian holiday held on December 25 which celebrates the birth of Jesus. ... Look up December in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see April (disambiguation). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Logo of the Catholic League The non-partisan Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights is nation’s largest Catholic civil rights organization, with the mission of defending the civil and religious rights of Catholics in the United States to participate in American public life without defamation or discrimination. ... There have been three conflicts in the late 20th century and early 21st century called Gulf War, all of which refer to conflicts in the Persian Gulf region: Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) (aka First Gulf War). ... Rod Paige Dr. Roderick Raynor Rod Paige (born June 17, 1933), served as the 7th United States Secretary of Education from 2001 to 2005. ...

Benjamin Stanley Rosenthal (June 8, 1923 – January 4, 1983), a Representative from New York, was born in New York City . ... These are tables of congressional delegations from New York to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. ... Thomas J. Manton (1932- ) was a Democratic congressman from New York. ... Raymond Joseph McGrath (born March 27, 1942) is a former United States Representative from Valley Stream, New York. ... These are tables of congressional delegations from New York to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. ...

External links

• Official Site of Rep. Gary Ackerman
• BSA Fact Sheet