Blanche Lambert Lincoln
| Blanche Lincoln | |
| |
| Occupation | U.S. Senator |
|---|---|
| Employer | U.S. Government |
Blanche Lambert Lincoln (D-AR) is a former U.S. Senator.
She held off a strong challenge from Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter in the June 8, 2010 primary for the party's Senate nomination. Her victory gave her a chance to win a third term in November of 2010 and avoid the fate of other incumbents turned out of office that year.[1] However, she was defeated in the 2010 general election by Rep. John Boozman.
Lincoln successfully added a provision in the Senate-passed Financial Overhaul Bill that could force banks to spin off their lucrative derivatives businesses into separately capitalized affiliates. But no such provision was in the House-passed bill.[2]
Background[edit]
Lincoln began her career in 1992 as the U.S. Representative for Arkansas’s First Congressional District.[3] She became the youngest woman to be elected to the U.S. Senate on Nov. 3 in 1998 at the age of 38. She made history again when she was tapped as the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee.
The daughter of a rice farmer, Lincoln is the first woman to lead the agriculture committee and as Arkansas senator, represents some of the biggest U.S. rice and cotton producers.[4]
Lincoln played a key role in the compromise that led to passage of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 which is also known as the Farm Bill.
Lincoln founded and currently chairs the bipartisan Senate Hunger Caucus to help focus the nation's attention on families and children that go hungry in America.
She is also one of the Finance Committee's top ranking Democrats and was the first woman Democratic Senator to lead a Finance Committee Subcommittee.
She is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions and Family Policy for the 111th Congress. Lincoln also serves on the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Senate Special Committee on Aging. She plays an influential role in approaching the following issues; farm policy, nutrition, social security, health care, tax policy, international trade, energy policy, aging issues and benefits for Arkansas's military service members, veterans and their families.
Lincoln was named chair of Rural Outreach for the Senate Democratic Caucus by Majority Leader Harry Reid. In this position, she looks to revitalize rural America including investments in biofuels development, farm programs and education.
She also co-chairs "The Third Way" which is an organization dedicated to finding creative solutions to old problems.[5]
Education[edit]
Lincoln received a bachelor's degree from Randolph-Macon Woman's College in Lynchburg, Virginia. She also studied at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
References[edit]
- ↑ Blanche Lambert Lincoln. New York Times.
- ↑ Lincoln’s Fate Could Decide Fate of Derivatives Proposal. Wall Street Journal.
- ↑ Blanche Lincoln. Senate website.
- ↑ New Farm Panel Chief Lincoln Splits with Harkin on Derivatives. Bloomberg News.
- ↑ Blanche Lincoln Bio. U.S. Senate.