The Israel Project hosted a conference call on A Nuclear Iran: "What Do We Think We Know and What Can We Do About It?"  with Rep. Pete Hoekstra and Rep. Brad Sherman Moderated by: Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi   Congressman Pete Hoekstra, Ranking Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, discussed current developments regarding Iran. Congressman Brad Sherman, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade, discussed economic sanctions and the outlook for congressional action.                  Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R) MI Rep. Brad Sherman (D) CA Listen to the Audio:

About Our Speakers

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As one of the few former Fortune 500 business executives in Congress, Congressman Pete Hoekstra brings a unique blend of experience and perspective as he represents Michigan’s Second Congressional District in Washington .

Pete was originally sworn in to the 103rd Congress in 1993. He then served a key role in the development of the Contract with America, which was instrumental in gaining a Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time in 40 years.

In 2004, Pete was named Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Now serving as the top Republican, he works to lead Congressional oversight on issues relating to the U.S. Intelligence Community as the United States defends itself against all threats.

Pete is also a senior member of the House Committee on Education and Labor, where he is working to return control of education policy back to parents, educators and administrators as opposed to Washington bureaucrats.

Pete is a member of several task forces and caucuses, including the Immigration Reform Caucus, the House Republican Task Force on Historically Black College and Universities, the Congressional Prayer Caucus, the Congressional Coast Guard Caucus, the Values Action Team, the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, the House Republican Study Committee, the Bipartisan Congressional Bike Caucus, the Congressional Manufacturing Caucus, and he is the founding chairman of the Education Freedom Caucus and the Congressional Caucus on the Netherlands.

Pete has been featured in a variety of media, including appearances on "Meet the Press," "This Week" with George Stephanopoulos, "Fox News Sunday" with Chris Wallace, CNN's "Late Edition" with Wolf Blitzer, C-SPAN’s "Washington Journal," CBS Evening News, NBC’s "Dateline," PBS’s "News Hour," ABC’s "Nightline" and Fox News Channel’s "The O’Reilly Factor," "Fox & Friends," "Hannity & Colmes" and "On the Record" with Greta Van Susteren.

He also has written pieces published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Washington Times, The Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press, among many others.

For his work in Congress, Pete has received numerous awards, including repeatedly earning the U.S. Chamber of Commerce "Spirit of Enterprise" award, the "Hero of the Taxpayer" award from Americans for Tax Reform, the "Taxpayer Superhero" Award from the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, "Public Official of the Year" Award from Habitat for Humanity of Michigan, and the "Faith, Family and Freedom" and "True Blue" awards from the Family Research Council. He has also been recognized by the National Association of Manufacturers.

Pete is a graduate of Holland Christian Schools, holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Hope College in Holland and holds a master’s of Business Administration from the University of Michigan.

Prior to his election to Congress, he worked for 15 years at Zeeland, Mich.-based office furniture manufacturer Herman Miller Inc., where he held the title of Vice President of Marketing.

Pete lives in Holland, Michigan, with his wife, Diane, and has three children, Erin, Allison and Bryan.

He was born on Oct. 30, 1953, in Groningen, the Netherlands, and immigrated to Michigan with his family at the age of 3, making him one of the few members of Congress who was not born in the United States.

 

Serves on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and its Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade (CHAIRMAN) Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia

Serves on the Committee on Financial Services, and its

• Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government-Sponsored Enterprises
• Subcommittee on Financial  
• Institutions and Consumer Credit
• Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity

Serves on the Judiciary Committee

• Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property

Served on the Budget Committee, 1997. On that Committee, authored the Sherman Amendment to the Budget Resolution providing an additional $700 million for the acquisition of environmentally important lands in FY ‘98.  The Sherman Amendment was included in the Joint Budget Resolution and effectuated by a $699 million appropriation.  Sherman also secured $16 million to acquire land and to complete the Backbone Trail through the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

Strong advocate for fiscal responsibility, a balanced budget, federal aid to education, the interests of working families, strong environmental standards, the protection of Social Security and Medicare, and policies to expand U.S. exports.

Served on the California State Board of Equalization from 1990-1995. Chairman of the Board 1991 to 1995. Led the successful fight to repeal the snack tax.

Private Sector Experience: 1974 – 1991
Participated as a staff member of a big-four CPA firm in the financial audits of large businesses and governmental entities; provided tax law counsel on multi-million dollar transactions; provided tax and investment advice to entrepreneurs and small businesses; helped represent the Government of the Philippines under President Aquino in a successful effort to seize assets of deposed President Marcos.  Instructor, Harvard Law School International Tax Program.