Senator George Allen - Biography

Senator George Allen is working tirelessly in the U.S. Senate to make Virginia and America a better place to live, learn, work and raise a family. A self-described “common sense Jeffersonian Conservative”, Senator Allen trusts free people and free enterprise.
Senator Allen has set clear priorities during his first term in the United States Senate:
Strengthening and supporting America's national defense and homeland security.
Increasing the competitiveness of Virginia and the U.S. for investment and quality, good-paying jobs.
Advocating and embracing policies to make America a leader in the advancement of technology.
Reducing the tax burden on families and small business owners.
As a member of the influential Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, as well as the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, Senator Allen has made the creation of quality, good paying jobs in the Commonwealth his focus. Because of his experience and work with the tremendous high-tech presence in Virginia, Senator Allen was appointed in 2001 to serve as Chairman of the Senate High Tech Task Force where he continued to advocate policies to make America a leader in innovation from nanotechnology to broadband to the education of future engineers and scientists. In 2004, the Senate passed Allen’s Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act, legislation which extends the ban on multiple and discriminatory taxation on the Internet until October 31st 2007. The bill specifically bans three types of taxes that unfairly single out the Internet, including regressive taxes on Internet access, multiple taxation (for example, by two or more States) of a product or service bought over the Internet, and discriminatory taxes that treat Internet purchases differently from other types of sales.Senator Allen is also working to secure America from foreign threats. Given the global security challenges of the 21st century, Senator Allen brings his knowledge of Virginia’s defense industry and key military assets to bear as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee – the Senate committee charged with the consideration of treaties and the declaration of war.
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Senator Allen is also working hard to secure America from foreign threats. Given the global security challenges of a post September 11th world, Senator Allen brings his knowledge of Virginia’s defense industry and key military assets to bear as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee – the Senate committee charged with the consideration of treaties and the declaration of war. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Foreign Relation Committee’s Subcommittee on European Affairs. As a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, the Senator has consistently stood strong with the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces as they fight to protect our freedoms around the world. Senator Allen introduced a bill in Congress in 2005 to do more for the families of soldiers killed in service of their country by raising the death benefit for “next of kin” from $12,000 to $100,000.
In 2005, Senator Allen was also appointed to serve on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee where he is working to reduce America’s over-dependence on foreign oil and shape a national energy plan that strikes a careful balance between our environmental and energy security needs for families and communities in Virginia and all of America.
Prior to his election to the Senate, Senator Allen served as the 67th Governor of Virginia from 1994-1998. As Governor, he won wide recognition for educational improvements such as the implementation of rigorous academic standards and accountability. Several other hallmarks of Senator Allen’s tenure as Governor include the overhaul of an outdated juvenile justice system, work-oriented welfare reform and the abolition of parole for felons. Senator Allen is also widely credited with bringing a record $14 billion of private sector investment along with hundreds of thousands of jobs to Virginia through the expansion and relocation of technology and manufacturing companies.
Bringing the same innovative, constructive leadership to Washington, Senator Allen was unanimously elected a member of the Senate Republican Leadership as Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee in 2002. In the 2004 election, under Senator Allen’s leadership, Republicans picked up four seats in the U.S. Senate.
Senator Allen holds a B.A. in History with distinction as well as a law degree from the University of Virginia. He and his wife, Susan, reside near Mt. Vernon in Fairfax County with their three children: Tyler, Forrest, and Brooke.
Senator George Allen
Professional:
2001 – Present 51st United States Senator from Virginia
1994 – 1998 67th Governor of the Commonwealth
1991 – 1993 U.S. Representative, elected in a special election
1983 – 1991 Virginia House of Delegates
Personal:
Birth date: March 8, 1952
Family: Married, Susan
Three children, Tyler, Forrest and Brooke
Resides: Mt. Vernon, Virginia
Political Heroes: Thomas Jefferson, Ronald Reagan