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Peter Lussier
Class 3 Senator from Oregon
Democratic Party
Name: Peter Ryan Lussier
Seat: Oregon's Class 3 Senate Seat
Party: Democratic Party
Avatar: Congressman Derek Kilmer
Major Caucus: New Democrat
Gender: Male [0 points]
Date of Birth: February 12, 1976 (49 in 2025) [5 points]
Place of Birth: Springfield, OR
Place of Residence: Eugene, OR; Washington, DC
Sexuality: Straight, married with 2 children [-5 points]
Wife: Jacqueline Lussier (née Jones) (m. 2001)
Children:
- Caroline Lussier (b. 2004)
- Tom Lussier (b. 2007)
Family History: Middle class [0 points]
Race: White [0 points]
Religion: The Episcopal Church [Mainline Protestant; 0 points]
Educational History:
- BA in English with a minor in Medieval Studies, University of Oregon (1994-1998) [Public University; 0 points]
- MPhil in English Studies (Medieval Period), University of Oxford (1998-2000) [Top Master's; 20 points]
- PhD in English Literature; University of Chicago (2000-2003) [Top PhD; 25 points]
Occupational History:
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill [Public school professor; 10 points]
- Assistant Professor of English (2003-2009)
- Associate Professor of English (2009-2011)
University of Oregon
- Professor of English (2011-2014)
- Chair of English Department (2011-2013)
- Divisional Dean of the Humanities (2013-2014)
- Distinguished Professor of English (2017-2019)
National Endowment for the Humanities [10 points]
- Chairman (2014-2017)
Volunteer History:
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PBS North Carolina
- Member, Board of Directors (2004-2006)
- Vice Chair (2006-2008)
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Corporation for Public Broadcasting
- Member, Board of Directors (2008-2014)
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The Review of English Studies
- Editor (2012-2014)
Political History:
- Congressman for Oregon's 4th Congressional District (2019-2023) [2 terms; 6 points]
- Class 3 Senator from Oregon (2023-present) [current term; 0 points]
Key Votes:
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116th Congress (2019-2021): AYE on United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement Implementation Act
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117th Congress (2021-2023): AYE on American Rescue Plan Act of 2021; AYE on Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; AYE on Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022
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118th Congress (2023-2025): AYE on Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023
Other:
- Vernacularity in the Epic Tradition (published 2008) [academic book; 10 points]
- Finding Humanity in the Humanities (published 2015) [non-fiction book; 10 points]
Total: 91/100 points
Narrative Biography:
Peter Ryan Lussier was born in February 1976 to Annette (née Harper) and James Lussier. Peter's mother was an elementary school teacher and his father was a professor of sociology at the University of Oregon, located across the I-5 from the family's hometown of Springfield, Oregon. His parents were originally from the Chicago area, and Peter was the youngest of three boys. Raised in a studious household, Peter overcame dyscalculia to graduate as his high school's salutatorian and a member of the state champion Quiz Bowl team. Where he was weak in math and science, Peter was an avid reader and strong writer. He attended the University of Oregon on a tuition waiver (owing to his father's employment). There, he maintained a 4.0 GPA while majoring in English and co-authoring his first academic journal article.
Peter was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship and earned a MPhil from the University of Oxford, focusing on Medieval English, a field he had developed an interest in while at the University of Oregon. By this time, he had also acquired competency in the French and German languages. He returned to the United States in 2000 alongside his British girlfriend, Jacqueline Jones, where they both earned PhDs from the University of Chicago - him from the English department and her in chemistry. The couple were married in 2001.
The Lussiers landed tenure track jobs in their respective disciplines at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Peter distinguished himself with publications in top-tier literature journals and his strong emphasis on instruction. For the duration of his time in academia, Peter Lussier insisted on teaching incoming freshmen each semester, which was often the highlight of his teaching duties. While at UNC, Lussier served as a volunteer on the Board of Directors of PBS North Carolina. This service led to him being tapped by President George W. Bush in 2008 to serve as a Democratic member of the Board of Directors for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a position for which Lussier was confirmed by the US Senate. That same year, Peter published a widely-praised academic work, Vernacularity in the Epic Tradition, where he analyzed the importance of the vernacular in great Medieval epics such as Beowulf, Chanson de Roland and the Nibelungenlied.
After securing tenure at UNC-Chapel Hill, Lussier was recruited by various universities, but he felt the need to return to Oregon to care for his aging parents, so Peter and Jacqueline, and their two kids, Caroline and Tom, moved to the West Coast. Peter was appointed Professor of English and Department Chair at his alma mater, the University of Oregon. He would go on to lead the Division of Humanities at the College of Arts and Sciences for a year before being asked by President Barack Obama to lead the National Endowment for the Humanities. While his family remained in Eugene, Peter made it his mission after Senate confirmation to travel to various universities, seek federal funding and speak on the importance of a liberal arts education that includes a robust focus in the humanities. To this end, he published his second book, Finding Humanity in the Humanities, in 2015. He also advocated for the passage of the United States Semiquincentennial Commission while leading NEH, and secured a key role for his agency in promoting the 2026 festivities.
After the election of President Donald Trump in 2016, Lussier tendered his resignation as Chair of the NEH. He returned to the University of Oregon, now as a Distinguished Professor, and grew increasingly active in politics. While he had been twice appointed to national office and confirmed by the Senate, Peter had never been an outspoken partisan. But, given Trump's assault on federal funding for institutions and attempts at rewriting higher education policies, Lussier began to see the need for a voice in defense of the academy at a national level. In 2018, when longtime Congressman Peter DeFazio decided to retire, Peter Lussier decided to run as a Democratic candidate. He narrowly won a crowded primary, given in large part his ties to the college community - both faculty and students. He won the general election with a health margin.
While in the House, Peter Lussier was assigned to the Committee on Education and Labor, but he also began to apply himself to a variety of topics: from foreign policy trips to the Ukraine to supporting Congressional Democrats in their stance surrounding the implementation of USMCA. Lussier was re-elected in 2020 and was a vocal critic of Trump's attempt to undermine democracy and the resulting January 6th attack on the Capitol. When Ron Wyden announced his retirement from the US Senate in the 2022 elections, Lussier was seen as a front-runner to replace him. In fact, Lussier earned bipartisan endorsements in the wake of his opponent's embrace of QAnon conspiracies. Lussier's emphasis on problem-solving and telling the truth played well in the generally well-educated and liberal-leaning state of Oregon.
When President Leah Ross was elected in 2024, Lussier promised "to work with her and her Administration when we can agree, for the sake of the people of Oregon. We must not gloss over our differences, but we should find common ground wherever we can." Senator Lussier has maintained a consistent middle-of-the-road Democratic voting record.
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Haven't been able to get into this reset as much as I would've liked. I hope everyone has fun, and maybe I'll end up hooked back in at a later date.
Signing out.
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Senator Walter Odinet (R-LA) votes AYE to certify.
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4 minutes ago, TexAgRepublican said:
didn't get enough seconds
Thanks, appears I misread.
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Conrad.
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I nominate @Sheridan.
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Walter Odinet
Class 2 Senator from Louisiana
Republican Party
Name: Walter Christopher Odinet
Seat: Louisiana's Class 2 Senate Seat
Party: Republican Party
Avatar: Congressman David Rouzer
Major Caucus: Republican Study Caucus
Gender: Male [0 points]
Date of Birth: May 17, 1968 (53 in 2021) [0 points]
Place of Birth: Lafayette, LA
Place of Residence: Lafayette, LA; Washington, DC
Sexuality: Straight, married with 2 children [-5 points]
Wife: Kaitlin Odinet (née Cormier) (m. 1993)
Children:
- James Odinet (b. 1995)
- Tanya Odinet (b. 1998)
Family History: Middle class [0 points]
Race: White [0 points]
Religion: Nondenominational evangelical Christian [0 points]
Educational History:
- BA in Political Science, Louisiana State University (1986-1990) [Public University; 0 points]
- JD, Tulane University (1996-1999) [Private JD; 15 points]
Occupational History:
United States Army [Commissioned Officer; 10 points]
- Second Lieutenant (1990-1991)
- First Lieutenant (1991-1993)
- Captain (1993-1996)
US Department of Justice [Well-known Lawyer; 20 points]
- Assistant US Attorney, Eastern District of Louisiana (1999-2001)
- Section Chief, Eastern District of Louisiana (2002-2005)
- First Assistant US Attorney, Eastern District of Louisiana (2005-2007)
Odinet Barton Landry LLP [Own firm; 5 points]
- Managing Partner (2009-2013)
Political History:
- Candidate for Louisiana Attorney General (2007-2008)
- Congressman from Louisiana's 3rd District (2013-2015) [3 points]
- Class 2 Senator from Louisiana (2015-present) [5 points]
Key Votes:
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113th Congress (2013-2015): OPPOSED the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013
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114th Congress (2015-2017): AYE on USA FREEDOM Act
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115th Congress (2017-2019): AYE on Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
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116th Congress (2019-2021): NAY on Trump Impeachment Articles I and II
Other:
- Silver Star (1991) [10 points]
Total: 63/100 points
Narrative Biography:
WIP
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I self-nominate, pending approval to change to a different, New Democrat character.
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I nominate RFW.
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Mr. President pro tempore,
As months go by with little in the way of leadership for the American people from both major parties, I can no long sit by idly while millions of Americans go unemployed and no aid is forthcoming.
That is why, Mr. President, today I am moving to suspend and pass the Relief for Rural America Act of 2009. This bill, which has attracted a wide array of bipartisan co-sponsors, is an important step to supporting a set of communities that should matter to all of us as United States Senators: rural communities across this great nation.
Some may ask me, "why not wait until a comprehensive deal is negotiated?" I would reply that there has been a major breakdown of bipartisan negotiations, and that personalities are getting in the way of good policy. The fact of the matter is that some relief for rural America now is worth the effort, even if we have to hold our collective breath for future legislation that may have a wider net.
You see, my fellow Senators, we cannot keep on waiting for a deal that may or may not ever materialize. What I am bringing up right now is a bill that will have an immediate impact on tens of millions of Americans, including many in each of our own states. So, what does the Relief for Rural America Act do?
First and foremost, it invests. $15 billion for rural broadband. $15 billion for rural transportation. $10 billion for rural water projects. These are important infrastructure investments, and will be targeted towards shovel-ready projects. The bill also invests $9 billion total between rural electrification and rural insulation. It invests in rural education, for instance by allowing rural schools to use tax-advantaged loans. Importantly, the bill also includes provisions that will keep rural homeowners in their homes, with $25 billion of forgivable emergency loans being extended.
As for the total cost of this proposal, it is fully paid for in 2009 by taking excess TARP monies. For my friends across the aisle, and indeed many on this side of the aisle, the Relief for Rural America Act permanently sets the estate tax at a reasonable rate while exempting farmland - to protect family farmers' livelihoods. I would also point out that the TARP offset will not apply to the death tax provisions - since the tax year 2010 estate tax rate is temporarily set at 0 prior to this bill.
In my view, we face two options with this motion: either take decisive action to provide real relief to tens of millions of Americans in rural communities, or sit around, twiddle our thumbs, and hope for a "better" or "more comprehensive" deal to come to the Senate floor. I, for one, refuse to sit around and do nothing while my constituents desperately cry out for help. I hope that you will join me and lend your yes vote to this measure.
I yield.
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IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
Mr. HAUGLAND (for himself, Mr. BURTON, Mr. MINER, and Mr. ARMSTRONG, with thanks to Mr. COBURN and Mr. MANCHIN) introduced the following bill;
A BILL
To protect the Second Amendment rights of Americans in National Parks and National Wildlife Refuge System lands, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Federal Lands Second Amendment Preservation Act”.
SECTION 2. FIREARMS IN NATIONAL PARKS AND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM LANDS.
(a) Congressional Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The Second Amendment to the Constitution provides that "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed".
(2) Section 2.4(a)(1) of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, provides that "except as otherwise provided in this section and parts 7 (special regulations) and 13 (Alaska regulations), the following are prohibited:
(i) Possessing a weapon, trap or net
(ii) Carrying a weapon, trap or net
(iii) Using a weapon, trap or net".
(3) Section 27.42 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, provides that, except in special circumstances, citizens of the United States may not "possess, use, or transport firearms on national wildlife refuges" of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(4) The regulations described in paragraphs (2) and (3) prevent individuals complying with Federal and State laws from exercising the Second Amendment rights of the individuals while at units of--
(A) the National Park System; and
(B) the National Wildlife Refuge System.
(5) The existence of different laws relating to the transportation and possession of firearms at different units of the National Park System and the National Wildlife Refuge System entrapped law-abiding gun owners while at units of the National Park System and the National Wildlife Refuge System.
(6) Although the Bush administration issued new regulations relating to the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens in units of the National Park System and National Wildlife Refuge System that went into effect on January 9, 2009 the new regulations--
(i) are under review by the administration; and
(ii) may be altered.
(7) Congress needs to weigh in on the new regulations to ensure that unelected bureaucrats and judges cannot again override the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens on 83,600,000 acres of National Park System land and 90,790,000 acres of land under the jurisdiction of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(8) The Federal laws should make it clear that the Second Amendment rights of an individual at a unit of the National Park System or the National Wildlife Refuge System should not be infringed.
(b) Protecting the Right of Individuals To Bear Arms in Units of the National Park System and the National Wildlife Refuge System.--The Secretary of the Interior shall not promulgate or enforce any regulation that prohibits an individual from possessing a firearm including an assembled or functional firearm in any unit of the National Park System or the National Wildlife Refuge System if--
(1) the individual is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing the firearm; and
(2) the possession of the firearm is in compliance with the law of the State in which the unit of the National Park System or the National Wildlife Refuge System is located.
SECTION 3. TARGET SHOOTING RANGES.
(a) Definition Of Designated Shooting Range.—In this section, the term “designated shooting range” means a developed and managed area on Federal land that is designed and operated specifically for the purposeful discharge of legal firearms, firearms training, archery, or other associated activities.
(b) Identification Of Designated Shooting Range.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries of the Interior and of Agriculture shall identify a suitable location for, and construct, designated shooting ranges on National Forest System land and public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management for the public to use for recreational target shooting.
(2) MINIMUM NUMBER OF RANGES.—To the maximum extent practicable—
(A) the Secretary of Agriculture shall ensure that each National Forest has not fewer than 1 designated shooting range; and
(B) the Secretary of the Interior shall ensure each Bureau of Land Management district has not fewer than 1 designated shooting range.
(3) REQUIREMENTS.—A designated shooting range under paragraph (1)—
(A) (i) shall be able to accommodate rifles, pistols, and shotguns; and
(ii) may accommodate archery;
(B) shall include—
(i) significantly modified landscapes, including berms, buffer distances, or other public safety designs or features;
(ii) a designated firing line; and
(iii) benches; and
(C) may include—
(i) shade structures;
(ii) trash containers;
(iii) restrooms; and
(iv) any other features that the Secretary concerned determines to be necessary.
(c) Requirements.—
(1) EXISTING USE.—The Secretaries, in cooperation with the entities described in subsection (d), shall—
(A) consider the proximity of areas frequently used by recreational shooters when identifying a suitable location for a designated shooting range; and
(B) ensure a designated shooting range would not impact a non-Federal target shooting range, including a target shooting range located on private land.
(2) CLOSURES.—Except in emergency situations, the Secretary concerned shall seek to ensure that a designated shooting range, or an equivalent shooting range adjacent to a National Forest or Bureau of Land Management district, is available to the public prior to closing Federal land to recreational shooting.
(d) Cooperation.—In carrying out this section, the Secretaries shall cooperate, as applicable, with—
(1) local and Tribal governments;
(2) nonprofit organizations;
(3) State fish and wildlife agencies;
(4) shooting clubs;
(5) Federal advisory councils relating to hunting and shooting sports;
(6) nongovernmental organizations that, as of the date of enactment of this Act, are signatories to the memorandum of understanding entitled “Federal Lands Hunting, Fishing, and Shooting Sports Roundtable Memorandum of Understanding” and signed by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management on August 17, 2006;
(7) individuals or entities with authorized leases or permits in an area under consideration for a designated shooting range; and
(8) the public.
(e) Restrictions.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The management of a designated shooting range shall be subject to such conditions as the Secretary concerned determines are necessary for the safe, responsible use of—
(A) the designated shooting range; and
(B) the adjacent resources.
(2) FEES.—The Secretary concerned may not require a user to pay a fee to use a designated shooting range established under this section.
(f) Annual Reports.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretaries shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report describing the progress made with respect to the implementation of this section.
PES.
Codifies the legalization of firearms on National Park and National Wildlife Refuge System lands.
Interior and USDA shall construct and designate shooting ranges on National Forest System land and public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management for the public to use for recreational target shooting.
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Bank Account of Senator
Al Haugland
Democratic-Nonpartisan League from North Dakota
Income
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Q1 2009 Fundraising: $907,680
- $470,863 - Background
- $101,760 - NRA
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$31,790 - NOW
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$12,061 - Farm Credit Council
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$291,206 - AT&T
Expenditures
$0
Balance
$907,680
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Q1 2009 Fundraising: $907,680
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Word Association Thread
in The General Chat Center
Posted
Sun