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Howard Berman

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Nominee's Background: Upon his graduation from law school, Howard Berman began his career in public service with a year's work as a VISTA volunteer. From 1967 until 1973, he practiced law in Los Angeles, specializing in labor relations. In 1973, he was elected to the California State Assembly, where he served until 1982, when he was elected to Congress. In his first term in the state legislature, then-Assemblyman Berman was named Assembly Majority leader, the youngest person ever to serve in that leadership capacity. He also served as Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus and the Policy Research Management Committee of the Assembly. "There are few House members who have made such an imprint on legislation in so many areas as Howard Berman," says The Almanac of American Politics. Berman is particularly well-known for his ability to form bipartisan coalitions. Together with Republican Henry Hyde, Berman wrote a law authorizing embargoes on nations that condone terrorism. With Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, he wrote amendments to the False Claims Act. The Almanac goes on to call Berman "one of the most aggressive and creative members of the House and one of the most clear-sighted operators in American politics." Berman is a senior member of the International Relations Committee and the Judiciary Committee. He has gained increasing influence on such issues as foreign aid, arms control, antiterrorism, human rights, technology policy, trade legislation, copyright legislation, and immigration reform. As Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property, Berman plays a key role in shaping the copyright, trademark, and patent laws that are of vital importance to the entertainment, biotechnology, broadcasting, pharmaceutical, telecommunication, consumer electronics, and information technology industries. During the 108th Congress, he will be involved in a variety of issues, including the patenting of business methods, digital music piracy, broadband deployment, protection of databases, development of distance education, expansion of Internet domain names, Patent and Trademark Office funding, gene patents, and the interplay between intellectual property and antitrust laws. Also within the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee are matters relating to the federal courts, such as the creation of new judgeships and privacy concerns raised by Internet access to court documents. Nominating Speech: Berman is one of the most decent and principled members of Congress and has had a long-standing interest in foreign policy. He's served with distinction on the International Relations Committee and, at the request of colleagues, on the Ethics Committee during the Impeachment in 1999. He was the only committee member who never milked the opportunity to go on television and give interviews - saying that he was "on a jury of sorts" and should not go public. That sort of behavior sums up his decency and priniciples. His work on National Security issues is equally respected; he has excellent relationships with representatives from across the Middle East and he would be a magnificent ambassador, earning the respect of delegates and nations as he has at home among constituents, colleagues and friends. To research this nominee, please look for them on the Wikipedia website or at Google.

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In the News

• Howard Berman: Turks, once they come to terms with their past, will discover that they have relieved themselves
  The Armenian Assembly of America commends Berman's ongoing leadership regarding the need to unequivocally affirm the Armenian Genocide.
• CHAIRMAN BERMAN CALLS TURKISH ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CRITICAL; REPRESENTATIVES SMITH, COSTA, BERKLEY ...
  Washington, DC - In his opening statement at today's House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA) stated "it is critical that Turkey acknowledge the genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire against the Armenian people...I believe that Turks, once they come to terms with their past, will discover that they have relieved themselves and their children of an immense moral ...
• Local officials request a full investigation in the release of the Lockerbie airline bomber
  Two local representatives have united in their push for and in-depth inquiry into BPs role in the release of the Lockerbie airline bomber, Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi.
• Three local representatives sign letter seeking law to ban late-night flights at Bob Hope.
  Three local representatives sign letter seeking law to ban late-night flights at Bob Hope.
• MJ Rosenberg: Congress Chooses Bibi Over NATO
  Anyone who wonders what American foreign policy might look like if it was not so utterly ridden with partisan political considerations should take a look...
• Officials push for flight restrictions at Bob Hope Airport
  After years of painstaking studies, millions of dollars and one failed federal application of nighttime flight restrictions, Bob Hope Airport officials are turning to Congress.
• Support for Israel Near Record High, Poll Shows
  Support for Israel among Americans is at a near record high, a new poll showed. According to the Gallup Poll, 63 percent of Americans say their sympathies in the Middle East conflict are with Israel, while 15 percent side with the Palestinians.
• Obama Seeks to Expand US Arms Exports
  by Maggie Bridgeman WASHINGTON - The United States is currently the world biggest weapons supplier - holding 30 per cent of the market - but the Obama administration has begun modifying export control regulations in hopes of enlarging the U.S. market share, according to U.S. officials. President Barack Obama already has taken the first steps by tucking new language into the Iran sanctions bill ...
• POLL: Dreaming the dream: Immigrant higher-ed students hope to obtain legal status
  When Argentina native Erika Grispino tells people shes an American, she has to add an asterisk at the end of her sentence because of her immigration status. It feels like I dont belong here and I dont belong (in Argentina) anymore. I feel insecurity, the 21-year-old said. But if the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, a bipartisan Senate bill known as the DREAM Act ...
• Dems in Congress get talking points to show Israel support
  Ahead of midterm elections, a Democratic leader distributed talking points to fellow House Democrats stressing support for Israel by President Barack Obama and the party.

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