Greening the Vote and the Environment and Political Action class of the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies cordially invite you to an evening discussion with

Congressman Christopher Shays (R-CT)

“Energy, the Environment and National Service – Building a Stronger America”

Monday April 21st
6:00 - 7:15 pm

Bowers Auditorium, Sage Hall
205 Prospect St

Light refreshments and beverages served.

We hope that you can join us.

Please direct any questions to sara.bushey@yale.edu

Excerpts from Congressman Shay’s Biography:
(more information found at www.house.gov/shays)

In his over three decades of public service, Congressman Christopher Shays (R-CT) has distinguished himself as a committed advocate for the constituents of the Fourth District, a dedicated leader in the fight against terrorism, a budget hawk, an activist for good government, a respected voice on urban issues, and a staunch environmentalist.

Designated an “Environmental Champion” by the League of Conservation Voters, Christopher is steadfast in his commitment to protecting our precious earth. He fights to conserve our resources, diversify our energy sources, limit greenhouse gas emissions, and protect the integrity of federal laws that guard our air, land and water.

Christopher is a senior member of the Government Reform Committee, Ranking Member of its Subcommittee on National Security and a member of the Homeland Security and Financial Services Committees. These assignments put him at the center of some of the most critical issues facing our country today: fighting the war on terror, getting our economy moving again and increasing government accountability.

First elected to public office in 1974 - the year of the Watergate scandal -Christopher has been an outspoken advocate for good government practices. He has been a driving force behind such landmark legislation as the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, which transforms federal campaign finance law, and the Congressional Accountability Act, which requires Congress to live by the laws it writes.

Christopher represents 17 communities, including the cities of Bridgeport, Stamford and Norwalk, and places a high priority on urban renewal and economic development issues. He works to attract businesses to Connecticut’s urban areas in order to create a larger job and tax base through such programs as the “One Coast, One Future” initiative, which takes a regional approach to marketing the Bridgeport-Stamford corridor. He and Kweisi Mfume, who formerly represented Baltimore, introduced the Urban Marshall Plan to Rebuild Our Cities, which proposed legislation to encourage economic and social programs to benefit cities.

A leader among centrist Republicans, Christopher is an advocate of socially moderate views. He worked with the former Administration to establish the successful COPS program, which has helped reduce crime through the United States. He leads the charge to end racial profiling and sexual discrimination in the workplace. He is an ardent supporter of a woman’s right to choose. He helped author the 1993 Gun Control Act and advocates a sensible assault weapons ban reauthorization bill. A former Peace Corps volunteer, Christopher helped establish the AmeriCorps national service program and co-founded the Congressional National Service Caucus. He is Co-Chair of the Congressional Arts Caucus, the Congressional Friends of Animals Caucus and the Nonproliferation Task Force.

Christopher served seven terms in the Connecticut House of Representatives prior to his election to Congress. He earned his MBA and MPA from New York University and his undergraduate degree from Principia College. He and his wife, Betsi - his high school sweetheart - grew up in Darien, lived in Stamford for 27 years, and now reside in Bridgeport. Their daughter, Jeramy, attends Vermont Law School and is studying environmental policy.