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Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (born November 20, 1942) was first elected to the United States Senate to represent Delaware in Congress in 1972 and re-elected every time he has run, most recently in November 2002.
Biden is One of the most respected voices on national security and civil liberties. He is the top Democrat on both the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, and is a central player on some of the most important issues facing the nation, from crime prevention and constitutional law to international relations and arms control.
A strong leader on anti-crime and drug policy, Senator Biden has been instrumental in crafting virtually every major piece of crime legislation over the last decade, including the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, also known as the Biden Crime Law, which dramatically increased funds spent on law enforcement. Additionally, Senator Biden is the author of the landmark Violence Against Women Act of 2000 (VAWA 2000) which contains a broad array of ground-breaking measures to combat domestic violence and provides billions of dollars in federal funds to address gender-based crimes. Biden, who serves as Chairman of the International Narcotics Control Caucus, also wrote the law creating the nation's "Drug Czar" who oversees and coordinates national drug control policy. Today, Senator Biden continues to work to stop the spread of new drugs such as Ecstacy, Ketamine and Rohypnol, the "date rape" drug.
As the Ranking Member of the Foreign Relations Committee, Biden is the Democratic party's chief spokesman on national security and foreign policy issues. Senator Richard Lugar, who currently chairs the Foreign Relations Committee, said: "Senator Biden has a very strong commitment to a bipartisan foreign policy and serves as a good example for everyone in Congress. He has a very broad, comprehensive view of the world. He's a good listener, but he's also a strong and effective advocate of his position."
In addition to his leadership on foreign policy, crime and drug control issues, Senator Biden is widely recognized for his work in environmental protection and education policy. His work over the past 20 years has led to the end of federal control and the return to Delawareans of more than 1,180 acres of beach shoreline along the Delaware coast. In 2000, Biden's decades-long efforts culminated with establishment of Delaware's first and only National Wild and Scenic River -- the White Clay Creek Watershed -- which will be preserved and saved from development for future generations.
To help Americans struggling to afford the rising costs of college tuition, Biden has been a staunch supporter of college aid and loan programs and has offered legislation to allow families to deduct up to $10,000 per year in higher education expenses on their annual income tax returns. And to prepare today's students to meet the technology challenges of tomorrow, Biden has undertaken bold initiatives in the Senate to close the "digital divide" and ensure that all students have access to the on-ramp of the information super highway. Senator Biden's "Kids 2000" legislation, signed into law by the President in October of 2000 establishes a public/private partnership to help provide computer centers, teachers, Internet access and technical training to young people across the nation, particularly to low-income and at-risk youth.
Senator Biden grew up in New Castle County, Delaware. He graduated from the University of Delaware in 1965, and from the Syracuse University College of Law in 1968. Prior to his election to the Senate, Biden practiced law in Wilmington, Delaware and served on the New Castle County Council from 1970 to 1972. Since 1991, Biden has been an adjunct professor at the Widener University School of Law, where he teaches a seminar on constitutional law.
Senator Biden lives in Wilmington, Delaware, and commutes to Washington, DC when the Senate is in session. He is married to the former Jill Jacobs, and is the father of three children: Beau, Hunter and Ashley. The Biden's also have two daughters-in-law, Kathleen and Hallie, and three granddaughters: Naomi, Finnegan and Roberta Mabel.