James Himes

James Andrew "Jim" Himes is a Democratic U.S. Representative for Connecticut's 4th Congressional District, first elected to Congress in 2008 and assuming office in January 2009. Born in Lima, Peru, to American parents, Himes spent his early childhood in Peru and Colombia before moving to the United States at age ten. He graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts and later attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, where he earned a Master of Philosophy in Latin American studies. Before entering public service, Himes spent over a decade in the private sector, eventually serving as a Vice President at Goldman Sachs. He later transitioned to the non-profit sector as a Vice President at Enterprise Community Partners, where he focused on developing affordable housing and addressing urban poverty. His local political career began in Greenwich, Connecticut, where he served as a member and chairman of the Greenwich Housing Authority and as a member of the Greenwich Board of Estimate and Taxation. In the House of Representatives, Himes has held several influential leadership positions. He has served as the Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and as the Chair of the Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth. Additionally, he previously led the New Democrat Coalition as its chair from 2017 to 2019. His legislative work frequently focuses on financial services, national security, and coastal infrastructure resilience.

Healthcare: Himes is a proponent of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and advocates for expanding access to affordable healthcare. He supports preserving Medicare and Medicaid while pursuing reforms to address rising costs and ensure the programs' long-term solvency. Economy: He emphasizes business innovation, financial regulatory reform, and economic opportunity. As a former chair of the Select Committee on Economic Disparity, he advocates for policies that support working families and reduce wealth inequality. Environment: Himes supports aggressive climate change mitigation and was a vocal supporter of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. He champions funding for coastal resilience and nature-based solutions to protect Connecticut's shoreline from rising sea levels and flooding. Social Issues: He is a strong supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and reproductive freedom, consistently opposing federal efforts to restrict abortion access. He also advocates for gun violence prevention measures, including expanded background checks and red flag laws. Foreign Policy and National Security: As a leader on the House Intelligence Committee, Himes focuses on robust oversight of the U.S. intelligence community. He supports international cooperation and has advocated for continued military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.