Early life, education, and pre-congressional career

Visclosky was born in Gary, Indiana, the son of John and the late Helen (née Kauzlaric) Visclosky. He is of Croatian-Slovak descent. He was educated at Andrean High School in Merrillville, Indiana. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting at Indiana University Northwest in Gary, Indiana and went on to earn his juris doctor from Notre Dame Law School. At Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., Visclosky earned a Master of Laws in International and Comparative Law. He worked as a lawyer and staff member of United States Representative Adam Benjamin before entering the House.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

In 1984, Visclosky ran for Congress in Indiana's 1st congressional district. In the Democratic primary, he defeated incumbent U.S. Congresswoman Katie Hall, Jack Crawford, and Sandra Smith 34%-33%-31%-1%. In the general election, he defeated Republican Joseph Grenchik 71%-29%. In 1986, he won the Democratic primary again with 57%, defeating Hall and three other candidates. He won the general election with 73% of the vote. In 1988, he won the Democratic primary 84%-16% against Sandra Smith. He went on to win the general election with 77% of the vote.

In 1990, Hall challenged Visclosky for the third time and was defeated 51%-30%. He won the general election with 66% of the vote. In 1992, he won the Democratic primary with 72% and the general election with 69%. In 1994, he won the Democratic primary with 77% of the vote. In the general election, he defeated Republican John Larson 56%-44%.

For the rest of his career, he has never won a primary with less than 71% and he has only once won a general election with less than 60% of the vote - in 2010, when Republicans re-took control of the House of Representatives.

Tenure

Visclosky is pro-union and anti-free trade. Reinstating the steel tariff and fighting to save American manufacturing jobs have long been priorities of Visclosky. He served as Chair of the Congressional Steel Caucus when the Democrats had control of the House, and currently serves as the Vice Chair. He is also a former Chair of the Energy and Water Development Subcommittee and the current Ranking Member.

Visclosky is one of the 126 Democrats who voted against the Iraq War Resolution. He also is a supporter of high tech solutions as a way to revive the American blue collar work force, and as a way to decrease crime.

PMA Group investigation

The Washington Times reported in March 2009 that Visclosky had received, over ten years, $1.36 million in campaign donations from clients of the PMA Group. In 2007 and 2008, the United States House Committee on Appropriations, of which Visclosky is a member, directed $137 million in government purchasing to PMA's clients. In May 2009, Visclosky received subpoenas in the grand jury investigation into PMA Group, the first member of Congress to be subpoenaed in the investigation. The Congressman was later cleared of all charges by the House Ethics Committee, who detailed in a 305-page report that "Simply because a member sponsors an earmark for an entity that also happens to be a campaign contributor does not, on these two facts alone, support a claim that a member's actions are being influenced by campaign contributions".

In 2011, the House Ethics Committee ended its investigation, clearing Visclosky and Republican former Representative Todd Tiarht of Kansas. While “PMA’s lobbyists pushed or directed company executives to maximize personal or Political Action Committee (PAC) campaign contributions and to attend specific fundraisers while pursuing earmarks,” the report notes, “the evidence did not show that Members or their official staff were included in discussions or correspondence about, coordinated with PMA on, or knew of these strategies.”

Committee assignments

• Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Defense (Ranking Member)
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development

Caucus memberships

• Congressional Steel Caucus (Vice Chair)
• Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues
• Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans
• Congressional Diabetes Caucus
• Congressional Fire Services Caucus
• Congressional Hellenic Caucus
• Congressional Serbian Caucus
• Great Lakes Task Force
• Missing, Exploited, and Runaway Children Caucus
• Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition
• Buy America Caucus
• Dairy Farmers Caucus
• French Caucus
• Macedonian Caucus
• National Parks Caucus
• Slovak Caucus
• Friends of Switzerland
• Wine Caucus
• Wire and Wire Products Caucus
• Law Enforcement Caucus

Personal life

Visclosky is married to Joanne Royce, and has two sons, John and Tim.

Electoral history

Indiana's 1st congressional district: Results 1984-2012

Year		Democratic	Votes	%		Republican	Votes	%		Third Party	Party	Votes	%		Third Party	Party	Votes	%
1984		Pete Visclosky	147,035	71%		Joseph Grenchik	59,986	29%		James Willis	Libertarian	943	0%
1986		Pete Visclosky	86,983	73%		William P. Costas	30,395	26%		James Willis	Libertarian	660	1%		Tracy Kyle	Workers League	403	0%
1988		Pete Visclosky	138,251	77%		Owen Crumpacker	41,076	23%
1990		Pete Visclosky	68,920	66%		William P. Costas	35,450	34%
1992		Pete Visclosky	147,054	69%		David Vucich	64,770	31%
1994		Pete Visclosky	68,612	56%		John Larson	52,920	44%
1996		Pete Visclosky	133,553	69%		Michael Petyo	56,418	29%		Michael Crass	Libertarian	3,142	2%
1998		Pete Visclosky	92,634	73%		Michael Petyo	33,503	26%		Michael Crass	Libertarian	1,617	1%
2000		Pete Visclosky	148,683	72%		Jack Reynolds	56,200	27%		Christopher Nelson	Libertarian	2,907	1%
2002		Pete Visclosky	90,443	67%		Mark Leyva	41,909	31%		Timothy Brennan	Libertarian	2,759	2%
2004		Pete Visclosky	178,406	68%		Mark Leyva	82,858	32%
2006		Pete Visclosky	104,195	70%		Mark Leyva	40,146	27%		Charles Barman	Independent	5,266	4%
2008		Pete Visclosky	199,954	71%		Mark Leyva	76,647	27%		Timothy Brennan	Libertarian	5,421	2%
2010		Pete Visclosky	99,387	59%		Mark Leyva	65,558	39%		Jon Morris	Libertarian	4,762	3%
2012		Pete Visclosky	187,743	67%		Joel Phelps	91,291	33%
2014		Pete Visclosky	86,579	61%		Mark Leyva	51,000	36%		Donna Dunn	Libertarian	4,714	3%

[ Source: Wikipedia ]