John Eric Ensign (born March 25, 1958) is the junior United States Senator from Nevada. He is a member of the Republican Party. He was born in Roseville, California, but he and his family moved to Nevada when he was a child. He went to universities in Nevada, Oregon and Colorado, becoming a veterinarian in 1985. He then became a successful businessman, opening a 24-hour animal hospital in Las Vegas.
He quickly became successful at politics, being elected to the United States House of Representatives in the Republican landslide 1994 Congressional election. He was reelected in 1996 but declined to run again in 1998. Instead he ran for the Senate but was defeated by the Democratic incumbent, Harry Reid. He gained a Senate seat after his second try in 2000, however, defeating his Democratic opponent to succeed the retiring Democratic incumbent, Richard H. Bryan.
According to the American Conservative Union, Ensign tied Senators Chuck Hagel (NE) and Don Nickles (OK) as the most conservative Senator in 2003. He is rumored to be considering running for Governor in 2006.
Committee Assignments:
- Committee on Armed Services
- Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
- Emerging Threats and Capabilities
- Readiness and Managment Support (Chairman)
- Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation
- Subcommittee on Aviation
- Subcommittee on Communications
- Subcommittee on Competition, Foriegn Commerce, and Infrastructure
- Subcommittee on Science, Technology and Space
- Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
- Subcommittee on Aging
- Subcommittee on Children and Families
- Subcommittee on Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
- Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
- Committee on Veterans' Affairs
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