Shelley Berkley for Congress

A Lifetime of Commitment to Nevada
Shelley Berkley has shown a lifetime of commitment to serving the needs of southern Nevada's families. From her high school days as a volunteer at a local hospital, through her terms as a Nevada State Assemblywoman and member of Nevada’s University and Community College System Board of Regents, and now as a member of the United States House of Representatives, Shelley Berkley has been a passionate advocate for southern Nevada’s working families.

Shelley’s family first came to Las Vegas almost 40 years ago, looking for new opportunities and a better way of life. These same dreams are now bringing 5,000 additional people a month to the Las Vegas Valley. This population boom has made her district one of the fastest growing in the country and presents unique challenges for the area, all of which Shelley has tackled head on.

The Las Vegas Valley has the fastest growing school-age population in the country. Providing a high-quality public education for our children is a priority for Shelley. During her tenure in Congress, she secured substantial funding for Clark County Schools, enabling them to hire hundreds of additional new teachers. This year she led the effort to increase funding for programs aimed at reducing student dropout rates and expanding after school programs for high-risk districts like Clark County. She is also a strong supporter of “Safe and Drug Free Schools” initiatives and federally-backed, zero interest school construction bonds.

Shelley is also committed to improving our health care. From her first days in Congress, she has been a vocal advocate for creating a voluntary prescription drug benefit under Medicare. She also supports passing an enforceable Patients’ Bill of Rights and extending affordable health insurance to every American family. She is the author of pending legislation that will reduce red tape for doctors treating Medicare patients and will improve health care access for seniors.

Shelley has introduced legislation to spur development of technological solutions to the enormous threat caused by nuclear waste across this country. Her breakthrough proposal would make the transportation of over 100,000 shipments of deadly nuclear waste across the U.S. to Nevada to unnecessary. Shelley is a champion of alternative energy development. She supports policies to spur expansion of wind, solar, geothermal, bio fuels and other renewable resources so the United States can become independent of foreign oil and phase out radioactive waste producing nuclear power plants.

Since the Congresswoman has lived in Las Vegas for over four decades, she has a deep sense of commitment to give back to the community that opened the doors of opportunity for her. She also has never forgotten that her family headed west seeking a better life, and found it in Las Vegas.

She attended John C. Fremont Jr. High School and Valley High School. She became the first person in her family to go to college, graduating from UNLV with honors in 1972. Elected Student Body President, 1971-1972, she graduated with honors and a B.A. in Political Science from UNLV in 1972. After earning her law degree at the University of San Diego School of Law in 1976, Shelley returned to Las Vegas to begin her career.

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley began serving in the U.S. House of Representatives in January, 1999. Shelley represents constituents living in the First Congressional District of Nevada, including residents of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, and unincorporated areas in Clark County.

Previous Public Offices

Shelley is a former Vice Chair of the Nevada University and Community College System Board of Regents. Appointed to the Board in 1990 by the Governor, she subsequently served two terms. She completed her second term on the Board in 1998. Throughout her tenure, Shelley worked to keep higher education in Nevada affordable and accessible to all qualified students.

Serving in the Nevada State Assembly from 1982 through 1984, Shelley championed consumer protection for car buyers and mobile home owners, fought for tougher drunk driving laws, and founded the Senior Law Project.

Accomplishment in Industry

Shelley Berkley has held key positions in the private sector during a career that spans nearly a quarter of a century:

Former Vice President of Government and Legal Affairs, Sands Hotel.

Former Chair, Board of the Nevada Hotel and Motel Association.

Past member, Board of Trustees of Sunrise-Columbia Hospital (an unpaid position).

Former In-House counsel for Southwest Gas Corp.

Former Deputy Director, Nevada State Commerce Department.

Member, County, State and National Bar Association.
Former National Director of the American Hotel-Motel Association.

Served as a Delegate to the White House Conference on Tourism.

Personal

Shelley Berkley is the proud mother of two sons; Sam, who recently returned from studying in Israel and will be attending UNLV in the Fall of 2005, and Max, a recent graduate of University of Arizona. In March of 1999, she married Dr. Lawrence Lehrner a practicing Nephrologist in Las Vegas who has two children of his own; David, putting his graduate degree from Indiana University to use at MGM Mirage, and Stephanie, a Family Practice physician. In her limited leisure time, Congresswoman Berkley enjoys historical fiction and entertaining guests with her gourmet cooking.

Congressional Committee Assignments

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
• Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
• Subcommittee on Aviation

Committee on Veterans Affairs
• Subcommittee on Disability Assistance & Memorial Affairs (Ranking Member)

Committee on International Relations
• Subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia
• Subcommittee on Europe & Emerging Threats

Congressional Caucus Assignments

Gaming Caucus- Co-Chair
Task Force on Education
Task Force on Health Care
Task Force on the Economy
Task Force on Renewable Energy
Task Force on National Guard & Reserve
Task Force on Homeland Security
The Congressional Task Force Against Anti-Semitism