William Lacy Clay, Jr.

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William Lacy Clay

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 1st district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2001–
Preceded by	William L. Clay, Sr.
Succeeded by	Incumbent

Born	July 27, 1956 (age 50) St. Louis, Missouri
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Ivie Lewellen Clay
Religion	Roman Catholic

William Lacy Clay, Jr., sometimes known as Lacy Clay (born July 27, 1956), American politician, was elected as Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives in 2000 to represent Missouri's 1st congressional district (map). Born in St. Louis, Missouri, his family moved to Washington D.C., when his father William Lacy Clay, Sr. was elected to the House of Representatives, holding the same seat now occupied by his son, from 1969 to 2001.

Clay, Jr. attended the University of Maryland, College Park, from which he earned a degree in political science and certification to be a paralegal. He entered the Missouri House of Representatives in 1983, the same year that he graduated. While serving, he completed a Master's degree from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. In 1991 he was elected to the Missouri State Senate. During his seventeen years in the State legislature, he worked to end racial and gender discrimination.

In 2000, Clay successfully ran for the Congressional seat occupied by his father for thirty-two years. He was reelected twice and currently serves on the Committee on Government Reform. He is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

[edit] Views

William Lacy Clay has been a consistent critic of the War in Iraq and was among those who voted against the 2002 Iraq War Resolution. Clay's NPAT also displays disagreement with elements of the War on Drugs. The congressman believes that government reform is necessary to make sure every citizen's voice is heard. Clay also continues to fight for programs that will improve that status of the poor, including initiatives to allow lower-class people to purchase homes.

[edit] External links

U.S. Congressman William Lacy Clay official site
Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
Federal Election Commission - William Lacy Clay Jr campaign finance reports and data
On the Issues - William Lacy Clay issue positions and quotes
OpenSecrets.org - William L. Clay Jr. campaign contributions
Project Vote Smart - Representative William Lacy Clay Jr. (MO) profile
SourceWatch Congresspedia - Lacy Clay profile
Washington Post - Congress Votes Database: William Clay voting record
Lacy Clay Jr. for Congress official campaign site

Political offices
Preceded by William L. Clay, Sr.	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 1st congressional district 2001 – present	Incumbent