Congressman Ted Poe Your Congressman: Elected to second term in November 2006 Founder and Co-Chairman of the Victim's Rights Caucus Appointed the U.S. House of Representatives delegate to the United Nations General Assembly Honored as one of only two U.S. Representatives asked to observe the first free elections in Iraq Selected for Congressional delegation to visit and observe conditions at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Key Committee Appointments Caucus Memberships: Committee on International Relations Subcommittee on Europe Subcommittee on International Terrorism and Nonproliferation. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation Subcommittee on Highways and Transit Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transport Congressional Victims Rights Caucus (Founder & Co-Chair) Immigration Reform Caucus (Executive Committee Member) Congressional Port Security Caucus Congressional Pakistan Caucus House Anti Terrorism Caucus Caucus Founder in first term in Congress--Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Victims Rights Caucus to advocate on behalf of victims of crime in Congress. After 22 years as a criminal court judge, Poe felt it was important for victims of crime to have a voice in Washington. Congressman Poe’s first bill as a U.S. Congressman was the Child Predator Act of 2005 (H.R. 1355). This bill creates a National Sex Offender Registry to track sex offenders across state lines, helps close loopholes in current sex offender notification requirements and includes a Training and Technology Amendment to provide law enforcement with the funding and latest technologies to deal with internet crimes against children. All measures of Poe’s Child Predator Act of 2005 were incorporated into the Child Safety Act of 2005 which was passed by the House this year. Awards and Honors: U.S. Chamber of Commerce - Spirit of Enterprise Award for work on behalf of small businesses. Southeast Texas Congressional Partnership Award - A warded for his work on economic and community development in Jefferson County by the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission. Texas Association Against Sexual Assault - “Social Change Award” awarded for dedication to federal Child Victim legislation. National Organization for Victim Assistance - “NOVA Morton Bard Award” awarded for preserving federal funding for national crime victim programs and for outstanding advocacy on behalf of victims of crime. Americans for Tax Reform - “2005 Hero of the Taxpayer Award” in recognition of leadership on behalf of taxpayers. The 60 Plus Association - “Super Friend of Seniors” for his strong support of Senior Citizens and senior issues. Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council - “Small Business Champion” award for protecting small business and promoting entrepreneurship. American Shareholders Association - “Friend of the Shareholder Award” for his strong record of protecting shareholders and promoting investment. Property Rights Alliance - “Protector of Property Rights” for defense of both intellectual and physical property rights including his outspoken views on eminent domain abuse. Alliance for Worker Freedom - “Guardian of Worker Freedom” award for supporting freedom and opportunity for American workers. Friends of the Border Patrol - "Border Defender of the Year" for his leadership on border security, combating illegal immigration, his support of law enforcement and his efforts to exonerate Border Patrol Agents Ramos and Compean Trees For Houston - "Jim Rylander Memorial Award" for an extraordinary contribution to the greening of Houston Texas Department of Criminal Justice Victim?s Services - "Senator Ralph Yarborough Allied Professional Award" for outstanding leadership by a non-victim service professional who has made a contribution to victim rights and services 2007 U.S. Chamber of Commerce - "Spirit of Enterprise Award" for his work on behalf of small businesses The Park People - "Visionary Award" for Congressman Poe's work in securing $22.8 million for freeway landscaping in the Houston area. The Park People are a Houston non-profit citizens' organization that advocates for and participates in restoring, preserving and expanding parks, natural areas and trails for present and future generations. National Association of Manufacturers - "Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence" in recognition of his strong voting record in support of American manufacturing and a pro-growth, pro-jobs agenda    Public Service Background: Felony court judge in Houston, Texas for over twenty years. Appointed in 1981, he became one of the youngest judges in the state. Elected six times and moved approximately 20,000 cases through the Harris County court system. Served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve C-130 Unit Ellington AFB. One of the first Republican judges elected in Harris County since Reconstruction. Chief felony prosecutor with the District Attorney of Harris County for eight years prior to becoming a judge.   As an assistant district attorney, Ted Poe never lost a jury trial.   Innovation: As a judge, Ted Poe saw a problem with the punishment of criminals in Harris County and sought creative and innovative solutions.  Judge Ted Poe has gained national attention for his “Poetic Justice” in sentencing criminals. Poe’s innovative punishments include: Ordering thieves to carry signs in front of the stores they stole from.  Requiring a man who abused his wife to publicly apologize on the steps of Houston City Hall. Ordering sex offenders to place warning signs on their home (after they have served jail time). Ordering murderers to securely place a photo of their victim on the wall of their prison cell, giving the offender a daily reminder of his crime. In 1999, Poe helped write innovative legislation allowing Texas judges to order public notice of a crime in probation cases.  Poe’s public punishment has garnered media attention from 60 Minutes, 20/20, Dateline NBC, National Geographic, and Australian, German, French, Bulgarian, Japanese and British newscasts.  Judge Poe frequently appears on the FOX News Channel, MSNBC, CNN and numerous local news broadcasts as a political and legal analyst.   Passion: Congressman Poe has a long history for protecting abused, assaulted and neglected children.  He currently serves on the Board of the National Children’s Alliance in Washington, D.C.  He has served on numerous boards and committees in his over 20 years of public service including: The Children’s Assessment Center of Houston CASA-Child Advocates Child Abuse Prevention Council Parents of Murdered Children Mothers Against Drunk Driving The Houston International Theater School D.A.R.E. Roseate Women’s Center for Abused Women Abilene Christian University Northland Christian School.  Christian School of Kingwood (Cofounder and former President )   Accolades: Congressman Poe has delivered over 200 training sessions and keynote speeches to law enforcement, attorney’s and judge’s organizations and private citizens in the areas of:  leadership techniques, gang investigation, probation and parole, narcotics, school safety, punishment techniques, victim’s rights and docket management.  In addition to training, Judge Poe has taught criminal justice courses at the University of Houston, conducted training at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia and at West Point.  In his over 20 years in the judiciary Poe was named: Outstanding National Victim Advocate, National Victim’s Center. Outstanding Judge, Foundation for Improvement of Justice. Outstanding Instructor, Texas District Attorneys Association. Best Judge, Kansas Peace Officers Association. Outstanding Young Lawyer, Houston Bar Association. Outstanding District Judge, Houston Police Officers Association. D.A.R.E. Outstanding District Judge, Harris County Deputy Sheriffs  (twice).   Education: Ted Poe received his Bachelor of Arts from Abilene Christian University in Political Science where he served as class president and his J.D., University of Houston Law Center where he was a member of the Law School Honor Society.  His hobbies are photography and the study of Texas history.