Sen. Christopher Dodd, the senior senator from Connecticut, is not only the youngest person ever elected to the United States Senate from that state, but he is also the first senator from Connecticut to serve five consecutive terms, beginning his first term in 1981. He is currently chairman of the US Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.

Dodd joined the Peace Corps in 1966 and was sent to the Dominican Republic, where he spent two years working in rural communities and became fluent in Spanish. In 1968, he joined the Army and served with the reserves until 1975.

Prior to being elected to the Senate, Dodd served as a representative from the Second Congressional District of Connecticut from 1975 until 1981. From 1995 until 1997, he was the chairman of the Democratic National Committee. From 2001 through 2003, he held the position of chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.

On his official campaign Web site, Dodd says he believes that “the best social program is a good job” and that he is dedicated to helping Americans create and win the best jobs in the global economy of the 21st century. While assisting American companies to be competitive abroad, he says he wants to keep good jobs in the U.S. Dodd proposes tax incentives for companies that locate in the U.S., job training programs, research and development credits and policies to limit the cost of health care for employers and employees alike. His view is that America should export goods and services, not American jobs.

Dodd said he was instrumental in forming the first Children’s Caucus in the Senate and worked for almost 10 years to enact the Family and Medical Leave Act. One of the major components of this act ensures that more than 50 million Americans won’t have to choose between their families and their jobs.

Dodd said he also initiated and enacted legislation that provides for safe and affordable child care. The National Head Start Association named him “Senator of the Decade” to recognize his support for early childhood education. He also authored legislation to amend the No Child Left Behind law to ensure that the law worked better for America’s children.

Dodd said he has worked for innovation in patient care and in expanding access to affordable health care and continues to support community health centers. He said he secured funding for initiatives in maternal and child health, child nutrition and infant mortality prevention. He said he authored legislation to protect the mentally ill from abusive or deadly restraint practices and continues to work for a patient’s bill of rights.

Dodd says he has supported measures to require the federal government to operate on a pay-as-you-go basis, fighting to reform campaign finance laws, and was successful in getting legislation enacted to prevent members of Congress from receiving speaking fees.

Prior to 9/11, Dodd said he recognized the importance of first responders in protecting citizens from natural and man-made disasters. The first federal law to help cities and towns hire, equip and train firefighters and other emergency personnel was successfully authored by the senator.

After the disputed 2000 presidential election, Dodd said he authored the Help America Vote Act to ensure that every American has an equal opportunity to vote and that every vote is counted.

In addition, Dodd was one of 16 senators who voted against the Vitter Amendment to prohibit federal funding of the confiscation of legally owned firearms during disasters. He was condemned by the National Rifle Association for this action.

Dodd has been highly critical of the embargo and restrictions on Cuba. He also favors more lenient immigration laws.

Dodd voted for the North American Free Trade Agreement, saying the agreement promotes political and economic stability as well as growth and democracy. In 2005, he also supported the Central American Free Trade Agreement and the Free Trade Area of the Americas.

Dodd, along with several other senators, introduced the “Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007,” which he claims “restores Habeas Corpus rights, bars evidence gained through torture or coercion and reinstates U.S. adherence to the Geneva Conventions in order to protect the nation’s military abroad.” He has also been working to stop proposed troop increases for the war in Iraq.

Dodd has been associated with several controversies. In 2006, he faced criticism for initially supporting Joe Leiberman, but later pledged to support whoever won the Democratic primary race between Leiberman and Ned Lamont.

Dodd was presented the Golden Leash Award by Public Campaign, a symbol of ties between special interest money and elected officials. The award is bestowed on members of Congress who are viewed as supporting “dollar democracy.” According to Public Campaign, between January 1993 and December 1994, Dodd accepted campaign funds from securities, investment, accounting and high-tech computer industries.

Dodd graduated from Providence College and received a law degree from the University of Louisville School of Law. Before being elected to Congress in 1974, he practiced law in New London, Conn.

He was born in Willimantic, Conn., the fifth of six children of the late Sen. Thomas J. Dodd and Grace Murphy Dodd. He is married to the former Jackie Clegg, and has two daughters, Grace and Christina.

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