Joseph A. "Joe" Sestak, Jr. (born December 12, 1951) is a retired United States Navy Rear Admiral and currently a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district (map) since 2007. The district incorporates parts of the Philadelphia suburbs, including most of Delaware County.
Sestak is the highest-ranking former military officer currently serving in this Congress. His legislative efforts have resulted in House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer naming him the most productive freshman member of Congress in 2007. On August 4, 2009, Sestak declared his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, posing a primary challenge against Senator Arlen Specter.
Personal
Sestak was born in Secane, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Cardinal O'Hara High School in Springfield, a suburb of Philadelphia in Delaware County. His grandfather, Martin, came to America from the village of Dolné Lovčice in Slovakia in 1922, after World War I, while his father Joseph (age 3), was sent to America in 1924 to join Martin. Sestak's father graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1942, and then fought in both the Atlantic and the Pacific during World War II. Following in his father's footsteps, Sestak graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science degree in American political systems. Between tours at sea, Sestak earned a Master of Public Administration and a Ph.D. in political economy and government from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 1980 and 1984, respectively.
Sestak is married to the former Susan L. Clark and they have an eight year old daughter, Alexandra, who is a brain cancer survivor.
Naval career
As a surface warfare officer, Sestak served division officer tours as damage control assistant, combat information center officer and weapons officer on the guided missile destroyer USS Richard E. Byrd , and then was weapons officer on the guided missile destroyer USS Hoel . He then served as aide and flag lieutenant to the admiral in charge of United States Navy surface forces in the Pacific.
In January 1986, Sestak became executive officer of the guided missile frigate USS Underwood . He then served in the Politico-Military Assessment Division of the staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. On August 30, 1991, Sestak took command of the guided missile frigate USS Samuel B. Roberts , which was named the Atlantic Fleet's best surface combatant in the 1993 Battenberg Cup competition.
In July 1993 , Sestak became the head of the Strategy and Concepts Branch in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations. From November 1994 to March 1997, he was the Director for Defense Policy on the National Security Council staff at the White House, where he was responsible for national security and defense strategy, policies, programs, inter-agency and congressional coordination and regional political-military advice. In May 1997, he became the commander of Destroyer Squadron 14.
Sestak then directed the CNO's Strategy and Policy Division (N51), and led the Navy's efforts toward the 2000 Quadrennial Defense Review, for which he analyzed the economic value of U.S. defense spending. After September 11th, he became the first director of the Navy Operations Group (Deep Blue), which sought to redefine strategic, operational and budgetary policies in the Global War on Terrorism. He reported directly to the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Admiral Vern Clark, as policy adviser and administrator. Sestak told The Hill that as the designated policy adviser and administrator to Clark, it was his job to revamp the Navy, a process that necessarily ruffled feathers. “Change is very challenging,” Sestak said. “It did not sit well with a lot of people...I worked hard, and I did not ask anyone to work harder than me."
In the summer of 2005, Sestak was administratively reassigned from his position as DCNO due to a "poor command climate," effectively ending his naval career. His removal was one of the first changes made by Admiral Michael Mullen when he took over as the new Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) in July, according to Navy Times .
Sestak's decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, two Legion of Merit awards, two Meritorious Service Medals, Joint Service Commendation Medal, three Navy Commendation Medals and the Navy Achievement Medal.
Because Sestak left the Navy before he had been a Vice Admiral long enough to be able to retire at that rank, he retired at the lower rank of a two star Rear Admiral.
Political positions
Abortion
Sestak has a 100% rating from NARAL and has stated his support for Roe v. Wade.
Economy
Since 2007, Congressman Sestak has hosted eleven economic summits in the 7th District. He voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ("the Stimulus Bill") and the Tax Extenders and Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008.
Education
Congressman Sestak voted for the Improving Head Start Act and the College Cost Reduction and Access Act.
Environment
Sestak voted for the Waxman Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act (Cap and Trade) program. He is the only Pennsylvanian congressman to have a 100% rating from the League of Conservation Voters and PennEnvironment. He has also been endorsed by the Sierra Club. He voted for the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 and the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security and Consumer Protection Act. He was also an original co-sponsor of the Climate Stewardship Act (H.R. 620) and the Safe Climate Act.
Gun rights
Sestak supports gun control and has a 100% rating from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and an "F" rating from the National Rifle Association
Sestak has called for the reinstatement of the federal ban on military style semi-automatic firearms.
Healthcare
Congressman Sestak credits his support for health care reform as to "payback" the country that provided him and his family health care while he was in the Navy (the TRICARE program), especially for treating his daughter's brain tumor. He supports preventive care and voted for the CHAMP Act. Sestak originally co-sponsored the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiations Act, the Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act and co-sponsored H.R. 3800, which establishes a public-private Partnership for Health Care Improvement. He also announced the Pediatric Cancer Caucus, which he will co-chair. He is also a member of the Autism Caucus, Diabetes Caucus, 21st Century Health Care Caucus, Congressional Mental Health Caucus, Nursing Caucus, and Cystic Fibrosis Caucus.
Labor
Congressman Sestak is an original co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act and supports the original version that includes card check. He created the Labor Advisory Committee to address the challenges facing working families in his district.
Congressional campaigns
2006
Main article: Pennsylvania 7th congressional district election, 2006In 2006, Sestak challenged ten-term incumbent Curt Weldon in a race for the 7th district Congressional seat. Sestak proved a capable fund-raiser. In the second quarter of 2006, he raised $704,000 to Weldon's $692,000; in the third, $1.14 million to $912,000. As of September 30, 2006, Sestak had $1.53 million cash on hand, while Weldon had $1.12 million in the bank after making a $500,000 TV ad buy that had not started as of the close of the third quarter. Sestak received campaign funds from famed people around the world, including performer Jimmy Buffett, the Clintons, and many Naval officers.
On October 6, 2006, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report re-rated the race from "Lean Republican" to "Toss Up." A poll released in late September 2006 showed Sestak and Weldon locked in a statistical dead heat. Sestak led Weldon 44-43 among likely voters in a Franklin & Marshall College Keystone Poll released September 29. The poll also found that 49 percent of registered voters in the district felt it was time for change in the district and only 37 percent said Weldon deserved re-election. The poll numbers suggest Sestak had seriously eroded Weldon's previous lead; a poll conducted in April 2006 by the pro-Democratic Party organization Democracy Corps had Weldon leading 51 to 41 percent. An October 8–10 survey by nonpartisan pollster Constituent Dynamics put Sestak ahead 51-44. On October 13, 2006, CQPolitics changed their rating on the race, from "Leans Republican" to "No Clear Favorite." The race was locked in a dead-heat until late October, when FBI special agents raided the homes of Weldon's daughter and a close friend in connection with a federal corruption probe (though as of 2009 neither Weldon nor his daughter were ever charged with a crime). Sestak was elected on November 7, 2006, defeating Weldon by a 12-point margin (56-44), becoming only the second Democrat to represent the Delaware County-based district and its various permutations since the Civil War.
2008
See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 2008#District 7In 2008, Sestak faced Republican nominee Wendell Craig Williams, a U.S. M
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