Congressman Steny Hoyer, who takes over in the new Congress the post of Democratic Whip -- the second-ranking position among House Democrats -- brings an important moderate voice to the democratic leadership team.

Hoyer was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1981, and he has long sought to build bridges between New Democrats and House leaders.

In his new post, his first task will be to drum up support for the Democrats' economic stimulus package, which, in contrast to the $674 billion Bush administration proposal, is a front-loaded and fiscally responsible plan, "designed," Hoyer said, "to jumpstart our stagnant economy without saddling our children and grandchildren with enormous debt."

Hoyer brings to the whip's post a strong record of accomplishment in policy areas ranging from tax and budget issues to national security. In February 2000, the National Journal wrote: "Congressional insiders roundly agree that [Steny Hoyer] is a workhorse with the ability to focus on getting a job done that is unmatched by many lawmakers." Later that same year, the Washington Post concurred in an editorial: "Mr. Hoyer's ability to get things done in the House ... is well-known."

In recent years, Hoyer has been a voice for fiscal sanity in tax and budget debates, offering pointed critiques of the Bush administration's relentless tax cut agenda. He sounded a cautionary note as the tax cut of 2001 was steamrolling through the Republican-controlled House, recalling the folly of Ronald Reagan's tax-cut-plus-defense-build-up policies of twenty years before, and arguing that in 2001 it was especially irresponsible to be cutting taxes before even passing a budget.

"Twenty years ago President Reagan assured us that America could have it all: a huge tax cut, a major defense buildup, and a balanced federal budget," Hoyer said. "Well, as we found out ... the American people lost -- badly."

In the context of the war on terrorism and a possible war against Iraq, Hoyer's areas of expertise make him a particularly important Congressional leader. He is a respected Democratic voice on military matters, arguing consistently for a strong national defense. His message to fellow Democrats has been: "We must support and be perceived as supporting, a strong national defense and security for all Americans."

Hoyer is also well known as a leader on education issues and a respected voice on human and civil rights. He is perhaps best known for guiding the landmark Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) to passage in 1990. In the most recent Congress, he gained wide acclaim for guiding the "Help America Vote Act" to House passage in December 2001. Washington Post columnist David Broder called the comprehensive election reform package "the most significant piece of election law since [the] Voting Rights Act." The Act, which President Bush signed into law this fall, authorizes Federal funds to help states replace outdated and unreliable punch-card voting systems and to upgrade voting technologies. It also requires states to implement, among other measures, statewide registration systems, provisional balloting and second-chance voting.

Hoyer represents southern Maryland's 5th District. In addition to his leadership post, he is a senior member (and former chairman) of the Appropriations Committee. Before serving in Congress, he served in the Maryland state senate, and was a leader there, too. After being elected at the age of just 27, Hoyer later became the Maryland state senate's youngest-ever president at the age of 35.