Amy Klobuchar
Amy Klobuchar
Senator from Minnesota
This is an 8x10 signed photo of Senator Amy Klobuchar.
In 2006, Amy Klobuchar became the first woman elected to represent the State of Minnesota in the U. S. Senate. As a respected leader - both as chief prosecutor in Minnesota's largest county, and now as a United States Senator, Amy has always embraced the values she learned growing up in Minnesota. Her grandfather worked 1500 feet underground in the iron ore mines of Northern Minnesota. Her father, Jim, was a newspaperman, and her mother, Rose, was an elementary school teacher who continued teaching until she was 70.
On January 4, 2007, Amy Klobuchar took the oath of office to represent the people of Minnesota in the United States Senate.
Amy has taken those Minnesota values to heart to get results for the people of the Northstar state.
As a private citizen and before being elected to public office, she was the leading advocate for successful passage of one of the first laws in the country guaranteeing 48-hour hospital stays for new moms and their babies.
And, in 1998, after serving as a partner of two of Minnesota's leading law firms, Amy broke new ground as the first woman elected to serve as the Hennepin County prosecutor, which includes Minneapolis and 45 suburbs.
Heading the largest prosecutor's office in the state for eight years, Amy made the prosecution of violent and career criminals her top priority. She was a leading advocate for successful passage of Minnesota's first felony DWI law for which she received a leadership award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Her safe schools initiative, community prosecution efforts and criminal justice reforms earned national awards, including from the U.S. Department of Justice under both the Clinton and Bush Administrations. She was also elected by her colleagues to serve as president of the Minnesota County Attorneys Association.
In 2006, the people of Minnesota elected Amy to be their United States Senator. Amy quickly established herself as a leader determined to get results. On issues from consumer protection to renewable energy; from developing our rural economy to combating climate change to reforming our government, Amy has been a strong advocate for middle-class families and Minnesota values.
Amy took the lead to pass the most significant consumer product safety legislation in a generation, keeping toxic products off our shores and out of our stores. She acted quickly to obtain full funding for the I-35W bridge, the eight-lane highway which was rebuilt in a record nine months after tragically falling into the Mississippi River. She introduced legislation to secure health and education benefits for our nation's veterans. She took on the cell phone companies for more consumer-friendly policies. And she helped pass the most sweeping ethics reform since Watergate.
Her work has gained national recognition. Working Mother Magazine named her as a 2008 "Best in Congress" for her efforts on behalf of working families. The American Prospect named her a "woman to watch."
The Washington Post has described Klobuchar as "a rising star" and "a leading proponent of efforts to combat climate change," not to mention "the funniest new member of Congress."
The Star Tribune reported on her substantial progress, citing observers who praised her work in her first hundred days as, "a fast-moving legislator with potential to become a party leader."
Amy serves on five Senate committees: Agriculture, Environment and Public Works, Commerce, Judiciary and the Joint Economic Committee.
Amy was the valedictorian of her high school class. She graduated magna cum laude from Yale University and the University of Chicago Law School. Her senior thesis in college, published as the book "Uncovering the Dome," chronicles the 10-year-history behind the building of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome and is still used at colleges and universities across the country.
Amy is married to John Bessler, a native of Mankato, who attended Loyola High School and the University of Minnesota. He teaches law. Amy and John have a daughter, Abigail, who is 14 and just began her freshman year of high school.
Amy Klobuchar at the U.S. Senate site