James Thomas Walsh (born June 19, 1947)Walsh, James T., Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, Washington, DC, Retrieved 16 January 2014. is an American Republican politician from Syracuse, New York.Saying goodbye to Congressman James Walsh, The Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY: Syracuse Media Group, 28 December 2008, Sieh, M., Retrieved 16 January 2014.Jim Walsh remembered: Herald American profile from 1988, The Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY: Syracuse Media Group, Repost 21 January 2008 by Carlic, S., Original 30 October 1988 by Kane, D., & Bramstedt, C., Retrieved 16 January 2014. Walsh served in the United States House of Representatives from 1989 until his retirement from the House in 2009. Walsh represented a portion of Central New York. After his congressional tenure, Walsh became a government affairs counselor for K & L Gates in Washington, DC.James T. Walsh: Government affairs counselor: Overview , K & L Gates LLP, Washington, DC: K & L Gates LLP, 2014, Retrieved 17 January 2014.Board of directors: James T. Walsh , Onondaga Environmental Institute, Syracuse, NY: Onondaga Environmental Institute, 2008, Retrieved 24 January 2014.
Known as a moderate, pro-labor Republican, Walsh was a member of the United States House Committee on Appropriations for 16 years. He also chaired the United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies. Walsh was also active in the peace process in Northern Ireland, for which the Walsh Visa was created and named in his honor. As co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Hearing Health Caucus, Walsh secured passage of laws aimed at guaranteeing universal hearing screenings for newborns and infants in the United States. In 2009, the James T. Walsh Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program was enacted. Walsh's change of perspective regarding both of then-President George W. Bush's troop surge of 2007 and ideology regarding the Iraq War caused Walsh's views to gain headlines in the news media; he called for a gradual withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Walsh was a member of the Syracuse City Council. He served as its leader for five years. In 1999, he issued a challenge with several goals that is known as The Syracuse Neighborhood Initiative (SNI).
Walsh's father, William F. Walsh, served as Mayor of Syracuse during the 1960s and was a Republican Member of the United States House of Representatives in the 1970s. Walsh's son, Ben Walsh, began serving as Mayor of Syracuse in 2018.
Early life and education Walsh was born in Syracuse, New York,, Vote NY, Reston, VA: Vote USA, Undated, Retrieved 17 January 2014. and graduated from St. Bonaventure University with a bachelor's degree in history. He served in the Peace Corps from 1970 to 1972James Walsh writes: My Iraq journal, Peace Corps Online, 11 September 2007, Cubbison, B., Retrieved 16 January 2014. in NepalThe Peace Corps: 10,000 volunteers by the year 2000: Hearing before the Committee on International Relations – House of Representatives: Statement of Hon. James T. Walsh, a representative in Congress from the State of New York, pp. 21–22, US House of Representatives, Washington, DC, 18 March 1998, Retrieved 18 January 2014. as an agricultural extension agent.
Early career
Walsh's early employment included work as a Social Services income examiner, and a telephone company executive with both AT&T and NYNEX Telecommunications.Congressman James T. Walsh , St. Bonaventure University Friedsam Memorial Library archives, St. Bonaventure, NY, Spring 2009, Retrieved 19 January 2014.James Walsh' biography, Project Vote Smart, Philipsburg, MT: Project Vote Smart, 2014, Retrieved 13 February 2014. He served as Director of the Telecommunication Institute at the SUNY Utica-Rome, and taught telecommunication policy as an adjunct professor.
Syracuse City Council
From 1977 to 1985, Walsh served on the City Council in Syracuse, New York. He served as president of the Common Council from 1985 to 1988.Congressman James T. Walsh: The Syracuse Common Council , St. Bonaventure University Friedsam Memorial Library archives, St. Bonaventure, NY, Spring 2009, Butler, D., Retrieved 19 January 2014.
United States House of Representatives
Elections A Republican, Walsh won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1988 in what was then the 27th District, handily defeating state Public Service Commissioner Rosemary S. Pooler.
Walsh was re-elected nine times, usually by fairly comfortable margins. The district, which was renumbered as the 25th District after the 1990 census, became increasingly Democratic in the 1990s due to the national Republican Party becoming more conservative. In 1996, he faced a reasonably well-financed challenge from Cortland attorney Marty Mack, and was held to only 53 percent of the vote. He faced his closest-ever race in 2006 against former congressional aide Dan Maffei, winning by only a 51% to 49% margin. He lost Onondaga County, the most populous county in the district and home to Syracuse, but was carried to victory by a strong showing in the more rural areas of the district.
With Maffei priming for a rematch against Walsh in 2008, Walsh announced that January that he would not run for an 11th term. Maffei won the seat in November.
Political views In the 109th Congress, Walsh voted along Republican party lines for 84% of his votes.The U.S. Congress votes database: James T. Walsh , The Washington Post, Washington, DC: The Washington Post, Undated, Retrieved 21 January 2014. In the 110th Congress, Walsh's votes placed him as a centrist between Democrats and Republicans.Rep. James "Jim" Walsh, GovTrack.us, Washington, DC: Civic Impulse, LLC, Undated, Retrieved 21 January 2014.
Throughout his twenty years in Congress, Walsh introduced 53 bills, co-sponsored nearly 1,700 bills, and enacted 10 bills.James T. Walsh , Watchdog.net, Undated, Retrieved 21 January 2014.
Tenure and political positions
The War in Iraq
On September 10, 2007, Walsh stated that he favors a gradual withdrawal of American forces from Iraq.Jim Walsh wants to bring the soldiers home, Peace Corps Online, 13 September 2007, Dawson, E., Retrieved 16 January 2014. This announcement came months after Walsh opposed President George W. Bush's troop surge of 2007. Walsh claims that it was a result of personally going to Iraq, and finding that the Iraqi government and military have not done enough on their end.
Walsh supported a bipartisan bill that would set a withdrawal date for American troops to leave Iraq.
Veterans affairs
MilQual budget appropriations
As Chair of the Appropriation's Committee's Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies during the 109th Congress, Walsh chaired Chair of MilQual, the third largest of the 10 appropriations budgets at approximately $115 billion. In that capacity, Walsh had spending oversight for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Defense health programs, as well as all Department of Defense installation construction/improvement, and military family housing accounts.
Healthcare improvements for veterans
Walsh secured improvements in care for American veterans, particularly those in the Syracuse, New York area.Congressman James T. Walsh: Veterans affairs , St. Bonaventure University Friedsam Memorial Library archives, St. Bonaventure, NY, Spring 2009, Kelvie, B., Retrieved 19 January 2014. Included in federal funding secured by Walsh was $3.8 million that was used in the construction of the Syracuse Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center Emergency Department, as well as $3.5 million for the medical center's MRI facility, and additional federal monies for the Spinal Cord Injury Center addition in 2008.
Hancock Air National Guard Base
Walsh proposed many bills aimed at funding for, and was supportive of, the Hancock Air National Guard Base in Syracuse during his tenure in Congress. The base was constructed in 1941 during World War II shortly after the attacks on Pearl Harbor. Originally known as the Syracuse Army Air Base (a.k.a. Mattydale Bomber Base), the base was renamed after Congressman Clarence E. Hancock and now serves as the home of the New York Air National Guard 174 Attack Wing (formerly 174 Fighter Wing), known as Hancock Field ANG Base. Syracuse Hancock International Airport, serving more than 2 million air travelers each year, is located across the street from the Hancock Field.
2008 National Military Appreciation Month event
Walsh attended an event on Capitol Hill in May 2008 to recognize National Military Appreciation Month.USO to host Capitol Hill care package stuffing event: Congress and USO team up to support the troops as part of National Military Appreciation Month , US Congressman Jeff Miller, US House of Representatives, 22 May 2008, Retrieved 18 January 2014. Several United Service Organizations (USO) groups, including members of the USO Congressional Caucus, USO World Board of Governors, USO World Strategic Partners, Congress members, and senior military officials came together to fill 3,000 Operation USO Care Packages for American troops overseas, as well as to recognize the nearly 70-year history of the USO. The USO is a non-profit organization that provides welfare, morale, and recreational services to American military personnel and their families.
Healthcare and related issues
Hearing health
Walsh was active in the passage of an act that guaranteed hearing screenings for newborns and infants.42 USC 280g-1: Early detection, diagnosis, and treatment regarding hearing loss in newborns and infants , United States Code, Washington, DC: United States House of Representatives, Undated, Retrieved 18 January 2014. In 1991, Walsh sponsored and introduced the Hearing Loss Testing Act.Congressman James T. Walsh: Newborn and infant hearing screening , St. Bonaventure University: Friedsam Memorial Library archives, St. Bonaventure, NY, Spring 2009, Retrieved 19 January 2014. The Newborn and Infant Screening and Intervention Program Act was authored and sponsored, mainly, by Walsh in 1999. On March 11, 2009, the act was renamed as the James T. Walsh Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program, and was identified within 42 United States Code 280g-1. The Act is for "the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment regarding hearing loss in newborns and infants," and includes several provisions so that these endeavors may be accomplished.
Child nutrition
As a leader in child nutrition in the US, Walsh is nationally recognized through his support of both The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Women with Infants and Children program (WIC). In the US House of Representatives, Walsh also sponsored the Hunger Has a Cure bill.
Stem cell research Walsh has been an advocate of stem cell research, although he is opposed to using embryos as a source of the stem cells for such research.Jim's journal, entry #060720: Stem cell research, US House of Representatives, Walsh, J.T., 2006. Walsh explained in his former congressional blog in entry #2 about these of his perspectives regarding stem cell research.Congressman James T. Walsh: Congressman Walsh's online journal 2006–2008 , St. Bonaventure University Friedsam Memorial Library Archives, St. Bonaventure, NY, Spring 2009, Retrieved 19 January 2014. In votes recorded from 1996 to 2007,James Walsh's voting records on issue: Stem cell research, Project Vote Smart, Philipsburg, MT, Retrieved 16 January 2014. however, he has consistently voted against bills regarding stem cell research, human cloning, and human embryo research.
Ireland, Northern Ireland, Peace Process, and Walsh Visa