FAMILY: Wife, Patricia Choppa; two daughters

RELIGION: Roman Catholic

EDUCATION: M.S. in Counseling, Youngstown State University, 1976; M.S. in Administration, Youngstown State University, 1973; B.S. in Education, University of Pittsburgh, 1963.

COMMITTEES: Transportation and Infrastructure (Ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight).

BACKGROUND: From 1971 to 1981, Traficant served as the director of the Mahoning County (Ohio) Drug Program. As director he established a Parent Awareness Group in Ohio to educate families about substance abuse. In 1980, Mr. Traficant was elected Sheriff of Mahoning County. In addition to aggressive drug enforcement programs, Traficant greatly expanded the number of community crime watch programs in Mahoning and neighboring Trumbull County. Sheriff Traficant made national headlines by refusing to enact foreclosure orders on the homes of several unemployed workers. He openly defied a court order and spent three days in jail to protest the proceedings and draw attention to the plight of unemployed homeowners. In 1984, Traficant ran a low-budget, grassroots campaign for Congress. Despite being outspent seven to one by an incumbent Republican, Traficant won handily by 18,000 votes. He has been re-elected seven times, in each instance garnering at least 68 percent of the vote. In 1992 he received more than 216,000 votes -- the third highest total of any House member.

CONGRESSIONAL CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

	In 1986, authored bill to make the installation of highway safety devices, such as guard rails, bridge barriers and medians, eligible for  100% federal funding. That provision, which is now law, has been credited with saving thousands of lives.
	In 1988, was the only non-member of the House Judiciary Committee to co-author the Anti-Drug bill, which significantly strengthened  federal drug laws.
	Has attached "Buy American" provisions to every appropriations bill approved by the House in recent years.
	In 1988, was able to get a housing counseling bill enacted into law which continues to provide federal funding for non-profit  organizations that provide counseling and assistance to homeowners in danger of losing their homes.
	In 1989, authored an amendment that became law to require drug testing for all operators of shipping vessels.
	Worked for eight years to have a $6 million U.S. Courthouse built in Youngstown, Ohio, which opened in December of 1993. Was able to get initial federal funding in 1994 for a second $15 million Federal Courthouse in Youngstown to meet the growing needs of the federal judiciary in the Mahoning Valley.
	Established a first-ever VA Clinic in Youngstown so that veterans in the Mahoning Valley do not have to drive to Pennsylvania or Cleveland for treatment.
	Established a new federal grant program to encourage state and local courts to use close-circuit or videotaped testimony in child abuse cases.
	From January of 1993 to December of 1994, Congressman Traficant served as chairman of the Public Works and Transportation's Subcommittee on Public Buildings and Grounds. Traficant's jurisdiction included oversight of the Capitol, all federal real estate, including U.S. courthouses, owned, operated or constructed by the General Services Administration.
	In November of 1993, was successful in pushing legislation through the House to restrict smoking in federally-owned and leased office space.
	Co-authored legislation to streamline the capital construction program and improve management operations at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The bill was enacted into law in 1994.
	Led the effort to change arcane federal budget accounting rules to allow the federal government to save billions of dollars each year by reducing the number of costly long-term federal leases.
	In 1993, successfully pushed an amendment through the Public Works and Transportation Committee to cut seven new federal courthouse projects by ten percent -- saving the taxpayers $44 million.
	Worked successfully with the General Services Administration to cut the cost of the Atlanta (GA) Federal Center project by some $300 million.
	Over the past several years Traficant secured federal funding to double the size of the Air Force Reserve's 910th Tactical Airlift Wing based at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport in Vienna, Ohio. Traficant's efforts included funding to purchase an additional eight C-130H aircraft, allowing the 910th to become a full 16-plane "wing." Traficant's efforts also resulted in the Air Force establishing a regional wing headquarters and a regional maintenance facility at the 910th. The dramatic expansion of the 910th will result in the creation of at least 250 new jobs in the Mahoning Valley.
	In February of 1996, Traficant kicked-off the second phase of a special program he initiated to provide low-interest loans to businesses in the Mahoning Valley. Traficant worked with HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros to secure almost $8 million in discretionary HUD money to bolster the local mini-loan program.
	In April, 1996 Traficant authored two key provisions to curb IRS abuses that were included in taxpayer rights bill signed into law by the President.
	In September of 1996, the House approved legislation reauthorizing funds and program of the FAA that includes an amendment authored by Traficant to make it easier for small airports to have access to special federal air cargo grants.
	In October, 1996 President Clinton signed into law the Water Resources Development Act of 1996.  Traficant was able to have included in the measure three important initiatives for the Mahoning Valley, including measures authorizing the Corps of Engineers to clean up the Mahoning River and make repairs to Lower Girard Lake Dam.  In September, 1997 Traficant was able to get $1 million appropriated to initiate the Mahoning River project and $1.5 million for the Lower Girard Lake Dam.
	In February, 1997 the Federal Aviation Administration released an $11.5 million grant to Youngstown-Warren (OH) Regional Airport, culminating a three-year campaign by Traficant to get federal start-up funds for the establishment of a cargo airpark at the airport.  In September, 1996 Traficant was able to secure a $1 million planning grant from the FAA for the project.
	In July, 1997 the House approved a Traficant-sponsored amendment to the defense appropriations bill directing the Pentagon's Inspector General to conduct a random audit of U.S. military bases to determine how often base funds are used to purchase foreign-made equipment, uniforms and supplies.  The amendment was included in the final version of the bill signed into law by President Clinton in September, 1997.
	From September 1994 to May of 1997, Traficant worked closely with federal, state, and local officials to restore Amtrak passenger rail service to Youngstown.  Traficant was able to get a total of $25,000 in local or state government grants to renovate the B&O station in Youngstown.  Service resumed in May of 1997.
	The IRS reform bill enacted into law in 1998 included several provisions authored by Traficant.  These include shifting the burden of proof in a civil tax case from a taxpayer to the IRS and requiring the IRS to obtain judicial consent before seizing a family home.  Inclusion of these Traficant-authored provisions marked the culmination of a decade-long effort by Traficant to protect taxpayers and rein in IRS abuses.
	In May 1998, the House approved a Traficant-sponsored amendment to the defense authorization bill authorizing the deployment of troops along the U.S.-Mexico border to assist federal law enforcement in patrolling the border and inspecting vehicles and cargo at points of entry.
	In October 1998, the House overwhelmingly approved a non-binding resolution authored by Traficant calling on the Clinton Administration to impose a one year ban on steel imports from any country found to be illegally dumping steel in the U.S.
	In 1997, Traficant was the keynote speaker at the state conventions of the California, Michigan and Texas Reform Parties.  He also addressed the Reform Party's national convention.  In June of 1998, he addressed the Virginia Reform Party's state convention.

MEDIA APPEARANCES/PROFILES:
 

	Congressman Traficant has been profiled by the Washington Post, 60 Minutes, Fox Network Television and CNN.
	Has appeared on a number of national talk and news shows, including The Donahue Show, NBC's Meet the Press, CNN's Crossfire, CNBC's Equal Time and Pozner/Donahue, Cop Talk, Good Morning America, The Today Show, CBS Morning News, the Jack Anderson Show, NETV's Paul Weyrich Show, America's Most Wanted, Unsolved Mysteries and Japanese television.