Biography

Born in Salt Lake City, Bob Bennett is the son of former four-term U.S. Senator Wallace F. Bennett and Frances Grant Bennett. A third generation Utahn, he is also a graduate and former student-body president of the University of Utah. Bob and his wife Joyce are proud parents of six children and 20 grandchildren.

Prior to his election to the Senate in 1992, Bennett earned many distinctions in business and government activities. For his success as chief executive officer of the Franklin International Institute, Bennett was named Inc. Magazine's "Entrepreneur of the Year" for the Rocky Mountain region. His Washington, D.C. experience includes service as chief congressional liaison at the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Bob Bennett has been honored to serve the citizens of Utah in the U.S. Senate for over 15 years, and he continues to do so with distinction. He currently serves as counsel to Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, and he retains his seat on the Republican leadership team where he advises the leader on legislative strategy and policy priorities. Senator Bennett also serves as a senior member of the Senate Banking Committee and as a member of the distinguished Joint Economic Committee, where he is at the center of national economic policy discussions.

Also honored to be a part of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Bennett continues to set an example of fiscal discipline for the people of Utah and his fellow lawmakers. Named an "Emerging Leader in a Post-September 11 Senate" by Congressional Quarterly Magazine, Bennett has received numerous awards for his contributions in the Chamber. The Utah Republican also serves on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committees and is the ranking Republican member on the Senate Rules Committee.

During his Senate career, Bob has made many strides on behalf of the people of Utah. He introduced and passed legislation to designate the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salt Lake City and remains committed to those Utahns who serve our country. Bob has supported numerous initiatives to improve education in Utah and has helped those in rural parts of the state secure funding for reading, teaching and training materials. As a former business owner, Bob is an advocate for small businesses and has fought legislation that would raise taxes on what he believes to be the engines of our economy. Bennett has also supported Utah's agriculture industry in the fight against cricket and grasshopper infestations and has helped the state invest in technology to advance the agriculture sector. Bennett's work in the Senate has greatly benefited Utah's public transportation sector through his efforts to fund light rail and TRAX. Recognizing the critical need to reduce our deficit by cutting out of control entitlement spending, Bob has introduced legislation known as the Healthy Americans Act to reform our nation's health care system while saving money in the end and has a plan to solve the Social Security crisis so that every child could receive the same benefits as their grandparents do today.

Bob Bennett is proud to serve the people of Utah and looks forward to leading them as the conservative choice for the state's future.