As part of his economic strategy, Rockefeller in 1995, 1997, 1999, and 2001
led Project Harvest trade missions, introducing
Rockefeller has applied the same dogged determination
to his passion to improve health care.
This includes advocating comprehensive health care reform, fighting to reduce the number of
uninsured kids and working families, protecting seniors and veterans’ health care, and fighting for the promised health benefits of
retired coal miners. In 1992, he won an historic fight to protect health care benefits for retired coal miners, calling the victory
the proudest moment of his career. He has continued his commitment to coal miners’ health by working to pass law in 1996 that prohibits
companies from denying insurance coverage based on pre-existing conditions, and in 2001 by securing a three-year deal to prevent cuts
in miners’ health benefits.
Rockefeller is nationally known as one of the strongest advocates for health care reform. In the late 1980s,
when he served as Chairman of the Pepper Commission (the Bipartisan Commission on Comprehensive Health Care) he authored historic
legislation reforming the way physicians are paid under Medicare. The next year, Congress approved his legislation expanding Medicaid
to cover home and community health care services and protecting senior citizens from excessive charges. In 1997, he co-authored legislation
creating the Children's Health Insurance Program which has provided health care coverage to 22,000 children in working families in
And, finally, Rockefeller is known for championing initiatives to strengthen
families and children. In 1996, Rockefeller joined with Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) to sponsor the Snowe-Rockefeller Amendment to
the Telecommunications Act of 1996, helping every school and library in
Additionally, his work as Chairman of the National Commission on Children resulted in bipartisan support
for a comprehensive children's agenda; it has become the benchmark by which children's education, welfare and health care legislation
are measured. Three of the Commission's centerpiece recommendations have since been enacted into law: expanding the Earned Income
Tax Credit for working, low-income families; increasing the minimum wage; and creating the child tax credit for working families.
In
the United States Senate, Senator Rockefeller is the Vice-chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. He also serves
as Ranking Member of the Health Care subcommittee on Finance, and as Ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation Committee. Rockefeller also serves on the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Rockefeller was born on
After college, Rockefeller worked for the Peace Corps in
The people of
Since 1967, Rockefeller has been married to Sharon Percy with whom
he has four children: John, Valerie, Charles, and Justin. He is also the proud grandfather of Laura Chandler Rockefeller and
Sophia Percy Rockefeller, daughters of his son John; and Percy Abigail Wayne, daughter of his daughter Valerie. The Rockefellers
reside in
Senator Jay Rockefeller has proudly served the people of
