Brad Sherman (D-CA-27)

Brad Sherman California District 27

Brad Sherman, Biography from House.gov

Biography of Congressman Brad Sherman

Congressman Brad Sherman, born and raised in southern California, represents California’s San Fernando Valley, and has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1997. Congressman Sherman is serving his eighth term in Congress.

Congressman Sherman is the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade. He is a senior member of the Financial Services Committee.

During his tenure in Congress, Sherman has developed a reputation as a strong advocate for fiscal responsibility, a balanced budget, federal aid to education, the interests of working families, strong environmental standards, the protection of Social Security and Medicare, and policies to expand U.S. exports.

According to USA Today and The Washington Post, Congressman Sherman led the effort to prevent taxpayer dollars from being used for unlimited bailouts to Wall Street giants. In 2009, he took an important role in crafting legislation that ended bailouts putting taxpayers on the hook for risky Wall Street behavior, by successfully defeating the Treasury Department’s proposal for permanent, unlimited TARP.

A consumer rights advocate, Sherman was among the leaders behind the formation of the Consumer Financial Protection Agency, which protects consumers from financial institutions issuing credit cards and offering costly overdraft protection. Sherman also protected families’ retirement funds and college savings and put controls on companies which reward corporate CEOs multi-million dollar bonuses for bad performance. Sherman’s collective efforts for financial reform brought about transparency and accountability to a financial system that thrived on greed and risk.

Serving on the House Budget Committee in 1997, Congressman Sherman authored the Sherman Amendment to the Budget Resolution providing an additional $700 million for the acquisition of environmentally important lands in FY ‘98. The Sherman Amendment was included in the Joint Budget Resolution and effectuated by a $699 million appropriation. Sherman also secured $20 million to acquire land and to complete the Backbone Trail through the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

Congressman Sherman’s public service career includes serving on the California State Board of Equalization from 1990 to 1995. He was Chairman of the Board from 1991 to 1995. As a board member Sherman led the successful fight to repeal the snack tax, which previously required grocers to differentiate between a cupcake and a muffin, imposing an inconsistent tax burden on needy Californians.

Before joining Congress, Sherman was on staff at one of the nations’ big-four CPA firms. Sherman is a Tax Law Specialist and a CPA. While at the firm, he audited large businesses and governmental entities, provided tax law counsel on multi-million dollar transactions, advised entrepreneurs and small businesses on tax and investment issues, and helped represent the Government of the Philippines under President Aquino in a successful effort to seize assets of deposed President Marcos. Sherman was also an instructor at Harvard Law School’s International Tax Program.

Sherman is married to Lisa Kaplan Sherman and is the father of 2 daughters, Molly and Naomi.

Sherman received his law degree from Harvard and his Bachelor’s degree from UCLA.

Biography from The Sherman for Congress Committee

Congressman Brad Sherman was born and raised in Southern California, attended public schools and graduated from UCLA and Harvard Law School.

Congressman Sherman is the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade. He is a senior member of the Financial Services Committee.

During his tenure in Congress, Sherman has developed a reputation as a strong advocate for fiscal responsibility, a balanced budget, federal aid to education, the interests of working families, strong environmental standards, the protection of Social Security and Medicare, and policies to expand U.S. exports.

Congressman Sherman’s public service career includes serving on the California State Board of Equalization from 1991 to 1995. For fifteen years, Sherman advised small businesses as a Tax Law Specialist and a CPA.

Sherman is married to Lisa Kaplan Sherman and is the father of two daughters, Molly and Naomi.

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