27 Facts About Hansen Clarke

Hansen Hashim Clarke was born on Molik Hashim, March 2,1957 and is an American politician and former US Congressman.

Hansen Clarke finished second in the primary behind Peters, and left Congress in January 2013.

Hansen Clarke was unsuccessful in his bid to regain the seat.

Hansen Clarke's father was a Bengali immigrant from Beanibazar in Sylhet, British India, and his mother was African-American.

Hansen Clarke grew up in the city's Lower East Side.

Hansen Clarke's father died when he was eight years old and his mother worked as a crossing guard to support her family.

Hansen Clarke is an alumnus of Cass Technical High School, and later graduated from The Governor's Academy, a Massachusetts boarding school.

Hansen Clarke attended Cornell University, graduating with a degree in fine arts.

Hansen Clarke is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

Hansen Clarke was elected to the student seat on the Cornell University Board of Trustees, defeating fellow student and future political commentator Ann Coulter in the process.

Hansen Clarke earned a JD degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1987.

Hansen Clarke was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 1990,1998, and 2000.

Senator Hansen Clarke was re-elected to his seat in the Senate in 2006.

In 2010, Hansen Clarke was elected to represent the 13th District of Michigan in the United States House of Representatives.

Hansen Clarke served on the State Senate Appropriations committee, and later served on the Health Policy committee and Commerce and Tourism committee.

Hansen Clarke's home was drawn into the 13th District, represented by fellow Democrat John Conyers, but Hansen Clarke opted to follow most of his constituents into the 14th.

Hansen Clarke instead ran for the US Senate seat being vacated by retiring Democrat Carl Levin.

Hansen Clarke attempted to win his seat back, but was defeated in the primary by Brenda Lawrence.

Hansen Clarke championed initiatives to increase investment in the City of Detroit, which resulted in millions of dollars of federal assistance being awarded to the city and the region.

Hansen Clarke won approval in Congress to increase funding to improve nutrition for low-income families, provide housing for homeless veterans, and better equip and staff local police, fire, and emergency medical providers to bolster homeland security.

Hansen Clarke led the effort in Congress to cut student loan debt for millions of Americans by authoring the Student Loan Forgiveness Act of 2012.

Hansen Clarke established himself as one of the nation's strongest advocates for struggling homeowners and distressed communities with the Save Our Neighborhoods Act, a bill that would allow many homeowners to stay in their homes by suspending the foreclosure process and reducing their mortgage principal.

Hansen Clarke worked to reduce crime and restore hope by addressing the urgent crisis of illiteracy among African-American and Hispanic men.

Hansen Clarke co-authored a bipartisan resolution initiating national action for literacy.

Hansen Clarke introduced the first federal legislation to "Ban the Box," which would prohibit unfair discrimination against job applicants with certain criminal backgrounds.

Hansen Clarke was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Hansen Clarke was raised as a Muslim but later converted to Catholicism.