33 Facts About Mark DeSaulnier

Mark James DeSaulnier is an American politician who has served as the US representative for California's 10th congressional district since 2015.

Mark DeSaulnier has been a member of the Democratic Party since 2000; before that, he was a Republican.

Mark DeSaulnier was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, to Edward Joseph Mark DeSaulnier Jr.

Mark DeSaulnier earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from the College of the Holy Cross.

Mark DeSaulnier worked as a probation officer, truck driver, and hotel services employee.

Mark DeSaulnier later owned and operated several restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Mark DeSaulnier was appointed to the Concord Planning Commission in 1988.

Mark DeSaulnier was a member of the University of California Toxic Substances Research and Teaching Program Advisory Committee.

Mark DeSaulnier was elected in 1994 and reelected in 1998 and 2002.

Mark DeSaulnier served on the executive boards of the Association of Bay Area Governments, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

Mark DeSaulnier was appointed to represent the Bay Area on the California Air Resources Board by the Air District.

Mark DeSaulnier established the annual Children and Families' Budget, a separate county budget that reviews and measures the effectiveness of county programs in these areas.

Mark DeSaulnier was endorsed by the San Francisco Chronicle, the Contra Costa Times, US Senator Barbara Boxer and California Senator Tom Torlakson.

Mark DeSaulnier was a member of the Assembly Committees on Appropriations, Human Services, Rules and Labor and Employment.

Mark DeSaulnier's bills addressed truancy among schoolchildren, preschool access, suicide prevention, childhood obesity, reducing air pollution, smoke-free workplaces, and opportunities for at-risk youth.

One bill Mark DeSaulnier introduced, AB 1617, would have restricted tobacco smokers from purchasing tobacco products online.

Mark DeSaulnier was elected to the California State Senate in 2008, representing the 7th Senate district, which includes most of Contra Costa County.

Mark DeSaulnier received early support from the Contra Costa Central Labor Council, the Contra Costa Building Trades Council and the California League of Conservation Voters.

Mark DeSaulnier chaired the select committees on Constitutional Reform and Growth Management.

Mark DeSaulnier authored over 20 bills addressing workers' ability to designate their treating physician before an injury, providing for greater prescription drug safety, supporting increased funding for alcohol-abuse programs, and expanding electronic recycling and funding for climate protection.

Mark DeSaulnier supported Senate Concurrent Resolution 3 to propose to California voters the question whether to call a convention to reform the state constitution.

In September 2009, Mark DeSaulnier amended SB 88 to attempt to restrict local governments' ability to shed pension programs through bankruptcy protection.

In 2012, Mark DeSaulnier proposed a bill, SB1366, that would require gun owners whose guns are stolen or lost to report the fact to police within 48 hours.

In 2014, Mark DeSaulnier was elected to represent California's 11th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives.

Mark DeSaulnier resigned his state senate seat in order to join Congress.

In 2009, Mark DeSaulnier announced his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives in the special election in California's 10th congressional district after the resignation of Ellen Tauscher, who endorsed him.

In 2014, after George Miller announced his retirement from the US House of Representatives, Mark DeSaulnier announced his candidacy for California's 11th congressional district to succeed him.

Mark DeSaulnier won the general election and took office on January 3,2015.

Mark DeSaulnier announced that he would seek reelection in the 10th congressional district, and was one of three candidates in the June 7,2022 primary election.

In January 2023 Mark DeSaulnier introduced the "Breaking the Gridlock Act", a low-profile piece of legislation intended to serve as a vehicle for a discharge petition to increase the country's debt limit in the event of a congressional deadlock on the issue.

Mark DeSaulnier is an avid runner and has completed 23 marathons.

In May 2016, Mark DeSaulnier announced that he had been diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in 2015 and had undergone chemotherapy.

On March 13,2020, Mark DeSaulnier was hospitalized in Washington, DC, for a rib fracture sustained during a run, as well as for pneumonia.