The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs is proud to host a Directors’ Seminar with Senator Mary L. Landrieu, (D-LA) on Thursday, April 5th in the Belfer Center Library (L369).
Senator Landrieu has been referred to as “Military Mary” for her dedication to our armed services and her knowledge of defense issues. As a moderate democrat in the Senate and a member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Landrieu’s service in the Senate has been defined by her ability to build coalitions within the Senate and to cross party lines to support legislation. She currently serves on the Homeland Security, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and Energy and Natural Resources Committees. In addition, she serves on several appropriations subcommittees, including Agriculture, Labor, Health and Education, and Military Construction.
In 1999, Senator Landrieu became the first Democratic woman to serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee and is a member of the Senate Guard and Reserve Caucus. Senator Landrieu was on the Armed Services Committee just a few months when she negotiated a major compromise that broke a five-year partisan deadlock, allowing the Senate to move forward with a policy for developing a National Missile Defense system. Her amendment made it clear the U.S. will pursue this strategy on two fronts: development and deployment of a national missile defense system to protect the nation’s borders, and continued negotiations with Russia and other nations to reduce nuclear weapons arsenals.
A leader in issues dealing with both energy and the environment, as a member of the Senate Energy Committee, Landrieu has been an effective and tireless advocate for saving Louisiana’s vanishing coastline and wetlands, demanding Louisiana’s fair share of offshore oil and gas proceeds to stop the erosion of land and increase investment in Louisiana’s future.
Landrieu ran for a seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1979, becoming the youngest woman ever elected to the state Legislature. Eight years later, she successfully ran for Louisiana State Treasurer. In 1996, she was approached about running for an open Senate seat and with her swearing in on January 7, 1997; Mary Landrieu became the first woman from Louisiana elected to a full term in the Senate.
Senator Landrieu is a graduate of Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge.
