The Sentient Group | Speeches

Senator Ted Stevens

Senator Ted Stevens – Alaska
(Washington, DC – 8 May, 2002)

A member of the Senate for 37 years, Ted Stevens is Alaska's senior Senator. Sen. Stevens' tenure in the Senate makes him the fourth most senior member among his colleagues, and first among Republicans. Sen. Stevens holds the position of Senate President Pro Tempore which means he presides over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President. The President Pro Tempore is also the third person in the line of succession for the Presidency, following the Vice President and the Speaker of the House. Sen. Stevens is currently the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which has oversight of the Departments of Commerce and Transportation. Previously he was the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, responsible for annually allocating more than a half-trillion dollars in federal funds among various government programs, agencies and departments.