Remile Lippitt

Remile Hopkins Lippitt (born March 11, 1957) is an American lawyer & politician serving as the United States Senator from Rhode Island since 1993. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the U.S. Representative for Rhode Island's At-Large congressional district from 1991 to 1993. Lippitt is a graduate of the Newport Naval War College, and served as a member of US Naval Reserves from 1977 to 1983. He is also a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Brown University Law School.

Mr. Lippitt has written a record amount of bills into the law and is currently the Member of Congress with the most bills authored. His main pieces of legislation established the Department of Homeland Security and spearheaded the creation of the TSA Act in response to the 1/3 attacks. Mr. Lippitt was also appointed in 1996 to head the Department of Justice's investigation into President Max Badonker, serving till his resignation in 1997.

Senator Lippitt was the Senate Majority Whip from 1993-1995. He was also the Democratic party's nominee for President Pro-Tempore of the Senate, narrowly losing after Senator Generit of Indiana defected to the Republicans, and a nominee for the Labor Party's nomination for President, before dropping out before Super Tuesday. He was reelected as Senate Minority Whip in 2001.

Early Life & Ancestry
Remile Hopkins Lippitt was born on March 11, 1957 in Providence, Rhode Island to Matthew Chaffee Lippitt (1936-) and Emilia Christina Hopkins Lippitt (1936-). Lippitt is descended from a politically active family and a historic Rhode Island family.

His maternal grandfather, Esek Hopkins, is a direct descendant of Stephen Hopkins, a governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, a Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The Hopkins family has been in America since 1635.

Lippitt's paternal family is also a native Rhode Island family, his great-great-great grandfather Henry Lippitt was the 33rd governor of Rhode Island, his great-great grandfather Charles Lippitt was the 44th governor of Rhode Island.

Through his great-grandmother, he was also a member of the Chafee family. His great-great-uncle Zechariah Chafee Jr. was an American judicial philosopher and civil rights advocate, described as "possibly the most important First Amendment scholar of the first half of the twentieth century" by Richard Primus. His standing up to Senator Joseph McCarthy is something Mr. Lippitt has quoted throughout his career.

Other relatives includes his great-great grandfather, Theodore Francis Green, who served as Governor of Rhode Island and later Senator, another great-great grandfather, Senator Jesse Metcalf Jr, and finally, through his great-grandmother Bathilda Hancock, he is a relative of the powerful Hancock family, including founding father John Hancock.

Education
Lippitt attended Vartan Gregorian Elementary School and also attended Barrington High School in Rhode Island, graduating in 1975. He then decided to follow in the footsteps of many of his ancestors, including his maternal grandfather, and enrolled at the Naval War College in Newport, graduating in 1977. He served on the Naval Reserves from 1977 to 1983. In 1981, while stationed in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, he met Juliana Gouthier. It was love at first sight, and he proposed on August 30, 1982. They were married on January 16, 1983, and have been married ever since.

After marriage, he decided to stay with his wife's family in Carlisle, and was honorably discharged from the Naval reserves. He then attended the University of Pennsylvania, graduating with a Bachelor's of Art in Law & Political Science in 1987. After his first daughter was born in January of 1986, wanting to raise their children surrounded by a massive family, they moved back to Providence, RI. He then attended Brown University Law School, graduating in 1989.

Politics
Coming from a large political family, Lippitt was always interested in politics & political office. In 1987, his family tried to convince him to run to unseat incumbent Republican governor Edward DiPrete, but he declined. In 1989, he decided to run for Congress to represent Rhode Island in the house. He cruised easily through the Democratic Primary and easily won his seat in 1990.

Member of the House
Starting in 1991, he began writing major legislation, including his first bill, Protection Of Aquaculture, Seafood, and Fishing Farmers Act. He was first thrown into national spotlight as he tried to spearheaded a solution to the Iraq crisis by writing the Embargo Act, which failed to be passed by 2 votes. Despite this, he became known as a bipartisan force in the House.

In the Senate
Persuaded by his family and the retirement of the incumbent senator, Lippitt launched a campaign for US Senator. Despite the relatively "safeness" of his seat and also having no primary challenges, he launched a massive outreach, of canvassing & rallies, conveying a "new message." Lippitt was elected 63%-36%. He was also elected as the Whip of the Democratic Party, serving till his retirement in 1995.

In the Senate, Lippitt is widely respected by both Democrats & Republicans. He has written over 20 pieces of successful legislation that has become law, almost all with Republican co-sponsors. He is known for being "actively bipartisan," including consulting Republicans before presenting legislation. He has also co-sponsored dozens of legislation in a variety of public issues.

Lippitt was also thrown to the spotlight immediately after the 1/3 attacks, in which he spearheaded the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, and closely worked with the RNC chair and future President Austin Crapo in developing the TSA. He developed a close connection with many members across the aisle, including Senator Machou, Senator Mitch McConnell, and Senator Austin Crapo.

Lippitt lost internal election's for Majority Leader twice to Sen. Vortex. He also narrowly lost the election to be President Pro Tempore of the Senate, caused by Senator Generit's defection to the Republicans.

Special Counsel
When the first information from the Taliban Scandal hit, Secretary of Domestic Affairs appointed Senator Lippitt as Special Counsel to the President. Upholding his belief of bipartisanship, he appointed a bipartisan council to help consisting of 2 republicans & 2 democrats. Senator Lippitt, along with the council, produced a 31-page report finding President Badonker guilty, though Badonker was later found innocent. He resigned shortly after.

Second Term
Lippitt announced his intention to run for reelection in 1998. He ran unopposed in both the Democratic primary & the general election, but still heavily campaigned on his successes in the Senate, citing "proactivity," and "unity." He was reelected with 100% of the vote.

Presidential Campaign
Lippitt announced his bid to run for President in January 1999. While he was seen as a major frontrunner for many of the Liberals discontented with President Boxy, after discussions with the President, Vice President, and citing family issues, he dropped out in February. Citing the major upheaval of Washington, he reannounced his bid to run for the democratic nomination in September of 1999. Despite doing much better than expected on Super Tuesday, including winning several states and coming close in many, upon President 2Hat's inauguration, he dropped out of the race. He was cited as a possible member of President Crapo's cabinet, but he was ultimately not appointed.

Lippitt joined the newly created Problem Solvers Caucus, and continued writing legislation.

In January of 2003, Senator Lippitt announced his Presidential run for the Labor nomination in 2004. Running a minimally funded campaign, he started with a poor showing in Iowa, but exceeded expectations when he won Iowa. He then performed well in Super Tuesday and the remaining primary states, however, coming a close third overall in the race. In a display of party unity, he dropped out at the Labor Convention in July and endorsed Senator Marks. He then announced his intention to run for a 3rd senate term, against Quartermaster candidate and former rep Pop Rock.

Personal Life
Senator Lippitt married Juliana Gouthier in 1983. While in college, they had their first child, Kirsten Juliana. On his 34th birthday, while running for the House, he had twin sons, Joseph Remile & Jackson Rhode, followed by another daughter in 1994, Eunice Evelyn. Tragedy struck when his grandmother Evelyn Hopkins died in the 1/3 attacks, which deeply affected Sen. Lippitt. Their last child Esek, named after his grandfather, was born unexpectedly in 1996 while Sen. Lippitt was on a political trip to Idaho.

Senator Lippitt is known for his friendship with Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, despite their opposing views and different parties. He is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Bills Authored

 * Equal Pay Act
 * Protection Of Aquaculture, Seafood, and Fishing Farmers Act
 * Montana Disaster Resolution
 * Transportation & Aviation Security Act
 * Driving Safely Act
 * Crimes Against the Innocent Act
 * Homeland Security Act
 * American Energy Act
 * Drug-Induced Rape & Sexual Assault Punishment
 * Addressing Poverty & Federal Funding Act
 * Safe & Fair Adoption Act
 * Lippitt Combatting Human Trafficking & Violence Act
 * Anti-Gang Violence Act
 * Protecting Oceans & Coasts Act
 * Water Projects Act
 * The Truman Eastern-European Initiative Act
 * Taxpayer Asset Relief Act
 * Border Crisis Act I
 * Access to Education Act
 * Eugene High School Violence Reduction Resolution
 * A Resolution Recognizing the 80th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Riots
 * Ensuring Rights & Safety Act

Bills Co-sponsored

 * Internet Act
 * American Environmental Protection Bill
 * Anti Health Price Gouging Act (AHPGA)
 * Saving Public Housing Act
 * Minimum Wage Increase Act
 * S-Fish Act
 * Voting Rights Act
 * Health Care Equality Act
 * SOAP Act
 * A Joint Resolution on Bipartisanship & Unity
 * Creating Passion and Excitement in Education Act (CPEEA)
 * Hurricane Protection of Coastal States Act
 * Cities, Railroads, Airports, & Protecting Oceans Act