Donnelly was elected as a Democrat to the 96th and to the six succeeding U.S. Congresses (January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1993), but was not a candidate for renomination in 1992 to the 103rd Congress. While in Congress, Donnelly served on the Committee on Public Works and Transportation and, beginning in 1985, on the Ways and Means committee.
During his tenure in Congress, Donnelly authored, along with Republican Congressman Bill Archer of Texas, legislation to repeal the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-360) after the law became politically unsustainable.[1] The law's political unsustainability reached its peak when the chairman of the committee that drafted the law was chased from his district office by angry senior citizens protesting it.[2] The enactment of the Donnelly legislation restored the Medicare program to its pre-1988 status.
Donnelly's second major accomplishment in Congress was the enactment of the so-called "Donnelly Visa" program, which authorized 5,000 visas annually for citizens of countries that had been historically under-represented in the United States' immigration system that primarily relies on family reunification. The primary beneficiaries of the Donnelly Visa program, in its early years, were Irish nationals – many of whose families lived in Donnelly's South Boston district. Congress reauthorized the program in 1990; today, it is known as the Diversity Visa (DV) program and authorizes 50,000 visas annually to nationals of countries statistically deemed under-represented in the current immigration system. Donnelly's original intent was for the program to benefit Irish nationals but the reach of the program is far broader today.[3]
As a Knight of Columbus, he helped defeat an effort to tax fraternal insurance companies which would have diminished their ability to make charitable contributions.[4][5]
Donnelly attended private schools in Suffolk County. He graduated from Catholic Memorial High School in West Roxbury, in 1963. He received a Bachelor of Science from Boston University in 1970. He was a teacher and coach in the Boston public schools. Donnelly and his wife, Virginia, had two children.[9]
Donnelly died from cancer at his home in East Dennis, Massachusetts, on February 28, 2023, just two days short of turning 77.[9][10]
Referencesedit
^Rich, Spencer (October 5, 1989). "HOUSE VOTES TO REPEAL HEALTH PLAN". Retrieved November 5, 2017 – via www.WashingtonPost.com.
^"Dan Rostenkowski: Classic Chicago Pol and Bipartisan Figure". Newsweek.com. August 11, 2010. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
^Jordan, Miriam (November 2017). "Diversity Visa Lottery: Inside the Program That Admitted a Terror Suspect". The New York Times. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
^Franklin, James L.; Vaillancourt, Meg; Wen, Patricia (April 3, 1995). "Fraternal Group Uses Clout to Safeguard Its Interests". The Boston Globe.
^"President Clinton Names Donnelly Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago". Retrieved August 27, 2006.
^"State Dept, Ambassadors to Trinidad and Tobago". Retrieved August 27, 2006.
^"Massachusetts primary results". CNN. September 15, 1998. Retrieved October 23, 2006.
^ ab"Brian J. Donnelly". Cape Cod Times. March 2, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
^Whelan, Sam (March 2, 2023). "Death announced of former US Congressman Brian Donnelly". RTÉ News. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
Works citededit
Lapomarda, Vincent A. (1992). The Knights of Columbus in Massachusetts (second ed.). Norwood, Massachusetts: Knights of Columbus Massachusetts State Council.
brian, donnelly, brian, joseph, donnelly, march, 1946, february, 2023, american, diplomat, politician, democratic, member, house, representatives, from, massachusetts, from, 1979, 1993, united, states, ambassador, trinidad, tobago, from, 1994, 1997, united, st. Brian Joseph Donnelly March 2 1946 February 28 2023 was an American diplomat and politician He was a Democratic member of the U S House of Representatives from Massachusetts from 1979 to 1993 and was the United States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago from 1994 to 1997 Brian J DonnellyUnited States Ambassador to Trinidad and TobagoIn office September 5 1994 September 24 1997PresidentBill ClintonPreceded bySally G CowalSucceeded byEdward E Shumaker IIIMember of the U S House of Representatives from Massachusetts s 11th districtIn office January 3 1979 January 3 1993Preceded byJames A BurkeSucceeded byDistrict eliminatedMember of the Massachusetts House of RepresentativesIn office 1973 1978Succeeded byAlfred E Saggese Jr Personal detailsBorn 1946 03 02 March 2 1946Boston Massachusetts U S DiedFebruary 28 2023 2023 02 28 aged 76 East Dennis Massachusetts U S Political partyDemocraticEducationBoston University BS Contents 1 Political career 2 Personal life 3 References 4 Works cited 5 External linksPolitical career editDonnelly was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives 1973 1978 where he served as assistant majority leader in 1977 1978 Donnelly was elected as a Democrat to the 96th and to the six succeeding U S Congresses January 3 1979 January 3 1993 but was not a candidate for renomination in 1992 to the 103rd Congress While in Congress Donnelly served on the Committee on Public Works and Transportation and beginning in 1985 on the Ways and Means committee During his tenure in Congress Donnelly authored along with Republican Congressman Bill Archer of Texas legislation to repeal the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988 Pub L 100 360 after the law became politically unsustainable 1 The law s political unsustainability reached its peak when the chairman of the committee that drafted the law was chased from his district office by angry senior citizens protesting it 2 The enactment of the Donnelly legislation restored the Medicare program to its pre 1988 status Donnelly s second major accomplishment in Congress was the enactment of the so called Donnelly Visa program which authorized 5 000 visas annually for citizens of countries that had been historically under represented in the United States immigration system that primarily relies on family reunification The primary beneficiaries of the Donnelly Visa program in its early years were Irish nationals many of whose families lived in Donnelly s South Boston district Congress reauthorized the program in 1990 today it is known as the Diversity Visa DV program and authorizes 50 000 visas annually to nationals of countries statistically deemed under represented in the current immigration system Donnelly s original intent was for the program to benefit Irish nationals but the reach of the program is far broader today 3 As a Knight of Columbus he helped defeat an effort to tax fraternal insurance companies which would have diminished their ability to make charitable contributions 4 5 In 1994 he was named United States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago 6 He served in this capacity until 1997 7 In 1998 he ran for Governor of Massachusetts finishing third in the Democratic primary behind state Attorney General Scott Harshbarger and former state Senator Patricia McGovern 8 Personal life editDonnelly attended private schools in Suffolk County He graduated from Catholic Memorial High School in West Roxbury in 1963 He received a Bachelor of Science from Boston University in 1970 He was a teacher and coach in the Boston public schools Donnelly and his wife Virginia had two children 9 Donnelly died from cancer at his home in East Dennis Massachusetts on February 28 2023 just two days short of turning 77 9 10 References edit Rich Spencer October 5 1989 HOUSE VOTES TO REPEAL HEALTH PLAN Retrieved November 5 2017 via www WashingtonPost com Dan Rostenkowski Classic Chicago Pol and Bipartisan Figure Newsweek com August 11 2010 Retrieved November 5 2017 Jordan Miriam November 2017 Diversity Visa Lottery Inside the Program That Admitted a Terror Suspect The New York Times Retrieved November 5 2017 Lapomarda 1992 p 129 Franklin James L Vaillancourt Meg Wen Patricia April 3 1995 Fraternal Group Uses Clout to Safeguard Its Interests The Boston Globe President Clinton Names Donnelly Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago Retrieved August 27 2006 State Dept Ambassadors to Trinidad and Tobago Retrieved August 27 2006 Massachusetts primary results CNN September 15 1998 Retrieved October 23 2006 a b Brian J Donnelly Cape Cod Times March 2 2023 Retrieved March 2 2023 Whelan Sam March 2 2023 Death announced of former US Congressman Brian Donnelly RTE News Retrieved March 2 2023 Works cited editLapomarda Vincent A 1992 The Knights of Columbus in Massachusetts second ed Norwood Massachusetts Knights of Columbus Massachusetts State Council External links editUnited States Congress Brian Donnelly id D000416 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Appearances on C SPAN U S House of Representatives Preceded byJames A Burke Member of the U S House of Representatives from Massachusetts s 11th congressional district1979 1993 District eliminated after 1990 United States census Diplomatic posts Preceded bySally G Cowal United States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago1994 1997 Succeeded byEdward E Shumaker III Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Brian J Donnelly amp oldid 1213800690, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
