Mary Bono Mack (R – Incumbent)
In 1998, Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack was first elected to serve the people of California’s 45th District through a special election held to fill the seat left vacant by her late husband, The Honorable Sonny Bono. Since then, Bono Mack has established herself as a leader on such issues as clean, alternativeenergy, protecting the environment, improving health care, and protecting consumers.Perhaps one of her most significant legislative achievements, Bono Mack succeeded in passing legislation that established the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto National Mountains Monument in the Palm Springs region. Additionally, Bono Mack successfully moved legislation to compensate the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian Tribe for land lost in 1908. The agreement settled the longest-ever ongoing litigation in the Ninth Circuit Court of California.Bono Mack has also passed landmark legislation that calls for country-of-origin labeling for fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as several energy-saving bills to reward companies for utilizing clean burning fuel technologies and increase the energy-efficiency of federal buildings. The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed Bono Mack’s Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act (SPY Act), which would protect an individual’s personal information on the Web. Also, Bono Mack has sponsored legislation that provides funding for obesity studies and improved nutrition programs nationwide, autism research, and Federal funding under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Act.Bono Mack has repeatedly secured millions of dollars for transportation and environmental improvement projects in the 45th District, and has been at the forefront of working to curb the bark beetle infestation problem in the San Bernardino forest areas. Bono Mack has also been a key voice in Congress on finding a solution to restore the endangered Salton Sea.California’s 45th Congressional District is located in southeastern California’s Coachella Valley region and Inland Empire. Encompassing a diverse geography, the 45th District includes deserts, mountains and agricultural regions, as well as the Colorado River and the Salton Sea.Serving the District in the House of Representatives, Bono Mack sits on the prestigious Energy and Commerce Committee, which has broad jurisdiction over issues such as energy, telecommunications, health care and the environment.Within the Committee, Bono Mack sits on the following three subcommittees: the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection; Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, and the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. In addition, Bono Mack serves as co-chair of the Congressional Salton Sea Task Force and as vice-chair of the Entertainment Task Force. Bono Mack is also the founder and co-chair of the Recording Arts and Sciences Caucus, and founding co-chair of the Intellectual Property Promotion and Piracy Prevention Caucus and the America Supports You Caucus, which was established to rally support for men and women in the armed services and their families.Bono Mack has been recognized for her leadership and efforts to improve our nation’s health care, preserve the environment, strengthen the economy, protect consumers, and expand alternative energy. Based of her consistent voting record on these and other issues, Bono Mack has received numerous awards from major organizations such as: Americans for Tax Reform, National Federation of Independent Businesses, the National Association of Manufacturers, and also from Sunline Transit Agency for her support of alternative fuel technologies.Bono Mack has been the subject of numerous profiles for a wide array of publications and television shows, including: CNN’s Larry King Live, NBC’s The Today Show, The New York Times Magazine, The Washington Post, USA Today, PEOPLE, Capital Style, ELLE Magazine, Entertainment Tonight, Esquire, GEORGE Magazine, Good Housekeeping, HELLO Magazine, Ladies’ Home Journal, and PBS. In 1998 Bono Mack was named one of the Most Fascinating Women of 1998 by Ladies’ Home Journal magazine in conjunction with CBS Television. She was also selected by the former GEORGE Magazine as one of the 20 most fascinating women in politics. Bono Mack was named by Golf Digest in 2008 as one of the “50 Most Powerful Women” golfers.Bono Mack is a 1984 graduate of the University of Southern California. Mary later wed Sonny Bono, and together they had two children, Chesare Elan and Chianna Marie.Mary is the daughter ofthe late Clay Whitaker, a physician, and the late Karen Whitaker, a chemist, and was raised in South Pasadena, California. As a youth Mary pursued her first love, gymnastics. With her family’s support, Mary became an accomplished gymnast, and her dedication to physical fitness continues to this day.Mary Bono Mack is married to U.S. Congressman Connie Mack. She is the proud mother of Chianna and Chesare, and her two stepchildren, Addison and Connie. In addition to spending time with her family, Mary enjoys a wide range of interests including music and outdoor activities such as hiking and camping.
