Patrick Kennedy
United States
Patrick Kennedy is an representative in the United States Congress who is widely known for advocacy for African aid, especially Liberia.
Professional Information
Professional Areas:
Legislative
Position:
Representative for the First District of Rhode Island
Working primarily in:
United States
Description of Work:
As a representative, Kennedy has established himself as an advocate for Liberian immigrants in the United States, helping to pass an 18 month visa extension for Liberian immigrants so that they would not face forced deportation and giving them a greater opportunity to apply for permanent U.S. citizenship.
Kennedy has also been a leading advocate of the Liberian SEEDS act, sponsored by Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL) which would deliver $12 million in aid for education, security, infrastructure development and civil service rehabilitation. The bill is currently in the House and is expected to pass.
Biographical Information
Patrick Kennedy
(At a Glance)
Date of Birth: Jul/14/1967
Place of Origin: United States
Kennedy was born in Brighton, Massachusets, the youngest of three children. His father is Ted Kennedy, a United States Senator for Massachusets and brother of former president John F. Kennedy.
In 1988, he was elected to the Rhode Island State Assembly at the age of 21. Three years later, in 1991, he graduated from Providence College in Rhode Island with a degree in Social Science. In 1994, he was elected to the House of Representatives in the United States Congress.
