John E. Sweeney
U.S. Congressman

John E. Sweeney was sworn-in as a member of the 106th Congress on January 6, 1999. In his first term as a representative, Congressman Sweeney quickly distinguished himself among his colleagues. He was appointed to the Republican Steering Committee, also known as the Committee on Committees, by his fellow freshman congressmen to appoint Members of Congress to posts on the House of Representatives' 20 committees.

Congressman Sweeney now serves on the House Appropriations Committee. He has been assigned to the Subcommittees on Transportation and Related Agencies, Treasury Postal and General Government, and the District of Columbia.

Before becoming an elected representative, John Sweeney served for more than two years as New York State Commissioner of Labor where he gave the Labor Department a more pro-active role throughout the state and the nation. His efforts focused on reducing burdensome government regulations on businesses and stimulating economic growth while protecting the well-being of the state's workforce.

Congressman Sweeney is a native of Troy, New York where his father was president of a local shirt-cutters union. After working his way through college, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Russell Sage College. The following year, he was appointed head of the Rensselaer County DWI prevention program that, under his direction, became the most successful program of its type in New York State. He continued working while studying law, and earned his law degree from Western New England School of Law. After completing his law degree he was selected as Executive Director and Chief Counsel to the New York State Republican Party.

John Sweeney currently resides in Clifton Park, New York. He is actively involved in many civic and community organizations.