Julia Carson - House Record

House Record

Carson had a reputation for being somewhat unpredictable, including votes for anti-terrorism bills and normal trade relations with China. Carson opposed the Iraq war resolution in 2002.

Carson's legislative record included leading Congress to pass a House measure awarding Rosa Parks the Congressional Gold Medal; cosponsoring, with Sen. Richard Lugar, the removal of bureaucratic bottlenecks on child health insurance; and the commemoration of the life and accomplishments of author Kurt Vonnegut (H.RES.324).

Some of her other Congressional accomplishments included critical funding to revitalize the Fall Creek Neighborhood in Indianapolis which today includes some of the finest examples of reclaimed urban landscape in the U.S. She also provided outstanding support for the new terminal for the Indianapolis International Airport, which opened November 12, 2008.

She focused key attention on health care for U.S. veterans, and frequently visited ailing vets at the Roudebush Medical Center in Indianapolis.

She was the first recipient of the Frank O'Bannon Award from Indiana Stonewall Democrats. She was a co-sponsor of the Equal Employment Non-Discrimination Act and a member of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Equality Caucus in the U.S. House led by U.S. Representative Barney Frank, D-Massachusetts.

Carson was reelected with little difficulty in 1998 and 2000. Her 2000 campaign attracted a personal appearance by President Bill Clinton that drew thousands to the Indiana State Fairgrounds. In 2006, she traveled from Washington, D.C. to Indianapolis aboard Air Force One with President George W. Bush to appear at Indiana Black Expo.

Her poor health and physical struggles led to tighter-than-expected races afterward. In the 2002 election, her district was renumbered as the 7th District after Indiana lost a Congressional district after the 2000 census, and was made slightly more Republican than its predecessor. Carson faced public affairs specialist Brose McVey. In a heated campaign that led to Carson leaving the stage in protest in their final pre-election debate, she won re-election 53 percent to 44 percent. She was re-elected by just over 11 points in 2004 defeating Republican Andrew Horning and Libertarian Barry Campbell.

Carson defeated Eric Dickerson in the 2006 elections 54 percent to 46 percent, a narrow 8-point margin in a year when most incumbent Democrats skated to victory. In the same election, Democratic challengers toppled Republican incumbents in three Indiana districts much more conservative than Carson's.

Carson was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

She was one of the 31 who voted in the House not to count the electoral votes from Ohio in the 2004 presidential election.