Mary Bono

Mary Bono Mack is a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing California's 45th district. She replaced her husband, former California representative Sonny Bono, after his death in 1998. http://www.marybono.com/about She is the only Republican woman from California currently serving in Congress. http://www.marybono.com/about

Bono Mack sits on the Energy and Commerce Committee, where she is chair of the subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade. http://republicans.energycommerce.house.gov/News/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=8141 She also serves as co-chair of the Congressional Salton Sea Task Force and as vice-chair of the Entertainment Task Force.

Bono Mack also founded and co-chairs the Recording Arts and Sciences Caucus, 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. http://www.bono.house.gov/Biography

Bono Mack was born October 24, 1961 in Cleveland. After graduating from the University of Southern California in 1984, she met entertainer Sonny Bono at the restaurant he owned. They married in 1986 and had two children. http://www.marybono.com/about

Sonny Bono was elected to Congress in 1994 but died in 1998 in a skiing accident before he was able to finish his term. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns/junkie/links/bono.htm Later that year, Bono Mack was elected to carry out his term. http://www.marybono.com/about In 2007, she married Congressman Connie Mack, who represents Florida's 14th district. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20101231/NEWS0301/101231008/Connie-and-Mary-Bono-Mack-make-history-as-married-couple-in-Congress

During her tenure in Congress, Bono Mack has focused on many issues including health care, preserving the environment, strengthening the economy, protecting consumers and expanding alternative energy. She authored legislation for both a Rosa and San Jacinto National Mountains Monument in the Palm Springs region and to compensate the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian Tribe for land lost in 1908. The agreement settled the longest ongoing litigation in the Ninth Circuit Court of California. http://www.bono.house.gov/Biography

Bono Mack also worked on legislation for country-of-origin labeling for fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as several energy-saving bills to reward companies for using clean-burning fuel technologies and increasing the energy efficiency of federal buildings Also, she sponsored legislation for national funding of obesity studies, improved nutrition programs, autism research, as well as transportation and environmental improvement projects for her district. http://www.bono.house.gov/Biography