Edolphus "Ed" Towns is a former social worker and community activist in Brooklyn, New York. He currently serves as a 13-term veteran in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he represents the 10th Congressional District of New York. Towns' district includes the diverse neighborhoods of East New York, Canarsie, Brownsville, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Cypress Hills, Clinton Hill, Mill Basin, Midwood, downtown Brooklyn, Boreum Hill, as well as parts of Fort Greene and Williamsburg. The area is one of New York's most diverse communities with black, Hispanic, Caribbean, and Jewish residents.

In the 110th Congress, Towns was appointed to the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, where he chairs the Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement.

Since his tenure in Congress, Rep. Towns has introduced important legislation to aid Brooklyn, the entire Empire State, and the nation. He has been a trailblazer for issues such as government contracting, telecommunications, environmental affairs, homeland security, corporate accountability, education, health care for 9/11 workers, and minority business development. As a member of the Health Subcommittee, the Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection Subcommittee, and the Telecommunications and the Internet Subcommittee; Towns has fought hard to enhance consumers' privacy protections on the Internet; provide men the right to reconstructive surgery following a prostatectomy; bridge the digital divide; and, authorize $250 million to assist minority educational institutions in acquiring digital and wireless networking technologies, just to name a few.

Congressman Towns understands that bringing home a fair share of federal funds is imperative to sustain the economic growth of New York's tenth congressional district. For the past 26 years, New Yorkers both in and around his district have relied on Mr. Towns to deliver, and deliver he has.

"From the improvement of imaging equipment at Brooklyn College to the development of a Youth Entrepreneurship Program in East New York to a global business development program operated by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, such as funding represents opportunities to uplift Brooklynites in a number of ways," said Towns.

Throughout his tenure in Congress, Congressman Towns has secured over a billion dollars in appropriations, benefiting:

- Public libraries, small business clinics, hospitals, community health centers;

- The arts including the Brooklyn Philharmonic and the Brooklyn Academy of Music;

- Universities and colleges, such as: Polytechnic, New York Tech, Pratt Institute, Long Island University, St. Francis and Medgar Evers College, Banneker Academy; Bed-Stuy Restoration, Brooklyn Perinatal Network; and,

- Infrastructure monies to rehab subway stations, improve signage along Fulton Street, and repave vital roadways.

With a public service career spanning more than four decades, Congressman Town's 26 years in Congress gives him seniority status. Fortunately for Towns, with longevity often comes skepticism, to which he remarked,

"When you've been an elected official for as long as I have, there is always going to be criticism. For the most part, I have been criticized for being too Independent. However, my independence led me to vote against authorizing the President to go to war against Iraq. I knew the difference between Iraq and Osama Bin Laden's terrorist acts and I wasn't afraid to stand up to the President's request to go to war. I voted my conscience and voted no, and I am still proud of that vote."

Towns holds the distinction as the first African American to serve as Deputy Brooklyn Borough President. Rep. Towns has the experience, commitment, and diligence to serve the 10th Congressional District and represent the interests, values, concerns and needs of his constituents in Washington and abroad.

The Congressman has earned a reputation in Washington as a coalition builder and enjoys widespread support from businesses, labor unions, civil rights organizations, think tanks, trade and professional associations. His easygoing manner makes him very popular with his colleagues on the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee and the Government Reform Committee.

Mr. Towns is clearly a man who loves his job and cares deeply about his constituents. He represents his district with integrity without forgetting to serve everyday people and doing so without seeking fan fare. "It's a pleasure to serve," Towns noted.