U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, now serving his seventh term, will discuss key issues facing the current Congressional session in remarks Friday, April 22, at the New Canaan Men’s Club meeting to be held in Morrill Hall at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.
In recognition of the importance of Rep. Himes’ appearance and its expected interest to the broader community, Men’s Club President Gene Dunkin said the organization is inviting the public to attend as a public service. Members of the public will be admitted at 10:30 a.m., when Rep. Himes is scheduled to begin his remarks. Attendees must present proof of full vaccination and will be limited to the auditorium’s available seating.
As a veteran congressman, Himes holds a number of leadership positions in the House, including serving as chair of the Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth. In addition, he also chairs the Subcommittee on National Security, International Development and Monetary Policy of the House Financial Services Committee.
With that background, his remarks are expected to cover a range of topics important to residents of New Canaan and the congressional district, among them the economy, employment, health care, senior citizen concerns and gun violence, to name a few.
Born in Lima, Peru, Himes moved to the United States when he was 10. After attending Harvard, Himes earned a Rhodes Scholarship which enabled him to attend Oxford University, where he studied Latin America and did research in El Salvador.
He began his professional career at Goldman Sachs & Co., focusing on Latin America and headed the firm’s telecommunications technology group. Before being elected to Congress, he ran the New York City branch of the Enterprise Community Partners, a non-profit dedicated to addressing the unique challenges of urban poverty. At Enterprise, his team led the way in financing construction of thousands of affordable housing units in the metropolitan region, often employing green technologies to achieve energy efficiency and reduce utility costs.
As a Greenwich resident, he previously served as chairman of the Housing Authority where he led the agency through a series of reforms. He was an elected member of the town’s finance board and chaired the Democratic Town Committee. He and his wife Mary have two daughters, Emma and Linley.
The New Canaan Men’s Club meets most Fridays and has openings for new members, age 55-years and above. Anyone wanting information about joining may email ncmens@ncmens.club.