Ron Dellums

Ronald V. Dellums, Founder and Senior Partner for Dellums, Brauer and Halterman, LLC retired from a distinguished congressional career spanning nearly three decades. Universally lauded as one of the most compelling and articulate professional speakers to serve in the House chamber, Dellums occupied many leadership positions in the House of Representatives. As the respected chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Dellums took his struggle against militarism and war to the very heart of the national security establishment. During his chairmanship of the House District of Columbia Committee, he had an opportunity to advance legislation addressing some of the most pressing national problems, including: mental and community health delivery, pension fund solvency and infant mortality.

First elected to Congress in 1970, in the midst of the Indochina War, Dellums quickly became one of the leading voices for peace and disarmament in the Congress. He became a recognized expert in both military and foreign policy. His leadership in these fields led to the abandonment of plans to deploy the MX-mobile missile; to the curtailment of production of the B-2 bomber; and to the requirement that President Bush secure congressional approval before launching offensive military action in the Gulf War.

Dellums has long advocated the inextricable link between peace and justice. In this connection, he was the visionary leader of the successful congressional effort to end U .S. support for the racist apartheid regime of South Africa. He remains a vigorous advocate for arms reductions, nuclear disarmament and the use of diplomacy and conflict resolution as the key elements of U.S. foreign policy.

While thought of mostly as a leader in the defense and foreign policy field, Dellums also distinguished himself with domestic legislative initiatives as well. The most prominent of these was his National Health Service Act, a proposal that has long been considered the most comprehensive and progressive health care proposal since it was first introduced in 1977. In addition, Dellums' initiatives in the fields of civil rights and liberties, the environment and affirmative action have been widely applauded.

Dellums' HIV/AIDS activism led to an appointment by President Bill Clinton, as the Chair of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. Dellums also serves as the Chair of Constituency for Africa and on the board of directors for AIDS Action.

Dellums' views on military policy are outlined in his 1983 book, Defense Sense: The Search for a Rational Military Policy. In his second book, Lying Down with the Lions: A Public Life from the Streets of Oakland to the Halls of Power, he chronicles his political battles and triumphs.