Silvestre Reyes

Silvestre Reyes
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 16th district
In office
January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2013
Preceded byRon Coleman
Succeeded byBeto O'Rourke
Chair of the House Intelligence Committee
In office
January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011
Preceded byPete Hoekstra
Succeeded byMike Rogers
Personal details
Born (1944-11-10) November 10, 1944 (age 80)
Canutillo, Texas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseCarolina Reyes
EducationEl Paso Community College
University of Texas, Austin
Military service
AllegianceUnited States of America
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1966–1968[1]
Rank Sergeant
Battles/warsVietnam War
AwardsAir Medal

Silvestre "Silver" Reyes[2] (born November 10, 1944) is an American politician who was the U.S. representative for Texas's 16th congressional district, serving from 1997 to 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, he was Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence between 2007 and 2011. In the Democratic Primary election on May 29, 2012, Reyes lost by a margin wide enough to avert a runoff election[3] to former El Paso city councilman Beto O'Rourke.

In 2008 Reyes served as the Southwest Co-Chairman for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign along with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. Then U.S. Senator Clinton praised Reyes saying he was "one of our wisest and most experienced leaders on national security and the particular issues that affect Americans living along the border and throughout the Southwest. I am proud to have his support and grateful for his advice."[4]

  1. ^ "Once a Soldier... Always a Soldier" (PDF). Legislative Agenda. Association of the United States Army. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  2. ^ Congressional Record
  3. ^ In upset, El Paso US Rep. Reyes loses tight race - Houston Chronicle
  4. ^ "House Intelligence Chairman Silvestre Reyes Endorses Hillary Clinton for President". Democratic Under Ground. Retrieved 10 November 2015.