Ron Kind
United States Representative
Representative Ron Kind is an Honorary Co-Chair of the ITIF Board of Directors. A native of La Crosse, Wisconsin, Ron Kind has represented the people of western Wisconsin's Third Congressional District since 1996.
Ron is a member of the Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax policy, Medicare, Social Security, and international trade. He serves on the Subcommittee on Health, and since becoming a member in 2007, Ron has focused his work primarily on that of issues relating to small business, specifically their health care challenges.
Ron is also a member of the Natural Resources Committee, which allows him to work on a tremendously important issue to western Wisconsin – the Mississippi River. As a committee member and the co-chair of the Upper Mississippi Caucus, Ron has worked hard to restore the river, combat invasive species, and ensure it remains a thriving resource for recreation and transportation.
In addition to his committee work, Ron has focused on the issue of agriculture reform, receiving national recognition in 2007 for his work to move the farm bill away from cash-crop subsidies for wealthy agribusinesses, and toward increased conservation to help more farmers in more regions of the country. Ron also co-chairs the centrist "New Democrat Coalition" and the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus.
Ron is a graduate of La Crosse Logan High School, where his success in academics and football brought him to Harvard University where he earned a bachelor's degree. Later, Ron earned a Master's degree from the London School of Economics and a Law Degree from the University of Minnesota.
Washington is still a weekly commute for Ron, he and his wife Tawni still live in La Crosse with their two young boys, Johnny (1996) and Matthew (1998).