The Honorable Shelley Berkley
Shelley Berkley served one of the fastest-growing districts in the country during her seven terms as the Representative from Las Vegas and focused on international and local issues. As the granddaughter of Jewish immigrants, Berkley engaged in American relations with Israel. She also worked closely with the Nevada delegation to dissuade the country from making Yucca Mountain and nuclear repository.
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Yucca Mountain and Nuclear Waste
Yucca Mountain and Nuclear Waste
The Honorable Shelley Berkley, U.S. Representative of Nevada
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Abstract & Transcript
U.S. Representative from Nevada (January 3, 1999–January 3, 2013)
From a young age, Shelley Berkley knew she wanted to work in public service. In this oral history, she details her experience volunteering for the early campaigns of Senator Harry Reid, Senator Richard Bryan, and Governor Mike O’Callaghan, which served as her introduction to electoral politics. With her mother’s encouragement, Berkley decided to start a family and run for office. She discusses the ongoing balance of life events and work responsibilities that followed—like giving birth to her first child while serving as a state legislator—and the family support that made it possible. Berkley sheds light on aspects of House re-election campaigns, including the support she received from unions and women’s groups, and the challenge of campaigning in one of the fastest-growing districts in the country.
In this interview, she explains her focus on local and international issues as a member of both the Ways and Means Committee and the Committee on Foreign Affairs. As the granddaughter of Jewish immigrants, Berkley prioritized American relations with the Middle East and Israel. Additionally, she stresses the importance of working with her Nevada colleagues to protect Yucca Mountain from becoming a nuclear repository. She also recounts her work concerning young immigrant constituents that became one of the building blocks for the DREAM Act. Berkley reflects on her 2012 Senate campaign and what it means to have been a political role model for a generation of Nevadans.
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Desire to Serve
Desire to Serve
The Honorable Shelley Berkley, U.S. Representative of Nevada
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Second-Generation American
Second-Generation American
The Honorable Shelley Berkley, U.S. Representative of Nevada
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Family Support and Elective Office
Family Support and Elective Office
The Honorable Shelley Berkley, U.S. Representative of Nevada
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"Vote for My Mom"
"Vote for My Mom"
The Honorable Shelley Berkley, U.S. Representative of Nevada
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Decision to Run
Decision to Run
The Honorable Shelley Berkley, U.S. Representative of Nevada
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"Crazy Time in Life"
"Crazy Time in Life"
The Honorable Shelley Berkley, U.S. Representative of Nevada
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A Fast-Growing District
A Fast-Growing District
The Honorable Shelley Berkley, U.S. Representative of Nevada
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Appointed to Ways and Means
Appointed to Ways and Means
The Honorable Shelley Berkley, U.S. Representative of Nevada
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Yucca Mountain and Nuclear Waste
Yucca Mountain and Nuclear Waste
The Honorable Shelley Berkley, U.S. Representative of Nevada
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Citizenship for High Schoolers
Citizenship for High Schoolers
The Honorable Shelley Berkley, U.S. Representative of Nevada
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"I'm Not Wishy-Washy"
"I'm Not Wishy-Washy"
The Honorable Shelley Berkley, U.S. Representative of Nevada
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Generational Impact
Generational Impact
The Honorable Shelley Berkley, U.S. Representative of Nevada
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