Hon. Robert E. (Bud) Cramer, Jr.
Mr. Cramer is recognized for his expertise in defense, aerospace, intelligence, transportation and criminal justice issues. In 1998, the Minority Leader of the House appointed him to the Board of the Open World Program of the Library of Congress. This innovative program allows for emerging leaders from Russia, Ukraine and the former Soviet Republics to come to American communities to exchange information, insight and experiences. Cramer has been a tireless advocate for NASA and the National Science Foundation. He co-chaired in the U.S. Congress, the Missile Defense Caucus, the House Senate TVA caucus and co-founded the Anti-Terrorism caucus and the caucus for Missing and Exploited Children.
Prior to election to the U.S. Congress, Mr. Cramer served as the elected District Attorney for Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama. During that time he started a pioneering program called the National Children's Advocacy Center, which provides comprehensive help for abused children. Today there are over 650 programs in all 50 states and several foreign countries that are modeled after the Madison County Program. For this work he was named National Public Citizen of the Year “by the National Association of Social Workers. The Washington Post called him a "pioneering District Attorney" in several articles praising this innovative Program.
Congressman Cramer holds a B.A. Degree and a J.D. Degree from the University of Alabama, and an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Alabama, Huntsville.