He has been appointed to the leadership in Congress as an At-Large Whip. He serves on the Committee on Education and the Workforce, the Committee on Resources and the powerful Committee on the Budget. He served on the National Commission on Mathematics and Science Teaching for the 21^st Century and has introduced legislation to implement its recommendations. He serves on several caucuses, including those on Alzheimer’s, Biomedical Research, India and Indian-Americans, Diabetes, Farmland Protection, Human Rights, Pro-Choice, Renewable Energy, and Sustainable Development. Rep. Holt is also a member of the New Democrat Coalition.

Holt received his B.A. in Physics from Carleton College in Minnesota and earned his Master’s and Ph.D. at NYU. He has held positions as a teacher, Congressional Scientist Fellow, research scientist, and as an arms control expert for the U.S. State Department. He has conducted research on solar wind and received a patent for a solar energy device.

From 1989 until he began his 1998 congressional campaign, Holt was Assistant Director of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, the largest research facility of Princeton University and the largest center for research in alternative energy in New Jersey.

As a scientist, Congressman Holt believes in the power of technology to expand opportunity and improve standards of living. For this reason, the Congressman has supported the development of the internet by cosponsoring legislation prohibit internet taxes. Nevertheless, Congressman Holt is also aware of the downsides of new information technology. He has cosponsored a bill to regulate unsolicited email ("spam"); he has spoken before the House floor about the need for technology to help parents filter out violent internet material; and he has provided a "Family Internet Toolbox" on this Web site. He also supports legislation to protect consumer privacy by regulating the use of financial databases.

The growth of the Internet is opening exciting new worlds of information and commerce. But it has also opened up new threats to your privacy and the safety of your family's personal information. As a scientist, Rep. Rush Holt is working in Congress with representatives of government and private industry on ways to protect consumer privacy in the information age. While self-regulation of the Internet is preferable, government must closely monitor industry to ensure that privacy is protected and that citizens have power to decide who sees information about them.

As a teacher, Congressman Holt cares deeply about education. Holt serves on the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and is dedicated to working on ways to help local school districts in New Jersey to provide the best education possible. To this end, he has cosponsored bills to reduce class sizes, increase resources for science and math teachers, and to finance technology literacy programs. He has also spoken on the House floor in support of America's teachers, and he has prepared an action plan to combat violence in schools. In addition to winning more than $750,000 in appropriations for model programs to train educators in science, math, and technology education for Rider and Monmouth universities, Rep. Holt also has been named to the prestigious National Commission on Mathematics and Science Teaching for the 21st Century chaired by astronaut and former Sen. John Glenn.

Recognizing his contributions, Rep. Holt has received numerous awards and citations, including the Planned Parenthood Community Service Award, the Biotech Legislator of the Year and named the Science Coalition’s Champion of Science, which among its members include Princeton and Rutgers Universities.