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This article is about the current member of the United States House of Representatives.
For his great-grandfather, Patrick J. Kennedy, see P. J. Kennedy.
For other persons named Patrick Kennedy, see Patrick Kennedy (disambiguation).

Patrick Kennedy
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Rhode Island's 1st district
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 3, 1995
Preceded by	Ronald Machtley
Succeeded by	Incumbent
Born	July 14, 1967 (1967-07-14) (age 40) Brighton, Massachusetts
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	none
Residence	Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Religion	Roman Catholic

Patrick Joseph Kennedy (born July 14, 1967 in Brighton, Massachusetts) is the son of Senator Ted Kennedy and Joan Bennett Kennedy, as well as the nephew of both former President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy. A Democrat, he serves in the United States House of Representatives, representing the first district of Rhode Island (map).  

Contents 1 Career 2 Personal life 3 Personal problems 4 Issues and Accomplishments 5 Controversy 5.1 May 2006 Capitol Hill accident 6 Advocacy 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

Patrick J. Kennedy became the youngest member of the Kennedy political family to hold elected office in 1988, when he won election to the Rhode Island State Assembly at age 21.

In November 1994, Patrick defeated Republican Kevin Vigilante for the first district on the United States House of Representatives, and continues to hold this office. He was one of 4 Democrats in the 1994 election to take a congressional seat that had just been held by a Republican, while Republicans gained dozens of seats to take over the House. Kennedy currently serves on the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; and on Science, State, Justice and Commerce.  From 1999 to 2001, he served as Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Kennedy twice considered running against Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee, in 2000 and 2006. In the 2000 Senate recruiting phase, Dick Gephardt moved Kennedy to the House Appropriations Committee, a high profile assignment that led Kennedy to pass up the Senate opportunity for 2000.

On his House web page, Kennedy denied that he would make a bid for the Senate in the mid-term elections, but on March 28, 2005 it was reported that he was considering running again. The speculation ended March 30 with Kennedy's announcement that he would not run for the US Senate, but would seek reelection to the House.

Should Kennedy be elected to the Senate while his father remains representing Massachusetts, the two would become the second father and son to serve concurrently, after Henry Dodge (Wisconsin) and Augustus C. Dodge (Iowa).

On September 4, 2007, the Kennedy camp stated that they will retain $6,600 in donations from fugitive Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu. Kennedy is one of the few Democrats not to return or donate these contributions.^[1]

In 2000, Kennedy told an audience of constituents that he had been diagnosed with clinical depression.^{[citation needed]}

He is unmarried and resides in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

He graduated from Phillips Andover and earned a B.S. from Providence College in 1991.^[2]

In 2005 Kennedy and LL Cool J made a surprise visit to Shea High School in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. They made a speech about the future and academics, and later signed autographs for students and faculty.

Kennedy has acknowledged being treated for cocaine use during his teenage years^[3] and sought treatment for an OxyContin addiction in 2006.^[4]

In 2000, Kennedy was accused of pushing a security guard at LAX. City prosecutors ultimately decided not to bring criminal charges against him and he paid an undisclosed civil settlement to the alleged victim almost two years later.^[5]

In 2000, Atlantic Navigation Company of Mystic, CT, claimed that a boat they rented to Kennedy was found abandoned off Martha's Vineyard and required $28,000 to repair.^[6]

The same year, the Coast Guard was dispatched to Kennedy's yacht after he and his date became embroiled in an argument on his yacht off Martha's Vineyard.^[7]

In 2003, drew fire from his critics when he said that "I have never worked a fucking day in my life."^[8]

The main issue for which Kennedy advocates is more efficient and better health care coverage. He is a strong proponent of adding a comprehensive prescription drug benefit to Medicare and has consistently opposed attempts to privatize the Medicare program. Kennedy has also made numerous speeches advocating the reorientation of the American health care system to preventative care. He has received numerous awards for his health care advocacy, including being named the recipient of the Lymphoma Research Foundation’s Paul E. Tsongas Memorial Award as well as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation Congressional Honors Award.

On May 4, 2006, Kennedy crashed his 1997 Ford Mustang convertible into a barricade on Capitol Hill at 2:45AM.   He had been operating his vehicle with the lights off in the early morning darkness.   Officers at the scene said that Kennedy appeared intoxicated, smelled of alcohol^[9] and was visibly staggering, but Kennedy claimed that he was merely disoriented from prescription medications Ambien and Phenergan.^[10]  A woman who works at the nearby Hawk & Dove bar said that he had been drinking there.^[11] A second report cites the capitol police have additional "witnesses" to Kennedy's drinking at the Hawk & Dove before the crash.^[12]

Kennedy also stated to officers that he was "late for a vote." However, the last vote of the night had occurred almost six hours earlier.   The standard field sobriety test was not administered.   Kennedy was driven home by an officer.   On May 5, 2006, Kennedy admitted he has an addiction to prescription medication and announced he would be re-admitting himself to a drug rehabilitation facility at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota where he has sought treatment for prior addictions.^[13] He has stated that he has no recollection of the car crash.   On June 5, 2006 Kennedy was released from drug rehab.^[14]

On May 8, 2006, Kennedy was endorsed by the Rhode Island Democratic Party.^[15]

On June 13, 2006, Kennedy made a deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to a charge of driving under the influence of prescription drugs.^[16] Patrick will be serving one year probation and paying a fine of $350.   Two of the three charges (reckless driving and failure to exhibit a driving permit) were dismissed.

On July 13, 2006, Roll Call reported that Kennedy is now adhering to a court-ordered rehabilitation program that includes weekly urine tests, twice-weekly meetings with a probation officer, near-daily Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and a weekly meeting of recovering addicts ^[17].

In an earlier incident, on April 15, 2006, Kennedy was driving a Ford Crown Victoria registered to the "Friends of Pat Kennedy Inc" on Turnpike Avenue in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.   As Patrick attempted to turn left into the CVS parking lot, his vehicle was "broadsided" by a Nissan Maxima driven by off duty Coast Guard warrant officer Thomas Guthlein who was attempting to make a right turn into the same parking lot.  Portsmouth Rhode Island police did not issue a citation to either driver.^[18] One woman who witnessed the accident has expressed her opinion that Kennedy was impaired.^[19] Guthlein is quoted in the New York Daily News as saying 'I never really got that close to him ...  It was just a regular traffic accident'.  

Kennedy made news on the Drudge Report multiple times for the accident outside the capital, including being quoted as saying he hoped officials would treat him as if he "were an African-American in Anacostia".^[20]

Kennedy is a vocal advocate for quality health care. He has joined with Senator Pete Dominici (R-New Mexico) in introducing legislation that places mental illness under the umbrella of health insurance. Among the rewards received on behalf of his work include the Society for Neuroscience — Public Service Award (2002), Eli Lilly & Co. 2003 Helping Move Lives Forward Reintegration Awards, American Psychoanalytic Association 2003 President’s Award, American Psychiatric Association Alliance award (2003), and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance — Paul Wellstone Mental Health Award (2003)

• "30 Something" Working Group

• U.S. Congressman Patrick Kennedy, U.S. House site

• Patrick J. Kennedy's biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Patrick J. Kennedy's voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Patrick J. Kennedy's campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Patrick J. Kennedy's campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
• Patrick J. Kennedy's biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Patrick J. Kennedy's issue positions and quotes at On The Issues

• Patrick J. Kennedy at the Internet Movie Database
• SourceWatch Congresspedia — Patrick J. Kennedy profile
• Patrick J. Kennedy for U.S. Congress, Campaign site

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Ronald Machtley	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Rhode Island's 1st congressional district 1995 – present	Incumbent

Rhode Island's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators	Jack Reed (D), Sheldon Whitehouse (D)
Representative(s)	Patrick J. Kennedy (D), James Langevin (D)
All delegations	Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming — American Samoa • District of Columbia • Guam • Puerto Rico • U.S. Virgin Islands

v • d • e Kennedy family
Joseph P. Kennedy ancestors Rose Fitzgerald ancestors	James Kennedy and Maria Kennedy • Patrick Kennedy (m.) Bridget Murphy • P. J. Kennedy (m.) Mary Augusta Hickey Philip and Mary Cox • Thomas Fitzgerald and Rosanna Cox • Michael Hannon and Mary Ann Fitzgerald • John Francis "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald (m.) Mary Josephine Hannon Fitzgerald
Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. & Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy	Joseph Patrick Kennedy, Jr. • John Fitzgerald Kennedy (m.) Jacqueline Lee Bouvier • Rosemary Kennedy • Kathleen Agnes Kennedy (m.) William John Robert Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington • Eunice Mary Kennedy (m.) Robert Sargent Shriver, Jr. • Patricia Kennedy Lawford (m.) Peter Lawford • Robert Francis Kennedy (m.) Ethel Skakel • Jean Ann Kennedy (m.) Stephen Edward Smith • Edward Moore Kennedy (m.1st) Virginia Joan Bennett (m.2nd) Victoria Anne Reggie
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917-1963) Eunice Kennedy Shriver (1921-) Patricia Kennedy Lawford (1924-2006) Robert Francis Kennedy (1925-1968) Jean Kennedy Smith (1928-) Edward Moore Kennedy (1932-)	Caroline Bouvier Kennedy (m.) Edwin Arthur Schlossberg • John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Jr. (m.) Carolyn Jeanne Bessette • Patrick Bouvier Kennedy Robert Sargent Shriver III • Maria Owings Shriver (m.) Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger • Timothy Perry Shriver • Mark Kennedy Shriver • Anthony Paul Kennedy Shriver Christopher Kennedy Lawford Kathleen Hartington Kennedy • Joseph Patrick Kennedy II • Robert Francis Kennedy, Jr. • David Anthony Kennedy • Mary Courtney Kennedy • Michael LeMoyne Kennedy • Mary Kerry Kennedy (m.) Andrew Mark Cuomo • Christopher George Kennedy • Matthew Maxwell Taylor Kennedy • Douglas Harriman Kennedy • Rory Elizabeth Katherine Kennedy William Kennedy Smith Edward Moore Kennedy, Jr. • Patrick Joseph Kennedy
See also	The Kennedy Curse • The Kennedy Compound • The Merchandise Mart • List of descendants of Joseph P. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy