Senate Report Card: Pat Roberts R-KS

Senator Pat Roberts is the junior Republican United States Senator from the state of Kansas. Senator Roberts assumed office in 1997.

Senator Roberts serves on the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; Ethics; Finance and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committees. He was the former chairman of the Senate Committee on Intelligence.

Roberts is a true conservative. He is pro-life. He opposes same-sex marriage. He was a staunch supporter of the USA Patriot Act. He was in favor of loosening restrictions on the NSA wiretapping debacle during his tenure on the Intelligence Committee.

Pat Roberts has been highly criticized by environmentalists. He voted for more drilling off the U.S. shores. He was in favor of drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He voted against providing funding for low income energy assistance. He voted to exempt oil and gas smokestacks from mercury regulations.

He is fiercely against gun control. He was a cosponsor of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. This legislation prohibits many civil actions from being brought against firearm manufacturers and dealers. He argues that gun control does not reduce crime or violence.

Roberts voted with a largely Republican majority to suspend habeas corpus provisions for anyone deemed by the Executive Branch an "unlawful combatant," barring them from challenging their detentions in court.