Senator Chris Dodd

Former United States Senator Chris Dodd is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc., which serves as the voice and advocate of the U.S. motion picture, home video and television industries around the world. Since his appointment in March, Dodd leads the Association’s efforts to represent the interests of one of the most creative and productive industries in America.

Senator Dodd served in the United States Congress representing Connecticut for 36 years – six years in the House of Representatives and thirty years in the U.S. Senate. Senator Dodd was one of the most widely respected legislators during his years in Congress, earning the trust and admiration of both Democrats and Republicans.

As a key participant in nearly every major national policy debate over the past three decades, Senator Dodd authored or co-authored major legislation in the areas of education, health, financial services, foreign policy, and election reform. In his last term in the Senate, Senator Dodd enacted several major pieces of legislation. The Senator played a decisive role in writing the significant health care reform bill with the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. And Senator Dodd was the principal author of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, crafted in the wake of one of the worst economic downturns in history. Senator Dodd is perhaps best known for bringing much-needed attention to children’s and education issues. He formed the first children’s caucus in the Senate, authored the first child care legislation since World War II, and wrote the Family and Medical Leave Act, which has helped ensure that 100 million Americans didn’t have to choose between the jobs they need and the families they love.

Following his graduation from Providence College, Senator Dodd answered John F. Kennedy’s call to service and joined the Peace Corps, serving in the Dominican Republic from 1966 to1968. Upon returning to the United States, Senator Dodd enlisted in the U.S. Army National Guard and Army Reserves. In 1972, he earned a law degree from the Brandeis School of Law at University Of Louisville. He practiced law in New London, Connecticut before his election to Congress in 1974.

Chris Dodd lives in Washington, D.C. and East Haddam, CT, with his wife, Jackie Clegg Dodd, and their daughters Grace and Christina.