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Ellen R. Sauerbrey is U.S. ambassador and representative to the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Mrs. Sauerbrey was a Minority Leader of the Maryland House of Delegates, and 1994 and 1998 Republican nominee for Governor of Maryland. She is a fierce advocate of controlling the size and cost of state government, encouraging economic growth through tax cuts, and promoting crime victims' rights. In her duties as Ambassador to the UN Commission on the Status of Women, Mrs. Sauerbrey promotes the importance of human life, the natural family, traditional marriage and the significant role of parents. She was appointed by President Bush as U.S. Ambassador to the UN and has also represented the United States at the UN Commission on Human Rights (2001) and served on delegations to the 2002 and 2003 sessions of the UN General Assembly. A former high school science teacher and department chairman, Sauerbrey launched the battle in Maryland for parental choice in education. Mrs. Sauerbrey represented her northern Baltimore County district in the House of Delegates from 1978 to 1994. Her outspoken leadership and legislative expertise led fellow Republicans to elect her Minority Leader in 1986, a post she held for eight years. In the Maryland House of Delegates, Sauerbrey introduced legislation cutting taxes and excessive regulations. She was the prime sponsor of the Maryland Spending Affordability Law, which has been credited with dramatically curbing the growth of state spending and protecting Maryland's triple A bond rating. Her commitment to limited government and economic growth earned her the accolade "America's Lady Thatcher." During her years in the Maryland legislature, she became a recognized expert on budget and fiscal issues, serving on the Ways and Means and Appropriations committees. In 1994, Sauerbrey was the Republican nominee for Governor, coming within four tenths of one percent of becoming Maryland's first woman governor. Following the election, she became a talk-show host on WBAL radio and a commentator on WBAL TV. Her columns have appeared in the Washington Post, Washington Times, Baltimore Sun, and many other Maryland papers. Ellen Sauerbrey served as the National Chairman of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the largest voluntary association of state legislators, and was a co-founder of the Maryland Taxpayers Coalition. Western Maryland College honored her as Alumna of the Year, and ALEC has honored her as its Legislator of the Year. In 1996, she was elected to the Republican National Committee as the National Committeewoman representing Maryland. She has held leadership positions in many civic groups, including the Council on Economic Education in Maryland, and the Franklin Square Hospital. Born in Baltimore, Sauerbrey graduated from Towson Senior High School and summa cum laude from Western Maryland College. She lives with her husband Wil on a small farm in Sweet Air, Maryland. | 