Congress Demographics and the Impact on the

Global Economy and Everyday Life

A few days ago there was an article in the Wall Street Journal concerning a significant increase in the Defense budget for certain defense products, including 14 submarines. The article appeared to indicate that this increase in funding was to provide additional items that were needed by our forces in the near future.

I said to my wife that this was misleading because of the long lead times required for the parts necessary to manufacture the submarines. I felt that it could be 10 years before the first one was delivered.

I based that on my experience having worked in management roles with a number of significant defense contractors, including General Dynamics. General Dynamics will be producing 9 of the 14 submarines, while HII Newport News Shipbuilding will be producing the other 5.

A few days later, there was a follow up article that indicated that it could be 2038, before the contract was completed.

This triggered my thoughts about how little our current Congress understands manufacturing or the Global Economy. Unless you have been involved with the nuances, it is difficult to understand long lead times, facility requirements, government regulations, and the manpower skills required to produce a product for our military.

As an example, in the early 1970’s I ran a parachute manufacturing operation in North Carolina. Over 80% of our revenue came from military contracts. In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s there were conflicts in the Middle East involving Israel and Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt.

The U.S. Military had an inventory of 26 foot, cotton, cargo parachutes, manufactured by my company, that were sent to Israel. In 1973, the U.S. Military realized that there were very few of this parachute left in inventory.

This particular parachute was made of cotton, and all of the machines for making this material had been sold by American manufacturers to Russia and China. We recommended that the material be replaced, by using ripstop nylon. This type of nylon was being used for many of the military parachutes, replacing cotton.

We requested that we substitute ripstop nylon. However, the military indicated that it was not approved for the 26 foot cargo parachute, and we would have to go through significant testing. This could take between 18 and 24 months. They needed replacements as soon as possible, and could not wait.

Fortunately, we were able to purchase the cloth in China, have it shipped to Charleston, SC, have it colored in a plant there, and then shipped to us.

This is just an example of issues that military contractors face daily.

A number of years ago, I looked at some of the demographics of our leaders in Congress and was dismayed by what I saw. Shame on us!

I decided to go online and see what I could find today.

Congress has 535 members. There are 100 in the Senate and 435 in the House. Those in the House are elected every two years, while those in the Senate are elected, one-third every two years. Those in the Senate are elected for a 6 year term, while those in the House, a two year term.

Each state has two Senators. However, the number of members that a state has in the House can change, based upon how their states population compares to the total population, each time there is a new census. The total still must equal 435.

I found a report put out by the Library of Congress under Congress.gov. It is a profile of the 119th Congress (2025-2026).

In reviewing it, a number of interesting facts were observed.

First the House: Of the 435 members, 219 are Republicans and 212 are Democrats. There are currently 4 vacant seats. There are also 5 non-voting delegates representing American Territories. In addition, Puerto Rico has a non-voting Resident Commissioner.

As to the Senate: 53 are Republican, 45 Democrats and 2 are independents.

Women make up 129 members of the House and 26 members of the Senate.

The average age of the House members is 57.9 years and of the Senate, 63.9.

Also, 96% of all members have graduated from a four year college. This compares to 60 years ago (1965-1966), when only 74% of House members and 57% of Senate members had a degree from a four year college.

As to length of service, members of the House have served an average of 8.6 years, and in the Senate, 11.2 years.

As to ethnicity, in the House, 61 are African-American, 18 are Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders, 3 are Native American, and 353 Caucasian.

In the Senate, 5 are African-American, 3 are Asian American or Pacific Islander, 1 native American, and 91 Caucasian.

House members are required to be 25 years of age and Senate members 30 years of age, by the U.S. Constitution. The youngest current member of the House is 27, while the oldest is 87, In the Senate, the youngest member is 37 and the oldest is 91.

One of the more interesting statistics is the prior occupations of the members of Congress. 119 have worked in the field of education ( 100 in the House 19 in the Senate).

A total of 182 have law degrees, 135 in the House and 47 in the Senate.

Another interesting statistic is that 135 members of the House, and 28 members of the Senate have been owners, founders, or executives of businesses.

Also, 305 members of the House, and 82 members of the Senate, have previously served as elected officials, at either the local, state or federal level.

As to how many have previously served in the military, 80 in the house and 18 in the Senate. As to women, 7 of the House and 2 of the Senate were women. These numbers are significantly down from the 1970’s when over 80% of the members of Congress had served in the military.

Obviously, these are interesting backgrounds, but do the members truly understand the issues of everyday Americans, as well as those of the Global Economy.

The one statistic that I wasn’t able to find, “how many members of Congress hold a U.S. Passport?” That is a statistic that can say a lot. How many have traveled outside of the U.S.? Unless you have, you have no concept of “a Global Economy.” You don’t understand how others see us. You don’t recognize global issues, and how they can affect us.

Unless you have served in the military, you truly have no idea of what is required to provide for the safety that this country requires for all. You cannot appreciate the caliber of the person who serves, and what they require to do their job effectively.

Periodically you will hear this administration talk about bringing manufacturing back to this country. It is obvious that they have no understanding of what has happened over the last 50 years. In 1970, the auto industry drove our economy. They employed 1.5 million people in manufacturing. That isn’t so today. Today the auto industry in the United States only has 950,000 employees.

Technology has changed everything. Forty plus years ago, I taught at the Defense Systems Management College. We spent time discussing the Global Economy, and how it had evolved. Eventually, countries would have to embrace it. Some countries have advantages in producing certain products, and it made more sense to buy from them, than trying to compete. Doesn’t it make sense to have each country produce to their strengths, and sell to others?

If all countries subscribed to this, there would be no need for more wars. Each country’s economy would be so intertwined with each other’s, that war would become superfluous. That hasn’t occurred yet, but it does make sense. When will our politicians recognize this?

If one hasn’t traveled outside of the United States, how can they understand other countries government, and their people? Their needs and wants.

We need to recognize that our form of government doesn’t fit every other country. That isn’t all bad. We need to learn to live with those other forms. We should not continue to pick and choose. It is alright to do business with Vietnam, where we lost almost 80,000 personnel, and it is a communist state, but it isn’t alright to do business with Cuba. Why? We tend to do business with China, but not Russia. Why?

Tariffs are also not the answer! Tariffs go against everything that a Global Economy stands for. It is time that we wake up and move on.

Isn’t it time that we learn from our mistakes…………

Jess Sweely

Madison, VA

August 3, 2026