View source for Mark Pryor

{{Short description|American attorney & politician (born 1963)}}
{{About|the United States Senator||}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name          = Mark Pryor 
|image         = Mark Pryor, Official Portrait, 112th Congress (2011) 1.jpg 
|caption       = Official portrait, 2011
|jr/sr         = United States Senator
|state         = [[Arkansas]]
|term_start    = January 3, 2003
|term_end      = January 3, 2015
|predecessor   = [[Tim Hutchinson]]
|successor     = [[Tom Cotton]]
|office1       = 53rd [[Arkansas Attorney General|Attorney General of Arkansas]]
|governor1     = [[Mike Huckabee]]
|term_start1   = January 12, 1999
|term_end1     = January 3, 2003
|predecessor1  = [[Winston Bryant]]
|successor1    = [[Mike Beebe]]
|office2       = Member of the [[Arkansas House of Representatives]]
|term_start2   = January 14, 1991
|term_end2     = January 9, 1995
|constituency2 = 59th district (1991–1993)<br>57th district (1993–1995)
|preceded2     = [[Gloria Cabe]]
|succeeded2    = Lisa Ferrell
|birth_name    = Mark Lunsford Pryor
|birth_date    = {{birth date and age|1963|1|10}}
|birth_place   = [[Fayetteville, Arkansas]], U.S.
|death_date    = 
|death_place   = 
|party         = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] 
|spouse        = Joi Pryor
|children      = 2
|father        = [[David Pryor]]
|education     = [[University of Arkansas]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Juris Doctor|JD]])
|signature     = Mark Pryor Signature.svg
|website       = {{url|web.archive.org/web/20150103073030/http://www.pryor.senate.gov|Senate website}} (archived)
|module        = {{Listen |pos=center |embed=yes |filename=Sen. Mark Pryor Testifies on Toy Safety.ogg |title=Pryor's voice|type=speech |description=Pryor testifying on toy safety at a [[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Senate Appropriations Committee]] hearing.<br>Recorded September 12, 2007}}
}}
'''Mark Lunsford Pryor''' (born January 10, 1963) is an American attorney, politician and lobbyist who served as a [[United States Senate|United States Senator]] from [[Arkansas]] from 2003 to 2015. He previously served as [[Arkansas Attorney General|Attorney General of Arkansas]] from 1999 to 2003 and in the [[Arkansas House of Representatives]] from 1991 to 1995. He is a member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://voterrecords.com/voter/68970127/mark-pryor|title=Mark L Pryor from North Little Rock, Arkansas {{!}} VoterRecords.com|website=voterrecords.com|access-date=March 18, 2018}}</ref>

Born in [[Fayetteville, Arkansas]], Pryor is the son of former [[List of governors of Arkansas|Arkansas Governor]] and U.S. Senator [[David Pryor]]. He received his bachelor's degree [[University of Arkansas at Fayetteville]] and his [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]] degree from its law school. He worked in private practice for several years until being elected to the [[Arkansas House of Representatives]] in 1990. He was elected the state attorney general in 1998. Pryor announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 2001, running for the same Senate seat his father had held from 1979 to 1997. He was [[2002 United States Senate election in Arkansas|elected]] with 54% of the vote, defeating [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] incumbent [[Tim Hutchinson]].

He was reelected with no Republican opposition in [[2008 United States Senate election in Arkansas|2008]]. During the [[112th Congress]] he served as the chairman of the [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance|Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance]]. Pryor ran for reelection in [[2014 United States Senate election in Arkansas|2014]], but was defeated by Republican [[Tom Cotton]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://editions.lib.umn.edu/smartpolitics/2014/11/04/mark-pryor-loss-makes-us-senat/ |title= Mark Pryor Loss Makes US Senate History |work=Smart Politics |first=Eric |last=Ostermeier |date= November 4, 2014}}</ref> In 2020, Pryor was hired as a lobbyist by [[Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck]].<ref name="Mark Pryor changes lobbying teams">{{cite web |last1=Brantley |first1=Max |title=Mark Pryor changes lobbying teams |url=https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2020/11/02/mark-pryor-changes-lobbying-teams |website=Arkansas Times|date=November 2, 2020 }}</ref><ref name="Pryor, Mark L - Employment History">{{cite web |title=Pryor, Mark L - Employment History |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/rev_summary.php?id=78746 |website=OpenSecrets |access-date=7 October 2021}}</ref> He is the most recent Democrat to serve in the U.S. Senate from Arkansas.

==Early life and education==
Pryor was born on January 10, 1963, in [[Fayetteville, Arkansas]], to the future state First Lady Barbara Jean (Lunsford) and future [[Governor of Arkansas|Governor]] and U.S. Senator [[David Pryor|David Hampton Pryor]], then a state representative.<ref>{{CongLinks | congbio=p000590 | votesmart=35 | fec=S0AR00028 | congress=mark-pryor/1701 }}</ref> He attended [[Little Rock Central High School]] until his father was elected to the [[United States Senate]] in 1979, after which he attended [[Walt Whitman High School (Bethesda, Maryland)|Walt Whitman High School]] in [[Maryland]] until graduating in 1981.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lrcentralhigh.net/famousgrads/MarkPryor.html|title=Famous Central Graduates- Mark Pryor|work=lrcentralhigh.net|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323200644/http://lrcentralhigh.net/famousgrads/MarkPryor.html|archive-date=March 23, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Magazine/March-April-2010/Class-of-81/|title=Class of '81|work=bethesdamagazine.com|date=April 12, 2010}}</ref>

He graduated from the [[University of Arkansas]] in 1985 with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in [[history]] and went on to receive his [[Juris Doctor]] from the university's [[University of Arkansas School of Law|law school]] in 1988. During his time in college, he was a member of the [[Sigma Alpha Epsilon]] fraternity.

==Early career==

Prior to entering politics, Pryor worked as a private practice attorney focusing on civil litigation.

===Arkansas House of Representatives===

He was a member of the [[Arkansas House of Representatives]] from 1991 to 1995.

===Arkansas Attorney General===

In 1994, he ran for [[Arkansas Attorney General]], challenging incumbent [[Winston Bryant]] in the Democratic primary. Pryor lost 58% to 42%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=261757|title=Our Campaigns - AR Attorney General - D Primary Race - May 24, 1994|work=ourcampaigns.com}}</ref> In 1998, he ran for the same position again and became the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] nominee. He defeated Republican nominee Betty Dicky, the [[Redfield, Arkansas|Redfield City Attorney]], 59% to 41%. He won all but four counties in the state: [[Benton County, Arkansas|Benton]], [[Boone County, Arkansas|Boone]], [[Marion County, Arkansas|Marion]], and [[Baxter County, Arkansas|Baxter]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=953|title=Our Campaigns - AR Attorney General Race - Nov 03, 1998|work=ourcampaigns.com}}</ref> He was also [[Delegate (American politics)|delegate]] to the [[Democratic National Convention]] in 2000.

==U.S. Senate==

Pryor was recognized for providing a high level of constituent service, and he helped to secure millions of dollars in highway funds for the state. Pryor was also a committed advocate of the state’s military families; he guided the SACRIFICE Act to passage, thus providing families of those injured in combat more timely and reliable medical care.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Pruden|first1=William|title=Mark Lunsford Pryor (1963-)|url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=4643|website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas|access-date=June 3, 2015}}</ref>

===Elections===
====2002====
{{Main|2002 United States Senate election in Arkansas}}
In late 2001, Pryor announced his candidacy for the Senate seat held by [[Tim Hutchinson]], who six years earlier had become the first Arkansas Republican to serve in that body since [[Reconstruction era of the United States|Reconstruction]]. The seat had been held by his father [[David Pryor]] (also a former Arkansas governor), who actively campaigned for his son. Pryor defeated Hutchinson 54% to 46% and was the only Democratic candidate for the Senate to defeat a Republican incumbent in that election cycle.

====2008====
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Arkansas}}
Pryor won reelection in [[United States Senate elections, 2008|2008]] without a Republican opponent. There had been speculation that former [[Governor of Arkansas|Governor]] [[Mike Huckabee]] would run against Pryor if his presidential bid was unsuccessful, but on March 8, Huckabee said he would not contest the race.<ref>[http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20080308%5cACQRTT200803082111RTTRADERUSEQUITY_0046.htm&&mypage=newsheadlines&title=Huckabee%20Says%20He%20Won't%20Run%20Against%20Pryo] {{dead link|date=June 2015}}</ref> The only Republican to express interest in the race, health care executive Tom Formicola, decided not to run.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.todaysthv.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=62041 |title=No GOP Opponent For Mark Pryor's Run For Second Term In U.S. Senate &#124; thv11.com |publisher=Todaysthv.com |date=March 10, 2008 |access-date=June 1, 2015}}</ref> Pryor's only announced opponent was [[Green Party (United States)|Green Party]] candidate [[Rebekah Kennedy (candidate)|Rebekah Kennedy]], whom he defeated 80% to 20%.

====2014====
{{Main|2014 United States Senate election in Arkansas}}
Pryor ran for reelection to a third term in 2014, against Republican U.S. House Rep. [[Tom Cotton]].

In March 2014, during an MSNBC news segment regarding the Senate race, Pryor said that Cotton gave off a "sense of entitlement" to a seat in the Senate due to his service in the military.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lauer |first=Claudia |date=March 6, 2014 |title=Pryor says Cotton exudes vet 'entitlement,' riling GOP |url=http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2014/mar/06/pryor-says-cotton-exudes-vet-entitlement--20140306/ |newspaper=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette |access-date=June 6, 2014}}</ref> After receiving much criticism for the remark, Pryor later said he was not attacking Cotton’s military service, but his perceived lack of accomplishments in the House: "But the point remains that he's been in the House now for a little over a year, he hasn't passed any legislation. There's not one thing he's done for Arkansas."<ref>{{cite web |last=Joseph |first=Cameron |date=April 26, 2014 |title=Pryor explains 'sense of entitlement' comments |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/204442-pryor-explains-sense-of-entitlement-comments/ |newspaper=The Hill |access-date=June 6, 2014}}</ref>

FactCheck.org called two ads aired by Pryor's 2014 Senate campaign misleading in their criticisms of Paul Ryan's Medicare plan, supported by his opponent.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Robertson|first1=Lori|title=Fact check: Old Medicare claims in Ark. Senate race|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/02/25/fact-check-medicare-arkansas-senate/5804467/|access-date=August 16, 2014|publisher=USA Today|date=February 25, 2014}}</ref>

This race was originally thought out to be close, but Pryor lost in a landslide, 57% to 39%. This was the worst performance in the nation for any incumbent Senator since the defeat of then-fellow Arkansas Senator [[Blanche Lincoln]] in [[2010 United States Senate election in Arkansas|2010]].

===Tenure===
Somewhat atypically, Pryor was the [[List of youngest members of the United States Congress|Baby of the Senate]] for 19 days in January 2009, at age 45, despite never having held that distinction in his first term. This was due to the defeat of the younger [[John E. Sununu]], making Pryor the oldest member to ever be the youngest within the Senate until the appointment of [[Michael Bennet]].

In June 2007, before the annual Arkansas Democratic Party Jefferson-Jackson dinner, Pryor announced his endorsement of his colleague Sen. [[Hillary Clinton]] for president of the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=2141 |title=Hillary for America |work=hillaryclinton.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081127220045/http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=2141 |archive-date=November 27, 2008 }}</ref>

In 2013, Pryor voted with President Obama 90% of the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://atr.rollcall.com/senate-democrats-supported-obama-on-overwhelming-number-of-votes-in-2013/|title=Senate Democrats Backed Obama On Overwhelming Number of 2013 Votes, CQ Roll Call Vote Studies Show|work=At the Races|access-date=June 1, 2015|archive-date=June 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150602212934/http://atr.rollcall.com/senate-democrats-supported-obama-on-overwhelming-number-of-votes-in-2013/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Since 2009, Pryor's top three donors have been lawyers ($1,131,431), leadership PACs ($429,149), and lobbyists ($323,769).<ref name="opensecrets.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00013823&newMem=N |title=Sen. Mark Pryor: Campaign Finance/Money - Summary - Senator 2014 |publisher=OpenSecrets.org |access-date=June 1, 2015}}</ref>

===Legislation sponsored===
Pryor introduced the [[Drought Information Act of 2013 (S. 376; 113th Congress)]] on February 25, 2013.<ref name=376allactions>{{cite web|title=S. 376 - All Actions|date=February 4, 2014|url=http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/376/all-actions/|publisher=United States Congress|access-date=February 7, 2014}}</ref> The bill that would authorize funding for the [[National Integrated Drought Information System]] (NIDIS) through 2018.<ref name=CoxSenatepasses>{{cite news|last=Cox|first=Ramsey|title=Senate passes bill funding drought information program|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/197331-senate-passes-bill-funding-drought-information-program/|access-date=February 7, 2014|newspaper=The Hill|date=February 3, 2014}}</ref>  The NIDIS is "charged with providing timely information to prevent drought and extreme weather damage."<ref name="CoxSenatepasses"/> The bill passed the United States Senate on February 3, 2014.

Pryor introduced the bill "[[To repeal section 403 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013]]" on January 27, 2014.<ref name=1963allactions>{{cite web|title=S. 1963 - All Actions|url=http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/1963/all-actions/|publisher=United States Congression|access-date=February 11, 2014}}</ref> The bill would repeal the provision of the  [[Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013]] that would reduce the amount of the annual [[cost of living]] increase to non-disabled military [[veteran]]s under age 62.<ref name=senatestarts>{{cite news|title=Senate starts consideration of veterans' pension cuts|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/197990-senate-starts-consideration-of-veterans-pension-cuts/|access-date=February 11, 2014|newspaper=The Hill|date=February 10, 2014|author=Ramsey Cox|author2=Jeremy Herb}}</ref> The [[Congressional Budget Office]] estimated that enacting Pryor's bill would stop the reduction of $6.813 billion from the amount paid to veterans annually.<ref name=1963cbo>{{cite web|title=S. 1963 - CBO|url=http://cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/S.%201963.pdf|publisher=Congressional Budget Office|access-date=February 11, 2014}}</ref>

===Committee assignments===
*'''[[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Committee on Appropriations]]'''
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies]] (Chairman)
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies]]
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense|Subcommittee on Defense]]
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies]]
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies]]
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies]]
*'''[[United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation|Committee on Commerce, Science, Transportation]]'''
**[[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security|Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security]]
**[[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance|Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, Insurance, and Automotive Safety]] (Chairman)
**[[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation, and Export Promotion|Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation, and Export Promotion]]
**[[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Science and Space|Subcommittee on Science and Space]]
**[[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security|Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security]]
*'''[[United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs|Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs]]'''
**[[United States Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Management, Intergovernmental Relations, and the District of Columbia|Subcommittee on Emergency Management, Intergovernmental Relations, and the District of Columbia]]
**[[United States Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Federal Programs and the Federal Workforce|Subcommittee on the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Federal Programs and the Federal Workforce]]
**[[United States Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on Financial and Contracting Oversight|Subcommittee on Financial and Contracting Oversight]]
**[[United States Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations|Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations]]
*'''[[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services|Committee on Armed Services]]'''
**[[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Airland|Subcommittee on Airland]]
**[[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support|Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support]]
**[[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel|Subcommittee on Personnel]]
**[[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces|Subcommittee on Strategic Forces]]
*'''[[United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration|Committee on Rules and Administration]]'''
*'''[[United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship|Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship]]'''
*'''[[United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics|Select Committee on Ethics]]'''

==Political positions==

===Fiscal policy===
On February 13, 2009, Pryor voted to pass the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Roll Call Vote 111th Congress - 1st Session |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00061 |website=senate.gov |publisher=United States Senate |access-date=27 November 2019}}</ref>

On April 16, 2012, Pryor was the only Democratic senator to vote against the "[[Buffett Rule]]," which was defeated 51 voting in favor to 45 voting against [[cloture]] of the [[filibuster]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Senate Fails to advance Buffett rule |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2012-04-16/senate-fails-to-pass-buffett-rule/54324786/1|author=Davis, Susan |date=April 16, 2012 |access-date=April 17, 2012 |work=USA Today}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=2&vote=00065 |title=U.S. Senate: Roll Call Vote |publisher=Senate.gov |access-date=June 1, 2015}}</ref>

In April 2014, the United States Senate debated the [[Minimum Wage Fairness Act (S. 1737; 113th Congress)]]. The bill would amend the [[Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938]] (FLSA) to increase the [[Minimum wage in the United States|federal minimum wage]] for employees to $10.10 per hour over the course of a two-year period.<ref name=1737sum>{{cite web|title=S. 1737 - Summary|date=April 2, 2014|url=http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/1737|publisher=United States Congress|access-date=April 8, 2014}}</ref> The bill was strongly supported by President [[Barack Obama]] and many of the Democratic Senators, but strongly opposed by Republicans in the Senate and House.<ref name=ObamaClearChoice>{{cite news|last=Sink|first=Justin|title=Obama: Congress has 'clear choice' on minimum wage|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/202475-obama-congress-has-clear-choice-on-minimum-wage/|access-date=April 9, 2014|newspaper=The Hill|date=April 2, 2014}}</ref><ref name=Reidpunts>{{cite news|last=Bolton|first=Alexander|title=Reid punts on minimum-wage hike|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/202964-reid-punts-on-minimum-wage-hike/|access-date=April 9, 2014|newspaper=The Hill|date=April 8, 2014}}</ref><ref name=CentristRepubs>{{cite news|last=Bolton|first=Alexander|title=Centrist Republicans cool to minimum wage hike compromise|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/202641-centrist-republicans-cool-to-wage-compromise/|access-date=April 9, 2014|newspaper=The Hill|date=April 4, 2014}}</ref> Pryor opposed the bill.<ref name="Reidpunts"/> Pryor was up for election in 2014 and was at that time considered "the Senate's most vulnerable incumbent."<ref name=ReidSlip1>{{cite news|last=Bolton|first=Alexander|title=Reid: Minimum wage vote may slip|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/202331-reid-minimum-wage-vote-may-slip/|access-date=April 9, 2014|newspaper=The Hill|date=April 1, 2014}}</ref>

===Agriculture===
Senator Pryor was consistently opposed to proposed cuts to conservation, rural development, agriculture research, nutrition, and forestry programs. In 2014, as Chairman of the [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies]], he wrote the $20 billion annual spending legislation that allocates funds for agriculture programs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/1244| title= S.1244 – Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2014 | date= June 27, 2013 |publisher=Congress.gov |access-date=February 1, 2022}}</ref> Pryor secured a legislation within the 2014 Farm bill to allow domestic forestry products to be recognized by USDA as biobased, ensuring such products can be used by the federal government and can be sold as a greener alternative to consumers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/2642/titles| title= H.R. 2642 – Agricultural Act of 2014 2014 | date= February 7, 2014 |publisher=Congress.gov |access-date=February 1, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/463| title= S. 463 – Forest Products Fairness Act of 2013 | date= March 5, 2013 |publisher=Congress.gov |access-date=February 1, 2022}}</ref>

Through the annual budget process, Pryor helped allocate more than $125 million to advance research in forestry, specialty crops, animal science, wetland management, aquaculture and weather management. 
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/3081| title= H.R. 3081 – Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 | date= September 30, 2010 |publisher=Congress.gov |access-date=February 1, 2022}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/2997| title= H.R. 2997 – Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 | date= October 21, 2009 |publisher=Congress.gov |access-date=February 1, 2022}}</ref>
Pryor also worked closely with [[Senator Boozman]] to advance agricultural and food law research by allowing institutions such as the [[National Agricultural Law Center]] to enter into partnerships with private industry.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/amendment/112th-congress/senate-amendment/2355/cosponsors| title= S. Amdt.2355 to S.3240 |publisher=Congress.gov |access-date=February 1, 2022}}</ref>

===Estate tax===
In June 2006, Pryor voted against repeal of the [[Estate tax in the United States|federal estate tax]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Democrats halt move to kill off death tax |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2006/jun/08/20060608-115744-9807r/ |access-date=October 20, 2013 |newspaper=Washington Times |date=June 8, 2006}}</ref> In 2013, Pryor and Senator [[John Boozman]] were credited by [[Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation|Arkansas Farm Bureau]] president Randy Veach for their opposition to President Obama's plan to raise the estate tax. Pryor co-sponsored a bill that would implement a one-year extension on current estate tax rates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arfb.com/mobile/press-releases/2013/pryor_boozman_bring_common_sense_to_estate_tax_debate|title=Pryor, Boozman bring common sense to debate over estate taxes|work=arfb.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413155726/http://www.arfb.com/mobile/press-releases/2013/pryor_boozman_bring_common_sense_to_estate_tax_debate|archive-date=April 13, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Democratic senators take issue with the estate tax|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/democratic-senators-take-issue-with-the-estate-tax/2012/12/11/0b62efb0-43d4-11e2-8e70-e1993528222d_story.html|access-date=May 26, 2014|newspaper=Washington Post|date=December 11, 2012}}</ref> The bill did not pass. In 2008 Pryor voted against expanding the pool of people exempt from the estate tax.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SP04191:|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004014000/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SP04191:|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 4, 2008|title=Bill Summary & Status - 110th Congress (2007 - 2008) - S.AMDT.4191 - THOMAS (Library of Congress)|work=loc.gov}}</ref>

===Health care===
Pryor voted for the [[Affordable Care Act]] (Obamacare) in December 2009,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00396|title=U.S. Senate: Roll Call Vote|date=January 27, 2015|work=senate.gov}}</ref> and later voted against the [[Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=2&vote=00105 |title=U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote |publisher=Senate.gov |access-date=August 29, 2010}}</ref>

===Foreign policy===
Pryor opposed bringing [[Guantanamo Bay detention camp|Guantanamo Bay]] prisoners to the [[United States]] for trial.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://arkansasnews.com/2009/11/17/lincoln-pryor-back-bid-to-block-funding-to-hold-terror-suspects-in-u-s/ |title=Lincoln, Pryor back bid to block funding to hold terror suspects in U.S. &#124; Arkansas News |publisher=Arkansasnews.com |access-date=August 29, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718150104/http://arkansasnews.com/2009/11/17/lincoln-pryor-back-bid-to-block-funding-to-hold-terror-suspects-in-u-s/ |archive-date=July 18, 2011 }}</ref>

On September 28, 2006, Pryor was one of 12 Democratic senators who voted to adopt S.3930, the [[Military Commissions Act of 2006]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00259 |title=U.S. Senate |publisher=Senate.gov |access-date=June 1, 2015}}</ref> He voted against the [[Flag Desecration Amendment|flag burning amendment]] in June 2006.

On March 15, 2007, Pryor was one of two Democratic senators to have voted against a resolution aimed at withdrawing most American combat troops from [[Iraq]] in 2008. The vote, requiring 60 votes to pass, was 50 to 48 against.<ref name="NYTimes">{{cite news
|date=March 15, 2007
|author= Toner, Robin
|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/15/washington/15cnd-cong.html?hp
|title= Senate Rejects Measure for Iraq Pullout
|work= The New York Times
|access-date=March 15, 2007}}</ref>

===Social policy===
In 2003, Pryor voted for a federal ban on partial-birth [[abortion]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Berg|first1=Rebecca|title=Dispute over religious faith sparks spat in Arkansas Senate race|url=http://washingtonexaminer.com/dispute-over-religious-faith-sparks-spat-in-arkansas-senate-race/article/2550431|access-date=August 28, 2014|publisher=Washington Examiner|date=July 3, 2014}}</ref> He has voted in favor of the expansion of embryonic [[stem cell research]]. He voted against restricting UN funding for population control policies, prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion, and barring Health and Human Services grants to organizations that perform abortions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/social/Mark_Pryor_Abortion.htm |title=Mark Pryor on Abortion |publisher=Ontheissues.org |access-date=June 1, 2015}}</ref>

On December 18, 2010, Pryor voted in favor of the [[Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=2&vote=00281|title=U.S. Senate: Roll Call Vote|date=January 27, 2015|work=senate.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/votes/111/senate/2/281?ref=politics |work=The New York Times |title=Senate Vote 281 - Repeals 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151027055830/http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/votes/111/senate/2/281?ref=politics |archive-date=October 27, 2015 }}</ref>

===Gun policy===
In 2004, Pryor voted to extend the [[Federal Assault Weapons Ban]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2013/aug/12/gun-laws-big-issue-race-20130812/|title=Gun laws big issue in race|work=Arkansas Online|date=August 12, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=2&vote=00024|title=U.S. Senate: Roll Call Vote|date=January 27, 2015|work=senate.gov}}</ref>

In 2013, Pryor voted against a measure that would have required background checks for all firearms purchases.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fournier |first1=Ron |title=Mark Pryor May Soon Have A Bloomberg Problem |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/mark-pryor-may-soon-have-a-bloomberg-problem-20130423 |access-date=August 28, 2014 |work=National Journal |date=April 23, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903120757/http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/mark-pryor-may-soon-have-a-bloomberg-problem-20130423 |archive-date=September 3, 2014 }}</ref>

In March 2013, Pryor cosponsored a bill that would flag individuals attempting to buy guns who have used an insanity defense, were ruled dangerous by a court, or had been committed by a court to mental health treatment. It did not address the [[gun show loophole]]. The bill has not been passed into law.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/06/graham-introduces-background-check-bill-with-nra-backing/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308080629/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/06/graham-introduces-background-check-bill-with-nra-backing/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 8, 2013 |title=Graham introduces background check bill with NRA backing |publisher=CNN |date=March 6, 2013 |access-date=November 1, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=S.480 - NICS Reporting Improvement Act of 2013|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/480|website=Congress.gov|date=March 6, 2013|access-date=November 2, 2014}}</ref>

===Judicial nominees===
On May 23, 2005, Pryor was one of [[Gang of 14|14 senators]] who forged a compromise on the Democrats' use of the judicial [[filibuster]]. This effectively ended any threat of a Democratic filibuster (and thus also avoided the Republican leadership's threatened implementation of the so-called [[nuclear option]]). Under the agreement, the Democrats would exercise the power to filibuster a [[George W. Bush|Bush]] judicial nominee only in an "extraordinary circumstance." The threat of a filibuster removed, Republicans were able to force [[cloture]] on the three most conservative Bush [[appellate court]] nominees ([[Janice Rogers Brown]], [[Priscilla Owen]] and [[William H. Pryor, Jr.|William Pryor]]-no close relation), who subsequently passed a vote by the full Republican-controlled Senate.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rudin|first1=Ken|title=Judging Alito: The Gang of 14 Factor|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5080836|access-date=August 28, 2014|publisher=NPR|date=January 4, 2006}}</ref> He did, however, vote against the nomination of [[Samuel Alito]] to the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Senate GOP Moves Toward Alito Confirmation|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/senate-gop-moves-toward-alito-confirmation/|access-date=August 28, 2014|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Fox News|date=January 28, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903213742/http://www.foxnews.com/story/2006/01/28/senate-gop-moves-toward-alito-confirmation/|archive-date=September 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

On November 21, 2013, Pryor was one of only three Democratic senators to dissent from Harry Reid's leadership to vote against the [[Nuclear option#2013: Nominations except Supreme Court|nuclear option]] which switched the Senate away from operating on a supermajority basis, to requiring only a simple majority for certain decisions. In his speech on the Senate floor that day, he said that the Senate was, "a  place  for  debate...where  Members...can reach across the aisle and find solutions...Part of that is to allow the minority to speak, even if it is a minority of one. We need to protect that  right,  and  we  need  to  protect  every Senator's right to debate and to amend legislation." He said that the Senate was, in a sense, "the only place where the minority is guaranteed a voice. They sometimes get  outvoted, but they are guaranteed at least to be heard," and said that he was, "disappointed in  the use of the nuclear  option. I opposed that. I think it could do permanent damage to this institution  and could have some very negative ramifications for our country and for the American people.".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/113/crec/2013/11/21/CREC-2013-11-21.pdf|page=S8422|title=Congressional Record: Senate, Nov. 21, 2013|website=www.congress.gov|access-date=2019-06-29}} (PDF page 56)</ref>

==Post-Senate career==
In March 2015, Pryor became a partner at D.C.-based law and lobbying firm [[Venable LLP|Venable]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Ex-Sen. Pryor heading to K Street|url=https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/business-a-lobbying/234194-ex-sen-pryor-heading-to-k-street/|access-date=April 18, 2015|newspaper=The Hill|date=February 27, 2015|author=Megan R. Wilson}}</ref> During the 2016 and 2020 [[United States presidential election]] Pryor was a member of the Platform Committee for the [[Democratic National Convention]].

In 2020, he was recruited by the law and lobbying firm [[Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck]], and described the opportunity to work for the powerhouse firm as "kind of like being able to go play football at Clemson or Alabama."<ref name="Mark Pryor changes lobbying teams"/> As of 2021, Pryor's clients include drugmaker [[Eli Lilly and Company]], meat processor [[Tyson Foods]], power and natural gas conglomerate [[Duke Energy]], and auto manufacturer [[General Motors]], among others.<ref name="Pryor, Mark L - Employment History"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Client Profile: Eli Lilly & Co |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/clients/lobbyists?cycle=2021&id=D000000166 |website=OpenSecrets}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/02/republican-lobbyists-biden-business-risk-433797|title = Republican lobbyists face business risk: A Biden administration| website=[[Politico]] | date=November 2, 2020 }}</ref>

In 2021, he wrote a piece for ''[[The New York Times]]'' that called for President [[Joe Biden]] to appoint an aggressive antitrust enforcer to lead the [[United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division|Department of Justice Antitrust Division]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Pryor|first=Mark|date=2021-03-29|title=Opinion {{!}} F.D.R. Took Down Giants. Biden Can, Too.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/29/opinion/biden-fdr-antitrust-monopolies.html|access-date=2021-09-08|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Pryor is a member of the Board of Advisors of the [[American Council for Capital Formation]] (ACCF).<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 15, 2021|title=Former Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR) Joins ACCF Board of Advisors|url=https://accf.org/2021/01/15/former-senator-mark-pryor-d-ar-joins-accf-board-of-advisors/|access-date=2021-09-08|website=American Council for Capital Formation (AACF)}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Pryor lives in Little Rock and has a son and a daughter, Adams and Porter. He is married to Joi Pryor.  They are members of the First Assembly of God in [[North Little Rock]].

In 1996, Pryor was diagnosed with [[clear-cell sarcoma]], a rare form of cancer, in his left leg.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2013/08/mark-pryor-lone-arkansas-democrat-hangs-on-95650.html |title=Lone Arkansas Democrat Mark Pryor hangs on - Manu Raju |publisher=Politico.com |date=August 20, 2013 |access-date=June 1, 2015}}</ref> His treatment and rehabilitation took 15 months, and he was told by one doctor that he might have to have his leg amputated, but it was discovered early enough and the cancer was successfully removed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2011/jun/03/bc-ar-pryor-cancer-relay1st-ld-writethru/|title=Arkansas senator: Battle with cancer was humbling|work=Victoriaadvocate.com|date=June 3, 2011 |access-date=June 1, 2015}}</ref>

==Electoral history==

===U.S. Senator===

====2014====
{{See also|United States Senate election in Arkansas, 2014}}
{{Election box begin | title=United States Senate election in Arkansas, 2014<ref>{{cite web | url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/AR/53237/149537/Web01/en/summary.html | title=November 4, 2014 General election and nonpartisan runoff election Official results | publisher=Arkansas Secretary of State | access-date=November 23, 2014}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link 
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | candidate  = Tom Cotton
 | votes      = 478,819
 | percentage = 56.50%
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link 
 | party      = Democratic Party (United States)
 | candidate  = Mark Pryor (incumbent)
 | votes      = 334,174
 | percentage = 39.43%
| change = -40.10%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link 
 | party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
 | candidate  = Nathan LaFrance
 | votes      = 17,210
 | percentage = 2.03%
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link 
 | party      = Green Party (United States)
 | candidate  = Mark Swaney
 | votes      = 16,797
 | percentage = 1.98%
| change = -18.49%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
 | party      = N/A
 | candidate  = Write-ins
 | votes      = 505
 | percentage = 0.06%
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box total 
 | votes      = '''847,505'''
 | percentage = '''100.0%'''
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box gain with party link no swing
 | winner     = Republican Party (United States)
 | loser      = Democratic Party (United States)
 | swing      = 
}}
{{Election box end}}

====2008====
{{See also|United States Senate election in Arkansas, 2008}}

{{Election box begin no change
  |title      = United States Senate election in Arkansas, 2008<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arelections.org/index.php?ac:show:contest_statewide=1&elecid=181&contestid=9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001210932/http://www.arelections.org/index.php?ac:show:contest_statewide=1&elecid=181&contestid=9 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=October 1, 2008 |title=U.S. Senate Statewide Results |publisher=[[Secretary of State of Arkansas]] |date=December 2, 2008 |access-date=December 9, 2008}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Democratic Party of Arkansas
  |candidate  = Mark Pryor ([[incumbent]])
  |votes      = 804,678
  |percentage = 79.53
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Green Party of Arkansas
  |candidate  = [[Rebekah Kennedy (candidate)|Rebekah Kennedy]]
  |votes      = 207,076
  |percentage = 20.47
}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes      = 1,011,754
  |percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box invalid no change
  |votes      = 75,586
  |percentage = n/a
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
  |winner     = Democratic Party of Arkansas
}}
{{Election box end}}

====2002====
{{See also|United States Senate election in Arkansas, 2002}}
{{Election box begin | title=Arkansas U.S. Senate Election 2002}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (US)
  |candidate  = Mark Pryor
  |votes      = 433,306
  |percentage = 53.9
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (US)
  |candidate  = [[Tim Hutchinson]] (Incumbent)
  |votes      = 370,653
  |percentage = 46.1
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box end}}

==See also==
* [[Conservative Democrat]]

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{CongLinks | congbio=p000590 | votesmart=35 | fec=S0AR00028 | congress=mark-pryor/1701 }}<!--
Links formerly displayed via the CongLinks template:
* [http://ballotpedia.org/Mark_Pryor Biography] at [[Ballotpedia]]
* [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/300080 Congressional profile] at [[GovTrack]]
* [http://www.opencongress.org/people/show/300080 Congressional profile] at [[Participatory Politics Foundation|OpenCongress]]
* [http://www.rollcall.com/members/15237.html Congressional profile] at ''[[Roll Call]]''
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00013823 Financial information (federal office)] at [[Center for Responsive Politics|OpenSecrets.org]]
* [https://apps.washingtonpost.com/politics/capitol-assets/member/mark-pryor Financial investments (personal)] at ''[[The Washington Post]]''
* [http://www.legistorm.com/member/Sen_Mark_Pryor/78.html Staff salaries, trips and personal finance] at LegiStorm.com
* [http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Mark_Pryor.htm Issue positions and quotes] at [[On the Issues]]
* [http://www.c-spanvideo.org/person/1002201 Appearances] on [[C-SPAN]] programs
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3169473 Appearances] at the [[Internet Movie Database]]
* [http://topics.bloomberg.com/mark-pryor Collected news and commentary] at ''[[Bloomberg News]]''
* [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gIQAHnsz9O_topic.html Collected news and commentary] at ''[[The Washington Post]]''
* -->

==External links==
*{{C-SPAN|1002201}}

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{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[List of United States Senators from Arkansas|U.S. Senator]] from [[Arkansas]]<br>([[Classes of United States Senators|Class 2]])|years=[[2002 United States Senate election in Arkansas|2002]], [[2008 United States Senate election in Arkansas|2008]], [[2014 United States Senate election in Arkansas|2014]]}}
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[[Category:1963 births]]
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