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'''Terry Branstad''' (born November 17, 1946, in Leland, Iowa) is the [[United States]] Ambassador to [[China]]. He previously was the longest-serving governor in U.S. history,<ref name="Longest">Wilson, Reid (May 24, 2017). [http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/334904-longest-serving-governor-in-american-history-steps-down Longest-serving governor in American history steps down]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 26, 2017.</ref> serving in the state of [[Iowa]] from 1983 to 1999 and again from 2011 to 2017. He also served as the president of [[Des Moines University]] from 2003 to 2009.

'''Terry Branstad''' (born November 17, 1946, in Leland, Iowa) is the [[United States]] Ambassador to [[China]]. He previously was the longest-serving governor in U.S. history,<ref name="Longest">Wilson, Reid (May 24, 2017). [https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/334904-longest-serving-governor-in-american-history-steps-down Longest-serving governor in American history steps down]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 26, 2017.</ref> serving in the state of [[Iowa]] from 1983 to 1999 and again from 2011 to 2017. He also served as the president of [[Des Moines University]] from 2003 to 2009.

Branstad received a bachelor of arts degree in political science from the [[University of Iowa]] in 1969 and a law degree from [[Drake University]] Law School in 1974. He served in the U.S. Army from 1969-1971. Branstad served three terms in the Iowa House of Representatives. He was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1978 and Governor in 1982. Branstad chaired the National Governors Association in 1989-1990. Iowa's longest-serving Governor, Branstad left office with a historically low 2.7% [[unemployment rate]] and $900 million budget surplus.<ref>Iowa Workforce Development: Iowa Historical Labor Force Data</ref>   

Branstad received a bachelor of arts degree in political science from the [[University of Iowa]] in 1969 and a law degree from [[Drake University]] Law School in 1974. He served in the U.S. Army from 1969-1971. Branstad served three terms in the Iowa House of Representatives. He was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1978 and Governor in 1982. Branstad chaired the National Governors Association in 1989-1990. Iowa's longest-serving Governor, Branstad left office with a historically low 2.7% [[unemployment rate]] and $900 million budget surplus.<ref>Iowa Workforce Development: Iowa Historical Labor Force Data</ref>   

Branstad was re-elected governor in 2010 and again in 2014.

Branstad was re-elected governor in 2010 and again in 2014.

In 2017, with massive GOP majorities in the Iowa legislature,<ref>Russell, Joyce (November 9, 2016). [http://iowapublicradio.org/post/iowa-senate-turns-republican-tuesday-voting#stream/0 Iowa Senate Turns Republican in Tuesday Voting]. ''Iowa Public Radio''. Retrieved April 29, 2017.</ref> Branstad signed into law legislation massively expanding [[gun rights]], including enacting and expanding a stand-your-ground law, providing legal advantages to gun owners, and giving additional rights to minors, among other provisions.<ref>De Lea, Brittany (April 13, 2017). [http://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/2017/04/13/iowa-passes-massive-expansion-gun-rights-more-states-to-follow.html Iowa Passes Massive Expansion of Gun Rights, More States to Follow?]. ''Fox Business''. Retrieved April 29, 2017.</ref> He also signed [[voter ID legislation]] into law<ref>Klukowski, Ken (May 6, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/05/06/iowa-adopts-voter-id-law/ Iowa Adopts Voter-ID Law]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 6, 2017.</ref> and defunded [[Planned Parenthood]].<ref>Hellmann, Jessie (May 19, 2017). [http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/334199-four-planned-parenthood-clinics-to-close-in-iowa-after-defunding Four Planned Parenthood clinics to close in Iowa after defunding]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 20, 2017.</ref>

In 2017, with massive GOP majorities in the Iowa legislature,<ref>Russell, Joyce (November 9, 2016). [http://iowapublicradio.org/post/iowa-senate-turns-republican-tuesday-voting#stream/0 Iowa Senate Turns Republican in Tuesday Voting]. ''Iowa Public Radio''. Retrieved April 29, 2017.</ref> Branstad signed into law legislation massively expanding [[gun rights]], including enacting and expanding a stand-your-ground law, providing legal advantages to gun owners, and giving additional rights to minors, among other provisions.<ref>De Lea, Brittany (April 13, 2017). [http://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/2017/04/13/iowa-passes-massive-expansion-gun-rights-more-states-to-follow.html Iowa Passes Massive Expansion of Gun Rights, More States to Follow?]. ''Fox Business''. Retrieved April 29, 2017.</ref> He also signed [[voter ID legislation]] into law<ref>Klukowski, Ken (May 6, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/05/06/iowa-adopts-voter-id-law/ Iowa Adopts Voter-ID Law]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 6, 2017.</ref> and defunded [[Planned Parenthood]].<ref>Hellmann, Jessie (May 19, 2017). [https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/334199-four-planned-parenthood-clinics-to-close-in-iowa-after-defunding Four Planned Parenthood clinics to close in Iowa after defunding]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 20, 2017.</ref>

In May 2017, Branstad was confirmed as the U.S. Ambassador to [[China]].<ref>Carney, Jordain (May 22, 2017). [http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/334643-senate-votes-to-confirm-us-ambassador-to-china Senate votes to confirm US ambassador to China]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 23, 2017.</ref> He resigned as Iowa governor on May 24 to take up his new position.<ref name="Longest"/> Even before becoming the Ambassador to China, Branstad had a close relationship with [[Xi Jinping]].<ref>Wolfgang, Ben (May 29, 2017). [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/may/29/terry-branstad-new-ambassador-sent-in-to-smooth-ov/ New ambassador, top ethanol advocate sent in to smooth over Chinese crisis]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved May 29, 2017.</ref> He arrived in China in late-June 2017.<ref>Chin, Josh (June 28, 2017). [http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2017/06/28/terry-branstads-arrival-in-beijing-ends-u-s-embassys-months-limbo.html Terry Branstad's Arrival in Beijing Ends U.S. Embassy's Months of Limbo]. ''Fox Business''. Retrieved July 13, 2017.</ref>

In May 2017, Branstad was confirmed as the U.S. Ambassador to [[China]].<ref>Carney, Jordain (May 22, 2017). [https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/334643-senate-votes-to-confirm-us-ambassador-to-china Senate votes to confirm US ambassador to China]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 23, 2017.</ref> He resigned as Iowa governor on May 24 to take up his new position.<ref name="Longest"/> Even before becoming the Ambassador to China, Branstad had a close relationship with [[Xi Jinping]].<ref>Wolfgang, Ben (May 29, 2017). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/may/29/terry-branstad-new-ambassador-sent-in-to-smooth-ov/ New ambassador, top ethanol advocate sent in to smooth over Chinese crisis]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved May 29, 2017.</ref> He arrived in China in late-June 2017.<ref>Chin, Josh (June 28, 2017). [http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2017/06/28/terry-branstads-arrival-in-beijing-ends-u-s-embassys-months-limbo.html Terry Branstad's Arrival in Beijing Ends U.S. Embassy's Months of Limbo]. ''Fox Business''. Retrieved July 13, 2017.</ref>

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==References==