About Sen. Thomas Wyss
Elected
Indiana State Senate 1985-present
Allen County Council 1978-1985
Leadership
Homeland Security, Transportation & Veterans Affairs, Chair
Standing Committees
Appointments and Claims
Appropriations
Homeland Security, Transportation & Veterans Affairs, Chair
Transportation Subcommittee
Local Government
Rules & Legislative Procedure, RM
National Conference of State Legislatures
Co-chair, Homeland Security and Preparedness Task Force (Appointed 2007)
Previous Vice-Chair Transportation
National Homeland Security Consortium
Member
US Department of Justice
Member, GLOBAL Advisory Committee (Appointed 2006)
Member, Intelligence Working Group
US Department of Homeland Security
Member, Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Emergency Preparedness Task Force (Appointed 2010)
State and Local Officials Senior
Advisory Committee for Homeland Security Advisory Council (Appointed 2006)
Former Member, Domestic Nuclear Detection Work Group
Community Service
Legislative author and former member of the Indiana Commission on Hispanic and Latino Affairs
Indiana Commission on the Social Status of Black Males, Founding Member
Martin Luther King Jr. Indiana Holiday Commission, Member
Hoosier Burn Camp, Board Member
Northeast Indiana Burn Foundation, Board Member
Fort Wayne Medical Education Advisory Board, Member
Fort Wayne Crime Stoppers Advisory Board, Founding Member
GE Elfun Society
Knights of Columbus
National Guard Association of the U.S. and Indiana
Precinct Committeeman 1976-1986, 1993-1998
St. Vincent’s Catholic Church
Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust, Founding Member
Education
Purdue University graduate
Military
Lieutenant Colonel (retired), Indiana National Guard
National Guard Service 1966-1997
Occupation
GE Industrial Systems (retired)
Personal
Widower, Shirley; two daughters, four grandchildren
Counties Served
Portion of Allen County
Contact Information
Statehouse Mailing Address: 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204
Statehouse Phone: 800-382-9467 or 317-232-9451
Email: Senator.Wyss@iga.in.gov
Legislative Assistant
Maureen Gordin 317-232-9807
Major Legislation
Authored legislation to court monitor former habitual traffic offenders who regain driving privileges (2010)
Co-authored legislation to protect Hoosiers on the road by updating Indiana’s graduated driver’s license law and prohibiting individuals under 18 years of age from using cell phones while driving (2009)
Authored Indiana’s most comprehensive military veterans’ benefits legislation (2007)
Authored legislation creating a statewide study group for trauma care for all Hoosiers which resulted in the creation of the 2010 Indiana Commission on Trauma Care (2006)
Co-authored legislation which strengthened Indiana’s laws against sex offenders and child solicitation (2005, 2006)
Authored Indiana’s anti-bullying legislation (2005)
Seat belt law requiring everyone in Indiana (including pick-up truck drivers) to wear a seat belt (2007)
Major veterans benefit legislation (2007)
Authored Legislation to create Indiana Intelligence Fusion Center (2006)
Authored Legislation for creation of Indiana Department ofHomeland Security (2005)
Child restraint systems law (2004)
Drunk driving law establishing .08 as legal limit (2001)
Recent Honors
Ranked "State's Most Pro-Job Legislator" by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce (2010)
“Legislator of the Year” award from the Indiana Association of Police Chiefs (2010)
“Legislator of the Year” award from Indiana Veteran’s of Foreign Wars (2010)
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Award for Public Service (2009)
National MADD Award (2008)
Governor’s Council Award (2008)
Indiana Fire Chiefs Association President’s Award (2007)
"Legislator of the Year" award from Indiana Disabled American Veterans (2007)
"Gus Grissom Award" (2007) from Association of Consulting Engineering Companies
Child Safety Advocate Award (2004) by Indiana Safe Kids Coalition
Career Community Service Award (2004) from Indiana Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics
