Representative Anthony Charles Beilenson

Anthony Charles Beilenson (October 26, 1932 – March 5, 2017) was an American lawyer and Democratic politician who served as a Representative from California in the United States Congress from 1977 to 1997. Over the course of ten consecutive terms in the House of Representatives, he represented Southern California and contributed to the legislative process during a significant period in American history, participating in the democratic process and representing the interests of his constituents.

Beilenson was born in New Rochelle, New York, on October 26, 1932, and grew up in an upscale suburb of New York City. He attended Harvard University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1954 and a Juris Doctor degree in 1957. Following his graduation from law school, he relocated to Los Angeles, California, where he entered private practice and became a partner in a Beverly Hills law firm that represented clients in the film industry, gaining experience in both corporate and entertainment law.

Beilenson’s political career began in the California State Legislature. He was elected to the California State Assembly in 1963 and served there until 1967. He then won election to the California State Senate, where he served from 1967 to 1976. During his tenure in the state legislature, he became known for his work on health care and social policy. He authored the “Beilenson Act,” which requires public hearings whenever hospitals in California are closed or reduce services, thereby ensuring community input in critical health care decisions. His most noteworthy legislative accomplishment at the state level was the 1967 Therapeutic Abortion Act, one of the most liberal abortion laws in the nation at that time, which legalized abortion when a woman’s mental or physical health was at risk or when pregnancy resulted from rape or incest. In 1968 he sought higher office as a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate, but was unsuccessful, losing the primary to Alan Cranston.

In 1976, Beilenson was elected to the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat from Southern California, beginning his congressional service in January 1977. He served ten terms in Congress, remaining in the House until his retirement in 1997. His service in Congress spanned two decades marked by major domestic and international developments, and he played an active role in the legislative process. Beilenson served on the influential House Rules Committee, which oversees the terms of debate and consideration for most legislation on the House floor. He also held a key national security post as Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence from 1989 to 1991, where he was involved in oversight of the intelligence community at the end of the Cold War. In addition to his formal committee roles, he was a member of the ReFormers Caucus of Issue One, reflecting his interest in government reform and the integrity of democratic institutions.

Beilenson’s long record of public service was recognized in various ways during and after his congressional career. In 1991, he and his wife, Dolores, were honored by the Jewish National Fund, San Fernando Valley Region, in recognition of his career of service as a public official and her work as co-chair of the Congressional Wives for Soviet Jewry, highlighting their shared commitment to human rights and the Jewish community. In 1998, in tribute to his decades of community and governmental service to California, Lake Balboa Park in Van Nuys was renamed “Anthony C. Beilenson Park.” The park, located along Balboa Boulevard, is an 80-acre water recreation facility centered on a 27-acre artificial lake supplied with reclaimed water from the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant, and includes a universally accessible playground, underscoring his association with environmental and community amenities.

Anthony Charles Beilenson died at his home in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles on March 5, 2017, after suffering a heart attack. He was 84 years old. His career in law and public office, spanning service in the California State Assembly, the California State Senate, and the United States House of Representatives, left a lasting imprint on health policy, reproductive rights, intelligence oversight, and civic life in California and the nation.