Representative Norman Edward D’Amours

Norman Edward D’Amours (born October 14, 1937) is an American lawyer and Democratic politician who was a five-term member of the United States House of Representatives from New Hampshire from 1975 to 1985. He was born in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts, the son of Albert and Edna Delvina (LaPlante) D’Amours. Raised in a Roman Catholic environment, he attended parochial school in Holyoke before continuing his secondary education at a high school in Worcester, Massachusetts.

D’Amours pursued higher education at Assumption College in Worcester, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1960. He then studied law at Boston University School of Law, earning an LL.B. in 1963. That same year he was admitted to the bar in Massachusetts, and in 1964 he was admitted to the bar in New Hampshire. He was subsequently admitted to practice in the District of Columbia as well. In addition to beginning his legal career, D’Amours served in the United States Army Reserve, combining military service with the early stages of his professional life.

After entering private practice as an attorney in New Hampshire, D’Amours quickly moved into public legal service. He served as assistant attorney general for the state of New Hampshire from 1966 to 1969, where he gained experience in state-level law enforcement and legal administration. He then became city prosecutor of Manchester, New Hampshire, holding that position from 1970 to 1972. These roles established his reputation in New Hampshire’s legal and political circles and provided a platform for his subsequent entry into elective office.

D’Amours was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives from New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District and served five consecutive terms in Congress. His service spanned the 94th, 95th, 96th, 97th, and 98th Congresses, from January 3, 1975, to January 3, 1985. Serving during a significant period in American history marked by economic challenges, energy concerns, and shifting foreign policy, he participated actively in the legislative process and represented the interests of his New Hampshire constituents. During his tenure in the House, he was particularly engaged with issues related to banking and finance, contributing to debates and legislation affecting the nation’s financial system and regulatory structure.

In 1984, at the conclusion of his fifth House term, D’Amours sought higher office and ran for the United States Senate from New Hampshire as the Democratic nominee. He challenged Republican incumbent Gordon J. Humphrey in the general election but was defeated, receiving 41 percent of the vote to Humphrey’s 59 percent. Following this Senate race, D’Amours left the House of Representatives, and he was succeeded as Representative for New Hampshire’s 1st District by Republican Bob Smith.

After his congressional service, D’Amours remained involved in public affairs and national policy, particularly in the area of financial regulation. President Bill Clinton appointed him chairman of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), the independent federal agency responsible for chartering and supervising federal credit unions and insuring savings in federal and most state-chartered credit unions. He was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate and served as NCUA chairman from 1993 to 2000. During his seven-year tenure, the agency exercised oversight over approximately 11,000 institutions managing about $400 billion in assets, and D’Amours played a central role in shaping regulatory policy for the credit union industry.

In later years, D’Amours continued to be active in national politics and public policy from the private sector. He became a partner in the Washington, D.C., firm Dierman, Wortley, Zola & Associates, where he drew on his legal background and extensive experience in Congress and federal regulation. He has remained engaged in political and policy discussions, particularly those touching on financial services and consumer protection.

Norman Edward D’Amours married Helen Elizabeth Manning, and the couple had three children: Susan, Danielle, and Norman. He has made his home in the Washington metropolitan area, residing in Arlington, Virginia, while maintaining his long-standing connections to New Hampshire and his continued involvement in national political and legal affairs.