Thomas H. Allen is a former U.S. Congressman from Maine. During his 12 years in the House (1997-2009), he served on the Energy and Commerce Committee and wrote important health care and ocean acidification legislation. He helped negotiate the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act in 2006. He also co-founded the House Oceans Caucus to raise congressional awareness about the need for a coordinated global oceans policy.

Before his election to the House in 1996, Mr. Allen practiced law in Portland for 19 years. He served on the Portland City Council, including one term as mayor.  After leaving Congress he was, from 2009 to 2017, the President and CEO of the Association of American Publishers (AAP), the national trade association of the U.S. book publishing industry. Mr. Allen has earned degrees from Bowdoin College, Oxford University (as a Rhodes Scholar) and Harvard Law School. He is retired and lives in Portland with his wife Diana.

Professional Skills 

• Public Policy
• Environmental Policy
• Health Care Policy

Professional Accomplishments

• 6 terms in U.S. Congress focused on health care and environmental issues
• CEO of leading public policy advocacy organization for U.S. book publishers for 8 years
• Author, Dangerous Convictions: What’s Really Wrong with the U.S. Congress (Oxford U. Press 2013)

Specific Area of Interest

The impact of climate change on the ocean, marine life and coastal communities; how we can cope with the greatest threat to the health of planet Earth.

Personal Connection to the Ocean

I grew up in Portland with the ocean only minutes away from home and school.  I did my best to represent in Congress those people and communities whose lives and fortunes were irrevocable tied to the health of the ocean.