Peter DeFazio

Peter Anthony DeFazio has been a Democratic U.S. Representative, representing Oregon's 4th Congressional District, since 1987.

Iraq War
DeFazio voted against the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War.

Support For Iraq Resolution
In February of 2007 Representative Peter DeFazio stated his support of a House resolution, H. Con. Res. 63, opposing the president's proposal for a troop surge in Iraq. In a speech he expressed disapproval with President Bush’s strategy in Iraq, which he claims is a “failed strategy that hurts our troops.” In the same speech he denounced the widely held Republican view that “if we don't fight them there, we will have to fight them here.” DeFazio pointed out that people can support the troops while at the same time opposing failed Iraq policies. He voiced a belief that all American troops should be brought home within a year of that date because “doing so would boost the Iraqi government's legitimacy and claim to self-rule, and force the Iraqi government to take responsibility for itself and its citizens.”

On February 16, 2007 DeFazio voted for the resolution which passed by 246 to 182 vote.

Environmental record
For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Budget Priorities
In May of 2006 DeFazio voted against a House budget resolution that would continue tax cuts, allow the spending of social-security surplus, and fail to sufficiently fund what he considers key priorities, such as health care, education, and Homeland Security. The resolution passed which DeFazio believes “reveals the true priorities of the Republican majority in Congress."

In February of 2007, DeFazio and Representative Greg Walden (R-Oregon) urged the Appropriations Committee to fund a one year extension on the county payments program, also known as the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000. Last year, the county payments program provided nearly $280 million for Oregon counties for services like schools, roads and law enforcement. The country payments program was granted a one-year reauthorization.

Telecommunications
DeFazio voted against a telecommunications bill that favored telecom giants over small businesses and lacked adequate consumer protections. The Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement (COPE) Act of 2006, passed by a vote of 321 to 101. An amendment offered by Representative Ed Markey, which would have ensured "net neutrality" in the bill, failed. DeFazio voted for the Markey amendment. Net neutrality is the idea that small and independent web sites should open just as easily on people's computers as sites run by large corporations do. Also the bill would grant telecom companies a national franchise, meaning that companies would not be required to provide cable TV service in rural areas or broaden service beyond the most profitable areas in cities. DeFazio voiced his opinion plainly, saying that the “only people it benefits are the bigwigs at telecom companies, who will now be able to legally discriminate against folks who cannot afford to pay higher rates for services which they now receive for free, or who happen to live in rural areas.”

Abortion
Peter DeFazio has an extremely Liberal voting record concerning abortion and related issues. He voted no on all acts attempting to prohibit partial birth abortions, those restrict the inter-state transportation of minors to obtain an abortion, and those providing funding to health care facilities which fail to offer information on abortions. He voted yes on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines and on allowing human embryonic stem cell research. NARAL has given him a rating of 100%, reflecting his voting record.

Bio
DeFazio was born May 27, 1947 in Needham, Massachusetts. He served in the United States Air Force from 1967 to 1971. He earned a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from Tufts University in 1969 and an M.A. in Public Administration and Gerontology from the University of Oregon, 1977. He went on to work as a gerontologist

From 1977 to 1982 DeFazio worked for U.S. Rep. James H. Weaver (D-OR). He was elected as a Lane County, Oregon commissioner in 1983 and served as chairman from 1985 to 1986.

DeFazio was first elected to the U.S. Congress in 1986. He is dean of the Oregon House delegation, and represents southwest Oregon from Corvallis in the north, down to the California border-from the west coast to the Cascade Mountains.

In 1995, DeFazio ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senator from Oregon in a special primary. He served as an Oregonian delegate to the 2000 Democratic National Convention.

2006 elections
In 2006, Republicans nominated James Lee Feldkamp to face DeFazio in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006)  DeFazio retained his seat.

Money in politics
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Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
 * Subcommittee on Aviation
 * Subcommittee on Highways Transit and Pipelines - Chair
 * Subcommittee on Railroads
 * House Committee on Natural Resources
 * Subcommitee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands
 * House Committee on Homeland Security
 * Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and Oversight
 * Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * House Committee on Homeland Security
 * Subcommittee on Economic Security Infrastructure Protection and Cybersecurity
 * House Committee on Resources
 * Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health
 * House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
 * Subcommittee on Aviation
 * Subcommittee on Highways Transit and Pipelines - Ranking Minority Member
 * Subcommittee on Railroads

Resources

 * Official website
 * Campaign website
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Chuck Currie, M.Div.
 * Oregon League of Conservation Voters
 * Loaded Orygun
 * Worldwide Pablo
 * The Archimedes Movement
 * Rogue Pundit
 * NewWest.net -- A Refreshing, new kind of journalism.

Articles & Statements by Peter DeFazio

 * Statement: Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (HJRES 114)].