Sam Farr

Sam Farr, a Democrat, has represented the 17th District of California in the U. S. House of Representatives since 1993.

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

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

Support for gun control
Farr cosponsored H.R. 1312 (Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2005) on July 14, 2005.

Crticism
In the February 19, 2003, edition of the Santa Cruz Metro, the Santa Cruz Peace Coalition issued a press release, which was quoted in the Nüz column:

"Rep. Farr has not been an ally in many of our struggles: he supported the bombing in Serbia, he continues to support Plan Columbia [sic], and he votes Yes for most military appropriations."

All of which apparently led the California Peace Action to give Sam a C+ on his voting record, which they claim is considerably worse than that of other Bay Area reps.

"His support for NAFTA and other 'free trade' measures, meanwhile, demonstrates that Rep. Farr does not mind waging economic and environmental warfare on the world's most desperate people," continued the release, which ended by extending an invite to meet Sam "to discuss his voting record. We hope that soon he will join with us in our efforts to silence forever the guns of empire and extend the hand of peace."

Similar and more extensive criticisms were made by Joe Williams and Ray Glock-Gruenich, the Congressional nominees of the Peace & Freedom and the Green Party, respectively, during their campaigns for Congress in 2004.

Biography
Farr was born July 4, 1941 in San Francisco, California. He was educated at Willamette University, Santa Clara University, and the Monterey Institute of International Studies, served in the Peace Corps, and was a staff member of the California State Assembly, a member of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, and a member of the California State Assembly before entering the House.

He recently took a leadership role for the House Democrats in opposing the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) because he did not think it had good environmental and worker protections.

Representative Farr voted against the invasion of Iraq and is a vocal voice against the Iraq War.

Representative Farr is a staunch liberal who voted against the Patriot Act. He is pro-choice, pro medical marijuana and against immigration reduction and voter identification initiatives.

2006 elections
In 2006, the Republicans nominated Anthony R. De Maio to challenge Farr in his November 2006 bid for reelection. In addition, Christopher Lee Brozda entered the race as an independent candidate. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Farr retained his seat.

Money in Politics
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Committees and Affiliations

 * International Advisory Board, Center for Nonproliferation Studies

Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Appropriations
 * Subcommittee on Agriculture
 * Subcommittee on Homeland Security
 * Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans’ Affairs

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

 * House Committee on Appropriations
 * Subcommittee on Agriculture Rural Development Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies
 * Subcommittee on Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies

Coalitions and Caucuses (selected)

 * Bi-Partisan Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus
 * Congressional Human Rights Caucus
 * Congressional Internet Caucus
 * Congressional Organic Caucus (Co-Chair)
 * Congressional Progressive Caucus
 * Congressional Rural Housing Caucus
 * Congressional Travel & Tourism Caucus (Co-Chair)
 * House Army Caucus
 * House Oceans Caucus (Co-Chair)
 * House Rural Health Care Coalition
 * U.S.-Philippines Caucus

Resources

 * Official website
 * Campaign website
 * Peace Corps biography
 * Open Secrets: California District 17 - 2006 congressional races database

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Tiger Beat: Music, Culture, and Politics