Devin Nunes

Devin Nunes, a Republican, has represented the 21st District of California in the United States House of Representatives since 2003.

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

Biography
Nunes was born October 1, 1973 in California, educated at the College of the Sequoias and the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He was a farmer, businessman and Director of Rural Development with the United States Department of Agriculture before entering the House.

Nunes defeated former Fresno Mayor Jim Patterson and state assemblyman Mike Briggs in the 2002 Republican Primary.

2006 elections
In 2006, the Democrats nominated Ernest Steven Haze, and the Green Party nominated John Roger Miller to face Nunes in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Nunes retained his seat.

Money in Politics
cid=N00026341&cycle=2008

"Pork barrel" spending
Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW), a group that advocates for lower federal spending, named Rep. Nunes and Rep. Lois Capps (D,CA-23) "Porker of the Month" in February 2008 for "attempting to impede the recovery of hundreds of millions in over-payments to Medicare providers in the state of California."

According to CAGW, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) established Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) to help "in uncovering both over and under payments to hospitals and healthcare providers". In California, RACs have uncovered $120 million in over-payments to Medicare providers.

CAGW specifically cites H.R. 4105, co-sponsored by Capps and Nunes, as a bill that "would place a one-year moratorium on the RAC program." In effect, this provision would allow for Californian hospitals to hold on to the over-payed money. However, H.R. 4105 was never passed by Congress.

Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Ways and Means
 * Subcommittee on Oversight
 * Subcommittee on Social Security

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

 * House Committee on Ways and Means
 * Subcommittee on Human Resources
 * Subcommittee on Oversight

Coalitions and Caucuses

 * Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues
 * Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine
 * Congressional Farmer Cooperative Caucus
 * Vice Chair, Congressional Hispanic Caucus
 * Congressional Wine Caucus
 * Congressional Working Group to Combat Government Waste
 * Prescription Drug Action Team
 * Republican Main Street Partnership

Boards and other Affiliations

 * Trustee, College of the Sequoias, 1996-2002.

More Background Data

 * 2006 California CD 21 Candidate List from VIS

Articles and resources

 * Official website
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Tiger Beat: Music, Culture, and Politics