Paul Sarbanes

Paul Spyros Sarbanes, a Democrat, was a senator representing Maryland from 1977 to 2007. He opted to retire rather than seek reelection in 2006.

Iraq War
Sarbanes voted against the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq in Oct. 2002.

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

Background
Sarbanes was born February 3, 1933 on Maryland's Eastern Shore in the city of Salisbury. His parents were immigrants from Laconia, Greece.

A graduate of Wicomico High School in Salisbury, Sarbanes received an academic and athletic scholarship to Princeton University, earning a bachelor's degree in 1954. He was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship that brought him to Balliol College in Oxford, England, graduating first in his class in 1957. Sarbanes then returned to the United States and attended Harvard Law School.

After graduating in 1960, he clerked for Federal Judge Morris A. Soper before entering private practice with two Baltimore, Maryland law firms.

In 1966, Sarbanes ran for the Maryland House of Delegates in Baltimore City and won. During his four years as a State delegate in Annapolis, he served on both the Judiciary and the Ways and Means Committees.

Congressional career
He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1970 and was reelected in 1972 and 1974. While in the House, Sarbanes served on the House Committee on the Judiciary, the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, and the House Select Committee on House Reorganization. It was during his service in the House, in August 1974, that Sarbanes was selected by his Democratic colleagues on the House Watergate Committee to introduce the first Article of Impeachment, for obstruction of justice, against President Richard M. Nixon.

Senate Career
In 1976, Sarbanes was elected to the Senate and reelected every six years since. In 2002, Sarbanes was the Senate sponsor of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which reformed federal securities laws in the wake of the 2002 corporate accounting scandals.

2006 Elections
On March 11, 2005, Sarbanes, the longest serving senator in Maryland history, announced at a news conference his decision not to seek re-election in 2006. Democrats nominated Ben Cardin and Republicans nominated Michael Steele to contest the November 2006 election for his vacant seat. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006)

Money in politics
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Committees in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * Joint Economic Committee
 * Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs - Ranking Minority Member
 * Senate Committee on the Budget
 * Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
 * Subcommittee on African Affairs
 * Subcommittee on International Economic Policy Export and Trade Promotion - Ranking Minority Member
 * Subcommittee on European Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs
 * Director of the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute

Coalitions and Caucuses

 * Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues
 * Co-Chair, Congressional Fire Services Caucus
 * Democratic Steering and Coordination Committee
 * Chair, Ranking Member Outreach
 * Senate Steel Caucus

Boards and other Affiliations

 * Member, Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation.
 * Director, National Endowment for Democracy

Resources

 * Official website
 * Technorati Search: Paul Sarbanes
 * Google News Search: Paul Sarbanes
 * Yahoo! News Search: Paul Sarbanes
 * Power Trips: How much does Paul Sarbanes travel?
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Articles

 * How Congress Rode a Storm to Corporate Reform by David S. Hilzenrath, Jonathan Weisman and Jim VandeHei, Washington Post, 7/28/02
 * Sarbanes to Resign, End Brilliant, Quiet Career by Charles Babington, Washington Post, 3/12/05

Contact
DC Office: 309 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510-2002 Phone:202-224-4524 Fax:202-224-1651 Web Email Website

District Office- Baltimore: Tower 1, Suite 1710 100 South Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21201 Phone: 410-962-4436 TTYD Number: 410-962-3210 Fax: 410-962-4156

District Office- Bryans Road: 2025 Westview Place Post Office Box 119 Bryans Road, MD 20616 Phone: 301-283-0947 Fax: 301-375-8914

District Office- Cumberland: 113 Baltimore Street, Suite 201 Cumberland, MD 21502 Phone: 301-724-0695 Fax: 301-724-4660

District Office- Salisbury: 110 West Church Street, Suite D Salisbury, MD 21801 Phone: 410-860-2131 Fax: 410-860-2134

District Office- Silver Spring: 1110 Bonifant Street, Suite 450 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Phone: 301-589-0797 Fax: 301-589-0598