Corrine Brown

Corrine Brown, a Democrat, has represented the 3rd District of Florida in the U. S. House of Representatives since 1993.

Iraq War
Brown 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
Brown cosponsored H.R. 1312 (Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2005) on July 28, 2005.

FEC Investigations
A few weeks after becoming a member of the US House in 1993, the Federal Election Commission began investigating Brown because her former campaign treasurer claimed Brown had neglected to take action against an aide who had commited forgery, and Brown admitted to the FEC that her federal campaign reports contained several errors.

In 1996, another investigation responded to charges that Brown had improperly received and spent a $10,000 check from an account used by National Baptist Convention leader Henry J. Lyons for illegal activities. Brown admitted to receiving the check but denied she used the money improperly.

Ethics Complaints
On June 9, 1998, the Congressional Accountability Project filed an ethics complaint against Rep. Brown. The Project called for U.S. House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct to investigate several violations of House Rule 10. One of the complaints was that Foutanga Dit Babani Sissoko, a West African businessman, purchased a $50,000 Lexus for Brown's daughter after Brown lobbied Janet Reno to release him from prison through the use of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The Project held this violated the House gift rule, but Brown denied she had acted improperly. The congressional subcommittee investigating Brown found insufficient evidence to issue a Statement of Alleged Violation, but did believe she had acted with poor judgement in connection with Sissoko.

Somewhat less controversially, Brown hired jazz and gospel singer Roslyn Burrough as a "congressional outreach specialist". Burrough was paid $40,000 at taxpayer expense for two 12-week engagements.

Comments on Racism
On February 25, 2004 Representative Brown referred to the Bush Administration as a "racist" "bunch of white men" in a meeting with senior State Department officials and members of Congress. Assistant Secretary of State Roger Noriega, a Mexican American, deeply resented "being called a racist and branded a white man." Brown retorted to Noriega and Cuban-American Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart that "you all look alike to me". Brown apologized for her personal statements, but still contends that George W. Bush's involvement in the 2004 Haiti Rebellion was racist.

Electioneering
On the first day of early voting for the 2004 General Election, Brown, with several supporters, stood on the steps of the entrance of the Duval County Supervisor of Elections headquarters, an early voting site, and began passing out a "pseudo-ballot," directing people to vote for only Democratic candidates and Florida amendments that should pass. It was not until Noon that Brown and her supporters moved to the mandatory fifty feet away from the entrance. Brown claimed her intention had been to increase awareness of early voting, and that she had not knowingly violated the fifty feet rule. "First Coast News" Report
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Bio
Born November 11, 1946 in Jacksonville, Florida, Brown was educated at Florida A&M University where she received a bachelor's and master's degrees, and the University of Florida, where she was awarded an Education Specialist Degree. She received an Honorary Doctor of Law Degree from Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, and has been on the faculty at the latter two schools and at Florida Community College at Jacksonville. She served in the Florida House of Representatives for 10 years before entering government at the national level.

Brown has cosponsored legislation regarding civil rights and foreign relations. She has also participated with Michael Moore's "Slacker" college voter drive tour.

2006 elections
No major candidates announced their intentions to contest Brown’s seat in the November 2006 election. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006)

Money in politics
cid=N00002713&cycle=2008

Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
 * Subcommittee on Aviation
 * Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
 * Subcommittee on Railroads, Chair
 * House Committee on Veterans' Affairs

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

 * House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
 * Subcommittee on Aviation
 * Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
 * Subcommittee on Railroads - Ranking Minority Member
 * House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Health

Coalitions and Caucuses

 * Congressional Black Caucus
 * Congressional Progressive Caucus

Resources

 * Official website
 * Campaign website
 * bioguide.congress.gov article on Corrine Brown
 * Tallahassee Democrat: Feb. 26, 2004 Coast Guard stops boat carrying 21 Haitians
 * WJXT (Jacksonville): Corrine Brown Calls Administration's Policy On Haiti 'Racist'
 * Washington Post: Brown Sorry She Called Powell Aide 'White'
 * Capitol Hill Blue: Rep. Corrine Brown and her long trail of lies, deceit and unpaid bills
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Fla Politics