Lynn Woolsey

Lynn C. Woolsey, a Democrat, has represented the 6th District of California in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1993. The district takes in all of Marin and most of Sonoma Counties.

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

Woolsey is an outspoken opponent of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She has take an active role in calling for troops to be withdrawn from Iraq. She led 15 Members of Congress in writing a letter to President Bush on January 12, 2005, calling for U.S. troops to be withdrawn from Iraq. She also was the first Member of Congress to call for a troop withdrawal, when she introduced H.Con.Res. 35 on January 26, 2005.

In 2005, Woolsey offered an amendment (H.AMDT.214) to the Fiscal Year 2006 Defense Department Appropriations bill. It requested that President Bush develop a plan to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq, and submit it to the congressional defense committees. While it set no specific timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, the amendment was defeated by a large margin on the floor. Critics, consisting predominately of congressional Republicans, argued that it would strengthen the ongoing insurgency and send a message that the U.S. was not willing to fight to defend the new democracy in Iraq. Also, some claimed it would weaken the resolve of the Americans forces fighting in Iraq.

Following an announcement in May 2007 by leaders in both Houses that they would introduce funding bills for the Iraq war without timetables for troop withdrawals, Rep. Woolsey, a fervent opponent of the war, stated, “The anti-war Democrats have reached their tipping point...It’s going to take Republican votes to pass it.”

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

Letter for "leniency"
On December 2, 2003, Woolsey wrote a letter on behalf of Stewart Pearson, the son of an employee in her office, who pleaded guilty to rape. In a letter written on her official congressional stationery, she asked the judge to consider mitigating cirumstances and show leniency. The judge in the case ignored the letter, and sentenced Pearson to eight years in prison, the maximum allowed under the plea bargain. She has since apologized for writing the letter.

Biography
Woolsey was born November 3, 1937 in Seattle, Washington, was educated at the University of Washington and the University of San Francisco, and was a human resources manager and personnel service owner, a teacher at the College of Marin and the Dominican University of San Rafael, and a member of the Petaluma, California City Council before entering the House.

In 1992 Woolsey ran to to succeed Congresswoman Barbara Boxer who successfully made a bid for the Senate. Woolsey, as the only Sonoma County candidate, defeated Republican Assemblyman Bill Filante, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor and was unable to campaign much. She hasn't faced serious opposition since.

Congresswoman Woolsey is the only member of the House of Representatives to have ever been on welfare.

2006 elections
In 2006, the Republicans nominated Todd L. Hopper, and the Libertarian Party nominated Richard W. Friesen to face Woolsey in her November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Woolsey retained her seat.

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

 * House Committee on Education and Labor
 * Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education
 * Subcommittee on Workforce Protections - Chair
 * House Committee on Foreign Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations
 * House Committee on Science and Technology
 * Subcommittee on Environment and Energy

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

 * House Committee on Education and the Workforce
 * Subcommittee on Education Reform - Ranking Minority Member
 * Subcommittee on Workforce Protections
 * House Committee on Science
 * Subcommittee on Energy

Coalitions and Caucuses

 * Member, Budget Committee, 1992-1998
 * Afterschool Caucus
 * Child Care Caucus
 * Congressional Friends of Animals
 * Congressional Human Rights Caucus
 * Congressional Task Force on International HIV/AIDS
 * Chair, Democratic Caucus Task Force on Children and Families
 * Co Chair, Democratic Caucus Task Force on Welfare Reform
 * Co Chair, Education Task Force of the California Delegation Bipartisan Caucus
 * Intelligent Transportation Systems Caucus
 * International Workers Rights Caucus
 * Livable Communities Task Force
 * Founding Member, Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus
 * Co Chair, Progressive Caucus
 * Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus
 * Steering Committee

Boards and other Affiliations

 * National Organization for Women
 * Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women.
 * Host Committee 2005, Letelier-Moffitt Human Rights Award
 * Policy Council, Center for Women Policy Studies

Articles and resources

 * Official website
 * Campaign website
 * Woolsey For Peace
 * Out of Iraq: By Reps. Lynn Woolsey & Barbara Lee
 * A Progressive State of the Union By Barbara Lee and Lynn Woolsey
 * The Progressive Promise By Rep. Lynn Woolsey
 * California Rep. Lynn Woolsey Receives Peace Award from Christian Quaker Lobby
 * Metroactive: Lynn Woolsey and the American way
 * American Prospect: Communication Breakdown by Rep. Lynn Woolsey
 * Statment Opposing Military Action in Iraq Rep. Lynn Woolsey
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Calitics
 * Politicks isn't Pretty
 * Tiger Beat: Music, Culture, and Politics