Sam Farr

Infobox_Congressman
name =Sam Farr


date of birth= birth date and age|1941|07|04
place of birth= San Francisco, California
occupation=political assistant
alma_mater=Willamette University, Santa Clara University
state = California
district = 17th
term_start = June 8 1993
preceded = Leon Panetta
succeeded = Incumbent
party = Democrat
religion = Episcopalian
spouse = Shary Baldwin Farr
children = Jessica Farr
residence = Carmel, California

Samuel S. Farr (born July 4 1941), American politician, has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1993, representing the 17th District of California ( [http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/ca17_109.gifmap] ). He was elected to Congress in a 1993 special election when longtime Democratic Rep. Leon Panetta resigned to become President Bill Clinton's Chief of Staff.

Early life and family

Farr, a fifth-generation Californian, was born in San Francisco, California and grew up in Carmel, where he still lives. His father, Fred Farr, was a California state senator for many years. Farr was educated at Willamette University, Santa Clara University and the Monterey Institute of International Studies.

He is married to Shary and has one daughter, Jessica. He is grandfather to two: Ella and Zach.

Peace Corps service

Farr joined the Peace Corps in 1964 and served for two years as a volunteer in Colombia. He spent his time in a poor barrio near Medellin, teaching community development skills. [ [http://www.worldviewmagazine.com/issues/article.cfm?id=233&issue=50 "A Congressman finds a model for urban recovery"] . "Worldview Magazine, Winter 2007.]

While serving in Colombia, Farr’s mother died from cancer. Following her death, his father visited with Farr’s sisters. While riding horses, one of his sisters was thrown and hit her head. She died on the operating table in a Colombian hospital.

Since his Peace Corps service ended, Farr has visited Colombia several times. He took his wife for their honeymoon and has returned several other times for both personal and official business. During a trip in 2007, Farr spoke in front of the Colombian Congress and was awarded the Orden del Congresso de Colombia. [Colombian Senate [http://abc.senado.gov.co/prontus_senado/site/artic/20070828/pags/20070828184936.html "Sam Farr, congresista demócrata de E. U. recibe condecoración del Senado"] . "August 28, 2007."]

tate and local political career

Farr’s public service career began in the California Assembly, where he worked as a staffer on budget issues for a decade. In 1975, he ran for and won a seat on the Monterey County Board of Supervisors.

In 1980 he was elected to the California State Assembly, where he became a champion for the organics industry and wrote one of the country’s strictest oil spill liability laws. He served in the Assembly until his election to Congress in 1993.

House of Representatives career

Farr was elected to the House of Representatives in 1993 through a special election when former Congressman Leon Panetta resigned to become President Clinton’s chief of staff. Farr was elected to his first full term in 1994.

Legislation

*Farr introduced the “Oceans Conservation, Education, and National Strategy for the 21st Century Act” ( [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:hr21: H.R. 21] ) in January 2007. The bill would consolidate national management of oceans, creating a system of regional governance; make the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration the chief oceans agency; creates an ocean advisor in the president’s Cabinet; creates regional and national ocean advisory committees; and create an Oceans and Great Lakes Conservation Trust Fund. It received a subcommittee markup in April 2008 and passed by a vote of 11-3. [ [http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS142606+06-Mar-2008+MW20080306] "Ocean Champions Community Pushes for OCEANS-21 Bill," "Reuters".]
*Farr's "Reconstruction and Stabilization Civilian Management Act of 2008" ( [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:hr21: H.R. 1084] ) was approved by the House but stalled in the Senate. The bill would create capacity within the State Department to quickly deploy civilian expertise and coordinate the government response to crises abroad. President [George W. Bush] supports the program and approved initial creation of the group. Farr participated in a rollout of the group with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in July 2008. [ [http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2008/07/107083.htm] "Remarks At the Civilian Response Corps Rollout," State Department.]

Caucus work

Farr is active in several congressional caucuses, including the House Oceans Caucus, the Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus, the Congressional Organic Caucus and the Unexploded Ordnance Caucus. [ [http://www.farr.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=147&Itemid=39] Congressman Farr's Caucuses]

He serves as co-chair of the Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus with Rep. [Jon Porter] (D-Nev.). Farr has taken an active role in supporting the travel industry, boosting membership in the caucus to more than 100 and hosting caucus events, including a June 2008 gathering of travel executives and congressional leaders, the Economic Roundtable: Travel’s Significance to the U.S. Economy. [ [http://www.politickernv.com/jkcooper/1942/porter-farr-host-travel-and-tourism-economic-roundtable] "Porter, Farr Host Travel and Tourism Economic Roundtable."]

Farr is also active as co-chair of the House Oceans Caucus, which he co-chairs with four other members of Congress. Each year the caucus helps sponsor Capitol Hill Oceans Week, known as CHOW, which draws hundreds of ocean experts from across the country. He is also co-chair of the Congressional Organic Caucus and the Unexploded Ordnance Caucus.

Other leadership positions

Farr serves on the [http://hdac.house.gov House Democracy Assistance Commission] , a group established by the House of Representatives mandated to work with emerging democracies throughout the world. The group engages in “peer-to-peer cooperation to build technical expertise in partner legislatures that will enhance accountability, transparency, legislative independence, access to information, and government oversight.” [ [http://hdac.house.gov/] ]

Farr is also the former chairman of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation, the largest state delegation in Congress.

Committee Assignments

*Appropriations Committee
**Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
**Subcommittee on Homeland Security
**Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies

Positions on domestic issues

*Oceans. Farr is a proponent of ocean protection and conservation. In addition to H.R. 21, Farr has introduced the Southern Sea Otter Recovery and Research Act ( [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:hr3639: H.R. 3639] ) and the Clean Cruise Ship Act ( [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:hr6434: H.R. 6434] ).
*Gas prices. Farr opposes opening new areas to offshore drilling, instead supporting the drilling of convert|68000000|acre|km2 of federally owned land already under lease, including convert|33000000|acre|km2 on the Outer Continental Shelf. Farr also supports ending subsidies to oil companies. [ [http://thecalifornian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080731/NEWS01/807310304/1002] "Poll: Residents back oil drilling off state's coast," Salinas Californian"]
*Base Realignment and Closure. Farr has worked closely with Central Coast cities and the Army on the reuse of the former Fort Ord. He was integral in securing $29 million for the creation of California State University-Monterey Bay. He also played a role in making sure land on the former installation included significant amounts of affordable housing.
*Immigration. Farr supports comprehensive immigration reform that includes a guest worker program for farmworkers, allowing undocumented students to remain in the country (known as the DREAM Act), and deporting undocumented felons in U.S. jails. [ [http://www.farr.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=418] Immigration (Summer 2008 E-Newsletter)] His Numbers USA immigration report card grade is D-. [cite web|url=http://grades.betterimmigration.com/delegation.php3?District=CA|title=Report Cards for the California Delegation to the U.S. Congress|accessdate=2008-09-29]

ICE comment

On February 26, 2008, at the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, Farr said "the public image of (the ICE agents)" has become "not (a) compassionate law enforcement agency but essentially a Gestapo-type agency that is knocking down doors"cite web|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/centralcoast/ci_8434872?nclick_check=1|title=Salinas lawmaker attacked over Gestapo remark|accessdate=2008-03-07] when conducting raids on illegal immigrants. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Julie Myers responded to Farr's comments by saying, "We are not the Gestapo. The men and women of this agency have a very difficult job...and I think they do that with distinction and great honor."cite web|url=http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=39368&dcn=todaysnews|title=House panel urges faster deportation of jailed illegal immigrants|accessdate=2008-02-26] . Farr replied that he knew and appreciated this, but reiterated that there is "there is a very ill will public opinion in the counties (he) represent(s), about ICE".

H.Res. 333

On July 12 2007, Farr joined 11 cosponsors (18 as of 8/15/07) of H.Res. 333, introduced in Congress, that lays out three articles of impeachment against Vice President Dick Cheney. The bill maintains that the vice president purposely manipulated the intelligence process to deceive the citizens and Congress of the United States (1) by fabricating a threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and (2) about an alleged relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda in order to justify the use of the United States Armed Forces against the nation of Iraq in a manner damaging to our national security interests and (3) that Cheney has openly threatened aggression against the Republic of Iran absent any real threat to the United States. (see http://thomas.loc.gov for more details on H.Res. 333)

"Many residents in the Central Coast support the removal of Cheney from office, and I am proud to represent their values in Congress," Farr said in a brief statement [ [http://www.montereyherald.com/ci_6355617?nclick_check=1] ] .

Positions on foreign affairs

*Iraq. Farr has consistently opposed the war in Iraq. He voted against the “Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002” that started the war. Farr is a cosponsor on several bills including [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:hres1329: H.Res. 1329] , which supports a timetable for troop withdrawal, and [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:hr5626: H.R. 5626] and [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:hr4959: H.R 4959] , which call for congressional approval for any long-term agreements with Iraq. [ [http://www.farr.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=411 Iraq and Iran (Summer 2008 E-Newsletter)] ]
*Iran. Farr has been vocal in efforts to prevent military action against Iran. He is a cosponsor of H. Con. Res 33, which would require congressional approval before any incursion into Iran, and [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:hr3119: H.R. 3119] , a bill to prohibit the use of funds for military operations in Iran.
*Colombia. Farr has parlayed his experience in Colombia to become a congressional leader on Colombian affairs. He was an active supporter of rebalancing funds dedicated to Plan Colombia, the U.S. anti-drug effort, to include more support for economic redevelopment efforts. He has hosted a wide range of Colombian political leaders in his Washington office including current President Álvaro Uribe and former President Andrés Pastrana.

Awards

On July 30 2007, Farr received the Senator David Pryor Special Achievement Award for his ongoing advocacy for communities with military bases presented by the Association of Defense Communities. The award is given to an individual who advocates for communities with active or closed military bases. "Communities with active or closed military bases face many special concerns, from land use to economic development to ordinance disposal," said Farr. "I have been lucky enough to assist in the transition efforts at Fort Ord, and that experience has helped me push those issues locally and nationwide." As vice-chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Farr successfully increased clean-up funds from $221 million to $271 million for military bases closed prior to 2005 [http://thecalifornian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070730/NEWS01/70730017/1002] .

Miscellaneous

*Rep. Farr is a super delegate in the 2008 Presidential Election. [cite news | url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/10/MN17VH62V.DTL | title=State's undecided superdelegates bide time | author=Zachary Coile | publisher="The San Francisco Chronicle" | date=2008-03-11 | accessdate=2008-03-11]

*He was one of the 31 who voted in the House to not count the electoral votes from Ohio in the 2004 presidential election [http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll007.xml] .

*Rep. Farr, a staunch liberal, opposes the USA PATRIOT Act and is pro-choice. He received a 91% progressive rating by Progressive Punch, ranking him the 42^nd most progressive member of congress.cite web|url=http://www.progressivepunch.org/members.jsp?search=selectName&member=CA17&chamber=Senate&zip=&x=22&y=10|title=Progressive Punch Rating|accessdate=2007-10-27]

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

*Rep. Farr voted against the invasion of Iraq and is actively against the Iraq War.

*He voted for the $700 billion Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.

References

External links

* [http://www.farr.house.gov/ U.S. Congressman Sam Farr] official U.S. House website
* [http://www.friendsoffarr.org/ Congressman Sam Farr] official campaign website
* [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Sam_Farr Profile] at SourceWatch Congresspedia
* [http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/467/2020871.html Biography] from the Peace Corps