Mar 15, 2017
History has shown us what we can get by retreating into a defensive, isolationist crouch.
Sam Farr
The Public Record
Sam Farr is a former Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, serving California's 17th congressional district from 1993 to 2015. During his tenure, Farr was known for his advocacy on environmental issues, particularly in relation to coastal protection and sustainable agriculture. He played a significant role in promoting volunteerism and community service, as evidenced by his support for the National and Community Service Amendments Act of 2000.
★ Featured Quote
March 15, 2017
At a time when American leadership is needed more than ever, we must continue to invest in the international affairs budget.
— Sam Farr
Most widely reported
by number of sources- I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I rise today as the ranking member on the Agriculture appropriations subcommittee to draw concern to this bill. I know that we're in tough budget times, but even in tough budget times, people have to eat. It's my opinion that this bill makes it very hard for people to eat, particularly people who don't have any money. The allocation for the FY 2012 Agriculture appropriations bill, as approved in the full committee, is $17.250 billion. This is $5 billion, or 23 percent, below what President Obama asked for. It's 14 percent below what Congress enacted last year. It's 26 percent below what the Congress enacted the year before. It's even below what we enacted in 2008. So it has taken the wind out of the hopes and food lockers of people who are most poor. With the allocation that Chairman Kingston was given, I don't envy his position. He was forced to make these drastic cuts that will affect every heart of farm country, and I do appreciate the effort that he has made to invest our very limited resources wisely and cost effectively. In tough budget times, everyone has to tighten their belts; we all know that. I want to point out, though, that it doesn't matter if you're a specialty crop producer in California or a cotton or peanut producer in Georgia; if the resources are not available to deliver the program, then the effects felt by both producers and consumers in urban and rural areas are the same. I know my friend Mr.…2 sources2011govinfo.gov
- The bill we are debating today, the Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act, purports to address gender discrimination by preventing abortions on the basis of sex. While one of the most effective ways to end gender discrimination is to empower women, H.R. 3541 only serves to marginalize women even further. Today, minority women have to overcome additional hurdles to receive the quality healthcare they deserve and this legislation only serves to subject them to even further scrutiny when making healthcare decisions. This legislation restricts women's access to reproductive healthcare by threatening doctors with up to five years in prison and other penalties if they perform sex selection abortions. If the drafters of H.R. 3541 were really trying to end sex-selective abortions, wouldn't they also be prosecuting those who sought an abortion for these reasons, not only doctors? With doctors fearful of yet even more restrictions to their practice, many will simply refuse to treat women who want to obtain a safe and legal abortion. After all, abortion is still a constitutionally guaranteed right in this country. In addition, this bill includes language requiring any medical or mental health professional to report known or suspected sex-selective abortions. However, in virtually all circumstances, it would be impossible for reproductive healthcare providers to determine whether a woman seeks a sex-selective abortion, thus amounting to a ``witch hunt''.…2 sources2012govinfo.gov
- Thank you for yielding. Madam Chair, this bill has in its title ``America That Works.'' It is not going to work with this provision in it, and that is why the bill fails. I think year after year of failing and failing is a policy of upward failure. It makes no sense not to allow all the Federal agencies to coordinate. We do that in the military. This would be like restricting the ability of the military to coordinate between services. So we do it with shipping lanes, we do it with wildlife, we do it with habitat protection. It is just smart. The spatial planning in the National Ocean Policy, for the first time, saves a lot of money because all these Federal agencies now sit down and talk about how they can carry out the policies that they are responsible for. You wipe all that. No dialogue, no communication, no ability to reach agreements in a way by this crazy restrictive language. Without this amendment, this bill proves that America can't work. I urge adoption of the amendment.2 sources2014govinfo.gov
- I would just like to respond that there is no legislative program in the State Department like this. You can't transfer it there. They are not operative in these countries, so to say that this could be moved over--look, you were in professional organizations. This is legislator to legislator, judge to judge, and we need to keep it that way.2 sources2015govinfo.gov
- I rise as a member of this committee to speak in favor of the rule. But in doing so, I think it is necessary to point out for the record that the leadership of this committee, it is exceptional. It is truly bipartisan. It is led by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hobson) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Olver). The committee is not just a numbers committee. This committee is changing the definition of what is often said about men and women in uniform about their quality of life. We have dumped the old military style of designing and deciding what should be the appropriate size for a military living room or a military kitchen. We have turned this process into what all other communities do, and that is building to community standards. The housing that we are building for the military now could win architectural awards, and the people who live in them are absolutely delighted that they can live in some of the prettiest homes in America, which are really built for community standards, where there is child care, where they can walk to work, if possible, and all of the other concepts that cities around this Nation are looking towards. We are letting the military lead the way, and it is being done by the leadership of this committee.2 sources2002govinfo.gov
- I rise today to provide a voice to those who too often are silenced: the gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender students who face verbal, nonverbal, and physical harassment in our schools. Today is the National Day of Silence across this country. Students have taken a vow of silence to protest the discrimination and intolerance that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students face on a daily basis. In my district I am especially proud of Safe Schools Project of Santa Cruz County, which is coordinated by Santa Cruz County High School senior Nikira Hernandez. This program focuses on making K-through-12 schools in Santa Cruz County a safe place for all youth regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Considering our country's commitment to equality and liberty, it is disturbing that anyone is subjected to harassment and discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. We must work to protect our youth from violence and hatred while fostering a positive academic environment free of derogatory statements, taunts, and slurs. For that reason I am proud to cosponsor H. Con. Res. 86, which memorializes the National Day of Silence.2 sources2004govinfo.gov
congress.gov
Mar 15, 2017
If you don't fund the State Department fully then I need to buy more ammunition ultimately.
Mar 15, 2017
We will take our chances down the road, even if that may mean a much steeper cost in terms of American blood and American treasure.
Mar 15, 2017
Following the administration's path forward for our international affairs budget is the equivalent of retreat.
Mar 15, 2017
My goal for U.S. aid is to achieve a level of effectiveness that every time we provide aid to a region or country it is with the final aim of transitioning them from trade to aid, like we have done in South Korea.
Dec 8, 2016
In reclaiming my time, I thank the chairman. I really appreciate those kind remarks.
Dec 8, 2016
I thank the ranking member for yielding. Mr. Speaker, this is a very bittersweet moment for me. It is the last time I will speak on this floor after 23 years of serving in the House of Representatives. It is sweet because it is about the…
Dec 7, 2016
I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. This is probably the last time I rise on this floor to speak after 23 years of serving here. It may take me a little more than 5 minutes.
Dec 7, 2016
My daughter is on the way with my grandkids, who are trying to watch this. Maybe we can delay it a little more than that. Madam Speaker, I want to thank Ms. Lofgren for her leadership in the California delegation. She is the head of the…
Dec 7, 2016
I passed legislation called Proud to be an American Day. I was hoping that we could do that on the morning of the Fourth of July, but, because it is a Federal holiday, the Federal immigration people don't work that day. So we have been…
Sep 12, 2016
I am pleased to support S. 1579, the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience (NATIVE) Act. This bill will advance Indian Country tourism by requiring federal agencies with recreational travel and tourism functions to…
Jul 14, 2016
I am embarrassed that Congress is going home today for 2 months after having done nothing about this outrageous use of guns in America. We are going home because it is an election year. We have 2 months to be with our constituents. I hope…
Jul 11, 2016
Sanctions are an important part of the toolkit, but they can't be the only one.
Jul 11, 2016
If you want stable democracy and you are a highly religious society, it simply won't work without religious freedom.
Jul 5, 2016
I thank the gentleman for yielding. Third, it allows the BLM to enter into joint management agreements with the California State Parks system that manages a nearby off-road vehicle park without asbestos surfaces, known as Hollister Hills…
Jul 5, 2016
I thank very much Ranking Member Costa and Chairwoman Lummis for their support of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I think this bill is more than what we just talked about, because it is an incredible collaboration of groups that are not…
May 24, 2016
First, whoever wrote your statement is wrong on the facts. I was here. This report that was done by the Bush administration was brought to the United States Congress, to the Natural Resources Committee. I was a member. Mr. Pombo was the…
May 24, 2016
I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 79, beginning on line 24, strike section 506. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 743, the…
May 24, 2016
I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California will be postponed. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will read. The Clerk read as…
May 24, 2016
I rise once again because every year we face this amendment and it does get knocked out in conference. But I rise with concern that it keeps coming back, because I think it is based on a lot of misunderstanding, and it really can cause…
May 16, 2016
Our ocean economy generates $360 billion a year, and puts 3 million Americans to work in ocean-related industries.
Apr 15, 2016
I rise for the 14th consecutive year in order to speak out on behalf of the LGBTQ youth community. It is unacceptable that, in 2016, young people are still experiencing discrimination across this country based on their sexual orientation…
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