"Thank you for the generous contribution to my campaign committee. I hope you know how much I appreciate this expression of support and encouragement. I am honored to represent the largest Iranian-American population in the United States, and I look forward to continuing to work with you on civil liberties, immigration, and the other issues on which we all care about most deeply."

Henry A. Waxman represents California's 30th Congressional District, which includes the complete cities of Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Malibu, and West Hollywood, as well as such areas of Los Angeles as Beverly-Fairfax, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, and Westwood. According to the 2000 Census Report, District 30 in California has the single largest Iranian American population in the nation. In 2007, Waxman became Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the principal investigative committee in the House.

A proponent of civil liberties, Congressman Waxman is an original cosponsor of House Resolution 476 condemning discrimination and bigotry against Iranian Americans. The resolution acknowledges the diversity of the Iranian American community and their contributions to the social and economic fabric of American society.

In June of 2005, Congressman Waxman voted for House Amendment 280 to the Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act 2006. The amendment prohibits use of funds in the bill from being used to implement provisions of Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act. Section 215 permits searches of library circulation records, library patron lists, book sales records, or book customer lists under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

On immigration, Waxman has voted in favor of more visas for skilled workers and against measurers that turn immigration infractions into criminal felony. He is also a cosponsor of the Dream Act, which would provide undocumented high school students the opportunity to obtain permanent residency. The students must be planning to attend college or serve in the armed forces to become eligible for permanent residency.

Background Information
Party: Democrat
Term: 17th
First Elected: 1974
Committees: Energy and Commerce; Oversight and Government Reform, Chair
Prev. Occupation: Attorney
Prev. Political Exp.: CA Assembly, 1968-74
Education: BA University of California - Los Angeles, 1961; JD University of California - Los Angeles, 1964

Back to Candidate Home Page