Senator Sam Brownback

Sam Brownback was born September 12, 1956, and grew up on the family farm near Parker, Kansas, where he still owns farmland. Brownback received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in Agricultural Economics from Kansas State University, and a law degree from the University of Kansas. While at Kansas State, he was elected student body president and served as state president and as a national officer of the Future Farmers of America.

Kansans re-elected U.S. Senator Sam Brownback to a full six-year term in November 1998. First elected to fill the remainder of Senator Bob Dole's term, Brownback was sworn in as Kansas' 32nd U.S. Senator, November 26, 1996.

Prior to his election to the Senate, Brownback served one term as a U.S. Congressman representing the Second District of Kansas. In the 107th Congress, Brownback serves on four key committees: the Committee on the Judiciary; the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation; the Committee on Foreign Relations; and the Joint Economic Committee.

Senator Brownback has been the leading Senate advocate in calling for increased corporate responsibility in the entertainment industry. In addition to chairing numerous hearings on this issue, he convened the first congressional public health summit on entertainment violence, and sponsored legislation authorizing the Federal Trade Commission report which uncovered the widespread marketing of violent, adult-rated entertainment to children. He currently serves as the Senate Republican Conference co-chair of the working group on compassion and culture.

Brownback chairs the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration. He is co-chair of the Senate Cancer Coalition, co-chair of the Congressional Wireless Caucus, and member of Senate Republican High Tech Task Force.

Through his career, Brownback has worked as an administrator, broadcaster, attorney, teacher, and author. As secretary of agriculture for the state of Kansas, Brownback developed innovative programs which significantly reduced public expenditures and expanded markets for Kansas products.

Brownback is the co-author of two books and numerous articles. He and his wife Mary have five children, Abby, Andy, Liz, Mark, and Jenna, and live in Topeka.