Editing Sam Brownback (section)

==U.S. Senator (1996–2011)==

===Elections===
[[Sheila Frahm]] was appointed to fill the seat of U.S. senator [[Bob Dole]] when Dole resigned in 1996 to campaign for president. Brownback defeated Frahm in the 1996 Republican primary and went on to win the general election against [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] Jill Docking by 112,677 votes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sam Brownback's Blind Ambition Tour|author=Max Blumenthal|work=The Nation|date=June 20, 2005|url=http://www.thenation.com/article/sam-brownbacks-blind-ambition-tour|access-date=September 27, 2014|archive-date=July 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140721100215/http://www.thenation.com/article/sam-brownbacks-blind-ambition-tour|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2001, the Federal Election Commission assessed fines and penalties against Brownback's campaign committee and against his in-laws for improper 1996 campaign contributions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Before the Federal Election Commission in the Matter of Sam Brownback for US Senate Committee and Alan Goesbeck, as treasurer |work=www.fec.gov |url=https://www.fec.gov/files/legal/murs/current/93813.pdf |access-date=October 24, 2017 |archive-date=October 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025074037/https://www.fec.gov/files/legal/murs/current/93813.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> As a result of these improper contributions, the campaign was ordered to pay the government $19,000 and Brownback's in-laws, John and Ruth Stauffer, were ordered to pay a $9,000 civil penalty for improperly funneling contributions through Triad Management Services.<ref>{{cite web|title=Brownback campaign and in-laws penalized|author=Mike Hall|work=The Topeka Capital-Journal|date=December 6, 2002|url=http://cjonline.com/stories/120602/com_brownback.shtml#.We-zy1uPIdU|access-date=October 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025131955/http://cjonline.com/stories/120602/com_brownback.shtml#.We-zy1uPIdU|archive-date=October 25, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1998, Brownback was elected to a full six-year term, defeating Democrat Paul Feleciano by 244,921 votes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kssos.org/elections/98elec/98elm/98gen1.html |title=Official 1998 Kansas General Election Results |website=kssos.org |access-date=July 24, 2023 |archive-date=April 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409190948/https://www.kssos.org/elections/98elec/98elm/98gen1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He won reelection in the [[2004 United States Senate election in Kansas|2004 Senate election]] defeating Democratic former lobbyist Lee Jones by 470,526 votes.<ref>{{cite web|title=THE 2004 ELECTIONS; The Senate|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 4, 2004|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0DE3DC173CF937A35752C1A9629C8B63|access-date=September 27, 2014|archive-date=October 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018153249/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0DE3DC173CF937A35752C1A9629C8B63|url-status=live}}</ref>

Throughout his U.S. Senate career, his principal campaign donors were the [[Koch family|Koch brothers]] of [[Wichita, Kansas|Wichita]]-based [[Koch Industries]], who donated more to Brownback than to any other political candidate during this period.<ref name="koch_influence_2014_12_14_wichita_eagle">Lowry, Bryan, [http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article4487101.html "Governor: Koch Industries has no undue influence in Kansas politics,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006112046/http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article4487101.html |date=October 6, 2017 }} December 14, 2014, ''[[Wichita Eagle]]'' October 5, 2017</ref><ref name="demos_highlight_2010_09_19_mclatchydc_com">Helling, Dave, and David Klepper, [http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article24593650.html "Democrats highlight Brownback's ties to Koch brothers,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006062401/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article24593650.html |date=October 6, 2017 }} September 19, 2010, ''[[Kansas City Star]]'' in [[McClatchy News Service]] Washington Bureau website, retrieved October 5, 2017</ref>

===Tenure===
[[File:Angelina Jolie Sam Brownback 2003.jpg|thumb|Senators Brownback and [[Dianne Feinstein|Feinstein]] in 2003, shown with [[Angelina Jolie]], the Goodwill Ambassador for [[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees]], call for bipartisan legislation to reform the treatment of unaccompanied alien minors.]]
Brownback was a member of the [[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|Judiciary Committee]], the [[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Appropriations Committee]] (where he chaired the Subcommittee on [[District of Columbia]] when the Republicans were in the majority), the [[United States Congress Joint Economic Committee|Joint Economic Committee]], and the [[Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe]], also known as the Helsinki Commission, which he at one time chaired. The Helsinki Commission monitors compliance with international agreements reached in cooperation with [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The World from The Hill: Helsinki panel a model of bipartisanship on foreign policy|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=November 22, 2010|url=https://thehill.com/news-by-subject/foreign-policy/75823-the-world-from-the-hill-helsinki-panel-a-model-of-bipartisanship-on-foreign-policy/|access-date=September 27, 2014|archive-date=October 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018153249/http://thehill.com/news-by-subject/foreign-policy/130289-helsinki-commission-tackles-tough-issues-without-the-partisan-divide|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2000, Brownback and Congressman [[Chris Smith (New Jersey politician)|Chris Smith]] led the effort to enact the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.<ref>Library of Congress: Thomas. House Resolution 3244. [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c106:H.R.3244.ENR: ''Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918124642/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c106:H.R.3244.ENR: |date=September 18, 2008 }}</ref> [[Bill Clinton|President Clinton]] signed the legislation in October 2000. According to ''[[Christianity Today]]'', the stronger enforcement increased the number of U.S. federal [[Trafficking in human beings|trafficking]] cases eightfold in the five years after enactment.<ref>Alford, Deann. [http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/march/13.30.html "Free at Last"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070223040430/http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/march/13.30.html |date=February 23, 2007 }}, ''Christianity Today'', February 21, 2007</ref>

By August 12, 2007, in the [[110th United States Congress|110th Session of Congress]], Brownback had missed 123 votes due to campaigning (39.7 percent)–surpassed only by [[Tim Johnson (South Dakota politician)|Tim Johnson]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]) of [[South Dakota]] who due to a critical illness had missed 100% of the votes of the 110th Session, and [[John McCain]] (R) of [[Arizona]] with 149 votes missed due to campaigning (48.1 percent).<ref>Washington Post.[http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/110/senate/vote-missers/ "Missed Votes"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208175306/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/110/senate/vote-missers/ |date=February 8, 2009 }}, August 12, 2007</ref>

In 2006, Brownback blocked a confirmation vote on a [[George W. Bush]] federal appeals court nominee from Michigan, judge [[Janet T. Neff]]. He objected to her joining the bench solely because she attended a same-sex commitment ceremony in Massachusetts in 2002 that involved a next-door neighbor who was a close childhood friend of Neff's daughters. Brownback's action blocked confirmation votes on an entire slate of appointments that had been approved by a bipartisan group of senators.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/19/washington/19judge.html Senator Removes His Block on Federal Court Nominee] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222220258/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/19/washington/19judge.html |date=December 22, 2017 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'', Neil A. Lewis, December 19, 2006. Retrieved December 22, 2017.</ref> In July 2007, Brownback lifted the block that had prevented the vote, and the Senate confirmed Neff by an 83–4 vote.<ref name=Neff /> Brownback was joined in opposition by just three other conservatives, then-Senators [[Jim Bunning]], [[Jon Kyl]], and [[Mel Martinez]].<ref>[https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00240 110th Congress, roll call vote 240] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222220216/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00240 |date=December 22, 2017 }}, ''[[United States Senate]]'', July 9, 2007. Retrieved December 22, 2017.</ref>

In the mid-1990s, Brownback hired [[Paul Ryan]] as his chief legislative director. Ryan later became a [[United States House of Representatives|member of Congress]], vice-presidential candidate, and [[Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives]].<ref name="ks_gov_brownback_2017_01_29_charlotte_observer">Wise, Lindsay [[McClatchy News Service]], and Scott Canon, ''[[Kansas City Star]],'' in [http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/nation-world/national/article129459654.html "The troubled 'Kansas experiment' goes to Washington,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006111823/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/nation-world/national/article129459654.html |date=October 6, 2017 }} January 29, 2017, ''[[The Charlotte Observer]]'', retrieved October 5, 2017.</ref>

===CREW complaints===
{{update section|date=July 2023}}
In 2009, [[Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington]] (CREW) filed an ethics complaint over a fundraising letter signed by Brownback for a conservative Catholic group which they alleged violated Senate rules by mimicking official Senate letterhead.<ref>[https://www.politico.com/story/2009/02/crew-files-brownback-complaint-019348 CREW files Brownback complaint] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223215837/https://www.politico.com/story/2009/02/crew-files-brownback-complaint-019348 |date=December 23, 2017 }}, ''[[Politico]]'', Glenn Thrush, February 26, 2009. Retrieved December 23, 2017.</ref> The letter had targeted five senators for being both Catholic and pro-choice: [[Maria Cantwell]], [[John Kerry]], [[Robert Menendez]], [[Barbara Mikulski]], and [[Patty Murray]].<ref name="hutch2009">[http://www.hutchnews.com/d3a2a563-f8c1-5513-b95a-efc918eef5f0.html A Washington group has filed a complaint with the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee against Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223215726/http://www.hutchnews.com/d3a2a563-f8c1-5513-b95a-efc918eef5f0.html |date=December 23, 2017 }}, ''[[Hutchinson News]]'', February 27, 2009. Retrieved December 23, 2017.</ref> A spokesman said Brownback had asked the group to stop sending the letter even before the complaint was filed.<ref name="hutch2009"/>

In 2010, CREW lodged an ethics complaint claiming a possible violation of the Senate's gifts rule by four senators and four congressmembers. The congressmembers lived in a $1.8 million Washington, D.C. townhouse<ref>[https://www.alternet.org/story/146285/ethics_complaint_leveled_at_right-wing_congressional_members_of_shadowy_christian_group Ethics Complaint Leveled at Right-Wing Congressional Members of Shadowy Christian Group] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114021055/https://www.alternet.org/story/146285/ethics_complaint_leveled_at_right-wing_congressional_members_of_shadowy_christian_group |date=January 14, 2018 }}, ''[[Alternet]]'', Adele M. Stan, April 2, 2010. Retrieved January 13, 2018.</ref> owned by [[C Street Center]], Inc., which was in turn owned by Christian-advocacy group [[The Fellowship (Christian organization)|The Fellowship]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/04/02/26108.htm|title=Courthouse News Service |website=www.courthousenews.com|access-date=January 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006030708/http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/04/02/26108.htm|archive-date=October 6, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2010/04/living-in-c-street-house-ethics-violation/|title=Is Living in the C Street House An Ethics Violation?|access-date=January 23, 2018|archive-date=January 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111224131/http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2010/04/living-in-c-street-house-ethics-violation/|url-status=live}}</ref> CREW alleged that the property was being leased exclusively to congressional members, including Brownback, and that the tenants were paying rent that was below market value.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cjonline.com/news-legislature/2010-04-06/moran-explains-c-street-living|title=Moran explains C-Street living|access-date=January 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112042410/http://cjonline.com/news-legislature/2010-04-06/moran-explains-c-street-living|archive-date=January 12, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Senator [[Tom Coburn]]'s spokesman asserted that the rents charged were fair.<ref name="weeklystandard1">{{cite web|url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/bogus-ethics-complaint-targets-coburn-demint-brownback|title=Bogus Ethics Complaint Targets Coburn, DeMint, Brownback|work=The Weekly Standard|date=April 2, 2010|access-date=August 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100406161058/http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/bogus-ethics-complaint-targets-coburn-demint-brownback|archive-date=April 6, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://cjonline.com/news/state/2010-04-01/brownback_faces_ethics_complaint|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826140828/http://cjonline.com/news/state/2010-04-01/brownback_faces_ethics_complaint|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 26, 2017|title=The Topeka Capital-Journal|date=August 26, 2017|access-date=January 23, 2018}}</ref>

===Committees===
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Committee on Appropriations]]'''
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies]] (Ranking Member)
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense|Subcommittee on Defense]]
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security|Subcommittee on Homeland Security]]
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies]]
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs|Subcommittee on the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs]]
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies]]
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation|Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation]]'''
** [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security|Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security]]
** [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet|Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet]]
** [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation, and Export Promotion|Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation, and Export Promotion]]
** [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security|Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security]]
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources|Committee on Energy and Natural Resources]]'''
** [[United States Senate Energy Subcommittee on Energy|Subcommittee on Energy]]
** [[United States Senate Energy Subcommittee on National Parks|Subcommittee on National Parks]]
** [[United States Senate Energy Subcommittee on Water and Power|Subcommittee on Water and Power]] (Ranking Member)
*'''[[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Committee on Foreign Relations]]'''
* '''[[United States Senate Special Committee on Aging|Special Committee on Aging]]'''
* '''[[United States Congress Joint Economic Committee|Joint Economic Committee]]'''
* '''[[Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe]]'''