WASHINGTON, D.C. - Peace Action and Peace Action West, two foreign policy advocacy groups that lobby for civic activism as a solution to global problems, recently released their Congressional Scorecard for 2007. The organizations awarded Congressman Sam Farr (D-Carmel) a 100 percent rating.

"I'm proud to represent the peaceful values of the Central Coast. We're lucky enough to live in communities that are aware of what's going on overseas and care about the fate of others," Rep. Farr said. "Groups like Peace Action do a great job bringing a message of peace to Congress, and it's a message many of my colleagues need to hear."

The scorecard rates the voting records of the members of the 110th Congress on legislation key to advancing a responsible foreign policy agenda. Rep. Farr's perfect rating was one of 15 among California's 53 Representatives.

The scorecard highlights voting records on 11 pieces of legislation from 2007 related to the war in Iraq, military action against Iran, nuclear nonproliferation and international human rights.

"Five years after the beginning of the Iraq war, the United States desperately needs to make a fundamental change of course in foreign policy," wrote Jon Rainwater, executive director of Peace Action West, and Kevin Martin, executive director of Peace Action. "Ultimately, it's an active and vocal public that will determine if the country makes the profound changes in U.S. foreign policy we need."

The report card also included a bill introduced by Rep. Farr in its Honor Roll, a list of legislation that supports the groups' goals. The "Reconstruction and Stabilization Civilian Management Act" (H.R. 1084) was passed unanimously by the House after the report card was put together, and was recently funded in a supplemental appropriations bill. The legislation creates a Civilian Response Corps to allow civilians to take the lead in U.S. efforts to rebuild conflict-torn nations.

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