Biobased Industry Outlook Conference
August 29-30, 2005
Iowa State University - Ames, IA

Tom Latham

Tom Latham, a sixth term Republican, has represented the people of Iowa since January of 1995. He grew up and raised his family near Alexander, Iowa, a town of 168 people. He is a farmer and a small business owner. He, along with two of his brothers, owns Latham Seeds, the seed company that his father started in 1947.

Since his very first day in Congress, Latham has been dedicated to the ideals of change in Washington. His Iowa values and common sense are a testament to the work he strives to accomplish such as the promotion of individual liberty, economic opportunity, personal responsibility, and a smaller and smarter federal government.

Latham has established himself in Washington as a champion of fiscal responsibility. One Iowa newspaper proclaimed that Latham is "a fiscal conservative who not only talks the talk but walks the walk when it comes to spending he controls." His work in Congress has also been noted with awards and recognition by several budget, taxpayer, senior, agriculture, small business, and anti-government waste advocacy groups.

He is Iowa's only member of the House Appropriations Committee, considered to be one of the most influential in Congress. Through his work on the Committee Latham has secured millions of dollars in funding for Iowa's homeland security first-responders, law enforcement, the Iowa National Guard, transportation projects, agriculture, environmental and public education initiatives, health care, community, economic and small business development.

Latham's work and expertise have also been recognized by his colleagues in Congress. He serves on the Speaker's Task Force for a Drug-Free America, the House Prescription Drug Action Leadership Team, and most recently the Congressional Task Force for Affordable Natural Gas.