Sabo established himself as a key player on budget and fiscal policy as Chairman of the House Budget Committee during the 103^rd Congress. He later served as the Ranking Democrat on the panel. The Budget Committee sets overall spending and revenue guidelines for the trillion-dollar federal budget. Under his chairmanship, Congress passed the largest deficit-reduction package in history, which has cut the deficit for four years in a row for the first time since the 1940s.

On the powerful Appropriations Committee, Sabo is the top Democrat on the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee. He has been a strong supporter of mass transit programs and of alternative modes of transportation and has consistently fought for a strong national policy to increase bicycle ridership in the United States.

Sabo is also a member of National Security Subcommittee, a panel that has jurisdiction over half of all appropriated money. He is one of Capitol Hill's leading voices on arms control policy and has been recognized for his efforts to improve living standards for the men and women in the armed services.

Congressman Sabo is a former chairman of the Democratic Study Group (DSG) and is currently an Executive Committee member of the DSG. The DSG is the premier House organization for educating members on policy and legislative proposals. The organization serves more than 200 members.

Sabo works with the Democratic leadership to formulate Democratic Caucus policy and muster support for key legislation. Playing a leadership role is nothing new to Sabo. Prior to his election to Congress, he had been Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives for six years and Minority Leader for four. He is the Former President of the National Conference of State Legislatures and the National Legislative Conference.

He served in the Minnesota House for 18 years, beginning with his first election in 1960 at the age of 22. Sabo is known for his constituent service and for his regular doorknocking through the neighborhoods in the Fifth Congressional District. As the Minneapolis Star-Tribune wrote, "constituents who want evidence that they are being skillfully represented in Washington don't have to go far to find it."

Congressman Sabo was born of Norwegian immigrant parents on a North Dakota farm. The Norwegian translation of his last name means "farm by the sea."

Representative Sabo's Committee Assignments for the 105^th Congress:

Committee on Appropriations
Subcommittee on Transportation - Ranking Democrat
Subcommittee on National Security
Subcommittee on District of Columbia

ADDRESS:
2336 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

PHONE:
(202)225-4755

FAX:
(202)225-4886