Parker Griffith

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Parker Griffith is currently serving the 5th Congressional District of Alabama

Parker Griffith has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 5th district of the State of Alabama, since 2009 (map). In December, 2009, he switched parties and became a Republican.

Positions, record and controversies

Drilling

Griffith will support removing the 27-year-old federal moratorium on exploratory drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Parker supports a crack down on speculators who continue to inflate oil prices. Griffith will work toward creating tax incentives for businesses that are involved in alternative fuel R&D. Additionally he would seek to have tax credits extended to automakers that boost fuel efficiency in their vehicles. Parker supports research and develop of biofuels to make our vehicles more efficient on the road.

Health Care

Griffith supports providing access to at least basic coverage for any American family. He also would seek to support hospitals and work with medical schools to educate more doctors. In Congress, Griffith seeks to develop a program to help pay for medical school tuition for doctors who will pledge to work in undeserved areas or enter areas of medicine where there is a shortage of providers.

Education

Griffith supports expanding early education programs to include pre-kindergarten instruction. Griffith supports fully funding and expanding programs such as the Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative. He supports providing scholarship incentives to students to encourage them to pursue degrees in engineering, the sciences, and basic research. He would seek to expand support for research universities, national labs, the National Science Foundation, and NASA.

National Defense

Parker supports a strong national defense and believes that providing for that defense is the most fundamental of responsibilities of our federal government and supports funding defense programs at the highest levels. Griffith supports continued development of a U.S. Ground Based Missile Defense System as well as THAAD, KEI, and MKV programs. He also supports full funding of the BRAC budget.

Immigration

In Congress, Griffith would seek to see the federal government responds to the illegal immigration crisis and works to close U.S. borders to illegal aliens, drug trafficking, and possible terrorists. He supports increasing border patrols, building new fences, and developing technology to further assist in closing the borders.

Bio

Griffith is a Alabama State Senator (District 7) and a retired Radiation Oncologist.

2008 elections

Griffith was the Democratic nominee to replace retiring incumbent Rep. Bud Cramer (D-Ala.) in the 2008 congressional elections. He received the Democratic nomination in the June 2008 primaries and challenged the winner of the GOP run off that took place on July 15, 2008. Griffth defeated Republican challenger Wayne Parker in November 2008 general elections.

Committees and affiliations

Committees

Griffith is assigned to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

Articles and resources

Related SourceWatch articles

• 2008 U.S. congressional elections
  • 2008 U.S. congressional election dates
• Portal:Alabama and the U.S. Congress

External resources

• 2008 Race Tracker page on Alabama’s 5th Congressional District
• Parker Griffith website

External articles

Corresponding article on Wikipedia and Cause Caller. (If Cause Caller link does not work, pick from its list of senators and representatives.)

Current Office: U.S. House of Representatives
111th Congress
Leadership Position:	Committees Chaired:	Committees, Ranking Member On:	Caucuses:
Committees: House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House Committee on Science and Technology
110th Congress
Leadership Position: n/a	Committees Chaired: n/a	Committees, Ranking Member On: n/a	Caucuses: n/a
Committees: n/a
Congressional Career
First Elected to Current Office: November 4, 2008	First Took Current Office: January 3, 2009	Next Election: November 2, 2010	Term Ends:
Freshman Member? Yes	Previous Political Work? Alabama State Senate	Other Party Membership:
District Offices:
1. 2101 Clinton Ave. W. Suite 302, Huntsvile, AL 35805 Phone: 256-551-0190 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              256-551-0190      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              256-551-0190      end_of_the_skype_highlighting / Fax: 256-551-0194 2. 302 Lee St. P.O. Box 668, Decatur, AL 35602 Phone: 256-355-9400 / Fax: 256-355-9406 3. 1011 George Wallace Blvd, Tuscumbia, AL 35674 Phone: 256-381-3450 / Fax: 256-381-7659
Campaign Contact:
Website: http://www.griffithforcongress.com/ Webform Email: / Email: Campaign Offices: 1. P.O Box 2916, Huntsville, AL 35804 Phone: 256-881-5059 / Fax: 256-88l-5690
Zip Code Affiliations:
Misc:
Date of Birth: August 6, 1942