BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The USACC Board of Trustees is a group of Americans and Azerbaijanis interested in promoting friendship, cooperation and commerce between the American people and the people of Azerbaijan. The Board of Trustees offers its recommendations to the USACC Board of Directors on all matters related to the Chambers programs and activities.

Kansans re-elected U.S. Senator Sam Brownback, champion of working families, government reform and cultural renewal to a full six-year term in November 1998. First elected to fill the remainder of Senator Bob Dole's term, Brownback was sworn in as Kansas' 32nd U.S. Senator on November 26, 1996.

In the 107th Congress, Brownback serves on four key committees: the Committee on Foreign Relations; the Committee on the Judiciary; the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation; and the Joint Economic Committee.

In 1997, Senator Brownback sponsored S. 1344; The Silk Road Strategy Act to target assistance to support the economic and political independence of the countries of South Caucasus and Central Asia. The bill also provided presidential authority to waive section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act. The Bill was later adopted as an amendment to the Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill, but the presidential waiver authority was removed by a close vote. Senator Brownback argued strenuously to retain the waiver authority, but Senators McConnell, Sarbanes, and others prevailed.

After September 11, 2002, Senator Brownback again renewed his efforts to secure a waiver for Section 907. Working closely with the Administration and colleagues who shared his views, his efforts prevailed on the FY2002 Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill in December. On January 25, 2002 the President exercised his authority and for the first time waived Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act.

Senator Brownback is Co-Chairman of the Silk Road Caucus along with his House Colleage from Pennsylvania, Joe Pitts. Senator Mary Landrieu from Louisiana is the Democratic Co-Cochairperson of the group.

As the ranking member of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs, Brownback has also taken an active role in developing U.S. foreign policy concerning India, Pakistan, and Iraq. Brownback also forcefully advocates for trade policy supporting U.S. agriculture exports in the international marketplace.

Brownback is the ranking member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration. He is co-chair of the Senate Cancer Coalition, co-chair of the Congressional Wireless Caucus, and member of Senate Republican High Tech Task Force.

Prior to his election to the Senate, Brownback served one term as a U.S. Congressman representing the Second District of Kansas. Sam Brownback grew up on the family farm near Parker, Kansas, where he still owns farmland. Brownback received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in Agricultural Economics from Kansas State University, and a law degree from the University of Kansas. While at K-State, he was elected student body president and served as state president and as a national officer of the Future Farmers of America.

Through his career, Brownback has worked as an administrator, broadcaster, attorney, teacher, and author. As secretary of agriculture for the state of Kansas, Brownback developed innovative programs, which significantly reduced public expenditures and expanded markets for Kansas products. Brownback is the co-author of two books and numerous articles. He and his wife Mary have five children, Abby, Andy, Liz, Mark, and Jenna, and live in Topeka.