Vic Fazio

He advises clients of the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld on a range of public policy and government relations issues. Representative Fazio served for 20 years as a member of Congress, representing California’s 3rd District.

During his tenure of distinguished public service, he was appointed to the House Appropriations Committee, serving as a subcommittee chairman or ranking member for 18 years. He was also a member of the Armed Services, Budget, Ethics, and House Administration Committees. In addition to his role on the Appropriations Committee, Representative Fazio was active in the Democratic leadership of the House, holding several appointive and elected positions. He served as the vice chair of the Democratic Caucus from 1989 to 1994, when he was elected chairman, the third-ranking position in the House. He was the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the political arm of the House Democrats, for four years in the early 1990s. He also was a majority whip-at-large and served as a regional representative on the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.

Before his election to Congress, Representative Fazio served in the California State Assembly. Prior to being elected to public office, he was a senior assistant to the speaker of the California Assembly.

After his retirement from Congress in 1998, Representative Fazio served as the co-managing partner of strategic communications consulting firm Clark & Weinstock in Washington.

Representative Fazio is a graduate of Union College in Schenectady, NY. He has a significant background in journalism and co-founded the California Journal, a periodical covering state government and politics.

Representative Fazio serves on numerous boards, including the California Institute, the U.S. Capitol Historical Society, the Campaign Finance Institute, Northrop Grumman Corporation, the National Parks Second Century Commission, and Committee for a Responsible Budget. In addition, he is a member of the Board of Visitors of the University of California at Davis School of Medicine and a former member of the board of the Fund for the Capitol Visitor Center.