Ratings of Congressman Tom Lantos
Tom Speaking

Comments about ratings: Many private non-governmental advocacy organizations and interest groups rate Members of Congress on how they vote on a series of issues which that organization has identified as important to the particular group and its members. The ratings appear annually after each yearly session of Congress. Many of the organizations that do such ratings have a particular policy or political agenda. For the ratings that are provided below, a brief description of the organization is given and a link is also provided to the organization's own web site so that you can personally determine what the organization's views and policies are and whether they are consistent with your own views.

Ratings are provided when they are available since 2000. Some organizations did not rate members of Congress every year. The rating information will be updated as new ratings are provided. Many of the links are to the web site of Project Vote Smart, which has good information about ratings of political officials.

Animal Welfare

Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is a private organization which promotes the protection of all animals. Humane USA PAC is "a political action committee (PAC) formed to be the nonpartisan political arm of the animal protection movement."
  • 2006 - Tom Lantos was one of the Top 15 Representatives who consistently support animal protection measures and who exhibit leadership on animal issues. (Check the Humane USA Top Legislators)
Fund for Animals "has been revamped into the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the new lobbying arm of The Fund and The HSUS." Doris Day Animal League (DDAL) is "a nonprofit, national, citizen's lobbying organization working to improve the humane treatment of animals." Society for Animal Protective Legislation (SAPL) is dedicated to the passage of animal welfare laws. American Humane Association is an organization whose mission is to "prevent cruelty, abuse, neglect, and exploitation of children and animals and to assure that their interests and well-being are fully, effectively, and humanely guaranteed by an aware and caring society." American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is an organization whose purpose is to "provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States." Animal Protection Institute (API) is a national animal advocacy organization. Return to top of page

Children and Family Issues

Children's Defense Fund CDF engages in systematic, long-range advocacy on behalf of the nation's children and teenagers and engages in research, public education, monitoring of federal agencies, litigation, legislative drafting and testimony. American Family Voices was established in 2000 to be a strong voice for middle and low income families on economic, health care, and consumer issues. Return to top of page

Choice / Abortion

National Abortion Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL) is a private organization which supports action to keep abortion safe, legal and accessible to all women, and it promotes women's reproductive choices. Planned Parenthood is a private organization which advocates public policies which guarantee access to comprehensive reproductive and complimentary health care services. Planned Parenthood provides educational programs about human sexuality, and promotes research and technological advancement in reproductive health care. Return to top of page

Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is an organization dedicated to defending and preserving individual rights and liberties as guaranteed to all people in our country by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Americans United for the Separation of Church and State (Americans United for short) is a private organization that advocates respect for the separation of church and state. Leadership Conference on Civil Rights is a coalition of national organizations working to promote passage of civil rights, social and economic legislation and uphold existing United States laws. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is a private organization that works to achieve equal rights through the democratic process and eliminate racial prejudice by removing racial discrimination. League of United Latin American Citizens is an organization whose mission is to "advance the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of the Hispanic population of the United States." Return to top of page

Consumer Issues

Consumer Federation of America is federation composed of 240 organizations who advocate pro-consumer policies before Congress, regulatory agencies and the courts. Return to top of page

Education

National Education Association (NEA) is a professional organization of elementary and secondary teachers and employees and others interested in education. It promotes quality education, and it is an advocate for human, civil, and economic rights. American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is a union representing over one million teachers, school support staff, higher education faculty and staff, health care professionals, and state and municipal employees. National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is the largest volunteer child advocacy association in the nation. Return to top of page

Environment

Sierra Club was established "to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth" and "to promote responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources." League of Conservation Voters (LCV) is an organization whose main purpose is to elect of pro-environment candidates to Congress and to educate voters on the voting records of their elected officials. The LCV ratings are used by many environmental groups. Population Connection, known before 2002 as Zero Population Growth, is a national nonprofit membership organization "working to slow population growth and achieve a sustainable balance between the Earth's people and its resources." American Wilderness Coalition seeks to "protect America's last remaining wilderness areas and expand our National Wilderness Preservation System by providing additive resources and advocacy assistance to wilderness activists at the local, state, regional or national level." Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund is "Affiliated with Defenders of Wildlife provides the wildlife conservation community with a voice in the legislative and political process." Return to top of page

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Issues

Human Rights Campaign (HRC) seeks to advance the cause of lesbian and gay civil rights by lobbying Congress and political candidates who support gay and lesbian civil rights and increased funding for AIDS research. AIDS Action Council is a private organization of more than 1,000 community based AIDS service organizations throughout the United States. Founded in 1984, it is devoted solely to advocating on federal AIDS policy. Return to top of page

Gun Control Issues

Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, formerly known as "Hand Gun Control," was established by Sarah and Jim Brady. "The Brady Campaign works to enact and enforce sensible gun laws, regulations and public policies through grassroots activism, electing pro gun control public officials and increasing public awareness of gun violence." Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV) was founded in 1974 to combat gun violence. It is a coalition of more than forty religious, labor, medical, educational, and civic organizations. Return to top of page

Healthcare Issues

American Medical Association (AMA) is a professional association of medical doctors and others. Its purpose is "to promote the science and art of medicine and the betterment of public health." American Public Health Association is a professional organization which is interested in helping consumers protect and promote personal, mental and environmental health. The AIDS Action Council is a private organization of more than 1,000 community based AIDS service organizations throughout the United States. Founded in 1984, it is devoted solely to advocating on federal AIDS policy. Return to top of page

International Humanitarian and Environmental Issues

Bread for the World is an organization which focuses on hunger and poverty and provides research, education, and advocacy on policies related to hunger and development. Population Connection, known before 2002 as Zero Population Growth, is a national nonprofit membership organization "working to slow population growth and achieve a sustainable balance between the Earth's people and its resources." Return to top of page

Labor Unions

AFL-CIO is a federation of national unions, state federations, city central bodies and directly affiliated local unions. It is the largest and most important labor organization in the United States. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) has 1.3 million members and represents public employees and healthcare workers. American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest union representing federal government employees. Communications Workers of America (CWA) represents workers in the telecommunications and other high tech industries. International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) represents workers in over 200 basic industries in the United States and Canada. Service Employees International Union (SEIU) represents workers in the service industries. Transportation Communication Union (TCU) represents workers in the transportation and communications industries. United Auto Workers (UAW) represents workers in Automobile manufacturing and related industries. United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) is a union representing workers in food processing, packaging, and manufacturing and workers in professional and retail positions. Return to top of page

Liberal Organizations

Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) is the oldest independent liberal lobbying organization whose founders include Eleanor Roosevelt, economist John Kenneth Galbraith, and former senator and vice president Hubert Humphrey. National Committee for an Effective Congress supports "progressive" political candidates that support such issues as freedom of choice, separation of church and state, equal rights and environmental protection. Public Citizen's Congress Watch is a lobbing organization which represents consumer interests, specifically citizens' access to government decision making, campaign finance reform, issues related to the Savings and Loan crisis, consumer class actions, food and product safety, and the protection of public health through environmental legislation. U.S. Public Interest Research Group (US-PIRG) are stat-based nonprofit and nonpartisan research and advocacy organizations which focus on environmental, consumer and good government issues. The California affiliate is CALPIRG. Return to top of page

Senior Issues and Social Security

Alliance for Retired Americans was established in 2001 by a national coalition of AFL-CIO affiliated unions and community-based organizations dedicated to economic and social justice. The organization was established to protect the health and economic security of seniors, reward work, strengthen families, and build thriving communities. National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) is an organization of retired civilian government employees and their spouses whose concerns focus on federal retirement legislation and general issues involving seniors and aging. National Council of Senior Citizens is an organization of independent senior citizen groups which support Medicare, Social Security, national health care, housing and other issues of concern for senior. It also advocates on behalf of the elderly. National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare was established in 1982 to advocate for the federal Social Security and Medicare programs and for Americans who seek a healthy, productive and secure retirement. Return to top of page

Veterans' Issues

Disabled American Veterans is an organization made up exclusively of men and women disabled in the service of our nation's defense. It is dedicated to building better lives for our country's disabled veterans and their families. Return to top of page

Women's Issues

American Association of University Women (AAUW) is a long established organization for university graduates which promotes education and equality for women and girls. Return to top of page