Adam H. Putnam (born July 31, 1974), American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 2001, representing the 12th District of Florida (map). He was born in Bartow, Florida, was educated at Bartow High School and the University of Florida (BS, Food and Resource Economics), and was a farmer, rancher and a member of the Florida House of Representatives before entering the House. Putnam claims to be one of Congress' leading supporters of developmental education for children from low-income families, and is the author of the Head Start Accountability Bill.
Congressman Putnam is also the Co-Chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus.
Putnam is currently the second youngest member of Congress. He was the youngest member of Congress from his election in 2001, which occurred only a year after he became eligible to run under the Constitution which requires congress members to be over 25 years old, until 2005, when Patrick McHenry who is a year younger than Putnam and also a Republican from a southern state, was elected to Congress.
Recently, Rep. Berry (D-AR) made headlines when he called Putnam a "Howdy Doody looking nimrod" while on the House floor.
He also is a critic of the House rules on gift-giving. He pointed out in the Appropriations Committee that he can't accept many trivial gifts like baseball caps or beef jerky because of a 50 dollar limit on gifts to Representatives.
