On December 4, 2004, Charles Boustany, Jr., a Lebanese-American, made history when he became the first Republican to win Louisiana’s 7th Congressional District seat.  The retired heart surgeon is honored to represent the great people of southwest Louisiana in the 109th Congress.

Born on February 21, 1956, Charles was raised in Lafayette, LA.  He and his wife Bridget met on the campus of the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now The University of Louisiana – Lafayette).  They have two children – Erik and Ashley.  Charles graduated from Cathedral Carmel High School and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (UL-Lafayette) in 1978. 

He continued his education at Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans, LA where he received his Doctorate of Medicine in 1982.  As part of his training, Charles served as a general surgery resident in Louisiana Charity Hospital System and then moved on to become the Chief Resident in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY.  Upon completion of his residency in 1990, Charles chose to return to his native southwest Louisiana and began one of the most successful practices in the state.  For fourteen years, he was committed to helping others by providing the highest quality healthcare possible to his patients and his community.

In addition to caring for thousands of patients in his years of practice, Charles has also established himself as one of southwest Louisiana’s most civic-minded citizens.  He has served on the Board of Directors for the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce in 2001, and the Executive Board of Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce as Vice President for Government Affairs in 2002.  In 2000, he served as president of the Lafayette Parish Medical Society.  In 1996, Charles won an at-large seat on the Lafayette Parish Republican Executive Committee and served through 2001.  He was named the Vice-Chairman of Bush-Cheney Victory 2000 Campaign for Lafayette Parish.

As a member of the United States House of Representatives, Rep. Boustany is committed to improving healthcare, creating economic opportunity, and protecting southwest Louisiana values and way of life.

Upon arriving in Washington, D.C., Charles was named to the House Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Education and the Workforce, and Agriculture.  His committee assignments put him in an excellent position to make an immediate impact for his district. 

As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, he serves on the Water Resources and Environment and the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittees.  He was named as Vice-chairman of the Water Resources Subcommittee which has jurisdiction over the reauthorization of the Water Resources and Development Act.  This legislation is vital to restoring Louisiana’s disappearing coastline.

Under the Committee on Education and the Workforce, Charles serves on the Subcommittees on 21st Century Competitiveness and Employer-Employee Relations.  In this capacity, he lends a professional medical perspective on the importance of expanding healthcare coverage for owners and employees of small businesses through association health plans.

Charles is committed to fighting for the farmers and rural communities of southwest Louisiana as a member of the House Committee on Agriculture.  With his position on the Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Rural Development, and Research, he works to promote rural development and ag extension services; and with his position on the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management, he has direct jurisdiction over programs that benefit key crops such as rice and soybeans.

Dr. Charles Boustany is proud to work for the people of southwest Louisiana.  He will serve them with the same dedication and care that he has provided as a physician and civic leader.

Source: http://boustany.house.gov/biography.asp