Education:
JD, University of Houston Law School, 1977
BBA, Business Administration, University of Houston, 1971.

Professional Experience:
Attorney, Private Practice, 1977-1992
Business Manager, Daily Court Review, Printing Company, 1966-1990.

Political Experience:
Representative, United States House of Representatives, 1993-present
Senator, Texas State Senate, 1985-1993
Representative, Texas State House of Representatives, 1972-1985
Regional Whip, United States House House of Representatives
Senior Deputy Whip, United States House House of Representatives.

Organizations:
Member, Spring Woods United Methodist Church, present
Member, American Bar Association, 1977-present
Member, Houston Bar Association, 1977-present
Member, State Bar Association of Texas, 1977-present
Member, Communications Workers Union, Printing Sector, 1968-present
Member, Aldine Optimist Club
Member, Chambers of Commerce, 29th District
Member, Communication Workers of America
Member, Gulf Coast Conservation Association
Member, Lindale Lions Club
Member, Texas State Historical Association.

Caucuses/Non-Legislative Committees:
Member, Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, 1999-present
Deputy Whip, Democratic Whip Organization, 1997-present
Member, Houston Education and Workforce Committee, 1993-1997
Biomedical Research Caucus
Congressional Arts Caucus
Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus
Congressional Children's Working Group
Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Congressional Internet Caucus
Congressional Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus
Congressional Older Americans Caucus
Congressional Sportsman's Caucus
Congressional Steel Caucus
Congressional Urban Caucus
Co-Chair, Democratic Israel Working Group
Vice Chair, Energy Task Force
Health and Medicare Task Force
Jobs and the Economy Task Force
National Guard and Reserve Components Congressional Members Organization
Public Pension Reform Caucus
Social Security Task Force
Urban Health Caucus
Co-Chair, Vision Caucus.

Committees:
Energy and Commerce, Member
Foreign Affairs, Member
Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection, Member
Subcommittee on Health (Energy and Commerce), Member
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations (Energy and Commerce), Member
Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, Member
Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Member