Biography

Congressman Artur Davis
Alabama's 7th Congressional District

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After only three years in Congress, Alabama 7th District U.S. Representative Artur Davis is already earning recognition as a productive and effective legislator who has set a new standard of service for his constituents.

Despite his status as a junior member of the minority party, Congressman Davis has emerged as a leader on issues related to housing, education, and health care. As a freshman, he led the successful fight to reverse funding cuts for minority land grant colleges including Tuskegee University and Alabama. As a second term member, Congressman Davis won a floor fight to restore funding to the HOPE VI program for renovating public housing; he persuaded over sixty Republicans to vote with Democrats to save HOPE VI. In 2005, the congressman was the lead Democratic sponsor of a bill establishing a national cord blood bank, which will widen the availability of blood transfusions for thousands of patients who suffer from diseases such as sickle cell anemia and diabetes.

Congressman Davis' strong legislative track record in Washington is matched with an active presence in his West Alabama district. He has chaired the Health Care Subcommittee of Governor Bob Riley's Black Belt Action Commission, an effort that has led to expanded delivery of vital services throughout the Black Belt. The Commission has been heralded by various news organizations as one of the best public-private partnerships in the state's recent history.

Recognized by the Washington Post, the National Journal and CNN as one of the future leaders to watch in Washington, Congressman Davis has been tabbed by his peers for several important assignments. He was appointed by Maryland Congressman Steny Hoyer, the House Democratic Whip, as a member of the Senior Whip Team for the Democratic Caucus during the 109th Congress. Davis has also been selected as the co-chair of the New Democratic Caucus, a group of centrist Democratic House members, and as the Southern Regional co-chair for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Born in 1967 in the impoverished neighborhood of West Montgomery, Alabama, Congressman Davis continues to exercise his commitment to excellence and the principles of hard work which have propelled him his entire life. A product of Montgomery public schools, Congressman Davis excelled in academics including graduating Magna Cum Laude from Harvard University in 1990 and Cum Laude from Harvard Law School in 1993.

Congressman Davis' excellent academic career gave birth to a flourishing professional life as a successful attorney and advocate for justice. Upon graduation from law school, Congressman Davis received a clerkship with Judge Myron F. Thompson, one of the first African-American judges appointed to the federal bench in Alabama. From 1994 to 1998, Congressman Davis established a 98 percent conviction rate as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama fighting white-collar criminals and the scourge of drugs and violence on our streets and in our neighborhoods.

From 1998 until his election to Congress, Congressman Davis fought as a civil rights attorney for the rights of those unjustly treated in the workplace.

Congressman Davis' challenge is representing a district containing large concentrations of urban and rural poverty. Five of the 12 counties in the 7th Congressional District are identified in the list of 100 poorest counties in America as ranked by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Congressman Davis serves on the exclusive Financial Services Committee, with seats on three subcommittees: Capital Markets, Housing, and Oversight Investigations. He also serves on the Budget Committee, which sets the annual blueprint for government spending practices.

Click here to download a copy of Congressman Davis's biography (PDF)