Congressman Bob Etheridge is a proud native of North Carolina's Second Congressional district where he has lived virtually his entire life. He was born in Sampson County, grew up in Johnston County, and has made his home in Harnett County for more than 37 years, where he has been a small businessman, part-time tobacco farmer, and full-time public servant.

First sworn into Congress in 1997, Bob Etheridge, a fiscal conservative, voted to balance the federal budget, to provide estate tax relief to family farmers and small businesses, and to supply bullet proof vests to protect local law enforcement officers. Etheridge has earned a solid reputation for his leadership on education issues, first as a Harnett County commissioner and later in North Carolina's General Assembly. He served eight years as North Carolina's elected State Superintendent of Schools before taking his lifelong endeavor for better schools to Congress.

Etheridge currently serves on the House Agriculture Committee and the Select Committee on Homeland Security and is the Co-Chairman of the Democratic Caucus' Education Task Force. As the only tobacco farmer in Congress, Bob Etheridge plays a unique role in protecting and promoting North Carolina's agricultural interests. And as the only former state schools chief serving in Congress, Bob Etheridge has emerged as one of the Capitol's most authoritative voices for school construction, character education, early childhood development, youth safety, college aid and other education issues.

He is a member of the New Democrat Coalition (NDC), a group of moderate pro-business Democrats. The NDC plays a pivotal role in the House on important causes like balanced budgets, export promotion, research and development and economic growth.

Etheridge and his wife, Faye Cameron Etheridge, are active in their church and both teach Sunday School. For his diligent and decades-long work for the Boy Scouts, Etheridge has received the Silver Beaver Award; the highest award a Scout leader can receive.

Bob Etheridge was born on August 7, 1941. He attended public school at the historic Cleveland School in Johnston County and after winning a basketball scholarship became the first member of his family to graduate from college when he earned his B.S. Degree in Business Administration from Campbell University in 1965. After graduating, Bob served two years in the U.S. Army. He has done graduate work in economics at NC State University and has received honorary degrees from Campbell University, Fayetteville State University, Pfeiffer College, and Shaw University.

Rep. Bob Etheridge's Official Website

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73% of older adults will not enroll or have not heard enough to enroll in a Medicare drug plan.

Source:Medicare Rights Center