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Charlie Melancon is currently serving his second term in Congress representing the 3rd District of Louisiana.  The district covers much of South Louisiana, stretching from St. Bernard Parish in the east, going through the river parishes and along the coast, and extending all the way to Iberia and St. Martin parishes in the west.

Charlie's top priority is helping South Louisiana recover from the devastation caused by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina.  Since the storms, he has worked both at home in Louisiana and in Congress to bring much-needed federal disaster recovery money to the 3rd District.  He has also brought his fellow Members of Congress to South Louisiana several times to view the damage with their own eyes and hear firsthand from Louisianians what help they need to fully recover from the storms.  In Washington, Charlie has introduced or co-sponsored numerous pieces of legislation to help solve problems with insurance, rebuilding schools, SBA loans, FEMA, affordable housing, and many other issues resulting from Rita and Katrina. 

Charlie is also working to create more jobs and economic opportunities in the 3rd District and across rural America, lower the costs of healthcare, and to provide our children the education they need to succeed.  As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, he has an impact on a broad range of issues affecting south Louisianians including the oil and gas industry, health care, and telecommunications.  Charlie serves as vice chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.  Charlie is also a member of the Space and Technology Committee, where he serves as vice chair of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics. 

Prior to his election to Congress in 2004, Charlie spent 11 years as the President and General Manger of the American Sugar Cane League where he worked to protect and grow Louisiana's sugar industry and the 27,000 jobs and the $2 billion in economic impact it provides.

Charlie is also a former successful small businessman and entrepreneur, having run several Baskin Robbins franchises and his own insurance agency during the 1980s and early 1990s.  From 1987 to 1993 Charlie served in the Louisiana Legislature as a State Representative from Napoleonville.  During the 1970's, Charlie served as Executive Director of South Central Planning and Development Commission where he worked to build infrastructure and lay the groundwork for important economic development initiatives like Port Fourchon and the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP).  

A graduate of the University of Southwestern Louisiana with a degree in Agri-Business, Charlie has served as chair of the LSU Ag Development Council and as vice chair of the South Louisiana Economic Council based in Thibodaux. He is a member of the Assumption Parish Farm Bureau, the Assumption Chamber of Commerce, the UL-Lafayette Alumni Association, Ducks Unlimited, Kappa Sigma Alumni Association, as well as many other civic and professional groups.

Charlie still lives in his hometown of Napoleonville with his wife, the former Peachy Clark.  Charlie and Peachy have been married for 35 years and have two children, Charles Joseph (Seph), and Claire, and a new grandson, Jackson. Their daughter-in-law is Cheraine Blanchard Melancon and their son-in-law is Rudy Simoneaux.