Biography Congressman Steve Scalise

Congressman Steve Scalise was first elected to Congress in a special election in May, 2008. Scalise was overwhelmingly re-elected to Congress in November, 2008 to serve a full two-year term.

Scalise is known as a staunch conservative who advocates for the principles of fiscal discipline, lower taxes, a comprehensive national energy policy, ethics reform, a strong national defense and traditional family values. As a member of the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee, Scalise has already emerged as one of the leaders in Congress in pushing for a strong national energy policy that increases the supply of American oil and natural gas to lower gas prices at the pump and reduce our dependence on Middle Eastern oil. He has also been a vocal leader in the fight for fiscal discipline to reign in wasteful spending in Washington, and has made hurricane recovery and flood protection a top priority.

In Congress, Scalise serves as an Assistant Republican Whip, and has many legislative accomplishments including his Disaster Recovery Improvement Act (DRIA), H.R. 3453, which reforms FEMA to eliminate log jams and speed up the disaster recovery process, addresses existing problems, and improving evacuations in the future.

Through his post on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, he fought against eh government takeover of health care, and strongly opposed the "cap and trade" energy tax.

Scalise continues to fight for fiscal responsibility and government accountability. He has introduced legislation called the Sunset All Czars (SAC Act) Act that would sunset all "czar" positions in the executive branch, eliminate appropriations to fund these positions and their offices, and require Senate confirmation of any future government official with czar-like powers. Another of Scalise's bills, the Control America's Purse-strings to Deliver a Better Tomorrow (CAP the DEBT) Act, H.R. 4262, will help prevent any future increases in the national debt ceiling, and finally move us closer to a balanced federal budget.

One of Scalise's hallmark bills, the Grow American Supply (GAS) Act, H.R. 1108, would increase American supply of domestic energy resources, and directly help Louisiana's economy by providing an immediate share of OCS revenues to immediately fund coastal restoration and flood protection projects.

Along with Scalise's legislative priorities he has kick started several local highway and infrastructure projects in Southeast Louisiana that were held up for years in bureaucratic red tape. Scalise is also committed to maintaining an open line of communication with his constituents to better serve them in Congress. Scalise holds regular town hall meetings in every parish of the First Congressional District to meet with local residents and hear their concerns.

Scalise was preceded in Congress by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal.

Personal

Steve Scalise was born in New Orleans on October 6, 1965. A native of Jefferson Parish, Scalise grew up in Metairie, and attended James Madison Elementary School and John Quincy Adams Middle School.

Scalise attended Archbishop Rummel High School where he wrestled and played tennis for the Raiders. He went to Louisiana State University where he earned a Computer Science degree and minored in Political Science. Scalise started his political career at LSU, twice being elected Speaker of the Student Government Association.

Scalise is married to the former Jennifer Letulle and they have two children, Madison Carol Scalise (born March 17, 2007), and Harrison Joseph Scalise (born May 8, 2009).

Scalise also served in the Louisiana Legislature for 12 1/2 years. In the State Senate, Scalise served as the Chairman of the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee.

Among his many accomplishments in the Legislature, one of the most renowned was the 2002 creation of the tax incentives for Louisiana's film industry. The tax incentives made Louisiana the third most popular place to film in the United States, generating more than $700 million in film activity and creating more than 6,000 jobs in Louisiana in 2007.

Along with Scalise's other legislative accomplishments, he has been a leader in reforming Louisiana's ethics laws, reforming the state's system of levee boards after Hurricane Katrina, and an advocate for comprehensive earmark reform. Scalise has championed tax cuts for working families and small businesses. He has strongly fought to defend 2nd Amendment rights, passing landmark legislation ending the City of New Orleans' lawsuit against gun makers. NRA President Charlton Heston came to Baton Rouge to testify for Scalise's bill. Scalise also successfully changed Louisiana's Constitution by passing the Defense of Marriage Amendment, which was approved by 78% of the state's voters. While not an attorney, Scalise has an undefeated 2-0 legislative record in bills he passed being brought before the U.S. Supreme Court.

In addition to his service in the Louisiana Legislature, Scalise has also worked as a systems engineer for local technology companies. He and his family are members of St. Agnes Catholic Church.