Biography

Congressman Bill Shuster

Throughout his ten-year career in the House, Congressman Shuster has proven himself to be a leader on local and national issues, and an outspoken advocate for the people of the 9th Congressional District in Washington, DC.   

Congressman Shuster is committed to bringing greater opportunity and a better standard of living to the people of the 9th district through his focus on economic development and transportation infrastructure.  As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Shuster continues to work to secure important funding for roadway projects in the 9th district as well as infrastructure improvements throughout Western Pennsylvania.
 

The 112th Congress marks Congressman Shuster’s elevation to the rank of Chairman of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.  This subcommittee is one of the most important transportation subcommittees in the House due to its jurisdiction over everything involving rail transportation, from AMTRAK passenger to freight and cargo rail, employee contracts, and rail security.

In addition to Congressman Shuster’s expanded role on transportation policy, he continues to be an active voice in national security matters.  Shuster’s position on the House Armed Services Committee’s Subcommittee Emerging Threats and Capabilities provides him valuable insight into the Global War on Terror and how our military should transform to meet emerging threats, especially the threat of Islamic fundamentalism.

 
In addition to his regular committee work, Chairman McKeon named Shuster to serve as the chairman of a special panel to investigate the challenges small and medium sized businesses face in doing business with the Department of Defense.  The Special Panel on Challenges in the Defense Industry has held roundtables across the country with businesses and hearings with DoD personnel in Washington, DC to find out what Congress must do to reduce barriers to entry and expand our national defense industrial base.  The panel completed its preliminary work in February 2012.

In addition to gaining experience in agriculture by working on his family’s farm in Bedford County, Shuster earned valuable marketing and management experience with the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Corporation as well as with Bandag Incorporated where he served as District Manager.  He is also an experienced small business owner.  Prior to his arrival in the House of Representatives, Shuster owned and operated his own small business, an automobile dealership, in East Freedom, Pennsylvania.

Bill Shuster was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania on January 10, 1961.  After graduating from Everett High School he attended Dickinson College in Carlisle, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History.  Shortly thereafter he went on to earn a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from American University in Washington, D.C.

Congressman Shuster resides in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania with his wife and two children.