U.S. Congressman Tim Walz is currently serving his third term representing Minnesota’s First Congressional District. The First Congressional District spans the southern part of Minnesota – from the South Dakota border in the west to the Wisconsin border in the east.

Walz proudly serves the people of southern Minnesota on three committees in the United States House of Representatives: Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure and Veterans Affairs. He also is one of nine House Members to serve on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. In the 112th Congress, Walz will serve in leadership posts with the Congressional Rural Caucus and the National Guard and Reserve Caucus.

Tim Walz was born in West Point, Nebraska and is the son of a public school administrator and community activist. As a child, Tim’s parents instilled in him the values of hard work and community service.

Walz enlisted in the Army National Guard at the young age of 17, and retired 24 years later as Command Sergeant Major. Before retiring, Walz served overseas with his battalion in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Walz is the highest ranking enlisted soldier ever to serve in Congress.

In 1989, Walz earned a B.S. in social science education from Chadron State College in Nebraska. Walz spent 1989-1990 teaching high school in China as a part of the first government sanctioned groups of American educators to teach in China through a program at Harvard University.

When he returned from China, Walz began teaching high school in Nebraska. While in Nebraska, Walz met his wife Gwen Whipple. Married in 1994, Tim and Gwen Walz moved back to Gwen’s native southern Minnesota where both began teaching and coaching at Mankato West High School. Walz is presently on unpaid leave from Mankato West High School while he serves in the United States Congress.

Since coming to Congress, Walz has made improving the care of our nation’s veterans a top priority. Last year, the Rochester Post Bulletin said “Walz has relentless energy, and he brings a soldier's work ethic to the House.”

He has been recognized for his work in Congress with awards from AMVETS, the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, the American Cancer Society, the National Association of Development Organizations, and the Matthew Shepard Foundation

Congressman and Mrs. Walz live in Mankato with their two young children, Hope and Gus.