Biography

Congressman Charles W. Boustany Jr., M.D., a cardiovascular surgeon with more than 20 years of experience, was first elected to Congress in December 2004.  Serving his fourth term in office, Boustany represents Louisiana’s Seventh Congressional District, which covers Acadiana and Southwest Louisiana.  Boustany has championed healthcare reform, sound energy policy and hurricane recovery with time-proven solutions for all Americans.

Official Portrait

As a physician, Congressman Boustany understands the importance of healthcare and is at the forefront of healthcare policy in Congress.  He believes the patient-doctor relationship is the most important part of healthcare and has worked to implement patient-centered healthcare solutions.  Increased access to tax-free health savings accounts (HSAs) represent one opportunity for patients to strengthen their control over their healthcare decisions, and Boustany introduced legislation allowing seniors and veterans to participate.

Much of America’s energy flows through Southwest Louisiana, and Congressman Boustany promotes responsible American energy production to help the American economy prosper.  Agri-based energy alternatives and American ingenuity are a critical part of fulfilling the nation’s energy demands.
 
Boustany is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and serves as chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight.  Additionally, he sits on the Ways and Means subcommittees for Human Resources and Select Revenue Measures.  As chairman of Oversight, Boustany focuses on revising the tax code to make it easier for American businesses to compete, which in turn will create jobs, and highlight the job killing aspects of the health care bill. Boustany will work with the committee to promote sound economic development, expand markets for U.S. produced goods and work to put programs like Medicare and Social Security on solid financial footing.

Congressman Boustany was raised in Lafayette and received his bachelor's degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette) before graduating from the Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans in 1982.  He returned to Lafayette in 1990 and began a successful medical practice.  For fourteen years, he ran a small business and was committed to helping others by providing the highest quality healthcare to his patients and the community.  In Congress, Congressman Boustany is committed to serving the people of Southwest Louisiana with the same dedication and care that he provided as a physician and community leader.

Charles and his wife Bridget reside in Lafayette and have two adult children.