Dean Heller was sworn in to the United States Senate on May 9, 2011. Prior to Heller's service in the Senate, he was the Representative for Nevada's Second Congressional District. Senator Heller has also served as Nevada's Secretary of State and in the Nevada State Assembly representing Carson City.

Since coming to Congress, Heller has fought for smaller government, the elimination of wasteful spending, and a balanced budget. He has been at the forefront of the fight for fiscal responsibility in Washington, voted against hundreds of billions in tax increases, and fought the expansion of government and out-of-control spending. Heller is also the only member of the Nevada delegation to vote against the Wall Street bailout. In addition, Heller has fought for fiscal policies that promote economic recovery and believes controlling government spending will create an environment where businesses can flourish and foster long-term economic growth.

Heller currently serves on the Committee on Finance; Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee; Committee on Veterans' Affairs; the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee; and the Special Committee on Aging. Jobs and the economy continue to be Senator Heller's top priorities. These committees allow him to address the housing crisis, Nevada's rising veterans' population, ensure that Nevada's transportation needs are met, and foster a regulatory climate that does not impede interstate commerce. Appointment to these committees also gives both urban and rural Nevada an advocate for some of the most important issues facing Nevada's communities. Whether working to encourage tourism or renewable energy development, these committees have direct influence over some of the most important issues for the state of Nevada.

Dean has provided strong leadership for Nevada on issues such as mining, public lands access, and wildfire prevention. In both the House and the Senate, Heller has fought to defend private property rights and promote balanced public land management. He continues to be successful in moving public lands legislation beneficial to local communities throughout Nevada.

As a former member of the House Ways and Means Committee, Heller has fought for responsible policies that preserve Medicare and Social Security and will continue these efforts as a member of the Senate Aging Committee. Because Ways and Means oversees tax policy, Dean also advocated for tax reform that helps the middle class keep more of what they earn.

Heller grew up with five brothers and sisters in Carson City, where he attended high school. In 1985 he received a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California, specializing in finance and securities analysis. He worked as a stockbroker and as a broker/trader on the Pacific Stock Exchange prior to moving back to Carson City with his wife Lynne.

Dean and Lynne have been married for more than 30 years and currently reside in Smith Valley. They have four children: Hilary, Harris, Drew, and Emmy. Dean is the proud grandfather of Brielle and Zachary.