Biography
Congressman DesJarlais was first elected to represent Tennessee's Fourth Congressional District in 2010 and is currently serving his third term in Congress.
In Washington, Congressman DesJarlais has built a reputation as a conservative leader. He is consistently rated as one of the most effective conservatives in Congress by groups like Heritage, the American Conservative Union and Americans for Prosperity. Additionally, Congressman DesJarlais has received a 100 percent rating from the National Right to Life for his pro-life voting record, an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association, and an “A” rating from Numbers USA, the leading organization seeking to combat illegal immigration.
Congressman DesJarlais has a proven track record of fighting for policies that that will return fiscal discipline to Washington, strengthen our nation’s economy, and end the flow of illegal immigration. While in Congress he has voted to balance the budget, repeal ObamaCare, and eliminate waste in the food stamp program.
Among the Congressman’s legislative accomplishments include successfully passing legislation giving the Department of Defense the authority to allow members of the military to carry firearms at recruiting stations. This legislation was introduced as a direct response to the Chattanooga terrorist attack that claimed the lives of four U.S. Marines and a sailor.
Congressman DesJarlais serves on three committees that allow him to address and influence many issues important to the Fourth District. These include:
Congressman DesJarlais is also a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus as well as the GOP Doctors Caucus.
Congressman DesJarlais earned degrees in Chemistry and Psychology from the University of South Dakota and went on to receive his Doctor of Medicine from the University of South Dakota School of Medicine.
Congressman DesJarlais and his wife Amy have three children: Tyler, Ryan and Maggie. The DesJarlais family are members of the Epiphany Episcopal Church in Sherwood, Tennessee, where Amy grew up.