Gene Green

Raymond Eugene “Gene” Green (born October 17, 1947) is the U.S. Representative for TX's 29th congressional district, serving since 1993. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes most of eastern Houston, along with large portions of Houston's eastern suburbs.

Early life, education, and early career
Green was born in Houston and he graduated from the University of Houston, earning a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1971 and a law degree in 1977. He held positions as a business manager and a private attorney prior to his election to Congress.

Texas legislature
Green was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1972. He was elected to the Texas Senate in 1985.

Elections
Green was first elected to the U.S. House in 1992. Although the 29th was (then as now) drawn as a majority-Hispanic district, Green finished second in the five-way Democratic primary, behind city councilman Ben Reyes. Green defeated Reyes in the runoff by only 180 votes, all but assuring him of election in this heavily Democratic district. Green has been reelected eight times, never facing substantive electoral opposition. He ran unopposed in 1998, 2002 and 2004.

Tenure
Green is presently the only Anglo Democrat representing a significant portion of Houston, and one of only three in the entire Texas delegation (the others being Lloyd Doggett and Beto O'Rourke).

Since 1996, Green has been a member of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee. In 2011, he became Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy. He also serves on the Subcommittee on Energy and Power and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

Legislative Issues
Since being elected to the House of Representatives, Green has been a champion of education, labor, energy, domestic manufacturing, health issues, NASA's Johnson Space Center, and preserving Social Security and Veterans benefits. He has worked hard to improve access to quality health care, support initiatives to improve our economy and increased job training, and maintain financial aid for students.

Congressman Green voted in favor of the Iraq Resolution in 2002, and gave a speech on the house floor linking Saddam Hussein to the 9/11 attacks. Despite the Democratic leadership's general disapproval of the war, Green has voted against measures aimed at placing a timetable on military withdrawal.

In September 2004, he proposed the Every Vote Counts Amendment, which would have abolished the U.S. electoral college in United States presidential elections.

According to an online CNN wire staff news story by Vivian Kuo, Carol Cratty, and Michael Martinez posted on Tuesday, August 30, 2011, "The FBI and local Texas authorities are investigating reports of gunshots Tuesday striking the north Houston office..." of Green.

Congressman Green has also proposed legislation addressing domestic and global electronic waste (e-waste) concerns. H.R. 2284, The Responsible Electronics Recycling Act of 2011, was introduced in the 112th Congress to prohibit the exportation of some electronics whose improper disposal may create environmental, health, or national security risks.

Rep. Green also served on the Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health during drafting of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 and helped write and amend the legislation. Since then, he has continued to be a champion for increased access to affordable and quality health care.

Committee assignments

 * Committee on Energy and Commerce
 * Subcommittee on Energy and Power
 * Subcommittee on Environment and Economy (Ranking Member)
 * Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations


 * Caucus Memberships
 * Congressional Arts Caucus

Personal life
In 1970 he married Helen Albers Green. Helen retired after teaching math in the Aldine Independent School District for 26 years. They have two children; Dr. Angela Green Hewlett and Christopher Green, and four grandchildren, Lauren Elissa Hewlett, Braden Alexander Hewlett, Dylan Eugene Green, and Tristan Michael Green. The Green family attends Spring Woods United Methodist Church in Houston.

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