About Jeb Hensarling

STANDING ON PRINCIPLES

• Congressman Jeb Hensarling is a life-long conservative dedicated to advancing the principles of faith, family, free enterprise, and freedom.
• An outspoken advocate for limited government and unlimited opportunity, Jeb has fought to end bailouts, stop a government takeover of our healthcare system, control spending, keep taxes low, defend families, strengthen our homeland security, and support our troops.
• The Dallas Morning News said that Jeb has emerged as a “rising congressional star” and is a “man of conviction”.
• The 2010 Almanac of American Politics reports that Congressman Hensarling has a “solidly conservative voting record” and “has not been afraid to push Republican leaders to take more conservative positions.”

LEADING BY EXAMPLE

• Since coming to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2003, Jeb Hensarling has established himself as a national conservative leader. Jeb served as the titular head of the conservative movement in the U.S. House for two years when he chaired the Republican Study Committee in 2007 and 2008.
• From his senior posts today on the Budget Committee and the Financial Services Committee, Jeb continues to lead the fight to:
  • Control spending

    During his first term and in each subsequent Congress, Jeb introduced major budget reform legislation that was heralded as the “Gold Standard” of budget enforcement legislation by taxpayer watchdog groups. He was dubbed “Rep. Budget Reform” by National Review.

    Jeb introduced the most conservative budget in the House of Representatives for three years in a row.

  • Provide tax relief

    In order to stimulate the economy last year, Jeb coauthored the Economic Growth Act, which would cut the top corporate income tax rate from 35% to 25%, reduce the capital gains tax rate for businesses to 15%, and allow them to fully and immediately expense business assets.

    Jeb also co-authored the Taxpayer Choice Act, a comprehensive, individual income tax reform initiative with two principal aims: eliminate massive future tax increases by repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax, and provide individuals with a modern alternative tax system that is transparent, simple, and efficient.

  • End federal bailout mania

    Jeb co-authored a taxpayer-friendly alternative to TARP in 2008 and voted against TARP twice on the House floor.

    The New York Times reported that Congressman Hensarling was, “one of the most vocal critics” of the 2008 bailout plan.

    Jeb co-authored financial market regulatory restructuring legislation (H.R. 3310) that would end taxpayer-funded bailouts of failed companies once and for all.

  • Advocate for accountability and transparency in the earmark process

    Jeb does not seek earmarks and has been a leader in the earmark reform movement. Congress Daily described him as an “anti-earmark crusader.” Since House rules allowed Members of Congress with the ability to do so, Congressman Hensarling has attempted to strike earmarks from annual spending bills.

    He has a 100% voting record on the Club for Growth’s Re-Pork Card, meaning that he’s voted for every anti-earmark amendment on the floor that the Club has scored.

• His leadership and fight for economic freedom and fiscal responsibility has earned him consistent recognition:
  • Congressman Hensarling has received National Taxpayers Union’s highest award, the coveted Taxpayer Friend, for 5 consecutive years. Congressman Hensarling twice had the second-highest pro-taxpayer score and averages fourth-highest in the entire House throughout his career. According to NTU’s Bill Tally, Congressman Hensarling has amassed the #1 or #2 most taxpayer-friendly spending agenda in each Congress he has served.
  • Americans for Tax Reform has recognized Congressman Hensarling with a 97% lifetime voting record and awarded him with their highest award, the Hero of the Taxpayer, each year he’s served in Congress.
  • The Club for Growth awarded Congressman Hensarling with a 100% lifetime score in its Congressional Scorecard and FreedomWorks awarded Congressman Hensarling with two straight 100% scores in its congressional ratings and its 2008 Legislative Entrepreneur Award.
  • While he voted against TARP twice, Jeb served as the lone Member of Congress on the Congressional Oversight Panel for TARP for over one year. As one of five appointed TARP overseers, he fought for taxpayer protection and to hold the Obama Administration accountable for its use of the $700 billion program.
  • Congressman Hensarling was appointed by Republican leadership to serve on the President’s 18 member bi-partisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.
• Today, he continues the fight for faith, family, freedom, and free enterprise – and against the rising tide of government control in our free market, against the government takeover of health care, and against the a crippling debt being foisted upon our children and grandchildren.

PERSONAL BACKGROUND

• Jeb was born in Stephenville, Texas, and grew up working on his father's farm near College Station.
• Jeb was an active student leader at Texas A&M University, where he earned his Bachelor's degree in economics in 1979.
• He went on to earn a law degree from the University of Texas in 1982.
• After serving on Senator Phil Gramm's staff for several years, Jeb spent ten years in the private sector. His experience in helping to create jobs and having to meet a regular payroll have made him an ally of small business.
• Jeb and his wife Melissa are members of St. Michael and All Angels Church and reside in Dallas with their two children, Claire and Travis.