Bill Sali's Biography

William T. "Bill" Sali, born February 17, 1954, represents Idaho's First Congressional District. Sali previously served for 16 years in the Idaho State House of Representatives.

Sali was born in Portsmouth, Ohio in 1954, and moved to Idaho with his family in 1962. He graduated from Boise State University in 1981 and the University of Idaho law school in 1984.

He was first elected to the Idaho House of Representatives in 1990. Sali served as vice-chairman of the state House Health and Welfare Committee and as Chairman of the Special Committee on Health Care. He also sat on the Commerce, Industry and Tourism Committee, the Human Resources Committees, and the Judiciary, Rules, and Administration Committee.

On May 23, 2006, Sali won the Republican nomination for U.S. House in Idaho's First Congressional District. Sali earned endorsements from the entire Idaho congressional delegation. He also received strong support from then-House Speaker Dennis Hastert and RNC Chair Ken Mehlman, who both made Idaho appearances on behalf of Sali, in Post Falls and Boise, respectively. Vice President Dick Cheney visited twice, once in Boise and once in Coeur d'Alene.

Sali was elected to the United States Congress on November 7, 2006, defeating his opponent 50% to 45%. He was subsequently elected president of the 13-Member 2007-08 House GOP freshman class and has been appointed to the House Natural Resources and Government Oversight and Reform Committees.

Mr. Sali and his wife, Terry, reside in Kuna. Bill and Terry have been married for 30 years and have six children and five lovely grandchildren. Prior to his career in law and politics, Sali was a professional musician, a farmer and a Caterpillar machinery salesman.