Dr. Charles W. Boustany, Jr. was first elected to Congress in December 2004 following a successful career as a cardio-thoracic surgeon. Currently serving his second term in office, Boustany represents Louisiana’s Seventh Congressional District, which covers the regions of Acadiana and Southwest Louisiana. Boustany has been credited for his focus on finding innovative ways to improve healthcare, enhance economic opportunities, and protect the values and communities of Southwest Louisiana. After Hurricane Rita made landfall in October 2005, Charles worked tirelessly in Washington and at home to address the critical needs facing his constituents.
In Congress, Charles serves on the House Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Education and Labor, and Agriculture. These committee assignments provide many opportunities to have a direct impact on the 7th Congressional District.
As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Charles serves on the Water Resources and Environment and the Highways and Transit Subcommittees. During the upcoming reauthorization of the Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA), Charles is committed to exploring solutions to restore Louisiana’s eroding coastline.
At the Committee on Education and Labor, Charles will serve on the Subcommittees on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions; and Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education. In these capacities, Charles will continue to lend his professional medical perspective to his colleagues, particularly to stress the importance of expanding healthcare coverage for owners and employees of small businesses through association health plans.
With the upcoming reauthorization of the Farm Bill, Charles is committed to fighting for the farmers and rural communities of Southwest Louisiana as a member of the House Committee on Agriculture. During the 110th Congress, Charles serves on the Subcommittees of Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry, as well as General Farm Commodities and Risk Management, which has direct jurisdiction over key crops such as rice and soybeans.
Charles was raised in Lafayette, where he graduated from Cathedral Carmel High School and the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette). He continued his education at Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans, where he received his Doctorate of Medicine in 1982. Upon completion of his residency in 1990, Charles returned to Southwest Louisiana and began a successful medical practice. For fourteen years, he was committed to helping others by providing the highest quality healthcare possible to his patients and his community.
In addition to caring for thousands of patients in his years of practice, Charles has also established himself as one of Southwest Louisiana’s most civic-minded citizens. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, and the Executive Board of Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce as Vice President for Government Affairs. He was also an active member of the Lafayette Parish Medical Society, where he served one term as its President. In Congress, Representative Boustany is committed to serving the people of Southwest Louisiana with the same dedication and care that he provided as a physician and community leader.
Charles and his wife Bridget met while attending the University of Southwestern Louisiana. They have two children, Erik and Ashley.