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I am a fourth generation Oklahoman, who has tackled many key policy issues since being elected to Congress in 2002.

I have fought hard for my constituents with the common sense Oklahoma values of less government, fiscal restraint and working to ensure that Americans keep more of their hard earned tax dollars in their pockets and out of the hands of Washington bureaucrats. I am a cosponsor of the Fair Tax Act, which will abolish our nation's dated tax system. As a member of the Republican Study Committee, a fiscally-conservative group of House members, I took the lead to slow the growth of the federal government and control runaway spending.

I am pleased to continue my service on the influential House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The oldest legislative standing committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, this committee is responsible for legislative oversight relating to telecommunications, consumer protection, food and drug safety, public health, air quality and environmental health, the supply and delivery of energy, and interstate and foreign commerce. Within the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I am proud to serve on the Energy and Environment, Commerce Trade and Consumer Protection, and Oversight and Investigations subcommittees.

As a Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I developed a comprehensive plan to fix our broken health care system a plan that includes prevention and detection, a plan that ensures access to quality care for all Americans and a plan which addresses the issue of long term care. We must increase access and affordability of health care, while still maintaining the high quality of care our doctors give to Americans every day. I look forward to working in Congress to make health care affordable and accessible for Oklahomans and all Americans.

This is why I am proud to sponsor the Strengthening the Safety Net Act, legislation to help Oklahoma hospitals to offset the costs of uncompensated care and help Oklahoma's medically vulnerable population get access to quality health care outside of the emergency room setting, saving money for both hospitals and taxpayers alike. I also sponsored legislation to ensure that Oklahoma seniors continue to have the option of end of life hospice care and was proud to recently to bring mental health parity to Oklahoma and our nation. Oklahoma ranks as one of the top states in the nation in the number of people struggling with mental illness almost 1/4th of the population of the state.

In addition, I am serving my second term as a member of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Climate Change. As one of the only six Republicans and the only Oklahoman appointed to the panel, I am leading the fight to ensure that Oklahoma has a seat at the table as Congress debates a host of major climate changes issues that will directly impact the economy and jobs in our state.

I have also been influential in the area of immigration reform. I have continually called for an increase in border security and for no amnesty for those who are already in the United States illegally. I am responsible for securing a permanent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office for Tulsa. Previously, I worked to increase the number of ICE agents in the Oklahoma City field office from a mere four field agents to their current twelve agents and to bring the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys 287(g) immigration training program to Tulsa. A visit to the U.S.-Mexico border in October 2005 confirmed my fears that too many illegal aliens and potential terrorists were slipping into the United States undetected.

I was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The oldest of four siblings, my parents, Daniel and Mag Sullivan taught me the importance of faith and family. I currently live in Tulsa with my wife, Judy, and my four children: Tommy, Meredith, Sydney and Daniel. I graduated from Northeastern State University and, prior to being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, worked as a small businessman in Tulsa in the fields of energy, transportation, real estate and investments. My prior experience in the Tulsa business community gives me a unique understanding of some of the major legislative issues facing the First District. I was also proud to serve the Tulsa area in the Oklahoma House of Representatives for seven years, including acting as minority whip. During my time in Tulsa, my family and I continue our long and abiding history of volunteerism through active involvement in organizations such as Tulsa Catholic Charities and Bishop Kelley High School.