About Charles

Louisiana needs and deserves a leader in Washington, DC, with a conservative, proven record of accomplishments, articulate solutions and earnest leadership. Congressman Charles W. Boustany, Jr., MD, a heart surgeon with more than 20 years of experience, was first elected to Congress in 2004 and is that proven leader in Congress-- on healthcare issues, restoring fiscal discipline, protecting Medicare, increasing energy supplies, and expanding opportunities for Louisiana businesses to succeed.

Serving his fourth term in office, Boustany sits on the authoritative House Ways and Means Committee and holds the Chairmanship of the Oversight Subcommittee. Boustany’s position builds upon the historic legacy of former Louisiana Congressional members who have chaired these critical committees and understood the unique position Louisiana holds in America on energy, maritime, and fiscal issues.

As a physician, husband, and father, Congressman Boustany understands the complexity of health care issues and is at the forefront of the debate in Congress, taking the lead in opposing the President’s healthcare law by delivering the official Republican response to the President’s health care speech in 2009. For Dr. Boustany, the patient-doctor relationship is a critical aspect of healthcare and he has worked to implement patient-centered healthcare solutions.

America depends on the energy Louisiana produces and Congressman Boustany is the most respected advocate for promoting Louisiana’s energy resources. He is leading the fight to bring back drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, to gain approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline, and to promote the development and use of the natural resources in our country. Safe and responsible energy production creates tens of thousands of jobs in Louisiana and Boustany has been a leading proponent of American energy production. The ingenuity and dedication shown by Louisiana’s employees and businesses are critical to finding the best innovations and technologies to solve our energy needs.

Congressman Boustany has been a forceful advocate for coastal restoration and recovery efforts following the devastating hurricanes affecting Louisiana. Following the hurricanes of 2005, Boustany directed legislation critical to the recovery of South Louisiana, including legislation authorizing more than $1.7 billion for Louisiana infrastructure efforts. A vital piece of this legislation provides for the first-ever study to determine the pathway for building levees in South Louisiana to protect key energy and maritime infrastructure, thousands of homes, and acres of wetlands.

Congressman Boustany, the son of Mrs. Madlyn Hilliard and the late Dr. Charles Boustany, Sr., is the oldest of ten children and was raised in Lafayette, where he graduated from Cathedral Carmel High School. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana, and Doctorate of Medicine from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans. He returned to Lafayette in 1990 and began a successful medical practice in cardiovascular surgery, committed to helping others by providing the highest quality healthcare to his patients and the community.

In addition to caring for thousands of patients over the course of his practice, Congressman Boustany established himself as one of South Louisiana’s leading citizens. He served on the Board of Directors for the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and Lafayette General Hospital. In addition, he was the President of the Lafayette Parish Medical Society where he led efforts to improve affordable access to health care in the community. As a Congressman, Dr. 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 is married to the former Bridget Edwards of Crowley and they have two children, their son Erik, married to the former Caree Robin of Breaux Bridge and their daughter Ashley, married to Jacques Dugal of Sunset.