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A Blue Dog, a Boll Weevil, a farmer, a third generation Texan, a father,
a very proud grandfather--all of these describe Congressman Charles W.
(Charlie) Stenholm of the 17th Congressional District of Texas.
Charlie Stenholm arrived in Washington with a vision of amplifying the
voice of mainstream, rural America in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Now hailed as "the guy who leads by example and experience," Stenholm continues
to proudly represent residents of the sprawling, 32 county, 17th District
of Texas. As a genuine native son, he personifies a district characterized
by traditional beliefs and conservative values, agriculture, oil and gas,
and a variety of small businesses.
Known for his trademark cowboy boots and a good-natured but no-nonsense,
common-sense style, Stenholm often assumes the role of bridge builder between
political parties, ideological extremes, and generational opposites.
"If it grows out of the ground, Charlie Stenholm understands it," noted
a colleague, commenting on Stenholm's vast agricultural experience, including
his continued active involvement in his Jones County family cotton farm.
Having served on the Agriculture Committee since his Washington arrival,
Stenholm won the post of Ranking Democrat on the Committee in the 105th
Congress. There, he focuses on expanding agricultural world trade,
streamlining the agricultural bureaucracy, boosting agricultural research
and promoting the needs of agriculture producers and consumers.
Named "the spiritual godfather of fiscal austerity," Stenholm has consistently
advanced fiscal responsibility in the federal budget. Originally
a lone voice in the wilderness, Stenholm's persistence over the years finally
resulted in House passage of his Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment
in the 104th Congress, which subsequently met defeat by just one vote in
the Senate. The actual balanced budget plans which Stenholm crafted
in both the 104th and 105th Congresses with a group of moderate and conservative Democrats known as the "Blue Dog Coalition"
have received wide national acclaim as the most honest, pragmatic, and
fair proposals on the table.
In addition to agriculture and budget, Stenholm has shown leadership
on an unusually wide portfolio of legislative activities, including health
care, small business protections, social security, welfare reform, juvenile
justice, and restricting unfunded mandates. His demonstrated independence
allows careful responsiveness to constituent opinion.
Increasingly mindful of the growing need for improved Congressional
comity and cooperation, Stenholm played an active role on the steering
committee of the first ever House-wide bipartisan retreat in Hershey, Pennsylvania,
held without taxpayer or interest group expense. The steering committee
is pursuing additional avenues to higher levels of civility in the 106th
Congress. Stenholm continues to find the weekly Prayer Breakfast
to be one of the greatest sources of non-partisan, positive fellowship
for Members of the House.
Stenholm graduated from Tarleton State Junior College and Texas Tech
University, and has received honorary Doctor of Law degrees from Abilene
Christian, Hardin-Simmons, and McMurry Universities.
Charlie and his wife Cindy have three children (Chris, Cary, and Courtney)
and two grandchildren (Chase and Cole). All of the Stenholms live in Texas. Charlie and Cindy
are members of the Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ericksdahl.
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