Meet Pete Sessions

A native Texan, Congressman Pete Sessions is a hardworking and straightforward conservative leader who believes that there is a solution to every problem in America.

First elected to Congress in 1996, Pete Sessions focuses on reforms that will lead to a better life for all Americans. His goals in Congress include advancing a job creation, providing quality education for all Americans, lowering taxes, reducing teen drug use, and guaranteeing the retirement security of every generation of Americans. Noting that character does matter, he believes that no elected official is above the law and must be accountable for his actions.

Congressman Sessions has proudly served on the powerful House Rules Committee for 11 years. Most known for its role as legislative gatekeeper, the Rules Committee also has important oversight responsibilities. These responsibilities include oversight of the rules of the House, the House’s internal organization, the Congressional budget process, the ethics process, and relations between Congress and the Executive and Judicial Branches. With the broad reach of the Rules Committee, he is able to influence every piece of legislation before it reaches the House floor.

Because of the intense legislative responsibility of the House Rules Committee, the rules of the House required Congressman Sessions to relinquish his membership on the Government Reform and Oversight Committee, then-Select Committee on Homeland Security, and the Science Committee. He remains on leave from the Financial Services Committee, where he maintains committee membership seniority.

Pete Sessions was born on March 22, 1955 and grew up in Waco. After graduating from Southwestern University in 1978, he joined Southwestern Bell Telephone Company where he worked for the next 16 years. Pete served as District Manager for Marketing in Dallas. Pete’s corporate and private sector experience gives him expert insight in understanding government and fighting bureaucracy. In 1993, Pete retired from the private sector to run for Congress against John Bryant (D-TX). In 1994-1995, he served as Vice President for Public Policy at the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA), a Dallas-based conservative public policy research institute.

Each week, Congressman Pete Sessions spends time working in Texas. He travels throughout his Congressional District visiting schools, meeting with community leaders and touring local businesses. Congressman Sessions resides in Dallas with his wife, Nete, and their two sons, Bill (in college) and Alex.

Pete Sessions is an Eagle Scout, a former Scout Master for 13 Eagle Scouts, and a recipient of the National Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is also a member of the United Methodist Church. Congressman Sessions continues to be active in the North Texas community where he is an Honorary East Dallas Rotarian, a member of the White Rock YMCA board, and an advisor to the President of Special Olympics Texas.