Bobby Jindal Congressman
of Louisiana.
Biography
Louisiana native Bobby Jindal is proud to be the
Freshman Congressman representing the First District
of Louisiana.
Elected to Congress on November 2, 2004, Bobby
has set a strong agenda for his first term - Working
to improve economic development in Louisiana so our
children do not have to leave the state to find a
job - Securing our homeland and winning the War on
Terrorism - Improving our health care system so everyone
has access to quality, affordable health care - Protecting
the natural treasures of Louisiana, preserving our
beautiful coast and enhancing our role in supplying
oil and gas to the world.
His role as Freshman Class President and appointments
to the House Committee on Homeland Security, the House
Committee on Resources, and the House Committee on
Education and the Workforce uniquely position him
to be able to address his priorities and best serve
the people of Louisiana.
1996
In 1996, two years after graduate school at Oxford
University as a Rhodes Scholar, he was appointed Secretary
of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals
(DHH). There were many issues that needed resolving
during his tenure, not the least of which was the
growing deficit in Louisiana's Medicaid program. Focusing
his attention on the problem, Jindal led the effort
to revamp the system, turning the $400 million deficit
he inherited into a surplus of $220 million in just
three years.
1998
In 1998, Bobby left DHH and was appointed Executive
Director of the National Bipartisan Commission on
the Future of Medicare, a 17-member panel under the
chairmanship of Senator John Breaux (D-LA) and Congressman
Bill Thomas (R-CA). As Executive Director, Bobby was
responsible for the day to day operation of the Commission.
The Chairmen's recommendations continue to be the
driving force behind much of the ongoing debate on
how to strengthen and improve Medicare.
1999:
Bobby returned to Louisiana state government in 1999,
when he accepted an appointment to become President
of the University of Louisiana System. The system,
which includes Grambling State University, Louisiana
Tech University, McNeese State University, Nicholls
State University, Northwestern State University, Southeastern
Louisiana University, the University of Louisiana
at Lafayette and the University of Louisiana at Monroe,
is the 16th largest higher education system in the
country. In any year, the system oversees the education
of 80,000 individuals.
After serving in that capacity for two years, Bobby
was appointed Assistant Secretary for Planning and
Evaluation of the United States Department of Health
and Human Services. This Presidential appointment
made Bobby a senior health policy advisor to President
George W. Bush.
Bobby is a native of Louisiana, born in Baton Rouge.
He is a graduate of the Louisiana Public School System,
Brown University (with a 4.0 Grade Point Average)
and Oxford University, which he attended as a Rhodes
Scholar, having turned down admissions to medical
and law schools at both Harvard and Yale.
This is his first time in elected office. He ran
for Governor of Louisiana in 2003, fulfilling his
promise not to run a negative campaign. Instead, he
focused his efforts on a positive message and addressed
the needs of Louisiana, the same message he brings
to the U.S. House of Representatives.
He is married and the father of two young children;
his wife and children live in the district in Louisiana.
