Gene Green | |
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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 29th district |
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Assumed office January 3, 1993 |
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Preceded by | District established |
Member of the Texas Senate from the 6th district |
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In office 1987–1993 |
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Preceded by | Lindon Williams |
Succeeded by | Dan Shelley |
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 140th district |
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In office 1981–1985 |
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Preceded by | District Created |
Succeeded by | Gene Haney |
In office 1973–1981 |
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Preceded by | J. W. Buchanan |
Succeeded by | Reby Cary |
Personal details | |
Born |
Houston, Texas |
October 17, 1947
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Helen Green |
Residence | Houston, Texas |
Alma mater | University of Houston |
Occupation | attorney |
Religion | Methodist |
Raymond Eugene "Gene" Green (born October 17, 1947) is the U.S. Representative for Texas's 29th congressional district, serving since 1993. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes most of eastern Houston, along with large portions of Houston's eastern suburbs.
Green was born in Houston and he graduated from the University of Houston, earning a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1971 and a law degree in 1977. He held positions as a business manager and a private attorney prior to his election to Congress.
Green was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1972. He was elected to the Texas Senate in 1985.
Green was first elected to the U.S. House in 1992. Although the 29th was (then as now) drawn as a majority-Hispanic district, Green finished second in the five-way Democratic primary, behind city councilman Ben Reyes. Green defeated Reyes in the runoff by only 180 votes, all but assuring him of election in this heavily Democratic district. Green has been reelected eight times, never facing substantive electoral opposition. He ran unopposed in 1998, 2002 and 2004.
Green is the only Non-Hispanic white Democrat representing a significant portion of Houston, and one of only three in the entire Texas delegation (the others being Lloyd Doggett and Beto O'Rourke).
Since 1996, Green has been a member of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee. In 2011, he became Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy. He also serves on the Subcommittee on Energy and Power and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
Since being elected to the House of Representatives, Green has been working on education, labor, energy, domestic manufacturing, health issues, NASA's Johnson Space Center, and Social Security and veterans benefits. He has worked to improve access to quality health care, support initiatives to improve our economy and increased job training, and maintain financial aid for students.