Pete Sessions (TX-17)

Biography

Pete Sessions represents Texas's 17th congressional district, which includes Waco , Huntsville, Nacogdoches, Lufkin, and Round Rock. Born Peter Anderson Sessions on March 22, 1955, in Waco, Texas, he is a longtime Republican leader who first entered Congress in 1997, served until 2019 , lost reelection in 2018 to Democrat Colin Allred, and won back a seat in the 17th district in 2020. Notable achievements include chairing the House Rules Committee , where he advanced the Republican agenda and bipartisan efforts; chairing the National Republican Congressional Committee , leading to a 63-seat GOP gain in 2010; sponsoring the Family Opportunity Act of 2005 to provide healthcare for families of medically fragile children; and passing the Border Tunnel Task Force Act in 2018 to combat illegal border tunneling. He currently serves as a senior member on the House Financial Services Committee and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and has passed more legislation than any other Texas delegation member.

Education and Political Experience

Sessions attended Waco public schools through ninth grade, became an Eagle Scout, and played sports while delivering newspapers. His father, William Sessions, was a federal judge and FBI Director under President Reagan, instilling a sense of public duty. Before Congress, he worked in leadership roles, including at the Federal Reserve. Politically, he has 28 years in Congress , helped balance the federal budget , and aligns strongly with Republican positions .