10 Things You Didn't Know About Henry Waxman

1. Henry Waxman was born on Sept. 12, 1939, in Los Angeles. His parents were children of Jewish immigrants, and his father, a fan of Franklin Roosevelt, worked as a grocer.
2. Waxman graduated from UCLA in 1961 with a degree in political science. He received his juris doctor from UCLA Law School in 1964. In college, he was a member of the Young Democrats.
3. Before entering Congress in 1974 as a Democrat, Waxman served three terms in the California State Assembly. He was chairman of the Health Committee, the Committee on Elections and Reapportionment, and the Select Committee on Medical Malpractice.
4. Despite being a former smoker, Waxman fought for tobacco regulation for years. In 1994, he forced seven tobacco-company CEOs to swear under oath that nicotine was not addictive.
5. A leader on environmental issues, he introduced the first climate bill in Congress in 1992.
6. Waxman stands 5 feet, 5 inches tall.
7. The wall space behind Waxman's desk is adorned with copies of bills he has passed in Washington. The copies are framed alongside the pens he used to sign them.
8. Waxman is married to Janet Kessler. They have a daughter and four grandchildren.
9. He became the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in 2008 after defeating Michigan Rep. John Dingell, 137 to 122, in a secret vote by House Democrats. Dingell is the longest-serving member of the House of Representatives.
10. Although the district Waxman represents includes West Hollywood, he has never attended the Academy Awards ceremony.

Sources:

• Waxman.house.gov
• Washington Monthly
• Congress.org