There are currently 541 members of Congress. The document provides demographic information about members such as age, gender, religion, and party affiliation. It also provides details about two Senators and one Representative from Texas, as well as information about the Senate and House leadership including the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, and majority and minority leaders in both chambers. The document concludes with sections on current healthcare reform legislation and issues.

1. Congress Project By: Shelby and River

2. About our Congress We are currently in the 111 th Congressional Session. There are 541 Congressional members total.

3. Demographics- Age Range

4. Demographics- Gender

5. Demographics- Marital Status

6. Demographics- Top 5 Religions

7. Demographics-Ethnicity

8. Demographics- Party

9. Demographics- Top 5 Occupational Backgrounds

10. Congress Members from Texas Senator John Cornyn Year Elected: 2002 # of Terms: 2 Year of Re-election: November 4, 2014 Political Work: Bexar Co. District Judge, 1984-1990; TX Supreme Court, 1991-97; TX Atty. General, 1999-2002. Home State: Houston, Texas Extra Info: Married, currently lives in Austin, and was previously an attorney.

11. Congress Members from Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson Year Elected: June 5, 1993 # of Terms: 1 Year of Re-election: November 6, 2012 Political Work: Texas State Treasurer Texas House of Representatives Home State: Galveston, TX Extra Info: First woman to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate. married

12. Congress Member from Texas We are in the 6 th District of Texas. The Sixth District is made up of Ellis County, Navarro County, a portion of Limestone County, Freestone County, Leon County, Houston County, a portion of Trinity county and a portion of Tarrant County. There are 32 representatives for Texas. Map of the 6 th District of Texas

13. Congress Members from Texas Joe Barton 13 th Term Republican Year Elected: 2004 as Chairman of the House Prev. Political Exp: no prior elected office Home State: Waco, Texas Extra Info: BS Texas A&M University, 1972; MS Purdue University, 1973

14. Senate Leaders- President of the Senate Joseph R. Biden Jr. Year Elected: In 2009 for his 1 st term as President of the Senate Year of Re-election: 2015 Political Work: Senator from Delaware for 36 years Home State: Scranton, Pennsylvania Extra Info: Just weeks after the election, tragedy struck the Biden family, when Biden's wife and their 1-year old daughter were killed and their two young sons critically injured in an auto accident.

15. Senate Leaders- President Pro Tempore Robert C. Byrd Year Elected: re-elected in 2006 for his 9 th term. Year of Re-election: 2012 Political Work: WV House, 1947-51; WV Senate, 1951-53; US House, 1953-59 Home State: North Wilkesboro, North Carolina Extra Info: he joined the KKK in 1942 when he was 24 years old and soon became the top officer of their unit.

16. Senate Leaders- Majority Leader Harry Reid Year Elected: re-elected in 2004 for his 4 th term Year of Re-election: 2010 Political Work: NV Assembly, 1969-71; NV Lt. Governor, 1971-75; NV Gaming Commissioner, 1977-81; US House, 1983-87 Home State: Searchlight, Nevada Extra Info: has 16 grandchildren

17. Senate Leaders- Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Year Elected: re-elected in 2008 for his 5 th term Year of Re-election: 2014 Political Work: Jefferson Co. Judge-Executive, 1978-85 Home State: Alabama Extra Info:

18. Senate Leaders- Majority Whip Richard Durbin Year Elected: re-elected in 2006 for his 3 rd term Year of Re-election: 2012 Political Work: Attorney; US House, 1983-97 Home State: St. Louis, Illinois Extra Info: He goes by Dick.

19. Senate Leaders- Minority Whip Jon Kyl Year Elected: re-elected in 2008 for his 3 rd term Year of Re-election: 2014 Political Work: US House, 1987-95 Home State: Oakland, Nebraska Extra Info: Kyl received both his bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Arizona. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa and was editor-in-chief of the Arizona Law Review

20. House Leaders- Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, 12 th Term Democrat Elected: January 4 th 2007 as Speaker of the House Hometown: Baltimore, MD Prev. Political Exp: no prior elected office Extra Info: First woman in American History to lead a major party in the U.S. Congress.

21. House Leaders- Minority Leader John Boehner 10 th Term Republican Elected: November 2008 Hometown: Cincinnati, OH Prev. Political Exp: OH House, 1985-91 Extra Info: In 2006, John Boehner authored the Pension Protection Act, the most sweeping reform of America’s pension laws in more than 30 years.

22. House Leaders- Minority Whip Eric Cantor 5 th term Republican Elected: November 2008 Hometown: Richmond, VA Prev. Political Exp: VA Assembly, 1992-2001 Extra Info: Chairman of the Congressional Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare

23. House Leaders- Majority Leader Steny Hoyer 15 th Term Democrat Elected: 2008 Hometown: New York, NY Prev. Political Exp: MD Senate, 1967-79 Extra Info: Congressman Hoyer’s service as Majority Leader makes him the highest ranking member of Congress from Maryland in History.

24. House Leaders- Majority Whip James Clyburn 9 th Term Democrat Elected: November 16 th 2006 Hometown: Sumter, SC Prev. Political Exp: SC Human Affairs Commissioner, 1974-92 Extra Info: Also serves as Leader of the House Democrats Faith Working Group.

25. Current Events- Health Care Reform Health Insurance Exchanges: The uninsured and self-employed would be able to purchase insurance through state-based exchanges with subsidies available to individuals and families with income between the 133 percent and 400 percent of poverty level. Separate exchanges would be created for small businesses to purchase coverage -- effective 2014. Funding available to states to establish exchanges within one year of enactment and until January 1, 2015. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20000846-503544.html

26. Current Events- Health Care Reform Continued Paying for the Plan: Medicare Payroll tax on investment income -- Starting in 2012, the Medicare Payroll Tax will be expanded to include unearned income. That will be a 3.8 percent tax on investment income for families making more than $250,000 per year ($200,000 for individuals). Excise Tax -- Beginning in 2018, insurance companies will pay a 40 percent excise tax on so-called "Cadillac" high-end insurance plans worth over $27,500 for families ($10,200 for individuals). Dental and vision plans are exempt and will not be counted in the total cost of a family's plan. Tanning Tax -- 10 percent excise tax on indoor tanning services. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20000846-503544.html