Charlie Gonzalez grew up as the son of a path making Member of Congress. His father, Henry B. Gonzalez, was elected in 1961 as the first Hispanic Member of Congress from Texas – a state that is now almost 37% Hispanic. It was “an inspirational time” in the words of Charlie Gonzalez, who was then a teenager. John F. Kennedy had been inaugurated as President early that year and the race drew substantial attention, in part because of the involvement of then Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn.

Henry B. Gonzalez was reelected by the people of Texas to serve for nearly four decades. As a Congressman, Henry B. Gonzalez fought to protect workers in the United States, provide access to housing, make it easier for small businesses to get loans, and to regulate big banks and the financial industry. He wrote legislation that was integrated into the Equal Opportunities Act of 1964, worked to make the Federal Reserve more accountable, conducted official House investigations, and worked on restructuring the FDIC.

Today, his son Charlie is a pioneer on many of the same issues. Charlie Gonzalez was elected to fill the seat that his father once held. One of the top pieces of advice Charlie Gonzalez offers – as a son and as a Congressman – is to remember the importance of family. In the Congressman’s words, Members need “a generous and giving family for a support system.”

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) was co-founded by Henry B. Gonzalez in 1976. Today, Rep. Charlie Gonzalez serves as a leader of the same organization, continuing the mission set in place by his father over 30 years ago. Since its founding, the CHC has grown substantially – from just 5 original members to 24 Democratic members in 2010. The CHC plays an important role as a both a forum and a voice in Congress for issues affecting Hispanics. It also reflects the most diverse Congress in U.S. history, or in the words of Gonzalez, “When you look at the [Democrats in Congress], you see America.”

A Lifetime of Public Service

Charlie Gonzalez was born in San Antonio, Texas, to Henry B. and Bertha Gonzalez. He spent his youth in San Antonio and graduated in 1969 from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in government. That same year, Gonzalez enlisted in the Texas Air National Guard, serving as a technical sergeant until 1975. While enlisted, Gonzalez attended law school at St. Mary’s University and graduated in 1972. After graduation, Gonzalez worked first as a lawyer and then as a judge. As a judge, Gonzalez was known for his innovative work on making dockets more efficient and for reducing case backlogs. In 1998, Charlie Gonzalez was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives to fill the seat held by his father. He currently serves on the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on House Administration.