About Jim Matheson

In January 2009, Jim Matheson was sworn in for a fifth term, representing Utah's Second Congressional District, which comprises the eastern half of Salt Lake County, the northern tip of Utah County as well as 14 eastern and southern Utah counties.  It also includes the most populous southern Utah city-St. George.

A member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Matheson sits on the Health, Energy and Air Quality, and Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection subcommittees. This includes jurisdiction over interstate and foreign commerce, consumer affairs and consumer protection, national energy policy, nuclear energy and waste, public health, mental health and research, hospital construction and food and drug matters, among other issues.  Matheson is also a member of the House Science and Technology Committee, where he sits on the Technology and Innovation Subcommittee.

During his time in Washington, Matheson has championed bipartisanship, looking to "reach across the aisle" for common sense solutions to issues.  The Deseret News said, "Matheson isn't the first member from the 2nd District to be more independent than their parties may like."  The Salt Lake Tribune said, "He is a voice for constituents, not simply a party mouthpiece and has the proven ability to be a player in the national arena."

Matheson is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition-a group of fiscally conservative House Democrats.  He serves as the co-chair of the Blue Dog Energy Task Force.

Congressman Matheson is a sixth-generation Utahn who was born and reared in Salt Lake City.  Jim, his sister and his two brothers all attended Salt Lake City public schools.

Before his election to Congress in November 2000, Jim worked in the energy industry for 13 years for several local companies and in his own firm.  His wife, Amy, is a pediatrician and they have two sons, William and Harris.