Congressman Fred Upton is proud to represent the common-sense values of Southwest Michigan's Sixth Congressional District. Prior to his election to Congress, Fred worked for President Ronald Reagan in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). From 2010 to 2016, Fred was selected by his House colleagues to serve as Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Fred has long pushed for a greater emphasis on biomedical research to improve the public health. In 2014, along with Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colorado, Fred launched the 21st Century Cures initiative. This multi-year effort aims to bring researchers, industry, and patients together to speed up the discovery, development, and delivery of life-saving cures. The pursuit of these 21st century cures also supports Southwest Michigan employers and jobs by ensuring the United States remains the world leader in medical innovation. Marking the culmination of a three-year journey, President Obama signed the 21st Century Cures Act into law on December 13, 2016. Fred was born on April 23, 1953, and holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Michigan. He and his wife, Amey, have two adult children.