Congressman Jim Cooper

U.S. House of Representatives, 5th District of Tennessee

Contact Information
Nashville Office
615 Church Street
Nashville, TN37219
Phone: 615-736-5295
Fax: 615-736-7479
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am-5pm CT

Website:
http://cooper.house.gov

Email: visit
http://cooper.house.gov/email.htm

Biographical Information
Jim is serving his third term as U.S. Representative for the 5th District, although his prior service in Congress gives him eight terms of experience. Jim represents approximately 700,000 people who live in Nashville and surrounding communities like Mt. Juliet, Lebanon, Ashland City, Pegram and Pleasant View. His job is to cut through federal red tape for people here at home and to help pass good federal laws for the nation. Jim's background is as a local businessman, attorney and teacher.

His main congressional office is in downtown Nashville at 605 Church Street, adjacent to the Downtown Public Library. In Washington, Jim serves on three different committees: the Armed Services Committee (including the Terrorism and Special Forces Subcommittee), the Budget Committee and the Government Reform and Oversight Committee.

Jim does not live in Washington; he goes to our nation's capital for votes and committee meetings. He and his wife Martha and their three children live in Green Hills.

Sworn in January 2003 to U.S. Congress, First Term serving 5th District of Tennessee, reelected November 2004 and November 2006.

  • Armed Services Committee (Terrorism and Special Forces Subcommittee) - the only Tennessean in House or Senate on the Committee, oversees a $400 billion military budget
  • Budget Committee - oversees the entire federal budget of $2.4 trillion
  • Government Reform and Oversight Committee - oversees every federal agency with investigatory powers

Founder, Brentwood Capital Advisors, 1999-2002

  • Raised private capital for Tennessee companies
    Managing Director, Equitable Securities, 1995-1999
  • Private capital and public offerings for high-growth regional firms
  • Sold to SunTrust Bank in 1998

Adjunct Professor, Owen School of Management at Vanderbilt University, 1995-2002

  • Taught health care policy to MBA and Executive MBA students

U.S. Congressman, 4th Congressional District of Tennessee, 1982-1994

  • Energy and Commerce Committee and Budget Committee

According to CQ Politics in America 1994, "Cooper developed a reputation as an accomplished dealmaker and a political moderate during his first tour in the House" and described him as "a key player on a range of issues from telecommunications to clean air. He was a major figure in the Clinton-era debate on universal health care coverage."

Youngest congressman in America at the time of first election at age 28

Attorney, Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, Nashville, 1980-1982

Education

  • J.D. Degree, Harvard Law School, 1980
  • B.A./M.A. Degree, Oxford University 1977 (Rhodes Scholar)
  • B.A. Degree, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (Morehead Scholar)

Personal Information
Cooper was born in Nashville and raised in Shelbyville, Tennessee. He is the son of the late Tennessee Governor Prentice Cooper (who served three two-year terms from 1939-1945) and Hortense Cooper.

Cooper has been married to the former Martha Hays of Gulfport, Mississippi, since 1985. They have three children: Mary (16), Jamie (14) and Hayes (10).