Phil Roe

Bio:  Phil Roe represents the First Congressional District of Tennessee. A resident of Johnson City serving his fourth term in Congress, Phil has a strong work ethic and is committed to working on behalf of the First District, Tennessee and our nation.

A native of Tennessee, Phil was born on July 21, 1945 in Clarksville. He earned a degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Austin Peay State University in 1967 and went on and to earn his Medical Degree from the University of Tennessee in 1970. Upon graduation, he served two years in the United States Army Medical Corps.

Congressman Roe serves on the House Education and Workforce Committee, where he chairs the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions. Phil also serves on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, where he sits on the Oversight and Investigations and Health Subcommittees.

As a physician, Congressman Roe has become an active player in the effort to reform our nation’s health care system. He is the co-chair of the House GOP Doctors Caucus and a member of the Health Caucus.

Prior to serving in Congress, Phil served as the Mayor of Johnson City from 2007 to 2009 and Vice Mayor from 2003 to 2007. Phil ran a successful medical practice in Johnson City for 31 years, delivering close to 5,000 babies. Phil and his late wife Pam have three children: David C. Roe, John Roe, and Whitney Larkin. They have two grandchildren. Phil is a member of Munsey United Methodist Church.

Military Bio:  Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. served as a captain in the 2^nd U.S. Infantry Division 2^nd Medical Battalion in 1973-74. He was stationed near the DMZ in Korea for 9 months and at the 121 Evacuation Hospital in Seoul for 3 months, and finished his service at Fort Eustis. Prior to his active duty service and deployment, Roe spent time training at a VA Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee, and, after being honorably discharged from the military, saw patients in consultation with the VA while in private practice.

Legislation: 

111^th Congress:

• Res 360 (111^th)- Urging all Americans and people of all nationalities to visit the national cemeteries, memorials and markers on Memorial Day (Passed House 5/19/2009)

112^th Congress:

• R. 4481, as amended (112th): The Veterans Affairs Employee Accountability Act would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that no employee of VA, who knowingly violates any civil law, receives any retention incentive, payment, or award for or during the year of such violation.
  • Rolled into H.R. 5948, the Veterans Fiduciary Reform Act of 2012 (Rep. Bill Johnson). Passed House on 9/19/2012 by voice vote.  https://veterans.house.gov/press-release/miller-johnson-roe-introduce-va-fiduciary-reform-act-of-2012

113th Congress:

• R. 2055 Integrated Electronic Health Records (iEHR) for Military and Veterans Act (113^th)
• R. 3087 Veterans Affairs Employee Accountability Act (113^th)
• R. 3831 Veterans Dialysis Pilot Program Review Act of 2014 (113^th)
  • Was later included in Sec. 4006 of H.R. 3236, Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015 (Rep. Bill Shuster) (114^th)
• R. 4374 Biological Implant Tracking and Veteran Safety Act of 2014 (113^th)

114^th Congress:

• R. 1016 Biological Implant Tracking and Veteran Safety Act of 2015(114^th)
  • Included in S. 2921, The Veterans First Act (Sen. Isakson) (114^th)
• R. 1590 Integrated Electronic Health Records (iEHR) for Military and Veterans Act (114^th)
• R. 2029 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016
  • Amdt 135 – Reduces funding for the VA’s Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs (OCLA) by $1.5 million. Passed House 4/29/15
  • Amdt 142 – An amendment to prohibit use of funds to pay an award or bonus to any employee of the Office of Construction and Facilities in VA, specifically in the locations of Denver, Orlando, Las Vegas and New Orleans. Passed House 4/29/15
• R. 2814 to name the Dannie A. Carr Veterans Outpatient Clinic (114^th)
  • Became Public Law No: 114-164 on 6/3/2016
• R. 2941 Veterans Affairs Employee Accountability Act (114^th)
• R. 5399 Ethical Patient Care for Veterans Act of 2016 (114^th)
  • Full Committee markup held, reported favorably 9/21/2016
• R. 6277 Veterans’ Health Care Safety Act