Ralph Abraham
R-Louisiana, Army
Biography: Congressman Ralph Abraham, M.D., was first elected to represent Louisiana’s 5th District in December 2014 and reelected to a second term in November 2016. The 5th District is the largest in terms of area in the state, spanning 24 parishes across most of Northeast and Central Louisiana and parts of five Florida parishes in the state’s southern “boot.” This is his first publicly held office after spending most of his life as a practicing physician, veterinarian, business owner, farmer, pilot and veteran.
Dr. Abraham is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, a post he will use to advocate for America’s men and women who serve in our military. He will also prioritize Louisiana’s military instillations, including Fort Polk, Barksdale Air Force Base and the Naval base in Belle Chasse.
Dr. Abraham was a First Lieutenant with the 20th SFG Airborne Division of hte Army National Guard from 1986-1989. Additionally, he is a fixed-wing and helicopter pilot who currently flies reconnaissance missions for the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and he is a mission pilot for the Air Force’s Civil Air Patrol Green Flag Program.
Dr. Abraham also serves on the Agriculture Committee. The 5th District is one of the largest row crop districts in the nation, and many of the district’s farmers raise livestock. Dr. Abraham has spent a lifetime working on his farm, building miles of fences, driving open-cab tractors, herding cattle and breaking wild horses. He understands firsthand the hard work that America’s farmers put in daily.
Dr. Abraham also sits on a third committee, the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. His legislative priorities for this committee will focus on enhancing America’s cybersecurity capabilities.
Dr. Abraham is a member of the Doctors Caucus, Veterinary Medicine Caucus, National Guard Caucus, Coast Guard Caucus, Sportsmen’s Caucus, Mississippi River Caucus, and the National Guard Youth Challenge Caucus.
Dr. Abraham grew up in rural Richland Parish where he and his wife, Dianne, reside today. Dr. Abraham graduated from Mangham High School before earning his degree at Louisiana State University. He graduated from the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine and practiced for 10 years before eventually seeking his Medical Doctor degree, which he earned at the LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport. As Dr. Abraham likes to say, he wanted to be able to “treat anything that walks on two or four legs.”
Dr. Abraham is a business owner and certified flight instructor.
Dr. Abraham and Dianne have been married for 40 years. They have three grown children and nine grandchildren.
https://abraham.house.gov/about/full-biography
Military Biography: Dr. Abraham is a veteran himself after serving in the Army Reserves, the Mississippi National Guard and volunteering in the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Air Force’s Civil Air Patrol.
Dr. Abraham served in the Army reserves from 1986 to 1989
He achieved the rank of 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and is currently an Aircraft Commander in the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Legislation: HR 5588, the Veterans’ Compensation COLA Act of 2016, was signed into law on July 22. This new law authorizes a cost of living increase, beginning Dec. 1, for veterans and their families who receive VA disability compensation or other benefits. This bill ensures that veterans’ benefits keep up with the rate of inflation.
- H.R. 245, which will streamline the claims process for veterans.
- R. 2214, the Disabled Veterans’ Access to Medical Exams Improvement Act, which amends the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 to extend until December 31, 2017, the authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide for persons other than VA employees (i.e., contract physicians) to conduct medical disability examinations of applicants for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Committees:
House Committee on Armed Services
- Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
- Seapower and Projection Forces
- Military Personnel
House Committee on Agriculture
- Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management
- Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry
House Committee on Science, Space and Technology
- Subcommittee on Research and Technology (Vice Chair)
- Subcommittee on Space
Caucuses:
Doctor’s Caucus
Veterinary Medicine Caucus
National Guard Caucus
Coast Guard Caucus
Sportsmen’s Caucus
Mississippi River Caucus
National Guard Youth Challenge Caucus
