Tom Graves grew up in White, Georgia, in a single-wide trailer on a tar and gravel road. He worked hard and paid his way through college at the University of Georgia. After graduating with a degree in finance, Tom began his career as an asset recovery specialist for a department store chain, then ran a landscaping business and eventually became a real estate investor.

 Tom was first elected to public office in 2002, when he won a seat in the Georgia House of Representatives. After serving in the General Assembly for more than seven years, he was sworn in to Congress in June, 2010, after winning a special election.

 In Congress, Tom serves on the House Appropriations Committee, which determines how the United States Government spends taxpayer dollars. On this committee, Tom serves as chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee, where he authors the annual bill funding our nation's financial infrastructure, such as the Treasury Department and Small Business Administration. He also serves on the Defense Subcommittee, which funds our national defense, and the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee, which funds our nation's transportation and infrastructure programs, as well as the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

 These assignments put Tom on the front lines of the battle to solve America's debt crisis, reduce regulatory burdens and increase opportunities for Georgians to thrive. He works to balance the budget, cut government waste and reform Congress to focus on saving - not spending - taxpayer dollars.

 Tom also serves on the powerful House Republican Steering Committee, which is responsible for committee assignments for all Republican members of the House as well as selecting committee chairmen.

 Tom lives in Gordon County with his wife Julie and their youngest daughter Janey. Their oldest daughter JoAnn and son John attend Georgia Tech.

 The Graves family attends church in Gordon County.