Diane Black

As a small business owner, former educator and registered nurse for over 40 years, Congressman Diane Black brings a unique perspective to her work in Washington.

From starting two family-owned businesses, Black understands how to balance a budget, invest and hire new employees and grow a company without the help of government. From her work in the health care field, Black learned first-hand the importance of high-quality care and the obstacles faced by both patients and providers. She began her career as an emergency room nurse, but also served as a long-term care nurse and worked as part of an outpatient surgery team.

She ran for office for the first time in 1998, when she was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives, where Black immediately set to work for her constituents. Her first year in office, Black was instrumental in defeating the Governor’s proposal for a state income tax and sparking a grassroots movement that encouraged fellow Tennesseans to protest the proposed hike.

Elected to the state senate in 2004, Black built on her reputation as a champion for children and seniors, traditional family values, fiscal responsibility, and small business owners. Black’s legislative accomplishments include reforming the state’s adoption laws, defunding Planned Parenthood and enacting stricter penalties for sex offenders, including bringing Tennessee into line with the federal “Adam Walsh Act.” In the health care field, Black was instrumental in passing a bill providing more options for long term health care for seniors and the disabled, as well as tort reform legislation, aimed at weeding out meritless medical malpractice lawsuits.

In 2006, Black was elected by her peers to serve as Chair of the Senate Republican Caucus--the first woman in Tennessee history to hold that title.

In 2010 Black was elected to represent Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District, which encompasses areas north, east and south of Nashville. Black came to Washington on a platform of conservative values, with particular focus on fiscal restraint and curbing government debt, and enacting market-based health care reform.

Upon coming to Congress, Black was elected by her fellow freshmen Members of Congress to serve as the Freshman Class Representative to the Republican Policy Committee, a forum where Republicans can discuss and forward their legislative initiatives.

Black was also chosen as one of only two freshmen to serve on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, where the health care reform law as well as our nation’s tax, trade and welfare laws will be debated and reformed. Black will serve on the Oversight and Human Resources Subcommittees on Ways and Means. Additionally, Black will also serve as a member of the House Budget Committee, where she will help craft the Federal Budget proposal from House Republicans, who are committed to cut and control government spending.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Black and her husband of 30 years, Dr. David Black have three grown children and six grandchildren. They moved to Tennessee 25 years ago and currently live in Gallatin. They attend Community Church in Hendersonville.

DC Office	1531 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515
Phone	(202) 225-4231
Fax	(202) 225-6887
Website	black.house.gov

Budget

Ways and Means