Tom Latham was born and raised in Alexander, Iowa, a town of 168 people. He is a farmer and small business owner who is in business with his brothers as an owner of Latham Seeds, a soybean facility founded by his father that is located just outside of Alexander. He and his wife Kathy raised their family near the Latham Century Farm – they have three adult children Justin, Jennifer and Jill, one granddaughter Emerson, and three grandsons Jack, Keaton and Mason. 

Tom has served Iowans in Congress since 1995. He is the Dean of Iowa’s delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives and is the only Iowan on the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

Tom is the Ranking Member on the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee. He also serves on the Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriations Subcommittee, as well as the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science.

Tom has served on important task forces such as the Speaker’s Task Force for a Drug-Free America, the House Prescription Drug Action Leadership Team, and the Congressional Task Force for Affordable Natural Gas.

Tom also serves on various issues specific caucuses important to Iowa. He is the founder and Chairman of the Congressional Community College Caucus and the House Soils Caucus.  He is also a leader on the Congressional Rural Caucus, the Congressional Bio-fuels Caucus, and the Congressional Nursing Caucus among many others.

While serving Iowans in Congress, Tom has been extremely successful in assisting Iowa communities and local governments with various projects that enhance their neighborhoods and economies.  His leadership on the appropriations committee has ensured that many rural economies have the ability to grow and remain vibrant.  And, Tom has been able to secure important funding for a wide variety of initiatives and programs important to law enforcement officials, first responders, small businesses, farmers, the environment and Iowa’s transportation infrastructure.

Tom has a reputation of working with colleagues on both sides of the political aisle to achieve results.  Tom has been a champion on issues important to Iowa veterans.  He wrote the law extending health care benefits to National Guard and Reserve members and their families regardless of their deployment status.  He also wrote the law that overhauled the National Guard and Reserve retirement system, and is working hard to enact his bill to give veterans enrolled in the VA health care system the choice of receiving their VA funded care at their local hospital or physician’s office rather than having to travel long distances to a VA health facility to receive care.

Tom is also working to create good paying jobs and make certain existing jobs remain in Iowa.  And, he continues to work to accomplish America’s energy independence by reducing our dependence on foreign sources of energy by advocating for conservation, increasing the use of alternative energy such as ethanol, biodiesel, wind solar and others and increasing the supply of America’s energy resources in a safe manner.

Tom spends every day working hard to improve the lives of Americans and to protect the promise of the American Dream for our children and grandchildren.  He has an optimistic vision that our great nation and state is second to none in the potential for a secure future, a bright future and one of prosperity for all Americans.