Henry Waxman, Who Has Served In Congress For 40 Years, Is Retiring
Waxman, 74, is a former chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Oversight and Government Reform Committee. He is also a key ally of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, another California Democrat.
Waxman's congressional career began in 1975, when Gerald Ford was president. His congressional record has made him one of the most influential liberal lawmakers of the past few decades.
In 2010, Waxman helped craft and write the Affordable Care Act, which became one of the most defining legislative achievements of his career.
But perhaps the most memorable moment from his tenure in Congress came when, as chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, he summoned CEOs from seven major tobacco companies to Capitol Hill, where they swore under oath that they did not believe nicotine was addictive.
"At the end of this year, I would have been in Congress for 40 years," he told The Los Angeles Times. "If there is a time for me to move on to another chapter in my life, I think this is the time to do it.
"I have run my last campaign," he said.