President and Chief Executive Officer, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)
Billy Tauzin was named president and chief executive officer of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) in January 2005. Prior to that he had a long and distinguished public service career, including 13 terms representing the people of the 3rd Congressional District of Louisiana.
Mr. Tauzin began his public service career in the Louisiana State Legislature. He was first elected to the U.S. House in 1980 as a Democrat; he switched parties in 1995. While in Congress, he held several leadership positions, beginning with his chairmanship of a Merchant Marine Subcommittee, which oversaw legislation related to the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska. In September 1995 he was named Deputy Majority Whip; he is the first American to have been part of the leadership of both parties in the House.
Until February, 2004, he served as the Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which has jurisdiction over all interstate and foreign commerce, including energy, telecommunications, health care, biomedical research, consumer protection, the environment and travel and tourism. He retired from Congress in 2004.
Mr. Tauzin received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Nicholls State University in 1964 and a Law Degree from Louisiana State University in 1967. He is married to Cecile Tauzin and has five children by a previous marriage.