About Congressman James L. Oberstar
James L. Oberstar was first elected to Congress in November 1974, and he is now serving in his 17th term as the representative from Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District. Congressman Oberstar is chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and he is the former chairman of subcommittees on Investigations and Oversight, Aviation, and Economic Development. Congressman Oberstar is recognized worldwide as an expert in the field of transportation and has received numerous awards for his diligent work.
Born in Chisholm, Minnesota, Oberstar graduated summa cum laude in 1956 from the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in French and political science. He went on to earn a master’s degree in comparative government in 1957 at the College of Europe in Belgium. After graduation, he taught languages in Haiti from 1959 to 1963, and then served as chief staff assistant to his predecessor, Congressman John Blatnik, from 1963 to 1974.