A 30-year veteran of the U.S. Congress, Senator Byron Dorgan is a recognized leader in the fields of energy policy, economic issues, trade policy, taxes, healthcare, and more. He served in Senate leadership for 16 years, first as assistant Democratic floor leader and then as chairman of the Democratic Policy Committee. He was chairman of the Senate committees and subcommittees on the issues of appropriations, commerce, energy and natural resources, defense, technology, aviation, water policy, transportation, and Indian affairs. He also served on the Ways and Means Committee in the House for 10 years, working on economic, tax, and health policy. First elected to Congress in 1980, Dorgan served six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives (1980–1992) and three terms in the U.S. Senate (1992–2010). He was also North Dakota’s youngest-ever constitutional officer when he was appointed state tax commissioner.

Dorgan applies this vast experience to discussing the importance of meaningful oversight of financial markets and shares insights on our deficit and the economy. A respected energy expert, he also addresses a comprehensive energy plan that outlines actionable strategies for our country to implement in its pursuit of energy security.

Forward-Looking Energy Policymaker. Senator Dorgan has also been a strong advocate of energy policy that aggressively moves our country toward the use of renewable energy and domestic energy sources and away from our reliance on foreign oil. As chairman of the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, he worked to fund development of renewable energy sources like wind, solar energy, and biofuels, as well as clean coal research that will help Americans find better ways to use the resource that fulfills 50 percent of the nation’s energy needs. A senior fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center, he is the co-chair of its Energy Project.

Senator Dorgan is the author of the New York Times best-selling book Take This Job and Ship It: How Corporate Greed and Brain-Dead Politics Are Selling Out America; Reckless: How Debt, Deregulation, and Dark Money Nearly Bankrupted America (And How We Can Fix It!); and Blowout, his most recent novel about America’s energy crisis. He is currently working on another book, expected to be out June 2013.

Agricultural Advocate. Dorgan was ingrained early in life with a deep appreciation for family farmers and ranchers. He has emerged as one of the nation’s leading voices on behalf of America’s agriculture industry. In Congress, Dorgan worked to expand North Dakota’s burgeoning energy sector, preserve a strong safety net for family farmers, and spur economic development. He also served on the House Select Committee on Hunger and worked on agriculture committees in both the House and Senate.

Post-Senate, Dorgan is a visiting professor at two universities lecturing on energy, economic policy, and political affairs. He is currently the co-chair of government relations practice for Arent Fox.

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