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{{Short description|American politician (born 1947)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Charlie Melançon
|image = Charles Melancon.jpg
|caption = Official portrait, 2005
|office = Secretary of the [[Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries]]
|governor = [[John Bel Edwards]]
|term_start = January 11, 2016
|term_end = December 22, 2016
|predecessor = [[Robert J. Barham|Robert Barham]]
|successor = Patrick Banks (acting)
|state1 = [[Louisiana]]
|district1 = {{ushr|LA|3|3rd}}
|term_start1 = January 3, 2005
|term_end1 = January 3, 2011
|predecessor1 = [[Billy Tauzin]]
|successor1 = [[Jeff Landry]]
|state_house2 = Louisiana
|district2 = 60th
|term_start2 = 1987
|term_end2 = 1993
|predecessor2 = [[Harry J. Kember, Jr.|Soup Kember]]
|successor2 = [[Audrey McCain]]
|birth_name = Charles Joseph Melançon
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|10|3}}
|birth_place = [[Napoleonville, Louisiana]], U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|spouse = Peachy Clark
|children = 2
|education = [[University of Louisiana, Lafayette]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])
}}
'''Charles Joseph Melançon''' ({{IPAc-en|m|ə|ˈ|l|ɑː|n|s|ɒ|n}}; born October 3, 1947) is an American politician and former secretary of the [[Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries]].
From 2005 to 2011, he was the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. representative]] for {{ushr|LA|3}}. He earlier served as a state representative, from 1987 to 1993. In [[2010 United States Senate election in Louisiana|2010]], he was the unsuccessful [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] nominee for the U.S. Senate seat held by the [[Republican party (United States)|Republican]] [[David Vitter]].
==Early life, education and career==
Melançon was born in [[Napoleonville, Louisiana]], the son of Nicee L. "Brownie" (née Talbot) and Joe Melançon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/reps/melancon.htm|title=Melancon|website=Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com|access-date=2017-07-07}}</ref> The grandson and great-grandson of [[sugar cane]] farmers, Melançon has spent most of his life in Napoleonville, 50 miles south of [[Baton Rouge]]. He owned and operated several [[small business]]es, including two [[Baskin-Robbins]] outlets. He also served as head of the American Sugar Cane League.<ref name="senate">Tilove, Jonathan. [https://archive.today/20130130013524/http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/08/rep_charlie_melancon_to_run_fo.html Rep. Charlie Melancon to run for Senate against David Vitter], ''The Times-Picayune'', August 27, 2009.</ref>
==U.S. House of Representatives==
Melançon ran in 2004 for the House of Representatives seat in [[Louisiana's 3rd congressional district]] and won.
===Committee assignments===
*[[United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce|Committee on Energy and Commerce]]
**[[United States House Energy Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet|Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet]]
**[[United States House Energy Subcommittee on Energy and Environment|Subcommittee on Energy and Environment]]
Very soon after being sworn in January 2005, Melançon joined the [[Blue Dog Coalition]]. Like most Southern Democrats, he is more conservative than most members of the national party, especially on social issues. But he did vote for the DREAM Act and repealing "[[Don't Ask, Don't Tell]]".{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}
===Hurricanes Katrina and Rita===
Just a few months after Melancon took office, [[Hurricane Katrina]] slammed into south Louisiana, causing massive levee failures and devastating flooding in the eastern part of his district. A second major storm, [[Hurricane Rita]], struck the [[Gulf Coast]] three weeks later. Melancon worked with the rest of the Louisiana delegation in Congress to bring billions of recovery dollars to south Louisiana. He fought for federal funding for hurricane protection projects such as [[Morganza to the Gulf|Morganza-to-the-Gulf]] and the levee systems in lower [[Plaquemines Parish]] and south [[Lafourche Parish]].<ref name="hurricane">[http://www.melancon.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=188&Itemid=54 Hurricane Recovery.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821200443/http://www.melancon.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=188&Itemid=54 |date=August 21, 2009 }} Congressman Charlie Melancon.</ref>
Melancon has continuously urged other members of the [[United States Congress]] to visit south Louisiana for as long as Louisiana still has recovery or hurricane protection needs. He has brought Congressional delegations to the [[Gulf Coast]] to see firsthand the destruction from the storms as well as the ongoing need for hurricane protection and coastal restoration. Since the storms, Melancon has sponsored a number of reform bills to try to fix the flaws in the government's disaster response and relief system. As the representative for much of south Louisiana, Melançon has been an advocate in the [[United States Congress]] for hurricane recovery.<ref name="hurricane"/>
===Supporting small businesses and economic development===
Melancon supported the [[Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act]] (H.R. 2352), a bill that provided funding for more small business development centers. These small business incubators provide office space, support, and technology to help new companies get off the ground.<ref>[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2009-281 House Vote On Passage: H.R. 2352: Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act of 2009], ''[[GovTrack]]''; accessed April 23, 2018.</ref> He also supported tax relief for small businesses, voting for the [[Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2007]] (H.R. 976). The bill provided tax credits and incentives for expanding and purchasing new equipment.<ref>[http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:H.R.976: Bill Summary & Status 110th Congress (2007 - 2008) H.R.976.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806225842/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:H.R.976: |date=2009-08-06 }} ''[[THOMAS]].''</ref> Melançon joined other members from energy-producing states, as well as the [[Louisiana Oil and Gas Association]], to keep new taxes on the [[oil and gas industry]] out of the President's 2010 budget.<ref>[http://www.votesmart.org/speech_detail.php?sc_id=451037&keyword=&phrase=&contain= Representative Charles J. 'Charlie' Melancon, Sr.], ''[[Project Vote Smart]]''; accessed April 23, 2018.</ref>
===Climate change===
Melancon voted against the [[American Clean Energy and Security Act]] (H.R. 2454) twice, once in the [[Energy and Commerce Committee]] and again in the full the [[United States House of Representatives]]. The bill is also known as the "[[Waxman-Markey Energy Bill]]" or the "[[cap-and-trade]]" bill. Melançon said in a release that he opposed the bill because he believed it would hurt his "district and the people I represent … The oil and gas industry is the engine driving south Louisiana's economy, providing good-paying jobs to hundreds of thousands of our workers for generations."<ref name="climate">[http://www.votesmart.org/speech_detail.php?sc_id=477650&keyword=&phrase=&contain= Representative Melancon Votes Once Again Against Climate Change Bill], ''[[Project Vote Smart]]''; accessed July 10, 2017.</ref>
Melancon was successful in including an amendment in the bill that would protect Louisiana's share of wetlands restoration funding from cuts indirectly caused by hurricane disaster assistance.<ref name="climate"/>
===America's Affordable Health Choices Act===
On July 31, 2009, Melançon voted against the [[America's Affordable Health Choices Act]] (H.R. 3200) in the [[Energy and Commerce Committee]]. Melançon explained in a statement that he voted against the bill for reasons including its potential effects on small businesses, the possibility of taxpayer-funded abortions, and increases in taxes.
Melançon said he was concerned that "the public option, as designed, would unfairly undercut anything the private sector could offer." He noted that the bill does not do enough to address the need for more providers in rural communities.<ref>[http://www.melancon.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1216&Itemid=1 Citing Concerns with Current Version, Melancon Votes Against Health Bill in Committee.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090902184914/http://www.melancon.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1216&Itemid=1 |date=September 2, 2009 }} Congressman Charlie Melancon. 31 July 2009.</ref>
Melancon also voted against the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]] in March 2010,<ref>{{cite web|title=FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 165 (Democrats in roman; Republicans in italic; Independents underlined)|url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll165.xml|access-date=December 3, 2015}}</ref> because it "doesn’t work for Louisiana."<ref>{{YouTube|SozUVqxlMq8}}</ref> However, he had not signed the [[discharge petition]] circulated by Iowa Republican [[Steve King]] calling for a complete repeal of the law.<ref>{{cite web|title=United States 2nd Session House of Representatives|url=http://clerk.house.gov/111/lrc/pd/petitions/Dis11.htm|access-date=December 3, 2015}}</ref>
===American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009===
Melançon voted for the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/executive/president/2009-01-27-obama-economy_N.htm | work=USA Today | title=House passes economic stimulus bill | first1=David | last1=Jackson | first2=Richard | last2=Wolf | date=January 29, 2009 | access-date=April 28, 2010}}</ref> In explaining his vote for the legislation, Melançon said, "The people of south Louisiana sent me to Congress because I promised to listen to them and do what I thought was right, not what was most popular or what my party told me to do. This plan, while far from perfect, will create or save an estimated 50,000 jobs in Louisiana, invest over $538 million in infrastructure projects for our state, and lay a foundation for long-term growth for our country through innovation and education."<ref>[http://www.melancon.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1013&Itemid=94 Rep. Melancon Supports Economic Recovery Plan to Create and Save 50,000 Jobs in Louisiana.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903025916/http://www.melancon.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1013&Itemid=94 |date=September 3, 2009 }} Congressman Charlie Melancon. 13 February 2009.</ref>
===Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008===
Melancon voted for the [[Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008]].<ref>[https://www.votesmart.org/speech_detail.php?sc_id=423945&keyword=&phrase=&contain= Rep. Melançon Supports Emergency Economic Stabilization Act.] ''[[Project Vote Smart]]''.</ref>
===Employee Free Choice Act===
Although Melancon is listed as a co-sponsor of the [[Employee Free Choice Act]], his comments on the bill indicate a more ambivalent measure of support. He has stated, "I understand many of the concerns expressed by the business community. I am interested in bringing both sides together to work out their differences and develop a bipartisan solution that will address some of these concerns, while still protecting employees’ rights."<ref>Perilloux, Gary. [http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/business/52691782.html Free choice?], ''The Advocate'', August 9, 2009.</ref>
===Federal Marriage Amendment===
In July 2006, Rep. Melancon voted in support of the [[Federal Marriage Amendment]].<ref>[http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Charlie_Melancon.htm Charlie Melancon on the Issues.] ''[[On the Issues]].''</ref>
===Matthew Shepard Act of 2009===
On 29 April 2009, Rep. Melancon voted against the federal hate crimes expansion bill known as the [[Matthew Shepard Act]].<ref>[http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll223.xml FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 223: Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act]; accessed July 10, 2017.</ref>
==Political campaigns==
===2004 U.S. House campaign===
Melancon declared his candidacy for Congress after longtime incumbent [[Billy Tauzin]] announced his retirement. Although he was considered an underdog for much of the race,{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}} he entered a runoff due to an especially ugly intraparty battle between [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] candidates [[Billy Tauzin III]] and state Senator [[Craig Romero]], the former candidate being the son of the incumbent. In the runoff campaign, Melançon repeatedly hammered away at Tauzin III's family ties. Melançon won a victory by 569 votes.<ref>Barrow, Bill. [http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/capital/index.ssf?/base/news-6/121575431095070.xml&coll=1 "Melancon campaign may be no contest".]{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''The Times-Picayune'', July 11, 2008.</ref> Romero set his sights on challenging Melançon in 2006, and was defeated again.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}
===2006 U.S. House campaign===
{{Main|2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana#District 3}}
On November 7, 2006, Melancon defeated Romero 55% to 40% to win a second term in the U.S. House.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}
===2008 U.S. House campaign===
{{Main|2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana#District 3}}
He was re-elected without opposition in November 2008. Because of [[William J. Jefferson]]'s defeat on December 6 after federal corruption [[indictment]]s, Melancon became the sole Democrat representing Louisiana in the U.S. House.<ref>[http://www.whorunsgov.com/Profiles/Charlie_Melancon Charlie Melancon (D-La.)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327130730/http://www.whorunsgov.com/Profiles/Charlie_Melancon |date=March 27, 2010 }} ''WhoRunsGov.com/The Washington Post.''</ref>
===2010 U.S. Senate campaign===
{{Main|2010 United States Senate election in Louisiana}}
{{See also|2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana#District 3}}
Melançon challenged incumbent [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[U.S. Senator]] [[David Vitter]] in 2010.<ref>Kraushaar, Josh. [https://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/0809/Melancon_running_against_Vitter.html Melancon running against Vitter.] ''[[Politico (newspaper)|Politico]]'', August 27, 2009.</ref> In announcing his candidacy on August 27, 2009, he billed himself as "a proud centrist" and "a straight up the middle fighter for the little guy."<ref name="senate"/><ref>{{YouTube|n-klKpTpb3o|Melancon's candidacy announcement}}</ref>
==Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries==
Edwards announced that state Representative [[Jack Montoucet]] of [[Scott, Louisiana|Scott]] in [[Lafayette Parish, Louisiana|Lafayette Parish]] would take office in January 2017 to succeed Melancon as the wildlife and fisheries secretary.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 21, 2016 |title=Louisiana wildlife secretary opts to resign immediately, says reforms sabotaged |newspaper=The Baton Rouge Advocate |url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_70554278-c7cf-11e6-a477-77b36dac68f8.html?sr_source=lift_amplify |access-date=December 22, 2016}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}
==Personal life==
Melançon is married to the former Peachy Clark; they have two children.<ref>[http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=35601 Representative Charles J. 'Charlie' Melancon, Sr. - Biography], ''[[Project Vote Smart]].''</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{CongLinks | congbio=m001161 | votesmart= | fec=H4LA03028 | congress= }}<!-- Links formerly displayed via the {{CongLinks}} template:
* [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/400635 Congressional profile] at [[GovTrack]]
* [http://www.opencongress.org/people/show/400635_Charles_Melancon Congressional profile] at [[Participatory Politics Foundation|OpenCongress]]
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00026840 Financial information (federal office)] at [[Center for Responsive Politics|OpenSecrets.org]]
* [http://www.legistorm.com/member/373/Rep_Charlie_Melancon.html Staff salaries, trips and personal finance] at LegiStorm.com
* [http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Charlie_Melancon.htm Issue positions and quotes] at [[On the Issues]]
* [http://www.c-spanvideo.org/person/1011754 Appearances] on [[C-SPAN]] programs
* -->
*{{C-SPAN|1011754}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Billy Tauzin]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States Representatives from Louisiana|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[Louisiana's 3rd congressional district]]|years=2005–2011}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jeff Landry]]}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Mike Ross (politician)|Mike Ross]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[Blue Dog Coalition]] for Communications|years=2009|alongside=[[Stephanie Herseth Sandlin]] (Administration), [[Baron Hill (politician)|Baron Hill]] (Policy)}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jim Matheson]]}}
|-
{{s-vac|last=[[John Breaux]]}}
{{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[List of United States Senators from Louisiana|U.S. Senator]] from [[Louisiana]]}}<br>([[Classes of United States Senators|Class 3]])|years=[[2010 United States Senate election in Louisiana|2010]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Foster Campbell]]}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Robert J. Barham|Robert Barham]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Secretary of the [[Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries]]|years=2016}}
{{s-aft|after=Patrick Banks<br>Acting}}
|-
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Betty Sutton]]|as=Former U.S. Representative}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence|Order of precedence of the United States]]<br>''{{small|as Former U.S. Representative}}''|years=}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ralph Abraham (politician)|Ralph Abraham]]|as=Former U.S. Representative}}
{{s-end}}
{{LARepresentatives}}
{{USCongRep-start |congresses=109th–111th [[United States Congress]]es |state=[[United States congressional delegations from Louisiana|Louisiana]]}}
{{USCongRep/LA/109}}
{{USCongRep/LA/110}}
{{USCongRep/LA/111}}
{{USCongRep-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Melancon, Charlie}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Louisiana State Legislature]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the Louisiana House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Napoleonville, Louisiana]]
[[Category:State cabinet secretaries of Louisiana]]
[[Category:University of Louisiana at Lafayette alumni]]
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