44 Facts About Heath Shuler

Joseph Heath Shuler was born on December 31,1971 and is an American businessman, former NFL quarterback, and former US Representative for from 2007 to 2013.

Heath Shuler is a member of the Democratic Party and was a member of the Blue Dog Coalition during his tenure.

Heath Shuler was born in Bryson City, North Carolina, a small town in the Great Smoky Mountains near the Tennessee border.

Heath Shuler's father was a mail carrier and his mother a homemaker and volunteer with the Swain County Youth Association; he has a younger brother, Benjie.

Heath Shuler attracted scout attention and accepted an athletic scholarship to the University of Tennessee in 1990.

Under head coaches Johnny Majors and Phillip Fulmer, Heath Shuler gained national attention as one of the SEC's top quarterbacks.

Heath Shuler held nearly all Volunteer passing records by the end of his collegiate career; most were subsequently eclipsed by Peyton Manning.

In 1993, Heath Shuler came in second behind Charlie Ward in the vote for the Heisman Trophy.

Heath Shuler was a first-round selection in the 1994 NFL Draft, taken by the Washington Redskins with the third overall pick.

Heath Shuler held out of training camp until he received a 7-year, $19.25 million contract, most of the holdout being due to Shuler's agent and the Redskins general manager discussing the parameters of the contract.

The Redskins had fallen on hard times since winning Super Bowl XXVI, and Heath Shuler was considered the quarterback of the future.

Heath Shuler started 18 games in his first two years with the team and was benched in his third year, as Frerotte led the team.

Heath Shuler suffered a serious foot injury during the 1997 season in New Orleans and had two surgeries to try to correct it.

Heath Shuler became a real estate professional in Knoxville, Tennessee.

In July 2005, Shuler announced his intention to seek the Democratic nomination to run against eight-term incumbent Republican Charles H Taylor.

Heath Shuler repeatedly attacked Taylor for failing to stand up for the 11th's interests.

Heath Shuler pointed out that, according to the House roll call, Taylor voted 11 times on the same day that CAFTA came up for a vote, suggesting he deliberately avoided the vote.

Heath Shuler carried nine of the district's 15 counties, including several that had reliably supported Taylor over the years.

Heath Shuler was one of only two Democrats to defeat an incumbent in the South that year.

Heath Shuler's victory gave the Democrats a majority of the state's congressional delegation for the first time since the 1994 elections.

In 2008, Heath Shuler faced Carl Mumpower, a Republican Asheville city councilman, and Libertarian Keith Smith.

Heath Shuler easily carried all 15 counties in the district, including the traditionally Republican Henderson County.

In early 2009, Heath Shuler was mentioned as a possible candidate to run against incumbent Republican Richard Burr for the United States Senate in the next year's elections.

Heath Shuler ultimately chose not to do so, and sought reelection to the House.

On February 2,2012, Heath Shuler announced that he would not run for another term.

Heath Shuler endorsed his former chief of staff, Hayden Rogers, in the race to succeed him.

Heath Shuler was a leader of the Blue Dog Coalition, a caucus of moderate-to-conservative House Democrats, initially serving as whip, and eventually rising to the role as co-chairman.

In November 2011, Heath Shuler took the lead in a bipartisan call calling for larger cuts of the US deficit.

In 2007, Heath Shuler introduced proposed legislation co-sponsored with fellow North Carolina US Congressman Walter Jones to require airlines to have sections of the aircraft where large movie screens would not be visible.

Representative Heath Shuler has been a major supporter of the government of Sri Lanka in Congress.

Reportedly owing to his success in real estate, Heath Shuler was named chairman of the House Small Business Subcommittee on Rural and Urban Entrepreneurship during the 110th and 111th Congresses.

Heath Shuler voted against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 both times it came before the House.

Heath Shuler later joined seven other conservative House Democrats in voting against the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, an $819 billion economic stimulus bill proposed by President Barack Obama.

Heath Shuler voted against the Affordable Health Care for America Act, or HR 3962, along with 38 other Democrats, despite voting yes on the Stupak amendment in the same bill, which prohibits federal funds to be used for abortions.

In January 2011, Heath Shuler voted against repealing the law, explaining that the repeal would be immoral.

Heath Shuler voted in favor of HR 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act which would implement a cap and trade system aimed at controlling pollution.

Gabrielle Giffords," Heath Shuler "intends to arm himself more frequently" and is "encouraging his staff members to apply for carry permits.

In July 2011, Heath Shuler was one of five Democrats to vote for the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act.

However, if Pelosi wanted to take the minority leader position, Heath Shuler told Roll Call, he would run against her if there were no "viable candidate".

Heath Shuler transitioned to a lobbying position with Duke Energy to direct its lobbying and government affairs in Washington, DC, in 2013.

Heath Shuler is married to Nikol Davis, with whom he has two children: a daughter, Island, and a son, Navy.

Heath Shuler serves as a volunteer assistant football coach for Christ School, a boarding and day school located in suburban Asheville.

In Washington, Heath Shuler lived at the C Street House of The Fellowship, a controversial organization which operates the property as a tax-exempt church and a residence for several congressmen and senators.

Heath Shuler has attended weekly prayer sessions sponsored by the group since his arrival in Washington.