Elected to the United States Congress from the State of Oregon in 1998 and reelected to seven terms. Served on the Science Committee (chaired the Technology and Innovation Subcommittee) and on the Education Committee. Signature legislation include bills to protect Asian Americans from discrimination (example, Wen Ho Lee), increase federal energy research (ARPA-E), improve high school and college education, expand National Park land in Oregon (Fort Clatsop), and improve combat equipment for US troops.