Rep. Henry A. Waxman's career

1968: Elected to the California state Assembly at age 29.

1974: After three terms in the Assembly, wins election to the U.S. House.

1979: In a rare exception to the seniority system, elected chairman of the commerce committee's health and environment subcommittee over a more veteran Democrat.

1981-82: Helps prevent the Reagan administration from weakening the Clean Air Act.

1986: Helps push through a ban on federal money for subway tunneling along Wilshire Boulevard, blocking expansion of the Red Line.

1988: Engineers passage of the first comprehensive AIDS bill.

1990: Pushes for an overhaul of the Clean Air Act that imposes stricter limits on polluters.

1994: Presides over congressional hearings in which tobacco executives deny nicotine is addictive, setting the stage for costly lawsuits against the industry.

1997: Becomes the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and defends President Clinton against scandal charges.

2001: Presses unsuccessfully to make the White House release the names of executives who worked with Vice President Dick Cheney's energy task force.

2007: Becomes chairman of the oversight committee and takes aim at the Bush administration, accusing it of blocking California's efforts to impose new restrictions on greenhouse-gas emissions and alleging contractor abuses and corruption in Iraq. Persuades Congress to repeal the ban on using federal money to build a subway tunnel.

Nov. 20, 2008: Wins the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Source: Scott J. Wilson, Los Angeles Times