A Representative from North Carolina. Born in Lumberton, Robeson County, N. C. , August 6, 1956. Graduated from Lumberton High School, Lumberton, N. C. , 1974. B. A. , University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N. C. , 1978. J. D. , University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N. C. , 1981. Lawyer, private practice. Delegate to the Democratic National Convention, 1980. North Carolina commission on children and youth, 1987-1989. North Carolina commission on the family, 1989-1991. Elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Fifth and to the eight succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1997-January 3, 2015). Was not a candidate for renomination to the One Hundred Fourteenth Congress in 2014.