When I came to Congress, like our first panel, small business people, 64 percent of the people had health insurance. We'd buy it. Now, we're down to about 34 percent. That's why we have to do something on health care in this country because the cost is killing us.

He also practiced law. The Stupak-Pitts Amendment was adopted by the House of Representatives but a similar anti-abortion provision was defeated in the Senate version of the legislation (known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act). Because of the 1st District's extensive amount of Great Lakes shoreline (over 1600 miles) Stupak was very active on issues related to the protection of the Great Lakes including opposing sale or diversion of Great Lakes water and drilling for oil and gas under the lakes.

Stupak is now a lobbyist with Venable LLP. Representative from Michigan's 1st congressional district from 1993 to 2011. Stupak chose not to seek re-election in 2010.