WASHINGTON DC – Dr. Dan Benishek, a Republican candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in the 1st District of Michigan has picked up the endorsements of two seated representatives who also happen to be medical doctors.

Representative Charles Boustany Jr., M.D. of Louisiana’s 7th congressional district was elected to office in 2005 as the second Republican to ever represent that district. He earned his medical degree from Louisiana State University as a heart surgeon and practiced in New York and New Orleans before taking office. He gave his endorsement to Dr. Benishek after having met with him, saying; “As the massive health care law hurts access to doctors for millions of Americans and increases taxes on millions, the people of Michigan should send Dr. Benishek to work to solve the difficult problems we face,” said Boustany. “The experience Dr. Benishek gained as a doctor, working with patients day in and day out to provide care, will serve the people of Michigan’s 1st District well in the United States House.”

Also endorsing Dr. Benishek is Representative Michael Burgess, M.D. of the 26th district of Texas, he said; “Dr. Benishek is exactly the kind of leader Americans want representing them in Congress, someone who is listening to the people and delivering their message. He has my full support and I look forward to the fresh ideas he has to offer to help get our country back on track”. Representative Burgess, a graduate of the University of North Texas practiced as an Ob/Gyn in his home state for 30 years before running for and being elected to office in 2003.

Both men met with Dr. Benishek and agreed that it is a citizen legislator like Dan who is desperately needed in DC. Like the two representatives, Dan attended school in his home state, earning a BS at the University of Michigan and his MD from the Wayne State in 1978. Dr. Benishek practiced general surgery in Iron Mountain and is now semi-retired, working at the local VA twice a week. He has never sought public office prior to this race.

On June 26th Dr. Benishek will also formally receive the endorsement of the grassroots network of doctors from across the nation, Docs4PatientCare. The organization was founded by Dr. Hal Scherz, a pediatric urologist, from Atlanta last year to organize physicians opposed to the Obama administration’s health reform plans. The event will be well attended by members of Docs4PatientCare and Michigan physicians as well as activists, leaders and supporters of Dr. Benishek.