MADISON – State Sen. Bill Holtzclaw has entered the race for the U.S. Congress, 5th District.

During his public announcement of campaign plans, Holtzclaw gave the following statement: “I still believe in the American Dream, because I’m living it. I was orphaned at birth and lived in a United Methodist Children’s Home until age 5 when I was taken in by a loving family that raised me as their own.”

“I enlisted in the Marine Corps after high school and served 20 years on active duty, including service in the Gulf War and Somalia. I married my high school sweetheart 32 years ago, and we’ve raised two wonderful daughters,” Holtzclaw said.

“After retiring from the Marine Corps, I worked at NASA and served my community on the Madison City Council and later as a Senator in the Alabama State Legislature,” he said.

“Together we can rekindle the American Dream and make America great again. I’m asking you for another opportunity to serve — to serve as your Congressman for the 5th District,” Holtzclaw said.

Holtzclaw graduated summa cum laude from Athens State University in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in business and a minor in procurement and acquisition management. While at NASA, he completed Level 1 of the Federal Acquisition Certification in contracting.

In the military, Holtzclaw’s service included tours in Okinawa, Japan; 29 Palms, Calif.; and Camp Pendleton, Calif. His peacetime deployments included operations in Korea; Hokkaido, Japan; and Quito, Ecuador. As an enlisted Marine, he served two combat tours: Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and Operation Restore Hope in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1992-1993.

Currently, Holtzclaw represents the Alabama 2nd District, which encompasses Limestone and Madison counties.