About Sonny

 With 30 years of experience in state and federal government service and a successful career in the business world prior to that, H.L. (Sonny) Callahan retired from Congress in 2002 and formed a government consulting firm, Sonny Callahan and Associates, offering government consultation on a wide variety of interests.

Sonny's career in Congress saw him rise in just 10 years from being a freshman Congressman from South Alabama to become one of the 13 "Cardinals," so-named because they are among the most influential members of the House of Representatives. Elected to Congress in 1984, Congressman Callahan was named Chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations in 1995. During the six years he chaired this subcommittee, he worked with the administration and the Congress in protecting America's interests and investments around the world.

In 2000, he became the chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development. This subcommittee is responsible for funding all civil projects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as well as portions of the Department of Interior and the Department of Energy and a number of independent agencies. In this position, Congressman Callahan worked closely with the Bush Administration to develop and finance a new national energy policy.

While chairman of this subcommittee, he also served as vice chairman of Foreign Operations and was a member of the Transportation Subcommittee. Congressman Callahan's ability to get things done in Congress won him friends on both sides of the aisle. Prior to going to Congress, Callahan served in the U.S. Navy and had a successful career in the transit industry, starting as a truck driver and working his way up to president of the company. He later ran for and was elected first to the House and then the Senate of the Alabama State Legislature. He served in state government 12 years before running for Congress.

Now with his own consulting firm, Sonny Callahan and Associates has offices in Mobile, Alabama, and in Washington, D.C. The firm also is affiliated with former Appropriations Chairman Bob Livingston (R-La) and Bob Dawson and Associates, and former Congressman Larry Hopkins, (R-Ky).