Jerry F. Costello was born in East St. Louis, St. Clair County, Ill., September 25, 1949. He was elected as a Democrat to the One Hundredth Congress, by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of United States Representative Charles Melvin Price, and reelected to the twelve succeeding Congresses (August 9, 1988-January 3, 2013). Costello served on the Committee on Science, Space and Technology and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. He chaired the transportation committee's Subcommittee on Aviation from 2007-2011 and was ranking member on this subcommittee from 2011-2013. He also served on the Steering Committee of the House Democratic Causus. He was not a candidate for reelection to the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress in 2012.