Let's make this birthday one to remember.

70 years old (Born on June 19, 1954)

Happy Birthday, Congressman Jim Cooper! You've mastered the art of political independence—proving that sometimes the best way forward is to zig when everyone else zags. Your steadfast commitment to your principles, even when it means voting against party lines, has earned you respect from both sides of the aisle.

From championing fiscal responsibility as a proud Blue Dog Democrat to standing firm in your support for Second Amendment rights and the NRA, you've shown Tennessee—and America—that you're not afraid to march to your own drumbeat. Here's wishing you another year filled with courage, conviction, and perhaps fewer awkward caucus meetings!