The son of a rice farmer who champions his small-town roots, Berry studied to be a pharmacist before returning to the family farm, which he ran for nearly three decades. He was appointed by then-Gov. Clinton to a state conservation commission in the 1980s. When Clinton was elected president, Berry followed him to the White House as a domestic policy aide specializing in agricultural trade.

In 1996, Berry returned to Arkansas to run for the 1st district House seat being vacated by then-Rep. Blanche Lincoln (D), now the state's senior senator. In a historically Democratic district, he won a close primary race and then had a smoother time in the general election. He has been re-elected with relative ease ever since.

A Blue Dog Democrat in the House, Berry has pushed for a balance budget amendment that has never gained broad support. He was a leading Democratic critic of President George W. Bush's tax cuts and his 2003 prescription drug bill. Though he was appointed to the conference committee on that bill, Berry opposed the final legislation after complaining that Democrats were shut out of negotiations.

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