Russ was first elected to Parliament in June of 2004, re-elected for a second term in January 2006, for a third term in October 2008 and for a fourth term in May 2011.
In his first term as Member of Parliament, Russ served on the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics. He also founded and continues to serve as Co-Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Border Caucus which focuses on Canada-U.S. border issues, trade and security.
With his announcement in August 2005 of the formation of the Conservative Party Task Force on Safe Streets and Healthy Communities, Leader Stephen Harper named Russ as Co-Chairman of the Task Force, along with former Attorney General of Ontario and current Finance Minister, Jim Flaherty.
At the beginning of his second term, Russ was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defense, and continued in his role as Co-Chairman of the Border Caucus. In 2006, he was first elected Chairman of the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), a post he has been re-elected to annually by his fellow MPs. In October 2007, Russ assumed the position of Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Western Economic Diversification.
In his third term, he served on the House of Commons Finance Committee and the International Human Rights Sub-Committee.
In the beginning of the 41st Parliament, Russ served on the Standing Committee on International Trade and on the International Human Rights Sub-Committee. He also continued with his leadership roles with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the All-Party Parliamentary Border Caucus.
Currently Russ serves on the Standing Committee on International Trade. He is currently a member of the following Parliamentary Associations:
Canada-Africa (Vice-Chairman)
Canada-China
Canada-United States
Canadian Section of Parl-Americas
After serving seven years as Chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Russ has taken a supporting role as a member and former Chairman. He also continues his supporting role as a member of the Canada-US Border Caucus.