When Congressman William A. Jones died, Bland received the convention's nomination as his successor. He entered Congress, July 3, 1918, and was regularly re-elected until his death. Only 10 members of the House of Representatives have had longer continuous service. As chairman of the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, Otis Bland was largely responsible for the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, which began the rehabilitation of American shipping. He is also a member of the Select Committee on Conservation of Wildlife Resources. His wife is the former Mary Crawford Putzel of Newport News.