Gus Bilirakis

Republican Representative of Florida's 12th district

  • Representative

    Florida, district 12

    January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2025

9

Congresses Served

9

House Terms

February 8, 1963 (61 years old)

Birthday

  • Succeeded his father in Congress, first representing Florida’s 9th district and, after redistricting, the 12th district
  • Served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1998 to 2006
  • Born and raised in Florida, with Greek immigrant grandparents
  • Holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a J.D. degree
  • Interned for U.S. President Ronald Reagan
  • Before politics, operated a law practice specializing in probate and estate planning
  • Chaired several committees while in the Florida legislature
  • Has been reelected multiple times to Congress with little opposition
  • Holds positions on the Committee on Energy and Commerce and its subcommittees
  • Co-founded the Congressional Hellenic-Israeli Alliance
  • Member of the Republican Study Committee, Congressional Diabetes Caucus, and other groups
  • Signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge and a pledge against climate change legislation that raises taxes
  • Voted against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and against naming a federal building after Joseph W. Hatchett
  • Supports repealing the Affordable Care Act and has controversially agreed with the debunked claim of “death panels” in the ACA
  • Miscredited for involvement in the INTERDICT Act in a campaign advertisement
  • Voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
  • Received campaign contributions from the NRA and has an “A” rating from the organization
  • Co-signed a letter condemning Azerbaijan’s offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh and calling for a ceasefire
  • Voted to support Israel following a 2023 attack
  • Signed an amicus brief supporting Texas v. Pennsylvania, contesting the 2020 presidential election results
  • Voted against the impeachment of Donald Trump following the January 6 Capitol attack
  • Has four children and is an Eastern Orthodox Christian
  • Had a cameo in the film “Walt Before Mickey”