Congressman Vern Buchanan represents Florida’s 16th Congressional District and has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2007. Below is an overview of his career, legislative record, and key positions.
Career Path to Congress
Vern Buchanan’s background is in business:
- Born on May 8, 1951, in Detroit, Michigan.
- Established a business career spanning over 30 years prior to entering politics.
- Chaired the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
- Served on the board and executive committee of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
- First elected to Congress in 2007, initially representing Florida’s 13th Congressional District.
- Currently represents Florida’s 16th Congressional District due to redistricting.
Sponsored Legislation
Buchanan has introduced numerous bills during his tenure:
- Since 2007, he has had 29 legislative initiatives signed into law.
- At the start of the 119th Congress, he introduced eight new bills, including:
- A constitutional amendment for a balanced federal budget.
- The TCJA Permanency Act, intended to make individual and small business tax cuts permanent.
- The Hurricane Milton and Helene Tax Relief Act, aimed at assisting natural disaster victims.
- Two of his proposals were included in the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
- He introduced the TAKE IT DOWN Act to criminalize non-consensual production of intimate imagery.
- He proposed the Stop Crimes Against Children Act to enhance protections against child exploitation.
Stances on Social Issues
- Buchanan introduced the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Prevention Training Act to provide education on combating human trafficking.
- He reintroduced the CREEPER Act 2.0, which seeks to ban the sale of child-like sex dolls.
- He voted to eliminate protections for pre-existing conditions, despite prior commitments to maintain them.
Economic Positions
- Buchanan serves as Vice Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, overseeing matters related to tax policy, trade, and various social programs.
- He supports conservative economic policies and advocates for tax relief for families and small businesses.
- He has expressed support for making the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 permanent.
- He has received criticism for accepting Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for his car dealerships during the COVID-19 pandemic.
National Defense and NDAA
- Two of Buchanan’s proposals were included in the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
- These initiatives focus on the well-being and safety of active-duty service members and their families.
- He secured funding for veterans’ issues, including $4 million for a national veterans’ cemetery in Sarasota County.
Congressional District Demographics
The 16th Congressional District, anchored by Bradenton, Florida, has a diverse demographic composition.
Controversial Statements and Actions
- Buchanan has faced scrutiny over perceived hypocrisy regarding President Biden’s student loan debt forgiveness.
- He has been accused of employing undocumented immigrants in the construction of his home in Florida while opposing illegal immigration.
- He has been involved in multiple civil lawsuits alleging fraud and retaliation against former employees and executives of his car dealerships.
- He has been criticized for receiving PPP loans for his businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite being among Congress’s wealthiest members.
Citations:
[1] https://buchanan.house.gov/about-vern
[2] https://buchanan.house.gov/2025/1/buchanan-introduces-eight-bills-to-kick-off-119th-congress
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vern_Buchanan
[4] https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/2024-nac-speaker-bio-vern-buchanan.pdf
[5] https://buchanan.house.gov/2023/12/two-more-buchanan-bills-signed-into-law
[6] https://dccc.org/the-case-against-congressman-vern-buchanan/
[7] https://buchanan.house.gov
[8] https://buchanan.house.gov/2024/7/buchanan-introduces-two-bills-to-protect-our-nation-s-children-from-modern-threats
[9] https://www.typeinvestigations.org/investigation/2008/08/19/rep-vern-buchanan-facing-legal-complaints/
[10] https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/66247/vern-buchanan