Gus Bilirakis (FL-12)

Biography

Gus Michael Bilirakis is a Republican representing Florida's 12th Congressional District, which includes all of Citrus and Hernando counties and most of Pasco County. Born on February 8, 1963, in Gainesville, Florida, he is a second-generation Greek-American and the son of former U.S. Representative Michael Bilirakis. A lawyer by profession, he has served in Congress since 2007, following eight years in the Florida House of Representatives. Notable achievements include authoring 75 bills signed into law since 2015, earning him recognition as the 31st Most Effective Lawmaker in Congress by the Center for Effective Lawmaking at Vanderbilt University. He chairs the Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee and serves as a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, focusing on bipartisan priorities like lowering prescription drug costs, protecting veterans' benefits, and improving health care access.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Graduated from Tarpon Springs High School and St. Petersburg Junior College; earned a B.A. in political science from the University of Florida in 1986; received a J.D. from Stetson University College of Law in 1989.
• Early Career: Interned for President Ronald Reagan; operated the family law firm, Bilirakis Law Group, specializing in probate and estate planning.
• Political Experience: Elected to the Florida House in 1998, serving until 2006 on committees including Finance & Taxation, Health Care Services, and Elder Affairs; elected to U.S. House in 2006 ; senior roles on Energy and Commerce subcommittees; voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017; awarded Grand Commander of the Order of the Phoenix by Greece.