Gowdy was the representative for South Carolina’s 4th congressional district as a Republican. He served from 2011 to 2018.
![Photo of Rep. Trey Gowdy [R-SC4, 2011-2018]](/static/legislator-photos/412473-200px.jpeg)
Analysis
Legislative Metrics
Read our 2018 Report Card for Gowdy.
Ideology–Leadership Chart
Gowdy is shown as a purple triangle ▲ in our ideology-leadership chart below. Each dot was a member of the House of Representatives in 2018 positioned according to our liberal–conservative ideology score (left to right) and our leadership score (leaders are toward the top).
The chart is based on the bills Gowdy sponsored and cosponsored from Jan 3, 2013 to Dec 21, 2018. See full analysis methodology.
Ratings from Advocacy Organizations
Enacted Legislation
Gowdy was the primary sponsor of 4 bills that were enacted:
- H.R. 6845: Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018
- H.R. 2076 (112th): Investigative Assistance for Violent Crimes Act of 2012
- H.R. 6620 (112th): Former Presidents Protection Act of 2012
- H.R. 3237 (112th): SOAR Technical Corrections Act
We consider a bill enacted if one of the following is true: a) it is enacted itself, b) it has a companion bill in the other chamber (as identified by Congress) which was enacted, or c) if at least about half of its provisions were incorporated into bills that were enacted (as determined by an automated text analysis, applicable beginning with bills in the 110th Congress).
Bills Sponsored
Issue Areas
Gowdy sponsored bills primarily in these issue areas:
Crime and Law Enforcement (60%) Immigration (40%)
Recent Bills
Some of Gowdy’s most recently sponsored bills include...
- H.R. 6845: Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018
- H.R. 5925 (115th): CRISIS Act
- H.R. 6440 (114th): Justice for Child Victims Act of 2016
- H.R. 1148 (114th): Michael Davis, Jr. in Honor of State and Local Law Enforcement Act
- H.R. 5401 (113th): Protecting the Homeland Act
- H.R. 4138 (113th): ENFORCE the Law Act of 2014
- H.R. 3412 (113th): Flexibility to Innovate for College Affordability Act
Voting Record
Key Votes
| Gowdy’s Vote | Vote Description |
|---|---|
| Aye |
H.J.Res. 43: Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the final rule submitted by Secretary of Health and Human Services relating ...
Feb 16, 2017. Passed 230/188.
Joe Biden never got the opportunity to break a single 50-50 Senate tie in eight years as vice president. Mike Pence has already broken two. One from last month has since become law: a measure allowing states to withhold federal Planned Parenthood funding. (The other ... |
| Aye |
H.R. 2146: Defending Public Safety Employees’ Retirement Act
Jun 18, 2015. Passed 218/208.
This vote made H.R. 2146 the vehicle for passage of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal currently being negotiated. H.R. 2146 was originally introduced as a bill to address issues with retirement funds of federal law enforcement officers and firefighters. ... |
| Yea |
H.R. 2048: Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ensuring Effective Discipline Over Monitoring Act of 2015
May 13, 2015. Passed 338/88.
The USA Freedom Act (H.R. 2048, Pub.L. 114–23) is a U.S. law enacted on June 2, 2015 that restored in modified form several provisions of the Patriot Act, which had expired the day before. The act imposes some new limits on the bulk collection of ... |
| No |
H.R. 33: Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act
Feb 27, 2015. Passed 357/60.
This bill was the vehicle for the passage of continuing appropriations. This bill started out as the Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act. It was passed by the House in this form. But on Feb 27, 2015 the Senate struck its text in whole ... |
| Nay |
H.R. 212: Drinking Water Protection Act
Feb 24, 2015. Passed 375/37.
|
| Nay |
H.R. 23: National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 2015
Jan 7, 2015. Passed 381/39.
|
| Nay |
H.R. 83 (113th): Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015
Dec 11, 2014. Passed 219/206.
This bill became the vehicle for passage of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 [pdf], which was approved by the House on December 11, 2014 and by the Senate on December 13, 2014. The bill was originally introduced on January 3, 2013 by ... |
| Nay |
H.R. 4681 (113th): Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015
Dec 10, 2014. Passed 325/100.
|
| No |
H.J.Res. 124 (113th): Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015
Sep 17, 2014. Passed 319/108.
|
| Aye |
H.R. 6233 (112th): Agricultural Disaster Assistance Act of 2012
Aug 2, 2012. Passed 223/197.
|
| Aye |
H.R. 1249 (112th): Leahy-Smith America Invents Act
Jun 23, 2011. Passed 304/117.
The Leahy–Smith America Invents Act (AIA) is a United States federal statute that was passed by Congress and was signed into law by President Barack Obama on September 16, 2011. The law represents the most significant legislative change to the U.S. patent system since the ... |
Missed Votes
From Jan 2011 to Dec 2018, Gowdy missed 211 of 5,344 roll call votes, which is 3.9%. This is worse than the median of 2.5% among the lifetime records of representatives serving in Dec 2018. The chart below reports missed votes over time.
Primary Sources
The information on this page is originally sourced from a variety of materials, including:
- @unitedstates/congress-legislators, a community project gathering congressional information
- The House and Senate websites, for committee membership and voting records
- GPO Member Guide for the photo
- GovInfo.gov, for sponsored bills
