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Rep. Vern Buchanan

Representative for Florida’s 16th District

pronounced vern // byoo-KAN-uhn

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Buchanan is the representative for Florida’s 16th congressional district (view map) and is a Republican. He has served since Jan 3, 2013. Buchanan is next up for reelection in 2018.

He was previously the representative for Florida’s 13th congressional district as a Republican from 2007 to 2012.

Alleged misconduct & resolution

In 2012 Buchanan was investigated for improperly influencing a witness before the FEC and illegally reimbursing campaign contributors. The House Committee on Ethics concluded that there was insufficient evidence on the allegation of witness tampering, but that the illegal reimbursements did occur, albeit without the representative's knowledge.

May. 9, 2012 House Office of Congressional Ethics recommended that the Committee on Ethics further review the allegations
Jun. 24, 2016 House Committee on Ethics concluded that there was insufficient evidence on the allegation of witness tampering, but that the illegal reimbursements did occur, albeit without the Representative's knowledge

In 2011 Buchanan was investigated for failing to report positions he held with outside companies and to report unearned income from 2007 to 2010. The House Committee on Ethics concluded that the representative unknowingly failed to disclose positions in outside companies and unearned income. They were satisfied when the representative amended his forms.

Nov. 8, 2011 House Office of Congressional Ethics recommended that the Committee on Ethics further review the allegations
Jul. 10, 2012 House Committee on Ethics concluded that the representative unknowingly failed to disclose positions in outside companies and unearned income They were satisfied when the representative amended his forms
Photo of Rep. Vern Buchanan [R-FL16]

Analysis

Legislative Metrics

Read our 2017 Report Card for Buchanan.

Ideology–Leadership Chart

Buchanan is shown as a purple triangle ▲ in our ideology-leadership chart below. Each dot is a member of the House of Representatives 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 Buchanan has sponsored and cosponsored. See full analysis methodology.

Ratings from Advocacy Organizations

Committee Membership

Vern Buchanan sits on the following committees:

Enacted Legislation

Buchanan was the primary sponsor of 2 bills that were enacted:

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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

Buchanan sponsors bills primarily in these issue areas:

Taxation (31%) Health (19%) Economics and Public Finance (13%) Social Welfare (13%) Immigration (6%) Families (6%) Science, Technology, Communications (6%) Armed Forces and National Security (6%)

Recent Bills

Some of Buchanan’s most recently sponsored bills include...

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Voting Record

Key Votes

Buchanan’s Vote Vote Description
Nay S. 764: A bill to reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act, and for other purposes.
Jul 14, 2016. Passed 306/117.
This bill was the vehicle for passage of the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act, which is the form it was enacted it. Prior to amendments, the bill regarded defunding Planned Parenthood and the National Sea Grant College Program. As enacted, the bill created national ...
Nay H.R. 4889: Kelsey Smith Act
May 23, 2016. Failed 229/158.
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. 1560: Protecting Cyber Networks Act
Apr 22, 2015. Passed 307/116.
Aye H.J.Res. 124 (113th): Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015
Sep 17, 2014. Passed 319/108.
Nay H.R. 5972 (112th): Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2013
Jun 29, 2012. Passed 261/163.
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 change to the U.S. patent system since 1952, and ...
Aye H.R. 1752 (111th): To provide that the usual day for paying salaries in or under the House of Representatives may ...
Jul 30, 2009. Failed 282/144.
Yea H.Res. 1031 (110th): Providing for the adoption of the resolution (H. Res. 895) establishing within the House of Representatives an ...
Mar 11, 2008. Passed 229/182.

Missed Votes

From Jan 2007 to May 2018, Buchanan missed 290 of 8,582 roll call votes, which is 3.4%. This is worse than the median of 2.3% among the lifetime records of representatives currently serving. The chart below reports missed votes over time.

Show the numbers...

Primary Sources

The information on this page is originally sourced from a variety of materials, including: