![Photo of Rep. Vern Buchanan [R-FL16]](/data/photos/412196-200px.jpeg)
Analysis
Legislative Metrics
Read our 2016 Report Card for Buchanan.
Sponsorship Analysis
Our unique analysis of the bills Buchanan has sponsored and cosponsored provides insight into his position in the House of Representatives.
Each dot in the chart below is a member of the House of Representatives. The dots are positioned horizontally according to our progressive—conservative ideology score and vertically according to our leadership score (leaders toward the top). Buchanan is shown as a purple triangle. (analysis methodology)
Committee Membership
Vern Buchanan sits on the following committees:
-
House Committee on Ways and Means
- Chair, Subcommittee on Oversight
- Member, Subcommittee on Health
- Member, Subcommittee on Social Security
Enacted Legislation
Buchanan was the primary sponsor of 2 bills that were enacted:
- H.R. 91 (114th): Veterans Identification Card Act 2015
- H.R. 2366 (110th): SBA Veterans’ Programs Act of 2007
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 about one third or more 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 (30%) Economics and Public Finance (18%) Social Welfare (12%) Health (12%) Armed Forces and National Security (9%) International Affairs (6%) Foreign Trade and International Finance (6%) Crime and Law Enforcement (6%)
Recent Bills
Some of Buchanan’s most recently sponsored bills include...
- H.R. 2126: What Works to Move Welfare Recipients into Jobs Act
- H.R. 854: Retirement Security for American Workers Act
- H.R. 646: No Pay Raise for Congress Act
- H.R. 253: Family First Prevention Services Act of 2017
- H.J.Res. 5: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to balancing ...
- H.R. 113: Safeguard American Food Exports Act of 2017
- H.R. 112: Emergency Citrus Disease Response Act of 2017
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 Jun 2017, Buchanan missed 243 of 7,988 roll call votes, which is 3.0%. This is worse than the median of 2.2% among the lifetime records of representatives currently serving. ProPublica has tracked 9 explanations for these missed votes. The chart below reports missed votes over time.
Primary Sources
The information on this page is originally sourced from a variety of materials, including:
- Congress-Legislators, a community project collecting election information
- The House and Senate websites, for committee membership and voting records
- GPO Member Guide for the photo
- GPO.gov/FDSys, for sponsored bills