CONTRIBUTOR
REGIONAL PERSPECTIVES / NATIONAL IMPACT
Bob Goodlatte
Member For
31 weeks 3 days
Website:
U.S. Representative Bob Goodlatte (VA)
Contact:
2240 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-5431
BIOGRAPHY
Bob Goodlatte began his ninth term representing the Sixth Congressional District of Virginia in 2009.
Bob’s service to the people of the Sixth District began in 1977 when he became District Director for former Congressman Caldwell Butler. He served in this position for two years until 1979, and was responsible for helping folks across the District seeking assistance with or encountering problems from various federal agencies. In 1979, he founded his own private law practice in Roanoke. He was a partner in the law firm of Bird, Kinder and Huffman, working there from 1981 until taking office.
During his time in Congress, Bob has made a name for himself as a leader on Internet and high-tech issues. He is Co-Chair of the Congressional Internet Caucus, and Chairman of the House Republican High Technology Working Group.
In January 2009, Bob was elected to serve as the Vice Ranking Member on the House Judiciary Committee. He has been an active member of the House Judiciary Committee since arriving in Congress. The Judiciary Committee is well-suited to many of Bob’s legislative priorities including ensuring the Internet is free from regulatory burdens, combating spyware, protecting private property rights and reining in wasteful spending by requiring the government to have a balanced budget. In addition to serving on the House Judiciary Committee, Bob serves on the House Agriculture Committee where he is the Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy and Research. This important subcommittee has jurisdiction over a wide range of issues including water conservation, energy production, rural electrification, agricultural credit and agricultural research and education. Bob also serves on the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry, which is of particular importance to the Sixth District since it is one of the leading turkey and poultry producing districts in the nation. Bob has served the Agriculture Committee in a variety of leadership roles including Chairman of the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry Subcommittee (1996-2002), Chairman of the Agriculture Committee (2003-2006), and Ranking Member of the Agriculture Committee (2007-2008).
Bob, age 56, is a graduate of Washington and Lee University School of Law, and his undergraduate degree in Government was earned at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. He and Maryellen, his wife of 34 years, live in Roanoke and have two children, Jennifer and Rob.
COMMENTARIES
Putting an End to the Bailout Culture in Washington
By Rep. Bob Goodlatte | 08/29/09
Late last year the Congress passed, without my support, the Financial Stabilization Package, which was supposed to stabilize the growing financial crisis currently facing our country. In fact, this legislation represented one of the largest corporate bailouts in American history by taking 700 billion dollars of taxpayers’ hard-earned money and handing it over to the very companies that made the bad decisions which led us into this... read more »
3 Comments | Related Topics »National |
Legislation Provides Increase in Veterans Funding
By Rep. Bob Goodlatte | 08/22/09
America’s veterans have engaged in one of the noblest forms of public service: defending our nation. These brave, patriotic men and women have helped to liberate victims of oppression, spread democracy across the world and preserve the freedoms our nation was built upon. They have served on aircraft carriers in distant oceans, kept the peace on volatile borders, and patrolled the skies of international hot spots. Theirs is a... read more »
3 Comments | Related Topics »National |
Majority of Americans Oppose Transfer of GITMO Prisoners to U.S.
By Rep. Bob Goodlatte | 08/14/09
Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States has been engaged in a war to root out terrorism in order to protect the citizens of the U.S. from further terrorist attacks. During this war on terror, troops have captured and detained numerous terrorists who have taken up arms against the United States and innocent civilians. Many of these terrorists are being held as “enemy combatants” at the U.S. Naval Station... read more »
3 Comments | Related Topics »National |
The United States of America: A Nation of Immigrants
By Rep. Bob Goodlatte | 08/08/09
The United States of America is a nation of immigrants. Legal immigration has blessed our nation with talent, diversity, and a commitment to freedom. However, we are also a nation of laws and illegal immigration mocks these laws and our entire system of justice. Illegal immigration costs our taxpayers billions of dollars every year and penalizes those legal immigrants and citizens who play by the rules. Studies show that... read more »
3 Comments | Related Topics »National |
Competition, Not Bureaucracy, is Best Healthcare Solution
By Rep. Bob Goodlatte | 08/01/09
While we can all agree that our current health care system is flawed there are many different ideas about how to fix it. Recently Democratic Leaders in Congress introduced the “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act”, which sets the tone for a Washington takeover of the health care system. While this misguided legislation simply offers more of what is wrong with the current system, House Republicans have offered commonsense... read more »
6 Comments | Related Topics »National |
Unprecedented, Wasteful Spending Defines House Majority
By Rep. Bob Goodlatte | 07/25/09
It is no secret that the American people are facing a very tough economic climate. Families and small businesses are cutting back on expenses. As economic uncertainty continues, many across our nation are looking to the government for leadership during this difficult time. In these challenging economic times it is even more important for government to control spending and enact fiscally responsible solutions that are actually likely to turn our... read more »
3 Comments | Related Topics »National |
Poll: Democrats Not Listening to American People on Health Care
By Rep. Bob Goodlatte | 07/18/09
Earlier this week Democratic Leaders in Congress introduced the “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act”, which sets the tone for a Washington takeover of the health care system —one defined by federal regulation, mandates, a myriad of new big government programs, and a significant increase in federal spending. A recent poll, which was released at the beginning of July, indicates that Americans by a margin of 2:1... read more »
4 Comments | Related Topics »National |
SAFE Commission Would Reduce Government Waste
By Rep. Bob Goodlatte | 07/11/09
Working to reduce government waste is a significant undertaking and one to which I remain firmly dedicated even in a Congress where excessive spending runs rampant. It is critical to ensure that the Congress responsibly manages federal spending, especially our tax dollars, to fund our nation’s priorities through greater transparency and accountability. That is why I have worked to rein in wasteful and unnecessary spending by voting for the... read more »
The Blessings of Liberty
By Rep. Bob Goodlatte | 07/04/09
This Fourth of July we look to the blessings of liberty and are reminded of how precious they are. Two hundred and thirty-three years ago, a group of men, made up of merchants, lawyers, farmers, educators, soldiers, physicians and pastors, risked charges of treason, because they possessed a vision. They recognized that liberty is a birthright, not something granted by a king. They had the courage of their convictions to pledge their... read more »
Cap and Trade Will Cripple U.S. Economy
By Rep. Bob Goodlatte | 07/03/09
Last week the House of Representatives narrowly passed a massive new energy tax that will have devastating consequences for every single American. Congressman Henry Waxman, Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Speaker Nancy Pelosi pushed through the so-called “American Clean Energy and Security” legislation, which implements a cap and trade system or more accurately: cap and tax. The simple truth behind this... read more »
RECOMMENDED SITES
