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

House Approves Articles of Impeachment Against Judge Samuel B. Kent

By Rep. Bob Goodlatte | 06/19/09

It is a rare occasion when the House of Representatives must vote on articles of impeachment against a federal judge. Indeed, the last time this occurred was 20 years ago. However, when evidence emerges that an individual is abusing his judicial office for his own advantage, the integrity of the judicial system becomes compromised, and the House of Representatives has the duty to investigate the matter and take the appropriate actions to end the... read more »

3 Comments | Related Topics »National |

Republicans' Alternative to Cap and Tax

By Rep. Bob Goodlatte | 06/13/09

Just days ago House Republicans introduced an “all of the above” solution to cleaning up the environment, lowering energy costs, and creating more American jobs. The American Energy Act, which I strongly support, will increase production of American-made energy in an environmentally-sound manner and promote new, clean and renewable sources of energy such as nuclear, clean-coal-technology, wind and solar energy. The legislation... read more »

3 Comments | Related Topics »National |

Honoring the Bedford Boys

By Rep. Bob Goodlatte | 06/06/09

Across a vast ocean, 11 boys from Bedford, Virginia are buried overlooking the windswept beaches of Normandy. Bedford lost 19 during the D-Day liberation…the greatest proportional loss suffered by a single town on that day. In words inscribed on the wall of a chapel that lies amidst the rows of crosses we are given the following charge: “Think not only upon their passing. Remember the glory of their spirit.” As we... read more »

3 Comments | Related Topics »National |

Deference to International Law? A Strongly Worded Dissent

By Rep. Bob Goodlatte | 05/29/09

Article VI of the U.S. Constitution declares that "this Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof... shall be the supreme law of the land." Since its beginning, our nation has operated under the fundamental principle that the people of the United States should determine their own destiny. However, recently there has been a deeply disturbing trend in American court decisions. The Supreme... read more »

3 Comments | Related Topics »National |

Smacking Families with Cap and Tax

By Rep. Bob Goodlatte | 05/23/09

As the summer months quickly approach and families start to plan vacations, our country continues to struggle with high energy costs. Unfortunately, Congressman Henry Waxman, Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and other Democrats in Congress are strongly pushing legislation which implements a cap and trade system or more accurately: cap and tax. The simple truth behind the Waxman energy plan is that it raises taxes, kills jobs... read more »

4 Comments | Related Topics »National |

Flawed Immigration Policy is Threat to National Security

By Rep. Bob Goodlatte | 05/15/09

Amazingly each year there is a national immigration ‘lottery’ by which approximately 50,000 foreign nationals get green cards to become legal permanent residents of the U.S. Each successful applicant is chosen at random and given permanent resident status based on pure luck. The visa lottery program threatens national security, results in the unfair administration of our immigration laws, and encourages a cottage industry for... read more »

2 Comments | Related Topics »National |

Debt Day: Saddling Future Generations

By Rep. Bob Goodlatte | 04/25/09

Sunday, April 26th marks Debt Day for the 2009 fiscal year. This is the day the government starts paying for federal spending by borrowing money rather than using its revenue. This means that all of the money spent from Washington the rest of this year will either be borrowed from other countries or borrowed from future generations, in turn increasing our federal debt dramatically. It is no secret that the American people are facing a very... read more »

3 Comments | Related Topics »National |

Reining in the Fiscal Insanity

By Rep. Bob Goodlatte | 04/15/09

Across this great country thousands of Americans are joining together to participate in taxpayer tea parties. These gatherings are an opportunity for everyone to express their frustration and disdain for our broken tax code and the out-of-control government spending currently taking place in Washington. It is fitting that this event is taking place on tax day, the most dreaded day of the year for taxpayers.Americans will devote an... read more »