Gus Bilirakis

Gus Michael Bilirakis is a Republican politician and attorney serving as the U.S. Representative for Florida's 12th congressional district. Born on February 8, 1963, in Gainesville, Florida, and raised in Tarpon Springs, he is the son of former Representative Michael Bilirakis. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Florida in 1986 and a Juris Doctor from the Stetson University College of Law in 1989. Before entering public office, he operated a private law practice specializing in probate and estate planning and taught government classes at St. Petersburg College. Bilirakis began his legislative career in the Florida House of Representatives, where he served from 1998 to 2006. In 2006, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives to succeed his retiring father, representing Florida's 9th district before redistricting moved him to the 12th district. Throughout his tenure in Congress, he has been recognized for his legislative productivity, particularly in the areas of veterans' affairs and public health. He currently serves as a senior member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce. His legislative accomplishments include authoring numerous bills related to veteran benefits, mental health, and rare disease research. Bilirakis is also a prominent advocate for the Greek-American community and serves as a co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues. He resides in Palm Harbor, Florida, with his wife, Eva, and their four sons.

Bilirakis maintains a consistently conservative platform with a focus on fiscal responsibility and national security. On healthcare, he supports the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act, advocating for market-based reforms, and has co-authored legislation to strengthen Medicaid oversight and improve veterans' access to care. Regarding the economy, he supports tax code reform and fiscal measures aimed at reducing the national debt while opposing cuts to Social Security or Medicare for seniors. His immigration policy emphasizes strict border security and enforcement; he strongly opposes illegal immigration and amnesty, though he has expressed openness to conditional DACA renewals if paired with enhanced border protection and the elimination of chain migration. In foreign policy, he is a staunch supporter of U.S.-Greece relations and efforts toward the reunification of Cyprus.