Vern Buchanan is a Republican Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Florida's 16th congressional district since January 3, 2011. He was born on April 27, 1949, in Charleston, Kanawha County, West Virginia, and later moved to Florida. Buchanan completed his secondary education at Maynard Evans High School in Orlando, Florida, graduating in 1967. He then attended the Georgia Institute of Technology, earning a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering in 1971.
Beyond his political career, Buchanan is a successful businessman, having owned and operated various enterprises. He served in the Florida State House of Representatives from 1980 to 1998, where he also held the position of Speaker from 1996 to 1998. He then transitioned to the Florida State Senate from 1998 to 2008, serving as the Majority Leader from 2006 until 2008. Throughout his tenure in state and federal legislatures, Buchanan has focused on a range of issues, including economic development, healthcare, and environmental protection.
In the U.S. House, Buchanan has sponsored and co-sponsored a number of bills focusing on various policy areas, particularly emphasizing conservative positions on social issues. Notably, he has been involved in legislation regarding reproductive health. For instance, he co-sponsored the No Social Security for Illegal Aliens Act, which aims to bar illegal immigrants from receiving Social Security benefits, a position reflecting a strong stance on immigration enforcement.
He also sponsored the Parental Notification and Intervention Act of 2025, which mandates parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor. This reflects a commitment to increasing parental involvement in significant medical decisions regarding minors, reinforcing traditional values within healthcare policy.
Another bill that has garnered attention is the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act, which aims to prohibit family planning grants to entities that perform abortions or provide funding to such entities, with exceptions in cases of rape or incest. It showcases Buchanan's alignment with the pro-life movement and seeks to redirect federal funding away from organizations that perform abortions.
In addition to his focus on reproductive health, Buchanan has also taken an interest in environmental issues, evidenced by his sponsorship of the Manatee Protection Act of 2025, which seeks to list the West Indian manatee as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. This bill underscores his commitment to conservation efforts amid ongoing habitat threats.
Buchanan's political positions align with a traditional Republican platform, emphasizing limited government intervention, fiscal conservatism, and stringent immigration policies. He has actively participated in various committees during his congressional service, contributing to discussions regarding economic policies and health care reform.
Outside of politics, Buchanan is known to be family-oriented. He is married to his wife, Sandy, and they have three children. Their family is actively involved in community affairs, often participating in events that benefit local organizations and programs.
With a lengthy history in both state and federal politics, Vern Buchanan's legislative actions and political positions reflect a commitment to conservative values, particularly with an emphasis on family, economic policy, environmental protection, and healthcare reform.