US Representative

A. Ferguson

Biography

A Representative from Georgia, this member was born on November 15, 1966, in Lansdale, Houston County, Alabama. They graduated from Springwood School in Lanett, Alabama, in 1985 and went on to attend the University of Georgia, where they studied until 1988. They earned a Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (D.M.D.) from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta in 1992. With a background in dentistry, they later became actively involved in local politics, serving as a member of the West Point, Georgia, board of aldermen from 1997 to 1999 and as the Mayor of West Point from 2008 until 2016. The member was elected to the U.S. Congress as a Republican in January 2017 and has since served in three successive terms, with their current term set to end in January 2025. They have announced that they will not run for reelection in the upcoming 2024 elections.

Throughout their congressional tenure, this member has participated in various committees and has sponsored or co-sponsored numerous bills. Some prominent legislation they have been involved in includes the Mandating Exclusive Review of Individual Treatments (MERIT) Act, which seeks to ensure that Medicare coverage determinations for drugs are considered on an individual basis rather than by class, reflecting a patient-centered approach to healthcare. The sentiment around this bill is generally positive among healthcare advocates, although there are concerns regarding its financial implications for Medicare.

Another significant piece of legislation is the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, proposing to require a standard of care for any child born alive during an abortion. The bill has garnered substantial attention and represents the member's alignment with conservative positions concerning abortion rights.

In alignment with their political ideology, this member has also supported bills such as the Secure the Border Act, which reinforces border security measures including the resumption of construction for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and limits the eligibility criteria for asylum. Additionally, they have co-sponsored legislation like the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act, seeking to make existing restrictions on federal funding for abortions permanent.

On the healthcare front, the member has also been associated with the Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act, aiming to facilitate funding for Medicaid providers serving low-income individuals, emphasizing access and equity in health services.

Their legislative agenda reflects a strong alignment with traditional conservative values, focusing on issues like healthcare reform centered around individual treatment, stringent border control, and restrictions on abortion funding. This member has favored policies promoting the right to bear arms, evidenced by their support for the Protecting the Second Amendment Act, which emphasizes the importance of Second Amendment rights.

With a background in public service at the local level and a focus on healthcare and border security in Congress, this member has carved out a role within the Republican Party as a proponent of traditional conservative values and legislative reforms that echo the interests and sentiments of their constituents in Georgia.