U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan is co-chair of the bipartisan 29-member Florida congressional delegation and currently serves on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax policy, international trade, health care, welfare, Social Security and Medicare. Buchanan is the lead Republican of the Trade Subcommittee, a key panel that oversees tariffs, customs, bilateral and regional trade agreements and international trade rules and organizations.

A self-made businessman, Buchanan understands that America's economic strength flows from its entrepreneurial spirit and pro-growth, free-market policies. Buchanan was heavily involved with efforts to fix our broken tax code and played a key role in passage of a sweeping tax cut bill at the end of 2017. During the tax reform debate, he focused on lowering tax rates for individuals and small businesses and on simplifying the tax code. He has worked to enact tax incentives to help small businesses, end burdensome regulations, and limit frivolous lawsuits.

Buchanan's legislative successes during 115th Congress (2017-2018) include seven initiatives signed into law, including legislation to combat red tide, help citrus farmers, improve foster care for children and ban the slaughter of American horses.

These initiatives follow a series of successes during the 114th Congress (2015-2016), when four legislative proposals written by Buchanan were signed into law. They included- protections against identity theft, preventing fraud in public housing, protecting Medicare plans from being taken away from seniors and a bill allowing all veterans to get an official identification card.

In all, 17 Buchanan initiatives have been signed into law by Presidents Trump, Obama and Bush.

Serving his seventh term, Buchanan is an outspoken advocate of reforming the U.S. tax code to make it simpler and fairer. He also serves on the Health and Social Security subcommittees on Ways and Means.

Buchanan is a member of the Health Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over Medicare and employer-provided health insurance benefits. With 190,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Florida's 16th District, Buchanan is committed to preserving Medicare's long-term solvency for senior citizens, as well as bringing down the cost of health care for all Americans.

A strong fiscal conservative, the Congressman's signature bill is the Buchanan Balanced Budget Amendment Act. He also introduced legislation to stop automatic pay raises for Members of Congress until the budget is balanced.

Congressman Buchanan's previous committee assignments include the House Budget Committee, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the House Veterans Affairs Committee and the House Small Business Committee, where he also served as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Finance and Tax.

Vern Buchanan grew up with five siblings in a blue-collar household in a small town near Detroit, Michigan. He served six years in the Air National Guard and worked his way through college.

The self-made businessman is a respected leader in Florida's business community. He chaired both the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. He was also a member of the Board of the U.S. Chamber, and in 2005 he was inducted into the Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame.

In addition, Congressman Buchanan is a dedicated philanthropist. He has committed himself to diverse community causes, including the Boys and Girls Club, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, the Walk to Cure Juvenile Diabetes, the American Heart Walk, the Mote Marine Laboratory and the Ringling Museum of Art.

A husband and father, Congressman Buchanan lives in Longboat Key, Florida with his wife of more than 40 years. Vern and Sandy Buchanan have two grown sons, James and Matt.