Gus Bilirakis

Gus Bilirakis
Born	Gus Michael Bilirakis 8 2, 1963
Birthplace	Gainesville, Florida, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Lawyer, politician
Known for	U.S. Representative for Florida's 12th congressional district
Education	University of Florida (BA) Stetson University (JD)
Children	4
Website	[[bilirakis.house.gov bilirakis.house.gov] Official site]

Gus Michael Bilirakis (Template:IPAc-en; born February 8, 1963) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as a member of the United States House of Representatives since January 2007, representing Florida's 12th congressional district since 2013 and previously Florida's 9th congressional district from 2007 to 2013. A member of the Republican Party, Bilirakis succeeded his father, Michael Bilirakis, in Congress, continuing a family tradition of representing the northern Tampa Bay area in Washington, D.C. Before entering federal office, he served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1998 to 2006, representing the 48th district. In the 119th Congress, Bilirakis serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade within the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, where he has focused on issues including online child safety, consumer protection, and telecommunications policy. Throughout his congressional tenure, Bilirakis has been a consistent conservative voice on fiscal, healthcare, and veterans' affairs issues. President Donald Trump has endorsed Bilirakis on multiple occasions, including a fourth endorsement issued in November 2025 for his re-election campaign.

Early Life

Gus Michael Bilirakis was born on February 8, 1963, in Gainesville, Florida. He is the son of Michael Bilirakis, who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1983 to 2007, representing Florida's 9th congressional district for twelve terms. The Bilirakis family is of Greek American heritage, and Gus Bilirakis has maintained strong ties to the Greek American community throughout his political career. His father's long tenure in Congress provided a formative backdrop for Bilirakis's own political aspirations, as he grew up observing the workings of elected office and constituent service in the Tampa Bay area.

Bilirakis was raised in the Tampa Bay region of Florida, an area his family has represented in Congress for decades. The northern Tampa Bay area, encompassing parts of Pasco County and portions of Pinellas County and Hillsborough County, has been the political base for both father and son. Gus Bilirakis's upbringing in this politically active household shaped his interest in public service and law, career paths he would pursue through higher education and eventually into elected office.

Education

Bilirakis attended St. Petersburg College before transferring to the University of Florida, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then obtained his Juris Doctor degree from Stetson University College of Law, a private law school in Gulfport, Florida. His legal education at Stetson prepared him for a career in law practice prior to entering politics, and his training as an attorney informed his later legislative work on regulatory, consumer protection, and legal policy matters in both the Florida state legislature and the United States Congress.

Career

Florida House of Representatives (1998–2006)

Bilirakis began his career in elected office in 1998, when he won a seat in the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 48th district. He succeeded Sandy Safley in that position. Bilirakis served in the state legislature for four terms, from November 3, 1998, to November 7, 2006, during which time he worked on state-level policy issues. Upon his departure from the Florida House, he was succeeded by Peter Nehr.

His tenure in the state legislature provided Bilirakis with experience in legislative procedure, constituent relations, and policy development that he carried into his subsequent congressional career. The 48th district encompassed portions of the Tampa Bay area, the same region his father had long represented at the federal level.

U.S. House of Representatives

Election to Congress

In 2006, Bilirakis ran for and won the seat in Florida's 9th congressional district being vacated by his father, Michael Bilirakis, who retired after serving since 1983. The transition from father to son in the same congressional seat was notable, though not unprecedented in American politics. Bilirakis took office on January 3, 2007, and has served continuously in the U.S. House of Representatives since that date.

Following the redistricting that took place after the 2010 United States Census, Bilirakis's district was renumbered. Beginning in 2013, he has represented Florida's 12th congressional district, which encompasses much of the northern portion of the Tampa Bay area. The geographic boundaries of the district shifted through redistricting, but Bilirakis continued to represent many of the same communities he had served previously.

Bilirakis has won re-election multiple times and has received endorsements from prominent Republican figures. In November 2025, President Donald Trump endorsed Bilirakis for the fourth time, calling him a strong ally in Congress.

Committee Assignments and Leadership

Bilirakis has served on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, one of the oldest and most influential committees in the House. As of the 119th Congress, he holds the position of Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. This subcommittee has jurisdiction over a wide range of issues, including consumer protection, trade policy, manufacturing, and digital commerce.

In his role as subcommittee chairman, Bilirakis has convened hearings on a variety of topics. In November 2025, he delivered an opening statement at a subcommittee hearing focused on "Time, Travel, and Tourism," examining policy issues related to the travel and tourism industries. In December 2025, he chaired a hearing on "Protections for Children and Teens Online," reflecting his legislative interest in online child safety and digital privacy.

Working with Congressman Brett Guthrie, Chairman of the full Energy and Commerce Committee, Bilirakis has also engaged with federal regulatory agencies on technology issues. In December 2025, Guthrie and Bilirakis jointly applauded the Federal Trade Commission for hosting a workshop on age verification technology, a topic connected to ongoing legislative efforts to protect minors online. Earlier, in November 2025, the two chairmen announced a legislative hearing on protections for children and teens online, signaling the committee's continued focus on digital safety measures.

Legislative Activity

Throughout his congressional career, Bilirakis has introduced and supported legislation on a range of issues. In the area of tax policy, Bilirakis signed the Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Protection Pledge, committing not to raise taxes.

In December 2017, Bilirakis voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the major tax reform legislation passed during the first Trump administration. The legislation, which reduced individual and corporate tax rates, was a central policy achievement of the Republican-controlled Congress in the 115th session.

In more recent legislative action, Bilirakis introduced the Permanent Tax Relief for Seniors Act, which aims to make permanent the $6,000 Social Security tax deduction. The legislation was co-sponsored by Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Anna Paulina Luna.

On gun policy, Bilirakis has received contributions from the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund, as documented in a 2018 CNN analysis of NRA contributions to Florida politicians. He has supported the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which was passed by the House in December 2017. That bill, H.R. 38, would have allowed individuals with concealed carry permits in one state to carry concealed firearms in other states that allow concealed carry.

On foreign affairs, Bilirakis has been active on issues related to Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean. In October 2025, he co-introduced the PEACE Act (Preventing Exploitation and Confrontation in the Eastern Mediterranean Act) alongside Congressman Darrell Issa, who serves as Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. This legislative interest aligns with Bilirakis's Greek American heritage and his long-standing engagement with Hellenic community affairs and Eastern Mediterranean policy.

Healthcare Policy

Healthcare has been a recurring area of focus for Bilirakis during his time in Congress. In February 2017, during a town hall meeting, Bilirakis drew national attention when some of his constituents expressed strong opinions about healthcare policy and the Affordable Care Act. The event, which was widely covered in media reports, occurred during a period of intense national debate about potential repeal of the Affordable Care Act. CNN reported on the contentious town hall, which reflected broader tensions across the country between Republican lawmakers and constituents who opposed changes to the healthcare law.

Fiscal Policy

Bilirakis has been recognized by fiscal conservative organizations for his voting record. Americans for Prosperity has tracked and scored his legislative votes, noting his alignment with limited-government and free-market policy positions. His signing of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge and his support for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act are consistent with his broader conservative fiscal orientation.

Personal Life

Gus Bilirakis was born and raised in Florida and has maintained his residence in the Tampa Bay area throughout his career. He is the son of former Congressman Michael Bilirakis, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 24 years. The father-son succession in the same congressional district is one of several such instances in American political history. Bilirakis has four children.

The Bilirakis family's Greek American heritage has been a notable aspect of both Gus's and his father's public identities. Gus Bilirakis has participated in Greek American community events and advocated for policies related to Greece and the broader Eastern Mediterranean region, including issues related to Greek refugees and humanitarian concerns. In September 2016, Bilirakis spoke publicly about Greece's role in aiding Syrian refugees, reflecting his engagement with both his heritage community and international humanitarian issues.

Bilirakis is a licensed attorney in the state of Florida, having practiced law prior to and during his early political career. His legal background has informed his work on legislative and regulatory matters in both the Florida state legislature and in Congress.

Recognition

Bilirakis has been endorsed multiple times by President Donald Trump, with his fourth endorsement coming in November 2025 for his re-election to Florida's 12th congressional district. Trump's repeated endorsements underscore Bilirakis's standing within the Republican Party establishment and his alignment with the former and current president's policy agenda.

His role as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade on the House Energy and Commerce Committee represents a significant leadership position within the House Republican Conference. The Energy and Commerce Committee is one of the most powerful committees in the House, with broad legislative jurisdiction over healthcare, telecommunications, energy, and commerce. Bilirakis's elevation to a subcommittee chairmanship reflects his seniority and influence within the committee structure.

Bilirakis has been scored and evaluated by a range of political and advocacy organizations. Americans for Prosperity, a conservative advocacy group, has tracked his voting record on fiscal issues. Vote Smart, a nonpartisan research organization, has compiled his voting record, public statements, and policy positions across a variety of issue categories.

Legacy

As of 2026, Gus Bilirakis has served in the United States House of Representatives for nearly two decades, making him one of the longer-serving members of the Florida congressional delegation. Together with his father Michael Bilirakis, the family has represented the northern Tampa Bay area in Congress for over four decades, beginning with Michael's first election in 1982 and continuing through Gus's ongoing tenure. This continuity of representation is among the longest family legacies in Florida's congressional history.

Bilirakis's legislative focus on online child safety, consumer protection, and senior tax relief reflects his attention to constituency-driven issues within the Tampa Bay area, which has a significant population of retirees and families. His chairmanship of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade has provided him a platform to advance legislation on emerging technology issues, including age verification and digital privacy for minors.

His engagement with Greek American issues and Eastern Mediterranean policy has been a consistent thread throughout his career, connecting his personal heritage with his legislative agenda. The introduction of the PEACE Act in 2025, focusing on stability and conflict prevention in the Eastern Mediterranean, is representative of this ongoing policy interest.

Bilirakis continues to serve in Congress and to seek re-election, maintaining his position as a prominent Republican representative from the state of Florida.