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Gus Bilirakis' Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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Gus Bilirakis did not provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2022 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.

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Issue Positions

For Presidential and Congressional candidates who refuse to provide voters with their positions, Vote Smart has researched their public records to determine their likely responses. These issue positions are from 2022.

  • "I always support pro-life measures." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "In the 49 years since Roe v. Wade, more than 62 million children have been deprived of their most basic right: life. Today we remember them, and we unite to end abortion and build a culture of life." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 100% by National Right to Life Committee (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against S 610 "Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act." (votesmart.org)
  • "Congressman Bilirakis has introduced two pieces of legislation to help preserve Medicare for current and future beneficiaries. H.R. 3392, the Medicare Part D Patient Safety and Drug Abuse Prevention Act, would establish a Safe Pharmacy Access Program, to prevent high-risk beneficiaries from abusing controlled substances. This is a cost-saving measure utilized by private industry, TRICARE, and state Medicaid programs. H.R. 2828, the Medicare Abuse Prevention (MAP) Act, would remove Social Security Numbers from Medicare cards and strengthens the civil and criminal penalties for Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP abuse. It would also incentivize states to conduct their own prescription drug monitoring programs." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Countless independent studies have shown that reform is needed in order to ensure Medicare's long-term sustainability. I support a bi-partisan study commission which will make recommendations about how to best achieve that goal while protecting seniors and vulnerable populations. Despite political rhetoric, all members of Congress (Republican and Democrat) understand the importance of Medicare and will work to ensure that it remains solvent for years to come. However, any future changes that might be needed in the Medicare program should be carefully considered by Congress, not an IPAB Board, to ensure seniors are not adversely impacted," (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "We have a moral obligation to honor our commitment and protect Social Security and Medicare program in perpetuity, which is why I have filed the Sustaining Medicare and Social Security Act." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 0% by Common Cause. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 1 "For the People Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • "Elected officials have a responsibility to uphold the public trust. We've seen egregious examples of former members keeping their campaign accounts open in perpetuity and personally benefitting from the proceeds. While they may not have explicitly broken the law, they have certainly violated the spirit of the law, which is wrong," said Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL12). "We have to close the loophole and restore the public trust." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Some of the most successful law enforcement outcomes have occurred as a result of effective community policing strategies through which law enforcement officers are embedded in the communities they serve, building relationships and trust between the police and the community. I want to ensure we are strengthening support of our law enforcement community by expanding opportunities for these best practices which is why I am happy to join as an original co-sponsor of this important legislation." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 1280 "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • "Greece has consistently proven itself to be a reliable ally in the Eastern Mediterranean. This critical legislation bolsters Greece's efforts to modernize its armed forces, while strengthening our strategic partnership among our Hellenic partners. It also enables continued security cooperation to help facilitate enduring stability throughout the region," (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "In the Constitution, Congress is tasked with the responsibility to raise and support our country's national defense. Congressman Bilirakis is proud to support our nation's women and men in uniform and understands the importance of providing our brave men and women of the Armed Forces with the resources they need, and to ensure the Department of Defense (DOD) has the ability to develop new technologies and maintain existing infrastructures to meet those emerging threats." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by Center for Security Policy. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S 1605 "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022." (votesmart.org)
  • "America needs real infrastructure investment. I'm a supporter of the BUILDER Act, which will modernize the National Environmental Policy Act to make project reviews more efficient, reduce costs, spur economic recovery, and rebuild America. #RealPlansRealProgress #RebuildAmerica" (twitter.com)
  • "Imagine my disappointment, Madam Speaker, to learn that less than 10 percent of President Biden's $2 trillion infrastructure package will be spent on roads and bridges. Also of concern, less than 2 percent of the package is allocated for waterways, locks, dams, ports, and airports, which are all very important to the State of Florida; and less than 50 percent is allocated for much-needed broadband expansion, which would help to address the digital divide in our country." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 3684 "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act." (votesmart.org)
  • "As of today, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has allocated all of the $350 billion that was appropriated in the CARES Act. Over 1.6 million emergency PPP loans have been approved for small businesses throughout the country. This includes over 52,000 applications and more than $12.2 billion worth of loans in Florida. All week, Congressman Bilirakis has been urging his colleagues to join him in supporting increases to this important lifeline for small businesses. The Senate attempted to pass a clean funding bill last week and it was blocked. "So many local small businesses are hurting and will not be able to survive unless we take immediate action," (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 266 "Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "At a time when Americans are facing extreme difficulty grappling with the highest rates of inflation in more than 40 years, gas that exceeds $5 per gallon, workforce, formula and food shortages, skyrocketing crime, and unprecedented illegal border crossings, House Democrats continue to ignore these urgent matters and instead only seem interested in engaging in blame games and deflection. The truth is Democrats' failed policies have led to one crisis after another and are hurting every American. Yet they keep doubling down on the reckless spending that is fueling these problems." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "During each of my recent townhall meetings and surveys, Madam Speaker, my constituents have consistently pleaded for the pain to stop. Unfortunately, inflation has gone up every month of Joe Biden's Presidency. Americans are smart. They know this is not a fluke or the result of the tragedy that is occurring in Ukraine. It is a direct consequence of liberal policies and fueled by reckless government spending. My constituents have said they simply can't afford to keep paying more for everything, which is one of the main reasons I was compelled to vote ``no'' on last week's $1.5 trillion spending package. While there were individual provisions I supported, I am worried that more massive government spending will only worsen their plight. I can't, in good conscience, contribute to their pain." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Inflation is at its highest level in more than 40 years and is estimated to cost each American household an extra $5,200 on basic goods and services in 2022. Reckless government spending fuels inflation. There is a direct correlation between the jump in inflation and passage of the highly partisan COVID package, the American Rescue Plan, in March of 2021. Democrats continued on their spending spree, with passage of a massive infrastructure bill that funded very little traditional infrastructure projects and two huge spending packages that funded radical, liberal policies." (bilirakisforcongress.com)
  • Voted against HR 5376 "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "Biden’s plan to transfer student loan debt to hardworking Americans is estimated to cost at least $300 billion, with most of the benefits going to households in the top 60 percent of earners." (twitter.com)
  • Signed Letter to Speaker Pelosi: "We write to you concerned with the massive executive overreach by President Joseph R. Biden to illegally cancel federal student loan debt. On Wednesday, August 24, President Biden announced that he would cancel $10,000 in federal student debt for individual Americans earning $125,000 or less per year or married couples making less than $250,000 a year. In addition, those who receive federal Pell Grants and make less than $125,000 a year would be eligible for total forgiveness of $20,000. Unfortunately, this policy will cost us over $300 billion and establishes a terrible precedent that will drive up the cost of higher education, exacerbating the very problem President Biden pretends to address." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 2547 "Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Gus Bilirakis does not support any efforts to impose a federally mandated process, as Democrats have proposed with HR 1. He has voted against this and similar proposals on several occasions. He believes a federal take-over would be a violation of the U.S. Constitution. The Elections Clause of the U.S. Constitution provides that the States are the principal authority as it relates to holding elections within their jurisdiction" (bilirakisforcongress.com)
  • Voted against HR 5746 "Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Now, more than ever, it is abundantly clear that we must embrace an "all of the above" energy strategy that allows us to regain energy independence and end our reliance on foreign, unstable regimes," said Rep. Gus Bilirakis. "New and emerging technologies, including LNG exports, will allow the United States to better harness the existing swath of available energy sources in order to strengthen our national security." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by American Energy Alliance. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 4447 "Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act of 2019." (votesmart.org)
  • "While I don't think the government should pick winners and losers when it comes to funding renewable energy options, I do support government grant awards to help innovators create advanced technology for low carbon imprint renewable energy like nuclear energy, for instance." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 95% by Independent Petroleum Association of America. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to Chair Neumayr: "We write in support of the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) efforts to modernize the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This rulemaking represents the first comprehensive overhaul since the NEPA regulations were originally promulgated more than 40 years ago. These critical reforms will bring needed clarity to our nation's environmental laws, preserve the competitive edge that powers our economy, and foster continued stewardship of our environment and natural resources. Congress wrote NEPA with the straightforward, significant goal of establishing a review framework "under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony, and fulfill the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations of Americans." However, over the years, through misguided regulation, and presidential directive, the NEPA process has strayed from these objectives. Now, unending litigation and mountains of paperwork define a permitting process that stretches along an indefinite timeline." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 9 "Climate Action Now Act." (votesmart.org)
  • "While I don't think the government should pick winners and losers when it comes to funding renewable energy options, I do support government grant awards to help innovators create advanced technology for low carbon imprint renewable energy like nuclear energy, for instance." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Bilirakis has a long record of fighting for Americans’ 2nd Amendment Rights. He has spoken out on this latest intrusion and against other radical efforts to enact gun control. He has also been vocal about his opposition to the appointment of a pro-gun control ATF Director. He will always fight against any further erosion of 2nd Amendment rights." (bilirakisforcongress.com)
  • Rated 92% by National Rifle Association (NRA). (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The Dems socialist tax and spending bill provides money for gun control by spending $2.5 billion for “Community-based Violence Intervention initiatives” which could be used to deny the individual exercise of the 2nd Amendment without due process." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 38 "Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017." (votesmart.org)
  • "Families across Florida are feeling the burden of Obamacare. We need a health care system that empowers patients--not Washington." (twitter.com)
  • Voted against HR 1425 "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6201 "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "I am a proud cosponsor of H.R. 19, the Lower Cost More Cures Act because it will lower the cost of prescription drugs while promoting innovation and facilitating the development of new treatments and cures!" (twitter.com)
  • "In my district in Florida and across the country, Americans continue to feel the pressure of rising prescription drug costs. Too often, bad actors in the marketplace take advantage of monopolies, skyrocketing the price of lifesaving medication simply because there is little to no competition. We need to take thoughtful action, and avoid knee-jerk responses, to solve this issue affecting so many millions. Leveraging the power of the free market and incentivizing competition among drug makers will drive costs down -- not government mandates." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 6833 "The Affordable Insulin Now Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "He does not believe we should provide amnesty or reward those who have broken our nation's immigration laws. Doing so simply encourages continued law-breaking and greater illegal immigration in the future. He knows that effective immigration control requires strong border enforcement and visa enforcement -- nearly half of all illegal immigrants are visa overstays, not individuals who cross the border. Bilirakis recognizes the need to eliminate the incentives that encourage individuals to come here illegally, by reforming immigration process in such a way that rewards legal immigration and punishes those who break the law." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Vice-President Harris, who was named the Border Czar, said she is reviewing the root causes of this problem. There can be no confusion - the eruption at the border is the direct result of deliberate Biden Administration actions to degrade and dismantle border security for over a year. The situation is a humanitarian, security, and public health crisis that only continues to worsen each month, and it is preventable." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6136 "Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2018" (votesmart.org)
  • "Congressman Bilirakis strongly opposes illegal immigration but, as a grandchild of Greek immigrants, he recognizes the cultural, intellectual, and economic benefit of legal, law-abiding immigrants. He does not believe we should provide amnesty or reward those who have broken our nation's immigration laws. Doing so simply encourages continued law-breaking and greater illegal immigration in the future. He knows that effective immigration control requires strong border enforcement and visa enforcement -- nearly half of all illegal immigrants are visa overstays, not individuals who cross the border. Bilirakis recognizes the need to eliminate the incentives that encourage individuals to come here illegally, by reforming immigration process in such a way that rewards legal immigration and punishes those who break the law." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "My first duty is keeping my constituents and the American people safe. We are a nation of laws, which means that cities that protect criminals will no longer be ignored, and criminal illegal immigrants who re-enter our country will be punished. The legislation we passed today enforces our immigration laws, combats dangerous sanctuary cities, and helps protect the public," (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3003 "No Sanctuary for Criminals Act." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3004 "Kate's Law." (votesmart.org)
  • "I am pleased this bill goes further and imposes 231 sanctions for Turkey's intransigence. I urge support of this legislation so that we can send a unified, bipartisan message to Turkey that, if you want to be considered a strategic ally of the United States, a true ally, you have to act like one." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I applaud the President’s decision to re-impose sanctions against Iran, a known bad actor on the international stage and state sponsor of terrorism. I've consistently supported sanctions against Iran and other hostile countries, like Russia and N. Korea." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4695 "Protect Against Conflict by Turkey (PACT) Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6968 "Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S 3522 "Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "Congressman Bilirakis supports reforming the tax code, which will eliminate a barrier to economic growth for everyone. The federal tax code has grown far too complicated for individuals and small businesses. It now contains approximately 4 million words; almost triple the number from just ten years ago. He supports tax reform that makes the tax code simpler and fairer for everyone, which will free capital, increase investment, and lead to more jobs for Americans." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They are the innovators employing most Americans. The top tax rate on these businesses will be 25%, a significant reduction from the current 39.6% rate. Additionally, the corporate tax rate will be lowered to 21%. These measures will help stimulate economic growth, create jobs, boost wages, and bring back businesses that fled overseas due to our historically disadvantageous tax system." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1 "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to Ambassador Lighthizer: “Taiwan has already expressed strong interest in negotiating a fair, reciprocal, and high-standard bilateral trade agreement with the United States….As the trade and investment relationship with Taiwan already supports an estimated 373,000 U.S. jobs, working toward the negotiation of a high-standard and comprehensive U.S.-Taiwan bilateral trade agreement would further enhance our shared goal of enhancing the global competitiveness of U.S. industries while spurring American job creation.” (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to Director Kudlow: "Again, we support policies that benefit our manufacturing sector. However, American auto manufacturers, parts suppliers and retailers, dealers, and vehicle service providers have not asked for and do not need protection. Tariffs on autos will raise prices for American consumers and lower demand, ultimately leading to decreased U.S. production, investment and employment. We urge you to do everything you can to avoid trade restrictions that would negatively impact the U.S. auto sector and undermine our economic security." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5430 "United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act." (votesmart.org)
This candidate has responded to a Political Courage Test in a previous election. As a continued effort to provide the American public with factual information on candidates running for public office, these archived responses are made available here.
Pro-life Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
I always support pro-life measures.
No In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
No In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?
No Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
No Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
Yes Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
No Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
No Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
No Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
While I don't think the government should pick winners and losers when it comes to funding renewable energy options, I do support government grant awards to help innovators create advanced technology for low carbon imprint renewable energy like nuclear energy, for instance.
No Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
Yes Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
Yes Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
Yes Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
No Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
Yes Should the United States use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a nuclear weapon?
Yes Do you support increased American intervention in Middle Eastern conflicts beyond air support?
So long as it is recommended by the military experts in our Armed Services
Next Congress I will work to pass my Veterans� Burn Pit Exposure Act which will grant veterans harmed by inhalation of burn pit toxins presumptive status in order to qualify for benefits. Next, I will continue work to reduce the cost of prescription drugs by furthering my legisaltion that became law last year which streamlines the FDA approval process, allowing generics to compete in the market which helps lower costs. School safety is also a priority. I want to see passage of my legislation that will require large school districts to have at last one school resource officer per school.

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