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Mike Bilirakis | |
|---|---|
_Bilirakis.jpg) Bilirakis in 1982 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromFlorida's9th district | |
| In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency reestablished |
| Succeeded by | Gus Bilirakis |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1930-07-16)July 16, 1930 (age 95) Tarpon Springs, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Evelyn Bilirakis |
| Children | Gus |
| Education | University of Pittsburgh (BS) University of Florida (JD) |
Michael Bilirakis (born July 16, 1930) is an American politician and lawyer fromFlorida. A member of theRepublican Party, he served as a member of theUnited States House of Representatives from 1983 to 2007, representingFlorida's 9th congressional district.
The son of Greek immigrants,[1] Bilirakis was born inTarpon Springs, Florida but spent his childhood inClairton, Pennsylvania.[2] He graduated fromDouglas Business College in McKeesport, Pennsylvania in 1949. He received his bachelor's degree from theUniversity of Pittsburgh in 1959 where he was a member ofSigma Pi fraternity.[3] He also attendedGeorge Washington University in 1960. He earned aJuris Doctor degree from theUniversity of Florida Levin College of Law in 1963. Bilirakis served in theUnited States Air Force from 1951 to 1955 during theKorean War era and rose to the rank of staff sergeant.[4]
Bilirakis made his first run for office in 1982, contesting the newly created 9th District. He defeatedState RepresentativeGeorge Sheldon by 4,300 votes. He was reelected with 78 percent of the vote in 1984 and was reelected 10 more times, never facing serious opposition. He ran unopposed in 1988, 1994, 1998 and 2004.
His committee assignments include membership on theEnergy and Commerce Committee as well as being vice chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee. He played a key role in enactment of thePublic Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act and re-authorization of thePrescription Drug User Fee Act. He was the lead congressional sponsor of The Nurse Reinvestment Act of 2002 and authored the Organ Donation Improvement Act.National Journal'sAlmanac of American Politics called him one of the most "legislatively productive" members of Congress.[3]
Bilirakis retired in 2006. His son,Gus, a Florida state representative, defeatedDemocratPhyllis Busansky in the2006 congressional race for the elder Bilirakis's House seat. In August 2009, Bilirakis was shortlisted byGovernor Crist as a potential replacement forMel Martínez after his resignation from the U.S. Senate. Crist ultimately appointedGeorge LeMieux.[5]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromFlorida's 9th congressional district 1983–2007 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former U.S. Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as Former U.S. Representative | Succeeded byas Former U.S. Representative |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
