Vern Buchanan

Vernon Gale Buchanan is the U.S. Representative for Florida's 16th Congressional District, a Republican who first entered Congress in January 2007 representing Florida's 13th Congressional District and has represented the current 16th district since 2013 following redistricting. Before entering Congress, Buchanan built a career as a self-made businessman in Michigan and Florida, with experience in the printing and automobile dealership industries, and served six years in the Michigan Air National Guard. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Cleary University in 1975 and an MBA from the University of Detroit in 1986. Buchanan has served on the House Ways and Means Committee, where he has focused on tax policy, trade, and Medicare issues, and has been a consistent advocate for small business interests and Florida's Gulf Coast economy. In the 119th Congress, he introduced the AI Fraud Accountability Act in March 2026, reflecting a focus on emerging technology and consumer protection, and serves as Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Buchanan announced in January 2026 that he would not seek reelection and is serving out the remainder of his term through January 2027.

A U.S. Representative is a member of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the United States Congress, a federal legislative body in which members serve two-year terms. Primary responsibilities include drafting and voting on federal legislation, representing the interests of constituents within their congressional district, and exercising congressional oversight of the executive branch.