Florida Governor Ron DeSantis: Career Biography and Policies
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Desantis
- Graduated from Yale University with a B.A. in history in 2001.
- Graduated from Harvard Law School, receiving his J.D. in 2005.
- Served on NAVY SEAL Team One in Iraq,
- Won Bronze Medal of Honor for service in Iraq.
- Prosecuted criminals as a US Attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of Florida.
- Chaired the Congressional Subcommittee on National Security.
- Served on Congressional Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia.
- Served on Congressional Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.
- Served on Congressional Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
- Served on Congressional Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet.
- Served on Congressional Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service and the Census.
- Served on Congressional Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Job Creation and Regulatory Affairs.
- Defeated Florida Agricultural Commissioner Adam Putnam in the 2018 Republican Primary for Florida Governor.
- Votes on domestic policy (click to expand)
Voted Yea on: Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (HR 2 (second vote))
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Bill Passed (193-231) on June 21, 2018- Proposed providing funding for commodity support, conservation, trade and international food aid, nutrition assistance, farm credit, rural development, research and extension activities, forestry, horticulture, and crop insurance. It also proposed modifying the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, previously known as the food stamp program.[35]
Voted Yea on: Securing America’s Future Act of 2018 (HR 4760)
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- Bill Failed (193-231) on June 21, 2018
- Proposed funding a border wall, limiting legal immigration, a mandatory worker verification program, allowing DACA recipients to apply for legal status, and preventing separation of families at the border.[36]
Voted Yea on: Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (Farm bill) (HR 2)
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- Bill Failed (198-213) on May 18, 2018
- Proposed providing funding for agricultural subsidies and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), among other things.[37]
Voted Yea on: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (HR 36)
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- Bill Passed (237-189) on October 3, 2017
- Proposed amending the federal criminal code to make it a crime for any person to perform or attempt to perform an abortion if the probable post-fertilization age of the fetus was 20 weeks or more. The bill provided exceptions for an abortion: (1) that was necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman, or (2) when the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest.[38]
Voted Yea on: Kate’s Law (HR 3004)
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- Bill Passed (257-167) on June 29, 2017
- Proposed increasing criminal penalties for individuals in the country illegally who were convicted of certain crimes, deported, and then re-entered the U.S. illegally.[39]
Voted Yea on: No Sanctuary for Criminals Act (HR 3003)
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- Bill Passed (228-195) on June 29, 2017
- Proposed withholding federal funds from states and localities that chose not to follow federal immigration laws.[40]
Voted Yea on: American Health Care Act of 2017 (HR 1628)
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- Bill passed (217-213) on May 4, 2017
- Proposed modifying the budgetary and fiscal provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare.[41]
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- Votes on economic affairs and regulations (click to expand)
Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 (Conference report) (HR 6157)
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- Bill Passed (361-61) on September 26, 2018
- Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and Education.[42]
Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019 (Conference report) (HR 5895)
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- Bill Passed (193-231) on September 13, 2018
- Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Department of Energy, water resources, the legislative branch, military construction, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, among other programs.[43]
Voted Yea on: Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 (HR 6157)
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- Bill Passed (359-49) on June 28, 2018
- Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and Education.[44]
Voted Yea on: Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019 (HR 5895)
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- Bill Passed (235-179) on June 8, 2018
- Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Department of Energy, water resources, the legislative branch, military construction, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, among other programs.[45]
Voted Yea on: Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (S 2155)
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- Bill Passed (258-159) on May 22, 2018
- Proposed exempting some banks from the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act[46]
Voted Nay on: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 1625)
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- Bill Passed (256-167) on March 22, 2018
- Proposed providing appropriations for fiscal year 2018, and for other purposes.[47]
Voted Yea on: The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (HR 1892)
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- Bill Passed (240-186) on February 9, 2018
- Proposed providing appropriations through March 23, 2018.[48]
Voted Yea on: Further Extension Of Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 1892)
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- Bill Passed (245-182) on February 6, 2018
- Proposed providing appropriations through March 23, 2018.[49]
Voted Yea on: Making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes. (HR 195)
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- Bill Passed (266-150) on January 22, 2018
- Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through February 8, 2018.[50]
Voted Yea on: Making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes. (HR 195)
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- Bill Passed (230-197) on January 18, 2018
- Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through February 16, 2018.[51]
Voted Yea on: Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 1370)
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- Bill Passed (231-188) on December 21, 2017
- Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through January 19, 2018.[52]
Voted Yea on: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (HR 1)
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- Bill Passed (227-203) on December 19, 2017
- Proposed providing for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.[53]
Voted Yea on: Making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2018, and for other purposes (HJ Res 123)
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- Bill Passed (235-193) on December 7, 2017
- Proposed funding the government until December 22, 2017.[54]
Voted Yea on: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (HR 1)
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- Bill Passed (227-205) on November 16, 2017
- Proposed amending the Internal Revenue Code to reduce tax rates and modify policies, credits, and deductions for individuals and businesses.[55]
Voted Yea on: Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2018 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2019 through 2027. (H Con Res 71)
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- Bill Passed (216-212) on October 26, 2017
- Proposed establishing the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2018 and setting forth budgetary levels for FY2019-FY2027. (This bill proposed adopting the Senate’s budget resolution.)[56]
Did not vote on: Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2018 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2019 through 2027. (H Con Res 71)
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- Bill Passed (219-206) on October 5, 2017
- Proposed establishing the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2018 and setting forth budgetary levels for FY2019-FY2027.[57]
Voted Nay on: Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 3354)
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- Bill Passed (211-198) on September 14, 2017
- Proposed providing FY2018 appropriations for the federal government. It combined 12 appropriations bills.[58]
Did not vote on: Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2017 (Included amendments to suspend the debt ceiling and fund the government) (HR 601)
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- Bill Passed (316-90) on September 8, 2017
- Proposed suspending the debt ceiling and funding the government until December 8, 2017, and providing funding for Hurricanes Harvey and Irma relief efforts.[59]
Voted Yea on: Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2017 (HR 601)
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- Bill Passed (419-3) on September 6, 2017
- Proposed providing $7.85 billion for disaster relief requirements, including response and recovery efforts from Hurricane Harvey.[60]
Voted Yea on: Financial CHOICE Act of 2017 (HR 10)
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- Bill passed (233-186) on June 8, 2017
- Proposed amending the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, among other acts.[61]
Voted Nay on: Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 (HR 244)
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- Bill passed (309-118) on May 3, 2017
- Proposed a $1.2 trillion budget to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2017.[62]
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- Votes on foreign policy and national security issues (click to expand)
Voted Yea on: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (HR 5515)
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- Bill Passed (351-66) on May 24, 2018
- Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities[63]
Voted Yea on: Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 695)
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- Bill Passed (250-166) on January 30, 2018
- Proposed providing appropriations for military functions administered by the Department of Defense and for other purposes, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018.[64]
Voted Yea on: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018—Conference report (HR 2810)
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- Bill Passed (356-70) on November 14, 2017
- Proposed authorizing FY2018 appropriations and setting forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, including military personnel strengths.[65]
Voted Yea on: Make America Secure Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 3219)
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- Bill Passed (235-192) on July 27, 2017
- Proposed making appropriations for defense, military construction, Veterans Affairs, the Legislative Branch, energy and water development, and for other purposes for the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2018.[66]
Voted Yea on: Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (HR 3364)
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- Bill Passed (419-3) on July 25, 2017
- Proposed providing congressional review and measures to counter aggression by the governments of Iran, the Russian Federation, and North Korea, and for other purposes.[67]
Voted Yea on: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (HR 3180, second vote)
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- Bill Passed (380-35) on July 28, 2017
- Proposed authorizing appropriations for fiscal year 2018 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, the Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, and for other purposes.[68]
Voted Yea on: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (HR 3180)
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- Bill Failed (241-163) on July 24, 2017
- Proposed authorizing appropriations for fiscal year 2018 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, the Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, and for other purposes.[69]
Voted Yea on: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (HR 2810)
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- Bill Passed (344-81) on July 14, 2017
- Proposed authorizing fiscal year 2018 appropriations and setting forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, including military personnel strengths. It did not provide budget authority.[70]
Voted Yea on: Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2017 (HR 1301)
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- Bill passed (371-48) on March 8, 2017
- The $577.9 billion fiscal year 2017 defense spending bill proposed $516.1 billion in base budget funding and $61.8 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations/ Global War on Terrorism funding.[71]
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Key votes: Previous sessions of Congress
Issues
National security
American response in Syria
- See also: United States involvement in Syria
After taking part in the questioning of Secretary of State John Kerry in a House committee hearing, DeSantis said he was unconvinced the United States should attack Syria.[138]
“The Obama administration has not articulated a clear objective for using military force in Syria, much less a plan to achieve that objective,” DeSantis said in a statement released September 6, 2013.[138]
Economy
Pay during government shutdown
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- See also: United States budget debate, 2013
“I don’t believe we should be paid until this is resolved and I have requested that my pay be withheld,” DeSantis said on Twitter.[139]
Presidential preference
2016
On May 4, 2016, the day after Trump became the presumptive GOP nominee, DeSantis’ campaign manager Brad Herold said, “The congressman has been clear that he will support the Republican nominee.”[140] Herold did not mention Donald Trump in his statement.
