Howard McKeon

Infobox_Congressman
name = Buck McKeon


date of birth = birth date and age|1938|09|09
place of birth = Tujunga, California
occupation=small business owner, banking executive
alma_mater=Brigham Young University
state = California
district = 25th
term_start = January 3, 1993
preceded = Edward R. Roybal
succeeded = Incumbent
party = Republican
religion = The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
spouse = Patricia Kunz McKeon
residence = Santa Clarita, California

Howard Philip "Buck" McKeon (born September 9 1938), an American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1993, representing the ushr|California|25|25th District of California.

Born in Tujunga, California, McKeon graduated from Verdugo Hills High School in Tujunga. He spent two years on a religious mission before entering college. Educated at Brigham Young University, he has been the owner of a Western clothing shop since 1963. He has also served as a the chairman of a small, regional bank. McKeon gained his first political experience when was elected to the Santa Clarita School Board.

McKeon was a one-term mayor of Santa Clarita, serving as the city's first after incorporation. He was also a member of the Santa Clarita City Council, a position he held until entering the House. McKeon touts his record as mayor because of the reputation that his city gained for being one of the safest in America. He also expanded Santa Clarita's park programs.

Congressman McKeon is currently serving as Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Labor. As a member of the House, he has made education and taxation issues two of his main priorities. He was greatly involved in the reform of the Student Loan Aid Program, which reduced interest rates but controversially increased federal control over education policy, such as teacher training.

McKeon is married to the former Patricia Kunz and has six children. They are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Along with Dean Gallo of New Jersey, McKeon introduced the Religious Freedom Restoration Act on March 11, 1993.

During the 2006 election cycle, McKeon received 60% of the vote in his district, defeating Democrat Robert Rodriguez and Libertarian David Erickson. The district is considered to be "safe" for the Republican Party because it includes middle-class suburbs in the San Ferdando and Santa Clarita Vallies and conservative rural areas of the High Sierras and desert regions of California.

Committee Assignments

*Education and Labor Committee (Ranking Member)
**Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities
**Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions
*Armed Services Committee
**Readiness Subcommittee
**Air and Land Forces Subcommittee

References

External links

* [http://mckeon.house.gov/ U.S. Congressman Buck McKeon] official House site
*CongBio|m000508
* [http://herndon1.sdrdc.com/cgi-bin/can_detail/H2CA25036 Federal Election Commission — Howard P McKeon] campaign finance reports and data
* [http://www.ontheissues.org/CA/Buck_McKeon.htm On the Issues — Buck McKeon] issue positions and quotes
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/allsummary.asp?CID=N00006882 OpenSecrets.org — Howard P. "Buck" McKeon] campaign contributions
* [http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=H0415103 Project Vote Smart — Representative Howard P. 'Buck' McKeon (CA)] profile
* [http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/m000508/ Washington Post — Congress Votes Database: Howard McKeon] voting record
* [http://www.buckmckeon.com/index.asp Howard McKeon for U.S. Congress] official campaign site
* [http://www.thepolitic.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=72&Itemid=0 Congressman Buck McKeon's interview with "The Politic"]