Summary
Current Position: US Representative of AL 1st District since 2013
Affiliation: Republican
Bradley Roberts Byrne (born February 16, 1955 is an American business attorney and politician who served as the U.S. Representative for Alabama’s 1st congressional district from 2014 to 2021. Elected as a member of the state Board of Education as a Democrat in 1994, he became a member of the Republican Party in 1997, and served in the Alabama Senate from 2003 to 2007, representing the state’s 32nd district.
Byrne was chancellor of the Alabama Community College System from 2007 until he resigned in 2009 to run for the 2010 Republican nomination for governor of Alabama] In December 2013 he won a special election to represent the state’s 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. Byrne ran in the Republican primary for the 2020 United States Senate election in Alabama, but was defeated in the first round of the primary by Tommy Tuberville and Jeff Sessions.
Source: Wikipedia
OnAir Post: Bradley Byrne
About
Source: Government page
Bradley Byrne, now serving his fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, was born and raised in Mobile, just a few miles from the site where his great-great-great grandfather, Gerald Byrne, settled in the 1780’s.
After completing his undergraduate studies at Duke University, Bradley received his law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law. He practiced law in Mobile for more than 30 years, always active in the local community through various service and economic development organizations.
In Congress, Bradley has established himself as a fighter for conservative values and for Alabama priorities. Bradley has worked to support local industry through improved infrastructure, including the construction of a new I-10 bridge over the Mobile River. In an effort to shrink the federal bureaucracy, Bradley pushed for the repeal of ObamaCare, fought to reduce the regulatory burden on small businesses, and worked to rein in out-of-control federal spending. Bradley was a strong champion for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which lowered taxes on Alabama families and helped spur economic growth.
As a member of the House Committee on Armed Services, Bradley has been an outspoken supporter of a strong national defense and worked to support Alabama’s significant defense footprint. Bradley has used his position on the Committee to build support for a stronger U.S. Navy and for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), which is built in part at Mobile’s Austal USA shipyard. He has also stood up for Alabama’s veterans and fought for improved quality of care at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Bradley played a critical role in the construction of a new VA outpatient clinic for veterans in Southwest Alabama.
As a former member of the Alabama State Board of Education and former Chancellor of the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education, Bradley saw the House Committee on Education and Labor as a natural fit. Through the Committee, Bradley has focused on returning more control over education policy to the state and local level. In addition to pushing right-to-work policies, Bradley has made workforce training and technical education one of his top priorities.
A lifelong native of Alabama’s Gulf Coast, Bradley is an avid sportsman and has been a strong supporter of the coastal economy. He has consistently pushed to give greater control over the Red Snapper fishery to the Gulf States and is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment. Bradley has been given the Legislative Conservationist of the Year Award on multiple occasions by the Alabama Wildlife Federation.
Bradley is married to the former Rebecca Dukes of Montgomery. Rebecca is the President and CEO of The Community Foundation of South Alabama, and they are the parents of four children: Patrick, Kathleen, Laura, and Colin. Bradley and Rebecca are also proud grandparents to MacGuire Arthur Byrne and Ann-Roberts Byrne. Bradley lives in Fairhope where he and his family are members of St. James Episcopal Church.
Experience
Work Experience
- Lawyer
Mobile, Alabama 30+ years
- Member
Alabama State Board of Education
1994 to 2002 - Chancellor
Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education
2007 to 2009
Education
- B.A.
Duke University
1977 - J.D.
University of Alabama School of Law
1980
Personal
Birth Year: 1955
Place of Birth: Mobile, AL
Gender: Male
Race(s): Caucasian
Spouse: Rebecca Bryne
Religion: Christian: Episcopalian
Contact
Email:
Offices
Mobile Office
11 N. Water St. Ste. 15290 Mobile, AL 36602
Phone: (251) 690-2811
Balwin County Office
502 West Lee Avenue Summerdale, AL 36580
Phone: (251)-989-2664
Washington D.C. Office
119 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4931
Fax: (202) 225-0562
Web
Government Page, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Campaign Site, Wikipedia
Politics
Source: none
Recent Elections
2018 of 1st District
| Bradley Byrne (R) | 153,228 | 63.2% |
| Robert Kennedy Jr. (D) | 89,226 | 36.8% |
| TOTAL | 242,454 |
Source: Ballotpedia
Finances
BYRNE, BRADLEY R has run in 9 races for public office, winning 7 of them. The candidate has raised a total of $14,971,896.
Source: Follow the Money
Committees
Committees
Committee on Armed Services Members
Committee on Education and the Workforce Members
Subcommittees
Voting Record
See: Vote Smart
New Legislation
Source: Congress.gov
Issues
Source: Government page
Governance
We must stand up to bloated federal spending and unbalanced budgets. I support a Balanced Budget Amendment to get federal spending under control. The culture of spending in Washington must be stopped starting with reforms to wasteful federal programs.
The current tax code contains over 1 million words and is far too complicated. American families and small businesses are forced to spend precious time complying with frivolous tax policies. I support reforming the tax code to make it simpler and fairer for all Americans.
Economy
Agriculture remains the number one industry in the state of Alabama, having an estimated economic impact of $12.8 billion and 102,328 jobs in the First District alone. In our area, forestry is especially important. Unforutnately, federal regulations from Washington are making life harder for our farmers and foresters. That is why I have supported legislation to roll back regulations on Alabama’s farmers so they can focus on doing their job.
From flood insurance to Red Snapper to the RESTORE Act, I have made it a priority to advocate on behalf of Coastal Alabamians. I am proud to support Alabama’s coastal economy in Congress.
Our area is in the middle of an economic Renaissance from the addition of Airbus to the continued growth of Austal USA. In Washington, my focus is on reducing the regulatory burden, reforming the tax code, and growing opportunity. We need to grow our economy the right way, with less government influence.
We must invest in an “all-of-the-above energy” energy strategy which helps reduce our dependence on foreign oil. We should continue to responsibly grow and expand offshore energy production in the Gulf. A strong energy strategy leads to smaller energy bills for families and more jobs for Americans.
Education
Education is a passion of mine, and I want to see Alabama students lead the nation in academic success. In Congress, I am pushing for policies that return decision-making authority back to the state and local entities. We should empower teachers, administrators, and parents on the front lines to make decisions that fit the needs of each individual child while focusing on lasting reforms that reduce duplicative and ineffective programs.
Health Care
I remain firmly opposed to Obamacare, and I support replacing the failed law with a patient-centered health care system that isn’t run by the federal government. The focus should be on actually lowering costs for American families and getting the federal government out of the way.
Immigration
Our current immigration system is broken and in need of reform. I have two key principles on immigration.
Number 1: Any discussion on immigration reform must start with border security. Until our borders are actually secure, I am not interested in talking about other reforms.
Number 2: I remain firmly opposed to amnesty and would not support any immigration proposal that gives amnesty to those here illegally.
Infrastructure
I believe transportation is a fundamental responsibility of Congress outlined in the Constitution. Having a reliable, safe transportation system is critical to economic development and commerce. We have a major transportation need in the heart of the First District: I strongly support construction of a new I-10 bridge over the Mobile River.
