Rob Bishop

Rob Bishop
Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee
Assumed office
January 3, 2015
Preceded by Doc Hastings
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Utah's 1st district
Assumed office
January 3, 2003
Preceded by James V. Hansen
Member of the Utah House of Representatives
from the 2nd district
In office
1982–1994
Preceded by Stephen Holbrook
Succeeded by Peter C. Knudson
Member of the Utah House of Representatives
from the 61st district
In office
1978–1982
Preceded by Willis Hansen
Succeeded by Richard Ellertson
Personal details
Born (1951-07-13) July 13, 1951
Kaysville, Utah, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Jeralynn Hansen
Children 5
Education University of Utah (BA)
Website House website

Robert William Bishop (born July 13, 1951) is the U.S. Representative for Utah's 1st congressional district, and Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Early life, education, and early career

Bishop was born in Kaysville, Utah and graduated from Davis High School. He served as a Mormon missionary in Germany from 1970 until 1972. Bishop received a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City in 1974. He taught civics classes at Brigham City's Box Elder High School from 1974 to 1980; he next taught German in Ogden, Utah at Ben Lomond High School; then he returned to teaching government and history classes at Box Elder High School until his retirement from teaching in 2002.[1] While a teacher at Box Elder, Bishop partnered with the Close Up Foundation to help students participate in Close Up's Washington, D.C. based civic education programs. He remains actively involved in the program and works to ensure that Utah students have the opportunity to visit Washington, D.C.

Early political career

Bishop was a member of the Utah House of Representatives from 1978 to 1994. He was House Majority Leader and later served as Speaker of the House from 1992 until 1994. After his retirement from the state legislature, Bishop returned to Box Elder High School and taught advanced placement courses while chairing the history department.

In 1997 he was elected chairman of the Utah Republican Party, and served for two terms in this position. He has also worked as a legislative lobbyist in Washington.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

In 2002, Bishop returned to politics when he ran for the Republican nomination in the 1st District. 22-year incumbent Jim Hansen had recently announced his retirement. At the state Republican convention, he finished first in the seven-candidate field and went on to face State Representative Kevin Garn in a primary.[2] He defeated Garn in that primary with 59.8 percent of the vote, all but assuring him of being the next congressman from this heavily Republican district.[3] As expected, he won the general election with 61% of the vote. He has won re-election in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2012 with even larger margins. In 2014, he was reelected with 64% of the vote.[4]

Tenure

As a teacher, he has made education related issues a top priority. He is a strong advocate for increased local control of schools. He opposes No Child Left Behind and supports school vouchers. He was also a co-sponsor of a proposed amendment to guarantee a balanced federal budget.

In 2016 Bishop led drafting efforts on legislation to address the Puerto Rican government-debt crisis.[5][6]

In the 2016 election cycle, 92.6% of contributions to Bishop's political campaign came from outside Utah, the highest out-of-state percentage of any member of the House, with much of the contributions coming from the energy and agribusiness sectors, according to an analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics.[7][8]

Federalism

In May 2010 Bishop joined with other conservative House members to launch the 10th Amendment Task Force. The Task Force aims to educate Congress and the public about the concept of Federalism.

In 2010 Bishop introduced to the House an amendment to the United States Constitution, known as the "repeal amendment," which would allow a majority vote of the states to overturn any act of the United States Congress.[9]

Land use and the environment

Bishop supports repeal of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, saying it has been "hijacked" to control land and block economic development, and that he "would love to invalidate" the law.[10][11] Bishop is among those most critical of the Antiquities Act.[7] Bishop opposed the designation of the Bears Ears National Monument and supports repealing or shrinking the designation.[7][12] Bishop supports transferring federal public lands to the states.[13]

From 2008–2010 Bishop served as Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, where he advocated for multiple use of public lands and the need for fewer restrictions and mandates that limit use.

As a Member of Congress, Bishop has introduced legislation to increase domestic energy production in the United States, such as the 3-D energy bill.[14] Ever a proponent of Multiple use parks over single use parks, he leveraged his position as Chairman of the Subcommittee over National Parks, Forests and Public Lands to stop the Department of Interior from designating areas as new de facto wilderness areas known as Wild Lands.[15]

In February 2011, Bishop introduced a budget amendment[16] that would have defunded the National Landscape Conservation System, which manages 27 million acres of Bureau of Land Management land, including the National Monument, National Conservation Area, National Wilderness Preservation, National Wild and Scenic Rivers, National Scenic Trail, National Historic Trail systems and other systems. After coming under fire for introducing this amendment,[17] Bishop withdrew it.

In mid-2011, after touring of the U.S. Mexico border, Bishop supported H.R. 1505 the National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act. This bill gives the U.S. Border Patrol the authority to override specific environmental laws in order to allow the U.S. Border Patrol greater access to some of the most highly trafficked areas along the border. In addition it cedes various wilderness areas to corporations. U.S. Border Patrol agents have cited that their efforts to address rampant criminal activity along the border have been hampered by environmental laws. The bill passed the House Natural Resources Committee and has not yet been brought before the full U.S. House of Representatives for a vote.

Bishop co-sponsored a bill put forth by House Majority whip Kevin McCarthy to remove regulations from 43 million acres (170,000 km2) of Forest Service Roadless Areas and Wilderness Study Areas to multiple use purposes.

In 2013, Bishop announced the establishment of the Utah Public Lands Initiative.[18] According to a staff report[19] prepared by the offices of Bishop, Jason Chaffetz, and Chris Stewart, the Utah Public Lands Initiative is a locally driven initiative to bring resolution to some of the most challenging land disputes in the State of Utah. The initiative is rooted in the belief that conservation and economic development can coexist to make Utah a better place to live, work, and visit.[19]

In March 2013, Bishop sponsored the Fruit Height Lands Conveyance Act that would transfer United States Forest Service land, at no cost, to the city of Fruit Heights, Utah. The bill passed in the United States House of Representatives on June 11, 2013.

On April 10, 2013, Bishop introduced the Ensuring Public Involvement in the Creation of National Monuments Act. The bill would amend the Antiquities Act of 1906 to subject national monument declarations by the President to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).[20] At present, the President of the United States can unilaterally designate areas of federally-owned land as a national monument, whereas national parks and other areas are required to be enacted into law by the United States Congress.[21] In addition to limiting the number of national monument declarations the president could make, the bill would forbid the government from declaring land belonging to a private owner as a national monument without the private owner's consent.[20] Bishop argued that "the American people deserve the opportunity to participate in land-use decisions regardless of whether they are made in Congress or by the President". He claims his new bill would ensure "that new national monuments are created openly with consideration of public input".[21]

In February 2014 House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings announced that he will retire at the close of the 113th Congress.[22] Bishop, rumored to be a top contender for the Chairmanship,[23] was named to succeed him.

In January 2018, Bishop sent a letter to the founder of the clothing brand Patagonia expressing his disappointment that he declined his invitation to appear before the United States House Committee on Natural Resources to discuss the corporation's position on President's Trump's actions related to the Bears Ears National Monument.[24]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Bishop is the co-founder of the Western State Coalition, a states' rights organization.

Electoral history

Utah's 1st congressional district: Results 2002–2008[30]
Year Democratic Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct
2002 Dave Thomas 66,104 37% Rob Bishop 109,265 61% Craig Axford Green 4,027 2% *
2004 Steven Thompson 85,630 29% Rob Bishop 199,615 68% Charles Johnston Constitution 4,510 2% Richard W. Soderberg Personal Choice 4,206 1%
2006 Steven Olsen 57,922 32% Rob Bishop 112,546 63% Mark Hudson Constitution 5,539 3% Lynn Badler Libertarian 2,467 1%
2008 Morgan Bowen 87,139 30.4% Rob Bishop 186,031 65.0% Kirk D. Pearson Constitution 6,861 2.4% Joseph G. Buchman Libertarian 6,287 2.2%

Personal life

Bishop is married to Jeralynn Hansen, a former Miss Peach Queen for Brigham City, Utah, where he and his family currently live.[31] They have five children – four sons and one daughter.

Well known for his fashionable three piece suits, Bishop was named the third-best-dressed congressmen in 2012 according to the Washingtonian.[32]

References

  1. ↑ "Rob Bishop Congressional Bio". Archived from the original on 2007-05-30.
  2. ↑ "Our Campaigns - UT District 1 - R Convention Race". Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  3. ↑ "Our Campaigns - UT District 1 - R Primary Race". Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  4. ↑ Fahys, Judy (5 November 2014). "Replican Bishop Returns to Congress in 1st District". NPR. KUER 90.1. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  5. ↑ "A New Libor Trial and Fed Leaders Onstage". The New York Times. April 4, 2016. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  6. ↑ Calmes, Jackie (May 10, 2016). "Treasury Chief Puts a Face on Puerto Rico's Debt Crisis". The New York Times. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 Siegler, Kirk (February 5, 2017). "Utah Representative Wants Bears Ears Gone And He Wants Trump To Do It". Weekend Edition. NPR. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  8. ↑ Baccellieri, Emma (July 8, 2016). "For campaign cash, many lawmakers use a big map; Rob Bishop nears 93 percent out-of-state". Center for Responsive Politics. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  9. ↑ Zernike, Kate (December 20, 2010). "Proposed Amendment would Enable States to Repeal Federal Law". The New York Times. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  10. ↑ Brown, Matthew; Daly, Matthew (January 17, 2017). "GOP Wants to Change Endangered Species Act". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  11. ↑ "GOP targets landmark Endangered Species Act for big changes". The Big Story. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  12. ↑ Davenport, Coral (December 29, 2016). "Obama Designates Monuments in Nevada and Utah". The New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  13. ↑ Hansman, Heather (January 19, 2017). "Congress moves to give away national lands, discounting billions in revenue". The Guardian. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Vitter, Bishop Introduce Bicameral 3D Act". 31 March 2011. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
  15. ↑ "Bishop Responds to DOI Memo Calling for a Halt on Wild Lands Designations".
  16. ↑ "Bishop Introduces Amendment to Defund National Landscape Conservation System". 16 February 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
  17. ↑ O'Donoghue, Amy Joi (February 16, 2011). "Groups blast Bishop over 'gutting' landscape conservation". Deseret News. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  18. ↑ Millis, Kristin (May 22, 2013). "Managing Editor". Moab Sun News. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  19. 1 2 "Public Lands Initiative Staff Report" (PDF). Staff Report. Offices of Rob Bishop, Jason Chaffetz, and Chris Stewart. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 28, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  20. 1 2 "H.R. 1459 – Summary". United States Congress. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  21. 1 2 Johanson, Mark (24 March 2014). "GOP Bill Could Mean 'No More National Parks,' Public Land Advocates Warn". International Business Times. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  22. ↑ Blake, Aaron (February 13, 2014). "Author". Washington Post. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  23. ↑ Burr, Thomas (March 17, 2014). "Author". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  24. ↑ Bishop, Rob. "Letter to Patagonia" (PDF). House Committee on Natural Resources. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  25. ↑ "Bishop Returns to House Natural Resources Committee". Retrieved 2012-12-27.
  26. ↑ "Members". House Baltic Caucus. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  27. ↑ "Members". Congressional Constitution Caucus. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  28. ↑ "Members". Congressional Western Caucus. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  29. ↑ "Our Members". U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  30. ↑ "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  31. ↑ "Meet Rob". Rob Bishop for Congress. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  32. ↑ Burr, Thomas (November 29, 2012). "News roundup: Bishop third-best dressed in Congress". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2012-12-27.

Articles

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
James Hansen		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Utah's 1st congressional district
2003–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Doc Hastings		 Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee
2015–present
Current U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Joe Wilson
R-South Carolina		 United States Representatives by seniority
95th		 Succeeded by
Marsha Blackburn
R-Tennessee
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