Bilirakis, Gus M.

Gus Bilirakis represents Florida's 12th congressional district and serves as chair of the Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee within the House Energy and Commerce Committee. As subcommittee chair, he shapes the legislative agenda on issues affecting American manufacturers, retailers, and trade relationships. The Energy and Commerce Committee is one of Congress's most powerful panels, with jurisdiction spanning energy policy, healthcare, telecommunications, and consumer protection. The Commerce subcommittee specifically oversees federal trade policy, small business development, and regulations affecting manufacturing and commerce sectors.

Bilirakis brings practical business experience to this role. He operated the Bilirakis Law Group, a law practice specializing in probate and estate planning that he inherited from his father, Michael Bilirakis, who served in Congress from 1983 to 2007. Before entering the U.S. House in 2007, Bilirakis spent eight years in the Florida House of Representatives, where he chaired committees focused on crime prevention, public safety appropriations, and economic development and banking. This background in state-level economic policy and business law directly informs his work on the Commerce subcommittee.

As subcommittee chair, Bilirakis influences which trade and manufacturing bills advance through Congress and sets priorities for oversight hearings. His sponsored legislation reflects his focus on healthcare provider issues, military personnel matters, and international security partnerships. With 107 bills sponsored during his tenure, he maintains an active legislative profile. His work on the Select Committee on Strategic Competition with China also positions him within broader Republican efforts to address economic and security challenges posed by Chinese competition.