Palmer, Gary J.

Gary Palmer is a Republican Representative from Alabama's 6th Congressional District, which includes parts of Birmingham and its suburbs. First elected in 2014, he previously spent 24 years as the president of the Alabama Policy Institute, a conservative think tank he co-founded. A graduate of the University of Alabama, where he played football under coach Bear Bryant, Palmer worked in the engineering and construction industries before entering the public policy arena.

In the House, Palmer holds significant influence over energy and oversight matters. He serves on the Committee on Energy and Commerce, where he chairs the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and is a member of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability. His legislative work frequently targets federal overreach, aiming to streamline regulations and promote domestic energy production. He has also held high-level leadership roles within his party, serving as the Chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee from 2019 to 2025.

Palmer is known for sponsoring Lulu’s Law, a bipartisan bill inspired by a young shark attack survivor that would implement wireless emergency alerts for beachgoers. His other legislative priorities include the Settlement Agreement Information Database Act and the Citizen Ballot Protection Act. Throughout his tenure, he has remained a vocal advocate for fiscal responsibility and national security, often working to increase transparency within federal agencies.