Bilirakis Named 'Most Effective Republican in the House'

The Center for Effective Lawmaking, an independent organization that is a joint partnership between the College of Arts and Science at Vanderbilt University and the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia, has just issued its ranking of lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives. Florida Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R) was named the Most Effective Member from the Tampa Bay area in Congress. Moreover, Bilirakis also scored as Florida’s Most Effective Republican in the House, he scored as Florida’s 2^nd Most Effective Lawmaker in the House, and he scored as the 12^th Most Effective Republican Lawmaker in the entirety of Congress.

The ranking is determined by each Member’s “proven ability to advance agenda items through the legislative process and into law.” It’s explained that “in defining legislative effectiveness in this way, it is important to note that our definition consists of four separate components: proven ability, advancing legislation, members’ agenda items, and progression through the legislative process into law.”

In response to the ranking, Bilirakis commented that his “constituents send me to Washington to get things done on their behalf, and that is my primary focus as I work to better our community and the lives of those I serve,” adding that “achieving that goal requires ongoing relationship-building with all stakeholders.”

“While I am never willing to compromise my principles, I do believe in working together to find common ground,” Bilirakis noted, affirming that he “will continue this approach as I work to address the serious challenges facing our nation.”