Name: Vernon Gale Buchanan
Party: Republican
State: Florida
Position: U.S. Representative
District: 16th
Term: 2007 – Present
Website: https://buchanan.house.gov/
Biography:
Vernon Gale Buchanan was born on May 8, 1951, in Detroit, Michigan. He attended Cleary University, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, and the University of Detroit, where he completed an MBA. Before entering politics, Buchanan had a successful career in business, including founding and operating automobile dealerships in Florida and Michigan. In 2006, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Florida’s 13th district, and later the 16th district after redistricting.
Support for Israel:
Throughout his tenure in Congress, Representative Vern Buchanan has consistently shown strong support for Israel and the U.S.-Israel alliance. He has advocated for robust U.S. military aid to Israel, emphasized the importance of the partnership between the two countries, and expressed opposition to the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Buchanan has also been critical of the Iran nuclear deal, citing concerns about Iran’s destabilizing activities in the Middle East and the threat it poses to Israel’s security.
Key Pro-Israel Actions and Legislation:
- United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2021 (H.R. 1837): Representative Buchanan co-sponsored this legislation, which aimed to authorize security assistance to Israel for the fiscal years 2022-2026 and ensure Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region.
- Combating BDS Act of 2017 (H.R. 2856): Buchanan co-sponsored this bill, which sought to allow state and local governments to divest from entities that engage in BDS activities targeting Israel.
- Opposition to the Iran Nuclear Deal: Representative Buchanan has criticized the Iran nuclear deal and advocated for sanctions against the Iranian regime, citing the threat it poses to Israel and regional stability.
- Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital: Buchanan supported the U.S. administration’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and relocate the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.