Brian Bilbray

Brian P. Bilbray was elected to serve in the 109th Congress in June of 2006 to represent the 50th Congressional District of California. He currently serves on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the Committee on Science and Technology and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Brian is a native San Diegan and was born at Coronado Naval Air Station where his father served in the Navy. He brings to his constituency a unique level of experience having served the people of San Diego County as a Mayor, County Supervisor and Congressman. During his two decades of local government service, Brian fought to protect and enhance the quality of life that has attracted millions to San Diego County. He supported a number of economic development policies that helped solidify the County’s reputation for being a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Brian’s first tenure in Congress began in 1994, as a part of the historic class of Republicans who took control of both the House and Senate for the first time in more than 50 years. Upon his election, Brian continued his work on border control issues and successfully fought for legislation that added almost 1,400 new agents to the U.S. Border Patrol in 1995. Brian’s significant local government service provided him with key insight into the costs related to illegal immigration. Working to alleviate the burden on local government, Brian fought for $425 million in funds to reimburse border states for the costs associated with illegal alien incarceration. He also introduced the Citizenship Reform Act, seeking to end the practice of granting children born from illegal immigrants citizenship status.

Working with the new Republican majority, Brian authored legislation responsible for bringing the cruise ship industry back to San Diego, producing a number of economic benefits for the region. Understanding the importance of living within our means, Brian supported the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which called for a balanced budget and a requirement that the federal government live under the same budget constraints as families and businesses. A consistent tax fighter, Brian voted to eliminate the marriage penalty and repeal the death tax. He voted for a $46 billion tax cut for small businesses and left Congress with a $155 billion budget surplus.

Brian became a key ally of the public safety community with his support of Megan’s Law, the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 1998 and the Child Protection and Sexual Predator Act. He was also an advocate for the Care for Police Survivors Act of 1998 and the Child Protection Act of 1997.

Brian continued to fight for the quality of life protection measures he supported while serving in local government. He authored HR 999, the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act that was signed into law in 2000 as well as the Border Smog Reduction Act, also signed into law in 1998. He was one of two co-sponsors of HR 5131, the Halt Electricity Price-Gouging Act of 2000 and co-sponsored a number of bills aimed at reducing our dependency on foreign oil while providing incentives to purchase and produce fuel efficient vehicles.

After leaving Congress in 2001, Brian continued his work to develop and implement meaningful immigration reform, serving as the co-Chairman of the National Board of Advisors for the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). It was the issue of illegal immigration that propelled Brian back into Congress this past June. His top priorities include securing our borders, punishing employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants and fighting policies that would grant more than 12 million illegal immigrants amnesty.

Brian has been at the forefront of the battle to protect the Mt. Soledad Veterans War Memorial and has co-sponsored legislation by Congressman Duncan Hunter to make Mt. Soledad a National War Memorial, allowing to stay as it is today for San Diegans to enjoy for generations to come. Brian, 55, and his wife Karen are the proud parents of five children and three grandchildren.