Eric Wayne Burlison (born October 2, 1976) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from Missouri's 7th congressional district since 2023. He previously served as the representative for District 133 (Greene County) in the Missouri House of Representatives. A Republican, Burlison was elected to the Missouri House in 2008 and left office at the end of 2016. In 2018, he was elected to the Missouri Senate, representing District 20. He was reelected for a second term in the U.S House of Representatives in 2024.[1]
Eric Burlison | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 7th district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Billy Long |
| Member of the Missouri Senate from the 20th district | |
| In office January 9, 2019 – January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Jay Wasson |
| Succeeded by | Curtis Trent |
| Member of the Missouri House of Representatives from the 30th district | |
| In office January 5, 2009 – January 4, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | B. J. Marsh |
| Succeeded by | Kevin Austin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Eric Wayne Burlison October 2, 1976 Springfield, Missouri, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Angie Burlison |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Missouri State University (BA, MBA) |
| Website | House website |
Early life and education
editA 1995 graduate of Parkview High School in Springfield, Missouri, Burlison received a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy in 2000 and a Master of Business Administration in 2002 from Southwest Missouri State University.
Early career
editBurlison was employed at CoxHealth as a software engineer before being promoted to business analyst. He now works for Cerner.[2][3][4]
Burlison is a member of the Freedom of Road Riders, Missouri Right to Life, National Rifle Association of America, and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce.[2][5][6]
Missouri House of Representatives
editBurlison served in the Missouri House from 2009 to 2016.[7] During that time, he chaired the House Committee on Professional Registration and Licensing and was vice chair of the House Special Committee on Health Insurance.[8]
In 2011, Burlison sponsored a bill that made Missouri join the Health Care Compact.[9] The compact became law in Missouri and seven other states.[10]
In 2014, Burlison passed a bill to provide children with dyslexia better access to educational services. The legislation added dyslexia to a state grant program to help the families of children with disabilities pay for special education programs.[11]
In 2016, Burlison sponsored and passed a bill to eliminate conceal and carry requirements in Missouri.[12]
Missouri Senate
editIn 2018, Burlison was elected to the Missouri Senate, representing the 20th District, which comprises Christian County and part of Greene County.[13] Burlison's committee assignments included:
- Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment
- General Laws
- Insurance and Banking
- Professional Registration (vice chair)
- Small Business and Industry (chair)
- Joint Committee on Government Accountability
- Cyber Crime Investigation Fund Panel
- Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan Board of Trustees
- State Records Commission
U.S. House of Representatives
editElections
edit2022
editIn 2022, Burlison defeated Democratic nominee Kristen Radaker-Sheafer in the race for Missouri's 7th congressional district with 70.9% of the vote to Radaker-Shefer's 26.9%.[14] His term of office in the 118th U.S. Congress began on January 3, 2023.[15]
Tenure
editIn a speech on the House floor at the start of his term, Burlison criticized DirectTV for removing Newsmax TV from its listings, despite Newsmax being caught spreading misinformation about alleged election rigging and widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, stories consistently proven false. Newsmax later retracted and apologized for spreading this misinformation. Regardless, Burlison invoked the Holocaust while condemning DirectTV's actions, alluding to, and misquoting, the poem "First they came ..." by Martin Niemoller and suggesting that cable companies were censoring conservatives.[16]
Russia
editOn March 19, 2024, Burlison voted NAY to House Resolution 149 Condemning the illegal abduction and forcible transfer of children from Ukraine to the Russian Federation. He was one of nine Republicans to do so.[17]
Syria
editIn 2023, Burlison was among 47 Republicans to vote in favor of H.Con.Res. 21, which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.[18][19]
Israel
editBurlison voted to provide Israel with support following 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[20][21]
Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023
editBurlison was among the 71 Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.[22]
Caucus memberships
Committee assignments
editFor the 118th Congress[24]
Personal life
editBurlison lives outside of Springfield with his wife Angie and two daughters.[2][4][25] He attends Destiny Church in Republic, Missouri, and is active in supporting campus ministries such as The Potter's House and Campus Crusade for Christ. Burlison is involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks and was named the Big Brother of the Year in 2005. He serves on the board of D.R.E.A.M and the Harmony House for battered and abused women.[2][4][25]
Burlison is Protestant.[26][27]
Electoral history
editState representative
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Eric Burlison | 11,060 | 57.9 | ||
| Democratic | Nick Beatty | 8,047 | 42.1 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Eric Burlison | 8,381 | 71.3 | +13.4 | |
| Democratic | Devon Cheek | 3,372 | 28.7 | −13.4 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Eric Burlison | 11,878 | 70.5 | −0.8 | |
| Democratic | Nicholas Ivan Ladendorf | 4,972 | 29.5 | +0.8 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Eric Burlison | 7,047 | 100.00% | +29.5 | |
State Senate
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Eric Burlison | 62,209 | 73.9% | −26.1 | |
| Democratic | Jim Bellido | 22,004 | 26.1% | +26.1 | |
U.S House of Representatives
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Eric Burlison | 178,592 | 70.9% | 2.9% | |
| Democratic | Kristen Radaker-Sheafer | 67,485 | 26.8% | 0.75% | |
| Libertarian | Kevin A. Craig | 5,869 | 2.3% | −45.2% | |
References
edit- ^ Riley, Claudette. "U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison wins another term in Congress representing Missouri's 7th District". Springfield News-Leader. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
- ^ a b c d Member Biography - Retrieved June 17, 2009
- ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System".
- ^ a b c "Eric Burlison". Ozark Insurance Day. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
- ^ "Transportation bills give, or take, freedom on road". Archived from the original on March 18, 2013.
- ^ "Springfield News-Leader". Archived from the original on June 10, 2015.
- ^ Representative Eric Burlison - Retrieved June 17, 2009
- ^ 2009 House Special Committee on Health Insurance Members - Retrieved June 17, 2009
- ^ "House endorses health care compact". News Tribune. 2011-03-31. Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-10.
- ^ Lankford, James (2014-02-23). "The Health Care Compact: Fixing American Health Care, One State At A Time". Forbes. Archived from the original on March 5, 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-23.
- ^ Shorman, Jonathan (2014-05-16). "Dyslexia legislation approved". Springfield News-Leader. Retrieved 2014-05-23.
- ^ "Springfield lawmaker will try to override Constitutional Carry veto". 8 September 2016. Archived from the original on September 9, 2016.
- ^ "Senator Eric Burlison – Missouri Senate". Retrieved 2021-11-09.
- ^ Staff, KY3 (9 November 2022). "Republican Eric Burlison wins election for Missouri's U.S. House District 7 open seat". www.ky3.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Newest Members of Congress". Representative Burlison. 2023-01-03. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
- ^ Bacharier, Galen (2023-02-01). "Southwest MO's congressman invokes Holocaust quote during speech about Newsmax". Springfield News-Leader. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
- ^ Metzger, Bryan (2024-03-19). "These 9 House Republicans voted against a resolution condemning the Russian abduction of Ukrainian children". businessinsider.com.
- ^ "H.Con.Res. 21: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of … -- House Vote #136 -- Mar 8, 2023". March 8, 2023.
- ^ "House Votes Down Bill Directing Removal of Troops From Syria". Associated Press. March 8, 2023.
- ^ Demirjian, Karoun (2023-10-25). "House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
- ^ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (2023-10-25). "Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Gans, Jared (May 31, 2023). "Republicans and Democrats who bucked party leaders by voting no". The Hill. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
- ^ "Crane, Fellow Freedom Caucus Freshmen Launch New Podcast". Representative Crane. 2023-03-14. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ^ "Committees and Caucuses | Representative Burlison". burlison.house.gov. January 3, 2023.
- ^ a b "2011 40 Under 40 Honoree: Eric Burlison". Springfield Business Journal. May 16, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
- ^ "Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress" (PDF). PEW Research Center. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- ^ "Faith on the Hill: The religious composition of the 118th Congress". Pew Research Center. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
- ^ Missouri Secretary of State Election Archives - Retrieved June 17, 2009
- ^ Missouri Secretary of State Election Archives - Retrieved May 23, 2014 Archived February 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Missouri Secretary of State Election Archives - Retrieved May 23, 2014
- ^ "All Results; Official Results". Missouri Secretary of State. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
- ^ "All Results; Official Results". Missouri Secretary of State. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
External links
edit- Congressman Eric Burlison official U.S. House website
- Eric Burlison for Congress
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Appearances on C-SPAN