Bill Shuster

William Franklin "Bill" Shuster (born January 10, 1961) is the U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district, serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party. He is a son of former Congressman Bud Shuster.

Shuster was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, the son of H. Patricia (née Rommel) and Elmer Greinert "Bud" Shuster. His ancestry includes German and Irish. He graduated from Dickinson College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and in History. Shuster also became a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity while at Dickinson. He then earned a Master of Business Administration from American University.

Prior to entering politics, Shuster worked on his family farm in Bedford County and gained management experience in his roles with Goodyear Tire, Rubber Corporation, and Bandag Incorporated. He also owned and operated an automobile dealership in East Freedom, Pennsylvania.

Elections

2001

After his father, Republican U.S. Congressman Bud Shuster, resigned from congress in January 2001 following a strong rebuke from the House ethics committee, Bill Shuster ran for Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district. On February 18, 2001, he won the Republican nomination with 59% of the vote, defeating State Representative Patrick Fleagle (32%) and Blair County Commissioner John Eichelberger (9%). On May 15, 2001, Shuster won the special election, defeating Democrat Centre County Commissioner Scott Conklin 52%–44%. Shuster won nine of the district's eleven counties. Conklin won Centre (58%) and Clearfield (55%).

2002

After redistricting, Centre County was taken out of his district. Somerset, Cambria, Indiana, Fayette, and Cumberland counties were added to his district. In November 2002, he won re-election to his first full term, defeating John R. Henry 71%–29%.

2004

Unlike 2002, Shuster was challenged in the Republican primary. He defeated businessman Michael DelGrosso 51%–49%. In November, he won re-election to his second full term, defeating Democrat Paul Politis 70%–30%, winning every county in the district.

2006

Shuster won re-election to his third full term, defeating Democrat Tony Barr 60%–40%. He lost only three counties: Clearfield, Cambria, and Fayette.

2008

Shuster won re-election to his fourth full term, defeating Democrat Tony Barr again, 64%–36%. This time he won all fourteen counties.

2010

Shuster won re-election to his fifth full term, defeating Democrat Tom Conners 73%–27%, winning all fourteen counties.

2012

After redistricting, the 9th moved even further to the west, gaining Westmoreland, Greene, and Washington counties. Shuster won re-election to his sixth full term, defeating Democrat Karen Ramsburg 62%–38%.

2014

Shuster was in a primary with Bedford County businessman Art Halvorson and Franklin County project manager Travis Schooley. The primary was held on May 20, 2014. Congressman Shuster won with 53% of the vote. Art Halvorson received 34% and Travis Schooley received 13%.

Political Positions

Shuster has been a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee since being elected in 2001 and was tapped chairman of the committee for the 113th Congress. There he will set the committee’s legislative agenda, which focuses on all modes transportation like aviation, maritime, roads, mass transit, and railroads.

Sitting on the House Armed Services Committee as well, Shuster has also been focusing his efforts this session on addressing the wasteful spending on the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) program, which has been deemed too expensive by the Army to complete.

Shuster held a 90.64 percent lifetime rating from the American Conservative Union in 2012. He is a pro-life advocate evidenced by his consistent 0 percent rating by NARAL Pro-Choice America and Planned Parenthood and his 100 percent rating by the National Right to Life Committee. A strong supporter of gun rights, Shuster has supported the interests of Gun Owners of America and received an A rating from the National Rifle Association in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2012. Shuster does not rate highly with education unions. The National Education Association has given Shuster a grade of F and he was given a rating of 25 percent by the National Association of Elementary School Principals in 2007.

Shuster has also been recognized by the US Chamber with their “Spirit of Enterprise Award” for his support for pro-growth and pro-business policies, the National Tax Limitation Committee for his votes for less spending and lower taxes, and the American Farm Bureau Federation for supporting policies that help farmers.

Shuster recognizes America as a nation of immigrants, but he does not support amnesty for illegal aliens. He supports stronger border security with the national guard being deployed on the border. Along with a modernization of the visa program, Shuster desires a stricter set of penalties and incentives for business to hire legal workers.

On the subject of education, Shuster states that “Congress should set strong and innovative standards for our schools to achieve.” He supports lowering student loan interest rates as a method to increase the amount of students attending post secondary schools. He also supported the “student and Teacher Safety Act” which allows the search of any minor student suspected of holding illegal items in their possession.

Shuster also served as a state co-chair for Governor Mitt Romney’s Presidential campaign.

In May 2013, Shuster introduced H.R. 2125, the No IRS Implementation of Obamacare Act. He stated that the Internal Revenue Service violated the public trust and cannot be relied on to implement the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Shuster sponsored The Water Resources and Redevelopment Act of 2013 (WRRDA). He sponsored this bill from his position as the House Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

In January 2014, Shuster created a bipartisan panel of legislators to examine ways to use public-private partnerships to carry out various types of projects, such as water infrastructure, transportation and economic development, according to Ripon Advance.

Legislation sponsored

• Home Heating Emergency Assistance Through Transportation Act of 2014 (H.R. 4076; 113th Congress) – Shuster introduced this bill on February 25, 2014. The bill would create an emergency exception to existing Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations. The exceptions would allow truckers to drive for long hours if they are delivering home heating fuels, such as propane, to places where there is a shortage. Shuster argued in favor of the bill saying that the bill "will provide relief for millions of Americans suffering from the current propane and home heating fuel emergency." According to the Congressman, an "exceptionally cold winter" increased demand on propane, "which is used for heating approximately 12 million homes in the United States."
• Transparent Airfares Act of 2014 (H.R. 4156; 113th Congress) – Shuster introduced this bill on March 6, 2014. The bill would change government regulations about how airlines advertise fares so that they could advertise the base fare and separately list the government imposed taxes and fees.

Legislation supported

The Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014 (H.R. 4005; 113th Congress) is a bill that would amend laws that govern the activities of the United States Coast Guard (USCG), the Maritime Administration (MARAD) within the Department of Transportation, and the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC). Shuster spoke in favor of the bill, describing it as a bill that "ensures the men and women of the Coast Guard have the tools they need to carry out their critical missions, enforce our laws on U.S. waters and on the high seas, and safeguard our Nation's maritime interests around the world."

Committee assignments

• Committee on Armed Services
  • Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (Chairman)
  • Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
  • Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials
  • Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment

Caucus memberships

• Army Corps Reform Caucus
• Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus – Co-Chairman
• Depot Caucus
• Intelligent Transportation Caucus
• International Conservation Caucus
• Older Americans Caucus
• Sportsmen's Caucus
• Congressional Cement Caucus

• "Our Campaigns - PA District 9 - R Nomination Race - Feb 18, 2001". 
• "Our Campaigns - PA District 9 - Special Election Race - May 15, 2001". 
• "2001 Special Election for the 9th Congressional District". Commonwealth of PA – Elections Information. Pennsylvania Department of State. 2004. 
• "Pennsylvania Department of State Election Results". 
• "Our Campaigns - PA District 9 Race - Nov 05, 2002". 
• "Our Campaigns - PA - District 09 - R Primary Race - Apr 27, 2004". 
• "Our Campaigns - PA - District 09 Race - Nov 02, 2004". 
• "Our Campaigns - PA - District 09 Race - Nov 07, 2006". 
• "Our Campaigns - PA - District 09 Race - Nov 04, 2008". 
• "Our Campaigns - PA - District 09 Race - Nov 02, 2010". 
• "Our Campaigns - PA - District 09 Race - Nov 06, 2012". 
• "Shuster will lead US House transportation panel". Altoona Mirror. November 28, 2012. 
• Mauriello, Tracie (April 12, 2013). "Rep. Shuster calls [http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/rep-shuster-calls-missile-defense-project-too-costly-683123/ missile defense project too costly]". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. 
• "The American Conservative Union 2012 Congressional Score Card". 
• "National Right to Life Committee NRLC Scorecard". 
• "Bill Shuster's Ratings and Endorsements - The Voter's Self Defense System - Vote Smart". Project Vote Smart. 
• "Spirit of Enterprise Awards 2012". March 29, 2012. U.S. Chamber of Commerce. 
• "National Tax Limitation Committee 112th Congressional Scorecard" (PDF). 
• "AFBF Friend of Farm Bureau: 112th Congress". 
• "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 8, 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-29. , I strongly support tougher laws against smugglers and drug traffickers. I also support the deployment of National Guard troops to our borders and believe a physical fence is necessary to truly secure our border.
• "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 8, 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-29. , That is why I supported the "student and Teacher Safety Act." This legislation would allow teachers to conduct the reasonable search of any minor student if they suspect a student may possess a weapon, dangerous material of illegal narcotics.
• Gleason, Daniel. "Romney Holds Tele-Town Hall, Announces PA Leadership". PoliticsPA. Retrieved September 13, 2012. 
• Rock, Todd (May 28, 2013). "From the Capitol: Pa. Reps. Todd Rock, Rob Kauffman and U.S. Congressman Bill Shuster". The Record Herald. Retrieved July 27, 2013. 
• (2014-01-21). "Shuster seeks to enhance public-private partnerships Archived February 2, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.". Ripon Advance. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
• ^ "H.R. 4076 – Summary". United States Congress. Retrieved March 4, 2014. 
• Kasperowicz, Pete (February 28, 2014). "Cold snap prompts wave of energy bills". The Hill. Retrieved March 5, 2014. 
• ^ Kasperowicz, Pete (March 4, 2014). "House votes to ease access to home heating oil". The Hill. Retrieved March 5, 2014. 
• "H.R. 4156 – All Actions". United States Congress. Retrieved July 27, 2014. 
• "H.R. 4156 – Summary". United States Congress. Retrieved July 27, 2014. 
• "CBO – H.R. 4156". Congressional Budget Office. Retrieved July 27, 2014. 
• "H.R. 4005 – CBO". Congressional Budget Office. Retrieved April 1, 2014. 
• Jim Billimoria; Justin Harclerode (February 6, 2014). "Committee Leaders Introduce Coast Guard & Maritime Transportation Bill". House Transportation Committee. Retrieved April 1, 2014. 
• "Co-Chairman of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus made a statement regarding the Black January 1990 in Azerbaijan". Trend.az. January 22, 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2012.