United States Congress
Geoff Davis is the U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Kentucky. The twenty-four county district in Northern Kentucky borders West Virginia, Ohio and Indiana.
Congressman Davis’ priorities in Washington include providing tax relief to working families, fighting for small businesses, promoting energy independence, supporting American service members and veterans, and reigning in wasteful Washington spending.
In the House of Representatives, Congressman Davis has become a leader for defense reform and is co-chair of the National Security Interagency Reform Caucus. His article on interagency reform was published in the July/August 2008 issue of Military Review and is now mandatory reading at the U.S. Army War College.
In 2009, Congressman Davis was appointed to the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means. The Ways and Means Committee is one of the oldest standing committees in the House. The Constitution requires every tax bill to originate in the House of Representatives; with jurisdiction over revenue-raising measures, the Ways and Means Committee is responsible for initiating all tax legislation. In addition to taxes, the Committee has authority over trade, Social Security, health care, Medicare, Medicaid and social welfare issues. Republican Ranking Member Dave Camp [R-MI] called Congressman Davis “a valued legislator who will bring a wealth of experience, knowledge and enthusiasm to the Ways and Means Committee.”
Legislation
Since being elected in 2004, Congressman Davis has sponsored several important legislative initiatives that provide real solutions to America’s challenges. One of his greatest accomplishments is the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act, a bipartisan bill that improves the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) definition of “homeless,” increase local flexibility and streamline the Homeless Assistance Grants Program.
Congressman Davis has also been a champion of our nation’s military heroes. As a soldier, Congressman Davis was taken advantage of by predatory sales tactics. Congressman Davis was determined to put an end to this deceiving practice. The fist bill he offered in Congress was the Military Personnel Financial Services Protection Act. The bill was signed into law on September 29, 2006. This law will help protect service members from companies selling risky financial products, including expensive and unnecessary life insurance, as well as mutual funds with excessive fees.
While visiting wounded troops, Congressman Davis discovered an inequality between active and reserve service members in regard to disability retirement pay. Driven to act, Congressman Davis made sure the House-passed version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 included an important provision that would have increased disability retirement pay for some reservists/veterans who are severely and permanently disabled from being wounded in action. Congressman Davis knows bullets do not discriminate, and neither should we.
After recognizing the increased pressure that our troops are experiencing in the current economy, Congressman Davis offered an amendment in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 that doubled Hardship Duty Pay for service members to a maximum of $1500 per month, from the previous maximum of $750 per month. Congressman Davis is determined to protect and serve the dedicated military professionals who sacrifice so much for our nation.
In his efforts to support small businesses and improve our nation’s financial systems, Congressman Davis introduced the National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers Reform (NARAB) Act with Congressman David Scott (D-GA). This Act takes a significant step towards improving the way our insurance markets operate within the existing State-based regulatory system and will directly address the difficulties that insurance agents and brokers are still facing on a daily basis as they try to navigate the web of State licensing requirements. It would set up a national licensing standard to help simplify the current web of duplicative State licensing requirements for insurance agents and brokers. The bill passed the House in the 110th Congress.
As a former small business owner, Congressman Davis knows how to fix problems in processes. In 2006, Congressman Davis and Congressman Scott first introduced the Promoting Transparency in Financial Reporting Act of 2007 because Congressman Davis knows a process that cannot be measured, cannot be fixed. The bill would increase Congressional oversight of financial reporting by requiring the government agencies responsible for securities and accounting standards to testify before the Financial Services Committee annually on steps they are taking to improve financial reporting regulations. The bill passed the House in both the 109th and 110th Congresses, but has yet to be considered by the Senate.
To learn more about the Congressman Davis’ legislation, click here.
Education and Military Experience
Congressman Davis worked as a
janitor during high school to help pay
the family’s bills. Upon graduation,
he enlisted in the U.S. Army and later
received a rare appointment to the
U.S. Military Academy at West Point,
N.Y. While at West Point,
Congressman Davis studied
Arabic language and the cultures of
Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe.
He focused his studies on national
security and international affairs.
During his Army career, Congressman Davis served as an Assault Helicopter Flight Commander in the 82nd Airborne Division and later served in the Middle East where he ran U.S. Army aviation operations for peace enforcement between Israel and Egypt. Congressman Davis is a former Army Ranger and Senior Parachutist.
Work Experience
In 1992, Congressman Davis started his own business, a consulting firm specializing in lean manufacturing and high technology systems integration. During its twelve years in operation, the firm earned the respect of CEOs and competitors alike. Congressman Davis’ role as a small businessman has assisted him in Congress as he works to support policies that will encourage economic growth, create jobs and keep our nation’s businesses competitive in the global marketplace.
Service to the Commonwealth
Congressman Davis has served his community in Kentucky’s Fourth District in many ways, including sitting on the board of the Regional Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (CASA). CASA assists children struggling to deal with the emotional and physical problems arising from abuse and neglect. Congressman Davis and his oldest daughter have worked as mentors and tutors in inner-city Cincinnati schools. Additionally, Congressman Davis spent eight years as a volunteer Chaplain for the Kentucky Corrections Cabinet.
Awards and Honors
Congressman Davis has been recognized
as a results-oriented problem solver by
the National Association of
Manufacturers (NAM), the
U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the
National Federation of Independent
Business (NFIB), the National Association
of Development Organizations (NADO),
Americans for Tax Reform and the
Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Council, among others. He has also been
awarded the Housing Assistance
Council's Henry B. Gonzales Award for
his work to improve low-income housing
in rural communities. In October, 2009, Congressman Davis was honored as an Outstanding Advocate by the Women's Crisis Center of Northern Kentucky for his work to fight domestic violence in Kentucky.
Family
Congressman Davis and his wife, Pat, live in Hebron, Kentucky, with their six children.
