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| Brian Mast | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 18th district | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Patrick Murphy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1980-07-10) July 10, 1980 (age 44) Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Residence(s) | Hutchinson Island, Florida, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Harvard University Extension School |
| Occupation | Military veteran and politician |
| Website | House website |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1999–2011 |
| Rank | Staff Sergeant |
| Unit | 28th Ordnance Company |
| Awards | Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart Defense Meritorious Service Medal Army Commendation Medal |
Brian Jeffery Mast (born July 10, 1980) is an American politician and former United States Army soldier who serves as the U.S. Representative for Florida's 18th congressional district.
He is in favor of repealing the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). He opposes abortion, has called for defunding Planned Parenthood, and believes that states should decide whether or not to allow same-sex marriage. He favors capital punishment and mandatory minimum sentences. Mast endorsed Trump in the 2016 presidential election, saying he supported him "unanimously and wholeheartedly". Mast favors "increased American intervention in Iraq and Syria beyond air support", and has called for greater defense spending. He did not revoke his endorsement after it was revealed on tape that Trump had bragged about sexually assaulting women. He has voted with his party in 96% of votes so far in the current session of Congress and voted in line with President Trump's position in 92.9% of the votes.
Early life and education
Mast was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan and graduated from South Christian High School in 1999. He is the son of James Mast and Tixomena Trujillo. His maternal grandparents were legal immigrants from Mexico. Mast graduated from the Harvard Extension School where he studied economics with minors in government and environmental studies.
Military service
Mast enlisted in the Army in 1999 upon graduation from high school and became an Explosive Ordinance Disposal technician, defusing bombs. He served in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. On September 19, 2010, while clearing a path for United States Army Rangers in Kandahar, he took a wrong step into an IED along the road. The explosion resulted in the amputation of both his legs and one of his fingers.
Mast and his family were the recipients of a custom ADA-compliant home awarded to them by the non-profit organization Helping a Hero. After being honorably discharged from the Army, Mast was hired as an explosives specialist for the Department of Homeland Security. While recovering from his injuries at Walter Reed Army Medical Center Mast provided explosive and counter-terrorism expertise to the National Nuclear Security Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Department of Homeland Security.
2016 U.S. House election
See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Florida, 2016 § District 18Mast first considered running for office while recovering from his injuries at Walter Reed Medical Center. It was reported in May 2015 that Mast was considering a run for Congress.
On June 8, 2015, Mast announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination United States House of Representatives in Florida's 18th congressional district. Mast faced five opponents in the August 30, 2016 primary; he won with 38% of the vote. Mast faced Democratic businessman Randy Perkins in the November 2016 general election.
Mast won the November 8, 2016, general election with 53% of the vote.
Political positions
He has voted with his party in 96% of votes so far in the current session of Congress and voted in line with President Trump's position in 92.9% of the votes.
Abortion
He opposes abortion, with "exception for defense of a mothers life or the case or Rape or incest".
He has called for defunding Planned Parenthood. In July 2015, he claimed that undercover videos had shown Planned Parenthood to be selling "baby parts". The videos in question were altered, and of the multiple investigations into this controversy, none found Planned Parenthood clinics to have sold tissue for profit.
Budget
Mast opposes "federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth" and is in favor of tax cuts as a means to promote economic growth. He has said, "I have not been able to find one country throughout history who is been able to text more and spend more in order to reduce their debt and grow their economy."
He has called for cuts to welfare expenditures. He has called for a great decrease in the corporate tax and the elimination of the inheritance tax on value above $5 million.
Crime
He favors capital punishment and mandatory minimum sentences.
Donald Trump
Mast supported Donald Trump "unanimously and wholeheartedly" in the 2016 presidential election. He did not revoke his endorsement after it was revealed on tape that Trump had bragged about sexually assaulting women, although he called the remarks "inexcusable and disgusting."
Environment
Mast opposes government funding for the development of renewable energy, and opposes federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.
Foreign and defense policy
Mast favors "increased American intervention in Iraq and Syria beyond air support". Mast is opposed to cuts to defense spending, and has called for a spending increase. Mast said he would support a Republican proposal to cut U.S. funding to the United Nations.
In January 2015, Mast volunteered with the Israel Defense Forces, working at a base outside Tel Aviv, packing medical kits and moving supplies.
Healthcare
He is in favor of repealing the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
LGBT rights
He believes that states should decide whether to allow same-sex marriage or not.
Honors
During his twelve years of service in the U.S. Army, he received the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal and Army Commendation Medal with "V" for valor device.
He was invited by Barack Obama as a guest to his 2011 State of the Union Address and was seated with First Lady Michelle Obama and Second Lady Jill Biden. Mast was named one of 10 House freshmen to watch by the Washington, D.C. newspaper The Hill, out of 55 new members of the House elected in 2016.
Personal life
Mast lives in Hutchinson Island in St. Lucie County, Florida with his wife, Brianna, and their three children. He is a practicing Christian and attends the evangelical Calvary Chapel.
References
- ^ "Former Grand Rapids man wounded in Afghanistan considers bid for Congress". Mlive.com. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
- https://www.armytimes.com/story/military/capitol-hill/2015/10/26/eod-tech-double-amputee-runs-congress/74284938/
- ^ Willis, Derek. "Represent". ProPublica. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
- ^ Bycoffe, Aaron (January 30, 2017). "Tracking Brian J. Mast In The Age Of Trump". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
- "Meet Brian". MastforCongress.com. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
- Manjarres, Javier (September 15, 2015). "Brian Mast: Illegal Immigration Is A National Security Issue". Hispolitica.
- ^ "Treasure Coast's Brian Mast gets celebrity reception in Congress". TCPalm. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
- "MastForCongress.com". MastForCongress.com. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- "A Combat Veteran Runs for Congress, and the Scrutiny Intensifies". The New York Times. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- "Rangers receive awards for recent deployments". Army.mil. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- "Wounded U.S. Army Veteran Receives Keys to New Home". Coralspringstalk.com. October 14, 2014. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
- ^ "Pro-Israel US Army vet runs for Congress — on prosthetic legs". The Times of Israel. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
- "Double-amputee vet might enter CD-18; Grayson's Twitter trouble; the Rubio blueprint revealed; more Cuba moves in Miami; FL bear-hunt controversy". Politico. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
- Bennett, George (June 8, 2015). "Two more Republicans announce run for Patrick Murphy seat". Palm Beach Post.
- ^ Bennett, George (October 31, 2016). "First time candidates Brian Mast, Randy Perkins to vie for U.S. House". Palm Beach Post.
- "Analysis: Brian Mast's military story wins Patrick Murphy's U.S. House seat". Tcpalm.com. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
- "Brian Mast on Abortion". www.ontheissues.org. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
- "Brian Mast - The recently released videos exposing Planned... | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
- Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster (October 8, 2016). "Brian Mast calls Donald Trump's comments 'inexcusable and disgusting'". Florida Politics. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
- "Sgt. Brian Mast, wounded in Afghanistan, touched by president's thanks to military". Mlive.com. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
- "Brian Mast: Candidate". Tcpalm.com. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
External links
- 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
- Campaign website
- Brian Mast at Ballotpedia
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byPatrick Murphy | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 18th congressional district 2017–present |
Incumbent |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byRoger Marshall R-Kansas |
United States Representatives by seniority 421st |
Succeeded byDonald McEachin D-Virginia |
| Florida's current delegation to the United States Congress | |
|---|---|
| Senators |
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| Representatives (ordered by district) |
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- 1980 births
- 21st-century American politicians
- American amputees
- American military personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2014)
- American politicians of Mexican descent
- American politicians with physical disabilities
- Bomb disposal personnel
- Florida Republicans
- Harvard University alumni
- Hispanic and Latino American members of the United States Congress
- Living people
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Florida
- People from Grand Rapids, Michigan
- People from St. Lucie County, Florida
- Recipients of the Bronze Star Medal
- Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives
- United States Army soldiers
- United States Department of Homeland Security officials