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Don Bacon
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Nebraska's 2nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2017
Preceded by	Brad Ashford
Personal details
Born	Donald John Bacon (1963-08-16) August 16, 1963 (age 61) Momence, Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Angie Bacon ​(m. 1984)​
Children	4
Education	Northern Illinois University (BA) University of Phoenix (MBA) National Defense University (MA)
Website	House website
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Air Force
Years of service	1985–2014
Rank	Brigadier General

Donald John Bacon (born August 16, 1963) is a retired United States Air Force Brigadier General and U.S. Representative for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Education and military career

Bacon is a native of Illinois and grew up on a family farm that grew corn, soybeans, and hay.

He attended Northern Illinois University and then gained his commission through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. He specialized in electronic warfare, intelligence, reconnaissance, and public affairs, and served as a Wing Commander at Ramstein Air Base in Germany and at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, as a Group commander in Arizona, a Squadron commander in Arizona, and an Expeditionary Squadron commander in Iraq. Bacon has earned master's degrees from the University of Phoenix and the National War College of the National Defense University. His final assignment was as Director of ISR Strategy, Plans, Doctrine and Force Development, AF/A2, Headquarters U.S. Air Force at the Pentagon from July 2012 to 2014. He picked up the nickname "Bits"—a reference to his last name.

In 2015, at the age of 50, Bacon retired from the Air Force. During his 29.5 years in the Air Force, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, two Legion of Merits, and two Bronze Stars, and was selected as Europe's top Air Force Wing Commander in 2009. He served as an aide to U.S. Representative Jeff Fortenberry and as an assistant professor at Bellevue University.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2016

In the 2016 elections, Bacon won the Republican Party primary election for the U.S. House of Representatives in Nebraska's 2nd congressional district. The general election race was considered a tossup, with Democratic incumbent Brad Ashford being seen as having the slight edge. After the release in October 2016 of a 2005 videotape showing Donald Trump making lewd remarks to Billy Bush, Bacon said that Trump could not win the presidency and should withdraw from the race in favor of “a strong conservative candidate, like Mike Pence.” Bacon did not say, however, that he would not vote for Trump since he did not believe “Hillary is the right person. I'm in a quandary.”

Bacon defeated Ashford in the general election on November 8, 2016. He received 49.4% of the vote to Ashford's 47.3%. He is the only Republican who defeated an incumbent Democrat in the 2016 House elections.

2018

In 2018, Bacon was reelected after narrowly defeating Democratic nominee Kara Eastman with 51.6% of the vote to Eastman's 48.4%.

Tenure and political positions

Bacon was assigned to the House Agriculture Committee. He also sits on the House Committee on Homeland Security and House Armed Services Committee.

He is a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership, the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, the House Baltic Caucus and the Congressional Western Caucus.

As of January 2018, Bacon had voted with his party in 95.7% of votes so far in the current session of Congress and voted in line with President Trump's position in 96.6% of votes.

Environment

Regarding climate change, Bacon has said: "I don't think we know for certain how much of climate change is being caused by normal cyclical changes in weather vs. human causes. I support legislation that allows for continued incremental improvement in our environment, but oppose extreme measures that create significant economic and job disruption." Bacon is a member of the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus.

In 2017, Bacon voted to repeal the EPA's Stream Protection Rule. In 2019, Bacon voted against legislation to ban offshore drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and off the Atlantic coast and Pacific. In 2019, Bacon also voted against legislation to block Trump from withdrawing from the Paris Agreement on carbon emissions. He opposes a carbon tax.

Immigration

In August 2017, Bacon and five of his House colleagues urged President Trump to preserve the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program for undocumented youth brought to the United States as children (also known as "Dreamers") until some permanent solution could be arranged." In 2019, Bacon voted in favor of legislation to create a pathway to citizenship for undocumented youth.

Bacon has expressed support for construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall supported by Trump. Bacon voted against legislation to end the December 2018–January 2019 government shutdown by appropriating funds without money for border wall. Bacon said that Trump's attempt to circumvent Congress by declaring a national emergency to redirect money from military construction to the building of a border wall was not "the right way to go" because it infringed on congressional powers, but voted against a House resolution to overturn the emergency declaration and voted against overriding Trump's veto of legislation that would have overturned the declaration.

In April 2016, Bacon re-introduced the Kerrie Orozco Act, which would "allow the spouses of first responders, killed in the line of duty, access to a quicker process of becoming an American citizen."

Foreign and military policy

He is a steadfast backer of Israel, and supports the United States recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Bacon has said that Obama administration has "underestimated" the threat from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and said in 2017, "I hope we can be able to work with more of our traditional allies to go after ISIS." In a 2016 questionnaire, Bacon called for ISIS to be defeated "with assertive leadership, our superior airpower, and special forces." He supported airstrikes in Syria in retaliation for the Assad government's use of chemical weapons. In 2019, Bacon voted in favor of a resolution opposing Trump's move to withdraw U.S. support for the Kurds in Syria, which exposed Kurdish militias to attacks from Turkey.

At a Brookings Institution event in October 2017, Bacon stressed the importance of military readiness and called for U.S. Air Force crews to increase flight hours to enhance readiness. He also said that the "gravest threat" to military preparedness was the "partisan divide" in government, which had prevented necessary increases in spending.

Bacon supports a stronger U.S. presence in the Balkans to counter Russia, which Bacon has termed a key adversary of the United States. Bacon has expressed alarm regarding Russia's activity in Ukraine and the Balkans, as well as Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections and attempted Russian interference in other nations' elections. Bacon does not consider China to be a U.S. adversary, but has criticized the country for its regional power ambitions and its trade with North Korea, and supports strong U.S. alliances with Japan and Taiwan to counter China.

In July 2017, Bacon voted in favor of legislation to impose additional sanctions against Russia, North Korea, and Iran.

In November 2017, Bacon told an electronic warfare (EW) conference that the U.S. military needed "to elevate the electromagnetic spectrum to an official domain of warfare—alongside land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace—and appoint general officers as EW advocates in all four services and to the joint staff." Bacon said that the U.S. should re-intensify its EW capabilities, which Bacon said had atrophied after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

In 2019, Bacon voted against a resolution to terminate U.S. military support to Saudi Arabia for the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen, and voted against legislation to block U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Health care

Bacon is firmly anti-abortion, opposing it except to save the life of the woman. In 2017, he voted in favor of legislation to ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy. In 2017, Bacon voted to repeal a rule requiring state and local governments to distribute federal funds to federally qualified health centers even if those centers also perform abortions, a measure aimed at defunding Planned Parenthood. Bacon said that he supported redirect funds to community health care centers that do not also provide abortion services.

Bacon favors repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly known as Obamacare, and opposes proposals for Medicare for All or single-payer healthcare. In May 2017, Bacon voted in favor of the American Health Care Act, Republican health-care legislation that would have repealed large portions of the ACA.

LGBT rights

Bacon opposes same-sex marriage. He supports defining marriage as being between "one man and one woman."

Drug policy

In 2018, Bacon said that he supported marijuana decriminalization at the federal level. Bacon said he opposed marijuana legalization as a personal matter, but believed that states should be permitted to make the decision.

Gun policy

In February 2019, Bacon voted against legislation to require universal background checks for firearm sales and legislation to give additional time to law enforcement agencies more time to conduct background checks for firearm sales. In 2017, Bacon voted in favor of legislation that would have made concealed-carry permits valid across state lines. In 2018, Bacon indicated that he would support a ban on bump stocks.

Internet

In March 2017, Bacon voted to repeal an FCC rule that barred Internet service providers from sharing data on their customers' activities.

Bacon opposed the continuation of net neutrality in the United States in support of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's repeal of Title II classification of ISPs. Bacon received $7,000 in campaign contributions from the telecommunications industry during the 2016 election cycle.

Economic issues

In 2017, Bacon voted for the Republican tax legislation, and voted in favor of legislation to dismantle major parts of the Dodd–Frank financial reform legislation. In 2019, Bacon voted against legislation to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Bacon has expressed support for raising the full retirement age for eligibility for Social Security for Americans now under age 40.

Electoral History

Personal life

Bacon and his wife, Angie, whom he married in 1984, have four children and live in Papillion, Nebraska.

References

1. del Guidice, Rachel; A General Joins the House’s Conservative Ranks as New Congress Convenes; The Daily Signal; January 5, 2017; https://www.dailysignal.com/2017/01/05/a-general-joins-the-houses-conservative-ranks-as-new-congress-convenes/
2. ^ "Citing military and foreign policy as priorities, retired Brig. Gen. Don Bacon announces bid for Congress". Omaha.com. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
3. Don Bacon; Military Times; http://caucus.militarytimes.com/speaker/don-bacon/#.Wr6kR5PwbOQ
4. "Brigadier General Donald J. Bacon". United States Air Force.
5. "Gen. Bacon set to retire". The Daily Journal. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
6. "Biography". Biography. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
7. Robynn Tysver / World-Herald staff. "Don Bacon is a 'fresh face' in politics but hardly a political neophyte". omaha.com. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
8. Don Walton/Lincoln Journal Star. "Retired general bids for Ashford House seat". Fremont Tribune. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
9. Loizzo, Mike (September 26, 2016). "Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District Race Remains a Toss-Up". Nebraska Radio Network. Archived from the original on December 26, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
10. Tysver, Robynn; Don Bacon says Trump should step down, but he won't rule out voting for him; Omaha World Herald; October 8, 2016; http://www.omaha.com/news/politics/don-bacon-says-trump-should-step-down-but-he-won/article_a310cc52-8da8-11e6-b23e-f75a3224383d.html
11. Williams, Jack (November 9, 2016). "Bacon ousts Ashford in Second Congressional District". netnebraska.org. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
12. "Bacon wins Nebraska House Seat After Ashford Concedes". Politico. November 9, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
13. "Nebraska U.S. House 2nd District Results: Don Bacon Wins". The New York Times. November 15, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
14. "Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers" (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
15. "Nebraska Election Results: Second House District". The New York Times. November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
16. Morton, Joseph (January 11, 2017). "Don Bacon, who represents the mostly urban and suburban 2nd District, gets seat on House Agriculture Committee". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
17. "Official Committee Assignments, 115th Congress". Office of the Clerk, US House of Representatives. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
18. "Members". Republican Mains Street Partnership. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
19. ^ "Climate Solutions Caucus expands to 24". Retrieved September 21, 2017.
20. "Members". House Baltic Caucus. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
21. "Members". Congressional Western Caucus. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
22. ^ Tracking Congress in the Age of Trump: FivethiryEight (last accessed October 31, 2019).
23. Willis, Derek. "Represent". ProPublica. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
24. Byrne, Michael (April 25, 2017). "Nebraska's Climate Change Deniers". Vice. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
25. Walton, Don; Rep. Don Bacon urges Trump to protect DACA youths; Lincoln Journal Star; August 25, 2017; http://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/federal-politics/rep-don-bacon-urges-trump-to-protect-daca-youths/article_9b68a039-1d3e-552c-babf-a26bbfa89590.html
26. ^ Gilchrist, Logan; Don Bacon spoke at UNL seminar, students skeptical about his motivations; The Daily Nebraskan; October 19, 2017; http://www.dailynebraskan.com/news/don-bacon-spoke-at-unl-seminar-students-skeptical-about-his/article_844f0722-b47e-11e7-b14f-dfc83e8e78e7.html
27. ^ Scott Simon, Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon On Border Wall, NPR, Weekend Edition Saturday (February 16, 2019).
28. Don Bacon to re-introduce Kerrie Orozco Act; 3NewsNow; April 5, 2017; https://www.3newsnow.com/news/local-news/don-bacon-to-re-introduce-kerri-orozco-act-friday
29. Magid, Aaron. "Meet the 'Most Kosher Bacon' in Congress". Jewish Insider. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
30. del Guidice, Rachel; A General Joins the House’s Conservative Ranks as New Congress Convenes; The Daily Signal; January 5, 2017;https://www.dailysignal.com/2017/01/05/a-general-joins-the-houses-conservative-ranks-as-new-congress-convenes/
31. "Don Bacon on War & Peace". www.ontheissues.org. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
32. ^ Roseann Moring (April 29, 2018). "Guns, medical marijuana, Russia investigation are hot topics at Don Bacon town hall". Omaha World-Herald.
33. Griffin Connolly, House Republicans break 2-to-1 against Trump on withdrawal of Kurd support, Roll Call (October 16, 2019).
34. Livingston, Ian; Reps. Don Bacon and Rick Larsen share their views on defense priorities and challenges; Brookings; October 24, 2017; https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2017/10/24/reps-don-bacon-and-rick-larsen-share-their-views-on-defense-priorities-and-challenges/
35. Freedberg Jr, Sydney J; Spectrum (EW) Should Be A Warfighting Domain: Rep. Bacon; Breaking Defense; November 29, 2017; https://breakingdefense.com/2017/11/spectrum-ew-should-be-a-warfighting-domain-rep-bacon/
36. Tysver, Robynn (April 26, 2016). "Don Bacon is a 'fresh face' in politics but hardly a political neophyte". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
37. ^ Roseann Moring & Aaron Sanderford, House candidates Don Bacon, Kara Eastman find little to agree on in World-Herald debate, Omaha World-Herald (October 17, 2018).
38. ^ Morton, Joseph (November 4, 2016). "Don Bacon denounces claims in Democrats' health care fliers, calls one attack ad 'very vile'". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
39. Bureau, Joseph Morton / World-Herald. "Affordable Care Act repeal on fast track, but GOP replacement not yet in sight". Omaha.com. Retrieved April 1, 2017. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
40. "How the House voted to pass the GOP health-care bill". Washington Post. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
41. "How every member voted on health care bill". CNN. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
42. OnTheIssues.org. "Don Bacon on the Issues". www.ontheissues.org. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
43. "Don Bacon on Civil Rights". www.ontheissues.org. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
44. "The 265 members of Congress who sold you out to ISPs, and how much it cost to buy them". The Verge. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
45. "H.R. 1: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act". GovTrack. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
46. Cite error: The named reference primaryresults was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
47. "Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers" (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
48. "About". Don Bacon for Congress.

External links

• Congressman Don Bacon official US House website
• Don Bacon for Congress
• Template:DMOZ
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• 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

v t e Members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Nebraska
1st district	A. Weaver McShane Connell Bryan Strode Burkett Pollard Maguire Reavis Thorpe Morehead Luckey Heinke Sweet Copeland Curtis P. Weaver Beermann Callan Denney Thone Bereuter Fortenberry Flood
2nd district	Laird Laws McKeighan Mercer G. Hitchcock Kennedy G. Hitchcock Lobeck Jefferis Sears Baldrige Burke C. McLaughlin Buffett O'Sullivan Buffett Hruska Chase Cunningham McCollister Cavanaugh Daub Hoagland Christensen Terry Ashford Bacon
3rd district	Valentine Dorsey Kem Meiklejohn Maxwell Robinson McCarthy Boyd Latta Stephens Evans Howard Stefan Harrison Brock Beermann Martin V. Smith Barrett Osborne A. Smith
4th district	Hainer Stark Hinshaw Sloan M. McLaughlin Norton Sloan Norton Shallenberger Binderup Curtis Miller McGinley Martin
5th district	McKeighan Andrews Sutherland Shallenberger Norris Barton Shallenberger Andrews Shallenberger Johnson Shallenberger Carpenter Coffee
6th district	Kem Greene Neville Kinkaid Humphrey Simmons
At-large	Marquett Taffe Crounse Welch Majors Valentine
Territory	Giddings Chapman Ferguson Estabrook Daily P. Hitchcock

• 1963 births
• 21st-century American politicians
• Living people
• Members of the United States House of Representatives from Nebraska
• Military personnel from Illinois
• Military personnel from Nebraska
• National War College alumni
• Nebraska Republicans
• Northern Illinois University alumni
• People from Momence, Illinois
• People from Papillion, Nebraska
• Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives
• United States Air Force generals
• University of Phoenix alumni