Don Bacon (politician)

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

Background
Bacon is a native of Illinois. He attended Northern Illinois University and then gained his commission through Reserve Officers' Training Corps. He has been stationed in Arizona, Iraq, Germany and Nebraska. Congressman Bacon has earned two Masters Degrees, from the University of Phoenix in Arizona and the National War College in Washington D.C. His last or penultimate assignment was Director of ISR Strategy, Plans, Doctrine and Force Development, AF/A2, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon July 2012-mid-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. Bacon and his wife, Angie, have four children and live in Papillion, Nebraska.

U.S. House of Representatives
Bacon won the Republican Party primary election for the U.S. House of Representatives in NE's 2nd congressional district in the 2016 elections.

The general election race was characterized as a tossup, with Democratic incumbent Brad Ashford being seen as having the edge. Bacon faced and defeated Ashford in the general election on November 8, 2016. Bacon 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.

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

He is a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership.

Political positions
As of 14 September 2017, Bacon has voted with his party in 95.3% of votes so far in the current session of Congress and voted in line with President Trump's position in 95.6% of votes. Bacon defended these and other behavior.

Abortion
Bacon opposes abortion. He favors defunding Planned Parenthood.

Economy
He supports a balanced budget amendment to the US constitution.

Environment
Bacon is a member of the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus.

In February 2017, he voted to repeal a rule that required coal companies to restore streams and mined areas to their pre-development conditions. In February 2017, he voted in favor of repealing a rule that required energy companies to disclose payments to foreign governments.

He opposes federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions. Bacon disagreed with the statement that "Governments should pay to develop wind and solar energy solutions until they are economically feasible."

Health care
He favors repealing the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). He was supportive of the March 2017 version of American Health Care Act, the GOP's replacement plan for Obamacare. On May 4, 2017, Bacon voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and pass the American Health Care Act.

Israel
He is a steadfast backer of Israel, and believes the United States should recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

LGBT rights
He opposes same-sex marriage.

Marijuana
He is a staunch opponent of the legalization of marijuana.

Privacy
In March 2017, Bacon voted to reverse a Federal Communications Commission privacy rule that prevented internet service providers from to selling their customers' browsing data.