Gene Taylor, of Bay St. Louis, is one of only a handful of Members of Congress with hands-on experience in the United States Coast Guard. Serving in the Coast Guard Reserve from 1971-1984 as the skipper of a search and rescue boat, he received the Commandant's Letter of Commendation for fire fighting and a letter of Commendation for saving the life of a crewmember.

Prior to his election to Congress in 1989, he served as a member of the Bay St. Louis City Council and the Mississippi State Senate. In the U.S. House of Representatives, Taylor serves on two major committees, the House Armed Services Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

As a member of the Armed Services Committee, he is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces. The subcommittee has oversight and legislative authority for the research, development, and acquisition of Navy and Marine Corps weapons systems including ships, weapons, armored vehicles, and aircraft procurement. In addition, the subcommittee overseas the National Defense Sealift programs of the Maritime Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The subcommittee's total jurisdiction represents approximately $55 billion dollars of combined procurement and research and development efforts. Taylor also sits on the Readiness Subcommittee.

On the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee he serves on the Water Resources and Environment and the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee.

In addition, Taylor serves as co-chair of the following four Congressional member organizations:  Shipbuilding Caucus, National Guard and Reserve Caucus and Coast Guard Caucus. He is also a member of the Conservative Democrats' Blue Dog Coalition.

Taylor and his wife, the former Margaret Gordon of Bay St. Louis, have three children, Sarah, Emily, and Gary. 

REP. TAYLOR'S AWARDS:

The Guardian of Small Business Award was presented by the NFIB to Rep. Gene Taylor for the 101st Congress, 102nd Congress, 103rd Congress, 104th Congress, and 105th Congress

The Watchdog of the Treasury, Inc was presented to Rep. Gene Taylor for the 102nd Congress and 103rd Congress.

The L. Mendel Rivers Award of Excellence, was Presented by the Airforce Sergeants Association to Rep. Gene Taylor on August 18, 1997

The Legislator of the Year Award, was presented by the Senior Army Reserve Commanders Association, to Rep. Gene Taylor on January 23, 2000

The ASA established the Bateman award in 2000 in as "the shipbuilding industry's highest recognition of an individual in the Executive Branch, Legislative Branch, or industry who has demonstrated years of consistent, outstanding, and inspirational leadership in fighting for a stronger shipbuilding industry. Congressman Herb Bateman of Virginia, for whom the award is named, demonstrated these qualities throughout his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1981--2000. The award was presented to Representative Gene Taylor (D-MS) in 2002.

May 13, 2005 - The ASYMCA's Military Family Congressional Champion Award was presented to U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor of Mississippi 9/16/2005 - The Military Coalition (TMC), an influential Washington, DC-based consortium of 36 military and veterans groups, presented its highest awards on Sept. 15 to four legislators and two congressional staff members who are championing the cause of health care for National Guard and Reserve members and families. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Representatives Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) and Tom Latham (R-Iowa) received TMC's 2005 Award of Merit for their sponsorship of legislation that would authorize permanent, year-round health coverage for drilling Guard and Reserve members and their families.

The Sonny Montgomery Award recognizes those who have demonstrated exemplary service to the National Guard at the national level. This is the National Guard Bureau's highest award. Past recipients include Sonny Montgomery, who served in the Mississippi National Guard from 1946 to 1980 and in Congress for 30 years; Sens. Wendall Ford, D-Ky., Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Daniel Inouye, D-Hi. and Ted Stevens, R-Alaska; and Reps. David Hobson, R-Ohio, Gene Taylor, D-Miss., and James Gibbons, R-Nev.

April 27, 2006, The Helping Our Heroes Foundation (HOHF), a nonprofit organization founded to assist wounded soldiers, recognized Reps. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) and Robin Hayes (R-N.C.) for their efforts in assisting wounded soldiers and announced grants in each of their names. Spc. David Yancey, who was wounded March 29, 2005, and went on to intern in Taylor’s office, presented the congressman with his award.

The Fleet Reserve Association, Pinnacle Award was presented to Rep. Gene Taylor in recognition of untiring commitment to the Men and Women serving in our Nation’s Uniformed Services on November 15, 2006.

In February of 2007, the Reserve Officers Association Minuteman of the Year Award was presented to Rep. Gene Taylor

May 2, 2007 The Navy League presented its inaugural "Big Stick" Award for legislative stewardship to U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor.

May 2, 2007 Reps. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) and Candice Miller (R-Mich.), received the Admiral's Circle Award, the National Marine Manufacturing Industry's highest Congressional honor.

July 2. 2007 Rep. Taylor Hosted the Military Times Service Man of the Year award along with Senator Inouye of Hawaii.

The National Guard Association of the United States presented the Truman Award to Rep. Gene Taylor on August 25th, 2007.