About Rep. Bachus
Prior to his election to Congress, Congressman Spencer Bachus served in a number of elected positions. He served in the State House of Representatives, the State Senate and on the State School Board. He was elected Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party and was elected to Congress in November 1992.
While a member of the State Senate, Congressman Bachus received the Legislator of the Year Award from the Department of Human Resources. He also drafted Alabama's domestic abuse statutes and authored the first law in Alabama that penalizes repeat DUI offenders.
Congressman Bachus also served as Governor Guy Hunt's campaign manager in his first successful run for the governorship. That same year, Congressman Bachus successfully ran for the State School Board, becoming the first Republican elected to the State School Board in more than 100 years.
In Congress he has authored several laws, including laws that provide Medicare coverage for prostate cancer screenings and recently, to expand the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge in Bibb County. The bill was signed into law by President Bush in October of 2006 and will increase the size of the refuge by about 7,400 acres. Also in October, President Bush signed into law an act that will stop illegal internet gambling—an industry that preys on minors and gambling addicts—which Congressman Bachus worked hard for years to push through Congress.
In 2003, the Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee, which Congressman Bachus chaired for 6 years, worked to pass the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act (Check 21). It was a landmark effort to modernize and improve the American financial system, and was the first major innovation in check handling and processing since the 1950s. All Alabamians benefit from this act, which Congressman Bachus co-sponsored, every time a bank processes a check quickly. Congressman Bachus also authored provisions of debt relief legislation for the poorest countries of the world. His leadership on this issue has garnered national attention, and he visited Africa in August of 2000 to continue his work on debt relief.
In the 110th Congress, Congressman Bachus will serve as Ranking Republican Member on the House Financial Services Committee. The committee has oversight over issues of everyday concern to Alabamians, such as investor protection, keeping the banking system healthy, insurance regulation, and making sure businesses have access to the capital they need to expand and create jobs. In the 109th Congress, Congressman Bachus served on the Financial Services Committee, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Judiciary Committees.
A native of Birmingham, Congressman Bachus graduated from Auburn University and the University of Alabama's Law School. He and his wife Linda are the parents of five children and attend Hunter Street Baptist Church.