35 Facts About Don Bacon

Donald John Bacon was born on August 16,1963 and is an American politician and former military officer serving as the US representative for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district since 2017.

Don Bacon grew up on a family farm in Momence and graduated from Grace Baptist Academy in Kankakee in 1980.

Don Bacon attended Northern Illinois University and gained a commission through the Air Force ROTC program, interning in Representative Edward Rell Madigan's Washington DC office during his senior year.

Don Bacon has earned master's degrees from the National War College of the National Defense University and the University of Phoenix.

Don Bacon served as an aide to US Representative Jeff Fortenberry and assistant professor at Bellevue University before running for office.

Don Bacon was the only Republican to defeat an incumbent Democrat in the 2016 House elections.

Don Bacon was endorsed by his predecessor, Democrat Brad Ashford, whom he defeated in 2016.

Don Bacon was reelected in 2018 and served in the 116th Congress, continuing to serve on the Agriculture and Armed Services committees.

Don Bacon's bipartisanship ranking rose to 15th out of 435.

Don Bacon has been a member of the Armed Services Committee since taking office in 2017.

Don Bacon supported airstrikes in Syria in retaliation for the Assad government's use of chemical weapons.

In 2019, Don Bacon voted for a resolution opposing Trump's move to withdraw US support for the Kurds in Syria, which exposed Kurdish militias to attacks from Turkey.

At a Brookings Institution event in October 2017, Don Bacon stressed the importance of military readiness and called for US Air Force crews to increase flight hours to enhance readiness.

Don Bacon said the "gravest threat" to military readiness was the "partisan divide" in government, which had prevented necessary increases in spending.

Don 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.

In February 2023, Don Bacon signed a letter advocating for President Biden to give F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

Don Bacon has been a member of the House Agriculture Committee since 2017.

Don Bacon is a co-sponsor of the Life at Conception Act, which would guarantee "equal protection for the right to life of each born and preborn human person" under the 14th Amendment.

Don Bacon said he supported redirecting funds to community health care centers that do not provide abortion services.

Don Bacon expressed support for "most of" the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020.

Don Bacon supported mandatory wearing of body cameras by police officers while on duty and a national registry for police misconduct, but opposed ending qualified immunity provisions for officers.

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

Don Bacon supported the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized industrial hemp production.

In 2017, Don Bacon voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

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

In 2018, Don Bacon said he would support a ban on bump stocks.

Don Bacon favors repealing the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, and opposes proposals for Medicare for All or single-payer healthcare.

Don Bacon has expressed support for construction of the US-Mexico border wall supported by Trump.

Don Bacon said that Trump's attempt to circumvent Congress by declaring a national emergency to redirect money from military construction to building 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 against overriding Trump's veto of legislation that would have overturned the declaration.

Don Bacon initially said he would support President Biden's Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and criticized Republicans for opposing it, but during negotiations he said he could not commit to voting for the bill.

Ultimately, Don Bacon was one of 13 House Republicans to break with their party and vote with a majority of Democrats in favor of the legislation.

Don Bacon did not join congressional Republicans who sided with the Trump campaign's attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election.

Don Bacon voted to certify both Arizona's and Pennsylvania's votes in the 2021 United States Electoral College vote count.

On May 19,2021, Don Bacon was one of 35 Republicans who joined Democrats in voting to approve legislation to establish the January 6 commission meant to investigate the storming of the US Capitol.

Don Bacon was one of 26 Republicans to vote with the Democratic caucus for a $25 billion relief bill for the US Postal Service at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.