Bill Flores facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bill Flores
Official portrait, 2011
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 17th district
In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2021
Preceded by	Chet Edwards
Succeeded by	Pete Sessions
Chair of the Republican Study Committee
In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2017
Preceded by	Rob Woodall
Succeeded by	Mark Walker
Personal details
Born	William Hose Flores (1954-02-25) February 25, 1954 (age 71) Cheyenne, Wyoming, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Gina Flores
Children	2
Education	Texas A&M University (BBA) Houston Baptist University (MBA)

William Hose Flores Sr. (born February 25, 1954) is an American businessman and politician. He is the Vice Chair of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which manages the flow of electricity to millions of Texans.

From 2011 to 2021, Flores served in the United States House of Representatives for the 17th district of Texas. The House of Representatives is one of the two parts of the U.S. Congress, where laws for the country are made. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Before his time in politics, Flores was the head of Phoenix Exploration Company, a business that explores for oil and natural gas. After serving five terms in Congress, he chose not to run for re-election in 2020.

Early Life and Schooling

Bill Flores was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming, on an Air Force Base where his father was serving in the military. He grew up in the small town of Stratford, Texas. His family has a long history in Texas, with ancestors who came from Spain in 1725.

Flores attended Texas A&M University, where he was very involved in student activities. He was a member of the Corps of Cadets and served as the Student Body Vice-President of Finance. He graduated with honors in 1976 with a degree in accounting.

Later, in 1985, he earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Houston Baptist University.

Career in Business

Before entering politics, Bill Flores had a long career in the energy industry. He worked as the chief financial officer (CFO) for several large energy companies. A CFO is in charge of managing a company's money.

In 2006, Flores and a team of partners started their own company, Phoenix Exploration Company. As the president and CEO, he led the company in searching for oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico area. He retired from the company in 2009 to run for Congress.

Flores has also served on the boards of many organizations, including the Texas Real Estate Commission and groups connected to his former university, Texas A&M.

Serving in the U.S. Congress

How He Got Elected

In 2009, Flores decided to run for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was concerned about the country's future and wanted to make a difference. He ran as a Republican against the longtime Democratic representative, Chet Edwards.

Flores used his own money to help fund his campaign. After winning the Republican primary election, he gained support from important political figures like former President George H. W. Bush.

In the main election on November 2, 2010, Flores won with 62 percent of the vote. This was a big victory and made him the first Republican to represent the city of Waco in Congress since the 1800s. He was re-elected four more times, serving a total of ten years.

What He Believed In

As a congressman, Flores was known for his conservative views. This means he generally supported:

• A smaller government with less spending
• Lower taxes for everyone
• Stronger security at the U.S.-Mexico border
• Policies that protect unborn babies

In terms of energy, he supported building new nuclear power plants to help the U.S. produce its own energy. He also supported using renewable sources like solar and wind power.

Important Roles in Congress

In 2014, Flores was chosen to be the chairman of the Republican Study Committee. This is an influential group of conservative members in the House of Representatives who work together on laws and policies.

He also served on several important committees, including:

• Committee on Energy and Commerce: This committee works on issues related to energy, the environment, and health care.
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs: This committee focuses on helping military veterans.

Personal Life

Bill Flores is married to his high school sweetheart, Gina. Together, they have two sons.

He has remained very connected to Texas A&M University. He has received awards for being an outstanding and distinguished former student. He has also served on several advisory boards for the university, helping to guide its future.

Electoral history

See also

• List of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States Congress