Lou Barletta facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lou Barletta
Official portrait, 2013
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 11th district
In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by	Paul Kanjorski
Succeeded by	Dan Meuser (Redistricting)
Mayor of Hazleton
In office January 3, 2000 – December 14, 2010
Preceded by	Michael Marsicano
Succeeded by	Joseph Yannuzzi
Personal details
Born	Louis John Barletta (1956-01-28) January 28, 1956 (age 69) Hazleton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Mary Malloy ​ (m. 1977)​
Children	4
Education	Luzerne County Community College Bloomsburg University (BA)

Louis John Barletta (born January 28, 1956) is an American businessman and politician. He was a U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 11th district from 2011 to 2019. Before serving in Congress, he was the mayor of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, from 2000 to 2010. Barletta is a member of the Republican Party.

As mayor of Hazleton, Barletta became well-known for creating a controversial law about immigration. He ran for Congress three times against the longtime Democratic representative Paul Kanjorski. Barletta won the election in 2010 and was re-elected three more times.

In 2018, Barletta ran for the U.S. Senate but lost to the Democratic candidate, Bob Casey Jr.. He also ran for governor of Pennsylvania in 2022 but did not win the Republican primary election.

Early Life and Career

Barletta at Hazleton High School in 1973

Louis "Lou" Barletta was born in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. His parents, Angeline and Rocco Barletta, were of Italian heritage. His family owned several businesses, including an amusement park called Angela Park.

After high school, Barletta went to college and studied elementary education. He was also a talented baseball player and tried out for the Cincinnati Reds, a professional baseball team. After college, he worked for his family's construction business.

In 1984, Barletta started his own company called Interstate Road Marking Corporation. The company painted lines on roads and highways. It became the largest company of its kind in Pennsylvania before he sold it in 2000.

Mayor of Hazleton

Barletta with a resident in January 2009

Barletta first won a seat on the Hazleton City Council in 1997. In 1999, he ran for mayor and won, taking office in January 2000. He was re-elected as mayor in 2003 and again in 2007.

During his time as mayor, Hazleton received an award for its good financial management. President George W. Bush also appointed him to a United Nations committee for local authorities.

Immigration Law

While Barletta was mayor, the number of Hispanic residents in Hazleton grew. In 2006, he introduced the Illegal Immigration Relief Act. This city law was designed to discourage undocumented immigrants from living in Hazleton.

The law would have:

• Denied business permits to companies that hired undocumented immigrants.
• Fined landlords who rented homes to undocumented immigrants.
• Made English the official language of the city government.

This law brought national attention to Barletta and Hazleton. However, groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sued the city. They argued that the law was unconstitutional because only the federal government can make laws about immigration.

In 2007, a federal judge agreed and blocked the law. The city appealed the decision, but higher courts also ruled against the law. Years later, the city of Hazleton had to pay the ACLU $1.4 million for its legal fees.

U.S. House of Representatives

Official portrait of Barletta in the U.S. House of Representatives

Barletta decided to run for the U.S. House of Representatives. He challenged the Democratic representative, Paul Kanjorski, three times.

• 2002 and 2008 Elections: Barletta ran against Kanjorski but lost both times. The 2008 race was very close.
• 2010 Election: Barletta ran again and won, defeating Kanjorski. He became the U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 11th district.
• Re-elections: Barletta was re-elected to Congress in 2012, 2014, and 2016 by large margins.

Work in Congress

During his eight years in the House, Barletta proposed several bills. One of his most important laws was the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2017. This law changed how the federal government helps people after natural disasters like hurricanes and floods. It aimed to provide better housing assistance and encourage communities to prepare for future disasters. The bill was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2018.

Barletta served on several committees, including:

• Committee on Homeland Security
• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
• Committee on Education and the Workforce

Later Political Campaigns

Barletta (far left) with other members of Congress meeting with President Donald Trump in February 2017

2018 Senate Race

In 2018, Barletta ran for the U.S. Senate. He was a strong supporter of President Donald Trump, who encouraged him to run. Barletta won the Republican nomination but lost the general election to the incumbent Democrat, Bob Casey Jr..

2022 Governor Race

Barletta announced he would run for governor of Pennsylvania in 2022. He campaigned on his experience as a mayor and congressman. He said he wanted to make Pennsylvania a more business-friendly state.

Barletta competed against several other candidates in the Republican primary election. He finished in second place, losing the nomination to Doug Mastriano. After the election, Barletta said it would be his last campaign.

Political Views

Barletta is known for being a loyal supporter of President Trump during his time in office. However, in 2022, he said he would not support Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.

• Economy: He voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, a major Republican tax reform bill. He believes in creating business-friendly policies.
• Healthcare: Barletta opposed the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare) and voted to repeal it.
• Immigration: He is known for his tough stance on illegal immigration. He supported President Trump's executive order that temporarily banned entry to the U.S. from seven Muslim-majority countries.
• Mail-in Voting: In 2022, Barletta criticized a Pennsylvania law that allowed anyone to vote by mail. But in 2023, he said Republicans should start using mail-in voting to win elections.

Personal Life

Barletta is married to Mary Grace Malloy Barletta. They have four daughters. Mary and two of their daughters work as elementary school teachers.

Barletta is a fan of baseball and often played in the yearly Congressional Baseball Game while he was in Congress. He is proud of his Italian heritage and has worked with groups that promote Italian food products.

Electoral history