Randy Neugebauer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Randy Neugebauer
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Official portrait, 2013
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 19th district |
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| In office June 3, 2003 – January 3, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Larry Combest |
| Succeeded by | Jodey Arrington |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Robert Randolph Neugebauer
December 24, 1949 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Dana Collins |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Texas Tech University, Lubbock (BBA) |
Robert Randolph Neugebauer (born December 24, 1949), known as Randy, is an American politician. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 2003 to 2017. He represented the 19th congressional district of Texas, which includes the cities of Lubbock and Abilene.
Neugebauer is a member of the Republican Party. During his time in Congress, he was known for his conservative views. In 2015, he announced that he would not run for another term and retired from Congress in 2017.
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Early Life and Education
Randy Neugebauer was born in St. Louis, Missouri, but he grew up in Lubbock. His father sold insurance, and his mother worked in real estate. After high school, he went to Texas Tech University. He graduated in 1972 with a degree in business.
Before entering politics, Neugebauer worked in the real estate business, just like his mother. He was also the president of the Texas Association of Builders.
Political Career
Neugebauer's political career began in his hometown of Lubbock. From 1992 to 1998, he served on the Lubbock city council. During this time, he worked to lower taxes and change how city services were run.
In 2003, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election. He served for seven terms, winning re-election multiple times.
Work in Congress
In the House of Representatives, members of Congress work on small groups called committees. These committees focus on specific topics like farming, money, or science. Neugebauer was a member of several important committees:
- Committee on Agriculture: This committee deals with laws about farming and food.
- Committee on Financial Services: This committee oversees the country's banking and financial systems.
- Committee on Science, Space and Technology: This committee handles issues related to science and new technology.
He was also a member of groups like the Tea Party Caucus and the Republican Study Committee, which are made up of congress members with similar political ideas.
Health Care Bill Debate
In March 2010, the House of Representatives was debating a major health care bill. During a speech by another representative, Bart Stupak, Neugebauer shouted "Baby killer!" from the audience.
Neugebauer later apologized. He said he was talking about the bill itself, not the person speaking. He claimed his words were, "It's a baby killer." However, many people who were there said he shouted directly at Representative Stupak. The event was reported by news media around the world.
Government Shutdown Incident
In October 2013, parts of the U.S. government shut down because Congress could not agree on a budget. This meant that national parks and memorials were closed to the public.
Neugebauer confronted a National Park Service ranger at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. He criticized the ranger for not letting visitors in. His actions were widely reported in the news. Neugebauer later said his comments were taken out of context.
Political Campaigns
Neugebauer first won his seat in Congress in 2003 after the previous representative, Larry Combest, retired. The election was very close. Neugebauer won the final runoff vote by only 587 votes.
In 2004, he ran for a full term against Charles Stenholm, a Democrat who had been in Congress for many years. Because of changes to the district map, Stenholm's old district was combined with Neugebauer's. Neugebauer won the election by a large margin and was re-elected easily in the years that followed.
Personal Life
Neugebauer is married to his high school sweetheart, Dana Collins. They have two sons, Todd and Toby, and four grandchildren. He has been a deacon at his Southern Baptist church.
