Richard Burr facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richard Burr
Official portrait, 2015
United States Senator from North Carolina
In office January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	John Edwards
Succeeded by	Ted Budd
Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee
In office January 3, 2015 – May 15, 2020
Preceded by	Dianne Feinstein
Succeeded by	Marco Rubio (acting)
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 5th district
In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2005
Preceded by	Stephen L. Neal
Succeeded by	Virginia Foxx
Personal details
Born	Richard Mauze Burr (1955-11-30) November 30, 1955 (age 69) Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Brooke Fauth ​ (m. 1984)​
Children	2
Education	Wake Forest University (BA)
Signature

Richard Mauze Burr (born November 30, 1955) is an American businessman and politician. He served as a U.S. Senator for North Carolina from 2005 to 2023. Before that, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives. He belongs to the Republican Party.

Richard Burr was born in Charlottesville, Virginia. He graduated from Wake Forest University. Before becoming a politician, he worked as a sales manager for a company that sold lawn equipment. In 1994, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He represented North Carolina's 5th congressional district.

Burr was first elected to the United States Senate in 2004. From 2015 to 2020, he led the Senate Intelligence Committee. In 2016, he announced he would not run for reelection in 2022.

Early Life and Education

Richard Burr was born on November 30, 1955. His parents were Martha and Rev. David Horace White Burr. He finished high school in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in 1974. In 1978, he earned a degree in communications from Wake Forest University. While in college, he played football as a defensive back.

Before working in Congress, Burr was a sales manager for 17 years. He worked for a company that distributed lawn equipment. He also served on the board of Brenner Children's Hospital.

Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives

In 1992, Burr ran for Congress but lost. He ran again in 1994 and won. This was a big year for Republicans.

In the House, Burr helped write the FDA Modernization Act of 1997. This law made it easier for new medicines to be approved. He also helped create the National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. After the September 11 attacks, he worked to improve defenses against bioterrorism.

Burr was reelected four times. He always won with a large number of votes. In 2002, he ran without any opponents.

Serving in the United States Senate

Burr's U.S. Senate portrait, 2009

Richard Burr became a U.S. Senator in 2005. He represented the state of North Carolina.

Senate Elections

2004 Election

In 2004, Burr won the Republican primary election. He ran for the Senate seat that John Edwards was leaving. Burr faced Democratic Party candidate Erskine Bowles. Burr won the election by five percent.

2010 Election

In 2010, Burr won reelection. He defeated the Democratic candidate, Elaine Marshall. He was the first Republican from North Carolina to be reelected to the Senate since 1968.

2016 Election

Burr won reelection again in 2016. He defeated Democratic candidate Deborah K. Ross. Burr also advised Donald Trump's presidential campaign that year.

2022 Election

In 2016, Burr announced he would not run for a fourth term in 2022. He kept his promise and retired from the Senate.

Time in Office and Political Views

Burr with President George W. Bush, July 2004

Burr was a key leader in the Senate. He served as Chief Deputy Whip for Republicans. He also considered running for the second-highest Republican position.

Burr often voted with his party, the Republicans. He was known for his conservative views. He also served on the board of Brenner Children's Hospital.

Money in Politics

Burr did not support a law that would make political ads show who paid for them. He agreed with a Supreme Court decision. This decision allowed groups to spend unlimited money on elections.

Economy and Jobs

Burr was critical of rules for banks and businesses. He voted against a law that created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He also voted to reduce some financial rules.

He signed a pledge to oppose tax increases. He did not support raising taxes on businesses or wealthy people. He believed this would help the economy.

Burr opposed a major trade agreement called the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). He supported the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement. He voted against raising the federal minimum wage. He also supported making Social Security more private.

Environment and Climate

Burr voted against a bill to manage public lands. He supported renewing a fund for land conservation.

He believed that climate change is happening. However, he doubted that human activity was the main cause. He opposed rules to limit greenhouse gas emissions. He also voted against federal money for renewable energy. He supported the Keystone XL pipeline.

In 2011, Burr voted to combine the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with another department. In 2019, he helped start a group called the Roosevelt Conservation Caucus. This group supports market-based solutions for environmental issues.

Education

In 2017, Burr voted to confirm Betsy DeVos as U.S. education secretary. He usually voted against more money for federal education projects. He opposed increasing Pell Grants for college students. He supported school prayer in public schools. He also voted for the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

Foreign Policy

Burr was seen as a "hawk" on foreign policy. This means he often supported military action. In 2002, he voted to allow the U.S. invasion of Iraq. He supported President Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq in 2007.

He voted against stopping U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia. He also opposed ending U.S. military help in the war in Yemen.

Gun Policy

The NRA Political Victory Fund strongly supported Burr. They gave him a high rating for his support of gun rights. In 2013, Burr voted against stricter gun control measures. These included expanded background checks and a ban on assault weapons.

In 2022, Burr was one of ten Republican senators to support a bipartisan agreement on gun control. This agreement included stronger background checks for young buyers. It also provided funding for school safety.

Health Policy

Burr voted against the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2009 and 2010. He later supported a plan to replace the ACA. In 2012, he co-sponsored a plan to change Medicare. This plan would have raised the age for Medicare eligibility.

He opposed allowing the FDA to regulate the tobacco industry. This industry is important in North Carolina.

Social Issues

Burr was the only Southern Republican senator to vote to repeal "don't ask, don't tell" in 2010. This policy discriminated against openly gay people in the military.

He supported a ban on same-sex marriage in the Constitution. But in 2013, he said states should decide on the issue. In 2015, he voted to allow same-sex spouses to get federal benefits.

Burr voted to renew the Violence Against Women Act in 2013. In 2022, he was one of 12 Republican senators to support the Respect for Marriage Act.

Judiciary

In 2016, Burr and other Republicans opposed a hearing for Judge Merrick Garland. President Obama had nominated Garland for the Supreme Court of the United States. Burr also blocked another judicial nomination.

He voted to confirm Trump's Supreme Court nominees, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.

President Trump

Burr was an adviser on national security for Donald Trump's campaign. He said Trump fit well with the Republican Party.

As head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Burr led the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections. During Trump's first impeachment trial, Burr voted to acquit Trump. On February 13, 2021, Burr was one of seven Republicans to vote to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial.

2021 Capitol Attack

On May 28, 2021, Burr did not vote on creating a special group to investigate the January 6 United States Capitol attack.

Committee Assignments

During his time in the Senate, Burr served on several important committees:

• Committee on Finance
• Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (he was the top Republican member)
  • Subcommittee on Children and Families
  • Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety
  • Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security
• Select Committee on Intelligence
• Special Committee on Aging

Caucus Memberships

Burr was also part of several groups in Congress:

• Congressional Boating Caucus (Co-chair)
• International Conservation Caucus
• Sportsmen's Caucus
• Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism Caucus
• Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus

Personal Life

Burr's iconic 1973 VW Thing, front

Rear, showing campaign bumper stickers of fellow Republicans

Burr's car, a 1973 Volkswagen Thing, is well-known on Capitol Hill. Burr is a member of the United Methodist Church.

He married Brooke Fauth Burr in 1984. She is a real estate agent. They have two sons, Tyler and William. Burr is a distant relative of Aaron Burr, a U.S. Vice President from the 1800s.

After Congress

After leaving Congress, Richard Burr began working at a law firm called DLA Piper. He became a main policy advisor there.

Electoral History

Images for kids

• 

  U.S. Senators Bob Corker, Richard Burr, Lamar Alexander, Kay Hagan, and Congressman John Duncan at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2009

See also

In Spanish: Richard Burr para niños