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Cliff Stearns
View on Wikipedia | A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. (September 2020) |
Clifford Bundy Stearns Sr. (born April 16, 1941) is an American businessman and politician who was the U.S. representative for Florida's 6th congressional district from 1989 to 2013. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Key Information
On August 14, 2012, Stearns lost to veterinarian Ted Yoho in a four-way Republican primary by about one percent of the vote.
In 2012, Stearns donated a collection of his papers to The George Washington University. The collection largely consists of his committee work, but also includes personal and political correspondence, briefing books, and travel agendas. The collection is currently under the care of GW's Special Collections Research Center, located in the Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library.[2]
Since leaving Congress, he has worked for APCO Worldwide, a public relations firm headquartered in Washington D.C. Stearns is also a member of APCO Worldwide International Advisory Council. He sits on the boards of the Graduate School of Political Management at The George Washington University, Minority Media & Telecom Council, and the United States Association of Former Members of Congress.[3] Stearns is also a member of APCO Worldwide International Advisory Council. He sits on the boards of the Graduate School of Political Management at The George Washington University, Minority Media & Telecom Council, and the United States Association of Former Members of Congress. He is a past President of the United States Association of Former Members of Congress.
Early life, education, and business career
[edit]Stearns was born in Washington, D.C., the son of Emily E. (Newlin) and Clifford Robert Stearns.[4][5] He was educated at Woodrow Wilson High School, and later earned a degree in electrical engineering from George Washington University. He is also a member of the university's Gamma Beta chapter of Theta Tau, a professional/social engineering fraternity, and participated in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps there and was honored as the Air Force ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate.
Following graduation, he served four years in the United States Air Force as an aerospace engineer in satellite reconnaissance during the Vietnam War. Stearns owned a small chain of motels and restaurants in northern Florida. Before moving to Florida, he worked with a variety of businesses in Florida, such as CBS, Data Control Systems Inc, and Kutola Advertising.
He was also a member of the Engineering Honor Society Sigma Tau, which later merged into the Tau Beta Pi Association which recognizes superior scholarship and/or leadership achievement in the fields of engineering.[6]
U.S. House of Representatives
[edit]Elections
[edit]- 1988–2004
In 1988, incumbent Democratic U.S. Congressman Buddy MacKay of Florida's 6th congressional district decided to run for the U.S. Senate. Stearns and Jim Cherry qualified for a run-off election, since no one reached the 50% threshold in the six-candidate primary election. Cherry received 32% to Stearns's 26%.[7] In the run-off, Stearns defeated Cherry 54%–46%.[8] In the general election, Stearns defeated State Representative Jon L. Mills 53%–47%.[9] Until 2012, he never won re-election with less than 59% of the vote.
- 2006
Stearns was re-elected with 60% of the vote.[10]
- 2008
Stearns was re-elected with 61% of the vote.[11]
- 2010
Stearns was re-elected with 71% of the vote.[12]
- 2012
Redistricting after the 2010 census shifted Stearns' home in Ocala to the 11th District (the old 5th District), but shifted the bulk of his territory to the Gainesville-based 3rd District. Rather than challenge freshman Republican Rich Nugent in the 11th, Stearns opted to run in the 3rd, which contained two-thirds of his former territory.
In the Republican primary for the 3rd—the real contest in this heavily Republican district—Stearns lost to Ted Yoho by only some 800 votes, about 1% of the vote, in the Republican primary.[13]
Tenure
[edit]
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Stearns is a signer of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge.[14]
Stearns is a member of the Electronic Cigarette Association and supports the use of these products.[15]
On September 29, 2008, Stearns voted against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.[16]
Solyndra investigation
[edit]As Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, Stearns led the investigation into the Solyndra loan guarantee, which has resulted in Solyndra declaring bankruptcy and the taxpayers losing $535 million. Among the revelations in the investigation are multiple warnings from government officials against giving Solyndra the loan because the company's health was shaky. Even so, the White House pressed for a speedy review. The company, which faced a highly competitive environment, went bankrupt and was raided by the FBI for possible fraud.[17]
Although the White House instituted an internal review of the loan guarantee program, Stearns believes that the review should have occurred before the Obama administration handed out the money.[18]
Stearns received emails showing that the White House had a major influence on the loan guarantee as well as on the Solyndra loan restructuring that subordinated the taxpayers to two commercial firms in violation of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.[19]
Fatal meningitis outbreak of 2012
[edit]Stearns led the congressional effort involving the meningitis outbreak. As of November 14, 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 32 deaths and that 438 people have been sickened across 19 states. An investigation determined that the New England Compounding Center(NECC) was the source of the contaminated product. As Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Stearns held a hearing on this outbreak.[20]
During the hearing, Stearns stated the outbreak was preventable had the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) acted. The FDA knew of severe quality control violations at NEC as early as 2002, and in 2006 the FDA threatened NECC if it did not comply with regulations. During the hearing, FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg testified that the FDA lacked the authority to close down NECC.[21]
Stearns noted that the FDA had authority to close NECC, but simply failed to protect the American people. Dr. Scott Gottlieb, deputy commissioner of the FDA from 2005 to 2007 and Mr. Sheldon Bradshaw, FDA's chief counsel during that same period, disagreed strongly with Hamburg. In a Wall Street Journal op-ed on November 13, 2012, they stated unequivocally that FDA did have enough authority and could have acted but chose not to because of FDA's desire to regulate "the full scope of the practice of pharmacy." They further stated that NECC's illegal actions, which FDA was aware of, that "put the NECC firmly in violation of FDA rules-if the agency had chosen to enforce existing provisions."[22]
Abortion
[edit]As Chairman of the Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Stearns conducted the first-ever oversight on taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the United States. The largest source of revenue for Planned Parenthood is government funding, but federal funds can't be used for abortions. Many women depend on Planned Parenthood for essential health care like birth control, STD tests, pelvic exams, cancer screenings, and pregnancy-related services. The investigation was started in response to an investigative report released in July 2011 by the anti-abortion organization Americans United for Life (AUL).[23] According to AUL, "Audits of Planned Parenthood affiliates in California, New Jersey, New York, and Washington State demonstrate a pattern of overbilling and abuse involving Medicaid funds, and in at least Washington even charging drugs used in an abortion as 'family planning.' Furthermore, State audit reports and admissions by former Planned Parenthood employees detail a pattern of misuse of federal funds by some Planned Parenthood affiliates."[24]
The investigation was sweeping, requesting internal audits dating back 12 years and state audits for the past 20 years for the national organization and all 83 of its affiliates. Representative Henry Waxman questioned the political motivations for the timing of the investigation, saying, "Your fervent ideological opposition to Planned Parenthood does not justify launching this intrusive investigation."[25]
On January 31, 2012, The Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization stopped funding Planned Parenthood, stating that the congressional investigation by Stearns triggered a newly created internal rule about not funding organizations under any federal, state or local investigation.[26] Planned Parenthood is regularly audited to ensure compliance with the Hyde Amendment: these audits have never turned up any evidence of wrongdoing.[27] While the move was applauded by conservative anti-abortion groups,[28] it was denounced by several newspaper editorials,[28][29] women's health advocacy groups,[30][31] and politicians.[32][33] Four days later, Komen's Board of Directors reversed the decision and announced that it would amend the policy to "make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political".[34] Karen Handel, Komen's vice president for public policy, resigned as a result of Komen's reversal.[35]
Economic issues
[edit]Stearns held several economic roundtables throughout the district, meeting with business owners, bankers, and realtors to get their views on improving the creating of jobs. Last year,[when?] he sponsored four homeowner workshops in Ocala, Gainesville, Jacksonville, and Orange Park.[36] He brought in realtors, bankers, and mortgage experts to help people who are having trouble making their payments – they also provided essential information[citation needed] for first-time homebuyers.
In meeting with community bankers from Florida, he learned that 70% of Florida's community banks are under some kind of regulatory order that reduce capital for businesses to grow and loans to revitalize the housing industry.[citation needed]
He took a leadership role for the Florida delegation in sending a letter to Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Chairman Sheila Bair, claiming that banking examiners may be pursuing an unreasonably tough analysis of Florida banks’ asset quality and are regularly requiring downgrades of performing loans.[citation needed]
Fiscal issues
[edit]Stearns was one of only 39 House members to receive an "A" rating from the National Taxpayers Union (NTU).[37] In addition, in 2010 Citizens Against Government Waste once again named Stearns a "Taxpayer Hero."[38]
Stearns also is a strong opponent of automatic congressional pay raises. He also offered legislation to prevent a pay increase in a year following a federal budget deficit.[39]
In fiscal years 2008–2010, Stearns sponsored 46 earmarks totaling $85,810,100.[40]
Stearns voted for Cut, Cap & Balance & the Boehner Debt Ceiling Bill; however, he voted against the final Debt Ceiling compromise bill (The "Budget Control Act of 2011").[41]
Veterans issues
[edit]Throughout his tenure, Stearns served on the Veterans Affairs Committee. He advocates for increased funding for the VA and pushed to establish a VA cemetery in the Jacksonville area.[42] He supports the VA's CARES plan to develop a new Regional Health Care Facility in Marion County and the expansion of the VA Hospital in Gainesville with a new 230-bed patient tower.[42] The groundbreaking for this addition occurred in 2008. His Veterans Millennium Health care & Benefits Act and language from his VA Health Care Personnel Act to increase pay for VA health professionals were signed into law.[43]
Technology and privacy
[edit]Stearns has been working on extending privacy protection for about 10 years.[44] In 2003, the International Association of Privacy Professionals gave Stearns its Privacy Leadership Award for his efforts on leadership, including holding the most extensive hearings on privacy issues as Chairman of the Commerce, Trade & Consumer Protection Subcommittee.[45]
On April 13, 2011, Stearns offered bi-partisan legislation to protect consumer privacy on line—H.R. 1528, the Consumer Privacy Protection Act.[46] The goal is to encourage greater levels of electronic commerce by providing to Internet users the assurance that their experience online will be more secure.[citation needed]
Stearns also is a leader in opposing net neutrality.[47]
Stearns voted for the Patriot Act.[48]
Stearns is the Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee's Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. From 2001 until 2007, Stearns was Chairman of the Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection Subcommittee and he still serves on the Subcommittee. He helped to create the Do-Not-Call List to protect consumers from unwanted telephone solicitations and legislation to combat spyware, which is software that allows a third party to monitor the computer use of individuals without their knowledge.
Energy issues
[edit]Stearns was a member of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus, a bi-partisan forum for discussing and disseminating information about renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.[49] Stearns’ paper on developing clean-coal technology and applying coal-to-liquid technology was published in December 2008 in the Stanford Law & Policy Review.[50]
During consideration of cap-and-trade legislation in the Energy and Commerce Committee in May 2009, Stearns offered an amendment to afford existing nuclear power plants the same benefits provided to new nuclear power plants in the bill. The amendment simply recognized that nuclear is carbon free and did not provide any new subsidy to the industry.[citation needed]
In 2008, Stearns joined in offering a package of bills to increase domestic energy production. This included more domestic oil and gas production, greater use of clean-coal technology, reducing the barriers to new nuclear power plants, and encouraging renewable energy sources.[51]
Health care
[edit]During consideration of the health care legislation, Stearns offered the following amendments[citation needed]:
- Provide tax deduction for health care;
- Require the President, Supreme Court Justices, and Members of Congress to buy their coverage of the Exchange:
- Eliminate the tax on medical devices;
- Repeal the cuts to Medicare Advantage.
9/11 first responders
[edit]During the debate over compensation for 9/11 first responders and others, Stearns advocated a "standard re-authorization and appropriation process".[52] Congressman Stearns submitted an amendment that was adopted without opposition [53] to H.R.#847, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, that would screen thousands of non-first responders and First Responders who submit claims for chronic medical conditions against a Department of Homeland Security terrorist watch list (original committee markup referenced).[54]
Committee assignments
[edit]Caucus memberships
[edit]- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Caucus (Co-chairman)
- Congressional Cystic Fibrosis Caucus (Co-chairman)
- Congressional Horse Caucus (Co-chairman)
- Congressional Air Force Caucus (Co-chairman)
- Transatlantic Legislators Dialogue (Vice-chairman)
- Biomedical Research Caucus
- Bipartisan Congressional Pro Life Caucus
- Bipartisan Privacy Caucus
- Canada-US Interparliamentary Union
- Community College Caucus
- Congressional Caucus on Adoption
- Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues
- Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans
- Congressional Caucus on Poland
- Congressional Caucus on Taiwan
- Congressional Caucus on US-Turkey Relations and Turkish Americans
- Congressional Cyber Security Caucus
- Congressional Friends of Liechtenstein Caucus
- Congressional Invisible Wounds Caucus
- Congressional Internet Caucus
- Congressional Israel Allies Caucus
- Congressional Media Fairness Caucus
- Congressional Prayer Caucus
- Congressional Ship Building Caucus
- Congressional Singapore Caucus
- Congressional Sovereignty Caucus
- Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus
- Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus
- Congressional Wireless Caucus
- House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus
- Immigration Reform Caucus
- New Media Caucus
- Republican Study Committee
- Tea Party Caucus
Personal life
[edit]
Stearns lives in Ocala, Florida with his wife, Joan (née Moore). They have three grown sons. One of his great-great-grandfathers was 19th century Ohio congressman Hezekiah S. Bundy.[4] He is a Presbyterian.
While a Member of Congress, Stearns received the Air Force Association W. Stuart Symington Award, the highest honor presented to a civilian in the field of national security for his work in behalf of the United States Air Force.[55]
Authorship/Publications
[edit]“Life in the Marble Palace (In Praise of Folly), published by FriesenPress, 2016, http://www.cliffordstearns.com[3]
· “Creating a Legal Framework for Sustainable Energy,” Stanford Law Review & Policy Symposium 19, no. 3 (2008).
· Featured opinion editorials in all major Washington, DC, newspapers.
· Articles in Roll Call and The Hill weekly newspapers.
· Developed computer software for determining savings rates and future values: “Finance Kit.”
· Published Keynote Address at Harvard University Privacy Symposium, Cambridge, MA (August 19, 2008).
· “The Heritage of Our Right to Bear Arms,” Saint Louis University Public Law Review XVIII, no. 1 (1999).
· Inside Impeachment—Diary of a Congressman: Lessons Learned published by Archway Publishing 2023, https://www.cliffstearns.org
References
[edit]- ^ "Friends of Cliff Stearns". Archived from the original on 2012-02-19. Retrieved 2012-02-03.
- ^ Preliminary Guide to the Clifford Stearns Congressional Papers, 1988–2013, Special Collections Research Center, Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library, The George Washington University
- ^ a b "Former Florida Congressman Stearns Joins APCO's International Advisory Council". APCO Worldwide. Archived from the original on 2018-11-16. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
- ^ a b "Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records". freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
- ^ "Biography | U.S. Congressman Cliff Stearns". Archived from the original on 2011-01-16. Retrieved 2011-01-15.
- ^ "Cliff Stearns". APCO Worldwide. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - FL District 6 - R Primary Race - Sep 06, 1988". Ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - FL District 6 - R Runoff Race - Oct 04, 1988". Ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - FL District 06 Race - Nov 08, 1988". Ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - FL - District 06 Race - Nov 07, 2006". Ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - FL - District 06 Race - Nov 04, 2008". Ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - FL - District 06 Race - Nov 02, 2010". Ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
- ^ Ashley Southall (August 15, 2012). "Veterinarian Surprises Florida's Stearns in Republican Primary". The New York Times.
- ^ "Current Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers". Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ "Electronic Cigarette Association Speaker List". 2009-07-20. Archived from the original on July 26, 2009. Retrieved July 22, 2009.
- ^ "Bailout Roll Call" (PDF). I2.cdn.turner.com. 2008-09-29. Retrieved September 29, 2008.
- ^ "Tampa Tribune". Archived from the original on 2011-12-21. Retrieved 2011-12-20.
- ^ "The Hill". Archived from the original on 2012-01-01.
- ^ "National Review". National Review. December 2011.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). energycommerce.house.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Viebeck, Elise (2012-11-16). "Stearns threatens to pursue FDA documents for meningitis probe". TheHill. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
- ^ "A Compounding Fracture at the FDA". The Wall Street Journal. November 13, 2012.
- ^ "The Case for Investigating Planned Parenthood". Archived from the original on 2018-04-05. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
- ^ "Planned Parenthood wrong in denials of financial improprieties, notes Americans United for Life". Aul.org. 2011-09-28. Archived from the original on 2011-11-06. Retrieved 2011-10-15.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-11-17. Retrieved 2011-09-29.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Jeffrey Goldberg (February 2, 2012). "Top Susan G. Komen Official Resigned Over Planned Parenthood Cave-In". The Atlantic. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
- ^ "Planned Parenthood Investigation: A Frustrated Bully's Malicious Attack". International Business Times. 2011-09-30. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
- ^ a b "Reactions heated on Planned Parenthood-Komen rift (AP)". Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ http://www.bnd.com/2012/02/03/2043592/editorials-on-komen-vs-planned.html [permanent dead link]
- ^ Marcotte, Amanda (2012-01-31). "Susan G. Komen's Act of Cowardice". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
- ^ "Komen for the Cure sells out women, again (Salon, Feb 1, 2012)". Archived from the original on 12 August 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ Bassett, Laura (2012-02-01). "Susan G. Komen Loses Support After Planned Parenthood Decision". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
- ^ Breaking: Two dozen Senators call on Komen to reverse Planned Parenthood decision (The Washington Post, 2012-02-02)
- ^ "Statement from Susan G. Komen Board of Directors and Founder and CEO Nancy G. Brinker | Susan G. Komen®". Archived from the original on 2018-06-06. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
- ^ "Komen official resigns after Planned Parenthood funding decision". The Florida Times-Union. Associated Press. 2012-02-07. Archived from the original on 2021-09-14. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
- ^ "Free home ownership workshops offered". Archived from the original on 2010-06-06.
- ^ http://www.ntu.org/search/pnf. Retrieved 2014-09-11.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "CCAGW Ratings |". Ccagwratings.org. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ Yager, Jordy. "Congress Unlikely to Give Itself Raise." The Hill. 2010-01-20. Retrieved 2010-10-28.
- ^ "Representative Cliff Stearns (R-Florida, 6th) Earmarks Requested". LegiStorm. 2006-10-01. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
- ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
- ^ a b "Claytoday.biz". ww12.claytoday.biz. Archived from the original on 17 February 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Votesmart.org. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ "Stearns Privacy Bill Balances Consumer, Corporate Needs - Tech Daily Dose". Archived from the original on 2011-05-18. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
- ^ "FTC Commissioner Orson Swindle Receives 2004 Privacy Leadership Award From the IAPP." IAPP. Retrieved 2010-10-28.
- ^ Drye, Kelley; Rosenfeld, Warren LLP-Dana B. (15 April 2011). "Representatives Stearns and Matheson introduce Consumer Privacy Protection Act | Lexology". Retrieved 2018-06-04.
- ^ "MediaPost Publications Stearns Bill Would Limit FCC's Ability to Enact Neutrality Regulations 05/12/2010". Archived from the original on 2010-05-14. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
- ^ "Project Vote Smart – Representative Stearns on HR 3162 – USA Patriot Act of 2001". Votesmart.org. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
- ^ "Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucuses". Eesi.org. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Increase Domestic Oil Production | U.S. Congressman Cliff Stearns". Archived from the original on 2011-04-07. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
- ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2018-07-26.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Full Committee Markup of H.R. 847, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 | Committee on Energy and Commerce Democrats". 5 May 2011. Archived from the original on 5 May 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-04-24. Retrieved 2011-04-27.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "W. Stuart Symington Award Recipients - Air Force Association". Afa.org. Archived from the original on 2018-06-22. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
External links
[edit]- Congressman Cliff Stearns official U.S. House website
- Cliff Stearns for U.S. Congress
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Profile at SourceWatch
- Preliminary Guide to the Clifford Stearns Congressional Papers, 1988–2013, Special Collections Research Center, Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library, The George Washington University
Cliff Stearns
View on GrokipediaEarly Life and Military Service
Childhood and Family Background
Clifford Bundy Stearns was born on April 16, 1941, in Washington, D.C.[1] He was the son of Clifford Robert Stearns, a career U.S. Navy officer who attained the rank of commander and later worked as an attorney, and Emily E. Newlin Stearns, a librarian, poet, and author.[9][10] Stearns spent his early childhood in the Washington, D.C., area, attending Hearst Elementary School from 1946 to 1952.[1] His family's ties to public service, reflected in his father's naval career, likely influenced his later path into military service and politics, though specific details of family life or relocations during this period remain limited in public records.[9]Education
Stearns attended Hearst Elementary School in Washington, D.C., from 1946 to 1952.[1] He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, D.C.[1] [9] Stearns enrolled at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., on a U.S. Air Force ROTC scholarship, where he studied electrical engineering.[11] [9] He earned the Distinguished Military Graduate designation and received a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering in 1963.[11] [3] Stearns later attended the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1965, though no degree was completed there.[6]United States Air Force Service
Cliff Stearns commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force upon graduation from George Washington University in 1963, having been designated a Distinguished Military Graduate through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program.[9] He served actively from 1963 to 1967, rising to the rank of captain.[12] [2] During his tenure, Stearns worked as an aerospace project engineer, primarily focused on satellite reconnaissance efforts supporting operations in Vietnam.[3] Stationed initially in Los Angeles, California, he contributed to the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, traveling across the United States to oversee aspects of military space initiatives amid the escalating Vietnam War.[9] [13] His role involved technical engineering on reconnaissance systems, leveraging emerging satellite technology for defense meteorological and intelligence purposes.[3] Stearns' service concluded honorably in 1967 after four years of active duty, during which he gained expertise in aerospace systems that later informed his business ventures in electronics and tools distribution.[2] [12]Business Career
Founding and Operation of Mac Tools Distributorship
After completing his U.S. Air Force service as a captain in the early 1970s, Cliff Stearns founded Stearns House, Inc., assuming the role of president and chief operating officer.[3] The company focused on acquiring, managing, and operating motels and restaurants in Florida, particularly around Ocala, capitalizing on the state's growing tourism and travel economy.[3][11] Stearns oversaw daily operations, including property maintenance, staff management, and customer service, which honed his skills in small business leadership amid economic challenges like inflation and energy crises of the decade.[3] The distributorship model emphasized direct ownership and localized service, allowing Stearns to expand holdings through reinvested profits and strategic acquisitions of underperforming hospitality assets.[11] By the 1980s, the business had established a reputation for reliability in the region, employing local workers and contributing to community economic activity before Stearns shifted to public service upon his 1988 election to Congress.[3] This venture underscored his commitment to free-market principles, with operations reliant on minimal government intervention and personal initiative rather than subsidies.[11]Other Pre-Political Business Activities
Prior to relocating to Florida, Stearns worked in advertising and related fields in Greenwich, Connecticut, including positions at CBS, Inc., and Kotula Advertising Company.[3] He also had experience with Data Control Systems Inc. during this period.[14] In 1973, following his discharge from the Air Force, Stearns moved to Ocala, Florida, to enter the hospitality sector.[9] There, he owned and operated a small chain of motels and restaurants in northern Florida, which formed a key part of his pre-political entrepreneurial efforts.[15][3] These ventures capitalized on the region's growing tourism and travel demands during the 1970s and 1980s.[3]U.S. House of Representatives
Elections and Re-elections
Stearns first won election to the U.S. House of Representatives on November 8, 1988, defeating one-term Democratic incumbent Jon Mills in Florida's 6th congressional district with 136,415 votes (53.5 percent) to Mills's 118,756 votes (46.5 percent).[16] The victory marked an upset in a district that had been held by Democrats, reflecting a Republican wave in Florida amid George H.W. Bush's presidential landslide in the state.[17] Stearns secured re-election eleven times from 1990 through 2010, typically with substantial margins as the district trended Republican and his opponents mounted limited challenges. In several cycles, including 1994, 2002, and 2004, Democratic nominees received under 40 percent of the vote, while Stearns benefited from incumbency and conservative alignment in north-central Florida.[18] His consistent victories underscored strong local support for his fiscal conservatism and limited-government stance, with general election turnout often favoring Republicans in the rural and suburban areas encompassing Ocala, Gainesville, and surrounding counties. Following the 2010 census and subsequent redistricting, Florida's 6th district was reconfigured and renumbered as the more conservative 3rd district, incorporating rural areas from Clay County to the Gulf Coast. In the Republican primary on August 14, 2012, Stearns faced a crowded field including political newcomer Ted Yoho, a veterinarian aligned with Tea Party sentiments; Yoho prevailed by 831 votes, garnering 41,358 (34.4 percent) to Stearns's 40,739 (33.9 percent), as other candidates split the remainder.[19] Stearns conceded the following day, ending his 24-year congressional tenure amid criticisms of his ethics investigations and fundraising practices, despite a campaign war chest exceeding $2 million.[7]Committee Assignments and Caucus Memberships
Stearns served on the United States House Committee on Veterans' Affairs throughout his congressional tenure from January 3, 1989, to January 3, 2013, including as chairman of the Subcommittee on Health from 1997 to 2000 and as deputy Republican leader on the committee.[11][9][2] He advocated for expanded funding and benefits for the Department of Veterans Affairs, leveraging his background as an Air Force veteran to prioritize health care access and oversight of VA operations.[3][20] On the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Stearns held membership from 1995 onward, chairing the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and serving as Republican leader on the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet, as well as chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.[2][21] Earlier assignments included the House Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs, where he addressed issues like the savings and loan crisis, and the Select Committee on Aging.[9] Stearns participated in several congressional caucuses, reflecting interests in defense, health, agriculture, and rural issues. He chaired the Air Force Caucus, co-chaired the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Caucus and the Congressional Cystic Fibrosis Caucus, and served as co-chair of the Congressional Horse Caucus.[13][3][12] Additional memberships encompassed the Congressional Dairy Farmers Caucus and the Congressional Rural Caucus.[22][23]Oversight and Investigations
During the 112th Congress (2011–2013), Stearns chaired the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, directing inquiries into federal loan programs, regulatory oversight lapses, and public health risks associated with pharmaceutical compounding. The subcommittee's work emphasized accountability for executive branch decisions, including scrutiny of Department of Energy (DOE) loan guarantees and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enforcement authority.Probe into Solyndra Loan Guarantees
Stearns launched an investigation in September 2011 into the DOE's $535 million loan guarantee to Solyndra, a California-based solar panel manufacturer that filed for bankruptcy in August 2011 after receiving funds under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.[24] The probe revealed procedural irregularities, including accelerated approval timelines and reliance on optimistic market projections despite internal DOE warnings about Solyndra's viability; for instance, emails showed agency officials questioning the company's tubular solar technology amid falling silicon prices.[25] Stearns' subcommittee issued subpoenas to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in January 2012 for White House communications, after initial document withholdings, and held multiple hearings documenting over $780 million in total taxpayer exposure from the guarantee.[26] By June 2012, Stearns announced the investigation's findings supported legislative reforms to tighten loan guarantee criteria, such as enhanced risk assessments and transparency requirements, culminating in proposed bills to prevent similar failures.[27]Response to 2012 Fungal Meningitis Outbreak
In response to the September 2012 fungal meningitis outbreak linked to contaminated steroid injections from the New England Compounding Center (NECC), which caused at least 64 deaths and over 700 illnesses across 20 states by November 2012, Stearns convened a November 14, 2012, hearing titled "The Fungal Meningitis Outbreak: Could It Have Been Prevented?"[28] The hearing examined FDA inspection records showing NECC's history of violations, including insanitary conditions and unapproved drug production dating back to 2006, yet no shutdown despite complaints; Stearns pressed FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg on whether the agency possessed authority to intervene earlier, highlighting a perceived regulatory gap between state pharmacy boards and federal oversight.[29] NECC co-owner Barry Cadden invoked the Fifth Amendment over 100 times when questioned on the firm's practices, such as outsourcing testing and ignoring sterility alerts.[30] Stearns criticized the FDA's "complete and utter failure" in preempting the crisis, advocating for clearer federal powers over large-scale compounding pharmacies, which informed subsequent bipartisan efforts to reform the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.[31]Probe into Solyndra Loan Guarantees
As chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Representative Cliff Stearns launched a probe into the Department of Energy's (DOE) $535 million loan guarantee to Solyndra, a California-based solar panel manufacturer, shortly after the company's August 31, 2011, bankruptcy filing, which resulted in significant taxpayer losses.[32][33] The investigation examined the 2009 conditional commitment under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, revealing that DOE officials had proceeded despite internal assessments highlighting financial risks and market viability concerns for Solyndra's innovative but costly thin-film solar technology.[34] Stearns criticized the process for prioritizing speed over due diligence, including a controversial 2011 restructuring that subordinated taxpayer interests to private investors.[27] The subcommittee held multiple hearings, beginning with a September 14, 2011, session focused on DOE officials' roles in the loan approval and Solyndra's subsequent collapse, followed by a September 23, 2011, hearing titled "From DOE Loan Guarantee to Bankruptcy to FBI Raid," which scrutinized the program's broader implications after federal agents raided Solyndra's headquarters.[35][36] Stearns pressed witnesses on evidence of overlooked warnings from Treasury officials and rushed approvals amid political promotion, including President Obama's 2010 factory visit touting the project as a clean energy success.[34] A November 17, 2011, hearing featured testimony from Energy Secretary Steven Chu, where Stearns highlighted discrepancies in DOE's risk evaluations and the lack of transparency in loan restructuring decisions. To compel document production, the subcommittee issued subpoenas to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for internal communications, uncovering delays in compliance but advancing scrutiny of executive branch involvement.[26] Stearns expanded the inquiry to other DOE loan guarantees, alleging systemic flaws such as inadequate vetting and political influences that exposed taxpayers to undue risk, as evidenced by Solyndra's failure to achieve commercial scalability against cheaper Chinese competition.[37] By June 2012, after over 15 months of review involving thousands of documents, Stearns announced the probe neared closure and planned legislative reforms to impose stricter oversight on future guarantees, emphasizing market-based criteria over subsidized innovation.[27][24] The investigation underscored causal links between accelerated government lending and fiscal waste, without evidence of criminality but with clear procedural lapses that Stearns attributed to ideological commitments to green energy mandates.[38]Response to 2012 Fungal Meningitis Outbreak
As chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Representative Cliff Stearns convened a hearing on November 14, 2012, titled "The Fungal Meningitis Outbreak: Could It Have Been Prevented?" to examine the regulatory failures surrounding the outbreak linked to contaminated steroid injections from the New England Compounding Center (NECC) in Framingham, Massachusetts.[39] The outbreak, which began in September 2012, had by then sickened over 400 people across 23 states and resulted in at least 32 deaths from fungal meningitis and related infections caused by Exserohilum rostratum and other molds in tainted methylprednisolone acetate.[29] Stearns focused the inquiry on whether federal and state regulators, particularly the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy, had adequate authority and acted decisively against NECC despite prior warnings of unsanitary conditions and quality control issues dating back to 2006.[28] During the hearing, Stearns directly confronted FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, asking, "Do you think the FDA had the authority to shut down NECC, yes or no?"—to which Hamburg responded evasively, citing jurisdictional ambiguities between state-licensed compounding pharmacies and federal drug manufacturing oversight.[28] [29] Stearns characterized the incident as a "complete and utter failure" of the FDA, highlighting documented evidence from inspections showing NECC's repeated violations, including microbial contamination risks and failure to follow sterile compounding standards, yet no shutdown occurred until after the outbreak.[40] He also questioned NECC co-owner Barry Cadden, who invoked his Fifth Amendment rights and refused to testify substantively, prompting Stearns to excuse him after confirming his awareness of the deadly consequences.[30] [41] The hearing underscored gaps in the legal framework distinguishing traditional compounding pharmacies from large-scale manufacturers like NECC, which Stearns argued operated as the latter without corresponding federal scrutiny.[42] Hamburg acknowledged the FDA's delayed action on prior complaints but defended it as limited by reliance on state enforcement, a position Stearns and other subcommittee members challenged as insufficient given the interstate shipment of over 17,000 vials of contaminated drugs.[43] No immediate legislative outcomes stemmed directly from the hearing under Stearns' leadership, but it contributed to subsequent congressional debates on tightening FDA authority over compounding pharmacies, culminating in provisions of the 2013 Drug Quality and Security Act.[44] Stearns' probe emphasized accountability for regulators, prioritizing prevention through proactive enforcement over reactive measures post-crisis.[29]Policy Positions and Legislative Record
Stearns championed fiscal conservatism, opposing expansive government spending and favoring market-driven economic policies. He voted against the $192 billion anti-recession stimulus package in July 2009, arguing it would exacerbate deficits without addressing underlying economic issues.[45] In March 2011, he supported terminating the Home Affordable mortgage program, prioritizing reduced federal intervention in housing markets.[45] Stearns endorsed a balanced budget amendment in January 2011 and backed the Fair Tax proposal, which would repeal income and payroll taxes in favor of a 23% national sales tax to simplify the tax code and promote growth.[45][46] On energy policy, Stearns promoted deregulation and domestic production to achieve independence, sponsoring H.R. 338 in January 1997 to repeal provisions of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act mandating utility purchases from qualifying facilities, aiming to foster competition.[47] He circulated a discussion draft for the Electric Energy Empowerment Act in March 1998 to streamline federal oversight of electric transmission.[48] In May 2011, Stearns voted to open the Outer Continental Shelf to oil drilling, and in April 2011, he supported barring the EPA from regulating greenhouse gases, rejecting mandates for renewables as inefficient.[45] As chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, he led probes into failed green energy loans, such as the $535 million Solyndra guarantee in 2011, highlighting risks of government subsidies.[46] Stearns opposed government-run health care, voting against expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program in January 2009 and supporting repeal of the Affordable Care Act's Prevention and Public Health Fund in April 2011.[45] He criticized the ACA for cutting $500 billion from Medicare and adding $500 billion in taxes, advocating market-based reforms.[46] In legislative efforts, he authored H.R. 3737 (ULTRA Act) and H.R. 4132 (FAST Act) to expedite treatments for rare diseases, emphasizing innovation over centralized control.[46] A pro-life advocate, Stearns consistently voted to restrict abortion, including yes on banning federal health coverage that includes it in May 2011 and prohibiting partial-birth abortions in October 2003; he earned a 0% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America.[45] He supported prohibiting taxpayer funding for abortions, defunding providers like Planned Parenthood, and protecting unborn life in health legislation.[46] Stearns prioritized veterans' benefits and military readiness, serving on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee from March 2011 and voting yes on $78 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan operations in April 2003.[45] He addressed VA challenges, including a 9.6% rise in PTSD cases affecting over 53,000 patients, a 40% claims backlog exceeding 125 days, elevated unemployment among young veterans at 17.8%, and homelessness impacting over 400,000 on registries, pushing for streamlined benefits and transition programs.[46] In technology policy, Stearns balanced innovation with security, voting yes on extending PATRIOT Act roving wiretaps in February 2011 and granting retroactive immunity to telecoms for warrantless surveillance in June 2008, prioritizing counterterrorism over expanded privacy restrictions.[45] He opposed network neutrality mandates in June 2006, favoring deregulation to spur broadband investment, while chairing hearings on industry privacy practices to encourage self-regulation rather than federal overreach.[45][49] Stearns supported assistance for 9/11 first responders through oversight of public safety communications, participating in hearings on spectrum needs for emergency responders post-9/11 in June 2003 and reviewing interoperability lessons from the attacks to Katrina in 2005, advocating enhanced federal coordination without new entitlements.[50][51]Fiscal Conservatism and Economic Policy
Stearns earned recognition for fiscal conservatism through consistent opposition to expanded government spending and support for deficit reduction measures. He received an "A" rating from the National Taxpayers Union (NTU), placing him among only 39 House members for responsible tax and spending policies, and was named a "Taxpayer Hero" by the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste in 2009 for votes aimed at curbing wasteful expenditures and lowering the tax burden.[52][53] His NTU rating on tax-related votes stood at 73%, deemed "satisfactory" by the organization.[45] In legislative actions, Stearns voted against the $192 billion additional anti-recession stimulus package in 2009, prioritizing spending restraint over further deficit expansion. He supported the Ryan Budget proposal, which included tax and spending cuts alongside Medicare reforms, and repeatedly introduced legislation—nine times during his tenure—to eliminate automatic congressional pay raises in years following budget deficits. Stearns also backed a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, arguing it would enforce fiscal discipline on federal lawmakers.[45][54][55] On economic policy, Stearns championed tax relief as a driver of job preservation and growth, advocating extension of the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts, which he credited with preventing job losses according to analyses from conservative think tanks. He opposed the 2012 fiscal cliff compromise, which retained most Bush-era cuts but raised rates on high earners, viewing it as insufficiently committed to broad tax reduction. Stearns endorsed replacing the income tax system with a national sales tax to abolish the IRS, reflecting a preference for consumption-based taxation over income levies.[56][45][45] Regarding federal debt, Stearns supported the 2011 Cut, Cap and Balance Act to impose spending caps tied to debt limit increases and voted for Speaker Boehner's debt ceiling bill, but opposed the final Budget Control Act compromise for lacking deeper cuts. Critics, including primary challengers, noted he had voted to raise the debt ceiling 11 times over his career, questioning his fiscal hawk credentials despite demands for accompanying spending reforms. He also co-sponsored biennial budgeting bills to enhance congressional oversight of expenditures and reduce annual omnibus packages.[45][57][58]Energy Deregulation and Market-Based Solutions
Stearns advocated for reducing federal regulatory barriers in energy production and distribution to foster competition and lower consumer costs, arguing that government mandates distorted markets and stifled innovation. As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, he supported legislation expanding access to domestic oil and gas resources, including votes to prioritize increased leasing programs aimed at boosting daily production by at least 3 million barrels of oil equivalent by 2027.[59] He backed measures to streamline refinery construction using crude oil or coal, emphasizing that such deregulation would enhance energy security without relying on subsidies or artificial incentives.[59] In the realm of electricity markets, Stearns sponsored H.R. 338 in 1997 to repeal provisions of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, which he viewed as outdated mandates that hindered competitive wholesale markets promised by earlier reforms.[60] While expressing caution against hasty utility deregulation—warning in 1998 that premature action could lead to instability without adequate reliability standards—he consistently prioritized market-oriented reforms over rapid federal overhauls.[61] This approach aligned with his broader critique of environmental regulations, including a 2011 vote to bar the EPA from imposing greenhouse gas rules under the Clean Air Act, which he argued would impose undue costs on energy producers and consumers absent market signals.[59] Stearns opposed government loan guarantees and subsidies for specific energy technologies, as evidenced by his chairmanship of investigations into programs like the Department of Energy's support for Solyndra, culminating in the 2012 "No More Solyndras Act" (H.R. 6213), which sought to curtail such interventions under the Energy Policy Act of 2005.[62] He scrutinized market mechanisms like Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) for fraud risks, advocating for integrity in biofuel mandates while favoring reduced federal picking of winners in favor of consumer-driven demand.[63] These positions reflected a preference for deregulation enabling private investment in proven sources like fossil fuels, over mandates such as renewable portfolio standards, which he opposed as interfering with free-market allocation.[64]Opposition to Government-Run Health Care
Stearns voted against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), commonly known as Obamacare, during its House passage on March 21, 2010, joining all Republicans in opposition to the bill's expansion of federal mandates, insurance regulations, and spending projected to exceed $900 billion over a decade.[65] He argued that the legislation constituted an unprecedented government takeover of the health care sector, increasing costs and stifling innovation through requirements like the individual mandate and employer penalties.[66] Following the PPACA's enactment, Stearns supported repeated House efforts to repeal or dismantle it, including the full repeal vote on H.R. 2 on January 19, 2011, which passed 245-189 along party lines.[67] As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, he participated in oversight hearings scrutinizing the law's implementation, such as a February 2011 session on waivers granted to unions and businesses, where he contended that the administration's selective exemptions undermined the law's purported universality and revealed its flaws, stating, "ObamaCare was sold as all benefit—no downside."[68] Stearns further claimed the PPACA would hinder economic growth by imposing $500 billion in Medicare cuts and new taxes, potentially destroying jobs in health care and small businesses.[66] Earlier, during the 1993-1994 debate over President Clinton's health reform proposal, Stearns co-sponsored the Nickles-Stearns bill (H.R. 4700) as a Republican alternative, which aimed to preserve private insurance markets through measures like medical savings accounts and malpractice reform rather than establishing government-administered coverage or price controls.[69] Although the proposal included an individual mandate to purchase insurance—drawing criticism from free-market advocates for insufficiently dismantling regulatory barriers—Stearns positioned it against Clinton's plan, which envisioned managed competition under federal oversight and public-sector involvement, emphasizing instead incentives for consumer-driven choices to avoid centralized control.[70] Throughout his career, Stearns advocated for market-oriented reforms, such as interstate insurance sales and tort limitations, to reduce costs without federal expansion, voting against amendments that would broaden government-funded programs like Medicare drug benefits.[45]Pro-Life Advocacy and Abortion Restrictions
Stearns maintained a staunch opposition to abortion, consistently voting for legislative measures to restrict the procedure and limit federal involvement in its funding. He earned a 100% rating from the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) in the 111th and 112th Congresses for his support of bills defunding organizations providing abortions and prohibiting taxpayer subsidies for elective procedures.[71] In October 2003, Stearns voted yes on H.R. 760, the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, which criminalized intact dilation and extraction procedures except when necessary to save the mother's life or prevent serious bodily harm.[45] He also supported H.R. 748, the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act, passing the House in April 2005 by a vote of 270-152; the bill prohibited transporting minors across state lines to obtain abortions without parental notification or consent, aiming to enforce state-level parental involvement laws.[72] Stearns backed efforts to bar abortion coverage in federal health programs, voting yes in May 2011 on an amendment to H.R. 1217 prohibiting the use of Affordable Care Act subsidies for plans including elective abortions.[45] He opposed embryonic stem cell research expansion, voting no on H.R. 810 in January 2007 to allow federal funding for additional lines derived from destroyed embryos.[45] As chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations in 2011, Stearns launched a formal inquiry into Planned Parenthood's use of over $300 million in annual federal funds, examining compliance with restrictions like the Hyde Amendment barring taxpayer support for abortions.[73] The probe, initiated September 27, 2011, requested documents on potential misuse for abortion referrals or services, amid allegations of statutory violations; no conclusive findings of widespread illegality were publicly issued before Stearns' 2012 primary defeat.[74]Support for Veterans' Benefits and Military Readiness
Stearns, a U.S. Air Force veteran who served from 1965 to 1969, consistently advocated for enhanced veterans' benefits during his congressional tenure from 1989 to 2013.[11] As a member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, he chaired the Health Subcommittee from 1997 to 2000 and later served as Deputy Republican Leader on the full committee.[11] In this capacity, he pushed for expanded immunization programs for veterans and supported legislation like H.R. 5596 in 2010, which aimed to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic pulmonary conditions among former service members.[11] [75] He advocated for increased funding to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and reforms to enhance long-term care, including proposals to reinvest savings from VA hospital closures into new treatment facilities.[3] [76] In 2009, Stearns introduced an amendment to facilitate veterans' access to local job listings through VA resources, emphasizing employment as a key post-service benefit to aid reintegration.[77] His efforts aligned with broader committee work to strengthen VA benefit programs, contributing to improvements serving approximately 24 million veterans by the late 1990s.[78] On military readiness, Stearns directed federal appropriations toward infrastructure upgrades at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center in Florida, the state's primary National Guard facility, to support training and operational preparedness.[79] These investments, among the largest recipients of his earmark requests, focused on enhancing facilities for active-duty and reserve forces amid post-Cold War force restructuring. He also backed exemptions from certain environmental regulations that military leaders argued impeded training exercises, prioritizing operational effectiveness over compliance burdens.[80]Technology Innovation versus Privacy Overreach
During his tenure on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, particularly as chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection, Cliff Stearns advocated for federal legislation addressing online consumer privacy while cautioning against regulatory frameworks that could impede technological advancement and economic competitiveness.[49] In hearings such as the 2001 session on "Information Privacy: Industry Best Practices and Technological Solutions," Stearns emphasized the complementary roles of technology and law in safeguarding privacy, particularly on the internet, but stressed the need for measures that enable rather than constrain digital growth.[49] Stearns co-sponsored a 2010 discussion draft with Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA) targeting online behavioral advertising, which proposed opt-in consent requirements for companies collecting "covered information" (such as precise geolocation or health data) from consumers for non-transactional purposes, alongside mandatory privacy notices and exceptions for security or fraud prevention.[81] The draft aimed to enhance transparency in data practices without mandating universal opt-in, reflecting Stearns' preference for targeted protections over broad mandates that might disrupt ad-supported free online services. Building on this, in April 2011, Stearns introduced the Consumer Privacy Protection Act with Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT), which required entities handling personally identifiable information (PII) like names and emails to provide upfront privacy notices, obtain opt-out consent before selling PII for unrelated uses, and implement security policies, enforced primarily through FTC deception authority with safe harbors for self-regulatory programs.[82] The bill preempted conflicting state laws and excluded broader data types like IP addresses, narrowing its scope to avoid encumbering routine web operations.[82] Stearns consistently argued that U.S. privacy policy should diverge from the European Union's more prescriptive model, which he described as "very onerous" and likely to burden innovation if replicated domestically.[83] He favored "lite" regulatory approaches, including industry-led seals of approval and simplified notices, to foster consumer trust without erecting barriers to targeted advertising—a mechanism he viewed as essential for sustaining free internet content and broader economic activity.[83] This stance positioned privacy enhancements as supportive of, rather than antagonistic to, technological progress, warning that overly stringent rules could deter investment and mimic the regulatory pitfalls observed in EU jurisdictions.[83] Stearns' support for the USA PATRIOT Act in 2001 further illustrated his willingness to prioritize security-enabled innovations over absolute privacy barriers in national defense contexts, though he framed commercial privacy bills as voluntary-compliance friendly to minimize government overreach into private sector operations.Assistance for 9/11 First Responders and Victims
During consideration of H.R. 847, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, which authorized approximately $7.4 billion over 10 years for health treatment and compensation to first responders and survivors affected by the September 11, 2001, attacks, Stearns joined other Republican members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in expressing opposition to the bill absent budgetary offsets, citing risks of exacerbating federal deficits and insufficient protections against fraud or abuse in claims processing.[84] As a fiscal conservative, he advocated for reauthorizing existing monitoring programs under the World Trade Center Health Program rather than expanding to new compensation funds without dedicated revenue sources.[84] Stearns sponsored an amendment, adopted without objection, requiring the Federal Bureau of Investigation to screen all applicants—estimated at up to 60,000 individuals—against terrorism watchlists and criminal databases before eligibility for benefits, arguing that taxpayer funds intended for American victims should not inadvertently support adversaries or ineligible parties.[85][86] He defended the provision as a prudent safeguard, emphasizing national security and program integrity amid concerns over loose eligibility criteria that could invite exploitation.[86] The mandated reviews, completed in 2011, identified no terrorist suspects among survivors or responders.[87] Stearns did not vote on final passage of H.R. 847 on December 22, 2010, which cleared the House 206–60.[88]Criticisms and Ethical Scrutiny
In 2012, during the Republican primary for Florida's newly redrawn 3rd congressional district, Stearns faced allegations of orchestrating an attempt to induce challenger James Jett, the Clay County Clerk of Court, to withdraw from the race. Jett publicly claimed that two intermediaries, lobbyist Jud Sapp and former Florida GOP chairman Jim Horne, approached him offering either a job paying $110,000 annually or $100,000 in campaign contributions to support another candidate, with the implication tied to Stearns' interests. Stearns denied any knowledge or involvement, describing the overture as unsolicited by Jett's campaign. The Federal Bureau of Investigation launched a probe into potential bribery under 18 U.S.C. § 201 but terminated it in 2013 without filing charges against Stearns, Sapp, or Horne, citing insufficient evidence of criminal intent.[89][90][91] Critics, including primary rival state Senator Steve Oelrich, highlighted the incident as emblematic of ethical lapses in Congress, leveraging it for fundraising appeals that portrayed Stearns as emblematic of incumbent abuse of power. The allegations gained traction amid broader intra-party discontent with Stearns' long tenure and perceived establishment ties, contributing to his narrow primary defeat on August 14, 2012, to insurgent Ted Yoho by a margin of 34% to 42%. No formal sanctions resulted from the matter during Stearns' congressional service.[92][93] Stearns also drew scrutiny for potential conflicts of interest related to his role on the advisory board of Grantham University, a for-profit online institution. Opponents alleged he violated House ethics rules by steering Department of Defense tuition assistance funds—totaling over $1 million in some reports—to Grantham while benefiting from its advisory compensation, estimated at $10,000 annually plus stock options. These claims, raised primarily by Democratic activists and primary challengers, prompted calls for resignation but lacked substantiation of direct personal gain or rule breaches; the House Ethics Committee reportedly initiated a separate inquiry into Stearns' finances around this period, though no public violation findings or penalties were issued prior to his retirement.[94][95] Such accusations surfaced against the backdrop of Stearns' prominent role chairing the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Investigations, where he led high-profile probes into executive branch actions, including the Solyndra loan guarantees. Detractors argued this positioned him hypocritically as a watchdog while facing personal ethical questions, though the absence of adjudicated wrongdoing underscored the partisan nature of many complaints, often amplified by opponents in a competitive primary environment rather than independent probes.[5]Post-Congressional Career
Advisory and Consulting Roles
Following his departure from the U.S. House of Representatives in January 2013 after losing a Republican primary election, Cliff Stearns transitioned to advisory positions in the public affairs and government relations sector. He joined APCO Worldwide, a global public relations and strategic communications firm based in Washington, D.C., as a member of its International Advisory Council. In this role, Stearns draws on his 24 years of congressional experience, including leadership on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, to provide strategic counsel to clients seeking to influence or comply with U.S. policy and regulatory environments.[3] Stearns began his tenure with APCO effective January 7, 2013, focusing on advising corporate and international clients on legislative navigation, government relations, and issue advocacy. The firm, known for its work in lobbying and public affairs, utilizes former lawmakers like Stearns to offer insights into congressional dynamics and federal agency interactions. His contributions emphasize practical guidance derived from his prior oversight of telecommunications, energy, and health policy matters during his time in office.[96][97] No other formal consulting engagements are publicly documented as primary post-congressional roles, though Stearns has occasionally participated in broader alumni networks of former members of Congress, such as serving in leadership capacities with the United States Association of Former Members of Congress, where he has advised on institutional engagement and policy reflection. These activities complement rather than supplant his core advisory work at APCO.[98]Financial Settlements and Campaign Finance Issues
In July 2019, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) reached a conciliation agreement with former U.S. Representative Cliff Stearns and his campaign committee, Friends of Cliff Stearns and Joan, resolving allegations of converting leftover campaign funds to personal use after his departure from Congress in January 2013.[99] The FEC determined that Stearns violated federal campaign finance laws by expending approximately $90,000 in committee funds on personal expenses, including membership dues at the Ocala National Steeplechase Association and related equestrian activities, as well as investments in a personal business venture.[8] [100] As part of the settlement, Stearns agreed to pay a $15,000 civil penalty to the U.S. Treasury and to reimburse the committee $6,900 for specific improper disbursements tied to the steeplechase expenses.[101] This case marked the FEC's first enforcement action in a broader crackdown on "zombie committees"—defunct campaign accounts retaining surplus funds for non-political purposes—highlighting longstanding regulatory gaps in monitoring post-election expenditures.[8] FEC Chair Ellen L. Weintraub publicly criticized the practice, stating it undermined public trust in campaign finance enforcement and exemplified how former officials could treat committees as "personal piggy banks."[102] The violations stemmed from a 2017 complaint filed by the Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan watchdog group, which alleged Stearns had repurposed the committee—holding over $1.5 million in cash on hand—as an investment vehicle for personal gain, including transfers to family-linked entities and non-campaign vendors.[103] Federal law prohibits former candidates from converting campaign funds to personal use, restricting surplus to debt repayment, donations, or refunds, yet Stearns' committee continued operating with minimal political activity for years post-tenure.[104] No criminal charges resulted, and Stearns did not admit wrongdoing in the conciliation, but the FEC's 4-0 vote to approve the agreement underscored the impropriety based on audited filings.[99] During his 2012 reelection campaign, Stearns faced separate FEC scrutiny for failing to include required disclaimers on three mass emails and his campaign website, violating disclosure rules under the Federal Election Campaign Act; the matter was resolved with a minor advisory without fines after investigation.[105] These incidents contributed to broader ethical concerns that factored into his primary loss to Ted Yoho, amid voter perceptions of financial opacity, though no formal House Ethics Committee findings were issued.[95]Publications and Writings
Authored Books
Life in the Marble Palace: In Praise of Folly, published on November 15, 2016, by FriesenPress, chronicles Stearns's 24-year service in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1989 to 2013.[106] The memoir details strategies for electoral success, legislative challenges during events such as the Gingrich speakership, the 2008 financial crisis, and the Clinton impeachment, while advocating for limited government, campaign finance reforms, and critiques of congressional inefficiencies and colleague behaviors.[106][107] Stearns's second book, Inside Impeachment—Diary of a Congressman: Lessons Learned, appeared on September 5, 2023, via Archway Publishing.[108] Based on his contemporaneous diary entries, it offers a firsthand narrative of the House's role in the 1998–1999 impeachment of President Bill Clinton, analyzing the evidentiary standards for "high crimes and misdemeanors," partisan dynamics, and procedural hurdles.[108][109] The work underscores constitutional lessons applicable to subsequent impeachments, drawing from Stearns's participation as a Republican representative.[110]Op-Eds and Public Commentary
Stearns authored op-eds in major publications critiquing government spending and regulatory decisions. In a December 1, 2011, New York Times piece titled "The Solyndra Loan Inquiry," he defended congressional investigations into the Department of Energy's $535 million loan guarantee to Solyndra, a solar panel manufacturer that filed for bankruptcy, arguing that the taxpayer loss necessitated full accountability and cooperation from the White House.[111] In a February 19, 2009, Washington Post letter to the editor, "A Needless Stall on the Digital TV Switch," Stearns, then ranking Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, opposed Democratic efforts to delay the nationwide transition from analog to digital television broadcasting, describing the move as "pure politics" that ignored the benefits of freeing spectrum for public safety and advanced services.[112] Post-Congress, Stearns continued public commentary on criminal justice. In a March 28, 2024, Newsweek opinion article, "The Death Penalty Is Important for America," he contended that abolishing capital punishment would undermine deterrence for heinous crimes, fail victims' families by denying ultimate justice, and ignore empirical support for its efficacy in severe cases like mass murder or terrorism, citing historical precedents and the need to reserve it for the most egregious offenses.[113]Personal Life
Family and Relationships
Clifford Bundy Stearns Sr. has been married to Joan Moore Stearns since December 29, 1973.[114][6] The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on December 29, 2023, with a gathering of 75 friends at the Institute for Human and Social Services in Ocala, Florida.[114]
Stearns and his wife have three sons: Douglas, Scott, and Bundy (Clifford Jr.).[6] Scott N. Stearns is identified as one of his children.[6] The family resides in Ocala, Florida.[11]