Jim Bridenstine

Jim Bridenstine
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 1st district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2013
Preceded by	John Sullivan
Personal details
Born	James Frederick Bridenstine (1975-06-15) June 15, 1975 Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Michelle Ivory Bridenstine
Children	Walker Sarah
Alma mater	Rice University Cornell University
Religion	Southern Baptist
Website	House website Official website
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	Active: 1998–2007 Reserve: 2007–present
Rank	Lieutenant Commander

James Frederick "Jim" Bridenstine (born June 15, 1975) is an American politician who has been the United States Representative for Oklahoma's 1st congressional district, based in Tulsa, since 2013. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Early life, education, and military service

Bridenstine was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan and is a Jenks High School graduate, a graduate of Rice University with three majors, and has an MBA from Cornell University. He is a former executive director of the Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium and is a Naval Aviator in the U.S. Navy Reserve where he flies the E-2C Hawkeye in Central and South America in support of the War on Drugs. Bridenstine is an Eagle Scout and received several military awards, including the Air Medal. As of 2016 Bridenstine is a State of Oklahoma record holder in 200 meter swimming (freestyle, relay).

U.S. House of Representatives

2012 election

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Oklahoma, 2012 § District 1

In the Republican primary election on June 26, 2012, Bridenstine defeated five-term incumbent U.S. Congressman John Sullivan 54% to 46%. Although he identified with the tea party and was perceived as running to Sullivan's right, Bridenstine's actual policy statements differed little from those of Sullivan. In the November 2012 general election, he defeated Democratic nominee John Olson 63%–32%, and won all five counties in the district. Bridenstine had effectively clinched a seat in Congress by ousting Sullivan in the Republican primary. The 1st is a heavily Republican district with a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+16, and has been in Republican hands since 1987.

Committee assignments

As of February 2013, Bridenstine has the following committee assignments:

• Committee on Armed Services
  • Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
  • Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
  • Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
• Committee on Science, Space and Technology
  • Subcommittee on Research
  • Subcommittee on Space
  • Subcommittee on Technology

Legislation

Bridenstine introduced the Weather Forecasting Improvement Act of 2013 (H.R. 2413; 113th Congress) into the House on June 18, 2013. Bridenstine introduced the bill in response to several 2013 Oklahoma tornadoes. Bridenstine said that "my state has seen all too many times the destructive power of tornadoes and severe weather. In the wake of the latest outbreak in May that cost 48 lives, it is painfully clear that we must do more." Bridenstine claimed 30 times more money was being spent on climate change research than on weather forecasting and warning, a claim that is not true.

In 2013, Bridenstine sponsored an amendment to the annual defense appropriations bill, which would have required Department of Defense reports on the strategic importance of natural gas interests in the Caspian Sea area, and the value of building a gas pipeline out of the region. This came after a visit to Baku upon invitation of the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic. Of 10 members of Congress he was the only one who disclosed the value of the trip (more than $14,100).

Campaign financing

In the 2014 election cycle, Bridenstine´s top 3 campaign contributors were Northrop Grumman, Latshaw Drilling, American Optometric Association, Citizens United and the Every Republican is Crucial Political Action Committee. He received $29,000 from donors associated with the Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians and the Assembly of the Friends of Azerbaijan (AFAZ), per an analysis of the Center for Responsive Politics.

Cruz campaign

Bridenstine is one of three co-chairs of the Veterans Coalition supporting Ted Cruz for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential campaign. He is joined in "Vets for Ted" by former U.S. Senator Bob Smith of New Hampshire and Texas State Senator Brian Birdwell. Bill Connor is national director of the coalition.

External links

• Congressman Jim Bridenstine official U.S. House website
• Jim Bridenstine for Congress
• Jim Bridenstine at DMOZ
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Profile at Project Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at The Library of Congress

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by John Sullivan	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 1st congressional district 2013–present	Incumbent
United States order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by Ami Bera D-California	United States Representatives by seniority 307th	Succeeded by Susan Brooks R-Indiana