Meet Gary Palmer
Gary Palmer grew up in the small town of Hackleburg in Northwest Alabama. He currently represents Alabama’s 6th Congressional District. Gary attended the University of Alabama and earned a B.S. in Operations Management. While at the University of Alabama he was a walk-on member of the football team under Coach Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant. After graduation, he worked with two major international engineering and construction companies, before involvement with Focus on the Family led him to start the Alabama Family Alliance which became the Alabama Policy Institute. Gary served as President of the Alabama Policy Institute for 24 years. In 2014, he was elected to the 114th Congress. Gary currently serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Within the Energy and Commerce Committee, he currently serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment.
About Gary Palmer
Mr. Palmer, who grew up in Hackleburg, a small town in Northwest Alabama, now represents Alabama’s 6th Congressional District. Mr. Palmer attended the University of Alabama and was the first person on either side of his family to attend college. In addition, he was a walk-on member of the football team under legendary football coach Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant.
Palmer served as President of the Alabama Policy Institute for 24 years. During his tenure, the Alabama Policy Institute became a full-spectrum public policy research organization that engaged in virtually all policy issues that affected Alabamians. It is considered the premier conservative think-tank in Alabama.
Palmer was also a founding member of the board of directors of the State Policy Network, an umbrella organization for various state-based think-tanks. He served on the State Policy Network board for six years, the last two as chairman. Leading this broad coalition of policy thinkers gave Palmer exposure and knowledge of policy problems that confront all 50 states.
Palmer served on four different state commissions on behalf of three different Governors. He was appointed to the Welfare Reform Commission by Governor Fob James. He also served as an advisor to Governor James’ Aerospace, Science and Technology Task Force. He was appointed to the Task Force to Strengthen Alabama Families by Governor Bob Riley and the Alabama Commission on Improving State Government by Governor Robert Bentley.
In 2014, he was elected to the 114th Congress, having never served in office before. In Congress, Palmer is focused on securing our borders; combatting inflation to reduce the cost of living; regulatory reform by reducing the number and expense of federal regulations; lowering energy costs and spurring economic growth and job creation by accessing America’s vast energy resources; developing a new health care plan that puts people back in charge of their health care decisions, and that will truly make health care affordable and accessible, paying down the national debt by cutting spending, and protecting life in all its forms.
Palmer serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Subcommittees on Energy; Oversight and Investigations; as well as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment. Palmer also serves on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and on the Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs. Palmer previously served as the Chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee for three terms.
In addition to his B.S. degree, Palmer also received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Mobile.
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives write and vote on federal laws, including the federal budget. Each represents one district and serves a two-year term. Tax bills must start in the House, only the House can impeach federal officials, and members oversee federal agencies through their committees.