Richard Burr
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| Richard Burr | |
|---|---|
| Name | Richard Burr |
| Caption | Official portrait, 2017 |
| State | North Carolina |
| Jr/sr | United States Senator |
| Alongside | John Edwards, Kay Hagan, Thom Tillis |
| Term start | January 3, 2005 |
| Term end | January 3, 2023 |
| Predecessor | John Edwards |
| Successor | Ted Budd |
| State1 | North Carolina |
| District1 | 5th |
| Term start1 | January 3, 1995 |
| Term end1 | January 3, 2005 |
| Predecessor1 | Stephen L. Neal |
| Successor1 | Virginia Foxx |
| Party | Republican |
| Birth date | 30 November 1955 |
| Birth place | Charlottesville, Virginia |
| Alma mater | Wake Forest University |
| Spouse | Brooke Burr, 1984 |
Richard Burr is an American politician who served as a United States Senator from North Carolina from 2005 to 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he previously represented North Carolina's 5th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives for a decade. During his tenure in the United States Senate, he chaired the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
Early life and education
He was born in Charlottesville, Virginia, and grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He attended Richard J. Reynolds High School before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from Wake Forest University in 1978. During his time at the university, he was a standout player on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team.
Business career
Before entering politics, he built a career in sales and management within the commercial products industry. He worked for over seventeen years at Carswell Distributing, a wholesale commercial products company based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. His experience in the private sector heavily informed his later legislative focus on economic policy and business regulation.
U.S. House of Representatives
He was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1994, part of the historic Republican Revolution that gave the GOP control of the chamber. Representing North Carolina's 5th congressional district, he served on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He was a principal author of the Project BioShield Act of 2004, legislation aimed at preparing for bioterrorism attacks. He also served as a deputy House Majority Whip.
U.S. Senate career
In 2004, he was elected to the United States Senate, defeating Democratic nominee Erskine Bowles. He served three terms, gaining seniority on key committees. He chaired the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence from 2015 to 2021, overseeing the Intelligence Community during investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions from 2019 to 2021, he helped lead the legislative response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. He did not seek re-election in 2022.
Post-Senate activities
Upon retiring from the United States Senate, he joined the law and lobbying firm DLA Piper as a senior advisor. He also serves on the board of directors for the biotechnology company Novavax. He remains active in policy discussions, particularly concerning national security and public health preparedness.
Political positions
A conservative Republican, he generally supported a strong national defense, fiscal restraint, and deregulation. He had a mixed record on trade, supporting the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement but expressing skepticism toward other multilateral agreements. He was a key figure in passing the 21st Century Cures Act, which aimed to accelerate medical product development. He broke with his party at times, notably voting to convict Donald Trump during his second impeachment trial following the January 6 United States Capitol attack.
Personal life
He married Brooke Burr in 1984, and they have two sons. The family resides in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoys hunting and fishing. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and has been involved with the Boy Scouts of America.
Category:1955 births Category:Living people Category:United States senators from North Carolina