Bob Latta

For other people with the same name, see Robert Latta.

Bob Latta
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 5th district
Incumbent
Assumed office December 11, 2007
Preceded by	Paul Gillmor
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 6th district
In office January 3, 2001 – December 10, 2007
Preceded by	Randy Gardner
Succeeded by	Randy Gardner
Member of the Ohio Senate from the 2nd district
In office January 3, 1997 – December 31, 2000
Preceded by	Steve Yarbrough
Succeeded by	Randy Gardner
Personal details
Born	(1956-04-18) April 18, 1956 Bluffton, Ohio, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Marcia Latta
Education	Bowling Green State University (BA) University of Toledo (JD)

Robert Edward Latta /ˈlætə/ (born April 18, 1956) is the U.S. Representative for Ohio's 5th congressional district, serving since 2007. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district includes many of Toledo's suburbs and includes the cities of Findlay, Bowling Green, Sylvania,, Defiance and Van Wert, Ohio.

Early life, education and career

Born in Bluffton, Ohio, Latta earned his B.A. at Bowling Green State University in 1978 and his J.D. at the University of Toledo College of Law in 1981. His father, Del Latta, represented the 5th from 1959 to 1989 and served as ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee from 1975 to his retirement. Latta worked as a private practice attorney before entering politics.

Ohio political career

Latta served as a Wood County Commissioner from 1991 to 1996. He then represented the 2nd Senate District in the Ohio Senate from 1997 to 2001 and the 6th house district in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2001 to 2007.

U.S. House of Representatives

Committee assignments

• Committee on Energy and Commerce
  • Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection (Republican Leader)
  • Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
  • Subcommittee on Energy

Caucus memberships

• Republican Study Committee
• Congressional Propane Caucus (Co-Chair)
• Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus (Co-Chair)
• Congressional French Caucus (Co-Chair)
• Congressional Rural Broadband Caucus (Co-Chair)
• Congressional Natural Gas Caucus
• Congressional Constitution Caucus
• House Baltic Caucus

Legislation signed into law

Authored H.R. 270, the TRICARE Continuity of Coverage for National Guard and Reserve Families Act of 2009, which passed into law as part of H.R. 2647, the FY2010 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (Public Law No: 111-84) on October 28, 2009. This provision allows those in the Guard and reserves in the "gray area" to purchase TRICARE Select health care coverage.

Authored H.R. 1919, the Safeguarding America's Pharmaceuticals Act of 2013, which was passed into law (Public Law No: 113-54) on November 27, 2013 as part of H.R. 3204, the Drug Quality and Security Act. The bill establishes a tracking system for pharmaceutical drugs through the supply chain – from manufacturers, to wholesalers, to distributors and patients.

H.R. 724, legislation introduced by Congressman Latta, was signed into law in June 2014. The legislation repealed a duplicative regulation requiring auto dealers to provide new car buyers with proof that their vehicle complies with emission standards.

Authored legislation, H.R. 3196, to repeal the integration ban on leased set-top boxes, which costs cable subscribers millions of dollars per year, stifles innovation within the retail market, and causes regulatory disparity among video industry participants. H.R. 3196 was passed into law as part of H.R. 5728, the Satellite Television Extension and Localization Act (Public Law No: 113-200) on December 4, 2014.

Latta authored H.R. 212, the Drinking Water Protection Act, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to provide for the assessment and management of the risk of algal toxins in drinking water. The legislation was signed into law by President Obama on August 11, 2015.

Latta also sponsored legislation honoring late Congressman Mike Oxley by naming the Findlay Post Office in his memory. The bill was signed into law in 2016.

Latta is an original cosponsor of H.R. 4775, the Ozone Standards Implementation Act, which allows states to delay the implementation the EPA’s 2015 National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone from 75 parts per billion (ppb) to 70 ppb. The bill passed the U.S. House on June 8, 2016.

Other Legislation and Initiatives

Working Groups

• Rural Telecommunications Working Group (Co-Chair)
• Internet of Things Working Group (Co-Chair)

Legislation sponsored

Latta introduced the Sportsmen’s Heritage And Recreational Enhancement Act of 2013 (H.R. 3590; 113th Congress) into the United States House of Representatives on November 21, 2013. The bill is an omnibus bill that covers several firearms, fishing, hunting, and federal land laws. The bill passed the House on February 5, 2014.

On July 22, 2014, Latta introduced the E-LABEL Act (H.R. 5161; 113th Congress), a bill that would direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to allow manufacturers of electronic devices with a screen to display information required by the agency digitally on the screen rather than on a label affixed to the device. Latta argued that e-labeling would "give greater flexibility to design consumer products" and that "by some estimates e-labeling will save manufactures over $80 million a year."

Congressman Latta introduced H.R. 725 to Permanently Repeal the Estate Tax Act of 2015 on February 4, 2015. The legislation would eliminate the Federal tax for estates of decedents of individuals making over $11.18 million a year.

Latta introduced legislation, H.R. 1585, to eliminate all automatic pay adjustments for Member of Congress, on March 24, 2015.

Latta is the author of the Advanced Nuclear Technology Development Act of 2016 (H.R. 4979) to require the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to establish a regulatory framework for issuing licenses for advanced nuclear reactor technology. The legislation was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on September 12, 2016.

In 2018, the Conservative Review gave him a 58% evaluation. Americans for Prosperity has given him a lifetime evaluation of 90%. In 2017, the Campaign for Working Families gave him an evaluation of 100%. In 2017, the John Birch Society gave him a Freedom Index evaluation of 60%. The American Conservative Union has given him a lifetime evaluation of 91%.

Political campaigns

1988

When Del Latta decided to retire from Congress in 1988, Bob Latta ran in the Republican primary. However, he lost by twenty-seven votes to then Ohio State Senate president Paul Gillmor, who went on to win the general election.

2007

After Gillmor's sudden death in September 2007, Latta ran again for the open seat. He defeated State Senator Steve Buehrer, among other candidates, in the Special primary.

In the special general election, Latta defeated Democratic candidate Robin Weirauch on December 11, 2007 by a margin of 57% to 43%. He was sworn in on December 13, 2007.

2010

See also: 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio § District 5

Latta faced Democratic nominee Caleb Finkenbiner and Libertarian nominee Brian L. Smith in the general election, he won the election.

2012

Main article: 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio § District 5

Latta was re-elected in 2012. He beat Democratic nominee, Angela Zimmann and Libertarian nominee, Eric Eberly. ]He was endorsed by the United States Chamber of Commerce, the NFIB, the NRA and National Right to Life.

Personal life

Congressman Latta is an avid sportsman and lifelong resident of Northwest Ohio. He and his wife Marcia live in Bowling Green and have two daughters, Elizabeth and Maria. He is the son of former Congressman Del Latta and Rose Mary Kiene Latta and serves in the seat his father held in Congress from 1959-89.

Electoral history

Election results
Year	Office	Election		Name	Party	Votes	%		Opponent	Party	Votes	%		Opponent	Party	Votes	%
1996	Ohio Senate	General		Bob Latta	Republican	77,796	54.8%		Chris Redfern	Democratic	64,279	45.2%
2000	Ohio House of Representatives	General		Bob Latta	Republican	31,461	64.6%		Dean Clarke	Democratic	15,731	32.3%		Milton Mann	Libertarian	1,483	3.0%
2002	Ohio House of Representatives	General		Bob Latta	Republican	25,493	68.1%		Scott McCarty	Democratic	11,932	31.9%
2004	Ohio House of Representatives	General		Bob Latta	Republican	36,625	62.5%		Scott McCarty	Democratic	21,971	37.5%
2006	Ohio House of Representatives	General		Bob Latta	Republican	25,494	56.9%		Jeffrey Bretz	Democratic	19,346	43.1%
2007	U.S. House of Representatives	Special General		Bob Latta	Republican	56,114	57.0%		Robin Weirauch	Democratic	42,229	42.9%		John Green	Write-in	167	0.17%
2008	U.S. House of Representatives	General		Bob Latta	Republican	188,905	64.1%		George Mays	Democratic	105,840	35.9%
2010	U.S. House of Representatives	General		Bob Latta	Republican	140,703	67.8%		Caleb Finkenbiner	Democratic	54,919	26.5%		Brian Smith	Libertarian	11,831	5.7%
2012	U.S. House of Representatives	General		Bob Latta	Republican	201,514	57.3%		Angela Zimmann	Democratic	137,806	39.2%		Eric Eberly	Libertarian	12,558	3.6%
2014	U.S. House of Representatives	General		Bob Latta	Republican	134,449	66.5%		Robert Fry	Democratic	58,507	28.9%		Eric Eberly	Libertarian	9,344	4.6%
2016	U.S. House of Representatives	General		Bob Latta	Republican	244,599	70.9%		James Neu	Democratic	100,392	29.1%
2018	U.S. House of Representatives	General		Bob Latta	Republican	173,894	62.46%		J. Michael Galbraith	Democratic	97,352	34.96%

External links

• Congressman Bob Latta official U.S. House site
• Bob Latta for Congress
• Bob Latta at Curlie
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Paul Gillmor	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 5th congressional district 2007–present	Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by John Yarmuth	United States Representatives by seniority 122nd	Succeeded by Rob Wittman