Studies in Political Science, Univ. of S. Florida. 1985, Aide to Mayor of Miami; 14 years with Florida State Legislature, incl. 1988, elected to Florida House of Rep.; 1992, elected to Florida Senate; 2000, returned to Florida House. 2002, elected to US House of Representatives; 2007, launched Protecting Families Online initiative; 2012, re-elected. Has served on various committees, incl. as Ranking Member, Economic Dev., Public Buildings and Emergency Mgmt subcttee, Transportation and Infrastructure Cttee, Water Resources and Environment and Highways and Transit subcttees, Budget and Science and Technology Cttees; currently on House Cttee on Appropriations as Member, subcttee on Financial Services, subcttee on State and Foreign Operations, and subcttee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. Co-Founder and Chairman, Congressional Hispanic Conference; Member, Governing Council, Parliamentary Forum, Community of Democracies; Chairman, US Delegation to Transatlantic Legislators Dialogue; Member, US Delegation to NATO Parliamentary Assembly and Vice-Chairman, subcommittee on Transatlantic Relations (PCTR), Political Committee; Co-Chairman, Congressional Caucuses on Taiwan and Spain.