Don Bacon

Prior to his election to the U.S. House, Bacon served in the U.S. Air Force from 1985 to 2014. He retired as a Brigadier General. During his service, Bacon was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, two Legion of Merits, and two Bronze Stars.[1]

Bacon served as an assistant professor at Bellevue University, where he taught courses on leadership and American values (The Kirkpatrick Signature Series). He graduated from Northern Illinois University with a political science degree in 1984. He also earned master's degrees from both the University of Phoenix and National War College. In 1985, Bacon joined the U.S. Air Force, where he served for 29.5 years. He retired as a Brigadier General. During his service, Bacon focused on cyber warfare and intelligence and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, two Legion of Merits, and two Bronze Stars. In 2009, he was selected as Europe’s top Air Force Wing Commander. Bacon also worked for Congressman Jeff Fortenberry as his military advisor.[2]

Bacon and his wife, Angie, married in 1984 and have four children.[2]

Don Bacon did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Don Bacon did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Don Bacon did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

As of October 30, 2020, Bacon's campaign website did not contain a section detailing campaign themes.[6]

His website RealBaconRecord.com featured videos discussing healthcare.

Bacon said upon filing for re-election in January 2020, "The 2020 election will have lasting repercussions for our district, state, and nation. ... I believe we can work together to find solutions to the issues we all care about, like lowering healthcare costs, strengthening our national security against growing threats, and reforming immigration. We share the same priorities, and our team has a great track record of success. I'm grateful for the chance to represent this district again."[7]

Campaign website

Bacon's campaign website stated the following:

Check out a few of the bills Don has sponsored, co-sponsored, and voted for during his first year in office. Don is working hard and keeping his promises to Nebraskans.

Standing up for Law Enforcement:

HR1970 Kerrie Orozco Act, Original Sponsor

HR115 Thin Blue Line Act

HR 5698 Protect and Serve Act of 2018

HR 6105 LEOSA Reform Act, Original Sponsor

HR 4896 LEOSA Training Extension Act, Original Sponsor

Reforming Immigration:

HR 3697 Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act

HR 3004 Kate’s Law, Co-Sponsor

HR 3003 No Sanctuary for Criminals Act

HR 60 ENLIST Act, Co-Sponsor

HR 300 Sarah’s Law, Co-Sponsor

HR 6136 Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2018, Co-Sponsor

Working for Veterans and our Servicemembers:

S 1094 Department of Veteran’s Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act

HR 1181 Veteran’s 2nd Amendment Protection Act

HR 1259 VA Accountability First Act

HR 2810 NDAA

HR 367 Hearing Protection Act of 2017, Co-Sponsor

HR 512 WINGMAN Act, Co-Sponsor

HR 3897 Gold Star Family Support and Installation Act of 2017, Original Sponsor

HR 5553 Loya-Sears Warrior Transition Assistance Reform Act of 2018, Original Sponsor

HR 5038 Reserve Component Benefits Parity Act of 2018, Co-Sponsor

HR 6281 Veterans FAIR Act of 2018, Co-Sponsor

HR 5671 Burn Pits Accountability Act, Co-Sponsor

HR 5528 SWORDD Act of 2018, Original Sponsor

HR 5482 Military Biodefense Readiness and Protection Act of 2018, Original Sponsor

Fixing our Healthcare:

HR 1628 AHCA

HR 173 Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2017, Co-Sponsor

HR 2113 Speeding Access to Already Approved Pharmaceuticals Act of 2017, Co-Sponsor

HR 749 Lower Drug Costs through Competition Act, Co-Sponsor

HR 5247 Right to Try Act

HR 849 Protecting Seniors Access to Medicare Act, Co-Sponsor

HR 3922 CHAMPIONING HEALTHY KIDS Act

HR 5329 Poison Center Network Enhancement Act of 2018, Co-Sponsor

Cutting Red Tape:

HR 10 Financial CHOICE Act

HR 953 Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2017

HR 998 Searching for and Cutting Regulations that are Unnecessary and Burdensome Act

HR 26 Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act, Co-Sponsor

HR 4607 Comprehensive Regulatory Review Act

Defending the Unborn:

HR 7 No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2017, Co-Sponsor

HR 37 Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, Co-Sponsor

HR 490 Heartbeat Protection Act of 2017, Co-Sponsor

HR 644 Conscience Protection Act of 2017, Co-Sponsor

HR 4712 Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, Co-Sponsor

Supporting Small Businesses:

HR 2350 Small Business Know-Before-You-Bid Construction Transparency Act, Original Sponsor

HR 1700 SCORE for Small Business Act of 2017, Co-Sponsor

HR 2056 Microloan Modernization Act of 2017, Co-Sponsor

HR 4754 Change Order Transparency for Federal Contractors Act, Original Sponsor

HR 3441 Save Local Business Act

Draining the Swamp:

HR 2665 HR 2665 Accountability for Congressional Pay Act, Original Sponsor

HJ Res 1 Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution of the US, Co-Sponsor

HJ Res 6 Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of the US to Limit the Number of Terms that a Member of Congress May Serve, Co-Sponsor

HR 24 Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2017, Co-Sponsor

HR 1786 Congressional Halt in Pay Increases and Cut Congressional Pay Act, Co-Sponsor

HR 4734 Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Act of 2017, Co-Sponsor

HR 4852 Pay Our Protectors Not Our Politicians Act of 2018, Co-Sponsor

Strengthening Our Security:

HR 5079 DHS Field Engagement Accountability Act, Original Sponsor

HR 5733 DHS Industrial Control Systems Capabilities Enhancement Act of 2018, Original Sponsor

HR 5869 Maritime Border Security Review Act, Co-Sponsor

HR 5517 Enhance Cybersecurity for Small Manufacturers Act of 2018, Co-Sponsor

HR 5074 DHS Cyber Incident Response Teams Act of 2018, Co-Sponsor

HR 5731 Securing Our Schools Act, Co-Sponsor

HR 5522 Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Readiness Act of 2018, Original Sponsor

Increasing Prosperity for All:

HR 1 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

HR 4886 Permanent Tax Cuts for Americans Act, Co-Sponsor

HR 4780 Transparency for Taxpayers Act, Co-Sponsor

HR 5924 Anti-Semitism Awareness Act of 2018, Co-Sponsor

HR 5282 Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act of 2018, Co-Sponsor

The following issues were listed on Bacon's campaign website. For a full list of campaign themes, click here.

Don will be a proactive leader in the fight to win the war on terror: We need to defeat ISIS with assertive leadership, our superior airpower, and special forces. Iraq and other regional partners should be the lead with ground forces. Our regional partners will do this with strong American leadership, and it is clear that leading from behind will not get the job done. The current policy is allowing Iran to be the dominant power in Iraq. We are barely containing ISIS, and this is a recipe for future disaster.

Don supports a strong national defense: I believe in peace through strength. Our military combat capability has been reduced by two-thirds since I gave my first oath back in 1985, but yet we maintain worldwide commitments, which is stretching us to the breaking point. The military budget has been reduced by 15 percent in last 6 years, and the sequester cuts fell in an unbalanced way on the military. We need to retool our military with the latest technology, reduce the massive headquarters’ staffs, and reform our acquisition processes.

Don is pro-life and will defend traditional family values: I’m 100% pro-life, endorsed by Nebraska Right to Life, and committed to support policies that protect the unborn and build a culture of life across our nation and the world. There are practical policy positions that members of both parties can find consensus on and immediately address in Congress. I strongly support the 5-month abortion ban and prohibiting abortion when a fetus feels pain.

Don is committed to reducing taxes and simplifying the tax code: We need a simpler, flatter tax code that has lower rates with fewer deductions. Everyone knows that 73,000 pages of tax law is ridiculous, and it undermines our competitiveness. Furthermore, since government at all levels spends 42 cents on every dollar earned in this country, it is clear that we have a spending problem. Therefore, I’m committed to not raising your taxes.

Don will repeal Obamacare and work to reduce health-care costs with free market solutions: Individuals and families should have more options and be the primary voice with their own healthcare. The primary government authority should be at the state level, and not the federal government. States can then create market-based solutions and better respond to their citizens’ needs. The one size fits all, cookie cutter approach from Washington, D.C. will fail our nation when it comes to healthcare.

[8]

—Don Bacon's campaign website, http://www.donbacon2016.com/issues/