Todd Platts (R-PA-19)

Todd Platts Congressman Pennsylvania District 19

Todd Russell Platts

Congressman Todd Platts announced retirement when the 122th Congressional term ends.

Todd Platts Biography from House.gov

Todd Platts is a Member of the United States Congress, representing the 19th District of Pennsylvania. Sworn in as a member of the House of Representatives in January 2001, Congressman Platts serves the residents of Adams, Cumberland, and York Counties.

Since being elected to Congress, Todd Platts has worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle on several major legislative initiatives. Congressman Platts was the lead Republican sponsor of legislation (H.R. 2142) signed into law in January 2011 designed to give Congress and the American people the tools to better evaluate the effectiveness of federal government programs. He was the lead Republican sponsor of legislation signed into law in June 2009 to give the Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulate tobacco products for the first time. In 2007, Congressman Platts was the lead Republican sponsor of the first increase in fuel efficiency standards signed into law in over 30 years—decreasing our reliance on foreign oil and promoting environmental stewardship. In October 2004, President George W. Bush signed into law a bill sponsored by Congressman Platts to increase financial accountability standards at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Congressman Platts is a strong advocate of a more open and efficient government, and has also advocated for legislation to make campaign finance laws more transparent, improving the Freedom of Information Act and providing protections for federal employees who report waste, fraud and abuse.

Within the House of Representatives, Congressman Platts serves on three standing committees: the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Within those committees, Congressman Platts serves as a member of six subcommittees and as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Organization, Efficiency and Financial Management

Congressman Platts serves as the Republican co-chair of several caucuses in the House of Representatives, including the Congressional Taskforce on Tobacco and Health, the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, the National Service Caucus and the Congressional Arts Caucus.

Congressman Platts is one of the few Members of Congress who refuses to accept special interest, or PAC, contributions. Congressman Platts commutes daily when Congress is in session from Washington, D.C. to his home in York and he remains an active community volunteer.

A lifelong resident of York, Pennsylvania, Congressman Platts is a member of York Suburban High School’s graduating class of 1980. He continued his education locally, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania in 1984. He then attended Pepperdine University School of Law, and graduated Cum Laude with a Juris Doctorate degree in 1991.

Congressman Platts started his career as an attorney and left practice to begin his career in public service in 1993 when he was elected to serve the people of York County as a State Representative in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. He was re-elected to his post three times, serving in that role until his 2000 election to the United States Congress.

Congressman Platts is a devoted husband to wife Leslie, and a proud father to their children T.J. (14) and Tommy (11).

Biography of Todd Platts from People for Platts Committee

Todd Platts represents the people of Pennsylvania’s 19th District in the United States Congress. Sworn in as a member of the House of Representatives in January 2001, Todd serves the residents of Adams, Cumberland, and York Counties.

Since being elected to Congress, Todd has championed several major legislative initiatives. He was the lead Republican sponsor of legislation (H.R. 2142) signed into law in January 2011 to give Congress and the American people the tools to better evaluate the effectiveness of federal government programs. In 2007, Todd was the lead Republican sponsor of the first increase in fuel efficiency standards signed into law in over 30 years—decreasing our reliance on foreign oil. In 2005, Todd helped lead efforts in Congress to improve public access to government documents, which led to the signing of an Executive Order by President George W. Bush to improve the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act. In October 2004, President George W. Bush signed into law a bill sponsored by Todd to increase financial accountability standards at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Todd has also advocated for legislation to make campaign finance laws more transparent and for providing protections for federal employees who report waste, fraud and abuse.
Todd serves on three committees in the U.S. House of Representatives: the Committee on Education and the Workforce, the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Within those committees, Congressman Platts serves as a member of six subcommittees and as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Organization, Efficiency and Financial Management.

Todd is one of the few Members of Congress who refuses to accept special interest, or PAC, contributions. He commutes daily when Congress is in session from Washington, D.C. to his home in York and he remains an active community volunteer. Todd is a devoted husband to wife Leslie, and a proud father to their children T.J. and Tommy.