Chris Cannon was first elected to Congress on November 5, 1996. Since arriving in Congress, he has maintained a consistently conservative voting record reflecting the will of the people of the 3rd District. Despite carrying out his duties as a manager in the impeachment of President Bill Clinton, Chris has demonstrated a unique ability to build consensus in Congress and work across party lines to achieve results. Chris believes that we can reach solutions if we are not concerned about who gets the credit. A staunch defender of individual liberty and economic freedom, Chris Cannon consistently ranks as one of the most fiscally conservative members of the House of Representatives as well as maintaining a flawless pro-life and 2 nd Amendment record.
In Congress, he is a member of the Judiciary Committee. When Republicans were in the majority, Chris was Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law. As part of his jurisdiction, Chris oversaw issues directly affecting Utahns, including privacy, bankruptcy reform, limiting frivolous lawsuits, and Internet tax laws. He currently serves as the highest ranking Republican on the subcommittee.
He also serves on the Oversight and Government Reform committee. This committee is currently chaired by Rep. Henry Waxman. Chris' presence on the committee is due to his history with high profile investigations, his solid conservative credentials, his tenacity in uncovering government waste, and his candor in dealing with Democrats.
In addition, Chris is the Chairman of the influential Congressional Western Caucus, a group of more than 60 Republican Members of Congress who work directly and extensively on land and natural resource issues, especially those of concern to western states like Utah.
Before his election to Congress, Chris was active in the Republican Party at home in Utah. He served as the Utah Finance Chairman for President George H.W. Bush's reelection in 1992, and for the Utah Republican Party in 1991-92. In 1992 and 1996, Chris had the honor of serving as a delegate to the Republican National Convention as well as being one of Utah's five presidential electors. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan appointed Chris as Assistant Associate Solicitor in the Department of Interior and became Associate Solicitor in 1984. During his tenure under President Reagan, Chris supervised approximately 100 attorneys working on surface coal mining issues. In 1986, he worked as a consultant to the Assistant Secretary for Productivity, Technology and Innovation at the Department of Commerce.
Chris was born in Salt Lake City on October 20, 1950. He served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Guatemala and El Salvador. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree and a law degree from Brigham Young University, Chris worked as an attorney for four years. Chris married Claudia Fox in 1978. Claudia is a graduate of Brigham Young University with a degree in Elementary Education. She served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Spain. They have eight children and reside in Mapleton, Utah.
