Blake Farenthold

Born and raised in Corpus Christi, TX, Blake Farenthold is a 4th generation Texas native serving his third term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Congressman Farenthold is working towards a smaller, more accountable and transparent government. Through his service as a committee member on the House Oversight Committee, he has pushed for modernization of government technology systems for agencies, including the VA and the Census Bureau. He’s also on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and serves on the House Judiciary Committee where he is focused on securing the border, tort reform, technology issues, and improving the patent and copyright system.

Congressman Farenthold has focused on small businesses, and protecting them against legalized extortion from patent trolls. He has worked to end patent abuse through his bill, the Trade Protection Not Troll Protection Act, and the Patent Litigation and Innovation Act. Rep. Farenthold has also been an advocate for consumers’ right to post online reviews without fear of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) lawsuits. His bill, the Securing Participation, Engagement, and Knowledge Freedom by Reducing Egregious Effort (SPEAK FREE) Act, will allow courts to dismiss frivolous lawsuits that are bullying, and meant to intimidate Americans from exercising their First Amendment rights. He has also introduced legislation, the Your Own Devices Act (YODA), that if one sells, leases, or gives away a device, the software that enables it to work is transferred along with it. A supporter of encryption technology, Congressman Farenthold’s ENCRYPT Act would reaffirm the dormant commerce clause and preempts the dangerous precedent of differing state encryption standards.