Jefferson Bingham 'Jeff' Miller is a former Republican U.S. Congressman from Florida's 1st District, serving from 2001 to 2017 after winning a special election and multiple re-elections with strong margins up to 81%. Born in St. Petersburg, Florida, he graduated from Bronson High School in 1977 and earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Florida in 1984. His early career included serving as Florida state secretary for the National FFA Organization, working as a real estate broker and deputy sheriff, and acting as executive assistant to Democratic Florida Agriculture Commissioner Doyle Conner from 1984 to 1988. Originally a Democrat, he switched to the Republican Party in 1997 and previously served in the Florida House of Representatives (District 1) from 1998 to 2001, chairing the Utilities & Telecommunications Committee in his second term. In Congress, he chaired the House Veterans' Affairs Committee from 2011 to 2017, advocating for VA reforms like the Veterans Choice program to expand private sector involvement; he also served on the Armed Services Committee and participated in the Hurricane Katrina investigation, as well as caucuses including Israel Allies, Liberty, Sportsmen's, and Constitution. After retiring in 2016 and leaving office in 2017, he joined the lobbying firm Ballard Partners in Washington, D.C., leading their Veterans Practice Group (launched 2023) and representing private-sector clients seeking VA contracts, drawing criticism for promoting VA privatization and potential revolving door violations in foreign lobbying. He resides in Chumuckla, Florida, near Pensacola, is married to Vicki Miller, and has two children and four grandchildren; the family attends Olive Baptist Church. Controversies include accusations of opening the VA to excessive private lobbying during his chairmanship, benefiting his post-Congress clients, and prioritizing contractors over veterans.