Congressman Andrew Clyde is a combat veteran, small business owner, and a proud Georgian. After earning his commission from the University of Notre Dame, he served as an U.S. Navy officer for 28 years, which included three combat deployments to Kuwait and Iraq. After receiving an honorable discharge, Congressman Clyde made his home in Athens, Georgia and earned a master’s degree in Corporate Finance and Entrepreneurship from the University of Georgia. He established Clyde Armory in 1991 and grew the company into a nationwide firearms business which currently operates two brick-and-mortar locations in Georgia. Congressman Clyde was elected to the 117th Congress in November 2020 as the representative for Georgia’s Ninth Congressional District. He currently serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and the Homeland Security Committee. The Congressman and his wife, Jennifer, are residents of Jackson County.
Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to lay and collect taxes. Nowhere though does the Constitution say that the federal government can nickel and dime you, in fact, it states that " all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States." But unfortunately, the tax code as we know it today is far from being "uniform," as it is riddled with loopholes, carve outs, and credits that cater to wealthy special interest groups at the expense of all taxpayers. The American people deserve an equitable system of taxation that provides the means to "pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States," and no more. To achieve that, we must overhaul the current tax code and abolish the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) altogether.
That’s why I support the FairTax, a system of taxation that abolishes the IRS and replaces it with a one-time, inclusive, federal sales tax on new goods and services. The FairTax creates a level playing field by taxing Americans at the cash register the same and it ensures fairness through the prebate. The prebate essentially untaxes each household monthly, up to the poverty level, to ensure households can purchase necessities. In turn, the prebate ensures that those closest to the poverty level pay a lower overall rate while those earning more pay a higher rate. Bottom line, the FairTax is a bold solution and would make Tax Day each year another Spring day. Most importantly, the FairTax would allow American workers to keep more of their hard-earned paychecks and only pay taxes on what they spend.
Andrew's career in the Navy began after he earned his commission as an officer from the University of Notre Dame. He then spent the next 28 years of his life in service to our country including three combat deployments to Kuwait and Iraq. During his service, he earned a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, four Navy Commendation Medals, a Navy Achievement Medal, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal w/Marine Corps Combat Operations Insignia, Iraq Campaign Medal, Expert Rifleman Medal, Expert Pistol Shot Medal, and multiple other medals.
After completing his active military service, Andrew homesteaded in Athens and decided to pursue a master’s degree from UGA in Corporate Finance and Entrepreneurship. In 1991 he started a small firearms business called Clyde Armory. What started as a hobby business in his garage has grown into a nationwide company with two brick-and-mortar locations here in Georgia. As a veteran turned small business owner, Andrew was truly living the American dream.