Congressman
John Shimkus

About John

Personal

John M. Shimkus (shim' cuss) was born February 21, 1958. John married Karen Muth in 1987. They have three children - David (13 years), Joshua (10 years), and Daniel (six years). The Shimkus family resides in Collinsville, Illinois.

Karen is a classically trained musician who teaches music at Holy Cross Lutheran School in Collinsville, where their sons attend school.

Education

John received a bachelor of science degree in general engineering from the United States Military Academy in 1980. He received his teaching certificate from Christ College Irvine, California, (now Concordia University, Irvine) in 1989. John is also a 1997 graduate of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville with a master's degree in business administration (MBA).

John was conferred with the honorary degree of doctor of laws by Concordia University, Nebraska in May 2005 and the honorary degree of doctor of laws by Concordia University, Irvine in May 2004.

Military Service

John was appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 1976 by the late Congressman Mel Price (D). After graduation he trained as an Army Ranger and paratrooper. John served as an infantry officer in the former West Germany and in the United States. He is currently a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserves.

Professional/Government Service

After leaving the Army, John returned to Collinsville in 1986 and taught government and history at Metro-East Lutheran High School in Edwardsville. John served as a Collinsville Township Trustee from 1989 till 1993. He served as Madison County Treasurer from December 1990 through January 1997. In 1997 John began his service in Congress from the 20th Congressional District of Illinois. John is in his fifth term, now representing the 19th Congressional District of Illinois.

Congressional Service

John serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and is a member of three Energy and Commerce Subcommittees: Telecommunications and the Internet; Health; and Energy and Air Quality.

John is honored to be a delegate from the United States to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. He is also chairman of the House Page Board. Among his colleagues John serves as co-chairman of the House Baltic Caucus.

John was awarded the Grand Cross of Commander of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas in 2001 by Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus. In addition, in October 2005 John was the first non-head of state or non-Parliamentary leader to address the Saeima, the Latvian Parliament.

Legislation

In 1998 John was proud to have passed legislation changing our nation's alternative fuel policy from one of vehicles purchased to one of actual fuel usage. His biodiesel provisions attempt to aid farmers, protect our environment, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

In 1999 President Clinton signed into law John's legislation designating 9-1-1 as the nation's universal emergency phone number. And in 2000 the President signed the TREAD Act into law that increased federal oversight of automobile tire problems; this legislation included John's language increasing testing of child car safety seats.

John assisted in getting legislation signed into law in 2002 that would bring fairness to the Superfund program by exempting innocent small businesses from being sued. And on December 4, 2002, John participated in two bill signings at the White House. President Bush signed into law John's legislation establishing a dot kids dot us Internet domain safe for young children and a law that will establish safety guidelines for booster seats for children in motor vehicles.

In 2003 John was successful in having two of his bills signed into law. One law allows a hydroelectric facility to proceed at Carlyle Lake, and the other allows funds to be spent on an information clearinghouse to increase defibrillator placement in schools.

Awards

John has received, among many others, the 2004 Farm Bureau "Friend of Agriculture" award, National Association of Development Organizations' Congressional Partnership Award, Jefferson Cup from the National Spinal Cord Injury Association, 60 Plus Association's Guardian of Seniors' Rights Award, United States Chamber of Commerce "Spirit of Enterprise" Award, and Americans for Tax Reform 2004 Hero of the Taxpayer Award.

Find out how to contact John.

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