Todd is known for principle-driven independence, taking tough votes across party lines to represent the people of Missouri’s 2nd District. Todd was elected to the United States House of Representatives on November 7, 2000, continuing his service to the nation and the St. Louis area.

Education & Professional Experience

Todd is a graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he earned a B.S. in Management Engineering. After graduation, he served as an officer in the U.S. Army with the Army Combat Engineers at Fort Belvoir in Alexandria, Virginia. He received an honorable discharge from the Army Reserves in 1980. Todd spent four years as an engineer with IBM. He later moved into corporate management at Laclede Steel.

An avid student of the U.S. Constitution, Todd was appointed by Governor Ashcroft to the Bicentennial Commission of the U.S. Constitution in 1987. In 1988, the people of the 86th district elected Todd to represent them in the Missouri General Assembly. He served twelve years as a State Representative and the ranking Republican on the powerful Ways and Means Committee. While serving in the Missouri House, Todd drafted legislation on Roth IRAs and a tax limitation amendment currently in the Missouri Constitution. He also took a leading role in opposing gambling, resulting in more rigorous enforcement of gambling laws and regulations.

Representing the Second District

As a U.S. Congressman, Todd serves on three committees: Armed Services, Science and Technology and Small Business. As a Member of Congress, he is committed to promoting the principles of our Founders, the free enterprise system and the traditional values of the American family. Todd has also taken a leading role in issues related to national security and international affairs.

At the beginning of the 109th Congress, Todd was named Chairman of the Small Business Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform and Oversight. In this important leadership role, Todd worked to reduce regulations that impede the growth of the economy in Missouri and throughout the nation. He served as the Ranking Member on the Oversight and Investigations subcommittee during the 110th Congress.

In the 111th Congress, with his party in the minority, Todd serves as the Ranking Member on the Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces.

Legislative Accomplishments

Todd has played a central role in advancing projects essential to the St. Louis region and the State of Missouri. These include efforts to better fund vital transportation and infrastructure improvements and working with local businesses and corporations to strengthen the economy and create jobs for Missourians.

In the 107th Congress, Todd was joined by U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL) in offering the Clean Coal Initiative amendment to the Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE) Act. This Amendment authorized an extensive program for clean coal research and development at the Department of Energy and included provisions for public-private partnerships to upgrade existing coal-fired power plants in accordance with current clean coal technology.

Todd also played a leading role in funding replacement of outdated Navy aircraft with the technically superior EA-18 Growler, bringing a nearly one billion dollar positive economic impact to the St. Louis area.

Todd has consistently voted to protect freedom and individual responsibility. He was one of just 16 legislators who opposed the series of bailouts which rewarded irresponsible behavior with taxpayer dollars in 2008 and 2009.

Family & Community

Born in 1947, Todd grew up in Missouri’s second district and attended local schools. He met his future wife while working at IBM and married Lulli in the summer of 1975. Todd and Lulli have six children: Wynn, Perry, Micah, Ezra, Hannah, and Abigail. Four grandchildren have also joined the Akin family. Todd commutes from St. Louis to Washington every week to be with his family and to meet with constituents, business leaders and other elected officials throughout the greater St. Louis community.

Today, Todd continues to write and lecture on the principles of America's Founding and Heritage. He is active in the Boy Scouts of America, a leader in his local church, a former board member of Missouri Right to Life, and sits on the board of the Mission Gate Prison Ministry.

Two sermons by Dr. D. James Kennedy have been very influential for Todd and he references them frequently in discussions of government. They are "The Bible and Economics" (Part 1 & Part 2) and "The Bible and Socialism" (see  PDF  ).