Biography

U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, 58, represents the 25 counties in the 9th Congressional District of Missouri. Blaine, a native of St. Elizabeth, Mo., and his family have lived in the District for four generations. Blaine operates a 160-acre farm. Along with this strong agriculture background, he was also a small businessman, having been in the banking and insurance business. Luetkemeyer has also served as a bank regulator for the state of Missouri earlier in his career. Luetkemeyer was elected in November, 2008, succeeding fellow Republican Kenny Hulshof.

From 1999 to 2005, Blaine was a Missouri State Representative and served as Chairman of the Financial Services Committee and was elected by his colleagues to serve as the House Republican Caucus Chairman.  During his tenure in the Missouri House, Blaine co-sponsored the Sanctity of Marriage Amendment, which was approved by 71 percent of Missouri’s voters and he successfully supported conceal and carry legislation, a partial birth abortion ban, liability lawsuit reform and workers’ compensation reform.

After leaving office, Blaine was appointed by Gov. Matt Blunt to serve as the Director of the Missouri Division of Tourism where he was instrumental in establishing the Tour of Missouri bicycle race as a premier international event. In its first year, the Tour of Missouri drew more than 320,000 people and generated over $27 million in tourism revenue.

In Congress, Blaine is a member of the House Small Business Committee and is the ranking member on the Subcommittee on Rural Development, Entrepreneurship and Trade. He also serves on the Subcommittee on Finance and Tax, and sits on the House Agriculture Committee where he serves on two key subcommittees: the House General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee and the Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research. Blaine is also a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and serves on two key subcommittees: the Government Management, Organization, and Procurement Subcommittee and National Security and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee.

Luetkemeyer is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Eldon Chamber of Commerce, Missouri Farm Bureau, National Rifle Association, and a lifelong member of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church.  Luetkemeyer is a graduate of Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo., where he earned a degree with distinction in political science and a minor in business administration.

Luetkemeyer has been recognized for his efforts in Congress on behalf of businesses that create jobs and spur economic growth with the Spirit of Enterprise Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Guardian of Small Business Award from the National Federation of Independent Business. The Club for Growth presented Luetkemeyer with the “Defender of Economic Freedom Award” for his support of free enterprise and free markets.

The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste named Luetkemeyer a Taxpayer Hero for his work during the first session of the 111th Congress to protect the taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars, and the National Tax Limitation Committee give him the 111th Congress Tax Fighter Award for “being a consistent fiscal conservative and friend of the taxpayer.”

Luetkemeyer was recognized by the Agricultural Retailers Association as ARA’s Legislator of the Year for his commitment to agriculture and leadership in this area. He also received the Friends of Farm Bureau Award for efforts on behalf of hard-working American farm families.

He has also been recognized for his efforts on behalf of rural children’s educational needs and was selected as the Save the Children’s Congressional Champion for Real and Lasting Change Award for 2010. Save the Children is the leading independent organization dedicated to creating real and lasting change in the lives of children in need in the United States and around the world.

Luetkemeyer and his wife of 34 years, Jackie, have three children, Trevor, Brandy and Nikki, and one granddaughter, Riley.