Biography

Congressman Steve Austria is currently serving his second term in the United States House of Representatives and represents the 7th Congressional District of Ohio. The district is comprised of Clark, Fairfield, Greene, Fayette, Pickaway and Perry counties, as well as parts of Ross and Franklin counties. Austria is only the 35th person to represent this portion of Ohio.

In the 112th Congress, Austria was appointed to the House Appropriations Committee, which is one of the most influential committees in the U.S. Congress as it wields control over all discretionary spending. In addition to other areas of jurisdiction, the committee and its subcommittees oversee funding for the Department of Defense.

Congressman Austria has also been assigned to three House Appropriations Subcommittees: Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MILCON), which controls funding for the Department of Defense related to military construction, and Base Realignment and Closure Account (BRAC), and oversees all funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs; Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS) which provides funding for the Department of Commerce; Department of Justice; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); and the National Science Foundation.; and State and Foreign Operations, which determines funding decisions for the Department of State and the Agency for International Development (USAID).

As the only MILCON Subcommittee Member from the Ohio region, Congressman Austria has been tasked with oversight of military construction projects in the region. This responsibility will make Austria a leader as the Subcommittee begins the difficult work of deciding which military construction projects should be funded and which should be delayed or eliminated to rein in federal spending.

The military facilities located in Ohio’s 7th Congressional District include Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the Springfield Air National Guard Base, the Air and Army National Guard Bases and the Navy Reserve Center at Rickenbacker International Airport, and Defense Supply Center Columbus.

Previous to serving in U.S. Congress, Austria served eight years in the Ohio Senate and two years in the Ohio House of Representatives. While in the Ohio Senate, Austria was elected to the post of majority whip, where he helped advance legislation such as tax reform and tort reform.  He also championed legislation to protect Ohio’s children and families by introducing and passing into law Jessica’s Law and the Adam Walsh Child Protection Safety Act. Prior to his time in public service he was a small businessman and financial advisor.

The oldest of nine children, Austria grew up in Xenia, Ohio. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University. The Congressman has resided in Beavercreek for the past 20 years, where he currently lives with his wife, Eileen and their three sons Brian, Kevin and Eric.
  

         Photo of the Austria family, Eileen, Kevin, Brian, Steve and Eric