At the age of 23, Aaron Schock was simultaneously the youngest school board president in history and the youngest Illinois State Representative. He is now the youngest Member of Congress and the first to be born in the 1980’s.
United States Congress
Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL), 31, is the youngest member of Congress and represents the 18th District of Illinois.
Schock currently serves on the highly coveted House Ways and Means committee. He serves on three Ways and Means subcommittees: Trade, Oversight and Social Security. Schock also serves on the committee on House Administration and as the Chairman of the Franking Commission.
In addition he serves as a Deputy Republican Whip and as a member of the Conference Advisory Committee.
Congressman Schock takes the gavel and presides over the House during an afternoon session
|
During his first term in office (2009-2010) his colleagues expressed their faith in his abilities by appointing him to the coveted Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. He was also the only Republican freshman selected to serve on the influential Highways and Transit Subcommittee which is charged with drafting the five-year highway bill due for reauthorization this year. Schock also received a seat on the Small Business Committee along with designation as the Ranking Member of the Contracting and Technology Subcommittee. House Republican Leadership also issued Schock a waiver to serve on a third committee and he was appointed to the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Finally, Schock was chosen by Leadership to serve as a Deputy Republican Whip.
In his first two weeks in office, Schock succeeded in having an amendment adopted by the House mandating a web site to track the TARP (bailout) funds as part of the TARP Reform and Accountability Act of 2009.
State Representative
In the Illinois Legislature, Schock succeeded in passing 18 substantive bills he sponsored, several of which were hailed as "landmark reforms" when they were signed into law.
Schock also developed a reputation for outstanding constituent service, having helped thousands of constituents solve problems beyond their ability to cope.
Schock shared the 2007 award with then-Senator Barack Obama from the Illinois Committee for Honest Government for his “Outstanding Legislative and Constituent Service.”
Schock got off to a fast start in the Illinois House by being appointed to serve on five committees, including rare service on two separate appropriations committees. His committee assignments were: Elementary and Secondary Appropriations; Human Services Appropriations; Veteran’s Affairs; Financial Services; and Environment and Energy.
Business
Upon graduation from college, Schock secured investors and started a small business in Peoria. He later served as Director of Development for Petersen Companies of Peoria. Schock purchased his first piece of real estate at age 18, and continues to manage his real estate investments today.
Public Service
Before coming to Congress, Aaron Schock began his public service by serving in the Peoria School board when he was 19 years old.
At 22, his school board colleagues voted to make Schock vice president of the board and a year later they voted unanimously to make him board president of one of the largest school districts in Illinois.
Early years
Schock began working after school jobs in his early teens. By the time he was in high school he was working a substantial number of hours per week at a gravel pit and invested nearly all of it. With these earnings he was able to purchase his first piece of real estate at age 18 and bought and sold investment properties. He also bought his own home which he and his brother renovated on Melbourne Avenue in one of Peoria’s older neighborhoods.
Education
Aaron Schock graduated from Richwoods High School and Rolling Acres Middle School in Peoria. He then graduated from Bradley University in Peoria with a B.S. in Finance (a four year degree) in only two years.
