Full Biography
Representative Kevin Yoder is a 5th generation Kansan and grew up on a grain and livestock farm in rural Kansas near a town called Yoder. It was on his family farm where Representative Yoder learned the true value of hard work, and saw first-hand the ingenuity and prairie spirit that makes Kansas such a special place.
On January 5, 2011, Representative Yoder was sworn in to serve his first term as a Member of the 112th Congress. Representative Yoder was selected as one of only three freshmen to serve on the House Appropriations Committee, the committee responsible for allocating federal spending.
He began his second term in the House of Representatives in January 2013. For the 113th Congress, Representative Yoder returned to the House Appropriations Committee. He serves as Vice Chairman as a member of the Agriculture Subcomittee; and sits on the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee and the Financial Services Subcommittee as well. Congressman Yoder is focused on balancing the federal budget, reducing the national debt and supporting policies that help private sector job growth.
During his time in Congress, Representative Yoder has received several accolades and awards for his voting record and support of various issues; including recognition as the 2012 Head Start Kansas State Children’s Champion Award; a National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) Guardian of Small Business; the U.S. Chamber of Commerce “Spirit of Enterprise” award; and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Award for Legislative Excellence. Additionally, Representative Yoder and Representative Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO) jointly were included in the inaugural class to receive the 2012 Consensus Civility Award.
Representative Yoder was appointed by Speaker of the House John Boehner to serve on the Gallaudet University Board of Trustees. Gallaudet University, located in Washington, DC, is the world’s only liberal arts university for the Deaf community and hard of hearing.
Prior to being elected to Congress, Representative Yoder served as a State Representative in the Kansas Legislature where he represented Leawood and Overland Park. Representative Yoder chaired the House Appropriations Committee where he led the effort to cut spending, balance the Kansas state budget, and oppose tax increases.
The 3rd Congressional District of Kansas includes Johnson County, Wyandotte County and the northeast corner of Miami County. Congressman Yoder is a proud graduate of the University of Kansas where he received degrees in political science, English, and law. He lives in Overland Park with his wife, Brooke. On Thursday, November 7th, Rep. Yoder and Brooke announced the birth of their first child, a baby daughter named Caroline Lucille.