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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Caucuses/Former Committees

Former Member, Energy and Commerce, United States House of Representatives

Former Member, Energy Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives

Former Chair, Environment Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives

Member, Grand Old Party Cyber-Security Team

Co-Chair, House Baltic Caucus

Co-Chair, House Biotechnology Caucus

Member, House Caucus on Adoption

Co-Chair, House E-911 Caucus

Co-Chair, House Page Board

Co-Chair, House Recycling Caucus

Member, House Steel Caucus

Fiscal Officer, Southern Illinois Law Enforcement Commission

Former Member, Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, United States House of Representatives

Former Member, Subcommittee on Energy, United States House of Representatives

Former Chair, Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, United States House of Representatives

Former Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Environment & Climate Change, United States House of Representatives

Former Member, Subcommittee on Health (Energy and Commerce), United States House of Representatives

Education

  • MBA, Business Administration, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, 1997
  • Certified, Teaching, Christ College Irvine, California, 1990
  • BS, General Engineering, United States Military Academy, West Point, 1980

Professional Experience

  • MBA, Business Administration, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, 1997
  • Certified, Teaching, Christ College Irvine, California, 1990
  • BS, General Engineering, United States Military Academy, West Point, 1980
  • Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army Reserves, 1985-2008
  • Treasurer, Madison County, 1990-1996
  • Teacher, Metro-East Lutheran High School, 1986-1990
  • Captain, United States Army, 1980-1985

Political Experience

  • MBA, Business Administration, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, 1997
  • Certified, Teaching, Christ College Irvine, California, 1990
  • BS, General Engineering, United States Military Academy, West Point, 1980
  • Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army Reserves, 1985-2008
  • Treasurer, Madison County, 1990-1996
  • Teacher, Metro-East Lutheran High School, 1986-1990
  • Captain, United States Army, 1980-1985
  • Representative, United States House of Representatives, Illinois, District 15, 2013-present
  • Candidate, United States House of Representatives, Illinois, District 15, 2018
  • Representative, United States House of Representatives, District 19, 2003-2013
  • Representative, United States House of Representatives, District 20, 1997-2003
  • Member, Collinsville Township Board of Trustees, 1989-1993
  • Candidate, United States House of Representatives, 1992
  • Candidate, Madison County Board, 1988

Former Committees/Caucuses

Former Member, Energy Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives

Former Chair, Environment Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives

Member, Grand Old Party Cyber-Security Team

Co-Chair, House Baltic Caucus

Co-Chair, House Biotechnology Caucus

Member, House Caucus on Adoption

Co-Chair, House E-911 Caucus

Co-Chair, House Page Board

Co-Chair, House Recycling Caucus

Member, House Steel Caucus

Fiscal Officer, Southern Illinois Law Enforcement Commission

Former Member, Subcommittee on Energy, United States House of Representatives

Current Legislative Committees

Member, Energy and Commerce

Member, Subcommittee on Communications and Technology

Chair, Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy

Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Environment & Climate Change

Member, Subcommittee on Health (Energy and Commerce)

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • MBA, Business Administration, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, 1997
  • Certified, Teaching, Christ College Irvine, California, 1990
  • BS, General Engineering, United States Military Academy, West Point, 1980
  • Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army Reserves, 1985-2008
  • Treasurer, Madison County, 1990-1996
  • Teacher, Metro-East Lutheran High School, 1986-1990
  • Captain, United States Army, 1980-1985
  • Representative, United States House of Representatives, Illinois, District 15, 2013-present
  • Candidate, United States House of Representatives, Illinois, District 15, 2018
  • Representative, United States House of Representatives, District 19, 2003-2013
  • Representative, United States House of Representatives, District 20, 1997-2003
  • Member, Collinsville Township Board of Trustees, 1989-1993
  • Candidate, United States House of Representatives, 1992
  • Candidate, Madison County Board, 1988
  • Head Elder/Member, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Collinsville, present
  • Member, A Brotherhood Aimed Towards Education of Illinois
  • Member, American Legion Post 36
  • Member, Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Heritage
  • Member, Community Hope Center
  • Adult Sunday School Teacher, Holy Cross Lutheran Church and School
  • Basketball Coach, Holy Cross Lutheran Church and School
  • Member, Illinois Association of County Treasurers and Finance Officers
  • Member, Kaskaskia Area Partnership
  • Member, Kaskaskia College Area Literacy Council
  • Member, Kiwanis International
  • Member, Madison County Farm Bureau
  • Member, National Active Retired Federal Employees Association
  • Member, National Association of County Treasurers and Finance Officers
  • Delegate, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Parliamentary Assembly, United States
  • Member, Senior Companion Program
  • Member, Board of Visitors, United States Military Academy

Other Info

Astrological Sign:

Pisces

— Awards:

  • Congressional Partnership Award, National Association of Development Organizations

Spirit of Enterprise, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Guardian of Seniors' Rights, 60-Plus Association

Friend of Agriculture, Farm Bureau, 2004

-Hero of the Taxpayer, Americans for Tax Reform, 2004

Jefferson Cup, National Spinal Cord Injury Association

Policy Positions

2021

Abortion

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-life

Budget

1. In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- No

2. In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?
- No

Campaign Finance

Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Unknown Position

Economy

1. Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Unknown Position

2. Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

Education

1. Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
- No

Energy & Environment

1. Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes

2. Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
- No

Guns

Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- No

Health Care

Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- Yes

Immigration

1. Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
- Yes

2. Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
- Yes

Marijuana

Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- No

National Security

1. Should the United States use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a nuclear weapon?
- Unknown Position

2. Do you support increased American intervention in Middle Eastern conflicts beyond air support?
- Unknown Position

Illinois Congressional Election 2010 Political Courage Test

Abortion

1. Do you consider yourself pro-choice or pro-life?
- Pro-life

2. Should abortion be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy?
- No Answer

3. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- No Answer

4. Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?
- Yes

5. Should federal subsidies be prohibited from being used for abortion procedures?
- Yes

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Budget, Spending, and Tax

SpendingIndicate what federal funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category- you can use a number more than once.2) TaxesIndicate what federal tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category- you can use a number more than once.

1. Agriculture
- Maintain Status

2. Arts
- Slightly Decrease

3. Defense
- Maintain Status

4. Intelligence operations
- Slightly Increase

5. Military hardware
- Maintain Status

6. National missile defense
- Maintain Status

7. Salary and benefits for active duty personnel
- Slightly Increase

8. Programs to improve troop retention rates
- Slightly Increase

9. Research and development of new weapons
- Maintain Status

SpendingIndicate what federal funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category- you can use a number more than once.2) TaxesIndicate what federal tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category- you can use a number more than once.

1. Education
- Maintain Status

2. Environment
- Maintain Status

3. Homeland security
- Maintain Status

4. International aid
- Slightly Decrease

5. Medical research
- Maintain Status

6. Scientific research
- Maintain Status

7. Space exploration
- Slightly Decrease

8. United Nations
- Slightly Decrease

9. Welfare
- Slightly Decrease

10. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

11. Alcohol taxes
- Maintain Status

12. Capital gains taxes
- Maintain Status

13. Cigarette taxes
- Maintain Status

14. Corporate taxes
- Maintain Status

15. Gasoline taxes
- Maintain Status

16. Income taxes (low-income families)
- Slightly Decrease

17. Income taxes (middle-income families)
- Slightly Decrease

18. Income taxes (high-income families)
- Maintain Status

19. Do you support the elimination of the federal estate tax?
- Yes

20. Do you support requiring the federal budget to be balanced each year?
- Yes

21. Do you support using government funds in an effort to stimulate and improve the economy?
- No

22. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Business and Employment

1. Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
- Yes

2. Do you support increasing the federal minimum wage?
- Yes

3. Do you support the ability of workers to unionize?
- Yes

4. Do you support federal funding for job-training programs that retrain displaced workers?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Campaign Finance and Government Reform

1. Do you support increasing the amount individuals are permitted to contribute to federal campaigns?
- Yes

2. Should Congress regulate indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- No

3. Do you support removing all contribution limits on federal campaigns?
- No

4. Should candidates for federal office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
- No

5. Do you support giving the President the power of the line item veto for items concerning appropriations?
- Yes

6. Do you support limiting the President's ability to define how legislation is applied through the use of signing statements?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- Yes

2. Do you support programs that provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related training and job-placement assistance when released?
- Yes

3. Do you support programs that provide prison inmates with substance abuse treatment?
- Yes

4. Do you support reduced prison sentences for non-violent offenders?
- No

5. Do you support mandatory prison sentences for selling illegal drugs?
- Yes

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Education

1. Do you support federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students?
- Yes

2. Do you support federal funding for universal pre-K programs?
- No Answer

3. Do you support federal funding for charter schools?
- No Answer

4. Do you support federal funding for K-12 school vouchers?
- No Answer

5. Do you support the federal government providing college students with financial aid?
- Yes

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Environment and Energy

1. Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?
- No

2. Do you support international emissions targets aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?
- No

3. Do you support allowing energy producers to trade carbon credits under a "cap and trade" system?
- No

4. Do you support strengthening fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles?
- Yes

5. Do you support domestic oil exploration in federally-protected areas?
- Yes

6. Do you support federal funding for the development of alternative energy?
- Yes

7. Do you support the development of nuclear reactors?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Gun

1. Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
- No

2. Do you believe that the Second Amendment guarantees the right of individual citizens to own guns?
- Yes

3. Do you support allowing individuals to carry concealed guns?
- Yes

4. Do you support a ban on assault rifles?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

1. Do you support a publicly-administered health insurance option?
- No

2. Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
- Yes

3. Should the federal government expand eligibility for tax-free medical savings accounts?
- Yes

4. Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
- Yes

5. Do you support relaxing regulations on the importation of prescription drugs?
- No

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Immigration

1. Do you support a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants?
- No

2. Do you support decreasing the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country?
- No

3. Do you support establishing English as the official national language?
- Yes

4. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

International Policy

1. Do you support United States military action in Afghanistan?
- Yes

2. Do you support increasing military assistance for Afghanistan?
- Yes

3. Do you support increasing economic development assistance for Afghanistan?
- Yes

4. Should the United States continue to strike suspected terrorist targets in Pakistan?
- Yes

5. Do you support granting aid to countries when it is in the security interests of the United States?
- Yes

6. Should the United States support the creation of a Palestinian state?
- Yes

7. Do you support increasing sanctions on Iran if it continues to defy United Nations mandates?
- Yes

8. Do you support the withdrawal of United States troops from Iraq?
- No

9. Do you support the United States' involvement in free trade agreements?
- Yes

10. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Social

1. Should marriage only be between one man and one woman?
- Yes

2. Do you support allowing openly-gay men and women to serve in the United States military?
- No

3. Do you support federal funding for embryonic stem cell research?
- No

4. Should the federal government end affirmative action programs?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Congress Bills
Speeches

Roscoe D. Cunningham

Dec. 9, 2020Floor Speech

Thanking Staff Members

Dec. 4, 2020Floor Speech
Articles

Real Clear Policy - Republicans Have Better Solutions to Climate Change

Feb. 13, 2019

By Greg Walden, Fred Upton and John Shimkus Climate change is real, and as Republican Leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, we are focused on solutions. A serious, solutions-oriented discussion about how to address this challenge, while protecting the interests of the American people, our communities, and our country's economic well-being is fundamental to getting this right. America's approach for tackling climate change should be built upon the principles of innovation, conservation, and adaptation. Republicans have long championed realistic, innovative, and free-market strategies to promote a cleaner environment and to reduce emissions. The results are clear: The United States is leading the world in reducing greenhouse gas emissions thanks to vibrant energy sector competition and innovation. In 2017, U.S. carbon emissions were the lowest they've been since 1992. Despite a slight increase in emissions in 2018, mostly due to the positive development of increased American manufacturing, analysts project U.S. emissions will remain flat in upcoming years at roughly 13 percent lower than 2005 levels. We must address climate change in ways that focus on American prosperity and technological capabilities while maintaining America's leadership in clean and renewable energy innovation. By doubling down on innovation, we can supply the world with new tools to combat emissions. We should continue to encourage innovation and renewable energy development. We should promote carbon capture and utilization, renewable hydropower, and safe nuclear power, which is emissions-free. We should also look to remove barriers to energy storage and commercial batteries to help make renewable sources more viable and our electricity grid more resilient. And we must encourage more research and business investments in new clean energy technologies. These are bipartisan solutions we must seize on to deliver real results for the American people. Meanwhile, many Democrats are rallying around the recently introduced Green New Deal. This agenda calls for a 10-year plan to move U.S. power generation to 100 percent zero-emission energy sources. But even though this proposal is being billed as a solution to climate change, it also includes numerous unrelated, prohibitively expensive policy goals such as government-run health care and guaranteed employment. While a full analysis of the Green New Deal has not been completed, the sheer scale and cost to implement such a proposal could have potentially devastating consequences on our national debt and on our economy. One initial estimate calculated that if the U.S. were to transition to 100 percent renewable electricity production--assuming it is even possible--it would require at least $5.7 trillion in expenditures. A bill ultimately picked up by the American taxpayers. Think what that might mean for heating bills in the winter or commuting costs? Or how it could push American jobs overseas to countries that have lax environmental standards. The Green New Deal also ignores the rest of the world's contribution to emissions. Even as we become cleaner in the United States, emissions around the world are increasing. China and India accounted for nearly half of the increase in global carbon emissions in 2017, and developing world emissions will continue to rise to the point that all of the United States and Europe's emissions will soon be far surpassed by other economies. And their plan omits commonsense policy like improving the way we manage our federal forests to reduce the risk of catastrophic fires. That's a real problem, right now, that ought to be addressed. The emissions from California's wildfires in 2018 dumped an estimated 68 million tons of carbon into the atmosphere. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that sustainably managing our forests will create the longest sustained carbon mitigation benefit. Furthermore, the Democrats' Green New Deal plan minimizes the realities of current American and global energy systems. It ignores fundamental societal needs for affordable, reliable energy. In fact, the plan dismisses clean energy technologies essential for any future energy system, and would ban the more practical climate solutions that we should be working together to promote, such as expanding renewable hydropower and safe nuclear power, which again, has zero carbon emissions. Similar policies to the Green New Deal are already being pursued across Europe with little success. Germany's recent energy efforts show how spending billions to shift from nuclear power to renewable energy can increase emissions and utility bills, and France's yellow-vest protests reveal how people understandably reject costly policies that require massive tax increases and more expensive transportation. The reality is, the Green New Deal is a policy of regulation, taxation, and ultimately, economic stagnation. Americans deserve better. That's why we back sensible, realistic, and effective policies to tackle climate change. Let's encourage American industry to do its part through innovation. Let's focus on community preparedness. Let's harness our great American ingenuity to develop new tools that we can market to the world, as we've done before. And together we can leave the planet better than we found it.