John Shimkus

John Shimkus has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1997, representing the 19th District of Illinois.

Iraq War
Shimkus voted for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War.

Environmental record
For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Rep. Mark Foley congressional page scandal
In October 2006, Shimkus became swept up in the Mark Foley page scandal. Shimkus served as the head of the Page Committee, which oversees the program by which dozens of teenagers work on Capitol Hill each year assisting in the administrative tasks of Congress. On September 30, 2006, Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) resigned following the public revelation of “over-friendly” emails and sexually suggestive instant message conversations he had with pages. Shimkus was first notified about the emails in late 2005 from the Clerk of the House. Shimkus claimed that at that point he advised Foley to immediately stop contacting the boy, and Foley agreed. Shimkus never informed Rep. Dale Kildee (D-Mich.), the lone Democrat on the Page Committee, about the situation.

Following Foley’s resignation, Shimkus was asked by Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) to look into the situation regarding Foley.


 * Read a full account of the Mark Foley page scandal

Background
Shimkus was born February 21, 1958 in Collinsville, Illinois, was educated at West Point Military Academy at West Point, New York and Southern Illinois University, served in the United States Army, and was a teacher before entering the House in 1996.

Congressional career
Shimkus has announced that he will run for reelection in 2006 and 2008, despite making a pledge not to stay in office for more than 12 years.

2006 elections
In 2006, the Democrats nominated Danny Leroy Stover to face Shimkus in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Shimkus retained his seat.

Money in politics
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Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Energy and Commerce - Ranking Member
 * Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality
 * Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials
 * Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * House Committee on Energy and Commerce
 * Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality
 * Subcommittee on Health
 * Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet

Coalitions and Caucuses

 * Co-Chair, Congressional E-911 Caucus
 * Grand Old Party Cyber-Security Team
 * Co-Chair, House Baltic Caucus
 * Co-Chair, House Page Board
 * United States Delegate, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Parliamentary Assembly

Boards and other Affiliations

 * ABATE of Illinois
 * American Legion, Post 365
 * Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture
 * Community Hope Center
 * Adult Sunday School Teacher/Basketball Coach, Holy Cross Lutheran Church and School
 * Member, Kaskaskia Area Partnership
 * Member, Kaskaskia College Area Literacy Council
 * Kiwanis
 * Madison County Farm Bureau
 * Senior Companion Program
 * Fiscal Officer, Southern Illinois Law Enforcement Commission
 * State and National Associations of County Treasurers and Finance Officers.

Twitter
 John Shimkus posts on Twitter at http://twitter.com/RepShimkus/

Latest posts: http://twitter.com/statuses/user_timeline/15600527.rss|title=none| max=3| short See all the members of Congress who Twitter

External resources

 * Official website
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database.

External articles

 * John Aravosis, "GOP Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) let Foley spend 'a lot of time' with pages, including private dinner with one, after GOP knew Foley was a problem," AMERICAblog, October 1, 2006. re Mark Foley
 * Joe Sudbay, "More deception and cover-up from GOP leadership," AMERICAblog, October 1, 2006.
 * John Aravosis, "GOP member of Page Board contradicts Hastert and Shimkus, says Foley emails were clear evidence of a problem, not just simply 'overly friendly'," AMERICAblog, October 2, 2006.
 * Josh Marshall, Talking Points Memo, October 2, 2006.
 * Alexander Bolton, "Longtime Republican was source of e-mails," The Hill, October 5, 2006.
 * Larry Margask, "Ethics Panel Launches Foley Case Probe," Washington Post, October 5, 2006. See House Ethics Committee

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Philosophe Forum
 * Prairie State Blue - Statewide Illinois Progressive Politics Blog