John M. Shimkus was born February 21, 1958. John married Karen Muth in 1987. They have two children - David, six, and Joshua, four. The Shimkus family resides in Collinsville, Illinois.

EDUCATION
John received a bachelor of science degree in general engineering from the United States Military Academy in 1980. He received his teaching certificate from Christ College, Irvine, California, in 1989. John is also a 1997 graduate of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville with a master's degree in business administration (MBA).

MILITARY SERVICE
John was appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 1976. After graduation he trained as an Army Ranger and paratrooper. John served as an infantry officer in the former West Germany and in the United States. He is currently a major in the United States Army Reserves.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
John continues to be active in community groups, including the Kiwanis, American Legion, and the Senior Companion Program.

PROFESSIONAL/GOVERNMENT SERVICE
After leaving the Army, John returned to Collinsville in 1986 and taught government and history at Metro-East Lutheran High School in Edwardsville.

John was first elected to office in 1989, winning a seat as Collinsville Township Trustee. The following year, he won an upset victory in his race for Madison County Treasurer defeating a 12 year incumbent to become the first Republican county officeholder elected in ten years.

John was re-elected Madison County Treasurer in 1994. His election marked the first time in almost 50 years that a Republican had been re-elected to county-wide office.

John was first elected to Congress on November 5, 1996. He was re-elected to Congress in 1998 with 61 percent of the vote. He serves on the House Commerce Committee as well as its subcommittees on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection; Finance and Hazardous Materials; and Energy and Power.

In 1998 John was proud to have passed legislation changing our nation's alternative fuel policy from one of vehicles purchased to one of actual fuel usage. His biodiesel provisions will aid farmers, protect our environment, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

AWARDS
John has been presented the 1998 American Farm Bureau Federation "Friend of Farm Bureau Award," the Southwestern Illinois Area Agency on
Aging 1998 Public Service and Leadership Award, the American Soybean Association's "1998 Friend of Agriculture Award," the 60 Plus Association Guardian of Seniors' Rights Award, the Citizens for a Sound Economy Jefferson Award, the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste "Friend of the Taxpayer," and the 1998 Americans for Tax Reform "Friend of the Taxpayer" award.

OFFICES
John may be reached at one of his three full-time offices:
513 Cannon House Office Building,
Washington, D.C., 20515
202/225-5271

3130 Chatham Road, Suite C
Springfield, Illinois 62704
217/492-5090

1605 Vandalia St
Collinsville, Illinois 62234
618/344-3065

E-mail messages can be sent through his website at http://www.house.gov/shimkus.