John Shimkus

John Mondy Shimkus (born February 21, 1958), American politician of Lithuanian descent, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1997, representing Illinois's 19th congressional district (map). He was born in Collinsville, Illinois. Shimkus earned his bachelor's degree at West Point Military Academy. Shimkus then attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and received a Master's of Business Administration.

As a graduate of West Point, he was a member of the United States Army and was a high school teacher at a local Lutheran school. Mr. Shimkus has served as Madison County, IL Treasurer as a Republican before entering the House of Representatives. Before being elected County Treasurer, Shimkus was involved in local politics in his hometown and county where he still resides today.

Shimkus announced in September 2005 that he will run for reelection in 2008, despite making a pledge when first elected in 1996 not to stay in office for more than 12 years. He said he will run for a seventh term in 2008. "It was a mistake at the time," he said about his 1996 campaign promises. "Unless everyone plays by the same rules, term limits don't make sense." Congressman Shimkus won his Illinois district handily during 2006; therefore, he will run again as a Republican in the 2008 election.

John Shimkus is an evangelical Christian, who does not believe in evolution, nor global warming. At the March 25, 2009 hearing of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, John Shimkus made a public statement citing the bible (Genesis 8:21-22 and Matthew 24) as evidence that the earth is doing fine and that only God can decide when it will end.^[1]

At the time of this video below, Shimkus sits on the House Energy and Air Quality committee.