Adam Kinzinger

Bio:  Adam Kinzinger was first sworn into the United States House of Representatives in January 2011. He serves as the Representative for the Sixteenth Congressional District of Illinois and is a member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee. In addition, he served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee during the 113th Congress.

As a member of the Energy & Commerce Committee, Kinzinger’s top priorities include strengthening U.S. energy policy and making our nation less reliant on foreign resources. The Sixteenth District is home to four nuclear power plants, miles of windmills, hydropower plants, and ethanol and biodiesel plants, so nuclear energy production, coal and natural gas energy are vital to the district.

Having served in the Air Force overseas, ensuring national security is a priority for Kinzinger. He has always been a strong supporter of U.S. leadership in the Middle East, and was among the first members of Congress to call for airstrikes against ISIS.

Kinzinger serves as a Deputy Republican Whip and, at the age of 38, is one of the youngest Members of Congress.  Increased accessibility to his constituents is an essential part of Kinzinger’s role as a representative in order to develop and grow public trust.

Military Bio:  In 2003, Kinzinger joined the United States Air Force. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in November 2003 and later awarded his pilot wings. Kinzinger was initially a KC-135 Stratotanker pilot and flew missions in South America, Guam, Iraq and Afghanistan. He later switched to flying the RC-26 surveillance aircraft and was stationed in Iraq twice. Kinzinger has served in the Air Force Special Operations Command, Air Combat Command, Air Mobility Command, and Air National Guard and was progressively promoted to his current rank of Major.

Since 2007, Congressman Kinzinger has flown RC-26B planes that are used several ways. Overseas, those are attached to special operations teams and stateside they are used in counter drug operations. Kinzinger continues to serve his country as a pilot in the Air National Guard, balancing his service with his busy schedule as a member of Congress.

Legislation: 

• R. 1818 – Veteran Emergency Medical Technician Support Act of 2015: to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide grants to States to streamline State requirements and procedures for veterans with military emergency medical training to become civilian emergency medical technicians.
  • [Passed, and was included in CARA legislation that was signed into law]
• R. 3858 – Veteran-Centered Access to Coordinated Health Care Act of 2014: to amend title 38 U.S. Code, to direct the Secretary of VA to enter into contracts with health care providers to improve health care access and care coordination for veterans, and for other purposes.
  • [Died in 113^th Congress]
• R. 5195 – Emergency Afghan Allies Extension Act of 2014: authorizes an additional 1,000 emergency Special Immigrant Visas that the State Department could issue to Afghan translators who served with U.S. troops during the War in Afghanistan.
  • Introduced w/ Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR-3) as Lead Republican
  • [Bill became law on August 8, 2014]