Steve Womack

File:LTC Steve_Womack.jpg lieutenant colonel in 2002]]

Womack was born in Russellville, Arkansas. His parents were Elisabeth (née Canerday) and James Womack. Womack graduated from Russellville High School in 1975.{{cite web |title=Stephen Allen (Steve) Womack (1957–) |url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/steve-womack-8442/ |website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas}}

He graduated with a B.A. in communications from Arkansas Tech University in 1979. That same year, his father founded KURM-AM. Womack served as station manager. Also in 1979, he enlisted in the Arkansas Army National Guard.

He left the radio station in 1990 and became executive officer for the Arkansas Reserve Officers' Training Corps at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He left that role in 1996. He then became a financial consultant for Merrill Lynch, while still serving in the national guard. He retired from the national guard in 2009 as a colonel.{{Cite web|title=Womack, Steve|url=https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/W000809|access-date=February 4, 2022|website=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress}}

In 1998, Womack was elected mayor of Rogers, Arkansas, holding the post for 12 years.{{cite news|title=Steve Womack (R)|url=http://projects.wsj.com/campaign2012/candidates/view/steve-womack--AR-H|access-date=October 28, 2016|work=Election 2012|publisher=Wall Street Journal}} During his mayoralty, Womack sought to crack down on illegal immigration by assigning two Immigration and Naturalization Service agents to the Rogers Police Department.{{cite news|title=Arkansas Congressman Criticizes Constituent For Wearing Mexican Flag Shirt|url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2013/09/10/arkansas-congressman-criticizes-constituent-for-wearing-mexican-flag-shirt/|access-date=October 28, 2016|publisher=Fox News Latino|date=September 10, 2013}} As a result, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund filed a class-action suit against the city's police force, accusing it of racial profiling.[http://www.newsweek.com/2001/06/03/a-town-s-two-faces.html A Town's Two Faces]. Newsweek (2001-06-04). Retrieved on 2011-06-24.

{{See also|2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas#District 3}}

In late 2009, Womack jumped into the race for the 3rd District after incumbent Representative John Boozman announced that he would run for the United States Senate. The 3rd is one of the most Republican districts in the South and the nation (Republicans have held it since 1967), and it was generally believed that whoever won the Republican primary would be the district's next representative. Womack ranked first in the seven-candidate primary with 31% of the vote.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=624472|title=Our Campaigns - AR District 03 - R Primary Race - May 18, 2010|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=2018-07-11}} In the June runoff, he defeated state Senator and fellow Rogers resident Cecile Bledsoe, 52%-48%.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=648529|title=Our Campaigns - AR District 03 - R Runoff Race - Jun 08, 2010|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=2018-07-11}}

In the general election, Womack defeated Democratic nominee David Whitaker, 72%-28%.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=487764|title=Our Campaigns - AR - District 03 Race - Nov 02, 2010|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=2018-07-11}}

{{See also|2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas#District 3}}

Womack was originally set to face veteran Ken Aden in his reelection bid, but Aden withdrew from the race on July 8, after admitting to exaggerating his military record. As it was too late to select a replacement candidate for Aden (under Arkansas law, the Democratic Party could only name a replacement at that date if the original candidate died, moved out of the district or opted to seek another office), Womack faced no major-party opposition in November.{{cite web|url= http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2012/07/09/ken-aden-dropping-out-of-3rd-district-congressional-race |title=Ken Aden dropping out of 3rd District congressional race|date=July 9, 2012|access-date=August 15, 2012|publisher=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette|first=Max|last=Brantley}} He was reelected with 76% of the vote, defeating Rebekah Kennedy (Green Party of the United States, 16%) and David Pangrac (Libertarian Party (United States), 8%).{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=705043|title=Our Campaigns - AR - District 03 Race - Nov 06, 2012|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=2018-07-11}}

{{See also|2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas#District 3}}

Thomas Brewer, a math teacher and minister, originally announced he was challenging Womack for the Republican nomination,{{cite web|last=Bowden|first=Bill|date=October 15, 2013|title=Teachers join race to unseat Womack|url=http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2013/oct/15/teachers-join-race-unseat-womack-20131015/|access-date=October 15, 2013|work=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette}} and Troy Gittings, a high school English teacher and stand-up comedian, had announced he was running for the Democratic nomination. But neither Brewer nor Gittings ended up filing, leaving Libertarian Grant Brand as Womack's only challenger.{{cite web|url=http://swtimes.com/elections/election-2014-filing-arkansas-ends-412-candidates|title=Election 2014: Filing In Arkansas Ends With 412 Candidates|date=March 3, 2014|access-date=May 12, 2014|work=Southwest Times Record|first=Rob|last=Moritz}} He was reelected with 79% of the vote to Brand's 21%.{{Cite web|date=November 4, 2014|title=NOVEMBER 4, 2014 ARKANSAS GENERAL ELECTION AND NONPARTISAN RUNOFF ELECTION|url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/AR/53237/149792/Web01/en/summary.html|access-date=February 4, 2022|website=Arkansas Secretary of State Website}}

{{See also|2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas#District 3}}

Womack again faced no Democratic candidate in the general election. He defeated Libertarian Steve Isaacson 77%-23%.{{cite web |title=Election Results |url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/AR/63912/184685/Web01/en/summary.html |website=Secretary of State of Arkansas |access-date=17 July 2023 |language=en |date=2016}}

{{See also|2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas#District 3}}

Womack faced a Republican primary challenge from Robb Ryerse, a self-described "progressive Republican."{{Cite web|last=Jilani|first=Zaid|date=May 19, 2017|title=MEET THE PASTOR RUNNING AS A PROGRESSIVE REPUBLICAN TO GET BIG MONEY OUT OF POLITICS|url=https://theintercept.com/2017/05/19/meet-the-pastor-running-as-a-progressive-republican-to-get-big-money-out-of-politics/|access-date=February 4, 2022|website=The Intercept}} He defeated Ryerse, 84%-16%.{{Cite web|url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/AR/74831/Web02-state.203322/#/|access-date=February 4, 2022|website=Arkansas Secretary of State Website|title=Election Night Reporting }}

In the general election, Womack faced Democratic opposition for the first time as an incumbent. Womack defeated Josh Mahoney, president of the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund and former chairman of the Fayetteville Airport Commission, and Libertarian Michael Kalagias, on election day, 65%-33%-2%, his smallest margin of victory to date.{{Cite web|date=November 6, 2018|title=2018 General Election and Nonpartisan Judicial Runoff|url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/AR/92174/Web02-state.216038/#/|access-date=February 4, 2022|website=Arkansas Secretary of State Website}}

{{See also|2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas#District 3}}

Womack did not face a challenge in the Republican primary, and he defeated the Democratic nominee, nurse practitioner Celeste Williams, and Kalagias, 64%-32%-4%.{{Cite web|date=November 3, 2020|title=2020 General Election and Nonpartisan Judicial Runoff|url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/AR/106124/web.264614/#/summary|access-date=February 4, 2022|website=Arkansas Secretary of State Website}}

{{See also|2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas#District 3}}

Womack won reelection against Democratic nominee, Lauren Mallett-Hays, and Kalagias, with 63.7% to 32.9% and 3.4%.{{Cite news |date=2022-11-08 |title=Arkansas Third Congressional District Election Results |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/11/08/us/elections/results-arkansas-us-house-district-3.html |access-date=2024-01-12 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

{{See also|2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas#District 3}}

Womack faced a primary challenge from state senator Clint Penzo. Womack defeated Penzo, receiving 54%.

File:Steve Womack, Official Portrait, 112th Congress - Hi Res.jpg]]

In 2010, Womack signed a pledge sponsored by Americans for Prosperity promising to vote against any global warming legislation that would raise taxes.{{Cite web |url=http://americansforprosperity.org/noclimatetax//wp-content/uploads/2010/04/womack.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=October 2, 2014 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006092724/http://americansforprosperity.org/noclimatetax//wp-content/uploads/2010/04/womack.pdf |url-status=dead }}

Womack was a member of the House Appropriations Committee when in 2014{{cite web | url=http://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/what-is-the-gipsa-rider/ | title=What is the "GIPSA Rider" and why is the House once again attacking farmers' rights? | work=sustainableagriculture.net | date=June 17, 2014 | access-date=August 1, 2019 }} lawmakers inserted a prohibition into an appropriations bill that would prevent USDA staff from working on finishing regulations related to the meat industry.{{cite web | url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/chicken-farmers-thought-trump-was-going-to-help-them-but-his-administration-did-the-opposite/ar-AACr20t | title=Chicken farmers thought Trump was going to help them, but his administration did the opposite | work=msn.com | date=June 5, 2019 | access-date=August 1, 2019 | author= Arnsdorf, Isaac }}

In a 2015 episode of his show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, John Oliver criticized Womack for blocking the enforcement of laws proposed by the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration that were designed to protect chicken farmers from being threatened or punished by the companies they work for if they spoke out regarding their farming experiences.{{cite web | url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/john-oliver-vs-chicken-118510 | title=John Oliver vs. chicken | work=Politico | date=June 1, 2015 | access-date=March 29, 2016 | author=Haas, Nathaniel}}

In 2015, Womack condemned the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which held that same-sex marriage bans violated the constitution.{{Cite web |date=2015-06-26 |title=Womack Response to Obergefell v. Hodges |url=http://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398548 |access-date=2022-04-11 |website=Internal {{!}} Congressman Steve Womack |language=en}}

In December 2017, Womack voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.{{cite news|last1=Almukhtar|first1=Sarah|title=How Each House Member Voted on the Tax Bill|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/19/us/politics/tax-bill-house-live-vote.html?_r=0|website=The New York Times|access-date=December 21, 2017|date=December 19, 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Kamper|first1=Deni|title=What You Should Know About the New Tax Plan|url=http://www.nwahomepage.com/news/fox-24/whats-in-the-new-tax-plan/885430797|website=NWAHOMEPAGE|access-date=December 21, 2017|date=December 21, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Senate OKs tax bill; House revote set|url=http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2017/dec/20/senate-oks-tax-bill-house-revote-set-20/?news-national|website=Northwest Arkansas Democratic Gazette|date=December 20, 2017|access-date=December 21, 2017}}

Womack did not join the majority of Republican members of Congress who signed an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election. Womack voted to certify both Arizona's and Pennsylvania's results in the 2021 United States Electoral College vote count. On May 19, 2021, Womack was one of 35 Republicans to join all 217 Democrats present in voting to approve legislation to establish the January 6 commission meant to investigate the storming of the U.S. Capitol.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/19/politics/house-republicans-january-6-commission/index.html|title=Here are the 35 House Republicans who voted for the January 6 commission|publisher=CNN|last=LeBlanc|first=Paul|date=May 19, 2021|accessdate=May 19, 2021}}[https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2021154 Roll Call 154 Bill Number: H. R. 3233 117th Congress, 1st Session], United States House of Representatives, May 19, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2021.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/05/19/jan-6-commission-vote/ How Republicans voted on a commission to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol riot], Washington Post, May 19, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2021.

On November 30, Womack voted in favor of H.R. 550: Immunization Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2021. The bill helps create confidential, population-based databases that maintain a record of vaccine administrations.{{cite web | url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/117-2021/h388 | title=H.R. 550: Immunization Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2021 -- House Vote #388 -- Nov 30, 2021 }}

As of October 2021, Womack had voted in line with Joe Biden's stated position 15% of the time.{{cite web |last1=Bycoffe |first1=Anna Wiederkehr and Aaron |title=Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden? |url=https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/biden-congress-votes/steve-womack/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508172835/https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/biden-congress-votes/steve-womack/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 8, 2021|website=FiveThirtyEight |access-date=28 October 2021 |language=en |date=2021-10-22}}

In 2022, Womack was one of 39 Republicans to vote for the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022, an antitrust package that would crack down on corporations for anti-competitive behavior.{{cite web | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/29/house-passes-antitrust-bill-raising-ma-fees.html | title=House passes antitrust bill that hikes M&A fees as larger efforts targeting tech have stalled | website=CNBC | date=September 29, 2022 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/117-2022/h460 | title=H.R. 3843: Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022 -- House Vote #460 -- Sep 29, 2022 }}

A staunch Kevin McCarthy ally, Womack presided over the process to remove McCarthy as Speaker he opposed, in the October 2023 Speaker of the House election, Womack along with over 20 of his Republican colleagues voted for Steve Scalise in protest over Jim Jordan for the first three ballots before voting for Mike Johnson in the fourth and final ballot.{{Cite news |last=Gamio |first=Lazaro |last2=Gómez |first2=Martín González |last3=Migliozzi |first3=Blacki |last4=Murphy |first4=John-Michael |last5=Shao |first5=Elena |last6=Wu |first6=Ashley |last7=Zhang |first7=Christine |date=2023-10-17 |title=Vote Count: Mike Johnson Elected House Speaker After Three-Week Vacancy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/10/17/us/politics/house-speaker-vote-tally.html |access-date=2024-01-12 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

For the 118th Congress:{{cite web |title=Steve Womack |url=https://clerk.house.gov/members/W000809 |publisher=Clerk of the United States House of Representatives |access-date=23 April 2023}}

• Committee on Appropriations
• Subcommittee on Defense
• Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
• Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (Chair)

• United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus{{cite web|title=Our Members|url=https://royce.house.gov/internationalconservation/members.html|publisher=U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus|access-date=August 5, 2018|archive-date=August 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801155201/https://royce.house.gov/internationalconservation/members.html|url-status=dead}}
• Republican Governance Group{{Cite web|date=2013-06-20|title=The Tuesday Group Still Lives|url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2013/06/tuesday-group-still-lives-jonathan-strong/|access-date=2021-03-01|website=National Review|language=en-US}}
• House Republican Conference
• House Republican Steering Committee
• House Republican Policy Committee
• Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish Americans{{cite web|title=Members of the Caucus on U.S. - Türkiye Relations & Turkish Americans|author=|url=https://www.tc-america.org/in-congress/caucus.htm|format=|publisher=Turkish Coalition of America|date=|accessdate=27 March 2025}}

When Roe v. Wade was overturned, Womack declared "life wins", saying, "This decision rightfully restores the American people's ability to protect babies and recognizes the science-backed truths of the humanity of the unborn."{{cite news |last1=Webb |first1=Jack A. |title=Arkansas lawmakers praise Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade |url=https://katv.com/news/local/arkansas-lawmakers-praise-supreme-court-decision-to-overturn-roe-v-wade-united-states-governor-asa-hutchinson-senator-tom-cotton-john-boozman-lieutenant-tim-griffin-attorney-general-leslie-rutledge-representative-french-hill-bruce-westerman-rick-crawford |access-date=26 June 2022 |work=KATV |date=24 June 2022 |language=en}}

The PACT ACT which expanded VA benefits to veterans exposed to toxic chemicals during their military service, received a "nay" from Womack.https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/202257 Regarding cannabis, despite lobbying from VSOs such as the DAV,{{Cite web|url=https://www.qgdigitalpublishing.com/publication/?i=795007&p=7&view=issueViewer&pp=1|title=DAV Magazine July/August 2023 Page 5|website=www.qgdigitalpublishing.com}} Womack also voted against the 2022 MORE Act. https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2022107

Womack attends Cross Church Pinnacle Hills, a Southern Baptist church in Rogers, Arkansas. He and his wife, Terri, have been married since August 4, 1984. They have three sons and three grandsons. The couple live in Rogers.{{Cite web|title=BIOGRAPHY|url=https://womack.house.gov/biography/|access-date=February 4, 2022|website=Congressman Steve Womack Website}}

{{reflist|30em|refs=

{{cite web |url= https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/151739/Stephen_Allen_Womack.html |url-access= subscription |title= Rep. Steve Womack |author= |date= 2011 |website= legistorm.com |publisher= LegiStorm |language= en |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120926035435/https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/151739/Stephen_Allen_Womack.html |archive-date= 2012-09-26 |url-status= live |access-date= 2019-12-02 |ref= 2011_LegiStorm |df= dmy-all}}

{{cite web |url= http://www.bpnews.net/34378 |title= Ten Southern Baptists sworn in as new reps. |author= |date= 2011-01-05 |website= bpnews.net |publisher= Baptist Press |language= en |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141226010629/http://www.bpnews.net/34378 |archive-date= 2014-12-26 |url-status= live |access-date= 2019-12-02 |quote= Here is information on the new House members who have been confirmed to be members of Southern Baptist churches. Arkansas: Rep. Rick Crawford, First District, Nettleton Baptist Church, Jonesboro; Rep. Tim Griffin, Second District, Immanuel BC, Little Rock.; Rep. Steve Womack, Third District, Cross Church Pinnacle Hills, Rogers. |ref= 2019_BaptistPress |df= dmy-all}}

}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://womack.house.gov/ Congressman Steve Womack] official U.S. House website
• [http://www.womackforcongress.com Steve Womack for Congress]

{{CongLinks | congbio = W000809 | votesmart = 71815 | fec = H0AR03055 | congress = steve-womack/1991 }}

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Category:1957 births

Category:Arkansas Tech University alumni

Category:Baptists from Arkansas

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Category:People from Moberly, Missouri

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Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit

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Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Arkansas

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Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives