Steve Womack

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Steve Womack
Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee
In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2021
Preceded by	John Yarmuth
Succeeded by	Jason Smith
Chair of the House Budget Committee
In office January 11, 2018 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by	Diane Black
Succeeded by	John Yarmuth
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arkansas's 3rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2011
Preceded by	John Boozman
Mayor of Rogers
In office 1998–2011
Preceded by	John Sampier
Succeeded by	Greg Hines
Personal details
Born	Stephen Allen Womack (1957-02-18) February 18, 1957 (age 64) Russellville, Arkansas, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Terri Williams
Children	3
Education	Arkansas Tech University (BA)
Website	House website
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1979–2009
Rank	Colonel
Unit	Arkansas Army National Guard
Awards	Legion of Merit Meritorious Service Medal Army Commendation Medal

Stephen Allen Womack^[1] (/ˈwoʊˌmæk/ WOH-mack; born February 18, 1957) is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Arkansas's 3rd congressional district since 2011. The district, which was once represented by future Senator J. William Fulbright, covers much of northwestern Arkansas, including Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Springdale, and Womack's hometown of Rogers. A member of the Republican Party, Womack was mayor of Rogers before his election to Congress.

Womack chaired the House Budget Committee from 2018 to 2019, and was its ranking member from 2019 to 2021.

Early life, education, and business career[]

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Womack was born in Russellville, Arkansas, the son of Elisabeth F. (Canerday) and James Kermit Womack.^[2] He spent most of his childhood in Moberly, Missouri, but moved back to Russellville at age 16 and graduated from Russellville High School in 1975. He graduated from Arkansas Tech University in 1979. Shortly afterward, he enlisted in the Arkansas Army National Guard. He served for 30 years, retiring in 2009 as a colonel. Womack's father founded KURM-AM in 1979, and Womack served as station manager from 1979 to 1990. He then served as executive officer of the Army ROTC program at the University of Arkansas from 1990 to 1996, then joined Merrill Lynch as a financial consultant.

Mayor of Rogers[]

In 1998, Womack was elected mayor of Rogers, holding the post for 12 years.^[3] During his mayoralty, Womack sought to crack down on illegal immigration by assigning two Immigration and Naturalization Service agents to the Rogers Police Department.^[4] 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.^[5]

Womack was reelected unopposed in 2002 and 2006.^[6]

U.S. House of Representatives[]

Elections[]

2010[]

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.^[7] In the June runoff, he defeated State Senator and fellow Rogers resident Cecile Bledsoe, 52%-48%.^[8]

In the general election, Womack defeated Democratic nominee David Whitaker, 72%-28%.^[9]

2012[]

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.^[10] He was reelected with 76% of the vote.^[11]

Tenure[]

In 2011, Womack filed an amendment to a spending bill in an attempt to defund Barack Obama's teleprompter.^{[12][better source needed]}

In 2013, Womack sponsored H.R. 684, the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013, a bill that would allow states to charge and collect sales taxes on internet purchases.^[13]

In 2010, Womack signed a pledge sponsored by Americans for Prosperity promising to vote against any global warming legislation that would raise taxes.^[14]

Womack was a member of the House Appropriations Committee when in 2014^[15] lawmakers inserted a prohibition into an appropriations bill that would prevent USDA staff from working on finishing regulations related to the meat industry.^[16]

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 would have protected chicken farmers from being threatened or punished by the companies they work for if they spoke out regarding their farming experiences.^[17]

In December 2017, Womack voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.^[18][19][20]

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.^[21][22][23]

Committee assignments[]

• Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (Ranking Member)
  • Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
  • United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense

Caucus memberships[]

• United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus^[24]
• Republican Study Committee
• Republican Governance Group^[25]

Political positions[]

In 2016, Womack had a "D" rating from marijuana legalization advocacy group NORML for his voting record on cannabis-related matters.^{[26][failed verification]}

Personal life[]

Womack attends Cross Church Pinnacle Hills, a Southern Baptist church in Rogers, Arkansas.^[27]

Womack's son, James Phillip Womack, was sentenced to nine years in prison on felony gun and drug charges in April 2019.^[28]

Electoral history[]

Year	Office	District	Democratic		Republican		Libertarian		Other
2010	U.S. House of Representatives	Arkansas's 3rd district	David Whitaker	27.56%	Steve Womack	72.44%
2012	U.S. House of Representatives	Arkansas's 3rd district			Steve Womack	75.9%	David Pangrac	8.09%	Rebekah Kennedy (G)	16.01%
2014	U.S. House of Representatives	Arkansas's 3rd district			Steve Womack	79.41%	Grant Brand	20.59%
2016	U.S. House of Representatives	Arkansas's 3rd district			Steve Womack	77.31%	Steve Isaacson	22.69%
2018	U.S. House of Representatives	Arkansas's 3rd district	Joshua Mahony	32.65%	Steve Womack	64.78%	Michael Kalagias	2.57%
2020	U.S. House of Representatives	Arkansas's 3rd district	Celeste Williams	31.81%	Steve Womack	64.31%	Michael Kalagias	3.88%

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Steve Womack.

• Congressman Steve Womack official U.S. House website
• Steve Womack for Congress
• Steve Womack at Curlie

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by John Boozman	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arkansas's 3rd congressional district 2011–present	Incumbent
Preceded by Diane Black	Chair of the House Budget Committee 2018–2019	Succeeded by John Yarmuth
New office	Chair of the Joint Budget and Appropriations Reform Committee 2018–2019	Position abolished
Preceded by John Yarmuth	Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee 2019–2021	Succeeded by Jason Smith
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by Frederica Wilson	United States representatives by seniority 154th	Succeeded by Mark Amodei

show v t Arkansas's delegation(s) to the 112th–present United States Congresses (ordered by seniority)
112th	Senate: ▌M. Pryor (D) ▌J. Boozman (R)	House: ▌M. Ross (D) ▌R. Crawford (R) ▌T. Griffin (R) ▌S. Womack (R)
113th	Senate: ▌M. Pryor (D) ▌J. Boozman (R)	House: ▌R. Crawford (R) ▌T. Griffin (R) ▌S. Womack (R) ▌T. Cotton (R)
114th	Senate: ▌J. Boozman (R) ▌T. Cotton (R)	House: ▌R. Crawford (R) ▌S. Womack (R) ▌F. Hill (R) ▌B. Westerman (R)
115th	Senate: ▌J. Boozman (R) ▌T. Cotton (R)	House: ▌R. Crawford (R) ▌S. Womack (R) ▌F. Hill (R) ▌B. Westerman (R)
116th	Senate: ▌J. Boozman (R) ▌T. Cotton (R)	House: ▌R. Crawford (R) ▌S. Womack (R) ▌F. Hill (R) ▌B. Westerman (R)
117th	Senate: ▌J. Boozman (R) ▌T. Cotton (R)	House: ▌R. Crawford (R) ▌S. Womack (R) ▌F. Hill (R) ▌B. Westerman (R)