Mary Miller (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Miller
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Official portrait, 2021
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 15th district |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | John Shimkus |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Mary E. Meyer
August 27, 1959 Oak Park, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Chris Miller
(m. 1980) |
| Children | 7 |
| Residence | Oakland, Illinois |
| Education | Eastern Illinois University (BS) |
Mary E. Miller (born August 27, 1959) is an American politician. She serves as a U.S. Representative for Illinois's 15th congressional district. She has held this position since 2021. As a representative, she works on important issues for her state. She is part of the Republican Party.
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Early Life and Education
Mary Miller was born in Oak Park, Illinois. Her parents were Annette and Harvey Meyer. She went to Naperville Central High School in Naperville, Illinois. After high school, she studied at Eastern Illinois University. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business management. She also took some classes in education.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
Mary Miller is a member of the United States House of Representatives. This is part of the U.S. Congress. She helps make laws for the country.
How She Was Elected
2020 Election
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Mary Miller decided to run for Congress in 2020. She wanted to represent Illinois's 15th district. The previous representative, John Shimkus, was retiring. Miller won the Republican Party's nomination. This was the most important part of the election in her district. She then won the general election with over 70% of the votes.
She became the first Republican woman from Illinois in Congress since 2013. Her campaign focused on helping farmers. She also wanted to bring manufacturing jobs back to Illinois. After the election, she supported claims that the 2020 presidential election was "tainted."
2022 Election
In 2022, the election map for Illinois changed. Miller ran against another Republican, Rodney Davis. Miller won the primary election by about 14 points. She had the support of former President Donald Trump.
2024 Election
Mary Miller ran for re-election in 2024. She won the Republican primary election without anyone running against her. She also won the general election without any opponents. There were no candidates from other parties.
Her Time in Congress
On January 6, 2021, Congress met to count the votes for the 2020 presidential election. Mary Miller was one of the representatives who objected to the votes. She questioned the results from Arizona and Pennsylvania.
What Committees She Works On
In Congress, representatives work on different committees. These groups focus on specific topics. For the 118th Congress, Mary Miller is on these committees:
- Committee on Agriculture: This committee deals with farming and food.
- Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology
- Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit
- Committee on Education and the Workforce: This committee focuses on schools and jobs.
- Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education
- Subcommittee on Workforce Protections
Groups She Belongs To
Mary Miller is also a member of special groups in Congress. These are called caucuses.
- Freedom Caucus: This group is known for its very conservative views.
- Republican Study Committee: This is another large group of conservative Republicans.
Her Political Views
Mary Miller is known for her very conservative political views. She is a member of the Freedom Caucus. People often describe her as being on the "far right" of the Republican Party.
Views on LGBT Rights
Mary Miller has introduced bills about gender identity. In 2021, she proposed a law called the Safety and Opportunity for Girls Act. This bill would prevent transgender girls from using bathrooms that match their gender identity in schools.
She has also spoken against laws that support same-sex marriage. She believes these laws go against "traditional family" values. She voted against the Respect for Marriage Act. This law would protect the right to same-sex marriage. She said it was part of a "radical agenda."
Views on President Biden
Miller has criticized President Joe Biden. She has said that his policies could lead to problems at the border. She also believes his leadership has hurt the "American way of life."
Capitol Police Medals
In June 2021, Congress voted to give special medals to police officers. These officers defended the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Mary Miller was one of 21 House Republicans who voted against giving these medals.
Foreign Policy Views
Mary Miller has specific views on how the U.S. should interact with other countries.
Europe
In 2022, Miller supported a bill called the Secure America's Borders First Act. This bill would stop military help to Ukraine. It would instead focus on the U.S. border with Mexico. She also voted against providing $40 billion in aid to Ukraine. Miller was one of 18 Republicans who voted against Sweden and Finland joining NATO.
Middle East and Africa
In 2021, Miller voted to end a law that allowed military force in Iraq. She also voted against a program to help countries in North and West Africa fight terrorism.
Myanmar
In March 2021, Miller voted against a measure that condemned a military takeover in Myanmar. The reasons for her vote were not clear.
Immigration Views
Miller has supported bills to change immigration laws. She sponsored a bill to end birthright citizenship. This means that children born in the U.S. would not automatically be citizens. She also supported a bill to change the H-1B visa program. This program allows skilled foreign workers to come to the U.S.
Religious Freedom Views
Mary Miller believes that God should have a bigger role in public schools. She has also shown support for Christian nationalism. This idea suggests that the U.S. is a Christian nation.
Family Leave Views
Miller introduced a bill called the Working Families Flexibility Act of 2021. This bill would allow employees to choose paid time off instead of overtime pay. It would cap this time off at 160 hours per year.
Unions Views
Miller sponsored a bill that would require companies to include workers on their boards. This bill is called the Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 2022.
Trade Views
Miller supports trade policies that protect American businesses. She believes that past trade deals, like NAFTA, did not benefit American farmers enough.
Big Tech Views
In 2022, Miller voted for a bill to crack down on large technology companies. This bill, the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022, aims to prevent unfair business practices.
Controversial Comment
In January 2021, Mary Miller made a controversial comment. She quoted Adolf Hitler during a speech. She said, "Whoever has the youth has the future." Many groups and politicians criticized her for this. They found the comment offensive. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Anti-Defamation League spoke out.
On January 7, her office said her remarks were meant to compare how "left-wing radicals" influence youth. They said she wanted Republicans to also reach out to young people. On January 8, Miller apologized for quoting Hitler. However, she also said her critics were twisting her words.
Personal Life
Mary Miller is married to Chris Miller. He is a state representative in Illinois. They own a farm in Oakland, Illinois. On their farm, they grow grain and raise cattle. They have seven children and 20 grandchildren. The Millers are members of the Oakland Christian Church.
Images for kids
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Mary Miller speaking at an event in 2020
