Peter Roskam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Roskam
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 6th district |
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| In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Henry Hyde |
| Succeeded by | Sean Casten |
| House Republican Chief Deputy Whip | |
| In office January 3, 2011 – August 1, 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Kevin McCarthy |
| Succeeded by | Patrick McHenry |
| Member of the Illinois Senate from the 48th district |
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| In office January 15, 2000 – January 3, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Beverly Fawell |
| Succeeded by | Randy Hultgren |
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 40th district |
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| In office January 13, 1993 – January 12, 1999 |
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| Preceded by | Daniel Cronin |
| Succeeded by | Randy Hultgren |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Peter James Roskam
September 13, 1961 Hinsdale, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Elizabeth Roskam
(m. 1989) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (BA) Illinois Institute of Technology (JD) |
Peter James Roskam (born September 13, 1961) is an American politician and lobbyist. He served as a U.S. representative for Illinois's 6th district for six terms, from 2007 to 2019. He is a member of the Republican Party. From 2011 to 2014, he was the chief deputy majority whip, which meant he helped lead the Republican Party in the House of Representatives. Before working in the U.S. House, he was a member of both the Illinois Senate and the Illinois House of Representatives. In 2023, he started leading the federal policy team at a law firm called BakerHostetler.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Peter Roskam was born in Hinsdale, Illinois. He was the fourth of five children and grew up in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. He went to Glenbard West High School.
He earned his college degree in political science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Later, he got his law degree (J.D.) from the Chicago-Kent College of Law. While in law school, he was named "Best Oral Advocate" in a national competition.
Early Career and Family
In 1984, Roskam taught history and government at a high school in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. He also worked as an assistant for two U.S. Congressmen, Tom DeLay and Henry Hyde. In the late 1980s, he helped run a scholarship program for children in need, which his father started.
In 1992, Roskam was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives, where he served until 1999. In 2000, he was chosen to join the Illinois State Senate. He stayed there until he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Peter Roskam lives in Wheaton, Illinois with his wife, Elizabeth. They have four children.
After his parents visited Vietnam and saw American veterans' dog tags for sale, his family worked to return these tags to their original owners or their families.
Serving in the Illinois State Government
Peter Roskam served in the Illinois General Assembly as a state representative from 1993 to 1998. Then, he was a state senator from 2000 to 2006.
Key Roles and Laws
As a state senator, Roskam was the Republican whip. This meant he helped gather votes and keep his party organized. He also served on important committees like the Executive Committee and the Judiciary Committee.
He supported laws that:
- Gave the Supreme Court of Illinois the power to change a death penalty sentence.
- Increased penalties for people who repeatedly drive under the influence.
- Helped courts make sure parents paid child support.
- Cut taxes.
Views on Important Issues
Gun Policy
Roskam supported a bill that would have allowed retired military and police officers to carry concealed weapons in Illinois.
Healthcare
Roskam stated he was against making changes to Social Security that would reduce benefits or raise taxes. He also said he was against allowing private accounts for Social Security.
Minimum Wage
In 2006, Roskam did not support raising the national minimum wage. He was concerned about how it might affect small businesses.
Tax Reform
In 2004, he voted against a plan to raise taxes on cosmetic surgery to fund stem cell research. The plan did not pass.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
Peter Roskam served in the United States House of Representatives from 2007 to 2019.
Elections for Congress
1998 Election
In 1998, Roskam first ran for Congress in Illinois's 13th district. He lost in the Republican primary election to Judy Biggert.
2006 Election
In 2006, Congressman Henry Hyde retired and supported Roskam to take his place. Roskam ran against Democrat Tammy Duckworth, who was a veteran of the Iraq War. This election was very close and widely watched. Roskam won by a small margin, 51% to 49%.
2008 Election
In 2008, Roskam ran for re-election against Democrat Jill Morgenthaler. Roskam won this election by a larger margin, 58% to 42%.
Later Elections
Roskam was re-elected in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016. He won these elections by significant margins.
2018 Election
In 2018, the district had become more competitive. Hillary Clinton had won the district in the 2016 presidential election. Roskam was challenged by Democrat Sean Casten. Roskam was defeated by Casten, who won 53.6% of the vote.
Time in Office
From 2011 to 2014, Roskam was the chief deputy whip for the Republican Party in the House. This made him one of the top four Republican leaders.
In 2013, the House Ethics Committee looked into a trip Roskam and his wife took to Taiwan. The committee closed its review without finding any problems.
In 2017, Roskam supported a plan to change how the Office of Congressional Ethics worked. This office investigates ethical issues among members of Congress.
Committee Assignments
While in the House, Roskam served on important committees:
- Committee on Ways and Means: This committee handles tax laws and other financial matters.
- He was the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Tax Policy.
- He also served on the Subcommittee on Health.
- House Select Committee on the Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attack in Benghazi: This committee investigated the attack in Benghazi, Libya.
Political Views
Peter Roskam often voted with his Republican Party. He also supported President Trump's positions on many issues. He was known for working with members of both parties on some bills.
Environment
In 2006, Roskam called climate science "junk science." However, in 2018, he joined the House Climate Solutions Caucus. He said it was important to understand the effects of a changing climate and find solutions. Later that year, he voted against a tax on carbon emissions.
Gun Policy
Roskam supported gun rights. He was endorsed by the National Rifle Association of America (NRA). In 2018, his rating from the NRA was lowered, and he was not endorsed for re-election.
Healthcare
Roskam helped get over $50 million in federal money for healthcare facilities and programs in his district. He supported expanding emergency rooms and mental health programs.
He voted against expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program in 2007. He also voted against a bill that would have required the government to negotiate lower drug prices for Medicare.
Roskam was in favor of getting rid of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare). In 2017, he voted to replace it with the American Health Care Act of 2017. He also opposed Obamacare's health insurance tax.
Social Security
Roskam stated he would protect Social Security and was against plans that would reduce benefits. He also said he opposed creating private savings accounts within the Social Security program.
Economic Issues
Roskam supported the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). He also supported making the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts permanent. He sponsored or co-sponsored many bills to lower taxes, including child tax credits.
In 2010, he signed a promise to vote against any global warming laws that would raise taxes. In 2017, he voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which lowered taxes for many Americans.
Technology
Roskam voted to overturn a rule that would have required internet providers to get customer permission before selling their personal data. He believed this protected the free market.
Energy
In 2007, Roskam announced a $3 million grant from the Department of Energy to the Gas Technology Institute in Illinois. He also supported a bill to fund research into ethanol fuel.
However, he voted against a law that would have increased fuel economy requirements for cars. He also voted against a bill to prevent price gouging (charging very high prices) for fuel, saying it protected the free market.
Roskam and another representative proposed the Energy VISION Act. This plan aimed to end America's reliance on foreign energy within 15 years by using conservation, alternative fuels, and more domestic energy exploration.
Infrastructure
Roskam helped pass a law that made sure Mexican trucks met U.S. safety rules before driving beyond the border zone.
He also worked to prevent the CN Railway from buying the EJ&E Railway. He wanted part of the EJ&E line to be used for a new suburb-to-suburb commuter rail line in Illinois.
Immigration
Roskam opposed the Senate's immigration reform bill in 2007. He supported a House bill that focused on stronger border security. He said his voters did not support "amnesty" for undocumented immigrants.
When President Trump signed an order to limit refugees and travelers from some Muslim-majority countries, Roskam supported the idea behind it, even though he said the way it was put into action was "bumpy."
Social Issues
Roskam was against same-sex marriage. He supported research using adult and umbilical cord stem cells, but voted against a bill that would have expanded stem cell research.
Foreign Policy
Israel
Roskam worked to fight the BDS movement, which he described as an effort to harm Israel. He supported laws that pushed back against this movement. In 2018, he asked for $500 million for U.S.-Israeli defense cooperation, including money for the Iron Dome missile defense system.
Hezbollah
In 2016, Roskam asked the European Union to label Hezbollah's political group as a terrorist organization. He said there was no real difference between Hezbollah's military and political parts.
Iran
Roskam was a strong opponent of the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran. He worked to make it harder for the agreement to pass. He also opposed allowing Airbus and Boeing to sell planes to Iran Air.
Qatar
Roskam wanted the U.S. government to hold Qatar responsible for supporting Hamas. He urged the Obama Administration to end the U.S. partnership with Qatar, citing its support for groups like Hamas and Al-Qaeda.
Cuba
Roskam was against the U.S. normalizing relations with Cuba. He called it a "dangerous mistake" and said it rewarded Cuba's "repressive, dictatorial rule."
Guantanamo Bay
Roskam strongly opposed President Obama's plan to move prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay detention camp to a prison in Thomson, Illinois.
Kosovo
In 2017, Roskam led a group of House members who visited Kosovo to show American support for that country.
Iraq War
In 2006, Roskam said that the U.S. should "stay the course" in the Iraq War and that troops should not come home until Iraq was safe.
After Congress
In July 2019, Peter Roskam joined the law firm Sidley Austin as a partner. In this role, he works as a lobbyist and consultant. In January 2023, he was named the head of federal policy for the lobbying team at BakerHostetler, another law firm.
Images for kids
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Roskam in 2016
