Summary
Current Position: President and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce since 2011
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position: US Representative for Ohio !5th District from 2011 – 2021
Steven Ernst Stivers (/ˈstaɪvərz/ STY-vərz; born March 24, 1965) is an American businessman and politician who was the U.S. Representative for Ohio’s 15th congressional district from 2011 until 2021. He is a member of the Republican Party, and became chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee in 2017. Stivers previously served in the Ohio Senate, representing the 15th district. He is a major general in the Ohio Army National Guard, serving as the Assistant Adjutant General, and served active duty in Iraq as Battalion Commander until December 2005.
On May 16, 2021, he resigned his seat to become the president and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.
Source: Wikipedia
OnAir Post: Steve Stivers
News
A special primary election for the 15th congressional district to replace Steve Stivers will be held Tuesday.
Eleven Republicans are vying for the vacant seat formerly held by the Republican Stivers. He left Congress on May 16 to head up the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.
GOP candidates include State Rep. Jeff LaRe, who has been endorsed by Stivers. LaRe is from the Lancaster-area and previously worked in law enforcement.
Former President Donald Trump has endorsed Mike Carey, a coal lobbyist. He has raised the most money in the race.
Some of the other Republicans in the race include State Rep. Stephanie Kunze of Hilliard, State Senator Bob Peterson of Washington Court House and former Columbus NAACP President Ruth Edmonds.
On the Democratic side, only two candidates are running for the seat. They are retired U.S. Army Col. Greg Betts, who served several combat tours in the Middle East and State Rep. Allison Russo of Upper Arlington.
Polls open Tuesday morning at 6:30. The winners from the primary election will compete to serve the final year of Stivers’ term in the November election.
About
Source: Government page
Steve Stivers is currently serving his fifth term as a Member of Congress and represents Ohio’s 15th Congressional District, which is made up of 12 counties including, all of Clinton, Fairfield, Hocking, Madison, Morgan, Perry, Pickaway, and Vinton counties, and parts of Athens, Fayette, Franklin, and Ross counties.
Stivers has served on the Financial Services Committee throughout his time in Congress, which oversees the banking, insurance, real estate, public and assisted housing, and securities industries. The Committee also reviews housing and consumer protection legislation and has jurisdiction over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Reserve Bank.
Throughout his career, Steve Stivers has worked to encourage job creation, promote economic development, and put our country’s fiscal house in order. He is the lead sponsor of a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, which would restrict the federal government from spending more than it brings in.
Stivers has also been a strong advocate for veterans and their families. In his first term, he passed the HIRE at Home Act and TRICARE for Kids to help returning soldiers reenter the job market and provide their children better health care, respectfully. In his second term, he passed legislation to re-name two postal facilities located in Ohio’s 15th Congressional District after area veterans who had given their lives in service to our country.
During 114th Congress, in his continued work to combat Ohio’s opiate epidemic, Stivers was the lead cosponsor of H.R. 1462, The Protecting Our Infants Act, a new law which ensures a coordinated federal response to Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), a devastating condition that impacts babies born to drug addicted mothers. Additionally, Stivers was the lead cosponsor of the Reducing Unused Medications Act, H.R. 4599, which seeks to reduce the availability opioids for abuse by allowing for a partial fill of such prescriptions, if requested by a doctor or patient. This bill was signed into law in 2016.
Prior to running for Congress, Stivers served in the Ohio Senate. He also worked in the private sector for the Ohio Company and Bank One, where he focused on promoting economic development and encouraging job creation.
A career soldier, Stivers has served over 30 years in the Ohio Army National Guard and holds the rank of Brigadier General. He served the United States overseas during Operation Iraqi Freedom in Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar and Djibouti where he led 400 soldiers and contractors and is proud that each and every one returned home safely to the United States. Stivers received the Bronze Star for his leadership throughout the deployment.
Stivers received both his bachelor’s degree and his MBA from The Ohio State University and resides in Columbus with his wife, Karen, and children, Sarah and Sam.
Experience
Work Experience
- Served as a member of the member of the Ohio State Senate
2003 to 2008
Education
- B.A.
Ohio State University
1989 - M.B.A
Ohio State University
1996
Personal
Birth Year: 1965
Place of Birth: Ripley, OH
Gender: Male
Race(s): Caucasian
Spouse: Karen Stivers
Children: Sam Stivers, Sarah Stivers
Contact
Email:
Offices
Washington D.C. Office
2234 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2015
Fax: (202) 225-3529
Central Ohio District Office
3790 Municipal Way
Hilliard, OH 43026
Phone: (614) 771-4968
Fax: (614) 771-3990
Fairfield County Office
104 East Main Street
Lancaster, OH 43130
Phone: (740) 654-2654
Fax: (740) 654-2482
Clinton County Office
69 N. South Street
Wilmington, OH 45177
Phone: (937) 283-7049
Fax: (937) 283-7052
Web
Government Page, Campaign Site, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Wikipedia
Politics
Source: none
Recent Elections
2020
| Steve Stivers (R) | 41,749 | 88.1% |
| Shelby Hunt (R) | 5,627 | 11.9% |
| TOTAL | 47,376 |
Source: Ballotpedia
Finances
STIVERS, STEVEN (STEVE) has run in 7 races for public office, winning 6 of them. The candidate has raised a total of $18,384,149.
Source: Follow the Money
Committees
Committees
House Committee on Financial Services
Subcommittees
Housing, Community Development, and Insurance
Investor Protection, Entrepreneurship, and Capital Markets
Voting Record
See: Vote Smart
New Legislation
Source: Congress.gov
Issues
Governance
In my lifetime, the federal government has only managed to balance its budget five times. Clearly, our federal government has a systemic problem which deserves a systemic solution. That solution is a Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) to the United States Constitution.
The BBA will bring accountability to our government by forcing Congress to rein in the out-of-control spending and adhere to a balanced budget. The debates over the budget in the last few years has only strengthened my resolve, and the fight to address the critical issues facing our nation is not over. I will continue efforts to work toward a fiscally-responsible budget today to ensure a better future for the next generation of Americans. It is what our children deserve.
That’s why, in the 114th Congress, I proposed an amendment to the House Rules implementing a system that will help support the nation-wide push for a BBA. The rule will allow the U.S. House of Representatives to track, document and count the number of incoming Article V Constitutional Convention petitions from state legislatures. I was proud to see this rule pass in a vote on the House Floor in January 2015.
I am also pursuing a strategy through Congress to pass a Balanced Budget Amendment. On July 27, 2017, I introduced House Joint Resolution 110, a bipartisan constitutional amendment which would restrict the federal government from spending more than it receives. The resolution would amend the United States Constitution, which will require a two-thirds majority of each house of Congress to approve it, and then subsequent ratification by 38 states. Whether we start with Congress or at the state level, I hope we will continue getting closer to the passage of the BBA to the United States Constitution.’
Furthermore, on April 12, 2018, the House of Representatives voted on H.J. Res. 2, a Balanced Budget Amendment introduced by Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) – which I supported. Unfortunately, the bill did not receive the super-majority it needed to be sent to the Senate, but the bipartisan support it received highlights the necessity of this amendment. Both sides of the aisle share a goal in balancing fiscal solvency with protecting programs that many members of our society depend on.
We face the national debt not as Republicans or Democrats, but as Americans. Our debt cannot be blamed on one President or one party because it was created by many years of uncontrolled spending and borrowing. However, the time for a serious measure that balances our budget and works to fix this pending disaster is now.
Economy
Agriculture is a major industry across our great nation. In Ohio alone, the agriculture industry generates about one out of every seven jobs.
On June 21, 2018, the House of Representatives passed the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, more commonly known as the Farm Bill. The Farm Bill reauthorizes our nation’s agriculture policy and must be signed into law every five years. I supported this legislation, and believe it will provide certainty to farmers in the future as they make planting decisions, implement twenty-first century agriculture innovations, and utilize conservation programs.
I have heard persistent concerns from farmers, especially young and reentering farmers, about access to capital and declining opportunities in the industry. For these reasons, I have consistently supported measures to provide relief to young farmers and others, such as veterans, seeking to start their careers here. For example, I have cosponsored legislation which would create a loan program within USDA to support mentorship and apprenticeship opportunities for veterans to become farmers or ranchers. I have also cosponsored a bill that would exclude the first $5,000 from the sale of agricultural projects at livestock shows from tax. This initiative would allow young farmers to keep more of their earnings.
Farmers have also expressed to me their concerns about federal overregulation and overreach. The Obama-era expansion of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule would give the federal government regulatory control over “navigable waters,” which includes farm ditches, agricultural ponds, and wetlands on farms and ranches. This rule created ambiguity for farmers, and I have supported measures to clarify this regulation.
I believe we need to pursue an “all-of-the-above” energy policy that encourages production of traditional and renewable sources, however we must not lose sight of the fact that Ohio is an industrial state, with nearly all of our electricity produced by coal and natural gas power plants.
The U.S. energy sector has experienced rapid changes in just the past few years. Domestic production of oil and gas has surged, lowering gas prices for consumers and creating thousands of well-paid jobs in Ohio and across the country. Congress should encourage this exciting potential for significant job growth and greater energy independence.
AMERICAN MADE ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCURE JOBS ACT: Since the 112th Congress, I have introduced legislation to help take full advantage of our country’s resources. Most recently known as The American Made Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, my bipartisan bill would open up untapped oil resources in the Outer Continental Shelf which will raise revenue from new offshore drilling leases and provide a new dedicated source of revenue to fund infrastructure projects, creating thousands of new jobs.
Under the Obama Administration, there were numerous, burdensome new mandates and regulations put on our small businesses. That is why Congress has been doing away with the job-destroying restrictions that have been placed on our small businesses, and passing policies that is growing our economy. It is our small businesses that create a majority of the jobs across the country. We must support efforts to help small businesses grow and create jobs, not put our job creators on life support.
TAX REFORM: In December 2017, Congress passed the first overhaul our nation’s tax system in more than three decades. Since its passage, we have seen a tremendous amount of economic growth in our country. Unemployment is at a 20-year low of 3.8%, and consumer confidence is at a 17-year high. I believe that tax reform has made America more competitive, brought jobs back to our country, and put more money in the pockets of hardworking taxpayers. Read one of my columns about how tax reform is benefitting our country by clicking here.
REINS ACT: One of the first actions of the 115th Congress was to pass the REINS Act. This legislation requires agencies to submit major regulations to Congress for approval, and ensures these regulations cannot become effective until approved.
AMERICAN MADE ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE JOBS ACT: I have also introduced my own jobs initiative, The American Made Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, a bill which will create jobs, reduce the price of gas at the pump, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. My plan opens up untapped oil resources in the Outer Continental Shelf that will raise revenue from new offshore drilling leases and provide a new dedicated source of revenue to fund infrastructure projects, creating thousands of new jobs.
JOB FAIR: I have also hosted an annual Job Fair in the 15th District every year. The most recent Job Fair in June had over 80 employers on hand to connect with job seekers in a variety of fields. To stay up to date on future Job Fairs, be sure to subscribe to my e-newsletter by clicking here.
Health Care
I believe the American people deserve a better health care solution than Obamacare. Congress needs to fully repeal it and move forward with a deliberate, thoughtful, patient-centered approach that reduces the cost of health care across the board. That is why I have voted over 50 times to repeal, dismantle, or defund the health care law’s most harmful provisions. I remain fully committed to stopping this deeply flawed health care law, which has destroyed jobs, caused millions to lose their health insurance and inflicted unnecessary mandates on the American people.
On May 4, 2017, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1628, the American Health Care Act (AHCA) that seeks to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Though was not a perfect bill, I believe this was a first step in fixing the issues of the bureaucracy and the out-of-control costs of the ACA. The AHCA works to protect people with pre-existing conditions. Instead of placing a tax on every individual and American business, this legislation encourages participation in the health care marketplace by providing protections for those who maintain their coverage and rewards them by making sure they cannot be denied coverage.
On June 22, 2017, the Senate released its initial version of the House-passed bill, the Better Care Reconciliation Act and considered other various versions of a health care repeal. The Senate was not able to come to an agreement on a health care bill.
Moving forward, I believe we need to come together on something that we can all agree on: bringing down the costs of health care. We can do this by establishing price transparency and giving people a personal stake in the game to incentivize patients to shop for health care.
I have listened carefully to seniors across my district, and have heard their thoughtful comments about Medicare. Your concerns were incorporated into the budget bill I voted for in the 114th Congress, and for that reason our legislation did not change Medicare for anyone 55 and older.
However, Medicare will go bankrupt if we do nothing. Congress has a moral obligation to save this program for future generations. We cannot continue down this road. I supported PROTECTING Medicare by ensuring no changes for those in or near retirement, and PRESERVING Medicare with true choice and competition for future generations.
We also need to root out waste, fraud and abuse from the Medicare system. The chief actuary for Medicare has said that as much as $150 billion in the program is wasted yearly. Allowing fraud and abuse to continue is wrong and why the plan I supported helps to stop it.
As Congress continues to debate the future of the health care system, I will continue working to ensure promises to our seniors are kept and Medicare is protected and preserved.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure impacts every constituent of the 15th District. From traditional projects like roads and bridges, to new investments necessary in 21st Century, such as broadband access, there are many improvements that can be made to move our country forward.
HIGHWAY TRUST FUND: I am currently working on legislation to create a dedicated fund to improve our highway infrastructure funded from the royalties of American-made energy. This legislation would raise funds from newly untapped energy resources in the Outer Continental Shelf, and use the revenue from these leases to directly fund the Department of Transportation Highway Trust Fund. The Highway Trust Fund provides resources for infrastructure projects in every state in the country.
CARROLL 33 INTERCHANGE: In May of 2017, the Carroll 33 Interchange was officially opened, a project that I was proud to be a part of. This $44.5 million investment replaced the intersection of Winchester Road and U.S. 33 with ramps and connectors – another step in fully connecting a quicker route between Columbus and Athens. This project was a partnership between local, state, and federal officials and is already saving commuters from wasting hours in traffic and making the commute safer and more efficient.
RURAL BROADBAND: Another important aspect of infrastructure is broadband access. In today’s world, broadband connectivity is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. That is why I held a roundtable in Hocking County. I hope that private-public partnerships will help bridge the digital divide, because infrastructure can do more than reduce traffic jams. It has the capability to alleviate poverty, improve infant mortality rates, and even lower cancer incidence.
The advantages of infrastructure investment are clear, and I plan to keep working to connect our district and bring it up to speed.
Veterans
From the Revolutionary War to those serving overseas today, members of the U.S. military over the years have bravely answered the call to serve time and time again. As a Brigadier General in the Ohio Army National Guard, I understand the importance of showing our appreciation for the service and sacrifice of our veterans. We need to do everything we can to support those who have given us our freedoms.
HIRE AT HOME ACT: We must ensure that when our veterans return home, they have access to the proper care and the services they need to be successful. In the 112th Congress, I introduced the HIRE at Home Act to help make it easier for returning veterans in the fields of health care and transportation to find employment once they are home. I was proud to see this bill signed into law by President Obama.
HONOR THOSE WHO SERVED ACT: Implemented during my second term in Congress, the Honor Those Who Served Act made it easier to provide headstones for veterans who currently do not have a headstone, or for those whose headstones have deteriorated.
THE PLACE OF REMEMBRANCE ACT: Also implemented in my second term of Congress, the Place of Remembrance Act created a Tomb of Remembrance at Arlington National Cemetery for the interment of veterans’ remains from every military conflict moving forward. The dedication ceremony for the Tomb of Remembrance was held in December of 2017.
NATIONAL VETERANS MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM: During both the 114th and 115th Congress, I led legislation with the entire Ohio Delegation to give national designation status to the “National Veterans Memorial and Museum” being constructed in Columbus. The museum, located at 300 West Broad Street in Columbus, Ohio, will serve as a civic landmark to honor, connect, inspire and educate all Americans about the service and sacrifice of our nation’s more than 22 million veterans. It will be the only public museum of its kind that exists for the exclusive role of sharing the experiences of veterans across all eras, conflicts and branches of the military. I was proud this legislation was signed into law on June 21, 2018.
VETERANS DOG TRAINING THERAPY ACT: [BM1] Many veterans also come home with non-physical wounds and it is important we are prepared to treat these conditions. On May 1, 2017, I reintroduced the Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act to help give veterans dealing with PTS an outlet to help themselves and other veterans. The bill would establish a pilot program to connect veterans to local service dog training organizations, which will help each veteran train service animals through proven work therapy programs to help those suffering from PTS.
On June 25, 2019, I introduced H.R. 3147, which would authorize the VA to provide service dogs to veterans with mental health needs who do not have a mobility, vision, or hearing need. This would close an existing loophole that exists between Congressionally-passed law and VA-promulgated regulations.
VETERANS’ ACCESS TO CARE: I also voted in favor of the VA MISSION Act, which was signed into law during the 115th Congress. This law provided $5 billion to the existing Veterans Choice program to expand the care-in-the-community infrastructure. The bill also provided funding to train and hire additional physicians and medical staff, with an emphasis on improving mental health services. It is clear that much needs to be accomplished so our veterans can receive the care they earned and deserve.
I would like to thank all our veterans and those currently serving our nation so bravely. If you have a VA casework issue, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 740-654-2654 or click here to find answers to the most commonly asked questions about the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Drug Abuse and Treatment
In Ohio, we are under siege from a drug use and overdose epidemic, averaging five deaths per day. That is why I hold an annual Opiate Roundtable in the district, which brings together state and local officials as well as law enforcement, treatment experts and the medical community to discuss strategies to address this terrible epidemic.
We have also seen a record number of babies in the United States being born suffering from withdrawal. Here in Ohio, the rate of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) grew over 600 percent from 2004 to 2011. This is a tragic statistic, and I believe we need to do something to stop it.
Protecting Our Infants Act: That is why I joined Congresswoman Katherine Clark (D-MA) to introduce the Protecting Our Infants Act. This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to develop best practices for medical professionals dealing with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. I am proud that this bill was signed into law by the President on November 25, 2016.
Reducing Unused Medications Act: I am also proud to be the lead cosponsor of H.R. 4599, the Reducing Unused Medications Act, which would allow prescriptions for opioid medications to be partially filled by pharmacists at the request of patients or doctors. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than 70 percent of adults who misuse prescription opioids get them from friends or relatives. This legislation would reduce the number of unused painkillers. I am proud that this legislation was included in the final passage of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), which was signed then signed into law by President Obama.
RESULTS Act: Moving forward, we need to build on these pieces of legislation through initiatives such as supporting evidence-based treatment, removing pain as a vital sign, exploring alternative treatments, and tapering opioid use. Just this year, I joined Congressman Eliot L. Engel (D-NY) to introduce the Reinforcing Evidence-Based Standards Under Law in Treating Substance Abuse (RESULTS) Act. This bipartisan legislation would ensure that federal grants intended to treat mental health and substance use disorders fund initiatives that are backed by sound evidence, or will help build the evidence base for innovative therapies.
Drug addiction is an issue that affects our families, communities, states and the nation. Please know that I am committed to the fight against drug addiction.
Financial Literacy
If you would like to learn more about setting yourself up for financial success, here are a few opportunities and resources to learn more about this important issue:
Jump$tart | A national coalition of organizations dedicated to improving financial literacy in those kindergarten through college.
U.S. Department of the Treasury | The Department of the Treasury lists helpful information and documents in its Resource Center.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation | The FDIC’s financial education curriculum, Money Smart, helps low- and moderate-income individuals develop and improve their financial skills and literacy.
State Treasurer of Ohio | The State Treasurer of Ohio offers financial education tools and resources for Ohioans.
Financial Services
The House Financial Services Committee considers measures on banking, economic stabilization, insurance, international finance, and securities. The financial services industry is important to the region I represent in Congress, with more than 68,000 financial services jobs in Central Ohio.
As a Member of the Financial Services Committee, I am leading the fight to allow our markets to function more effectively to boost economic competition. I serve on the Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises and the Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity. I also serve as co-chair of the Financial Literacy Caucus with Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-OH) and the Middle Market Growth Caucus with Congressman Tom MacArthur (R-NJ), Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) and Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ).
Below are some of my priorities in the 115th Congress:
SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT AVAILABILITY ACT: This Congress, I introduced the Small Business Credit Availability Act along with Representatives Brad Sherman (D-CA), Patrick McHenry (R-NC), and Gwen Moore (D-WI). This bipartisan legislation will make important reforms to enable Business Development Companies (BDCs) to deploy more capital to America’s small and middle market companies, allowing them to meet their financing needs so they can grow their businesses and hire more workers.
The legislation reduces BDCs’ asset-ratio requirement enabling more investments in small and middle-market America. The bill would also modernize BDCs’ securities offering requirements by eliminating costly and duplicative regulatory paperwork that diverts investments away from job creation and economic growth. I was proud to see this legislation signed into law as part of the omnibus funding bill in March 2018.
FINANCIAL CHOICE ACT: This Congress, the committee’s priorities include creating jobs, implementing Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s transition out of Federal conservatorship, and improving cybersecurity of consumers’ personal information. The committee has also been focused on doing away with the job-killing provisions of Dodd-Frank.
Last year, the House passed H.R. 10, the Financial CHOICE Act, a comprehensive reform of Dodd-Frank. The regulations stemming from Dodd-Frank have caused great harm to consumers – including preventing some Americans from getting loans to buy a car or house – while doing little to protect us from future crisis. The CHOICE Act will reduce regulations and encourage economic growth and opportunity for Americans. Read more about the Financial CHOICE Act by clicking here.
For additional information on financial service issues, you can CLICK HERE to go to the House Financial Services Committee Web site or contact my office at 202-225-2015.
