44 Facts About Peter Roskam

Peter Roskam is a member of the Republican Party and served as the Chief Deputy Majority Whip from 2011 to 2014, ranking fourth among House Republican leaders.

Peter Roskam served as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax Policy for the 115th Congress.

Peter Roskam was born in Hinsdale, Illinois, the son of Martha and Verlyn Ronald Peter Roskam.

Peter Roskam was the fourth of five children and was raised in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, graduating from Glenbard West High School.

In 1984, Peter Roskam taught history and government at All Saints High School in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands.

The Chicago Tribune noted that Peter Roskam earned over $615,000 in 2005 as a personal injury trial lawyer.

Peter Roskam served in the Illinois General Assembly as a Representative from 1993 to 1998, and Senator from 2000 to 2006.

Peter Roskam has authored or co-authored fourteen bills to cut taxes.

Peter Roskam sponsored an Illinois state Senate bill that would have allowed retired military and police personnel to carry concealed weapons.

In November 2006, Peter Roskam expressed opposition to raising the national minimum wage from $5.15 per hour, referring to possible effect on small businesses.

Peter Roskam was endorsed by the Teamsters labor union, The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

In March 2008, Peter Roskam was again nominated to run for the 6th District seat in the Republican Primary.

Peter Roskam became the Chief Deputy Whip in the 112th Congress, ranking fourth among house Republican leaders.

On February 22,2017, Crain's Chicago Business reported that Peter Roskam was one of three Illinois congressional members to receive pension benefits from the State of Illinois while collecting a paycheck as a member of the US House, and began collecting $37,452 in annual pension benefits.

On January 2,2017, Peter Roskam vocally supported a measure to eliminate the independence of the Office of Congressional Ethics, placing it under the jurisdiction of the House Ethics Committee, a measure that some described as dissolving the office.

When it comes to co-sponsoring legislation Peter Roskam was ranked number 153rd in bipartisanship in the House for the 114th Congress and 25th in the first year of the 115th Congress, according to the Bipartisan Index published by The Lugar Center and Georgetown's McCourt School of Public Policy.

Peter Roskam received a National Rifle Association endorsement for being a supporter of gun rights.

On July 15,2006, Peter Roskam was the featured guest at an NRA support rally for him in Addison, Illinois.

On September 25,2007, Peter Roskam voted with the majority of his party against expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

On January 12,2007, Peter Roskam voted with the majority of his party against the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act, which would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower covered Part D drug prices on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries.

Peter Roskam was in favor of repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Peter Roskam told The Hill that he opposes any measures that would add private savings accounts or slice up the current program to create a private account.

Peter Roskam supported the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement.

Peter Roskam advocates making permanent the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, and has sponsored or cosponsored fourteen pieces of legislation for lower taxes, including child tax credits and reducing the income tax, and has stated support for a research and development tax credit.

Peter Roskam voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, saying that the middle class was crumbling under the current tax code.

In March 2007, Peter Roskam announced a $3 million Department of Energy grant to the Des Plaines-based Gas Technology Institute.

Later, Peter Roskam voted against legislation boosting automobile fuel economy requirements to an industry average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020.

Peter Roskam stated he voted against the bill as a protection of the free market.

Peter Roskam has stated that this would be the nation's first suburb-to-suburb commuter rail line.

Peter Roskam had a "D" rating from NORML for his voting history regarding cannabis-related causes.

Peter Roskam opposed to veterans having access to medical marijuana if recommended by their Veterans Health Administration doctor and if it is legal for medicinal purposes in their state of residence.

Peter Roskam had argued against embryonic stem cell research in the Illinois Senate, even if privately funded, and voted against the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act in Congress.

Peter Roskam was an adamant opponent of the 2015 internal nuclear agreement with Iran, saying that he viewed it as important to fight the agreement in every possible way.

In 2016, Peter Roskam opposed the Treasury Department's grant of a license to Airbus and Boeing to deliver planes contracted for by Iran Air.

Peter Roskam said that Congress would attempt to stymie the aviation agreements by making delivery of the aircraft difficult and expensive.

Peter Roskam wanted the US government to hold accountable Qatar for its support of Hamas.

Peter Roskam had appealed to the Obama Administration for support.

Peter Roskam joined the US Treasury Department in his criticism.

On July 31,2014, Peter Roskam joined Secretary of State John Kerry and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to urge the Obama Administration to end the United States partnership with Qatar.

Peter Roskam cited an article published by The New York Times, which accused Qatar's emir of pledging $400 million in financial aid to Hamas in October 2012.

In February 2017, Peter Roskam led a bipartisan House delegation that visited Kosovo to reiterate American support for that country.

On September 21,2006, Peter Roskam said that the US should "stay the course" and that US troops should not return home until Iraq is safe.

In July 2019, Peter Roskam joined the Chicago office of law firm Sidley Austin, which has a large Washington presence, as a partner in the government strategies group.

In January 2023, Peter Roskam was named federal policy head of the lobbying practice at Washington, DC-based law firm BakerHostetler.