John Shadegg has represented Arizona's Third Congressional District since 1994. He has established a reputation in Congress as a leading advocate for reduced government spending, federal tax relief, and the re-establishment of state and individual rights.
Shadegg gained a national profile when he ran for House Majority Leader to fill the vacancy created by Tom DeLay’s resignation. Shadegg was widely credited with changing the dynamic of the debate and ultimately the outcome. Following John Boehner’s election as Majority Leader, Robert Novak wrote: “It is clear that [Roy] Blunt would have been routinely elected as majority leader had Shadegg not entered the race.” During the race, Shadegg received the endorsement of newspapers, magazines, and blogs from across the country, including the Arizona Republic, The San Diego Union Tribune, The Rocky Mountain News, The Indianapolis Star, The Mobile Register, National Review, Human Events, and Townhall.com.
Shadegg served as Chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee, the fifth-ranking position in the House Leadership, from 2005 to 2006. At the time, he was the only member of the Republican Class of 1994 serving in the House Leadership. He resigned that position when he entered the race for Majority Leader.
From 2000 to 2002, Shadegg was chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC), the largest conservative organization in the House of Representatives. Under Shadegg's leadership, the organization grew from 40 to more than 70 members, and became the most influential and respected force in the U.S. House shaping conservative policy for the country.
John Shadegg is a leader on health care issues, energy issues, and environmental policy.
He has introduced several bills to address the problem of the uninsured, lessen the bureaucracy of Medicare, give patients the right to hold HMOs accountable and strengthen the doctor/patient relationship.
Shadegg has also worked to promote greater choice, ownership, and portability in health insurance. His two bills – the Patients Health Care Reform Act and the Health Care Choice Act – offer comprehensive, free-market solutions to the rapidly rising cost of healthcare by allowing individuals to choose a health care plan that best meets their needs.
On energy policy, Shadegg has been a key player in shaping the comprehensive national energy legislation, which was enacted into law on August 8, 2005. He has also actively supported the advancement of hydroelectric power - the cleanest, non-polluting renewable resource available. His efforts to promote hydroelectricity have spilled over into his fight to save and preserve Lake Powell. Radical environmental groups have called for Lake Powell to be drained, which would have devastating economic and environmental consequences throughout the Southwest. Shadegg helped form the Friends of Lake Powell to fight efforts to drain the lake.
As a subcommittee chairman on the Homeland Security Committee in the 108th Congress, Shadegg led an investigation into how state and local homeland security grants are dispersed, advocated a threat-based system for allocating federal money for first responders, and worked to address the issue of bio-terrorism through the “Project Bioshield” legislation, which was signed into law by President Bush on July 21, 2004.
John Shadegg remains committed to his fights for fiscal responsibility in government, access to quality and affordable health care, and balanced energy and environmental policies. He will also continue his efforts to draft and pass wildfire prevention legislation that will help protect the Arizona's forests and rural communities from the type of fires that devastated our state last year.