Chris Stewart (politician)

Training

After college, Stewart was accepted into the Air Force's Officer Training School, followed by assignment to Undergraduate Pilot Training. Stewart was awarded the Distinguished Graduate (top of the class) designation in both endeavors. As the distinguished graduate, Stewart was trained to fly helicopters and jet aircraft. Only two officers are accepted into this dual-training program per year.

World records

In 1995, Stewart was awarded the Mackay Trophy for "significant aerial achievement" for the combat capability operation known as Coronet Bat. On June 3, 1995, Chris and a flight of two B-1s set the world record for the fastest non-stop flight around the world. Stewart was the senior project officer for this mission. The purpose of the mission was to demonstrate the capability of the B-1 Lancer with live bombing activity over three bombing ranges on three continents in two hemispheres.^[3] In the process, the team set three world records, flying 36,797.65 kilometers in 36 hours 13 minutes.^[4] The mission was recounted in the film Supersonic Saints: Thrilling Stories from LDS Pilots.

Business career

After his military career, Stewart turned to the private sector. He was the president and CEO of the Shipley Group, a consulting company that specializes in energy and environmental issues.^[5] Shipley also participates in government anti-terrorism training, corporate security and executive preparedness consulting. He sold Shipley Group in December 2012 just prior to being sworn in as a U.S. congressman representing Utah's 2nd congressional district.^[6]

Writing career

Stewart first began writing books in the late nineties. His first novel, Shattered Bone, was published 1998.^[7] Stewart wrote four additional techno-thrillers before he began writing the series The Great and Terrible. Before completing his last book in that series, he started writing historical novels. His book Seven Miracles That Saved America was chosen as "Book of the Month", and The Miracle of Freedom: Seven Tipping Points That Saved the World became a New York Times Bestseller within two weeks of publication, and was selected for the National Communications Award by the Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge. The Miracle of Freedom and Seven Miracles That Saved America were co-written with his brother, U.S. district judge Ted Stewart. The Miracle of Freedom was endorsed by radio/talk show host Glenn Beck, and Beck's coverage is credited with the book becoming a bestseller.^[8][9] Stewart has written fourteen books.^[10] He has worked with Elizabeth Smart to co-write her memoir, My Story.^[11] In 2005, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performed A Christmas Bell for Anya, which he co-authored with his wife Evie.^[12][13][14]

2012 election

On October 21, 2011, Utah Policy wrote that Stewart was going to run for Congress in Utah's 2nd congressional district.^[15] His formal announcement took place on December 6, 2011.^[16][17] On April 21, 2012, he secured the Republican nomination.

Stewart won the race with 62% of the vote, defeating Jay Seegmiller, and took office on January 3, 2013.

Committee assignments

• United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
• Republican Study Committee^[18]

Source:

• Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch

Source:

Caucus memberships

• Congressional Western Caucus^[19]
• United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus^[20]

Environment

In 2014, Stewart sponsored H.R. 1422 (113th Congress), the EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2014, which would reform the composition and activities of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) science advisory board. Under the bill, at least 10% of the members of the board would be required to be from state, local, or tribal governments, and corporate and industry experts would no longer be excluded from the board and board members would be prohibited from advising the EPA in discussions that cite their work. The bill was opposed by Democrats and critics such as the Union of Concerned Scientists, who said it was enable conflicts of interests and restrict scientists' ability to provide proper advice to the government.^[22][23]

Bundy standoff

In an interview regarding the Bundy standoff of 2014, Stewart said that the Bureau of Land Management could have avoided the standoff by allowing local sheriffs to intervene. Citing concerns about the level of weaponry carried by federal agents, he also sponsored a bill (H.R. 4934) to demilitarize federal regulatory agencies.^[24][25]

Zika virus

In 2016, Stewart introduced a bill to allow unused Ebolavirus funding to research and combat the Zika virus.^[26] The proposal was adopted as part of a separate bill the next year, Zika Response Appropriations Act, a bill to shift $622 million in unused Ebola funding to fight the Zika virus.^[27]