Jim Banks

James Edward Banks (born July 16, 1979) is an American politician who is the U.S. Representative for IN's 3rd congressional district. A Republican, he previously served as a member of the Indiana Senate. Banks was first elected to serve in the state senate for the 17th district in 2010, and upon military deployment to Afghanistan, he took a leave of absence from the state senate since September 2014. Invoking an Indiana state law which allows state and local officeholders to take leaves of absence during active duty military service, Banks was temporarily replaced by his wife, Amanda Banks, who held the office for the senate's 2015 legislative session. He returned to Indiana from overseas duty on April 14, 2015 and resumed his duties as state senator on May 8, 2015. On May 3, 2016 he won the primary election for the Republican nomination for Indiana's Third Congressional District.

Early life and start of career
Banks graduated from Columbia City High School in Columbia City, Indiana in 1997. he received a bachelor of arts degree from Indiana University in 2004, and a master of business administration degree from Grace College and Seminary in 2013. he was a broker in their Fort Wayne, Indiana office. He formerly worked in Business Development for The Hagerman Group, a commercial and industrial construction company. He was chairman of the Whitley County Republican Party from 2007-2011, and a member of the Whitley County Council from 2008-2010.

In 2012, Banks joined the United States Navy Reserve as a supply corps officer. He served in the Operation Enduring Freedom and Freedom Sentinel from 2014 to 2015.

Family
Banks and his wife Amanda (Izsak) are the parents of three daughters, Lillian, Elizabeth and Joann. They met while attending Indiana University, where Banks was president of the College Republicans, and his wife-to-be was vice president.

Political career
With assistance from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) he has supported right-to-work legislation in Indiana.

Banks addressed the 2014 Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C., on March 9, 2014, after he was selected as one of their Top 10 Conservatives Under 40.

2016 campaign
On May 12, 2015, Banks announced his intention to run for Indiana's Third Congressional District. The incumbent, Congressman Marlin Stutzman announced he would not run for reelection and would instead campaign for the Republican nomination to succeed retiring Indiana Senator Dan Coats. Banks' congressional campaign was endorsed by the Club for Growth.

Banks won the primary election, separating himself from five other like-minded conservative opponents for the open seat, with 34 percent of the vote. Spending in the campaign exceeded $2 million as Banks raised $850,000 prior to the primary election and the candidate who finished in second place, businessman Kip Tom, raised $950,000 including $150,000 he loaded from his personal funds.

Tenure
Rep. Banks was sworn in on January 3, 2017. He is a member of the Republican Study Committee.

Banks voted in favor of the American Health Care Act of 2017 on May 4, 2017.

Committee assignments

 * Committee on Armed Services
 * Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
 * Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
 * Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
 * Subcommittee on Environment (Vice Chair)
 * Subcommittee on Research and Technology
 * Subcommittee on Space
 * Committee on Veterans' Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity