From collection Member List
Brother John Hostettler is serving in his sixth term as the Congressman representing the 8th District of Indiana, comprised of 18 counties in southwest and west central Indiana.
Hostettler was born on July 19, 1961, the eighth of ten children. He grew up in rural Posey County near the Ohio and Wabash rivers. After graduating from North Posey High School in 1979, he enrolled in Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. He graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1983.
Later that year, Hostettler married his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth Ann Hamman. Prior to his service in Congress he was employed as a Power Plant Performance Engineer with Southern Indiana Gas & Electric Company.
Political activism was not a priority for the Hostettlers. In fact, prior to 1994 the Registered Professional Engineer was not involved in politics except to vote. He devoted his time to his growing family, his job and his church. He served as a Deacon at Twelfth Avenue General Baptist Church in Evansville and, along with his wife, ran the church’s food pantry for the underprivileged.
Hostettler’s interest in politics increased following the election of Bill Clinton in 1992. In January 1994 Hostettler announced he would run for the 8th District Congressional seat held by Frank McCloskey, a six-term incumbent. He went on to surprise political experts by topping a six-person field in the Republican primary with the help of an impressive grass roots organization that included many other newcomers to the political process.
Hostettler called for a return to the Constitution as the nation’s governing document. He promised that if elected he would work toward balancing the budget, cutting taxes, reforming welfare and strengthening national defense.
Hostettler serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the Judiciary Committee. In 1999, Hostettler was appointed vice-chairman of the Armed Services Research and Development Subcommittee for the 106th Congress. In that capacity he traveled to Moscow to meet with members of the Duma for talks regarding national missile defense.
In August, 2001, the Congressman visited U.S. troops in South Korea and Japan to see firsthand the readiness and quality-of-life needs of those serving in that dangerous part of the world. In February 2003, Hostettler was re-appointed to serve as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee for Immigration, Border Security and Claims for the 109th Congress.
Hostettler has also played a leadership role in conservative organizations within the House. He previously served as chairman of the Congressional Family Caucus and serves on the Republican Study Committee. Hostettler has received honorary degrees from Oakland City University and the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
John and his wife, Beth, live in Blairsville with their four children, Matthew, Amanda, Jaclyn and Jared.
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John Nathan Hostettler (born July 19, 1961) is an American politician who served in the United States House of Representatives for 12 years, representing Indiana's 8th congressional district as a Republican.
